EntertainmentMovie Review: Of Gods And MenThe 2010 winner of the Grand Prix, Cannes' no 2 award, this haunting and masterful French film was inspired by the slaughter, by Islamist terrorists, of seven French Trappist monks near their monastery in Algeria.29 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentMovie Review: Bad TeacherPolitically incorrect and with a badass heroine and cynical tone, <i>Bad Teacher</i> takes its title inspiration and a lot more besides from the film <i>Bad Santa</i>, which starred Billy Bob Thornton.29 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentReview: Walking with DinosaursThese days, children are used to monsters popping out of screens in 3D, but coming face-to-face with a brachiosaurus is something else.29 Jun 05:30 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Lilburn, Violin and Piano WorksSignificant Lilburn music finally makes it to CD, but the whole story is still to be told.25 Jun 12:15 AM
EntertainmentMovie Review: Cars 2The original Cars of 2006 was Pixar animation's least fulfilling film with a laboured story and a look that never let you forget you were watching a cartoon.24 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Cults, CultsMale-female duo the Cults seem to want to dispel some of the connotations of their badge "new indie-pop band from New York".24 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80, From Africa With Fury: RiseThe latest album from the youngest son of the late Nigerian rebel and music maker Fela Kuti is co-produced by Brian Eno, and while Afrobeat is well past its heyday, this sounds fresh and resonant.24 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentMovie Review: There Once Was An IslandUnsensational, intimate and quietly passionate, March's meticulously observed examination of the crisis facing the small atoll of Takuu is an object lesson in patient documentary film-making.24 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Alex Skolnick Trio, VeritasJazz and metal are linked by the fact that when they are played at their best they are both adventurous, fiery forms of music. 24 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Janina, The Original EndingOn her debut album, gutsy but dainty Wellington singer-songwriter Janina explores her life lessons through her three loves - classical music, rock 'n' roll and clever writing.24 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentMovie Review: Summer CodaWhoever thought there was promise in this story idea should have baled out at script stage and saved a million dollars or so. 24 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentConcert Review: Topp Twins and the APO at Civic TheatreJools and Lynda Topp's Pakuranga Bowling Club alter egos almost brought the Civic's roof down.24 Jun 05:30 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Arctic Monkeys, Suck It And SeeTheir dalliances with Josh Homme as producer on third and previous album Humbug might have set out to prove the Arctic Monkeys didn't want to be limited to writing toe-tapping tunes about life down the chip shop.22 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: The Adults, The AdultsIt's surprising, given Jon Toogood has been making a rock 'n' roll racket for more than 20 years now, that he's never ventured out on his skinny little lonesome.22 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentMovie Review: BridesmaidsMention a trip to see Bridesmaids and someone will likely comment "oh yeah, the female version of The Hangover".22 Jun 05:30 PM
EntertainmentMovie Review: My Afternoons With MargueritteHeartwarming story of an unlikely friendship.22 Jun 05:30 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Battles, Gloss DropIt's time for utter musical madness to take hold once again. And it's about time because it's been four long years since New York instrumental crazies the Battles released their classic brain-addling debut, Mirrored.22 Jun 05:30 PM
EntertainmentBook Review: <i>The Girl In The Polka-dot Dress</i>The Girl In The Polka-dot Dress could be described as a "road novel", since most of the action takes place on the freeways of America as Harold Grasse drives his newly bought, second-hand camper from Maryland to California in the 1960s.21 Jun 05:00 PM
EntertainmentBook Review: <i>Smut: Two Unseemly Stories</i>Two middle-aged ladies are central to Alan Bennett's reflective pair of comedies in Smut.20 Jun 05:00 PM
KahuBook Review: <i>The Silence Beyond</i>When Michael King died in a road accident in 2004 at the age of 58, New Zealand lost one of its most admired writers and this collection, edited by his novelist daughter Rachael King, reminds us how he earned his reputation.20 Jun 05:00 PM
EntertainmentBook Review: <i>La Rochelle's Road</i>Tanya Moir's first novel is an example of historical fiction that brings to life a moment in time in a way that is graceful and thoughtful.20 Jun 05:00 PM
EntertainmentBook Review: <i>A Widow's Story - A Memoir</i>When anyone precious dies, most people attempt to keep their memory alive. This can be done by using their name a lot. Valuing the things they once touched. Or even wore.20 Jun 05:00 PM
EntertainmentConcert Review: NZSO, Auckland Town HallInkinen puts his stamp on contrasting NZSO offerings.19 Jun 05:30 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Beethoven, Diabelli VariationsBeethoven was a man of volatile emotions, a personality trait that, a few years ago, was attributed to lead poisoning. More recently, such theories have been quashed, but there is no denying that Ludwig was an irascible chap. 17 Jun 11:19 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Flowers, IcehouseIt's 30 years since this Australian pub rock-meets-synth rock band changed their name from Flowers to Icehouse.17 Jun 05:30 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Pitch Black, Rarities and RemixesWhat better way to document 15 years as one of New Zealand's most dependable and pioneering electronic acts than with an album of their best (not to mention diverse) remixes, and some Pitch Black tunes you may not have heard before.17 Jun 05:30 PM
EntertainmentTheatre Review: The Tuakana/Teina ProjectA "tuakana" is a mentor (literally "older sibling") to a "teina", and this $20 double bill includes Strong Hands, a contemporary drama by Michael Rewiri-Thorsen and Te Awarua, a tragicomic melange of history and myth by tuakana Albert Belz.15 Jun 10:30 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: Kidz in Space, GhostAfter a weightless galaxy-soaring opener, hip-hop dance three-piece <i>Kidz in Space</i> throw their debut album a few hard punches, and raise burning questions over how to define them - heavy pop, strobe-lit hip-hop, Kiwi-Brit rap?15 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentAlbum Review: De Sotos, Your Highway For TonightThe previous album by this Auckland-based four-piece, <i>Cross Your Heart</i>, announced a heartland country-rock band in the Warratahs' lineage, but one given a slightly more alt.country twist.15 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentMovie Review: Cedar RapidsEd Helms, the uptight guy from The Hangover films, gets further typecast in this smutty, sweet indie comedy.15 Jun 07:00 PM
EntertainmentMovie Review: The Reluctant InfidelThis knockabout British comedy has good intentions: to confront the horrors of Arab-Israeli relations by laughing at them.15 Jun 07:00 PM
