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Bell, Book and Candle (1958) Review – A Bewitching Christmas Classic
In one sentence: Bell, Book and Candle is a festive romantic classic blending witchcraft, love and ‘50s style. James Stewart is perhaps best known for Christmas favourite It’s a Wonderful Life, which often tops lists of the greatest festive films ever made. What is less widely known is that he also stars in another…
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Delivery by Christmas (2022) Review – A Polish Christmas with Heart and Humour
In one sentence: Delivery by Christmas centres on delivery driver, Maria, whose parcels are tampered with before Christmas, setting off a chain of events that leads to both comedic moments and unexpected romance. We are inundated with cookie-cutter Christmas TV movies and, I will admit, sometimes they have their place. They are easy, undemanding viewing.…
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The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) Review – A Charming Peek Behind a Christmas Classic
In one sentence: The Man Who Invented Christmas follows Charles Dickens as he struggles to write A Christmas Carol, blurring imagination and reality in the process. We all know the story of A Christmas Carol and have seen countless adaptations in every imaginable style, but how much do we really know about its author, Charles…
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After the Hunt (2025) Review – A Tangle of Ethics, Power and Unanswered Questions
In one sentence: After the Hunt is a character-driven drama that explores ethics and power dynamics in the wake of a sexual assault allegation. After the Hunt recently arrived on Amazon Prime. I should preface this review by admitting that Luca Guadagnino’s films have never quite been to my taste. The most enjoyable for me…
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Wicked: For Good (2025) Review – Hitting the Notes, Even If Not All the High Ones
In one sentence: Wicked: For Good follows Elphaba and Glinda as the consequences of their choices reshape their friendship and their place in Oz. One year after Wicked cast its spell over cinemas, its second instalment, Wicked: For Good, has arrived to mixed critical reactions. I would take some of these with a pinch of…
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Wicked (2024) Review – A Spellbinding Spectacle Worth the Hype
In one sentence: Wicked is a film adaptation of the celebrated stage musical that reimagines the early lives of the witches of Oz. In anticipation of the release of Wicked: For Good, I revisited part one. The film arrived with enormous hype from long-time fans of the stage musical and newly converted admirers of the…
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The Life of Chuck (2025) Review – A Life-Affirming Story with an Unexpected Sadness
In one sentence: The Life of Chuck explores an ordinary life in reverse, reflecting on memory, loss and the significance of human connection. With Stephen King’s latest adaptation, The Life of Chuck, I expected something uplifting. After all, the marketing spoke of a life-affirming story filled with wonder. Instead, I found myself sitting with a…
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Love Me (2025) Review – A Film Overwhelmed by Its Own Ambition
In one sentence: Love Me imagines a future in which two artificial intelligences form a relationship by learning about human love through the digital traces people leave behind. Science fiction can offer sharp commentary on the world we live in and the direction we are heading. Love Me certainly aims to spark this kind of…
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Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) Review – The Anatomy of a Marriage
In one sentence: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a searing domestic drama that examines a marriage’s fractures through sharp dialogue and convincing performances. This year marks the centenary of Richard Burton’s birth. Given his legacy as one of Wales’ most remarkable screen presences, there is no better film to revisit than Who’s Afraid…
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Frankenstein (2025) Review – A New Perspective on a Timeless Monster
In one sentence: Frankenstein is a reinterpretation of the classic tale that emphasises humanity and monstrosity over simple horror. Guillermo del Toro’s much-anticipated Frankenstein arrived on Netflix yesterday. I initially wondered whether releasing it after Halloween was a missed opportunity, however, this is not really a horror film but a story about humanity. It also…
Rhiann’s Reels 