STREAMING ARTS + CULTURE GUIDE
Summer is set to be full of catching up with friends and family all over the country but if all that in-person socialising becomes too exhausting and you need a break, there are some great new fantasy series for some genuine escapism as well as plenty of festive family fare from our local streaming platforms. Māori Television has a range of family friendly films, free to air over summer and the festive season. Films range from the heart warming Lost Christmas starring Eddie Izzard to the epic the Mandela and the Christmas classic Scrooged, starring the hilarious Bill Murray plus many more. NETFLIX
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
Arcane
Wheel of Time
This is an exquisite, artful animation action series for those 16+ (though the mature 13+ can probably handle it). Based on the infamous and globally popular multi-player online ‘battle’ game League of Legends, Arcane draws you into the richly complex and conflicting worlds of Zaun and Piltover. Zaun is an edgy dark under-city of crime and misfits with a dangerous drive for social justice to make right past wrongs. Piltover is a place of prosperity, progress, innovation and trade with a veneer of social righteousness built off the backs of others. The storyline traverses the clashing of ideals, factions, competition for power, loyalty and belonging with an ensemble of characters that drive the action forward amongst a web of slowly emerging back stories. Popular with critics and game fans alike, there is something magical about being drawn into a story with no physical limits. Even those with no knowledge of the storyworld and the game, with it’s complex narrative threads, will be captivated by characters, enthralled by the artful moody direction and incredible animation, proving again that animation is not just for kids.
102 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2021
Lovers of the Wheel of Time books from the 90s will have been excitedly awaiting the launch of this fantasy series for decades. Starring our own and extremely talented Zoe Robins, amongst a strong and likeable cast, this is a dark and sometimes visually brutal series. The battle scenes are impressive yet violent, with just enough magic and CGI to keep you glued to the screen. Rosamund Pike is always impressive, anchoring the fantasy with bleak brooding voiceover, ensuring the action doesn’t become too fanciful and the complex narrative doesn’t become overwhelming.
Wheel of Time, Amazon Prime Video
Wheel of Time, Amazon Prime Video
SUMMER '21 STREAMING GUIDE
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)
