Pete Messum Reviews...

This is a SPOILER-FREE review of the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. When I initially read the full published script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two, I remember feeling very disappointed in the final outcome. What could have been a simpler and more interesting story seemed to be thrown out in favour of dull twists, poorly-handled fan service and a lack of focus. An updated version of the script was published later, and to be honest I'm not sure how many differences there were. It's taken me quite a while to be able to see the show at Palace Theatre in London, and honestly...it's a hell of a lot better seeing it on stage. Firstly, the theatrical production is absolutely stunning. The stage crew have attempted something hugely ambitious (more so than I thought they would, even for a Harry Potter play), and have succeeded in all departments. The main set is incredible in itself, but the way it shifts and changes with differ

The issue I'm currently having with DC's Shazam! is trying to place whether or not it's a good film or a great film, and I think that'll definitely be something I'll have a better idea of upon further re-watches, and seeing it in the full context of it's eventual franchise (which is both intended and somewhat inevitable at this point). Essentially, Shazam! is a New Line Cinema production made for around $80-100 million and directed by David F Sandberg, a director with a plethora of (mostly horror-based) short films and low-budget horror flicks to his name. On the one hand, hiring a horror director to make a superhero film isn't uncommon - see the likes of Zack Snyder (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and James Wan (Aquaman) - but this film is a passion-project from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (who will appear in future installments as a significant character), and a fairly mid-budget blockbuster from a studio who don't make a

On Saturday 16th March 2019, I had the wonderful privilege to watch the new animated reconstruction of Doctor Who: The Macra Terror - one of the series' "lost" serials (having been "junked" by the BBC decades ago, and only surviving in audio form thanks to some select dedicated fans). Thanks to a hard-working animation team though, this story has been brought back into the BBC archives (hopefully for good this time) as an animated version. Of course, such a release isn't without its potential issues - this animated version is presented in full 16:9 widescreen and in colour, unlike the original 4:3 black and white presentation. There is an option to watch the serial in black and white, but I imagine that these noticeable inaccuracies will bug some fans. This animation project has taken a great number of creative liberties with The Macra Terror, with bits of set, costume and with the Macra creatures themselves - reimagined here to be more agile and terrify

It's worth mentioning here and now that the second season of Marvel's The Punisher isn't very good, and the following review probably won't be too encouraging for those who haven't seen the season yet. Therefore, whilst I will try to avoid spoiling too much, I will probably touch on some spoilers for the show's final season. In short though: it's really not very good. Unless you're seriously invested, or want to give it a go for completist's reasons, don't bother. The season starts off strong, setting Frank Castle in a new direction. He's moved on from the death of his family, and with the mystery of their true murderer having been resolved in Season 1, he's starting a new life on the road. He even meets a new romantic interest, but soon becomes embroiled in a conspiracy: a mysterious group of people are hunting down a young girl called Amy, who's keeping secrets of her own. It's an intriguing set-up, but the pay-off very qui

Back in 2014, Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige announced Captain Marvel - a film based upon a more recent iteration of the classic comic book character - set to come out in Summer 2018. After incorporating Spider-Man: Homecoming and Ant-Man and the Wasp into the slate, whilst also switching Inhumans from a feature film to a "limited series", Captain Marvel has finally come out in March 2019, mere weeks before Marvel Studios' Avengers: Endgame - quite possibly the most anticipated film since...well, Avengers: Infinity War, I suspect. Anyway, Marvel is now the biggest franchise on the planet and Captain Marvel is the first solo female lead in any of these films, which has been met with a variety of bizarre reactions. Regardless of what you can say about the film, I doubt that "groundbreaking" will come-up for a number of reasons. It's not the first female-led superhero film, the character isn't Marvel's first female superhero, it's com