Sam Raimi’s first contribution to Marvel since oft-derided Spider-Man 3, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness mostly succeeds at being entertaining in its own right, but still relies on a certain amount of fan service
Author: Mark Goodwin
Mark Goodwin is a primary school teacher who blogs about his opinions about musical theatre, film and TV for his own personal amusement.
“Heartstopper” is unbridled queer joy at its purest
Netflix’s adaptation of Alice Oseman’s creation is a heartfelt and giddily effervescent tale of two teenage boys falling in love with each other
“Bridgerton” Season 2 Review: Desperately steamy slow-burn romance
Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley’s chemistry sets the screen alight in the second season of record-breaking Regency romance series
“The Lost City” feels highly familiar, but thoroughly engaging
With stars Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum repeating tried-and-tested performances, “The Lost City”‘s success feels assured
Doctor Who Series 1 Review: The Trip of a Lifetime
With everything to prove and nothing to lose, the first series of Revived Doctor Who truly demonstrates all that the show is capable of for a modern audience
The 47th review – Bertie Carvel is brilliant as Donald Trump
Painting Trump’s potential bid for a second term of presidency as a Shakespearean historical, Mike Bartlett warns of the dangers to democracy that Trump poses, though it’s nothing the audience don’t already know
Doctor Who 2022 Easter Special Review: Legend of the Sea Devils
Jodie Whittaker’s penultimate, swashbuckling adventure features the return of a long-absent Classic villain and some sweet, intimate moments, but this isn’t enough to redeem the episode
Cock review – A bitterly amusing commentary on the reductive nature of labelling
Falling in love with a woman completely upends the lives of John (Jonathan Bailey) and long-term boyfriend M (Taron Egerton) in Mike Bartlett’s Cock
“Doctor Who: Time Fracture” is a fanboy’s dream come true
Intricately plotted, staged and performed immersive production Time Fracture is sure to delight Doctor Who fans and newcomers alike with its heart-racing, engaging premise
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” is a return to form
For all of the controversy surrounding the latest instalment in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, it is heads and shoulders above The Crimes of Grindelwald and crafts a captivating, tense and imaginative magical tale
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: The Parting of the Ways Review
“The Parting of the Ways” is a near-perfect conclusion to Davies’ reinvigoration of Doctor Who
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: Bad Wolf Review
Davies’ first part to the conclusion of his first series is at turns funny and tense, but consistently engrossing
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: Boom Town Review
Despite its placing between fan-favourite two-parters, “Boom Town” boasts some brilliant performances and a thought-provoking plot
The Phantom of the Open: a shining portrayal for the World’s Worst Golfer
Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins elevate Simon Farnaby’s farcical script into something with genuine emotional heft amongst the folly
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: The Doctor Dances Review
Steven Moffat’s first contribution to Doctor Who is hypnotically chilling
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: The Empty Child Review
Steven Moffat’s first contribution to Doctor Who is hypnotically chilling
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: Father’s Day Review
Father’s Day is an emotional rollercoaster that showcases Billie Piper’s Rose
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: The Long Game Review
The Long Game is a rare instance of Series 1 of the Revived Series fumbling the ball
Turning Red review: Unashamedly female
Pixar’s first female-directed film is a beautifully resonant coming-of-age tale
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: Dalek Review
Dalek makes the iconic, oft-ridiculed Doctor Who enemy credible and sinister once again
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: World War Three Review
World War Three doesn’t fully live up to the potential of its predecessor
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: Aliens of London Review
Aliens of London is a prime example of a Doctor Who story that simply could not, and would not, have been done before the revival
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: The Unquiet Dead Review
Rose’s second trip in the TARDIS wonderfully demonstrates the unique range that Doctor Who possesses
Doctor Who Series 1 Retrospective: The End of the World Review
The Doctor has the perfect thing to unite him with Rose on her first trip as companion: the obliteration of her entire species
The Batman Review: The Darkest of Knights
Matt Reeves’ take on Batman feels miles more personal, but not necessarily more engaging
Cyrano Review: Dinklage is exceptional, but the music is lacking
Despite an assured, nuanced performance from Dinklage, Cyrano falls down from horrendously forgettable, lumbering songs
Wuthering Heights Review: Be careful what you seed
Wise Children’s Wuthering Heights is theatrical and epic to the extreme, but is tonally worlds away from Brontë’s classic novel
“What If…?” Review: A refreshing change
After 13 years of established canon, What If…? gives viewers a glimpse into the richness of the Marvel Multiverse
Kevin Can F**k Himself: A Brilliant Reexamination of the Sitcom Husband
Annie Murphy truly shines in this ambition blend of television genres
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Film Review: Beautifully Uplifting
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’s film adaptation demonstrates what all good musical theatre films need: a coherent narrative drive
The Goes Wrong Show Puts Every Comedic Foot Right
Developed by the minds behind The Play That Goes Wrong, The Goes Wrong Show is chaotic, farcical hilarity
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 4 Review: Lacking its previous lustre
While wonderful to have Amy Sherman-Palladino’s unique writing voice back on screens, it is frustrating to see Midge back on the bottom rung after such a lengthy hiatus
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window Review: Amusing Pseudo-Parody
Starring Kristen Bell, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window delights in poking fun at common psychological thriller tropes, but could have gone much further with its comedy
The Bold Type Season 5 Review: A perfect, if bittersweet, ending
Freeform’s exceptional series, The Bold Type, remains faithful to its characters until the very end
Red Notice: Brilliantly entertaining action romp
Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson’s winning chemistry elevates an otherwise unremarkable, though twisty, heist flick
Uncharted Review: Haven’t we seen this film before?
Director Ruben Fleischer’s adaptation of the Uncharted video game series does not reinvent the wheel, but proves pleasant enough due to the watchability of lead Tom Holland
The Thing About Harry: A cute queer love story without the gay trauma
A gentle romantic comedy with queer protagonists with a happy ending! That’s how low the bar is!
Death on the Nile Review: Just as captivating as its predecessor
Kenneth Branagh’s sequel is sumptuously shot, gorgeously cinematic and incredibly performed, though is a little slow out of the harbour
Blood Brothers Review: Did y’hear the story of the Johnston twins?
Despite being relatively unchanged since its genesis, ‘Blood Brothers’ proves almost as relevant now as it ever did
Moulin Rouge! The Musical Review: Breathlessly energetic but emotionally hollow
Moulin Rouge!, much like its diamond, is all sparkle and little substance.
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