Year: 2025

Film Review: Thunderbolts*; Have these anti-heroes finally saved the MCU?

Not unlike its DC counterpart the Suicide Squad, Marvel have assembled an anti-hero-minded crew of degenerates to lead the charge for the greater good in Thunderbolts*, one of the MCU’s strongest efforts in a recent phase of mostly underwhelming, middle-ground entries that have all largely failed to live up to the expectations of a post-Endgame…

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Interview: Everything we learned from Kevin Feige, Florence Pugh and the cast of Marvel’s Thunderbolts*

Marvel are being careful with who they assemble with Thunderbolts*, an unconventional team of anti-heroes who, after finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their past. As the Thunderbolts – Yelena Belova, Bucky…

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Hans Zimmer Live is a transcendent experience for film and music buffs

“Lisa, I don’t think you’ve ever sung this as beautiful as just now. It’s like you need to be here. You are a miracle and I love you with all my heart,” says Hans Zimmer as he looks up to Lisa Gerrard, the Australian singer who famously vocalised his score for Ridley Scott’s 2000 classic,…

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Film Review: Murder Ballads: How to Make It in Rock ‘n’ Roll is a wild mockumentary that revels in its divisive nature of madness

Unhinged was the first word that came to mind when viewing Murder Ballads: How to Make It in Rock ‘n’ Roll, a British rock mockumentary (rockumentary?) that very much submits to a level of madness that is likely to prove incredibly divisive. Writer/director Mitchell Tolliday and co-writer Neil Rickatson adopt a more-is-more type mentality across…

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Damulgarra Stories, a new First Nations initiative, launches to redefine community engagement in the screen industry

Launching at Screen Forever next month, the new First Nations initiative, Damulgurra Stories, is set to redefine respectful, holistic engagement with First Nations communities in the screen industry. Founded by Larrakia man Cian Mungatj McCue, of Moogie Down Productions, and award-winning casting director and producer Sarah Price of Castaway NT, Damulgurra Stories aims to transform…

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Masked rockers Ghost return with sixth album Skeletá

Ghost – the bedazzled church of Tobias Forge – have returned with Skeletá. With previous frontman Papa Emeritus IV stepping aside to take on the role of Frater Imperator after the death of his mother, Ghost is now led by Papa V Perpetua – which is Forge in a new mask, in case you didn’t…

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Behind Crimson Eyes bid farewell to Brisbane

Aussie post-hardcore/metalcore legends Behind Crimson Eyes are just a few days away from wrapping up their final tour. But before one last hurrah in hometown Melbourne this weekend, they bid a fond farewell to the River City, tearing up The Brightside with a little help from friends Nervous Light, The Last Martyr, and Patient Sixty-Seven….

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Game Preview: Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is shaping up to be a solid remaster for modern platforms

It’s been a while since I’ve played an Onimusha game, but with Onimusha: Way of the Sword bringing the franchise back after an 18-year hiatus, I feel that itch again. Onimusha: Warlords was admittedly remastered back in 2019, but Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny holds a special place in my heart, as it’s the first Onimusha game I…

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Film Review: Neighbourhood Watch is a low-key thriller that works best when it lets Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jack Quaid’s chemistry loose

Basic, comedy-inclined title aside, Neighbourhood Watch proves to be more than just a mismatched buddy effort thanks, in large part, to the winning chemistry between Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jack Quaid, who, against their characters’ best efforts, find a sense of kinship in their respective societal outcasts. There’s a bit of clumsiness to their exposure…

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“Death games”, kidnapping and dance parties: Tokyo’s newest attraction is a riot

I’m running around the large room yelling “fish, fish, fish” as the clock is ticking. There’s a dog collar hugging my neck, connected to a small box that, when triggered, threatens to prod me with an electric shock. No, I haven’t been cast in the next Saw movie. This is Immersive Fort, a new Tokyo…

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The Great Escape

Playlist: Meet the Australian acts joining the 2025 Great Escape Festival in Brighton

It’s less than three weeks before The Great Escape festival kicks off in Brighton.  As always, it’s stacked with Australian artists. There are currently thirty on the lineup. For the past fifteen years, Sounds Australia has put together showcases at the festival, featuring Aussie artists, and this year the tradition continues. On Thursday, 15th May,…

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Escape from the 21st Century is a surreal time travel film that challenges the ideologies of adulthood: Fantastic Film Festival Australia Review

There is no shortage of coming of age films that dive into the deep existential dread that most people experience at the mere thought of growing up; Lady Bird, Eighth Grade, Boyhood, Booksmart…the list goes on. Escape from the 21st Century is another good example of a film that falls into this category, but sets…

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Film Review : Tinā is a soulful celebration of collective voice

Tinā is the feature debut from writer/director Miki Magasiva.  The film might appear on the surface a classic underdog tale, but it quickly proves itself to be something richer and more resonant; coming off earlier contributions to Teine Sā and We Are Still Here, Magasiva brings a fresh, heartfelt perspective to this deeply communal story….

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Emily Lubitz

New Music Discoveries 25th April: Emily Lubitz, Abby Wallace, Montaigne, and more

As we race towards the final days of April, this week we have added ten new tracks to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Our track of the week goes to Emily Lubitz, with her new single, “Big Time”. In “Big Time”, Emily has adopted the character of a small-town girl who woos…

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Death from Above 1979

Photo Gallery: Death from Above 1979 + DZ Deathrays – The Gov, Adelaide (23.04.25)

Canadian rock duo, Death From Above 1979 released their debut album, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine, in 2004 but subsequently broke up in 2006. However, the pair reunited in 2011 and are currently touring the album in Australia. We caught their show at Adelaide’s Governor Hindmarsh Hotel. The Aussie warmup band DZ Deathrays need…

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Series Review: Étoile is a visually beautiful and wonderful celebration of the world of ballet

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, the Emmy winning showrunners and collaborative couple who created shows like the beloved Gilmore Girls and the critically acclaimed The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, are diving into the world of ballet with Étoile. The Palladinos are far from strangers when it comes to world of music and dance, with both aforementioned series…

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Abigail Williams

Abigail Williams at the Sydney Theatre Company gives a voice to the voiceless and elevates women’s stories

The HerStory Arts Festival (23 – 26 April 2025), presented by Lost Voices Australia Inc. aims to celebrate and amplify women’s stories, especially those that have been lost to HIStory. The three-day event, which includes plays, readings of poetry, memoirs, essays, along with musical performances and art displays, is designed to foster creativity and ignite…

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Classic console themes are back in a new PS5 system update

Remember those awesome retro startup animations you could get on the PS5 only a few months ago? The ones they removed? Yeah, they’re back in this latest PS5 system update. The classic console themes are inspired by the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 consoles and will change the overall look of the…

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Ghost of Yōtei gets an official release date

Thanks to Grand Theft Auto VI, games releases and release dates have been a little up in the air recently. In fact, they’ve been so up in the air, that many upcoming titles are falling into place, launching either sooner or around GTA IV’s supposed release. Sucker Punch and PlayStation have announced that the upcoming…

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Game Preview: EA Sports F1 25 is taking the experience to the next level

With the new Formula 1 season upon us, it feels only right that we start preparing for this year’s F1 game. We joined Senior Creative Director Lee Mather and Creative Director Gavin Cooper for a breakdown of EA Sports F1 25’s newest features and updates before the game’s official launch on the 30th of May….

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Alienware’s budget friendly 32 inch QHD monitor offers big screen immersion at a fraction of the cost

Alienware’s AW3225DM might not arrive with the fanfare of its QD-OLED sibling, but don’t mistake it for a budget compromise. This 32-inch, curved VA-panel display strikes a sweet spot between performance and price, offering immersive visuals, quality build, and ergonomic design at a surprisingly affordable $699.60AUD. Certainly not the cheapest offering, for those seeking a…

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The Electorate

Exclusive Video Premiere: The Electorate “The Great Divide” (2025)

Earlier this month, Gadigal/Sydney trio The Electorate released “The Great Divide”, their third single from their upcoming album, By Design. We are super excited to be premiering the video for a track that is laden with emotion, packed with honesty and beautifully vulnerable. About the track, Josh Morris from the band writes:  “The Great Divide…

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Film Review: Until Dawn is a surprisingly fun, oft gory survivalist horror effort that honours its gaming source material

As someone who hasn’t played the video game upon which this film is based, and is only vaguely familiar with its plot outline, I’m coming into David F. Sandberg‘s adaptation with horror movie eyes.  And in that regard, the Lights Out director – returning to the genre that made him a name after dipping his…

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Parcels are coming home! Australian shows announced for summer 2025

Fresh from lighting up Coachella and selling out Red Rocks in minutes, Berlin-based (by way of Byron Bay) five-piece Parcels have announced their long-awaited return to Australian stages. This coming summer, they’ll play three huge headline dates across Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, bringing along a brand new album and an all-new live show. Despite being…

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Diablo IV and Diablo Immortal are teaming up with BERSERK for a new crossover event

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that both Diablo IV and Diablo Immortal are teaming up with the BERSERK franchise for a brand-new crossover event. The event will offer unique quests and items across both games, while spanning different time frames. Diablo IV: Berserk x Diablo (7 May – 3 June AEST) Slay demons, earn Behelits: Defeat elite…

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has been announced and is out now

If the leaks weren’t enough to paint a decent picture, Bethesda has officially announced The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. The best part? It’s out right now, on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, as well as Game Pass.  The standard edition of the game is available for A$84.85, but it’s worth mentioning…

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Interview: Michael Cimino on new horror film Until Dawn, surviving gameplay and projecting fear; “I feel like this will honestly bring a new audience to the game.”

Derived from the interactive survivalist horror game, Until Dawn is an original standalone story that expands upon the game series’ mythology, focusing on Clover and her friends, who head into the remote valley where Clover’s sister vanished in search of answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor centre, they find themselves stalked by a masked killer and…

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South of Midnight is a sensational weave of action and style

South of Midnight is a bold, haunting, and beautiful journey into the heart of the American South, it is one that few games have ever dared to explore, let alone with this much soul and a level of attention to detail that most games aspire to reach. Developed by Compulsion Games, South of Midnight blends…

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Film Review: The Accountant 2; Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal’s winning chemistry elevate amusing action sequel

It’s been nearly 10 years since Ben Affleck debuted as Christian Wolff, aka The Accountant, in the same-name actioner that Gavin O’Connor pushed to a sizeable box office haul ($155m) despite tepid-ish reviews.  That being said, average reviews have never stopped a sequel from being brought to fruition before, and the creation O’Connor, Affleck and…

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Interview: Ben Affleck, director Gavin O’Connor and the cast of The Accountant 2; “I just wanted to make a movie that was fun and entertaining and put people in the seats and go to a movie theater.”

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with…

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