Nikki's Bio
|
I have been writing about international film for various print and online publications for the past decade and have recently become Editor of bi-monthly UK film mag movieScope. Dedicated to all aspects of the film industry, it's a must-read whether you're a movie maker or film fan. I have loved films ever since I saw a re-run of Dumbo as a kid, and while studying cinema at Leicester University I became a reviewer for the student paper, Ripple, taking over as Film Editor in my final year.
After graduating I got a job at the UK's longest running movie mag Film Review where I worked my way up from producation assistant to becoming the first female Editor in its history. I have written about film and culture for a variety of magazines and websites, including BBC Online, Little White Lies, Filmstar and Kodak's In Camera. I also have a weekly slot on BBC Three Counties Radio every Tuesday at 4pm, delivering the latest movie news as Lorna Milton's resident Queen of the Screen.
|
Nikki Has Just Watched...
Not sure what new DVDs to spend your money on this week? Check out our reviews of the biggest home entertainment releases for Monday February 8, 2010...
Read Long Weekend DVD Review
Read Love Happens DVD Review
Read Paper Heart DVD Review
Read Harper's Island DVD Review
Read In the Electric Mist DVD Review
Make a wish...
As anticipation for his latest movie Kick Ass reaches fever pitch, Matthew Vaughn's 2007 Stardust finds a home on Blu-ray - and what a perfect use of the high definition format it is. The sumptuous visuals are a large part of its magical charm, although its fantastical story and wonderful cast of characters also go some way to explain its huge appeal.
Brutal Brilliance
It's a rare thing to witness a film debut as blistering as this one from young American filmmaker Cary Fukunaga, particularly one that handles such a difficult subject with both skill and intelligence. Set in the ganglands and slums of Honduras, Sin Nombre is tough to watch but a powerful piece of cinema nevertheless.
Homeward bound...
When Burt (Jim Krasinski) and his girlfriend Verona (Maya Rudolph) discover they are expecting their first child, they are shocked but relieved they can rely on Burt's parents (Catherine O'Hara and Jeff Daniels in scene-stealing cameos) for support. But when the grandparents to be drop the bombshell that they are moving oversees, Burt and Verona have the rug pulled from under them. With her parents dead, and realising that they need to find a stable home for their new child, Burt and Verona head off on a trip around the USA searching for the perfect place to raise a family. And, as they catch up with old friends and family, they begin to realise that home really is where the heart is.
Total nightmare
Rock star turned director Rob Zombie's (The Devil's Rejects) reboot of slasher classic Halloween fell flat back in 2007, and his follow-up doesn't fare any better. It doesn't bear much of a resemblance to the 1981 original sequel - and there are some who may think that's no bad thing - and with its bizarre mix of torture porn and some ill-advised delving into the psyche of serial killer icon Michael Myers it's a real horror for all the wrong reasons.
Bee serious
Despite its small size, the common honey bee is of central importance to humanity. Responsible for the pollination and successful growth of various fruits, crops nuts and seeds on which we rely, the tireless work of the bees goes way beyond producing the honey for our morning toast. So the fact that across the United States and Europe honey bees have been vanishing without trace in their droves should be a cause for concern for us all, and director George Langworthy's documentary attempts to present the facts along with firsthand accounts from those working in the industry.
To celebrate the February 15 DVD release of the gripping horror film 
