Features
Spider Homecoming a refreshing return
Monday 10 July 2017 | Published in Entertainment
Were you surprised to hear that Marvel had tapped New Zealand director Taika Waititi on the shoulder to take the reins of the latest Thor installment? Yeah, me too. But after a bit of thought and a typical reviewer’s case of 20/20 hindsight, it seemed sensible, with a whiff of inevitability about it. Marvel have a brief but proud and wildly successful tradition now of picking directors based on their ability to establish a credible character out of incredible circumstances, and – maybe even more importantly, to tell a joke. And by that criteria, Taika, with Eagle vs Shark, Boy and Hunt For The Wilderpeople on his showreel, was a prime candidate for Marvel ascension. Forget about the fact that he’s never made a film not set in New Zealand before, let alone Asgard. By Marvel’s algorithms, Taika is going to do just fine. And compared to Spiderman: Homecoming helmer Jon Watts, Taika is wildly over-qualified. Watts has exactly two other feature films on his brief CV. One is called Cop Car, and the other is called Clown. Now, I’ve seen Cop Car – and that puts me in a pretty small minority. It’s a solid and occasionally very smartly put together thriller that goes into some gratifyingly dark, bleakly funny and irresolvable places before the wheels finally fall off in the home straight. For Kevin Bacon completists, it’s well worth a look. But I can’t say I saw anything in Cop Car that made me immediately think Watts would be anywhere within shouting distance of the shortlist of directors to be handed the keys of the latest installment of one of the world’s most money-printing-est franchises. Which is what the Marvel slate currently is. Naturally, I was wrong. Watts and Marvel co-head honcho and creative overlord Kevin Feige have crafted a Spiderman reboot for the ages. And they’ve done it by taking the film right back to its comic book origins. It’s set in the present day – and also in Marvel’s present, post-Civil War and years after The Avengers and The Battle of New York – but this Spidey is gratifyingly true to the kid-centric world of the comic-book character. British actor Tom Holland (The Impossible) is a convincingly adolescent Peter Parker, finding some pleasingly dorky and awkward moments for his still high-school aged hero. We were introduced to Holland’s Spidermen/Peter Parker in Civil War, and there was maybe an expectation that Spiderman: Homecoming would see the kid in the red and blue take his place on the starting team roster. But no. Parker is told by Robert Downey Jr’s Ironman basically to go back to school and look after his grades and family for a while yet. Which seems like not the worst advice in the world for a kid still too unsure of himself to ask a girl on a date. The villain of the piece is the Vulture, played, unimprovably, by Michael Keaton. Although the nod to the Keatonaissance-launching Birdman character is unescapable and fun. Keaton is perfect as he goes about sketching in the character’s back story as Adrian Toomes. This Toomes is a borderline gangster who just wants to carve himself out his own slice of the American dream and knows he’s going to have to get his hands a little dirty to do it. Done out of a lucrative salvage business by Tony Stark’s possibly self-serving co-opting of the contract on all the left-over alien technology and weaponry after the busted Chitauri invasion that was the centre-piece of
Keeping our balance in life
Friday 30 June 2017 | Published in Church Talk
A. The Genesis/Beginning/Origin of all Balances (Genesis 1: 1, “In the beginning God…”
Transformers loses charm, gets complex
Monday 26 June 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Entertainment
I muttered to my mate that I may not have to write a review after seeing the bumper crowd at the premiere of the latest Transformers movie on Thursday.
Apostolic convention starts Monday
Friday 23 June 2017 | Published in Church Talk
Over 500 delegates from all over the South Pacific are arriving this weekend to celebrate their 27th regional Annual General Convention here in Rarotonga, to be hosted by the Apostolic Oneness Churches of the Cook Islands.
Restraining power of Christ
Friday 16 June 2017 | Published in Church Talk
To restrain means to hold back from action, from committing – to check, limit, or restrict.
Canadian 'cultural event' on a visit to paradise
Friday 16 June 2017 | Published in Art
A Canadian artist, once described as a “one-woman cultural event.” is visiting Rarotonga on her first trip to the Pacific in almost 30 years.
The Mummy is a big letdown
Monday 12 June 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Entertainment
Some pasts should remain buried forever, and the subject matter of The Mummy is one of them.
Ora e mate uatu i te tika o Tona Ingoa!
Friday 2 June 2017 | Published in Church Talk
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins...E tamaiti tana e anau, e ko Iesu te ingoa taau e tapa nona: e akaora oki aia i tona au tangata i ta ratou ara” – Mathew/Mataio 1:21
Pirates of the Caribbean still under full sail
Monday 29 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Entertainment
When I was referred to a damning review of the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie from a well-known US entertainment magazine, I decided not to take a peek.
Pilgrimage a special experience
Friday 26 May 2017 | Published in Church Talk
Each year thousands of people the world over go on pilgrimage to places considered by many to be sacred because of the spiritual significance which these places represent for them.
Artists focus on native bird life
Wednesday 24 May 2017 | Published in Art
An eye-catching mural is forming on the road-front wall of the National Environment Service office in Tupapa.
Second John Wick twice as good
Monday 22 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Entertainment
Just the other day when things became a bit tedious at work, we entertained ourselves to a mini debate on how good an actor Keanu Reeves is.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it helpful?
Friday 19 May 2017 | Published in Church Talk
Truth. Two headlines in the Cook Island News on May 12 prompted me to write on Truth this week.
King Arthur makes a comeback
Monday 15 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Entertainment
I remember reading about King Arthur and his brave feats from the stash of books I oncefound in the dusty corner of our family house.
Some thoughts on 'independence'
Monday 15 May 2017 | Published in Weekend
Papa T Williams is a Cook Island Maori descended from Rakahanga and Manihiki Islands, from the Northern Group of the Cook Islands. His mother is a New Zealand Maori descended from Ngapuhi, Nga- tiwhatua, and Waikato Maori.
Quake a lesson in candlelight faith
Friday 12 May 2017 | Published in Church Talk
The date September 4, 2010 is etched in my memory forever.
Resurrection – a leap into new life
Friday 5 May 2017 | Published in Church Talk
A common thread that weaves through the Easter stories is the disciples’ inability to recognise Jesus when he appeared.
Guardians return to rescue the galaxy
Monday 1 May 2017 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Entertainment
Guardian of the Galaxy is probably the wittiest superhero franchise of all time.
Ten years later, rare bird is well established on Atiu
Monday 1 May 2017 | Published in Weekend
Gerald McCormack director of the Natural Heritage Trust, explains the story behind the success of establishing the Kura (Rimatara Lorikeet) on Atiu, where the bird had previously been absent for 200 years.
Charity, the pure love of Christ
Friday 28 April 2017 | Published in Church Talk
In Matthew 22:35-40 it says: “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
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