Latest from Entertainment Reviews

Classic CD review: Johann Sebastian Bach, 53 Cantatas (BIS)

Dance review: A Christmas Carol, Royal NZ Ballet

Northern Ballet's noted production of Charles Dickens' famous tale of curmudgeonly greed, grim reflection and a joyous redemption in Act III has all the charm of a very traditional Christmas card.

Kids outshine Billy Connolly in dark comedy

Following her roles in Gone Girl and Hector's Search for Happiness, Rosamund Pike again finds herself in a troubled relationship, this time as Abi, a mum of three in the process of divorcing husband Doug (Tennant).

Hard to hold back the tears in Hilary Swank's new film

Pack the tissues. Although this story of a young woman dealing with a progressive neurodegenerative disease is predictable and emotionally manipulative it's still hard to hold back the tears.

AC/DC - Rock or Bust

Guns? Knitting? It's still as hard as it always to find a sticking-to phrase that describes the adhesive power of AC/DC when it comes to being glued to their old ways.

Jools Holland - Sirens of Song

It's that time of year, when labels start pouring out Christmas offerings from their stars, best of compilations, and re-releases.

Nathan Haines - 5 A Day

After two old-school jazz albums - the acoustic The Poet's Embrace and Vermillion Skies, recorded live in the studio and direct to tape - multi-instrumentalist Haines here reverts to the amalgam of sax 'n' flute jazz.

Game review: Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

Here's the problem with Batman right now - he's bloody everywhere. The Dark Knight has just appeared in The Lego Movie, he'll be showing up in the new Batman v Superman film, and there's even a real-life Batman doing good deeds in Japan right now.

Eminem and Wu-Tang Clan

You want them to remind you why they're great. You want them to teach those hip-hop pretenders a lesson. You want them to spit hard and fast over brilliant beats.

Gyllenhaal's 'creepy' Nightcrawler

The American dream is given a twisted makeover as Jake Gyllenhaal goes to extreme lengths to make a living post-GFC.

Actor's disturbing performance

Set on the streets of Brooklyn, The Drop is a quietly foreboding psychological thriller set in the criminal world.

Singer giving retro a different spin

At first, opening track Next Time suggests Soul Power has a fairly conventional modern soul approach, but then the rock elements creep up, the rougher, grittier production, the wild organ solo, and Curtis Harding's nuanced vocals filter through.

Review: Grand Theft Auto's breathtaking reboot

Grand Theft Auto V's been rebooted for next-gen consoles - complete with a first-person mode. Is it any good? Chris Schulz goes on a rampage...

Review: Auckland Chamber Orchestra

Peter Scholes marked another fruitful year for the Auckland Chamber Orchestra with a concert focused very much around the string players of his group.

Classical review: NZSO, Auckland Town Hall

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's <i>Tuscan Summer</i> concert promised a festival of Italian sumptuousness with a poster featuring a double-headed gelato, writes William Dart.

Rolling Stones: This could be the last time, but what a way to go out

A madcap Satisfaction lit the fuse on the fireworks finale. It was the Rolling Stones’ best NZ show of their senior years.

Concert review: Rock legends give satisfaction

The Rolling Stones finally broke cover last night to rock New Zealand in spectacular style.

Classic CD review: Argerich/Barenboim: Mozart, Schubert, Stravinsky