When you’re reading the programme for a film festival, and you see that a film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, you pretty much automatically mark it down as a film to see. This is exactly what I did when I came across this one, and I even decided to read nothing more about the film.

A good way to get the day started at a film festival is to see a light hearted film, be it narrative, or a documentary.

Gangland Season 6 is about, yep, gangs in the US. This season covers 11 different gangs across different states in America, and looks at the history, mindset, tattoes, structure (or lack-there-of) and activities of these gangs.

'Shaka Zulu' was a damn interesting and well made show, if not a little dated. Though it still had me often cringing at trying to work out how they managed such a massive production, as every 3rd or 4th shot seemed to be an impressive set piece.

No matter how you look at it, the shooting in Colorado will, and has, not only put a dampener on peoples excitement about the release of this film, but will bring up many questions about the connection between violence and films. But, that’s for another time and place.

The New Zealand International Film Festival has begun, and my first film was 'Shock Head Soul'. It was introduced with a well made kiwi short film about a shocking medical practice I never knew existed in this country.

I got to see some great documentaries at the New Zealand international film festival last year, and this film was one of them.

Often when I review TV shows they have to be really good for me to hold onto the DVD afterwards, instead of selling it. So when I picked this DVD to watch, I pretty much knew it would be a solid one to review, but was going to hit my ‘To Sell’ pile pretty quickly.

'Tales From Earthsea' was damn good, and I feel it's one of the better Studio Ghibli films. I think the reason I connected with it more was its grounding in reality. Sure it deals with magic, dragons and wizards, but it does it in a 'Game Of Thrones' kind of way.

I tend to watch almost everything when it comes to films, with maybe the odd exceptions with overly teenybopper movies, gross out torture horrors, or what look to be super sappy chick flicks.