When David Larsen was 10 years old, he read his first Spider-man comic and discovered that Spider-man is secretly a freelance newspaper photographer. He recalled that Superman works for a newspaper as well. Young Larsen set out to become a freelance journalist, reasoning that superpowers and a costume would surely follow. Today, he is as impoverished as either Clark Kent or Peter Parker, and has a more nuanced appreciation of the ironic contrast between the heroes’ public and private lives. He earns his living going to films and reading books: a great consolation, being the fulfillment of his other ridiculous childhood dream. His friends have learned not to discuss the Spider-man movies if he’s anywhere in earshot.
David Larsen
Now Showing February 23 2012
New in our films-in-theatres round-up: Contraband, Shame, Vincent Wants To Sea. [more]
Film review: Shame
Shame, opening today, doesn't say anything new about sexual addiction, says David Larsen, but the acting and cinematography are excellent. [more]
The Art of the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien by Wayne G Hammond and Christina Scull review
A new collection of JRR Tolkien's artwork is a bonbon for the serious Tolkien nerd. [more]
Now Showing February 16 2012
New additions to our all-films-in-theatres review round-up: Leonardo Live, Like Crazy, Moneyball, Romantics Anonymous, The Ides of March, This Means War, and Weekend. [more]
Now Showing February 9 2012
Our movie review round-up returns from vacation, with assessments of every film in theatres, from A Few Best Men to Young Adult, with a lot of Oscar contenders in between. [more]
The Artist and J Edgar review
Oscar nominee The Artis is sensational, while J Edgar is the most nuanced film Clint Eastwood has made in years. [more]
Kelly Link interview
The US author's short stories are neither science fiction nor fantasy, but she is prepared to call them quirky. [more]
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo review
David Fincher has perfect control over his version of the Stieg Larsson story, which opened this week. [more]
Hugo review (better than War Horse)
Martin Scorsese’s magnificent Hugo is everything War Horse... [more]
The Swerve: How the Renaissance Began by Stephen Greenblatt review
Stephen Greenblatt overplays his hand in The Swerve: How the Renaissance Began. [more]
Now Showing Christmas 2011
In our final catch-all summary of films in theatres for 2011, we review The Salt of Life, Tintin, Melancholia, We Bought A Zoo, and The Iron Lady. [more]
Melancholia and The Adventures of Tintin review
Lars von Trier's Melancholia, in cinemas now, is a masterpiece, and Tintin is old-school, big-screen fun. [more]
George RR Martin interview
The author of A Game of Thrones eschews the "Disneyland Middle Ages" to describe worlds of inequality and violence. [more]
Now Showing December 15 2011
New this week: reviews of El Buli: Cooking In Progress, Illustrious Energy, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and The First Grader. [more]
When a City Falls review
Gerard Smyth's documentary is the on-the-ground film the people of Christchurch deserve. [more]
Now Showing: November 24, 2011
New this week: reviews of Arthur Christmas, Rest For The Wicked, Submarine, The Whistleblower, and When A City Falls. [more]
Now Showing: November 17, 2011
This week, we confront every non-teenage girl film reviewer's greatest fear: a new Twilight movie. [more]