QUICK REVIEW: Raya and the Last Dragon

Howdy ladies and gentlemen of the internet, how’s it going? So earlier this week I checked out Raya and the Last Dragon; the latest animated film from Disney and now I am here to share my review via my podcast Film Focus.

Now I’m always down for a good animated film and I’ve been interested in this film since its announcement. So with an interesting setting, beautiful presentation and solid reviews prior to its release, I was pretty hyped. So how does the film fare Well, check out this episode to find out!

P.S. I do discuss some small spoilers during a section of the review, so if you wish to avoid them skip minutes 14:20-16:19

Anyway here’s the review:

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So have you seen Raya and the Last Dragon and if so what did you think of it? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

QUICK REVIEW: Tom and Jerry

Howdy ladies and gentlemen of the internet, how’s it going? So earlier this week I had the misfortune of watching the latest film adaptation of Tom and Jerry and now I am here to share my pain with you through a review via my podcast Film Focus.

In episode 116 of Film Focus, I review for one of the worst films I’ve watched for a while; Tom and Jerry. Now I’ve never been the biggest fan of the OG Tom and Jerry cartoons, it was like one of those cartoons you watched in between your favourites or when nothing else was on. That being said, when it was good, it was really fun and watched a lot of it in my childhood. I even watched that animated film from 1992 on TV numerous times, and while it’s not a great film by any means, it does have its quirks. So I know what the source material is, and this film… Is not the one. It does a massive disservice to the original cartoons. So how bad is this film? Well, check out this episode to find out!

Anyway here’s the review:

Film Focus · Episode 116 – Tom and Jerry Review

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So have you been unfortunate enough to see Tom and Jerry and if so what did you think of it? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

QUICK THOUGHTS: Mortal Kombat Red Band Trailer

Howdy ladies and gentlemen of the internet, I know I haven’t been on this blog for a while, but I have resurfaced for a good reason. Recently the gods graced us with goodness in the form of a red band trailer for the elusive upcoming video game adaptation of Mortal Kombat. So today I am here to share my casual thoughts on the trailer via my podcast Film Focus.

In episode 115 of Film Focus, I share with you my thoughts on the first red band trailer for the upcoming Mortal Kombat film. Now normally I don’t do trailer reviews on the podcast, but considering how long I waited for footage for this film and how much hype, caution and curiosity I have about this film as well, I had to show up and say something. So join me for some casual thoughts on how I think the film is looking so far.

Anyway here’s the review:

Film Focus · Episode 115 – Mortal Kombat Red Band Trailer

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So have you seen the first trailer for Mortal Komabt and if so what did you think of it? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

Double Review: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom & Soul

Howdy ladies and gentlemen of the internet, I hope y’all had a good Christmas break. But today I am here to share my thoughts on both Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Soul via my podcast Film Focus.

On episode 111 of Film Focus, I’ve got another double review for y’all in the form of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Soul. These are films I’ve had my eye on for a while. With Soul, I’ve been super intrigued about the film because of the great teaser trailer released last year. And Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom I was down to see because of the cast and premise. And since I saw both films within a week of each other and they had some similar elements, I thought I’d review both in the same episode. So how did these films fare? Well, listen to this episode for some spoiler-free thoughts on both films! 😀

Timecodes:

02:00 Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Review
14:00 Soul Review

Anyway here’s the review:

Film Focus · Episode 111 – Double Review: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom & Soul

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So have you seen Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Soul and if so what did you think of it? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

Double Review: Peninsula & Fatman

Howdy ladies and gentlemen of the internet, yeah I’m still alive haha. Today I am here to share my thoughts on both Peninsula and Fatman via my podcast Film Focus.

On episode 110 of Film Focus, I’m back and bringing you yet another double film review for the sequel to Train to Busan; Peninsula and the unconventional Christmas film; Fatman. So how did these films fare? Well, listen to this episode for some spoiler-free thoughts on both films! 😀

Timecodes:

02:11 Peninsula Review
11:38 Fatman Review

Anyway here’s the review:

Film Focus · Episode 110 – Double Review: Peninsula & Fatman

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So have you seen Peninsula and Fatman and if so what did you think of it? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

Double Review: One Night in Bangkok & Gretel & Hansel

Howdy ladies and gentlemen of the internet, yeah I’m still alive haha. Today I am here to share my thoughts on both One Night in Bangkok and Gretel & Hansel via my podcast Film Focus.

On episode 109 of Film Focus, I’ve got another double review for One Night in Bangkok and Gretel & Hansel. Both films I found while scanning through Amazon Video and I had an interest in both films for different reasons. So how did these films fare? Well, listen to this episode for some spoiler-free thoughts on both films! 😀

Timecodes:

02:23 One Night in Bangkok Review
10:21 Gretel & Hansel Review

Anyway here’s the review:

Film Focus · Episode 109 – Double Review: One Night in Bangkok & Gretel & Hansel

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So have you seen One Night in Bangkok and Gretel & Hansel and if so what did you think of it? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

Double Review: Borat 2 & The Trial of the Chicago 7

Howdy ladies and gentlemen of the internet, yeah I’m still alive haha. Today I am here to share my thoughts on both Borat 2 and The Trial of the Chicago 7 via my podcast Film Focus.

On episode 107 of Film Focus, I have another double review for you in the form of Borat 2 and The Trial of the Chicago 7. With Borat 2 I was just curious to see how this sequel would turn out since its been almost 15 years since the last one. And The Trial of the Chicago 7 I have been intrigued by since January due to the premise, cast and Aaron Sorkin’s involvement. So how did these films fare? Well, listen to this episode for some spoiler-free thoughts on both films! 😀

Timecodes:

01:58 Borat 2 Review
13:00 The Trial of the Chicago 7Review

Anyway here’s the review:

Film Focus · Episode 107 – Double Review: Borat 2 & The Trial of the Chicago 7

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So have you seen Borat 2 and The Trial of the Chicago 7 and if so what did you think of it? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

Tenet Review

Howdy ladies and gentlemen, today I return with another review of a film I have been very curious to check out for a while in the form of Tenet via my podcast Film Focus.

A couple days I took my first trip back to the cinema for the first time since March to finally check out Tenet; the latest film by Christopher Nolan. Now I’d been looking forward to this film since the teaser trailer came out and was immediately intrigued and engaged by the crazy imagery and cast members involved. So is this another great film for Nolan’s filmography? Well, check out this spoiler-free review to find out.

Anyway here’s the review:

Film Focus · Episode 104 – Tenet Review

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So have you seen Tenet and if so what did you think of it? Did you love it or dislike it? And did it meet or exceed your expectations? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

PODCAST: Disturbing Films

Howdy ladies and gentlemen of the internet, I’ve returned with a topic I have wanted to talk about for a while now and it relates to the upcoming Mortal Kombat reboot coming out in March 2021. And I’ll be sharing my thoughts via my podcast Film Focus.

On episode 103 of Film Focus, I discuss disturbing films alongside my newest guest and friend Ross. Each of us has 4 films which we find disturbing in a specific way and as we discuss them, we also link each film with a unified theme including:

• Films that are tough to watch but worth watching
• Feelin bad for the characters
• Good atmosphere
• A bold introduction

The films we’ll be discussing are The Nightingale, Perfect Blue, Requiem for a Dream, Climax, Annihilation, Seven, Don’t Look Now and Our Evil. So join us on a casual discussion of these troubling yet entertaining films. Oh and be aware that we’ll essentially be talking spoilers for all of the films involved to varying levels. That being said Annihilation and Seven were the films we talked very specific spoilers and they were at 51:05 and 1:01:02.

Here’s the episode:

Film Focus · Episode 103 – Disturbing Films

If you haven’t checked out my podcast before you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/film_focus

So what did you think of our choice of disturbing films? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll see ya in the next review, laters! 😀

 

The Good Sounds of SG Lewis

Howdy ladies and gents, its been a while since I’ve posted on this blog that wasn’t film-related. But since I’ve been on lockdown for just over a month and won’t be flying back home any time soon, I’ve had a lot of time to think and I’ve wanted to start writing about music again. So I wanted to start by talking about one of my favourite artists I’ve found in the last few years; SG Lewis.

My Discovery & Journey

So I discovered SG Lewis while I worked at the airport in my home town 4 years ago. His song “All Night” was on the radio and it caught me ear, so I put some of the lyrics on my phone and then found the song online. I became obsessed with the song for months. Then later that year I bought his EP Yours and found new songs to jam to and in 2017 I found Shivers which was also a nice listening experience. In 2018 I heard Dusk and that was my favourite EP so far with its gorgeous sounds and I was in love especially with the song “Aura“. And in 2019 I heard both Dark and Dawn and they were awesome as they had that familiar gorgeous sound but had progressed in new and exciting ways. And on top of that, I got to see him live TWICE! Once at ONBlackheath music festival in London and then around 4 months later at Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver. Both experiences were such awesome sessions, but the Vancouver show as extra special as I got to meet him in person which was just amazing!

Why His Music Is So Good

So I’ve given you a condensed version of how I found Lewis’ music and my listening experience so far. But now its time to tell you I believe his music is so good. Now, as I’ve stated on previous music-related blog posts I am no music aficionado, though I try to do my best to communicate my points through sound and feeling. So SG Lewis’ music in the broadest of terms is essentially electronic, but because of the variety in his music, you can get vibes of R&B, disco, house and the 80’s feeling with the use of synth. Lewis’ music has an immediate effect on your ears because it’s so infectious. Once you hear that beat or specific melody it has a way of getting into your head and then you just want to hit the repeat button. Also, the songs never outstay their welcome, they’re always just long enough to leave you wanting more. And one of the key things that make his music so accessible for me is how he has a song for any situation. Whether you’re chilling and vibing to the sounds of “No Less“, “Golden” or “Rest” or you want to dance to the sounds of “Aura“, “Hurting” or “Coming Up“, there is always a song to suit your mood. And then there’s hearing his songs live which adds a new dimension to the songs because of the live vocals, improvisation, extra bass from the speakers and joy you feel from being able to dance with likeminded individuals. There’s nothing quite like it.

Recommendations

So it comes to recommendations and this is where it gets tricky as I would say just listen to everything in chronological order as you’ll enjoy the ride and see Lewis’ progression as an artist. But if I had to narrow it down I would say it would be down to the following EPs: Yours, Shivers and Dusk. Each of those has my favourite listening experience from start to finish with Dusk being the best in my opinion. It’s just something special, you just vibe with it on another level, its instantly replayable, and again it has to be stated how good “Aura” is, it is a perfect jam for dancing.

Now from the EPs to specific tracks and while it’s hard to narrow it down, the following 10 songs are my favourites that I believe are essential and you should listen to right now. Check them out below:

1. Aura
2. Dreaming
3. Lighter
4. All Night
5. Holding Back
6. Yours
7. Hurting
8. Meant to Be
9. No Less
10. Coming Up

And that’s it, I hope my words and examples have spurred you on to check out some of SG Lewis’ music as he really is one of the best artists out there that deserve more love. If you’re a new or an established fan of Lewis, let me know what which song are your favourites in the comment section below. Thank you for reading and I’ll see you in the next post, laters! 😀