<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Stuff & Things]]></title><description><![CDATA[Stuff & Things]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2026 04:00:09 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Hands On A Hardbody (1997)]]></title><description><![CDATA[In this day and age, we have become used to a certain standard when it comes to the documentary. You can expect drone shots of stunning vistas, beautifully shot interviews, a score to accompany the drama - the format has gone high-end. However, there was a time when the documentary film was less about creating a cinematic experience and more about simply capturing real life as it unfolds before our eyes. The pioneering classic 'Hoop Dreams' (1994) being the first real breakout hit from the genre]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/hands-on-a-hardbody-1995</link><guid isPermaLink="false">647252cf-4af7-4d45-9e6b-5f085514c5a1</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 11:39:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_09c48ce1c2254d8892ee51cc4b800cea~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_815,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Enter The Dragon (1973)]]></title><description><![CDATA["A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come... And when there is an opportunity, I do not hit. It hits all by itself."



When you think of the words "Kung" and "Fu" and "Hollywood" you will almost certainly think of Mr. Bruce Lee - prowling around, screaming like a mating monkey and kicking many villains in the face. He is, and still remains, the greatest of all time when it comes to the martial arts sub-genre of film and ]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/enter-the-dragon-1973</link><guid isPermaLink="false">e941ac09-0810-4884-a4ff-745c3f41ce51</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:47:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_02d7f5629a7c4626b28d08dffb1a168f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_812,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cash (1997) - Johnny Cash]]></title><description><![CDATA[Be honest, we've all done it. You've had a bad day, the kids are doing your head in, there's tension with the wife, work is tough, you've had a couple of drinks, you pick up the guitar, drop your voice about 19 octaves, stare out the window and mournfully croon "I hear the train a-coming, it's rollin' round the bend, and I ain't see the sunshine, since I don't know when". Or that might just be me. Whose to say. Either way, there is no denying the magnetism woven into the music of Johnny Cash and]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/cash-1997---johnny-cash</link><guid isPermaLink="false">067140f4-d75d-458a-9a96-34a9ebe7e30f</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:30:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_a3fe1522d6624045bdb3b88825e04c47~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Blood (1982)]]></title><description><![CDATA[When you think of the words "John Rambo" you are likely immediately overcome by images of a long-haired, headband-wearing, probably wounded in some way, muscular man holding a massive machine gun in one hand and an endless chain of high-calibre bullets in the other. He is gurning and yelling while mowing down bad guys at a staggering rate. He also has that knife, which by today's street youth standard isn't much to write home about, but back in 1982 looked more like a sword with a compass in the]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/first-blood-1982</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5622d609-42cc-428e-adbd-d49622d005a6</guid><pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:39:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_2ca5b363830a4304bb2d716865be5cc4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Black Sunday (1993) - Cypress Hill]]></title><description><![CDATA[Beginning their career in 1991 with an eponymous debut LP, Cypress Hill achieved the rare feat of making West Coast hip hop that sounded nothing like what the music world would traditionally associate with LA. No thumping 808s, no whiny synths, and not a George Clinton sample in sight. Instead they came from the boom-bap school of hip hop and made a record that was, in equal measure, loud, fun and really quite menacing. Ice-T described their style as sounding like "crazy Mexicans high on angel d]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/black-sunday-1993---cypress-hill</link><guid isPermaLink="false">a9c2f4c5-063b-43c3-acae-04cb67f26df2</guid><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:13:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_fb124f52b8584ac584464ebc1e84e974~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brave New World (1932) - Aldous Huxley]]></title><description><![CDATA[“I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin."



In the course of a person's life, there usually comes a time where you encounter things that move you. They may touch your soul in an emotive way - maybe you're reminded of a gentle summer's day frolicking in a hazy strawberry field as a wee bairn, maybe you're reminded of what it means to be human and all that comes with it. Who knows? However, sometimes you find yourself stumb]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/brave-new-world-1932---aldous-huxley</link><guid isPermaLink="false">bca3e449-2c90-4907-9c07-64f6087fb4d8</guid><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:22:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_db78c5f582a0470e8b905d627289780f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Mandalorian &#38; Grogu (2026)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Since acquiring the rights to Star Wars in 2012, Disney have released 6 feature films and 17 television series - not to mention the cartoons, LEGO spin-offs, short films and so on. It's almost as if the board of directors have stumbled upon some sort of magical money tree... 

CEO: "Hey guys, check this out. Every time you shake it, millions of dollars falls out" 

All: "Yaaaaay!" 

As for the quality of the output, it would probably be fair to say it's been a mixed bag. None of which have c]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/the-mandalorian--grogu-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">d5250166-e69f-482a-aa3e-f11fc66e7f32</guid><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:12:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_82627bf8bcfb41628c5e32aecfc5e658~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_828,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bad Lieutenant (1992)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Humanity's journey into darkness has been an oft-visited creative well over the years. Be it 'Apocalypse Now', 'Breaking Bad' or 'Dante's Inferno', it is a subject that has compelled us for centuries. Is there some element of all of us, on some primal level, that wants to give in to that voice on the shoulder that just wants to throw it all on the bonfire and see what happens? Maybe. Regardless, these stories will likely never cease as long as we have a conscience. They are not so much a 'rise a]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/bad-lieutenant-1992</link><guid isPermaLink="false">9432ee75-5e9d-49fc-a0d5-7449ece6cd90</guid><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:37:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_d5542503b3344290a2e4522f115541d0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_580,h_870,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect (1995) - Dr. Bob Rotella]]></title><description><![CDATA[Golf, what a cruel and seductive temptress ye be. If you know the god-like feeling of smashing a 250-yard drive down the fairways of Portugal, you likely also know the utter despair of hitting a wedge 6 yards in the winter bog of grey old England. For anyone who has ever attempted any level of sustained participation in this horror-sport, they will understand the agony and ecstasy involved in one simple round. And thankfully, this book exists to try and make sense of it all. ]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/golf-is-not-a-game-of-perfect-1995---dr--bob-rotella</link><guid isPermaLink="false">0f175a00-68a9-4f25-84ce-2ad7776e92cf</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:59:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_a6744ee0b95f43748793d7b7b5bc5d70~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Crow Looked At Me (2017) - Mount Eerie]]></title><description><![CDATA[Imagine, if you will, that you have a soul. A tangible soul that you can actually touch, full of tenderness and joy and sweet delicious sorrow...all of 'the feels' as the kids today say. Now imagine having that soul pulled out of your body and inviting a gang of football hooligans to stamp on it for 41 minutes and 34 seconds. That is the experience of listening to Mount Eerie's 'A Crow Looked At Me'. 

There have been several albums made about death, particularly around the mid-to-late 2010's ]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/a-crow-looked-at-me-2017---mount-eerie</link><guid isPermaLink="false">97332686-49c1-4d3c-ba66-2b8ee10da8c2</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:40:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_6faf03d8fb1345a78d3ce254ef2e6471~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Odyssey (2026)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Okay here it is. The big one. The biggest director in the world adapting the epic to end all epics. Shot entirely in IMAX 70mm magnificence, starring possibly the finest actor of his generation, and filmed in locations all over the world. This is big. As big as big can get. And it's finally here. 

Homer's original story, widely considered one of the most (if not the most) seminal works in the history of mankind, focuses on the time after the Trojan War. The Greeks have won thanks in no small ]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/the-odyssey-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">ae8d66e1-4972-4d53-9c76-2afd15c2aea6</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:36:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_ce5958422ca1410c8b8fb0cb941e0df0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Midnight Run (1988)]]></title><description><![CDATA[It seems hard to recall here in 2026, but there once was a time when Robert DeNiro was the man in the business of show. With a career forged in towering, serious, dramatic performances of range and seemingly unlimited skill - he was, at a certain time, the absolute best actor in the business and every new DeNiro film released was an event in and of itself. 

However by 1988 he wanted a change of pace. Coming off the back of a memorable turn as Al Capone in Brian DePalma's 'The Untouchables' (1]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/midnight-run-1988</link><guid isPermaLink="false">4954e2dc-a087-4276-b921-847f0dc154d8</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:32:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_b866912dd3ef4ebb947b3a82ebb2b855~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Husbands (1970)]]></title><description><![CDATA[It has been said that you can often judge a person's inner state not by their words, but their actions. If this is indeed true, then it would seem fair to say that John Cassavetes, when making this film, had obviously grown tired of being a marquee studio actor, felt constrained by the Hollywood process and felt the need to express himself in the most unhinged way imaginable. The result is this film. 

To say that this film bucks traditional convention would be like saying breaking your femur ]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/husbands-1970</link><guid isPermaLink="false">7f389505-04e7-4450-9b24-abe90f3740d6</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:27:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_2cd8d911cdec4324b1e487dd0d61fe95~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_995,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Before Sunrise (1995)]]></title><description><![CDATA[On the quiet, Richard Linklater has carved out a deeply impressive directorial career over the years. From his breakout hit 'Dazed &#38; Confused' (1993) to the 12 year odyssey (and Academy Awards darling) 'Boyhood' (2013), he has not only brought a completely original style to cinema but is probably one of the few auteurs birthed in the 90s independent film movement who manages to have written and directed a wide, varied, cannon of work.  

To further illustrate this point, after the success of ']]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/before-sunrise-1995</link><guid isPermaLink="false">04c6194a-f298-4371-87f6-a8a71b33be46</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:23:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_aba60cba01ef482c8bbeefdf2925784c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Get To Heaven (2015) - Everything Everything]]></title><description><![CDATA[Prior to the release of this album, art-rock whizz kids Everything Everything had certainly shown some promise on the indie scene but threatened to fall into the mire of decent-but-never-great bands that were, for a while, the order of the day. 

Their first effort 'Man Alive' was a band finding it's feet. Their next release, 'Arc' showed a giant step forward in terms of songwriting ability and spawned classic weirdo anthems like 'Kemosabe' and 'Cough Cough'. Then came the most critical point ]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/get-to-heaven-2015---everything-everything</link><guid isPermaLink="false">feafe1a0-6db1-4337-bdde-3bed12b6f090</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:20:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_9da15f9a9cb34077873b10dfb1e4ea3b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_750,h_750,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (1998) - Peter Biskind]]></title><description><![CDATA[Since it's inception, the movie business has captured the imagination of the masses all over the world. Hollywood, at least it's in heyday, was the epitome of glamour itself. A place where all you had to have was a dollar and a dream and you too could one day find yourself under the bright lights. However, by the late 1960s, Hollywood's glory days seemed to be hanging by a thread and a new wave of revolutionary filmmakers were coming forth, influenced by the counter-culture of the day and determ]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/easy-riders-raging-bulls-1998---peter-biskind</link><guid isPermaLink="false">d87e3714-9713-433c-94a5-c97ef9e18dc1</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:16:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_8272a9d5b7cb4517a6c1cd493407a5c2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_258,h_400,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Last Detail (1973)]]></title><description><![CDATA[When thinking of great films starring the legend that is Jack Nicholson, few would immediately name this 1973 cult classic. However, Jack himself considers this his finest moment on screen, famously stating "I did it in that movie. That was my best role". When you watch this largely unheralded gem again now, it's not hard to see why. 



At the dawn of 'New Hollywood', Hal Ashby became quite an important figure. However, by 1973 he was coming off the back of the abject failure of 'Harold and Mau]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/the-last-detail-1973</link><guid isPermaLink="false">135b1e2c-2ff0-461a-9836-74e555729d89</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:12:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_efe7e323bc1d4593ab5a2ffb0a3820c7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scream (1996)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tis the spooky season once more and thus time to revisit a film that, at the time of it's release, had a massive cultural impact, not only spawning multiple sequels but also spoofs and an almost entire new genre of hyper-aware teen slasher/comedy flicks for good measure. Directed by the 'sultan of shock', Wes Craven, and penned by future Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson, this film serves as the almost perfect amalgamation of both of these men's sensibilities - blending dreamy, beautifully]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/scream-1996</link><guid isPermaLink="false">8c8a7eff-28cd-456c-8e16-b4b490586ed0</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:09:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_bf887cfb87ec4e5cb9234b5f35105a34~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_904,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cutter's Way (1981)]]></title><description><![CDATA[The unearthing of cinematic gems from days past is easier than ever. Where it used to take hours scouring video shops or bargin buckets or car boot sales, now one can cruise the internet for all manner of films. You don't even have to leave the comfort of your own backside. The process can be organic - maybe you read a book that makes reference to a film, which you then look up and watch - or it can be more studied, i.e. you find an actor or director (or sound engineer, or key grip, or fluffer) ]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/cutters-way-1981</link><guid isPermaLink="false">f89a2e64-bfe8-41da-a41c-f391219449ed</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:03:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_d2a27ee31b5f45cfae1943b125fb5641~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Fun Lovin' Criminal (2025) - Huey Morgan]]></title><description><![CDATA[Having gone from the slums of New York City, to active duty in the US Marine Core, to platinum-selling artist, to now BBC Radio 2 DJ who lives quietly in the suburbs of Brighton, it is safe to say that Huey Morgan has lived quite a life. With his band, the Fun Lovin' Criminals, Huey managed to carve out a sub-genre that really only contains one band. I'm not sure anyone else has ever considered putting out wiseguy-inspired, hip-hop-influenced, brass-band-led, punk music apart from this lot. That]]></description><link>https://www.reviewsofstuffandthings.com/post/the-fun-lovin-criminal-2025---huey-morgan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2e0eba-cf5d-45a2-8177-d9df3cbf0040</guid><pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:01:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/80fe91_46edebf421e5429aa72b31ffc25c64b3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_650,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>john22328</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>