Alvin’s 50 Favourite Shows

Welcome to my 100th post. To honour this auspicious milestone, I’ve decided to do what many web sites seem to be doing — come up with my top 50 TV shows of all time (I started with 100, but it was just too much — and even with 50, I hope you’ll stick with me)….

Read More

Stardust – Movie Review

The story of Stardust begins when an Englishman crosses over a wall that separates his village from the mysterious, magical kingdom of Stormhold. Years later, his son Tristran (in an attempt to win the heart of Victoria, the beautiful but indifferent object of his affection) promises to bring her the falling star that passes over…

Read More

Bourne Ultimatum – Movie Review

Hey Shrek, Pirates, Spider-man, and Ocean’s, take notes. This is how you do a threequel. One of the things that makes the Bourne movies so enjoyable is that we like everything about the character of amnesiac assassin, Jason Bourne. His identity crisis, his unwavering determination, his super-human skills of observation, strategy and combat all make…

Read More

Couldn’t those Hallows have been a bit more Deathly?

My two cents on Harry Potter’s last big adventure Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has come and gone. Despite the fact that almost all my predictions about this book from a year ago did not come true, I don’t mind being wrong. At the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry left…

Read More

The Simpsons Movie – Movie Review

“Spider-pig, Spider-pig, does whatever a spider-pig does.” … [That song is stuck in my head.] I, like every Simpsons fan out there, had such high hopes for The Simpsons Movie (not that it was 18 years in the making — I mean, how bogus is it to “hope” that a TV show you enjoy will…

Read More

Sunshine – Movie Review

I’m really excited about a certain pop-cultural sub-genre that seems to be growing: brainy sci-fi. Movies like Children of Men (about a few individuals trying to save a childless world’s last hope) and indie film Primer (about a couple of guys who invent a time machine in their garage) and even the Tom Cruise vehicle…

Read More

Hairspray – Movie Review

Can a movie musical be too perky? If so, then Hairspray might fit the bill. This movie-turned-musical-turned-movie-musical tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a full-figured gal with a big heart and tons of perky attitude — and she sings and dances. When Tracy wins the chance to make her dream come true by becoming a…

Read More

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Movie Review

As a big Harry Potter fan, there was little question of whether or not I would enjoy the fifth movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. However, I have to say that I found it even better than the previous film, Goblet of Fire. This time around, Harry returns to Hogwart’s School of…

Read More

Transformers – Movie Review

Whenever Hollywood decides to adapt an existing pop cultural franchise for the big screen, I hate to hear that this adaptation will appeal both to die-hard fans as well as to the masses. With the possible exception of the Harry Potter films, that statement is almost never true. What it usually means is that they’ve…

Read More