Don't read this if you have not seen Avengers: Infinity War and/or hate spoilers. Heed this warning because there will be no others... Otherwise, enjoy some pretentious reflections on a bash 'em up blockbuster
Read MoreThe Review
My review of Michael Bennett's "In Dark Places"
The new Herald reviewed: Granny is gone
In which I spend a bit of time before breakfast browsing through the new paper that arrived in my letterbox... the good, bad and meh
Read MoreSo What, Mediawatch?
RNZ's Mediawatch, in its own words, "looks critically at the New Zealand media – television, radio, newspapers and magazines as well as the 'new' electronic media." So why doesn't it criticise the train wreck which Morning Report is rapidly becoming?
Read MoreThe wobbly world of Fashion Week
It's odd. For an industry based on looking good, the fashion industry seems to know next-to nothing about presentation
Read MoreOMGlee!
Does Glee’s swag of Emmy nominations make me any less tragic?
Read MoreBut the time would have passed anyway
A stage full of actors at the height of their powers--what could be better? A review of Sean Matthias' production of Waiting for Godot
Read MoreThe All White's equaliser – why Rupert Murdoch gets its significance
Sport has the rare and valuable magic of uncertainty in an otherwise formulaic world, as the All Whites proved again today
Read MoreSideshow Mark and the Close Up circus
The world's fattest mum, the nutso who tasered a pregnant lady, and senior citizens making their own coffins. This is what constitutes quality current affairs? Come on, we deserve better
Read MoreThe Time Traveler’s Wife: I waited, you didn’t come
The film version of The Time Traveler’s Wife could be a clever metaphor, cynical exploitation, or just a bit of a flub
Read MoreA new kind of fiction
Hilary Mantel's award-winning Wolf Hall skillfully dances the line between fiction and biography
Read MoreWelcome to Planet Palin: Going Rogue reviewed
Sarah Palin's Going Rogue is a campaign book delightfully free of boring old policy and so is a sure fire dog whistle to her adoring base. It reinforces why she should never be President, but who the heck does the Republican Party have as an alternative candidate vaguely as charismatic as Caribou Barbie?
Read MoreShock news: Some New Zealand media is quite good
The good news is that not all of Generation Y are narrow-minded, egotistical trivialists and TV3 has created a great new comedy show
Read MoreThe Age of Stupid: a film too clever, and not clever enough
The converted will love this docudrama’s preachy tone. They chortle at the green in-jokes, and give it a round of applause. It has a message for New Zealanders, but will it reach a wider audience?
Read MoreThe painfully awkward Head Girl
Novelist Margaret Drabble's self-exposure in a new autobiography is both uncomfortable and illuminating
Read MoreBruno, Borat and the bumpkins
Sacha Baron Cohen, aka Borat, aka Bruno, is hilarious, insightful and cool in an ironic, knowing way... unless you don't get the joke
Read MoreThe problem with the Spanish play
Wellington's Circa Theatre tackles the difficult Spanish drama Blood Wedding with mixed results
Read MoreWhy everyone should watch The Wire. Really.
I know there are few things more insufferable than hearing about a person's favourite television show, but you really, really, really need to watch The Wire
Read MoreDistinguishing the noise from the melody
Alex Ross has written a useful and user-friendly history of 20th century music—from an American point of view
Read MoreEight bouquets and one brickbat
Keith Ovenden's cultural highlights of 2008
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