Latest from Richard James Havis
A terrible script means a great voice cast of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, and Bette Midler are wasted in this latest outing for the morbid bunch. The quality of the animation is also uninspiring, making for a bland feature.
A terrible script means a great voice cast of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, and Bette Midler are wasted in this latest outing for the morbid bunch. The quality of the animation is also uninspiring, making for a bland feature.
Watching performances and sports events in 3D from any angle are two of the immersive experiences offered by new tech. Augmented reality is the format of the future, as virtual reality loses popularity.
Watching performances and sports events in 3D from any angle are two of the immersive experiences offered by new tech. Augmented reality is the format of the future, as virtual reality loses popularity.
From early on, this chase-and-chomp movie goes straight for the kill, with frantic shark action punctuated by pauses of frenetic terror. But the four characters involved are wafer thin and the story line just beggars belief.
From early on, this chase-and-chomp movie goes straight for the kill, with frantic shark action punctuated by pauses of frenetic terror. But the four characters involved are wafer thin and the story line just beggars belief.
There is nothing funny about the plot line of this misguided Korean buddy-cop film – about a gang who drug, kidnap and rape teenage girls. Its unsavouriness is compounded by an obvious racism which makes fun of black people and South Asians.
There is nothing funny about the plot line of this misguided Korean buddy-cop film – about a gang who drug, kidnap and rape teenage girls. Its unsavouriness is compounded by an obvious racism which makes fun of black people and South Asians.
Police, governments and shops monitor people through AI-assisted facial recognition. The FBI has 30 million US citizens on its facial recognition database, while China’s is said to contain almost the whole population.
Police, governments and shops monitor people through AI-assisted facial recognition. The FBI has 30 million US citizens on its facial recognition database, while China’s is said to contain almost the whole population.
Long-held Freudian beliefs about dreams are now being challenged by a new group – neuroscientists – some of whom say dreams have no meaning at all, while others believe they are more a kind of art form.
Long-held Freudian beliefs about dreams are now being challenged by a new group – neuroscientists – some of whom say dreams have no meaning at all, while others believe they are more a kind of art form.
The story is exactly what you’d expect from the title, and the film is derivative, but it’s neatly done, well paced, and everything adds up; Isabela Moner plays a teenage Dora with aplomb. This is quality fun.
The story is exactly what you’d expect from the title, and the film is derivative, but it’s neatly done, well paced, and everything adds up; Isabela Moner plays a teenage Dora with aplomb. This is quality fun.
Former Twilight actor Justin Chon’s film about a hostess in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, Ms. Purple, has echoes of Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love. Korean-American hopes for a time when he can make films without them being labelled Asian-American.
Former Twilight actor Justin Chon’s film about a hostess in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, Ms. Purple, has echoes of Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love. Korean-American hopes for a time when he can make films without them being labelled Asian-American.
The Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy director and famed martial arts choreographer was honoured this week with the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York Asian Film Festival.
The Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy director and famed martial arts choreographer was honoured this week with the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York Asian Film Festival.
Can eating plant-based meat substitutes prevent disease? The inaugural Plant Based World Conference and Expo in New York, and a related health summit, were a showcase of the latest research on plant-based meat substitutes.
Can eating plant-based meat substitutes prevent disease? The inaugural Plant Based World Conference and Expo in New York, and a related health summit, were a showcase of the latest research on plant-based meat substitutes.
This sequel won’t disappoint fans of the original, although focuses more on the daily lives of the pets rather than what they get up to behind closed doors.
This sequel won’t disappoint fans of the original, although focuses more on the daily lives of the pets rather than what they get up to behind closed doors.
Ever fancied trying your hand at piloting Doctor Who’s time-travelling Tardis? Now you can do just that in Doctor Who: The Runaway, an interactive VR experience produced by the BBC’s VR Hub and Passion Animation Studios.
Ever fancied trying your hand at piloting Doctor Who’s time-travelling Tardis? Now you can do just that in Doctor Who: The Runaway, an interactive VR experience produced by the BBC’s VR Hub and Passion Animation Studios.
Luxury residential developments offered for sale by brands such as Marriott, YOO and Philippe Starck are proving to be sound investments.
Luxury residential developments offered for sale by brands such as Marriott, YOO and Philippe Starck are proving to be sound investments.
Documentary shows how US politics is driven by personality rather than policy, and that make Trump’s grip on power very tight. Moore believes the Democratic presidential nomination was rigged towards Hillary Clinton.
Documentary shows how US politics is driven by personality rather than policy, and that make Trump’s grip on power very tight. Moore believes the Democratic presidential nomination was rigged towards Hillary Clinton.
Huppert’s hyperactive performance is the best thing about Greta as she moves from a mentally disturbed character into a full-blown Cruella De Vil. But the film lacks originality and the scary scenes are duller than they should be.
Huppert’s hyperactive performance is the best thing about Greta as she moves from a mentally disturbed character into a full-blown Cruella De Vil. But the film lacks originality and the scary scenes are duller than they should be.
Rogen plays a left-wing investigative journalist turned speech-writer for Theron’s would-be Democratic US presidential nominee. A romance develops between the two which not only requires a suspension of disbelief but swaps satire for scatology.
Rogen plays a left-wing investigative journalist turned speech-writer for Theron’s would-be Democratic US presidential nominee. A romance develops between the two which not only requires a suspension of disbelief but swaps satire for scatology.
Old School Kung Fu Fest in New York takes place on May 3-4, and plans to celebrate the fun that’s always existed in martial arts films. It will show seven in total, opening with Sonny Chiba’s 1976 Dragon Princess, but the other six will be mystery screenings.
Old School Kung Fu Fest in New York takes place on May 3-4, and plans to celebrate the fun that’s always existed in martial arts films. It will show seven in total, opening with Sonny Chiba’s 1976 Dragon Princess, but the other six will be mystery screenings.
Although the film has its heart in the right place – the story is a metaphor for dealing with depression – it is hampered by a wafer-thin storyline and some pedestrian animation.
Although the film has its heart in the right place – the story is a metaphor for dealing with depression – it is hampered by a wafer-thin storyline and some pedestrian animation.
The film is spoiled by stereotyped characters and a soap opera approach. The farcical plot appears to be looking for sympathy for Nazis.
The film is spoiled by stereotyped characters and a soap opera approach. The farcical plot appears to be looking for sympathy for Nazis.
Shiri, released 20 years ago, outperformed Titanic in South Korean cinemas and was a big part in the success of the Korean wave. The director used many Hollywood storytelling devices, while keeping the content strictly Korean.
Shiri, released 20 years ago, outperformed Titanic in South Korean cinemas and was a big part in the success of the Korean wave. The director used many Hollywood storytelling devices, while keeping the content strictly Korean.
Little is known about North Korea’s domestic feature films, but a German travelling film roadshow once gave a peek into this mysterious world.
Little is known about North Korea’s domestic feature films, but a German travelling film roadshow once gave a peek into this mysterious world.
New ways of storytelling and rich political allegories were the innovations that this new breed of maverick directors introduced. Bold in abstraction and symbolism, their films relied on images rather than dialogue for expression.
New ways of storytelling and rich political allegories were the innovations that this new breed of maverick directors introduced. Bold in abstraction and symbolism, their films relied on images rather than dialogue for expression.
Director Josie Rourke brings a fresh, feminine viewpoint of sisterhood and female solidarity between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. But the film is let down by a fabricated, close relationship between the two that never existed.
Director Josie Rourke brings a fresh, feminine viewpoint of sisterhood and female solidarity between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. But the film is let down by a fabricated, close relationship between the two that never existed.
Child abuse, human trafficking, extreme poverty and the problems faced by undocumented individuals are the issues tackled in this dark drama that was nominated for best foreign-language film at the 2019 Oscars.
Child abuse, human trafficking, extreme poverty and the problems faced by undocumented individuals are the issues tackled in this dark drama that was nominated for best foreign-language film at the 2019 Oscars.
The Udine Far East Film Festival screens commercial films from East Asia, mainly from Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Japan but increasingly from Southeast Asia.
The Udine Far East Film Festival screens commercial films from East Asia, mainly from Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Japan but increasingly from Southeast Asia.
Jessica Rothe reprises her role in this Groundhog Day style horror. The multiverse angle makes for an entertaining plot, but you have to have seen the first film for it to make sense.
Jessica Rothe reprises her role in this Groundhog Day style horror. The multiverse angle makes for an entertaining plot, but you have to have seen the first film for it to make sense.
The biopic of former Republican vice-president covers the full span of 78-year-old life, and puts the oft-held view that it was he, rather than president George W. Bush, who was running the administration.
The biopic of former Republican vice-president covers the full span of 78-year-old life, and puts the oft-held view that it was he, rather than president George W. Bush, who was running the administration.
The late Cambodian king, who died in 2011, fell in love with the cinema as a child watching French films. Throughout his 60 years of filmmaking he sought to promote traditional Khmer culture.
The late Cambodian king, who died in 2011, fell in love with the cinema as a child watching French films. Throughout his 60 years of filmmaking he sought to promote traditional Khmer culture.
Director Hans Petter Moland tries to replicate the ironic tone and deadpan delivery of Coen Brothers films, but falls well short in this outing, while the Tarantino-inspired mayhem is often more childish than witty.
Director Hans Petter Moland tries to replicate the ironic tone and deadpan delivery of Coen Brothers films, but falls well short in this outing, while the Tarantino-inspired mayhem is often more childish than witty.
Miha Bodytec machine improves effectiveness of a workout by stimulating 90 per cent of muscle fibres compared to 20-25 per cent in normal workout. ‘It’s like I am DJ’ing the body’, says trainer Mohamed Elzomor, of Manhattan’s PE Club.
Miha Bodytec machine improves effectiveness of a workout by stimulating 90 per cent of muscle fibres compared to 20-25 per cent in normal workout. ‘It’s like I am DJ’ing the body’, says trainer Mohamed Elzomor, of Manhattan’s PE Club.