After a successful first event in Newcastle last year which saw stars including Nick Frost, Sean Pertwee and Mara Wilson arrive for a weekend on the toon; Comic Con Northeast is back for a second year at the Utilita Arena this April! On the 13th and 14th of April the Utilita Arena on Newcastle's quayside will play home to the Northeast's largest comic convention, hosted by Monopoly Events. Over the weekend fans of film, TV and pop culture alike will be able to attend free panels, browse a selection of independently run merchandise stalls, take photos with prop displays experience the ..read more

  Plot: The incredible tale about the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter. Film: The Boy And The Heron Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Writers: Tony McNamara, Alasdair Gray Starring: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe Poor Things is undoubtedly going to be a stand out of the year for me, this film was everything I wanted it to be. The film creatively explores Bella Baxter’s journey from a silent figure to the ultimate self-made woman. Set in a distorted, steampunk-infused Vict ..read more

Plot: A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. Film: The Boy And The Heron Director: Hayao Miyazaki Writer: Hayao Miyazaki Starring: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Kô Shibasaki Hayao Miyazaki’s latest (and last if that is to be believed) follows the adventure of a young boy who lost his mother in a hospital fire and relocates to meet and live with his father’s new pregnant wife.  Mahito, arrives at his new home quiet but curious, eager to explore like any chil ..read more

Plot: When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. Film: Priscilla Director: Sofia Coppola Writers: Priscilla Presley, Sandra Harmon, Sofia Coppola Starring: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi Sofia Coppola's directorial prowess shines through in her ability to vividly portray a world observed through the confines of privilege. Coppola masterfully captures the searing loneliness felt by women who seemingly ..read more

Plot: Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb. Film: Godzilla Minus One Director: Takashi Yamazaki Writer: Takashi Yamazaki Starring: Minami Hamabe, Sakura Ando, Ryunosuke Kamiki This film stands out among the myriad Godzilla films as a remarkable addition to the franchise, rivalling classics like the original 1954 film. If you are someone who hasn’t ventured into any of the Japanese Godzilla movies, Godzilla Minus One is the perfect place to start.   Set against the ..read more

Plot: With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.  Film: Wonka Director: Paul King Writers: Paul King, Simon Farnaby Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Calah Lane, Olivia Coleman “Wonka,” is the sort of film that when people have asked me what I thought the first word that came to mind was ‘nice’. This is a cozy, family film that will no doubt leave you feeling good when you leave the cinema. This is Timothee Chalamet like you’ve never seen him before. Gone is ..read more

Plot: The story of the infamously terrible American Samoa soccer team, known for a brutal 2001 FIFA match they lost 31-0. Film: Next Goal Wins Director: Taika Waititi Writers: Taika Waititi, Iain Morris  Starring: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Knightley, Kaimana "Next Goal Wins" is a heartwarming underdog sports team comedy directed by Taika Waititi, offering a take on the true story of the American Samoa soccer team's journey from being labeled the world's worst team following a 31-0 loss to Australia in the World Cup qualifiers, to striving for redemption with the aid of infamous Socc ..read more

Plot: After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorises Plymouth, Massachusetts - the birthplace of the infamous holiday. Film: Thanksgiving Director: Eli Roth Writers: Jeff Rendell, Eli Roth Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Nell Verlaque, Jalen Thomas Brooks "Thanksgiving," the 2023 slasher film directed by Eli Roth, revolves around a premise that toys with the perception of historical figures. John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth Colony, becomes the macabre inspiration for a horror movie murderer. Unfortunately, this initial spark of crea ..read more

Plot: Coriolanus Snow mentors and develops feelings for the female District 12 tribute during the 10th Hunger Games. Film: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Director: Francis Lawrence Writers: Michael Lesslie, Michael Arndt, Suzanne Collins Starring: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage The book version of The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes came out when we needed it most and I distinctly remember devouring it over a few days while stuck in the house in 2020, the news that the book would be adapted to film was no secret and I've been eagerly await ..read more

Plot: A student at Oxford University finds himself drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate, who invites him to his eccentric family's sprawling estate for a summer never to be forgotten. Film: Saltburn Director: Emerald Fennell Writer: Emerald Fennell Starring: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike Saltburn is a very English mystery drama, which pokes fun at the aristocratic lifestyle, while still making you long to experience even just a moment of the absurd, grandiose of It all. The film is set in 2006 but the eccentric upper classness of it all would have y ..read more