Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 09/03/2010
By Kirstie Dyke Film: Alice in Wonderland Starring: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham- Carter Director: Tim Burton Rating: *** 1/2 Fans of Lewis Carroll’s The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland will be disappointed; Tim Burton’s Alice is hardly recognisable from the ones who have gone before. Sure, there is a cake that makes Alice [...]
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 04/03/2010
Review by Jo Isaac Film: Nowhere Boy Starring: Aaron Johnson, Anne-Marie Duff, Kristin Scott Thomas. Director: Sam Taylor-Wood Rating: ***** As a major Beatles and John Lennon fan I was excited but a little apprehensive about the new film ‘Nowhere Boy’. The film documents around two of Lennon’s teenage years, and anyone who knows his [...]
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 11/11/2009
By Michael Goode Title: Behind Closed Doors: At Home in Georgian England Author: Amanda Vickery Pages: 368 Price: £11-15 (Amazon UK) Rating: *** Behind Closed Doors pulls you into a different world looking at the everyday worries and aspirations of Georgian people, from the landed gentry to the hopelessly poor, it lets you step into [...]
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 23/10/2009
By Sam Hilton The English Department ran a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to see two Shakespeare plays ‘As You Like It’ and ‘Winter’s Tale’ in September, and a drama workshop run by the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company).
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 23/10/2009
By Michael Goode Book: Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World Author: Niall Ferguson Publisher: Penguin Pages: 464 Price: Around £5 (Amazon UK) Rating: **** I have recently discovered a book that tries to explain the modern world, and what part Britain played in its creation. The book by Niall Ferguson looks at the British [...]
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 23/10/2009
By Oli Gokgol Game : Halo ODST Manufacturer : Bungie RRP £39.99 (you can get it for £28.75 at Amazon) Rating: * “Halo ODST” is all I hear as I enter a chat room on Xbox live, and to be honest, it makes me quite sick. I admit the first three Halo games were pretty [...]
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 21/10/2009
By Kirstie Dyke Whatever you may call him, Derren Brown has wowed the viewing public through his imaginative and innovative tricks that leave the mind wondering and controversy flowing. This article examines the theories behind his latest television four part series The Events, where Brown attempted what he described as “some of the most incredible [...]
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 21/10/2009
by Jamie Leighton FIFA ’10 Review Last season’s surprise package, FIFA ’09, saw EA Sport’s trophy cabinet bulging with silverware in the form of gaming awards by the end of the season. Instead of resting on its glory, for FIFA ’10, EA Sports has adopted a new technique for improving on FIFA ’09’s success, rummaging through e-mails and [...]
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 19/03/2009
By Emma Ede Title: Watchmen Director: Zack Snyder Rating: **** “Who watches the watchmen?” Watchmen is the comic book adaptation that most comic book fans never thought would happen. It has been attempted numerous times, and had been judged un-filmable. That is, until Zack Snyder, following his work on 300, agreed to take the project [...]
Simon Amstell, ‘do nothing’
Posted by: Peter Symonds on: 11/11/2009
By Catharine Baldwin Review: Simon Amstell Venue: Oxford Playhouse Rating: **** Simon Amstell, the hilariously witty former host of Popworld and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, delved deep into his own insecurities and angst during his new stand-up routine to deliver a very touching and personal performance. Coupled with his own memories and philosophical contemplations the [...]