Dec2020
Meaning beyond the darkness
by Mark Hadley
Three films worth thinking seriously about these summer holidays
Nov2020
Reasons to say ‘no’ to these racers
The Fast & Furious franchise has come to children’s TV, bringing with it all of the cautions associated with its films. Fast & Furious Spy Racers is pitched at viewers a long way off driving age, but here are seven reasons adults should be careful about this exhilarating cartoon.
Jun2020
Super Sonic’s lesson in friendship
by Mark Hadley
Sonic the Hedgehog is based on the wildly popular Sega video game character by the same name. Sonic has featured heavily in popular culture since the 1990s, so there’s already cross-generational appeal.
Apr2020
Sacrifice shows true strength
by Mark Hadley
The live-action version of Mulan marches alongside a host of recent Disney remakes reimagined for 21st century audiences.
Mar2020
Finding hope in words of grace
by Mark Hadley
The Professor and the Madman is a moving story about a mind at war with itself and those who do more than look on.
Sep2019
The big picture
by Mark Hadley
It’s what scriptwriters call the story that tells itself. A motherless girl from a poor home dreams of becoming a world-famous jockey.
Aug2019
War’s unclear but present danger
by Mark Hadley
Long Tan is arguably one of Australia’s greatest military victories, and one of its least known. The shame that cloaked much of our involvement in the Vietnam War also obscured moments of great heroism and self-sacrifice. New film Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan will certainly raise that conflict’s profile. It may also raise… Read more
Aug2017
Holding fast to truth
by Mark Hadley
A Monster Calls DISTRIBUTOR: Entertainment One RELEASE DATE: 27 July 2017 RATING: M A Monster Calls is one of those stories (book or film) that deserves a place on the shelf in every family concerned with teaching children the importance of truth and belief. Lewis MacDougall stars as Conor, a 13-year-old English boy struggling to… Read more
Jul2017
No freedom from information
by Mark Hadley
The Circle DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow RELEASE DATE: 13 July 2017 RATING: M Richard Leghorn, founder of the Itek Corporation, coined the phrase, ‘the information age’. He was reflecting in part about the all-seeing capabilities of spy cameras, and the effect such ‘spectacular informational achievements’ would have on revealing the world around us. He was writing in… Read more
Jun2017
‘Failure’ the new success story
by Mark Hadley
Success is worshipped on magazine covers and prime-time shows. But when our children fail, how do they cope? At the cinemas this month you’ll see three different solutions modelled for young minds.
