Rambles about the wonderful world of wrestling.
Goosebumps has no right to be good. Based on the works of R.L. Stine, it should be a soulless cash grab. However, with the helpful hand of Rob Letterman in control and Jack Black playing the role of Mr Stine himself it has somehow come to be, as a Joe Dante-inspired family horror film, as likely to make you laugh as it is to make you jump.
Hollywood self-reflection is always a bit strange.  When the vapidest of places turns the camera on itself, you never quite know what to expect.  So a film detailing the period where they turned so anti-communist that they created the infamous blacklist (which prevented communists from working) and even had several prominent communists chucked in jail, is even stranger.  But that is where Trumbo takes us.  With, unsurprisingly, particular focus on Dalton Trumbo, the writer of films like Roman Holiday and Spartacus and one of the biggest critics of said list.
The first in a series of four EPs from legendary grindcore act Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Arc is a three track release that comes in at twenty-seven minutes long.  It’s also bloody good.
The first time I saw Daniel Bryan wrestle was during his iconic feud with Nigel McGuinness. Â I’d heard from the online chit chat that this guy was good, the best in the world according to some, and I was naturally intrigued. Â Yet, when Bryan came out, it was a bit underwhelming. Â Sure, the fans loved him, but to look at him, it was hard to be impressed.
The Assassin has established itself as a bit of a critical darling.  Sight & Sound went as far as naming it their film of 2015, which was a strange move for a British magazine since it had its commercial release this year in the UK.  Yet that confidence boost obviously didn’t satisfy the marketing department as they made the decision to advertise it to UK audiences as a wuxia film while in reality it only bears slight resemblances to that genre.  It is a combination that leaves you wondering whether this is going to be yet another example of a film beloved by critics, but not the general public.
Youth is one of those films which makes me glad that I don’t assign star ratings to my reviews.  On one hand I think Paolo Sorrentino’s film is a pretentious and pervy look at old age.  On the other, it’s a touching tale of old friends and their relationship.  So how do you get that across in stars?
Brock Lesnar is the best thing WWE have. Â While some people (read weirdos) are fed up of watching him destroy things, there is no denying it is over. Â He is the WWE’s Hulk, and part of that appeal has always been that he will turn up every few months, hang around for a few weeks killing stuff, before disappearing again. Â It was perfect. Â Until it wasn’t anymore.
Every now and then an album comes along that just hits a chord.  It feels like it is made for you.  Which actually makes it hard to review.  It’s difficult talking about things you love, particularly if you are trying to avoid sounding like you have your face buried up their arse.  So say hello to Milk Teeth, my (and hopefully your) favourite new band.
Depicting journalism on screen is a tricky task.  The truth is that it is rarely clandestine meetings with mysterious sources but is more often simple, long and boring fact-checking followed by bursts of excitement when a big story comes along.  It’s this that Spotlight aims to capture.  The tale of the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team’s investigation into the Catholic Church Abuse Scandal is lacking huge set pieces and dramatic gestures and instead features plain old journalism, but still manages to be gripping from start to finish.
I’m a bit behind the rest of the world but today I figured I’d throw my two pence into the whole Phil Anselmo debate. Â When I say debate, what I really mean is I am going to agree with everyone else. Â YES, Pantera are one of the greatest bands of all time. Â YES, Anselmo was a big part of that. Â YES, he has since gone on to be in some other brilliant bands. Â YES, he is also a massive racist cunt.
Ramblings About Wrestling 