EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert: Movie Review

Cast: Elvis Presley

Director: Baz Luhrmann

There's no denying the electricity of Elvis Presley in director Baz Luhrmann's latest attempt to continue the King's legacy.

It's clear he's not left the building as Luhrmann mines some 50 hours worth of footage of Presley playing a series of concerts in Las Vegas in what feels like the perfect companion piece to the 2022 biopic which starred Austin Butler.

Cross-cutting performances, throwing together backstage rehearsals and just generally mining the 1970s popularity of Elvis works wonders - up to a point.

Beginning with a quick run-through of where the King came from, the energetic doco format seems to be the traditional winner at the start of this. Elvis is decried by those who believe he's Satan in a jumpsuit because of his dance moves, he narrates his own boredom at the tedium of his Hollywood career that became a cookie-cutter version of his first-ever success and he promises to shake up his career with his Vegas residency in the 1970s.

It's all very familiar fare - and yet, when Luhrmann simply lets the camera capture the sheer charisma and presence of Presley, it becomes something that's a singular concert experience - even if it does appear to want to be spliced together by modern technology, close-ups and cross-cutting between some 10 concerts that were recorded for posterity - and then lost.

Granted, there's a technical adeptness in the way Luhrmann switches effortlessly between appearances, and he even gives the backing band time to shine, but he can't help himself from some editorialising, which detracts from the overall feeling.

The first mention of Colonel Parker, Presley's handler, is a voiceover that stands atop footage of someone holding a gun to Elvis' head in a film; and footage of his wife Priscilla is set to a live rendition of Always On My Mind. There's a clear bias here, which isn't really needed.

And yet, cynicism aside, this is a very real, very impressive and just a joyous musical experience that seems in keeping with what the King would have wanted. Along with comedic asides and genuine banter backstage and on stage itself, Presley proves here why he still has the power and sway.

From the white-jumpsuit version of Suspicious Minds that's become infamous to the speeded-up Hound Dog and plenty of other hits like Burning Love, you'd have to be dead to not tap your toes to this.

EPiC is an enjoyable enough experience; and if you're a King fan, it's essential viewing. But Luhrmann's desire to be a little too clever occasionally takes you away from the spotlight of the King - and that's a crying shame.

Introducing Blink Outdoor 2K+: Next-Generation Home Security with 2K Resolution

The local launch sees the introduction of Blink Outdoor 2K+ to New Zealand 

Powered by Blink’s custom silicon chip technology, outdoor 2K+ offers a host of leading features and efficiency, while maintaining up to two-years battery life 

With impressive visual clarity and strong low-light performance, homeowners can expect round the clock piece of mind without breaking the bank 

Home security just got sharper. Today, Blink is expanding its 2K camera line-up with the all-new Blink Outdoor 2K+, a wireless camera with 2K video resolution, 4x zoom capability, enhanced low-light performance, audio with noise-cancelling two-way talk, and smart detection like person and vehicle notifications (with a Blink Subscription Plan). It’s also equipped with Blink’s signature long-lasting battery life thanks to the company’s custom silicon chip technology, plus Blink’s weather-resistant design, giving customers the freedom to install their cameras anywhere. 

 

See More of What Matters

The Blink Outdoor 2K+ captures video in stunning 2K resolution (2560 x 1440), revealing rich detail and enhanced colour. The video quality ensures you can verify package delivery details, see visitors clearly or identify vehicles in your driveway. With 4x zoom capability, you can get a closer look when you need it, without losing crucial visual information. 

 

Colour Vision in Low Light 

One standout feature is the camera’s enhanced low-light performance with colour vision. With just ambient lighting, the Outdoor 2K+ delivers colour video at low light levels before switching to infrared black and white, providing around-the-clock peace of mind. This means you can see important details like the colour of a vehicle or clothing, even when natural light is limited. 

 

Smarter Detection and Enhanced Audio

With an optional Blink Subscription Plan (sold separately), the Outdoor 2K+ offers smart notifications for person and vehicle detection, using edge processing to distinguish between people, vehicles, and motion. This helps filter out false alarms from things like moving branches or small animals, ensuring you’re only getting notified about what matters most. 

 

Built to Last

Powered by Blink’s custom silicon chip technology, the Outdoor 2K+ unlocks advanced features and efficient performance, while maintaining Blink’s up to two-year battery life based on battery efficiency settings with 1080p resolution and typical use. Blink’s weather-resistant IP65-rated design also stands up to rain, dust, and severe weather, keeping your security running strong all year round. Its sleek, compact design also makes it suitable for indoor use, offering whole-home versatility. 

 

Availability

The Blink Outdoor 2K+ is now available in black and white for $129.00 NZD for a one camera system, including a Sync Module Core (see below for multi-pack pricing). For local storage, use the Sync Module 2 with a USB drive (sold separately). With a Blink Subscription Plan, access unlimited cloud storage for motion events and live view recordings for up to 60 days.  

 

Multi-pack pricing: 

1 pack: NZ$129

2 pack: NZ$229

3 pack: NZ$309

5 pack: NZ$419

What's on Prime Video in March

Here's everything that's streaming on Prime Video in March.

This March Prime Video delivers gripping crime dramas, buzzy new originals,and highly anticipated returning favourites.

Global hit Australian series Deadloch returns for Season Two and is entering its Tropical Gothic era, heading to the sweltering Top End for a sticky new case; Guy Ritchie delivers an irreverent, action-packed origin story of the world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock.

Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis lead an all-star ensemble in the eagerly awaited Patricia Cornwell adaptation, Scarpetta; critically acclaimed animated series Invincible is back with Season Four; and Riz Ahmed stars in new chaotic comedy series Bait.

All this and more, streaming in March on Prime Video.

Deadloch Season 2 (March 20)

Deadloch, the global hit series created by Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, returns for Season Two. Forget Tassie Noir - Deadloch is entering its Tropical Gothic era with the new season set in Australia’s sweltering Top End, aka the Northern Territory. 

Detectives Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) are in Darwin to investigate the death of Eddie’s former policing partner Bushy. However, their plans are soon diverted when a body part is discovered in a remote town called Barra Creek. With the Northern Territory police force focused on a large-scale search for two missing backpackers, Dulcie and a very reluctant Eddie are tasked with identifying the John Doe.  

Sticky, sweaty and juggling comprehensive thrush infections, the detectives find themselves embroiled in a world of crocodile-fuelled tourism, overstretched Indigenous rangers, cagey locals, and seven-metre prehistoric predators – all of whom call Barra Creek’s stretch of land, and water, their home. As the humidity builds, and Eddie and Dulcie dig deeper, more questions arise for our duo – not only about the case, but the many secrets that lie beneath the surface of this small town.

The first two episodes premiere March 20, with new episodes released weekly, culminating in the season finale on April 17. 

Young Sherlock (March 4)

From visionary director Guy Ritchie, Young Sherlock is an irreverent, action-packed mystery that charts the legendary origin story of the world’s greatest detective. When a charismatic, youthfully defiant Sherlock Holmes meets none other than James Moriarty he finds himself dragged into a murder investigation that threatens his liberty. Sherlock's first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy, leading to an explosive showdown that alters the course of his life forever. Unfolding in a vibrant Victorian England and adventuring abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.

Young Sherlock stars ​​​​​​​Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dónal Finn, Joseph Fiennes, Max Irons, Natascha McElhone, Zine Tseng, and Colin Firth.

Scarpetta (March 11)

Scarpetta brings Patricia Cornwell's iconic literary character to life in a gripping series starring Nicole Kidman as “Dr. Kay Scarpetta.” With skilled hands and an unnerving eye, this unrelenting medical examiner is determined to serve as the voice of the victims, unmask a serial killer, and prove that her career-making case from 28 years prior isn't also her undoing. Set against the backdrop of modern forensic investigation, the series delves beyond the crime scene to explore the psychological complexities of both perpetrators and investigators, creating a multi-layered thriller that examines the toll of pursuing justice at all costs.

Scarpetta stars Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, Ariana DeBose, Rosy McEwen, Amanda Righetti, Jake Cannavale, Hunter Parrish.

Invincible Season 4 (March 18)

While the world recovers from catastrophe, a changed Mark fights to protect his home and the people he loves, setting him on a collision course with a threat that could alter the fate of humanity forever.

Invincible Season Four stars Robert Kirkman, Seth Rogen, David Alpert, Catherine Winder, Simon Racioppa, Margaret M. Dean, and Evan Goldberg.

Bait (March 25)

From Oscar and Emmy winner Riz Ahmed comes Bait, a comedy about Shah Latif, a struggling actor. His last chance to hit it big comes in the form of an audition of a lifetime. We follow him over the course of four wild days as his life spirals out of control and his family, ex-lover and the entire world weigh in on whether he is the right man for the job.

Bait stars Riz Ahmed, Guz Khan, Sheeba Chaddha, Sajid Hasan, Aasiya Shah, Weruche Opia, and Ritu Arya.

Pretty Lethal (March 25)

An action-packed thriller where five ballerinas, on their way to a prestigious dance competition, are barely on speaking terms when their bus breaks down in a remote forest. With no other options, they reluctantly seek shelter at an unsettling roadside inn run by Devora Kasimer (Uma Thurman), a reclusive former ballet prodigy. From the moment they arrive, something feels wrong—and their worst instincts prove right. As the situation turns deadly, the fractured team must set aside rivalries and weaponize years of brutal training, turning grace, discipline, and even pointe shoes into tools for survival.

Pretty Lethal stars Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, Maddie Ziegler, Michael Culkin, Lydia Leonard and Uma Thurman.

From the world of John Wick: Ballerina (March 5)

Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Keanu Reeves, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Ian McShane.

Fight or Flight (March 12)

A mercenary takes on the job of tracking down a target on a plane but must protect that target when they're surrounded by people trying to kill both of them. 

Fight or Flight stars Josh Hartnett, Charithra Chandran, Marko Zaror, Katee Sackhoff.

Siren's Kiss (March 3)

Cha Woo-seok (Wi Ha-joon) receives a mysterious call from an informant who claims to have evidence of a fraud-related murder. Before revealing the truth, the informant falls to her death. Woo-seok’s investigation leads him to Royal Auction and its chief auctioneer, Han Seol-ah (Park Min-young), whose three fiancés have all died under suspicious circumstances. To expose the truth, or perhaps to test her, Woo-seok proposes they fake a relationship. As he uncovers her secrets, he realizes he may have stepped into a web he can’t escape—and that getting out could cost him everything.

Siren’s Kiss stars Park Min-young, Wi Ha-joon.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (March 13)

A "man from the future" arrives at a diner in Los Angeles where he must recruit the precise combination of disgruntled patrons to join him on a one-night quest to save the world from the terminal threat of a rogue artificial intelligence

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die stars Sam Rockwell, Juno Temple and Haley Lu Richardson.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (March 29)

Some doors bring you to your past. Some doors lead you to your future. And some doors change everything. Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon find themselves on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – a funny, fantastical adventure where they get to re-live important moments from their pasts and possibly alter their futures.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey stars Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Lily Rabe, Jodie Turner-Smith, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Hamish Linklater, Kevin Kline.

Caught Stealing (March 29)

When his punk-rock neighbour asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, New York City bartender Hank Thompson suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters who all want a piece of him.

Caught Stealing stars Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio, Griffin Dunne, Nikita Kukushkin, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Bad Bunny.

STREAMING ON PRIME VIDEO

 

SIREN’S KISS (SERIES) 3/03/2026

YOUNG SHERLOCK (SERIES) 4/03/2026

FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA (MOVIE) 5/03/2026

SCARPETTA  (SERIES) 11/03/2026

FIGHT OR FLIGHT (MOVIE) 12/03/2026

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE (MOVIE) 13/03/2026

INVINCIBLE SEASON FOUR (SERIES) 18/03/2026

DEADLOCH SEASON TWO (SERIES) 20/03/2026

ZETA (MOVIE) 20/03/2026

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (2025) (MOVIE) 21/3/2026

BAIT  (SERIES) 25/03/2026

PRETTY LETHAL (MOVIE) 25/03/2026

A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY (MOVIE) 29/3/2026

CAUGHT STEALING (MOVIE) 29/3/2026

KARATE KID: LEGENDS (MOVIE) 29/3/2026

LAST SEEN ALIVE (MOVIE) 30/3/2026

HOUSE OF GUCCI (MOVIE) 31/3/2026

TOMB RAIDER (2018) (MOVIE) 31/3/2026

Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 Keyboard: Review

After years of keyboards doing much the same and much as is expected, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's hyperbole to say that one device can change the game in many ways.

However, Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 does exactly that.

A sturdy, yet slim, piece of kit that requires little fiddling with out of the box other than turning on Bluetooth and pairing it with your computer, this incredibly simple piece of equipment has one major game-changer in its back pocket - it doesn't require any charging.

At a slim 680 grams, the keyboard itself isn't particularly heavy, nor is it particularly light. But its ease of portability means that you can simply cart it from one place to the next if you're a student on the go, or simply leave it in an office space for use - and charging.

Sleek and simple, the keys aren't too elevated from the board, but they do make a satisfying clack once you pound away at them. Even with a few months under its belt, there's no sign of them bearing a beating or being about to give up the ghost either.

Perhaps disappointingly, the keyboard itself can't be elevated, meaning ergonomic users will feel a little with their nose out of joint and after some 8 hours a day, there's a chance that, due to a lack of a wrist rest, your wrists will end up bearing the scars of a heavy's day's use.

And a lack of lighting on the keyboard never really gives you an indication how close to needing a charge it is, or how much time you have left on it. There's also a lack of any RGB lighting within the keys to show what you're doing during the day, but given this charges from any form of light, it's fair to say you won't be typing away in the dark anyway. 

In many ways, it resembles the keyboard of a laptop in terms of layout and level which means most will be au fait with what's needed. An app can be used to configure the keyboard to any distinct preferences and perhaps some of a lack of the accessibility-side of things gives a feeling that Logitech's not really considered other users.

However, in terms of what it brings to the office table, the Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980is a powerful performer that delivers what's needed, giving months of uninterrupted usage. This alone minimises the need for wires and connections, meaning an office space can look sleek and unfussy, something which does much to aid work.

With its customisation app offering alternatives to keys and shortcuts for business needs, this really has covered all the bases necessary. And while the lack of any form of elevation is disappointing in of itself, the Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 Keyboard is one of those pieces of equipment that you really can't afford to be without. 

If Logitech can deal with some of the minor niggles that comes with it for their next keyboard outing, they'll have easily cornered the market for years to come.

Rental Family: Disney+ Movie Review

Cast: Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hara, Mari Yamamoto
Director: Hikari

Rental Family has potential - an idea inspired by a side of Japanese life barely seen on screen and a story that could have teetered on exceptional.

Unfortunately, it falls into the mawkish side of things, and led by a Brendan Fraser who just falls back on looking glum in parts when the story demands it.

Fraser plays lost American actor Philip Vanderploueg, who broke through with a toothpaste commercial seven years ago and failed to reach any further heights. When his agent calls the jobbing actor, offering him a role that requires a sad American and pays well, he finds himself thrust unexpectedly into a funeral.

Afterwards, offered more work because the agency needs "a token white guy", Philip signs up, unsure of what he can give to the job and soon finds a connection he'd been missing in Japan. However, when he's asked to be the absent father of a young girl, whose mother wants to get him into a prestigious school, he finds himself in the toughest role he's ever had.

As an idea, Rental Family makes great fist of the need for connection in a world that sometimes shuns it. From plenty of interstitial shots of a busy Japan, swarming with people to scenes of Philip in his lonely apartment watching the lives of others, there's plenty of moments which mark out his inability to be accepted into life there.

Yet Hikari's story becomes one that dwells on its sentiment and makes its improbability stand out because of its narrative weaknesses. It's obvious that Philip is ill-equipped to be part of this world and the naivete that turns things around later on almost feels like an unabashed white saviour story.

Fraser is fine in the role, but the character development does evolve past a walking sad emoji in parts and as such, it holds back the film from excelling where it should. A more subtle approach and a building on the idea that he'll never fit in or understand (as one character tells him at one point) would have made this a more compelling and less mawkish watch.

As it is, Rental Family is a disappointment - it has its heart in the right place, but its execution leaves too much to be desired. And what could have been truly unmissable simply ends up feeling a syrupy mess that sadly sticks in the throat.

Keeper: DVD Review

Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Rossi Sutherland
Director: Osgood Perkins

Trading on a distinct feeling of unease and claustrophobia, director Osgood Perkins' latest slice of unsettling cinema won't be to everyone's taste.

It's the story of  Liz and Malcolm (Maslany and Sutherland), a couple who head to a family cabin in the woods for a weekend away on their one-year anniversary.  Being a self-confessed city rat xxx is already concerned about what could happen, but gives in to the idea of a trip - even if she has been gifted a beige cardigan by her beau. 

However, when Malcolm's brother Darren (Birkett Turton) ingratiates himself into their weekend, Liz is thoroughly rattled, a feeling only exacerbated when Malcolm is called back to the city on a medical emergency.

Left in the cabin, Malcolm begins to feel she's being watched - and stalked.

Keeper works well as an atmospheric take on an uneasy relationship, but slightly unravels when its true nature unveils itself later on and the exposition-heavy reveals come tumbling out. It also slightly fails to say much about the coercive nature of relationships and how people react in them, other than some one liners here and there about Liz being a "side-piece".

To say it'll be divisive is an understatement and it's too spoiler-heavy to discuss here. But the buildup to the crescendo of creepiness is perfectly paced, stressful viewing that makes great use of an architectural marvel in the woods and an angular setting. (Certainly, the amount of time the camera obsessed on corners of the house almost rivals David Lynch's ceiling fan cutaways.)

However, the film's largely held together by Maslany's varying degrees of shocked reaction, a trait that begins to wear thin in the final stretch of the movie, and which isn't quite enough to be as engaging as it perhaps should be.

A sparse narrative pervades the movie, and it does feel like the limited cast isn't quite enough to engage in parts. 

But Perkins builds on the work he's done with Longlegs and The Monkey, proving that he's more a master of abstract atmosphere than anything else.

There's an oddness coursing through Keeper's veins and while that hint of horror won't be enough for everyone, the genuinely upsetting and unsettling moments are more than enough to push audiences into a zone of discomfort throughout and appreciation of a director with a singular vision and execution.

Deacon Blue: Live Review

It's not until halfway through their fourth song Fergus Sings The Blues that Deacon Blue's lead singer the raspy-throated Scot Ricky Ross deems the audience worthy of a greeting.

By then, they've already raced through two songs from their brand-new album The Great Western Road and whipped the crowd into a frenzy with an exultant rockabilly-fused uptempo Queen of The New Year, thanks to the incredibly tight playing of the band, and the whirling dervish on stage that is Lorraine McIntosh.

Leonie Moreland (Red Raven News)

But when Ricky speaks, he's full of reflective joy, musing on how it's their last evening in New Zealand and that they'll do "some things you may know and some things you don't," before promising to take us all on a journey. 

And what a welcome journey it is to go on.

Forty years in any business is a long time.

But in the music industry, the longevity of bands of the 80s stretches now so far into nostalgia viewing that it can be hard to separate the past from the present - especially if there's a new album in tow as well.

So it is with Scottish troubadors, Deacon Blue, whose mix of ballads and power anthems saw them breakthrough in the late 80s and early 90s. This latest tour, which ended at Auckland's Bruce Mason Theatre, was a celebration of both their new album Great Western Road, their eleventh such release, and hits, such as Chocolate Girl and Wages Day which formed the peak of their early career.

Over time, the group's lost none of its power of performance and at times, it's hard to forget that these solid middle of the road numbers (in many casual listeners' eyes) are still incredibly catchy, packed full of choruses, bluesy riffs and just effervescent joy.

And it's a credit to them that the newer songs sit alongside their older numbers as some of their strongest work. Turn Up Your Radio, with its deceptive chorus, feels as much a part of the band as Real Gone Kid does. That's an impressive feat for any band, let alone one that's been going nearly four decades. Yes, experience pays, but quality always shines through.

Leonie Moreland (Red Raven News)

Though a mostly older and mostly ex-pat audience on a windy Sunday night in Auckland wouldn't have you believing age was anything to hold anyone back. Even Ross noted he wouldn't have the energy to match the woman dancing effusively in the front row of what can generously be described as an amiable jostle pit of fans. One couple were even performing ballroom dancing off to the side during Loaded, their eyes locked on each other, rather than the six talents on stage. 

It's perhaps telling that the group who made their name back in 1987 with a song called Dignity brought so much dignity of their own to the Bruce Mason Centre. With an extremely tight set and a perfectly honed craft, the group ploughed through 21 songs and an encore in just under two hours - and even left time for extended riffs in them and plenty of crowd interaction moments while the band played second fiddle.

"Since we were here last, the world has changed so much," Ross wryly noted at one point, before launching an impassioned plea for compassion and promising salvation to the captured masses. There were plenty of moments of euphoria too. 

From Real Gone Kid's Woo-hoo chorus through to a goosebump-inducing galloping version of Your Town (arguably one of their best-ever songs), via Chocolate Girl and red rose patterns swirling on the backdrop behind them during When Will You (Make My Phone Ring), there was plenty to remind of their strengths and prowess.

If Ricky was the calm and collected one on stage, he was complemented by the constant tambourine-twirling of Lorraine, a May Day queen dancer caught up in the spirit of it all. Extremely tight playing from drummer Dougie Vipond, keyboard player Brian McAlpine, guitarist Gregor Philip and bassist Lewis Gordon helped build the band's sound and was flawless throughout.

Leonie Moreland (Red Raven News)

And while the audience participation came to the fore plenty of times, Ross also used the rapport to pay tribute to the band's co-founder James Prime and Scottish health minister Jeane Freeman in separate songs that gave him the chance for his decency to shine through.

Great Western Road may have a more reflective edge and there's an argument saying the band's back catalogue offers more crowd-pleasing storming in a barn dance kind of vibes, but Deacon Blue's power remains after nearly 40 years. Their ability to deliver an incredibly energetic look back has served them well here, but the fact their new music feels as fresh and as exciting as their When the World Knows Your Name and Raintown entrants is a testament to their power and prowess.

Long may their stars shine. Their energy and decency still remain intact - they've lost none of it when success rightly came knocking on their door. Here's to them returning again in a few years' time. They ended with a cover of Warren Zevon's Keep Me In Your Heart. 

Based on that performance, you can bet we will.

(And also a word of endorsement for support act Steffany Beck. The Kiwi blues country singer has a real presence in a short set of just six numbers, half of which were cover songs. 

With an Alannah Myles-tinted Country Strong and a down and dirty Wild One, she proved she's got more than enough mettle and stage presence to match the version of Dasha's Austin and Dolly Parton's Jolene and enough material to stand on her own two feet as she vaults the ladder of success.)