Time Travel, Tropes and Paradoxes (VOR)

Time travel. It's one of those film tropes that has seemingly endured since, well, since the dawn of time if you'll pardon the pun. Up there with alien invasions, zombie apocalypses, atomic wastelands and sentient robotics, time travel is just one of those things that has ingrained itself into the film medium so thoroughly that we no longer question its viability or plausibility. 

Last weekend, the latest instalment in the Terminator franchise, Terminator Genisys, has zapped into the cinemas. A series that revolves around time travel, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the trope and discuss what prevailing stories that the sci-fi genre has continually revisited and dipped into.

Rank the Films: Terminator

As any regular reader of this blog will know, lists are pretty darn nifty. I have a profound appreciation for straight-up lists. This is the thinking behind Rank the Films, a regular feature that pulls apart the pros and cons of a series of films, ranking them in order of bad to good.

Under the microscope this month is the Terminator franchise, starting with James Cameron's 80's classic to Alan Taylor's most recent entry, Terminator: Genysis. Which film ranks as the best, and which the worst? Read on to find out where your favourite sits.

Film Review: Terminator Genisys

Director: Alan Taylor
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney, Matt Smith, Byung-hun Lee, JK Simmons
Runtime: 125 minutes

Terminator Genisys is the fifth entry in the Terminator franchise, and the first since 2009's muddled Terminator Salvation. Directed by Alan Taylor, and heralding the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to the iconic series that made his name, Genisys attempts to rework the timeline and move the franchise in a different direction. But does it find its feet, or fall flat on its face?

Voice of Reason #16: Hitting It Big

This column contains mild spoilers for Godzilla - you were warned. 

If the huge success of Godzilla and Amazing Spider-man 2 proves anything, it's that Hollywood's growing urge to promote small-time indie directors to the big-time is paying off. And for once, that can only be a good thing.

Film Review: Thor - The Dark World

Director: Alan Taylor
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Christopher Ecclestone
Running Time: 112 minutes

Want to know why Marvel is one of the most powerful studios in Hollywood right now? The simple fact is that they can balance quality and quantity to a tee. Thor: The Dark World easily side-steps sequel syndrome and builds upon everything the first film fell down on - and then some.