Are you ready for a fight? Because you're probably going to get one.

Brooke Fraser returns with her fourth studio album, Brutal Romantic, showcasing a new style, new sound and new attitude.

For my money the most powerful, enjoyable and important act on the mainstage at this year's Womad in Taranaki - and there were some over-acclaimed but perfunctory internationals - was Moana and the Tribe.

Director Laila Marrakchi's Morocco-set drama about a family gathering to mourn its father is an enjoyable and visually scrumptious affair, even if the premise is familiar.

It's a quick turnaround for an industry that normally takes years to complete a follow-up - it will be 2017 before we see the next Lego movie. This alone gives a good indication of the quality of animation and story to expect.

If you loved Young@Heart, Ping Pong or Autumn Gold, about a group of geriatric athletes preparing for the World Masters Competition; Hip Hop-eration is for you.

The Smokefreerockquest 2014 finalists are full of talent and drive, writes Rachel Bache.

Graham Reid speaks to Bernie Griffen about his late-in-life career.

Their latest album is a bit of a downer, but Dan Auerbach insists that hasn't stopped The Black Keys from delivering their fiercest live shows yet. He talks to Chris Schulz.

The makers of Coraline and ParaNorman return with another stop-motion wonder in Boxtrolls, writes Helen Barlow.

The cheeky Samoan trio, comprised of brothers Pene Pati and Amitai Pati and their cousin, Moses Mackay, have announced a series of live dates throughout February and March.

If you are involved in an indie-slanted record club, or you read Pitchfork, or you simply like really great rock 'n' roll songs, you will have been spinning Lost In The Dream.

Sci-fi survival tale will leave teens hungry for more, this cross between the Lord of the Flies and The Hunger Games leaves you wanting more.

Lydia Jenkin takes on the detective squad of The Brokenwood Mysteries in a game of Cluedo to get them to spill the beans about their roles on the new local crime drama.

In spring, a middle-aged, mad keen gardener and cook and telly critic's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of ... things other than watching television. Such as spring, perhaps.

The miracle of order amid chaos that is the system of tiffin meals is the basis of a lightweight but very charming romantic comedy.

There’s a lot of work, and a bit of a gamble, involved in bringing movie superheroes to life. Chris Schulz gets to grips with the second wave of Disney Infinity toys.

We all know Chi-town homies are the craziest, and tomorrow night, one of Chicago's finest is gracing the stage at the Powerstation.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began life in the 80s as a goofball parody of other superhero comics, but this 21st century makeover comes from producer Michael Bay.

A handsomely shot and superbly acted exercise in cinematic minimalism, Locke, which takes place entirely in a car, is the kind of film that makes a mockery of a star rating system.

Buried in the middle of the brilliantly repulsive first Sin City film is a scene that will be seared into the memory banks of anyone who saw it.

Good Charlotte twins Joel and Benji Madden have surprised fans by reinventing themselves as summery soul-pop crooners. Joel tells Rachel Bache why they branched out.

David Farrier writes about playing interviewer to various versions of Rhys Darby in the comedian's new television show, Short Poppies.

Having taken over the multiplexes, comic-book superheroes and fantasy figures are now upping their grip on prime time with an array of prequels, spin-offs and crossovers. Dominic Corry reports from Los Angeles on the masked mass invasion.

After 40 mins of waiting, we finally shuffled into a small, dark room. We didn't realise it, but we were fresh meat. This room would soon become a killing field, writes Chris Schulz.

There may be no Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling, global superstar hit in amongst the finalists this year - or not yet, at least.

She may no longer be at the absolute height of her stellar career, but she's still the female artist with the most number one singles in the world.

Splore Festival, which goes from being biannual to annual next year, has announced another handful of artists to add to the bill for its three-day party from February 20 to 22 at Tapapakanga Regional Park.

With so much music codified into genres and artists reluctant to alienate an audience, Pere Ubu remain refreshingly abrasive, marginal and theatrically challenging.

How's this for an impressive array of friends: the girls from Warpaint, Vampire Weekend's chief crooner Ezra Koenig, pop singer Jessie Ware, and trap king AA$P Ferg.