At Darren's World of Entertainment - a movie, DVD and game review blog.
The latest movie and DVD reviews - plus game reviews as well. And cool stuff thrown in when I see it.
Cast: Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Shirley Henderson, Alexandra Shipp Director: Brian Cox
Succession and Manhunter star Brian Cox reveals a more tender side in his directorial debut, the gentle drama Glenrothan.
The stories of two brothers reunited after years apart offers no real surprises as it unfurls amid a sea of B-roll footage of rolling hills and Scottish isles that feel ripped from a tourism campaign, aimed at getting travellers to Scotland.
Cox and Cumming play brothers Sandy and Donal - Sandy has spent years working at the family distillery, whereas Donal left for America and hasn't been back since, preferring to live life in his jazz bar in Chicago. But when Sandy writes to Donal asking for him to come home, he finds there's a chance to return to the Highlands with his daughter (Shipp) in tow.
Unfolding through flashbacks and with hints of Donal suffering a disgrace that forced him out of Scotland and Sandy's life, Glenrothan does little to surprise viewers, preferring instead to let the genial performances of both Cox and Cumming to lead an audience through a linear recounting of what happened.
In between that, there's plenty of moments of sibling issues rising to the fore, as well as Henderson's patient waiting in the wings Jess hinting that she wants more to do with the distillery.
It would be unfair to dismiss Glenrothan as boring or without bite - in truth, it's handsomely helmed, gently executed and would suit older members of the audience well. Both Cumming and Cox are affable enough, and the hints of regrets, succession and time running out are well handled.
But while this whisky-led drama doesn't really leave a sour aftertaste, it is unfortunately patently forgettable after it's played out.
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer, Murray Bartlett, Bill Skarsgard Director: Michael Sarnoski
There have been plenty of adaptations of the legend of Robin Hood.
But Pig director Michael Sarnoski's latest is less interested in the derring-do of heroes and the grim reality of life afterwards for those decreed outlaws.
In this mournful take, a grey-haired Hugh Jackman, looking very much like Geralt of Riviera from The Witcher game franchise, is Robin Hood, a man who spends his life hiding away on hills in 1241AD England, afeared of his legacy and contemplating whether he truly was a good man, or just a murderer who got away with it.
With most of his band of Merry Men dead, he teams up with Little John (Skarsgard) to take on one last fight to defend his home from past vengeful adversaries. But in vowing to settle a blood debt, Robin ends up critically wounded and transported to a priory run by Sister Brigid (Comer, in a restrained performance).
As she nurses him back to health, Robin's past misdeeds come back to provide a final reckoning for his troubled twilight years.
Taking inspiration from the ancient ballad A Gest of Robyn Hode, Sarnoski crafts a dour, brooding, philosophical take on the anti-hero whose deeds belie a lifetime of murder. It begins with a windswept blizzard and ends in darkness too, with barely a hint of light bursting through except for one sequence inside the priory which bathes the audience in light - it's almost as if Sarnoski wears the oppressive atmosphere as a badge of honour.
There are elements of the Northman in a brutal series of meetings in the beginning of this, before the narrative gives way to a more maudlin, contemplative tale of personal salvation and desired redemption.
A fully wrapped Bartlett makes an intriguing foil as a leper living out his final days to Jackman's healing Hood, and a young girl gives Hood the chance to be a surrogate father at a dangerous time.
It's fair to say the brooding does overtake The Death of Robin Hood, but this elegiac reflection on what a life is and the sum of the deeds that lead it there make the film a haunting and spirittual one, one that relies on an internal journey to convey audiences.
In many ways, The Death of Robin Hood is about the death of the legend of the actual man, as well as a physical one, and Jackman delivers with a restrained performance that lacks showiness and delivers some amount of gravitas in muck-filled proceedings.
But it's Sarnoski that deserves the kudos here - for crafting a journey that carries a universal theme of redemption and regret. It may sag in moments, but it's never anything less than compelling.
Cast: Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Mia Wasikowska, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewan Leslie Director: Adrian Chiarella
The idea of the horror of coming out in a small rural backwater is not a new one.
But in director Adrian Chiarella's claustrophobic and upsetting drama Leviticus, pouring it through a prism of conversion therapy and aching first love makes this truly memorable.
Talk To Me's Joe Bird plays teenager Naim, who's recently moved to the industrial town in Victoria in Australia with his mum (Wasikowska, one of the film's more upsetting villains of the piece). Fostering an attraction to classmate Ryan (Clausen), a love blossoms.
But when the religious-heavy elements of the town get wind of what's happened, the pair's thrust before a hell-and-brimstone priest, who subjects them to a level of attempted therapy to pray the gay away. However, something else emerges and Naim finds himself hunted and haunted by a violent Ryan who's determined to harm him. And as if that wasn't terrifying enough, Ryan claims Naim is hunting him...
Leviticus does much with little.
From an oppressive soundtrack to a gaping chasm of industrial vistas promising nothing but nihilism, the film does much to seize hope from the most hopeless of settings.
But by adding in an element of It Follows (albeit one whose internal logic becomes more fuzzy as time goes on) and some genuinely troubling one-on-one scenes that crackles with uncertainty and intensity, Chiarella constructs something that feels both timeless and timely.
It's fascinating that the demons that are released by the religious intervention are ones that those affected most want - Chiarella seems to be interested in making real the allegory of the idea that it's the thing you want most that will hurt you, but by holding off on any kind of didactic and overt messaging, his film's more powerful for it.
It plays deeply to the idea that youngsters are told romance is bad - and gay romance even more so. Something which seems unheard of in these modern times, but is becoming more common and in the small-town backwater Australian setting where family and church make most of the decisions, it's utterly terrifying.
All in all, while Leviticus relies on the occasional pernicious jump scare, the horrors are more psychological and troubling - with a strong cast and a universal theme, it emerges as one of the most upsetting and searing dramas of the year.
Amazon’s new Kindle Scribe range now available in New Zealand
Amazon's all-new Kindle Scribe range is now available in New Zealand, bringing together Kindle's reading experience with a digital notebook designed for note-taking, annotation and distraction-free productivity.
Designed as a dedicated reading and writing device, Kindle Scribe combines a paper-like writing experience with Kindle's extensive eBook ecosystem, allowing users to read, annotate, journal and capture ideas in one device, distraction-free.
Available now, key features of the range include:
Kindle Scribe offers a paper‑like writing experience with no digital interruptions.
Designed for intentional thinking, it provides a dedicated space to plan, reflect, and create without the pull of constant connectivity.
Colorsoft models add a soft‑tone, colour‑enhanced display ideal for visual planners, creatives, and anyone who prefers a more expressive writing and sketching experience.
Handwritten notes are fully searchable, making it easy to capture ideas in the moment and find them later.
Weeks of battery life and a lightweight design make it ideal for work, travel, and everyday use.
The new range includes:
All-New Kindle Scribe Colorsoft: Available now and priced from NZ$1299
New Kindle Scribe: Available now and priced from NZ$1099
Kindle Scribe without front light: Available now and priced from NZ$899
EA Games announced that Star Wars Zero Company will be available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S starting August 27, 2026
Star Wars Zero Company is a single-player turn-based tactics game, developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, where players will step into the shoes of former Galactic Republic officer Hawks and current leader of Zero Company in a tense, clandestine conflict taking place in the shadows of the Clone Wars
Star Wars Zero Company's Standard Edition is available for preorder for $79.95 AUD on PC and $89.95 AUD on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Deluxe Edition is available for $89.95 AUD on PC and $109.95 AUD on consoles, and unlocks two additional unique cosmetic packs and five painted weapon themes inspired by the Clone Wars era.
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced that Star Wars Zero Company™, a single-player turn-based tactics game, developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, will be available on PC, PlayStation® 5 and Xbox Series X|S starting August 27, 2026. Pre-Orders are now available on all platforms.
A new gameplay trailer delivers an action-packed look at the game’s gritty, cinematic take on turn-based tactics while previewing an original Star Wars™ story featuring new and returning Clone Wars characters.
Star Wars Zero Company’s visual storytelling and gameplay will immerse players in a tense, clandestine conflict taking place in the shadows of the Clone Wars. Players will step into the shoes of former Galactic Republic officer Hawks and current leader of Zero Company. Zero Company is an unconventional outfit of professionals for hire hailing from across the galaxy, including a Clone Trooper, a Mandalorian of the ancient Clan Verminoth, a Jedi Padawan and more. Together, Zero Company must hunt down and stop Kundri Fathom, leader of the Separatist-aligned cult, the Infinite Coil.
"Our team has poured everything we love about Star Wars into Zero Company,” said Greg Foertsch, CEO and Creative Director at Bit Reactor. “The bold characters, powerful storytelling, striking settings and the sense of heart beneath the battles in Star Wars has helped us create an experience that pushes the tactics genre forward by combining deep gameplay with cinematic elegance. We’ve worked hand-in-hand with Lucasfilm Games to create an authentic Star Wars story packed with unique new characters, robust character customisation, a new ship, Separatist Droids and much more, all rooted in the conflict of The Clone Wars.”
“Star Wars Zero Company delivers an entirely new experience in the galaxy and for our fans,” said Douglas Reilly, VP and GM of Lucasfilm Games. “It pairs cinematic storytelling with strategic gameplay in a way that feels fresh for the franchise. Some of the most interesting stories come from new perspectives, and Zero Company explores the Clone Wars from deep within the shadows of the conflict, through a lens we haven’t seen before, while still feeling completely authentic to the world fans know.”
From Zero Company’s base of operations, The Den, players will recruit and progress skills of Operators, upgrade facilities, purchase new equipment and select their next mission from the holotable. On the battlefield, players will develop bonds between authored characters and player-created Operators, unlocking new support abilities, including cross-training benefits that improve their abilities and stats. Players will navigate an ever-changing galaxy map featuring more than 150 planets where each choice can change how their journey unfolds.
In Star Wars Zero Company customisation is central to the experience. Hawks and recruited Operators can be created from eight iconic Star Wars species: Devaronian, Human, Neimoidian, Ovissian, Togruta, Twi’lek, Weequay and Zabrak. Voices, outfits and many other aspects of Hawks and an Operator's appearance can be customised along with specialisations and talents over time. It’s up to players to unite their Operators and form the best squad for the mission at hand.
Players can pre-order* Star Wars Zero Company Standard Edition for $79.95 AUD on PC and $89.95 AUD on PlayStation® 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Deluxe Edition is available for $89.95 AUD on PC and $109.95 AUD on consoles and unlocks two additional unique cosmetic packs and five painted weapon themes inspired by the Clone Wars era. All pre-orders grant access to the Crystalline Astromech Cosmetic Pack, which includes an R3 droid, translucent “crystalline” astromech heads for the R4 and R5 droid variants, and the BR-1 droid, originating in Star Wars Zero Company. Deluxe Edition pre-orders include all pre-order bonus content in addition to the Deluxe Edition exclusive content.
Alongside the game’s launch, the soundtrack for Star Wars Zero Company, featuring an original score by GRAMMY® award-winning composer Gordy Haab, will be released August 27 via Walt Disney Records.
Here's everything that's streaming on DocPlay in July 2026.
Exceptional films from home and away premiere on DocPlay this July. Released to coincide with America’s Semiquincentennial (250 year) celebration, Ken Burns’ The American Revolution is a must-see chronicle of America’s founding struggle.
For NAIDOC Week, discover vital and vibrant stories of Indigenous Australia - across themes of family, protest, and nuclear disarmament. From the singular Werner Herzog, Cave of Forgotten Dreams gives audiences access to the oldest-known cave paintings; while Facing War offers a compelling portrait of Norwegian politician Jens Stoltenberg's last year as Secretary General of NATO.
6 July
The American Revolution
America’s premiere chronicler Ken Burns returns with this must-see six-part series, released on DocPlay to coincide with America’s 250 year anniversary.
Thirteen American colonies unite in rebellion, win an eight-year war to secure their independence, and establish a new form of government that would inspire democratic movements at home and around the globe. What begins as a political clash between colonists and the British government grows into a bloody struggle that will engage more than two dozen nations and forever change the world.
9 July - NAIDOC Week programming
The Last Daughter
Brenda’s first memories are of growing up in a loving white foster family, before she was suddenly taken away and returned to her Aboriginal family. Decades later, she feels disconnected from both halves of her life. But the traumas of her past do not lie quietly buried. So, she goes searching for the foster family with whom she has lost all contact.
Her Name is Nanny Nellie
A trio of nameless statues buried in the archives of the Australian Museum trigger a granddaughter’s journey to rewrite how Aboriginal people are represented in Australia’s public history.
Marungka tjalatjunu (Dripped in Black)
Derik Lynch’s childhood memories return as he journeys home from Adelaide to seek spiritual healing.
Walkatjurra: Our Actions Will Never Stop
On the 70th anniversary of the first nuclear test on Indigenous Australian land, Aboriginal communities call on activists from around the world to embark on a 200km anti-nuclear walk through the desert, seeking an end to the extraction of uraniam.
16 July
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Master documentarian Werner Herzog gains exclusive access to film inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France, and captures the oldest known pictorial creations of humanity.
30 July
Facing War
A gripping portrait of Jens Stoltenberg's last year as Secretary General of NATO, filmed with unique access to one of the greatest political leaders of our time. An epic drama about the war between Russia and Ukraine and the role the alliance will play in the future.
Doctor Who future revealed - cancelled Christmas special, Bad Wolf leave show
The BBC has just announced an update on the future of Doctor Who.
There will be no 2026 Christmas special, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf are leaving production of the show and bids for tender for production of the series are now open.
In a press release on the BBC Media Centre, a statement shared more details.
"Today we’re announcing an update on plans for the future of Doctor Who," the statement began.
"As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the BBC’s Charter and Agreement requirements, the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year. Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come.
"After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode.
"This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory.
"The previously announced new Doctor Who animation series for CBeebies is currently in production.
"Details of the tender will be announced in due course.
"The BBC retains all IP in Doctor Who. BBC Studios will continue to lead the global distribution of Doctor Who as well as licensing, consumer products, digital and immersive experiences on behalf of the BBC," the statement concluded.
The show's future has been hanging in the balance since Disney pulled its co-funding at the end of the second series of Ncuti Gatwa's time as the Doctor.
While spinoff The War Between The Land and The Sea has aired in the UK, it's still yet to be shown abroad by Disney+ as it was made as part of the deal.
Billie Piper was the face that appeared at the end of the series after Ncuti Gatwa's 15th Doctor regenerated, with many fans decrying both the departure of Gatwa and the return of Billie Piper.
Davies also posted on Instagram at the same time as the news was released, saying nobody had been offered the role of the Doctor.
He bid farewell to the Doctor after his second spell as showrunner. He told followers that he had not written a Christmas special script and “no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor.”
"And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender.
"As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special - we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off.
"So it’s worth it! For the record: there was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor. You may disagree; fine, sit in that chair and wait to be proved right. You’ll wait a lonnng time 🪑 Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next! Will they keep the theme tune? Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?! It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who, exciting and unpredictable and new! Here comes the future, vworp vworp," he concluded.
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