The Musketeers: “Knight Takes Queen” Review

Warning! Spoilers follow Hardly any spoilers are possible for the main plot of an episode called ÔÇÿKnight Takes QueenÔÇÖ, knowing the premise from last weekÔÇÖs preview: some of the Musketeers, Aramis included, are besieged in a convent, trying to protect the young Queen Anne. We already know, from previous not too subtle hints, that she has a weak spot for him, and Santiago Cabrera had … Continue reading The Musketeers: “Knight Takes Queen” Review

Review: Major Tom, WMC

A one-woman, one-dog show has come like a whirlwind into Cardiff, and itÔÇÖs a story of celebrity culture and the consequences of putting yourself in the public eye, all wrapped up with plenty of sparkling, simple humour Major Tom is an original one-woman show created and performed by Victoria Melody, detailing her and her bassett houndÔÇÖs (the title character) adventures in beauty pageants and dog … Continue reading Review: Major Tom, WMC

The Musketeers: “The Challenge” Review

Warning! Spoliers follow First of all, MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW. This is because, while still finding the time for a slightly forced ÔÇÿromanceÔÇÖ on the sidelines, involving Porthos (it was his turn again, I believe, according to the rota), and a challenge between the Musketeers and RichelieuÔÇÖs Red Guards, this episode directly tackles many crucial ongoing threads. DÔÇÖArtagnan loses his farm in Gascony and becomes a … Continue reading The Musketeers: “The Challenge” Review

Interview: Colm McCarthy, Sherlock

Sherlock is back after an agonisingly long wait. In anticipation for the seriesÔÇÖ return Film & TV Editor Charlie Andrews sat down with Colm McCarthy, director of the second episode ÔÇÿÔÇØThe Sign of ThreeÔÇØ, to talk about the show You have worked with the BBC before on programmes such as Spooks and Doctor Who, what was it like to work on a show such as … Continue reading Interview: Colm McCarthy, Sherlock

Interview: Jeremy Lovering, Sherlock

Sherlock is back after an agonisingly long wait. In anticipation for the series’ return Film & TV Editor Charlie Andrews sat down with Jeremy Lovering, director of the first episode ‘”The Empty Hearse”, to talk about the show   You have worked with the BBC before on programmes such as Spooks, what was it like to work on a show as big as Sherlock? I … Continue reading Interview: Jeremy Lovering, Sherlock

Review: Wicked, Wales Millenium Centre

WickedÔÇÖs fourth stop on its UK-wide tour flew into CardiffÔÇÖs Wales Millennium Centre on March 12th and will remain there until 26th April. Jordan Nicholls went to see whether this production defied gravity or not Based on the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Wicked traces ultimately how Glinda earns her title of Glinda the … Continue reading Review: Wicked, Wales Millenium Centre

Review: Russell Howard, Motorpoint Arena

Russell HowardÔÇÖs career has gone from strength to strength. Starting off as the geeky guy with a lazy eye from Mock The Week, he gained huge success with his own show: Russell HowardÔÇÖs Good News. Yet, it is as a stand-up comedian where he is most at home. Wonderbox is his first tour for three years and he returns with an increased popularity, having his … Continue reading Review: Russell Howard, Motorpoint Arena

The Musketeers: Episodes 1-7 Review

Warning! Spoilers follow BBCÔÇÖs new drama, The Musketeers, is yet another ÔÇô very free ÔÇô adaptation of Alexandre DumasÔÇÖs famous 1844 novel, The Three Musketeers. The transition from book to ongoing series, of course, has required several changes, and the individual episodesÔÇÖ plotlines stray quite far away from anything Dumas ever wrote. In 1630 Paris, three friends, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, serving in the KingÔÇÖs … Continue reading The Musketeers: Episodes 1-7 Review

Review: American Hustle

David O Russell once again joins forces with Christian Bale, Amy Adams, (The Fighter) Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (Silver LiningÔÇÖs Playbook) for his latest film venture, American Hustle This is a film of deception and redemption. The world O Russell Stylishly paints is surmised by its protagonist, Irving Rosenthal (Bale) who suggests that there is ÔÇÿno black and white, only greyÔÇÖ. Although given its … Continue reading Review: American Hustle

Review: Killzone: Shadow Fall

The Killzone franchise is seemingly to Sony what the Halo franchise is to Microsoft. Both are first-person shooters set in the future, with the first three main entries being centred on an intergalactic/interplanetary war and now they can add ÔÇÿfourth entry being a sequel-reboot’ to the list of similarities. Case in point, Killzone Shadow Fall, the fourth instalment in the Killzone franchise and PlayStation 4 … Continue reading Review: Killzone: Shadow Fall

Review: Inside Llewyn Davis

The Coen brothersÔÇÖ latest offering follows a heavily fictionalized recreation of the New York folk scene of the 1960s, shortly before the great folk revival. Effortlessly hilarious without sacrificing poignancy, Inside Llewyn Davis explores life in a pre-gentrified Greenwich Village through the eyes of a failing folk singer in crisis. The career of Oscar IsaacÔÇÖs Davis is loosely modeled on the influential but commercially unsuccessful … Continue reading Review: Inside Llewyn Davis

Review: Buffalo Comedy, Buffalo Bar

A brand new, and very well-publicised comedy night has come to Buffalo Bar. Sitting right on the doorstep of Cardiff UniversityÔÇÖs student populous, Buffalo comedy promised to bring a professional comedy night with value for money, and it has already delivered with its first instalment. The room feels like home for stand-up comedy; its capacity balances intimacy and gathering perfectly, and the acoustics make every … Continue reading Review: Buffalo Comedy, Buffalo Bar

Book Review: ‘Why WasnÔÇÖt I Taught This At School?’ by Dave Reynolds

Although there is a focus on monetary success, Why WasnÔÇÖt I Taught This At School? aims to bring an all-round feeling of success which stretches from career to personal life. The central idea is that change is possible, but only if it comes from within; that thinking like a winner leads to acting like a winner, leads to being a winner. Reynolds adopts a Nurture … Continue reading Book Review: ‘Why WasnÔÇÖt I Taught This At School?’ by Dave Reynolds

Review: 12 Years A Slave

Imagine being abducted and forced to serve somebody against your own will. Imagine having to call somebody ÔÇÿmaster ÔÇÿ in order to keep your life.┬á You canÔÇÖt? After all, in a democratic country the idea of equal human rights for everybody goes without saying. At least thatÔÇÖs what most of us think. Based on the memoir of the same name by Solomon Northup, 12 Years … Continue reading Review: 12 Years A Slave

Review: La traviata, WMC

Culture are on a mission to debunk the myths that make opera seem boring and unapproachable. Vaiva Seskeviciute reviews the dramatic story of La traviata, where the courtesan ViolettaÔÇÖs rise and tragic fall is spellbindingly presented through dance, music and song. Images courtesy of┬áRoger Donovan A string orchestra, and the mysterious walk of Alfredo opened the scene of La traviata, VerdiÔÇÖs most famous opera. The … Continue reading Review: La traviata, WMC

Review: East India Youth – Total Strife Forever

ThereÔÇÖs something very special about the construction of East India YouthÔÇÖs debut LP ÔÇô ÔÇÿTotal Strife ForeverÔÇÖ. Somehow, William Doyle has managed to make an album which is sporadic, indecisive and yet beautifully flowing all at the same time. With influences ranging from David Bowie and Sufjan Stevens to Factory Floor, any attempt to pigeon-hole this album into one given genre would be an insult … Continue reading Review: East India Youth – Total Strife Forever

Review: Fiddler on the Roof – The New Theatre

Paul Michael Glaser, star of ÔÇÿ70s cop thriller ÔÇÿStarsky and HutchÔÇÖ, leads the talented cast of Fiddler on the Roof as Tevye which is on at the New Theatre until Saturday 8th February. Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, Fiddler tells the story of Tevye, the father of five daughters who attempts to preserve his family and Jewish traditions in the face of the Tsar … Continue reading Review: Fiddler on the Roof – The New Theatre

Review: Eagulls – Eagulls

The Leeds-based five-piece will drop their self-titled LP on March 3rd, but is it more eagle or seagull? Perhaps someone has already come up with that, but this album feels like both across its 10 tracks, swaying between a sense of wonderful intrigue and ear-piercing doubt. There is a bunch of mysterious openings and dark riffs to get interested in, with opener ÔÇÿNerve EndingsÔÇÖ suggesting … Continue reading Review: Eagulls – Eagulls

Book Review: TASCHEN 100 Illustrators

Review by Amy Pay Taschen, for the uninitiated, produce some of the most beautiful art books in existence. Always carefully compiled, dotted with facts and printed in rich coloured ink, their publications are a real treat to flick through. 100 Illustrators is one of the latest releases from Taschen, and, like its ancestors, its massive, shiny and bright pages of eye-candy will lure you in … Continue reading Book Review: TASCHEN 100 Illustrators

Review: Xbox One

The Xbox One was marketed by Microsoft as being more than simply a gaming console with more emphasis being placed on it being an entertainment device. Now while this might have swayed some people in direction of its competitor the PS4; it is fair to say that Microsoft has delivered the next-gen experience with the entertainment features that it focused so much on. The first … Continue reading Review: Xbox One