The Mana Bar Impressions

With the highly anticipated opening of Australia's first video game bar being a week ago, some friends and I thought the weekend just gone would be a good time to check it out. We'd avoid the opening night kinks and crowds, but still catch the buzz while it was high. Continue?

Green Zone Review

Why am I reviewing Green Zone and not The Hurt Locker, winner of six Academy Awards? Because I didn’t catch The Hurt Locker while it was showing at my local cinema and I’ll be damned if I’m paying sixteen bucks to see it at the Megaplex; that’s why. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun with Green Zone, right kids? Personally, I’ve been itching to see Matt Damon kick some ass ever since "The Informant!" Does Matt kick ass? Does this Green Zone kick ass? Read on to find out and don’t just scroll to the end like a douche.

Alice in Wonderland Review

This latest feature film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland sees another beloved childhood tale get the Tim Burton treatment. Those of you who have seen Tim’s interpretation of Charlie’s Adventures in Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory will know that he has about as much respect for the source material as Trump does immigrants. (Updated for 2020! You're welcome. - Ed) Perhaps that’s a bit harsh, but it’s fair to say that he’s not shy about reinventing key elements. If you thought he was heavy handed with his renovation of the chocolate factory, wait til you see the overhaul he’s given Wonderland.

The Road Review

I like a good doomsday flick and ever since the flying train wreck that was 2012, I've been hanging out for something to restore my faith in the genre. I could tell from the preview for The Road that it was going to be a film with substance and not just an excuse to have the CGI guys crash an aircraft carrier into the White House. But just how good is it? Read on and find out just how badly humanity screws itself over this time.

The Road is based on the 2006 book of the same name that won Corman McCarthy the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Does that name ring a bell? No? Well it should. McCarthy wrote the bleak yet brilliant (but mostly bleak) No Country For Old Men.

Daybreakers Review

I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't heard Michael and Peter Spierig aka The Spierig Brothers. ^{+Pronunciation? Your guess is as good as mine. I'm going to go with "spear-ig".} Of course I've heard of them. I liked them before the were cool. Back in 2003 they released Undead, a zombie flick set in Queensland.^+Represent! It may have had a small budget, but it's solid viewing for fans of the genre and it even picked up the FIPRESCI Prize at the Melbourne International Film Festival. In fact, I think I'll pick myself up a copy next time I'm at JB Hi-Fi. They have all the latest releases at the best price. Guaranteed!^{+Your business here. Ask about our generous advertising packages.} So I was pleasantly surprised to see the Spearig brothers listed in the opening credits as I sat to watch Daybreakers. I later found out, via the stone tablet that is Wikipedia, that Daybreakers was filmed right here in Queensland and that the creature effects were handled by our mates across the pond at Weta Workshop. If you don't know who they are, I have one word for you: Precioussssss!