Song Sung Blue (2025)

Two dreamers find themselves late in life (lucky them!) and form a Neil Diamond tribute band known as Lightning & Thunder, while weathering the storm of love, life and tragedy along the way. It's hard to describe how this movie sinks its hooks in you, but it's a very moving account of a true to life couple who forged their bonds through the power of music. If you're a Neil Diamond fan, it's even better. It's heavily saccharine, but you know what? That's okay sometimes, especially when the performances are this strong.

4 "so good"s out of 5

Note: Based on the 2008 documentary of the same name, available here.

Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost Tribe (2002)

The first one wasn't great, but the limitations of the story begin to show in this follow-up to Hooves of Fire. I admire it more for its creativity and visual style, but I found myself bored and my attention span wavering. This special again involves the villainous Blitzen seeking to sabotage the other reindeer, while Robbie discovers an underground tribe of Vikings named Magnus and rows with his girlfriend Donner. It all just feels a bit pointless.

2½ rabbit masks out of 5

Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire (1999)

Robbie (son of Rudolph) wants to become one of Santa's reindeer, so he must compete in the Reindeer Games, an Olympics-like event, to prove his worth. Blitzen tries to sabotage him, while Robbie has eyes on his girlfriend, Vixen.

Created by Richard Curtis and with a distinctive Aardman-esque claymation style, it's the first of three Christmas specials that aired on BBC One across 1999-2007.

3 sexy reindeer with tits out of 5

Note: This special was released both in its original British format, and also an American dub, weirdly enough. I was only able to find the original language version, so I can't comment on the quality of the latter, but I have listed the US voice cast alongside the UK version for consistency.

Jingle All The Way (1996)

For many years, Christmas was broken in two for me. However, the actions of the person to blame could not erase my memories of the positive feelings and experiences surrounding it that I did manage to make with my Mom and Dad. Or, how much they went out of their way to make sure I had much more than I ever asked for. There are emotional positives to the materialism of the holiday, when partnered with the love and efforts of the people involved. This film demonstrates that more than any piece of fiction I’ve experienced. I remember my Dad leaving to shop at the last minute. I remember doing it myself. It wasn’t as dangerous back then! This doesn’t just capture the joy of buying things for others, though. It’s also (not so) secretly tokusatsu! It’s earnest, wonderfully balanced, and even aware that it's very First World and privileged.

5 Cheers for the Best Clean Comic on the Planet out of 5

Nutted by NEG.

The Ghost (2010)

The 'ghost' of the title is of the writer variety, semi-reluctantly penning the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister at a time that coincides with a political and personal upheaval for the very public figure.
Polanski is a master of his craft and I feel that all the actors gave great performances with varying levels of subtlety, together achieving a believable kind of 'filmic harmony', but overall I just wasn't gripped by any of it. It's now a part of the 'watch once and pass onto someone else' stack of discs.
Strangely, what I'll remember most is the view through the PM's study window; the blustery beach environment with sporadic tufts of grass atop sandy dunes was in some way a kind of unspoken commentary on the life he was living.

2½ cures for insomnia out of 5