My Review of Heated Rivalry: "The Cottage"

 

Written And Directed by Jacob Tierney 

Ilya: "Your family is here. Your boyfriend is here. You're good here."

Shane: "My boyfriend?

Ilya: "I mean, yes. I think so. Probably."

After last week's stunning penultimate episode, I'd say the expectations for this one were astronomical. Could it really stick the landing as a finale? Oh, it certainly did and then some.

The episode opened with Scott Hunter accepting an award a few months after hard launching his relationship with Kip Grady. Scott thanked everyone for his career success, including Kip for making him a better man. It was a lovely way to open the episode.

Then the episode delved into the cottage itself. Shane collected Ilya in secret and the two promised to be honest and relaxed with one another before heading to the titular location. This was a promise they managed to actually keep with one another.

Shane and Ilya at the cottage was just everything you could've wanted. They were goofy with one another, they were playful, they bickered a little like an old married couple and they also had some genuinely tender, truthful and even sexy moments. The writing could not have been more perfect for them.

Then we had the arrival of Shane's parents at the cottage and things continued to take an interesting turn. Of course Shane's parents suspected a little that he was gay but his relationship with Ilya still took them by surprise. I also loved how Ilya was with them.

I sound like I'm gushing too hard here but again those final moments when Shane realised he had a boyfriend with Ilya and both of his parents support, that genuinely was touching to see. Not to mention the last scene with Shane and Ilya driving away while holding hands. Absolutely beautiful.

- Shane and Ilya decided to set up a youth charity tackling suicide prevention. Ilya talked about his mother committing suicide.

- I did laugh at Ilya being disruptive during Shane's phone call with Hayden and playing as him in a video game. 

- I wish we had seen that scene between Ilya and Scott. That would've been nice. 

- Chronology: July 2017 and mostly in Ottawa for this episode.

The Cottage marked a brilliant end to a fantastic first season. Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have been consistently brilliant throughout but these last two episodes truly saw them bring their A game. It'll be a while for the second season but hopefully both lads get some great gigs off the back of this show.

Rating: 9 out of 10 

Doctor Who - Christmas And New Year Specials Ranked

Today marks the 20th anniversary since Christmas and New Year's Specials became something of a thing within the Doctor Who Universe. As we're not getting one today (a genuine missed opportunity), I thought I'd rank the ones we already have. Best to worst of course.

1: The Christmas Invasion (2005)

The debut of David Tennant's Tenth Doctor really set the bar high for these specials as Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) had to get used to her friend looking different during the Sycorax invasion.

2: The Snowmen (2012)

The Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) in Victorian London meeting up with another version of Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), the Paternoster Gang and the Great Intelligence (Richard E. Grant).

3: A Christmas Carol (2010)

The first Christmas special for the Eleventh Doctor and while Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill), it gave us memorable guest performances from Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins.

4: Last Christmas (2014)

The Twelfth Doctor's (Peter Capaldi) first Christmas special had him and Clara on a base in the Arctic with a parasitic creature and freaking Santa Claus (Nick Frost).

5: The End Of Time (2009-2010)

A two part event that saw the exit of the Tenth Doctor being teamed up with Wilfred Mott (Bernard Cribbins) while facing off both the Master (John Simm) and Rassilon (Timothy Dalton). Add in a lot of cameos and this marked a great exit for David Tennant.

6: Revolution Of The Daleks (2021)

The Thirteenth Doctor's (Jodie Whittaker) second encounter with the Daleks during the New Year was actually better than her first one. It was certainly bigger with the departures of Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh) and Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), the return of Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and tension with Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill).

7: The Time Of The Doctor (2013)

The exit of the Eleventh Doctor on Trenzalore made for a rather satisfying and emotionally charged final performance for Matt Smith. It also put Clara through the ringer as well.

8: Voyage Of The Damned (2007)

The most blockbuster Christmas special of them all. A spaceship named the Titanic, a cringey Cyborg baddie in Max Capricorn, Heavenly Hosts, Russell Tovey as a fit Midshipman Frame and of course Kylie Minogue's Astrid Peth.

9: Resolution (2019)

The first Dalek story for the Thirteenth Doctor and unfunny jokes about UNIT and the internet being down to one side, I think it's aged pretty well. Also focusing on one Dalek worked in it's favour.

10: The Next Doctor (2008)

Okay, it's false advertising as most of us would be guessed that David Morrissey wasn't going to be the next Doctor. It didn't stop him and David Tennant being a fantastic double act, Dervla Kirwan being a delight as the sadistic Mercy or the Cybermen being used well enough.

11: The Husbands Of River Song (2015)

While I'll always associate River Song (Alex Kingston) with the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory, there's no denying how much chemistry she had with the Twelfth Doctor. Alex Kingston and Peter Capaldi were magical together.

12: Twice Upon A Time (2017)

While not my favourite regeneration story, it's one that I've grown to like a little more over time. It's more small scale with Peter Capaldi playing well with David Bradley's First Doctor and Mark Gatiss as another Lethbridge-Stewart. Not to mention a nice final return for Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) and cameos from Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) and Nardole (Matt Lucas).

13: The Runaway Bride (2006)

Ah, the debut of Donna Noble (Catherine Tate). She took some getting used to in this second special but what a double act with her and David Tennant. Also points to Sarah Parish for the scenery chewing as the Empress of the Racnoss.

14: The Church On Ruby Road (2023)

I might have highly rated this one upon initial viewing as now certain elements didn't age well (singing goblins) but it's a strong debut episode for Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday.

15: Eve Of The Daleks (2022)

The final Dalek story for the 13th Doctor and Yaz but also including Dan Lewis (John Bishop). The repetitive timeline was fine enough but it's the weakest Dalek story for this particular era.

16: Joy To The World (2024)

The second special for the Fifteenth Doctor and it's one where Steven Moffat could've done more with the Time Hotel concept. It loses points for wasting Nicola Coughlan's Joy Almondo.

17: The Return Of Doctor Mysterio (2016)

A superhero themed special following the antics of The Ghost (Justin Chatwin) in New York. It's easily the weakest special from the Twelfth era but there's a special even weaker than this one.

18: The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe (2011)

One of the few times in which schmaltzy was taken to extremes with this show attempting their own take on Narnia as the Eleventh Doctor was paired with Madge Arwell (Claire Skinner) and her children. Of course it's dead last in this line up.

As for everything else, well here's an honourable mentions round up. I quite enjoyed the use of Christmas and New Year's Eve in K9 And Company (1981) and Doctor Who: The Movie (1996). There's also The Feast Of Steven (1965) as well as the brief flashes of Christmas in episodes such as Turn Left (2008), The Power Of Three (2012) and The Pilot (2017) to name but a few.

Next year will see the show return with another Christmas special, which will be written by Russell T. Davies. Will it serve as a good ending to a rather divisive second era? Time will tell.

Merry Christmas Doctor Who fans. I hope you reading this as I did writing it.

My Review of Love Actually (2003)

 

Written And Directed by Richard Curtis

Billy Mack (to Joe): "It's a terrible, terrible mistake, Chubs, but you turn out to be the fucking love of my life. And to be honest, despite all my complaining, we have had a wonderful life."

I've got to admit that I've only ever watched this film at least twice in my life and it's a movie that in recent years seems to have something of a divisive reputation. Some really love it and a lot of people really hate it. I think I'm more in the like side of things.

Richard Curtis might have quite a reputation with romantic comedies but this one might be one of the most varied one of all. Instead of one love story during the Christmas period, why not several of them? Albeit, some of them are better handled than others if we're being completely honest here.

First off all, there was the decision to cast Hugh Grant as an affable PM named David. His love story involved a maid named Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) and it's a rather moving enough story that's the most fairytale of them all. It oddly worked better than expected.

David's sister, Karen (Emma Thompson) on the other hand wasn't having the best romance this Christmas. In fact it seemed like her marriage to Harry (Alan Rickman) was on the rocks thanks to him being foolish with his secretary Mia (Heike Makatsch). It also didn't help that a Joni Mitchell CD isn't the best way to show your wife you love them.

Then there's the love triangle between newlyweds Juliet (Keira Knightly) and Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and the latter's best friend, Mark (Andrew Lincoln). It's complete with a rather cringe love declaration that's rightfully rejected to boot. Saying that, it's pretty damn memorable scene to watch.

As for the other stories, there's a grieving father and stepson duo named Daniel (Liam Neeson) and Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster). It's the airport with Sam being in love with his classmate, Joanna (Olivia Olson). Oh and Daniel got a date with Carol (Claudia Schiffer). As you do during the holidays.

Going through the other stories, there's an affecting love between writer Jamie (Colin Firth) and Portuguese housekeeper Aurélia (Lucia Motiz) and a cute one between two stand ins named John (Martin Freeman) and Judy (Joanna Page). 

The remaining stories engaged enough. There was Sarah (Laura Linney) and Karl (Rodrigo Santoro), which was slightly complicated by the corner's mentally brother, Michael while Colin (Kris Marshall) and Tony (Abdul Sallis) had some with American girls. The most amusing story though was at the expense of washed up singer Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) and his manager Joe (Gregor Fisher) with the former trying to revive his career with a Christmas cover version.

- At the time, I did find it odd that we got no gay themed love stories but apparently there was a lesbian one that got cut for timing. We lost out on Anne Reid and Frances de la Tour.

- Other actors/celebrities who popped up in this movie included Rowan Atkinson, Elisha Cuthbert, Billy Bob Thornton, Ant &Dec, Jo Whiley, Shannon Elizabeth, Denise Richards and Michael Parkinson to name but a few.

- Standout music: Bill Nighy's Christmas Is All Around, Sugababes Too Lost In You and Girls Aloud Jump. It's a movie with a great soundtrack.

- Chronology: Christmas time in London with an epilogue set a month later.

You know, I really do like Love Actually. Yes, as a Christmas live story movie it could be a little bit more diverse and it certainly would if we were getting it today. Saying that, it's moving, funny and romantic in all the right places and I'm glad it exists as a movie.

Rating: 8 out of 10 

My Review of The Wizard Of Oz (1925)

 

Written by Larry Semon And L. Frank Baum, Jr.

Directed by Larry Semon

Title Card: "Know ye all, that Dorothea is the rightful ruler of The Kingdom of Oz and on her 18th Birthday she shall ascend to the throne... .. to Rule until the Great Master calls."

Prior to a month ago, I had no idea such a movie existed. I mean, I did know that there were versions of The Wizard Of Oz that predated the 1939 movie. Why am I now reviewing this one? Because it's a 100 years old, that's why.

Earlier versions of this were of course in black and white as well as sepia and other colours, etc. It's also silent but there's music in the background and many, many captions to help forward the plot along.

The movie started with a toymaker reading the story to his granddaughter. In the Land of Oz, there were the following ruler - Prime Minister Kruel (Josef Swickard), and he's aided by Ambassador Wikked (Otto Lederer), Lady Vishuss (Virginia Pearson) and the Wizard (Charles Murray). Then there's Prince Kynd (Bryant Washburn), representing the discontented citizens of Oz and demanding the return of a missing baby.

Then there's the events of Kansas. Dorothy Gale (Dorothy Dwan) lived with her Aunt Em (Mary Carr) and her Uncle Henry (Frank Alexander). Em's nice but Henry isn't and it's not long before Dorothy ended up in Oz and befriended the likes of the Scarecrow (Oliver N. Hardy) and Cowardly Lion (Curtis McHenry).

Throw in a love triangle between Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Prince Kynd, Kruel trying to force Dorothy into marriage and a reveal about Dorothy's real origins and this definitely isn't the type of adaptation that I expected. If anything it barely resembled anything that came close to the source material itself.

- You can watch the movie for free on its official Wikipedia page and YouTube among other places.  I'm impressed you can do that with certain movies.

- The Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman and Cowardly Lion are actually disguises from the farmhands in this movie.

- Standout music: The movie was originally orchestrated by Louis La Rondelle, conducted by Harry F. Silverman, featuring Julius K. Johnson

- Chronology: Mostly set in Oz and Kansas as per usual.

While I didn't love this adaptation of The Wizard Of Oz, it's certainly worth a watch. It's a very removed from the source material version that you can get. I'm unlikely going to ever watch this again though.

Rating: 6 out of 10 

My Review of The War Between The Land And The Sea: "The End Of The War"

 

Written by Russell T. Davies

Directed by Dylan Holmes Williams 

Barclay (to reporters): "Tell them we won the war."

Victory really didn't come in the greatest form here. I know, I know. There had to be a return of status quo of sorts but even I felt bad for Homo Aqua a bit here and that's in spite of that reprehensible thing that Tide did at the start of the episode.

After so much talk of Severance in the last two episodes, it turned out to be a virus. One that the Prime Minister (Vincent Franklin) signed off on being injected into Barclay, who then passed it to Salt and who then inadvertently doomed hef own species.

It was cruel, it was callous and it worked all too well. In some respects, I'm actually shocked that Barclay and Salt themselves didn't die. As for their love story, kind of funny that RTD decided to mirror both Doomsday and Journey's End, only minutes apart from each other.

It looked like the Sea Devils/Homo Aqua's near extinction also nuked any chance of Barclay and Salt being together. Then it turned out that RTD wanted Barclay to be a sexy Gill-Man and those two lovers ended up being together. I desperately wanted Barclay to survive this miniseries and I'm glad he did. I'm still mixed about him and Salt as I do feel their relationship needed to be fleshed out more.

In fact so much needed to be fleshed out. Severance itself could've been better explained. Tide as a more antagonistic member of Homo Amphibia could've been better utilised. The public turning on Barclay also could have been better handled and even the human villains could've done with being anything other than one dimensional. There's a lot of could haves here.

Then there's Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. I do think these last few episodes have cemented just how great an actor Jemma Redgrave can be with the right material. Kate really went through it with Ibrahim's death and while she helped Barclay get his happy ever after, she clearly needed help herself. Blackmailing her therapist certainly wasn't it and nor was that credit scene.

- The credit scene was Kate pointing a gun at a man for littering. I would've removed that scene.

- Barbara and Kirby really added nothing as characters to the show. What was the point of Salt being able to assume a male form? We could've had bisexual Barclay.

- This episode certainly accentured Russell Tovey's physique. I'm not complaining one bit about that.

- Shirley's husband was named Lawrence, Ibrahim appeared in flashbacks and Tide had his kind eat dogs. Definitely could've done without that scene.

- Standout music: Lorne Balfe and Alison Goldfrapp's version of Heroes.

- Chronology: Various locations in this finale. 

Overall, The End Of The War marked a mixed ending for something of a mixed series. For the most part, I did enjoy this miniseries with Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jemma Redgrave all giving excellent performances. Writing could've been stronger and cohesive in parts.

Rating: 7 out of 10 

My Review of Trading Places (1983)

 

Written by Timothy Harris And Herschel Weingrod

Directed by John Landis

Louis: "Listen, do you have any better ideas?"

Billy Ray: "Yeah. You know, it occurs to me that the best way you hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people."

Coleman: "You have to admit, sir, you didn't like it yourself a bit."

I'm still on a Christmas movie catch up and I have to admit that I've never watched all of this movie in one sitting. I've seen bits over the years but last night, I decided to watch the movie in it's entirety. I'm glad I did.

It's a movie with a straightforward concept. Take two very different men. In this case, a street hustler named Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) and a commodities banker named Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) and show what would happen if their lives were reversed.

That was the idea of Louis's bosses - brother duo, Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) and Mortimer Duke (Don Ameche). They had a bet that both Billy and Louis would fall into their preconceived notions of what would happen if things were different for each other. It was an experiment that almost worked. Until it didn't.

For Billy, getting to live in Louis's house with the latter's butler, Coleman (Denholm Elliott) and working Louis's job certainly has it's advantages. It turned out that Billy's quite shrewd on the stock market, much to the annoyance of the Duke brothers. Both of them showed their racist selves pretty quickly.

On the other hand, being poor didn't quite suit Louis. He lost his job, home, annoying fiancée Penelope (Kristin Holby) but on the other hand, he did gain a friend in Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis). Actually it was more than that as Louis and Ophelia became a couple by the end of the movie.

Having Louis, Ophelia and Billy team up to get back at the Duke brothers definitely had the type of comic mishaps you couldn't get away with today. Those scenes did have me laughing out loud and it was satisfying watching the Dukes lose everything.

- There's minor roles for Ron Taylor, J.T. Turner and Giancarlo Esposito in this movie along with Avon Long.

- At the time, there was hesitation in casting both Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis in this movie but fortunately we got both.

- Standout music: Sylvester's Do You Wanna Funk and The Silhouettes Get A Job.

- Chronology: 1980s New York during the Christmas season.

Now that I've properly watched it, I got to say that I really liked Trading Places. It's not very Christmassy as other movies I e watched this month but it's certainly enjoyable. Both Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy are on terrific form.

Rating: 8 out of 10 

My Review of Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025)

 

Written And Directed by Mike P. Nelson

Billy (to various victims): "Naughty."

My journey ending towards this horror franchise continued with the latest instalment, released in theatres last week. I can't believe I'm about to say but I actually liked this one. I'm being serious.

The movie opened with a young Billy Chapman (Logan Sawyer) witnessing the death of his parents by a homicidal Santa Claus. Years later and now played by Rohan Campbell, Billy's taken on the killer mantle himself, albeit with a twist.

For some reason, this movie wasn't interested in Billy being a villain but instead, it went down the Dexter (2006-2013) route into making him a rather sympathetic antihero. He's even got a "dark passenger" of sorts named Charlie (Mark Acheson) to make sure that Billy only kills deserving victims. 

In terms of changes, I think this worked well to the movie's direction. Ending up in a small town named Hackett, Billy ended up working in a gift store run by Mr. Sims (David Lawrence Brown) and fell in love with the latter's daughter, Pamela (Ruby Modine). Pamela had a bit of a dark side of her own and an unlikeable ex-boyfriend named Max (David Tomlinson).

Throughout the movie, we got to see Billy and Pamela's relationship development rather nicely. We also got to see Billy kill some horrible people, including an entire party of Nazis. At no point are we meant to not root for Billy. 

There's also a subplot involving a serial child kidnapper named the Snatcher that had Billy and Pamela working together. Again, this might be the most sympathetic version of Billy we're ever going to get and while the ending was predictable, I did find it satisfying enough.

- Billy's parents murdered his grandfather before they were killed themselves. Pamela could later "hear" Billy after his death. His bloody advent calendar was an interesting thing to have.

- There's some Easter Eggs to past movies in this franchise as well as Black Christmas (1974).

- Standout music: Kandy Korn's Saint Bitchless.

- Chronology: Billy's parents died when he was eight. He was in his twenties during this movie.

This has never been the strongest of horror franchises but I genuinely liked this version of Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025). Rohan Campbell turned out to be a great choice for Billy Chapman and this modern take worked a treat.

Rating: 7 out of 10