Quenchmas Countdown: Day 21 – ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’

ÔÇ£Can I refill your eggnog? Get you something to eat, drive you into the middle of nowhere, and leave you for dead?ÔÇØ National LampoonÔÇÖs Christmas Vacation ÔÇô Making you feel a whole lot better about your impending dry turkey, minor electrical tree fire, and extended family festive chaos! Christmas Vacation is definitely up there as one of my favourites for this time of year because … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 21 – ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 18 – ‘Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special’

In the words of Nessa, ÔÇ£OH, OH, OH, Merry ChristmasÔÇØ. This comedic show written by Ruth Jones and James Corden creates the perfect image of Christmas in Wales in comparison to Essex, guaranteeing to make any student studying in Cardiff laugh at their token ÔÇ£Welsh friendÔÇØ. On the other hand, if you are the token ÔÇ£Welsh friendÔÇØ, as relatable as the show may be, you … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 18 – ‘Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special’

Christmas edition: Agony Aunt

Merry (week and slightly under a half till) Christmas! Do make sure that you enjoy every second of your festive break- yes even try to enjoy revising and writing essays. I for one will be listening to Last Christmas┬áevery day until the 1st of January when the work-out motivational playlist will be on everyday. Well until I make a little detour to the nearest McDonalds … Continue reading Christmas edition: Agony Aunt

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 11 – ‘The Holiday’

My controversial Christmas opinion? The Holiday is better than Love Actually. IÔÇÖm not even sorry about it. The Holiday follows Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, who are lonely at Christmas and decide to swap houses for the holidays. ItÔÇÖs your usual festive rom-com ÔÇô they each find their perfect holiday romance. What makes this better than Love Actually? The stories have time to develop, itÔÇÖs … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 11 – ‘The Holiday’

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 9 – ‘Arthur Christmas’

I didnÔÇÖt think I couldnÔÇÖt love James McAvoy anymore, until I witnessed the wonder that is Arthur Christmas. With Christmas becoming a military mission, Arthur, the youngest of the Claus clan is one of the few working elves who just wishes for everyone to have a Merry Christmas, away from the hustle and the bustle of modern festivities. Young Arthur tries with all his might … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 9 – ‘Arthur Christmas’

Low In High School- Morrissey Album Review

Morrissey has come a long way since his days with The Smiths. ‘This Charming Man’ has become a little, wellÔǪ cranky. As an artist who is known for having an (often controversial) opinion on anything and everything, itÔÇÖs not an entirely unexpected evolution. Morrissey has never been one to shy away from political comment, but it becomes harder to take seriously when he comments on … Continue reading Low In High School- Morrissey Album Review

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 7 – ‘Home Alone’

ÔÇ£Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back.ÔÇØ Home Alone is probably the most iconic family Christmas movie I have ever seen. It follows adventures of Kevin McCallister after, by mistake, he is left home alone at Christmas. He faces incredibly incompetent robbers and protects his home while getting to know the neighbour heÔÇÖs always feared. … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 7 – ‘Home Alone’

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 6 ‘A Muppets Christmas Carol’

ÔÇÿWeÔÇÖre Marley and Marley ooooÔÇÖ or is it just me singing along to yet another absolute banger from The Muppets? The season of Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas. Whether youÔÇÖre religious or not, Christmas gives us an opportunity to refresh our lives with peace, joy and forgiveness – a message central to DickensÔÇÖs A Christmas Carol. But just when you thought Dickens … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 6 ‘A Muppets Christmas Carol’

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 5 – ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’

“What is it you want Mary? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.” It’s a Wonderful Life is, simply put, essential festive viewing. Frank Capra’s 1946 classic encapsulates true Christmas spirit and goodwill like no other and is bound to warm your cockles on the frostiest of eves. If you don’t know the … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 5 – ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’

LP- Interview and Review

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå Laura Pergolizzi, LP for her fans, is one of the most unique and astonishing voices the panorama of American rock music has ever seen. Her break-through album Lost on You was a big success around the globe and particularly in Europe where it reached peaks of 100,000 copies sold in France. In an interview with Quench last Wednesday, we talked with Laura about her … Continue reading LP- Interview and Review

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 4 – ‘Love Actually’

ÔÇÿI feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes. Christmas is all around me and so the feeling growsÔÇÖ are the recognisable tones of Bill Nighy in the jolly, heart-warming Christmas classic that is Love Actually. And when I hear this song on TV, I know that Christmas is just around the corner. Love Actually has become a staple of the Christmas … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 4 – ‘Love Actually’

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 3 – ‘Elf’

Hi itÔÇÖs Molly the Elf, whatÔÇÖs your favourite colour? It must be said (and I will festively fight to the death on this), that Jon FavreauÔÇÖs Elf is one of the best Christmas films ever, and if not, one of the best films ever. To exist. Ever. If you havenÔÇÖt watched Elf at least 7 times before Christmas Day, then you are not doing Christmas … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 3 – ‘Elf’

Are Fickle Friends about to break the mainstream?

The early signs are strong for Fickle Friends, a pop group from Brighton who are getting the kind of early buzz which could see them break the mainstream with the release of their debut album next year. Together since 2013, they started out in the music breeding ground of Brighton, responsible for the likes of Royal Blood, James Bay and Rizzle Kicks in recent years. … Continue reading Are Fickle Friends about to break the mainstream?

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 2 – ‘Gremlins’

This film has everything you love about Christmas. Carol singers, snowmen, tinsel and most importantly, elderly women being shot out of windows. Fun for all the family. Gremlins is a bit quirky. Released in the Summer of 84 to rival against Temple of Doom and Ghostbusters, the film mocks the commercialisation of Christmas as well as tell a story which is particularly dark at times, … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 2 – ‘Gremlins’

Quenchmas Countdown: Day 1 – ‘The Polar Express’

The power couple that gave us Forrest Gump reunites once more to rejoice our screens with a Christmas classic. ‘The Polar Express’ directed by Robert Zemeckis and voiced by Tom Hanks, among others, reimagines the 1985ÔÇÖs children book written by Chris Van Allsburg. The animators have attempted to preserve the look of the original illustrations of the book using state-of-the-art motion-capture technology, the result is … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 1 – ‘The Polar Express’

IRIS PRIZE REVIEW: Prom King, 2010

The LGBTQ+ narrative in cinema is one that comes with a rather complicated history. From ÔÇÿBrokeback MountainÔÇÖ right up to this yearÔÇÖs most lauded romance, ÔÇÿCall Me by Your NameÔÇÖ, LGBTQ+ stories in film have repeatedly been dominated by drama, tragedy and, more often than one would like, death. How refreshing it is, then, as a huge fan of queer narratives, to come across Christopher … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE REVIEW: Prom King, 2010

IRIS PRIZE REVIEW: Signature Move

Ever since the Autumn of 2016, and under the administration of Donald Trump, countless groups of people have been vilified, scrutinised, and scapegoated by the very government that is supposed to represent them. From the announcement of TrumpÔÇÖs decision to campaign to become the president of the United States onwards, much conversation in America has revolved around the rights of minorities, and much of it … Continue reading IRIS PRIZE REVIEW: Signature Move