Review

Watch out, someone’s spiked the eggnog. Cornelia Funke’s festive kids’ book is manhandled into a cheap German pantomime, complete with Dogtanian dubbing and the kind of frighteningly surreal plot that gives grown-ups waking nightmares. A shaggy young Santa is chased out of Christmastown by the dastardly Goblynch and his army …

Pete Doherty makes his first big-screen outing in this sterile stab at Alfred de Musset’s 1836 confessional. It must have seemed like a good idea at the time, casting the former Libertines frontman as Octave, the debauched Parisian, but the novelty soon wears off. Suffocated by Sylvie Verheyde’s lifeless direction, …

The Walking Dead 3.07 review (opens in new tab) Episode 3.07 Writer: Frank Benzulli Director: Dan Sackheim THE ONE WHERE Merle and the Governor torture Glenn and Maggie to make them reveal the location of their camp; meanwhile, Michonne leads our heroes to Woodbury. VERDICT This is the episode every …

Revolution 1.10 “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” TV REVIEW Episode 1.10 Writer: Monica Owusu-Breen, Matt Pitts Director: Frederick EO Toye THE ONE WHERE The gang’s all here, Danny is saved and it’s face off time for Matheson versus Monroe in the mid-season finale. VERDICT With Charlie wounded from last week, the …

The Almighty Johnsons 2.11 “The House of Jerome” TV REVIEW Episode 2.11 Writers: Ross Hastings, Tim Balme & James griffin Director: Murray Keane THE ONE WHERE Axl and co are on the trail of Gaia’s kidnappers and find more than they bargained for, Anders has the chance of a big …

Misfits 4.05 TV REVIEW (opens in new tab) Misfits 4.05 Writer: Howard Overman Director: Jonathan van Tulleken THE ONE WHERE Finn finds his dying dad and spends some quality time with his (half) sister. VERDICT In several ways this week’s tale echoes the second episode of Misfits series two. There, …

There are two kinds of people that will buy Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse: One of them is a diehard Evil Monkey-spotting, Ernie the Chicken-battling, Mayor West-voting devotee of the series. That is, the true believers, those that can’t get enough of Seth McFarlane and his animated concoctions. The …

Wizards Vs Aliens 1.07-8 “Friend Or Foe Parts 1 and 2” TV REVIEW Episodes 1.07-8 Writer: Clayton Hickman Director: Griff Rowland THE ONE WHERE Lexi hatches a cunning plan to disguise herself as a human named Lucy so she can get close to Tom. However, a rich woman who runs …

Hot off The Fighter , the Oscar-winning comeback that marked his first feature since 2004’s I ♥ Huckabees , writer/director David O. Russell is evidently making up for lost time. With two films in two years he’s taken a leaf out of Terrence Malick’s playbook, only in a far more …

The Almighty Johnsons 2.10 “Magical Fluffy Bunny World” TV REVIEW Episode 2.10 Writer: James Griffin Director: Charlie Haskell THE ONE WHERE Gaia is introduced to the pantheon of Gods, Anders gets a girlfriend, Thor comes to town and Axl has a sidekick to rescue and some roast chicken to deliver. …