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Movie review: Anton Chekhov's The Duel
The title makes the heart sink. The American habit of adding "William Shakespeare's" to Romeo and Juliet or specifying "Berlin, Germany" so we won't think they're referring to any of the 21 small towns so named in the US is infuriatingly self-absorbed.

Movie review: The Salt of Life
Equal parts Fellini and Woody Allen, Di Gregorio's follow-up to 2009's Mid-August Lunch doesn't have quite the same freshness - it's slightly less compact, despite its short running time - and is more contrived than the earlier film.

Album review: Cobra Khan, Adversities
Sometimes in metal and heavy music circles the use of keyboards can sound contrived - and even a little lightweight and wimpy.

Album review: The Roots, undun
In New Zealand, the Roots are known as an alternative hip-hop outfit - and in their 20-year reign they have made some of the finest, and most intelligent music to come out of that genre.

Album review: Spartacus R, The View
Wellington's freakiest six-piece embody the notion of psychedelia on their sophomore album.

Album review: Korn, The Path of Totality
On the face of it, news that nu-metallers Korn were dabbling with dubstep sounded like the worst kind of bandwagon jumping imaginable.

Album review: Kurt Vile, Smoke Ring for My Halo
Vile invites you into his world with his seemingly stream of consciousness lyrics, self-deprecating optimism on life and a no-gimmicks-required songwriting ability.

Album review: El Camino - The Black Keys
Somehow, on last year's Brothers record, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys managed to sound like two stealth slackers. It had that swaggering, hip-hop-influenced blues rock sound that has become their trademark over the past 10 years.

Album review: Gorillaz, Singles Collection 2001-2011
If you're really going to celebrate a 10-year birthday, as Damon Albarn's cartoon band the Gorillaz are doing, then surely a deluxe double-disc collection of songs is the best way to go?

Movie review: Puss in Boots 3D
After four films and four happy endings, the Shrek franchise may have come to an end but the wonderfully entertaining spirit lives on thanks to its scene-stealing feline.

Album review: Roy Harper, Songs of Love and Loss
English folk-rocker Harper - now 70 - is much eulogised by senior British rock critics and has latterly been hailed by the neo-folk movement (Fleet Foxes, Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom).

Movie review: Red Dog
Red is well known across the ditch as the kelpie/cattle dog who roamed Australia in the 70s looking for his lost master.

Album review: Gym Class Heroes, The Papercut Chronicles II
Having collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump and Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Gym Class Heroes have some credit with those fan groups, and having Busta Rhymes and Estelle guest on 2008 album The Quilt earned them a few hip-hop fans.