Review: Betrayal, St David’s Hall.

Review by Dimana Markova The central theme of Harold Pinter’s ‘Betrayal’ is, as the title suggests to some extent, the betrayal in the relationships between a woman, her husband and his best friend. Beginning from the end of the chronological story, the play starts with the moment when Emma shares that her marriage with Robert is over to Jerry- Roberts best friend and also the … Continue reading Review: Betrayal, St David’s Hall.

Review: XCOM 2

Llewellyn Griffiths leads the resistance in an attempt to remove the imperious alien race that have taken over Earth in this review. If you like the XCOM series then XCOM 2 is a no brainer. However, if you are new to the series or to the turn based strategy genre then you may be put off.┬á At itsÔÇÖ core XCOM 2 is a complete improvement … Continue reading Review: XCOM 2

Review: Firewatch

Jack Bray grabs his radio and puts on his fireproof jacket to review one of the best looking games of the year. Firewatch is a narrative exploration game set in the Wyoming wilderness in 1989. You control Henry, a short term Fire lookout assigned his own tower in the Shoshone National Forest. Available for PlayStation 4, PC, Mac and Linux. Looking out over the expansive … Continue reading Review: Firewatch

Review: A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Llanover Hall, Canton

Review by Ciara Gillespie Cardiff University’s Act 1 have yet again dazzled audiences with a stunning rendition of Shakespeare’s classic comedy ÔÇ£A Midsummer’s Night DreamÔÇØ. I was┬áperhaps skeptical about going to see the play, mainly because as a newbie to Shakespere I had only heard the name of the play a handful of times but had no clue what it was about. Surely I would … Continue reading Review: A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Llanover Hall, Canton

Handmade meatballs at 29 Park Place

Review: 29 Park Place, worth the hype? – Kelsey Rees

Kelsey Rees gives her review of 29 Park Place, a relatively new bar & restaurant on – you guessed it – Park Place. With the location in its name, 29 Park Place is a relatively new bar and restaurant that only opened its doors last September, and is ideally situated for any student looking for a relaxing meal out with their friends. Showcasing a menu … Continue reading Review: 29 Park Place, worth the hype? – Kelsey Rees

Review: Rehearsal for Murder, New Theatre

Review by Sarah Davies and Khuram Mahmood Posted by George Caulton The story of a man searching for his wife-to-beÔÇÖs murderer begins slowly and stirs, quite literally, from the underbelly of the theatre. Rehearsal for Murder suffers and succeeds in the same instant, not dissimilar to the state that Alex, the protagonist finds himself in. Alex, a successful playwright, attempts to calm the nerves of … Continue reading Review: Rehearsal for Murder, New Theatre

Toni's Amici Cardiff interior

Review: Toni’s Amici, authentic Italian in Cardiff – Sadia Hameed

Sadia Pineda Hameed┬áchecks out Italian restaurant Toni’s Amici. Amidst the mass of Italian chain restaurants that litter Cardiff city centre, finding ‘a proper Italian’ seems near impossible. Bella Italia, Jamie’s Italian and the like have pizza crusts not quite thin enough, a sense of being overcharged and a notable lack of warmth in the atmosphere. The family-run Toni’s Amici, however, is what one might call … Continue reading Review: Toni’s Amici, authentic Italian in Cardiff – Sadia Hameed

Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

You might have heard of Star Wars. It’s quite popular apparently. After ten long years, the hype train returns and itÔÇÖs more powerful than you could possibly imagine. So, here’s the review for the seventh film in the franchise, for which the title seems more appropriate as a question – Star Wars: The Force Awakens? And yes, indeed it does awaken. If you have yet … Continue reading Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Review: Just Cause 3

ÔÇ£Pfft, this sounds stupidÔÇØ a gamer states, as Just Cause 3 is loading up; the cover art and advertising literally covered in explosions. Cut to three hours later; the gamer has rigged up an elaborate system of grappling hooks, placed explosives and vehicles. At the press of a button, a cow is rocketed into a petrol station that results in an earth-shattering detonation that sends … Continue reading Review: Just Cause 3

Green Day - 'Heart Like A Hand Grenade'

Review: Green Day – ‘Heart Like A Hand Grenade’

Finally given a proper release more than a decade after completion, ÔÇÿHeart like a Hand GrenadeÔÇÖ follows Green Day into the studio as they record what would become their biggest album ÔÇÿAmerican IdiotÔÇÖ, propelling them to full-blown stadium status. Filmmaker and friend of the band John Roecker is given full access to the recording of the album from day one, as the three punks piece … Continue reading Review: Green Day – ‘Heart Like A Hand Grenade’

Brief Encounter

Love Season at Chapter Arts Centre

As part of the BFI Love Season, Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff have screened a choice selection of films spanning from ‘tainted love’ to classic romance. Quench reviews┬áa handful of these films. To find out which┬áexciting films Chapter are currently screening, and information on upcoming seasons, visit┬áhttp://www.chapter.org/whats-on/┬á. Brief Encounter (1945) As part of the BFI Love season, Chapter Arts Centre screened Brief Encounter,┬áDavid Lean’s 1945 … Continue reading Love Season at Chapter Arts Centre

Review: Mississippi Grind

Mississippi Grind is a film that could easily pass by without people taking notice. For the most part it is a quiet film, not necessarily because of volume or action, but because its style is far away from the flashy gambling aesthetic that many films about the subject have. Directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson), Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn, A Place Beyond the … Continue reading Review: Mississippi Grind

Spectre

Review: Spectre

After mass promotion and media build-up the latest James Bond film, Spectre┬áfinally opens onto Day of the Dead, Mexico City, with a long continuous moving shot through the carnival celebrations as Bond follows a man through the crowds. Daniel CraigÔÇÖs fourth bond film, after Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall and director Sam Mendes second, Spectre is linked back to all three of its … Continue reading Review: Spectre

Review: The Last Witch Hunter

The opening scene of The Last Witch Hunter made me think. It made me think ÔÇÿGod, those Lord of the Rings films really were pretty good.ÔÇÖ Some of the opening images, sweeping shots of magnificent vistas, arenÔÇÖt just reminiscent of the Tolkein-based trilogy they are almost ripping it off. And the same goes for the way in which the intrepid band of heroes-on-a-quest are filmed … Continue reading Review: The Last Witch Hunter

The Program

Review: The Program

Is there anything more tragic than a racing-movie that never gets up to speed? Well… yes. Obviously yes. There are many things more tragic than that. Testicular cancer is more tragic than that. Becoming so overwhelmed by one desire that you abandon long-held friendships and loyalties can be more tragic than that. Even the story of a talented athlete who feels compelled to cheat in … Continue reading Review: The Program

Bring Me The Horizon - 'That's The Spirit'

Review: Bring Me The Horizon – ‘That’s The Spirit’

Bring Me The Horizon are going to get a tonne of shit for this album; but they donÔÇÖt care, and nor should you. The opening track ÔÇÿDoomedÔÇÖ sets the tone nicely and frames the albumÔÇÖs pop sensibility, whilst retaining Bring MeÔÇÖs bite. Yes, this is very much a pop-orientated album, which will shock people. Where the four absolutely monolithic singles, ÔÇÿDrownÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿHappy SongÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿThroneÔÇÖ and … Continue reading Review: Bring Me The Horizon – ‘That’s The Spirit’

Review: Macbeth

Rather than opening Macbeth with the classic battle featured in Act One of ShakespeareÔÇÖs tragedy, Australian director Justin Kurzel presents a motif that appears throughout the film: childhood, and the innocence (or lack of) that comes with it. The dead baby, or ÔÇÿbabeÔÇÖ, placed centre frame in the opening shot isnÔÇÖt so much a standalone metaphor within itself, but a reflection on what is to … Continue reading Review: Macbeth