The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Reviewed by Emma Hughes

Directed by Andrew Adamson (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Shrek), Screenplay by Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely (novel by C.S. Lewis), Score by Harry Gregson-Williams.

One year has passed in London for the Pevensie siblings Peter (William Moseley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna Popplewell) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) and they are anxious to return to Narnia. Entering without warning via a magical portal at The Strand station, they find a very different world to what they were expecting. In the 1300 years that have passed the Telmarines have taken over and are ruling with an iron fist, believing all Narnians to be extinct. The trees have become silent and Aslan has not been seen for 1000 years. At the Telmarine castle, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) is being tolerated by his uncle King Miraz (Sergio Castillito), until his Queen gives birth to a son. Upon his cousin's birth Caspian is forced to flee in the dead of night only to find himself captured by those he had believed were part of a fairytale- Narnians.

Article by Cameron Spink

Tony Stark: "I have successfully privatized world peace"

With the acclaimed success of the first Iron Man movie starring Robert Downey Jnr it was a given that a sequel was to be created sooner rather than later. Well, the sequel is upon us and it leaves off where the original finished.

While the Iron Man movie franchise is predominantly action-based with Downey Jnr as the lead Iron Man II packs just as much punch with fresh gags and humour as it does in regards to its action sequences and storyline. Downey Jnr, as Tony Stark, has not had any sort of comedic hangover and the one liners provide relief in a movie that is sufficiently more melodramatic than its predecessor.

Iron Man II begins with Tony Stark still living the life befitting of a billionaire. Instead of taking responsibility for the weapon he has created he uses it to increase his fame rather than hand it over to the United States armed forces for use in the country's defence. This backfires as Stark is targeted by Whiplash (Mickey Rourke) a problem not to be had by any other superhero who remains anonymous.

Government policies in the UK - similar to Australian - are now telling parents to not pass on their values regarding intercourse. "Trying to convince them of what’s right and wrong may discourage them from being open"

Parents told: avoid morality in sex lessons

TimesOnline, 22 February 2009

PARENTS should avoid trying to convince their teenage children of the difference between right and wrong when talking to them about sex, a new government leaflet is to advise.

Instead, any discussion of values should be kept “light” to encourage teenagers to form their own views, according to the brochure, which one critic has called “amoral”.

Full article at the Times Online.co.uk

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Plastic Skull

Reviewed by Emma Hughes

Directed by Stephen Spielberg, Script by David Koepp (story by George Lucas, Jeff Nathanson)

Those who were captivated in their youth by the first film in this franchise may allow the latest attempt some grace. Unfortunately I haven’t been so affected and found this film to be lacklustre, filled with poor dialogue, strained plot development, and tired actors. Whatever soul may have been present in the earlier films seems to have been drained out by a director who is now too famous to have to care about quality. The attempt of using aliens (!!) as a credible plot device will clue you in as to how far gone this film is.

I am constantly amazed at what great faith we place in our kids, treating them like adults when they are plainly not. The latest experiment reveals why kids need good strong parents.

Uproar over Boys and Girls Alone reality TV show in UK

Herald Sun, 4 Feb 2009

A REALITY TV show in which children as young as eight are left to fend for themselves for a fortnight in a Big Brother-style house has created uproar.

The British series Boys and Girls Alone shows children sobbing and begging to be allowed to go home.

The program's makers said it was intended to test whether today's "cotton wool kids" could survive alone for a fortnight, or whether modern society had forced them to grow up too quickly.

Read full article at the Herald Sun