Sam Ripley

Your guide to post-exam gaming

In theory, the next few weeks at the University of Warwick should be spent hunched over a laptop in the undesirable solace of Floor 5 of the Library to churn out those last few essays. However, once this unfortunate spell of my life has passed, I will be exchanging one...
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Posted Jun. 13, 2025

The mad titan of cinema: Looking back on the MCU

Ever since the release of Jon Favreau’s Iron Man in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has dominated and influenced the contemporary cinematic landscape, provoking both praise and scrutiny in equal measure. However, more or less since the release of the earth-shatteringly successful Avengers: Endgame in 2019, the MCU has received...
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Posted May. 25, 2025

The Women of Christopher Nolan

Ever since his feature film debut in 1998, Christopher Nolan – in spite of numerous critical and commercial successes – has often been scrutinised for his treatment of female characters. Across a 27 year career, not a single film in Nolan’s filmography features a female protagonist, with women often relegated...
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Posted Apr. 9, 2025

Sean Baker delivers 2024’s funniest film in the devastating Anora

Anora is a film of contrast. Operating on narrative, visual, and characteristic levels, these contrasts are perhaps best exemplified by Anora’s opening and closing credits; the former features a colourful, almost floral typeface against a vibrant and glamorous environment while complimented by none other than Take That’s 2008 hit ‘Greatest...
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Posted Feb. 25, 2025

Best Doctor Who Christmas special

Since Doctor Who returned to Britain’s television screens in 2005, viewers have been treated to 14 Christmas specials (along with an oft-derided one-off entry in 1965). With 2024’s entry, ‘Joy to the World’, airing this Christmas, here are my seven favourites from Christmases gone by!   ‘The Snowmen’ (2012) One...
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Posted Dec. 29, 2024