Romance: The Last Letter From Your Lover
Written by: Sophie Martin, Staff Writer
I’m a sucker for anything by Jojo Moyes and this is no exception. Think ‘forbidden romance’ meets ‘friends to lovers’ meets ‘right person, wrong time’. The film intertwines past and present with a modern-day journalist discovering a series of 1960s love letters. In an effort to find out what happened to these mystery love birds, she ends up unraveling the story of Jennifer Stirling – an American socialite stuck in an unhappy marriage who meets Anthony O’Hare, a new friend of her husband, and a love affair ensues. The chemistry between Shailene Woodley and Callum Turner in their respective roles takes this movie to the next level and had me giggling and kicking my feet at my screen for the entire hour and 50 minutes. Apart from the romance aspect, the styling of this film is impeccable and sent me down a solid two-month-long rabbit hole of 1960s fashion and pop culture. Definitely one to add to your ‘to watch’ list.
Action: Ballerina
Written by: Ayra Imran, Staff Writer
If you’re looking for a violent revenge story with the contrast of downright gorgeous cinematography, this film is not one to miss. The plot may be slightly predictable, as with any revenge storyline; a ballerina takes her own life, leaving a note asking her friend, a former bodyguard, to avenge her. This sets her friend on a thrilling and gruesome mission to kill the man who abused the sweet ballerina. As a fan of the K-drama My Name, this wasn’t my first time dabbling in the Korean action genre, yet I’m still not over the intense fight sequences and how spectacularly choreographed and realistic they were. Jeon Jong Seo, who plays the main protagonist, had me convinced she could be highly trained to kill someone in real life. The way it’s shot sometimes makes the film feel like a music video as it plays around with filter colours, and that artistic spark is what pieces everything together. All in all, this film delivers the perfect adrenaline rush and is definitely not for the faint of heart!
Science Fiction: The Three-Body Problem
Written by: Santiago Buitrago, Staff Writer
The Three-Body Problem is a Netflix-adapted sci-fi drama following a group of physics graduates as they become evermore involved and subsequently lost in the unfurling universe before them. The adaptation’s first season covers the first in a trilogy of books by Liu Cixin dubbed the ‘Remembrance of Earth’s Past’ trilogy and captivates the audience from the start. Though only eight episodes (each one almost an hour long), every episode goes above and beyond drawing in and holding the audience’s attention. The show can, at times, get a little graphic and definitely treads the line between drama and thriller, even incorporating aspects of cosmic horror for those who are fans. Though, it must be said that the show does invite any who take an interest in tremendous worldbuilding, it’s above all a show that encourages you to open your mind and explore a little.
Fantasy: House of the Dragon
Written by: Katie Mahoney-Roberts, Staff Writer
Based on parts of the book Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin, House of the Dragon combines gripping storytelling and fantastical elements to create a prequel to the hit series Game of Thrones. This show, which can be viewed as a standalone, is set around the Targaryen family. With dragons, battles, and some scenes of incest, House of the Dragon surrounds two sibling heirs fighting for their father’s crown. The show is set across two time periods, as it features a central ten-year time jump. This allows for a large ensemble cast within the production. The main female lead (Princess Rhaernyra Targaryen), for instance, is portrayed by both Milly Alcock and Emma D’Arcy. There is a focus on homoerotic female friendship and the intricacies that exist in the imagined monarchy. Due to have a second season released in June 2024, House of the Dragon is a powerful epitome of the fantasy genre.