Movies to catch, books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your ears this summer.

Movies

Moana 2

Don’t be put off by the critics saying it’s not as good as the first one, it’s still a whole lot of fun! Moana’s second adventure carries along the theme of rediscovering the ancient skills of Polynesian navigation, bringing back all the key characters from the first film and adding a few more. More songs too, and more of that pinch-me animation that just seems so real. This is a big-screen, full-noise movie so treat yourself and head to a multiplex for the full experience.

A Horse Named Winx

Some stories transcend their own world and speak to something more universal. This documentary about one of the greatest racehorses of all time does just that. Winx won all of her last 33 races in a career that concluded in 2019, a remarkable record few come even close to. This documentary dives deep into the world of Winx, with Kiwi trainer Chris Waller getting a lot of screen time, along with her regular jockey, Hugh Bowman.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Staying with animation – because it’s not as weird as real life – cult UK series Wallace & Gromit returns for another adventure. It’s been a long time between mugs of tea for the Clay Crusaders – 16 years in fact – and the critical acclaim for early screenings points to this being a tour de force return. Can Gromit save his master from the beguiling influence of Wallace’s own invention, an AI-enabled gnome that takes on a life of its own? Now that’s a storyline ripped from the headlines.

Bingewatching

The Day of the Jackal

The callous cool of Edward Fox’s 1973 villain gets a makeover in this 10-part series that puts our uber assassin to work in modern-day Europe, a gun for hire for the highest of fees. His handiwork eventually attracts the attention of a British intelligence officer who is dogged in her pursuit of her quarry. Eddie Redmayne is our anti-hero and Lashana Lynch the pursuer. If you like what you see, Season 2 is coming in 2025. 

Bounty Hunters

It’s an old trope but a goodie – Joe or Jill Average teams up with a street-smart toughie and trogether they go to war against the forces of evil. In this case, Barnaby Walker (Jack Whitehall) is a serious-minded antiques dealer and Nina Morales (Rosie Perez) a brash Brooklyn bounty hunter. Together they do battle against Syrian treasure looters, terrorists, drug cartels and the police. All in the name of family.

Krapopolis

The gods, the humans and the monsters are all crazy in this cult animated series set in mythical Ancient Greece and intended for an adult audience. After premiering in the US in 2023, we can now all join in the fun thanks to Netflix. The voice cast is huge and littered with cameos – Ben Stiller as Prometheus, Susan Sarandon as Demeter, Minnie Driver as a centaur – and the whole circus is helmed by Dan Harmon, co-creator of Rick and Morty. That’s some serious cred.

Listening

MTV Unplugged In New York – Nirvana

It’s worth celebrating just for the cover of David Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ – Nirvana’s gig on the MTV series Unplugged in New York turned 30 in November. It was the first release by the band since Kurt Cobain’s death in April 1994 and it only added to the consensus that one of the greats had gone far too soon.

Neilson Sings Nelson – Tami Neilson

You had us with the title for this one – frock ‘n’ roll star Tami Neilson returns to her roots for an album celebrating the songs of country legend Willie Nelson. She even gets to duet with her musical hero on ‘Beyond the Stars’. Other highlights are ‘Sister's Coming Home’ and ‘Always on My Mind’.

Key – Alison Moyet

Marking her 40th anniversary as a solo artist, UK soul singer Alison Moyet revisits her back catalogue as well as presenting some new songs on this album of 18 tracks. The album title is also the name of her world tour, which arrives in Christchurch in May. The songs here capture the breadth of Moyet’s talents both as a singer and as a songwriter. A real treat.

Reading

Make It Make Sense – Bel Hawkins

From one of the Kiwi team behind the global web hit Shit You Should Care About comes a book to help you with the angst that comes with caring. Dip into Bel Hawkins’ mix of analysis, personal stories, poems and lists – all played out as a conversation between freinds – whenever you feel like nothing makes sense anymore.

Marry Me In Italy – Nicky Pellegrino

You can taste the tiramisu and smell the lavender all over again in Nicky Pellegrino’s latest in her series of novels set in Italy. The storyline this time involves weddings and a charming (aren’t they all?) hilltop town, summer encounters and just deserts. As ever though, just being in Nicky’s Italy for a while is the hook here.

Life Hacks From The Buddha – Dr Tony Fernando

Auckland psychiatrist, mindfulness specialist and Buddhist monk Dr Tony Fernando offers some straightforward steps to a calmer you in a book that draws on the 2000-year-old teachings of the Buddha and places them in today’s world. Guess what – stress and suffering are nothing new and there is much we can learn from the wisdom of the ancients.

Podcasts

Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial

Relive the trial that stopped a nation in this offering from the NZ Herald podcast team. Chelsea Daniels’ despatches from the High Court in Auckland begin on the first day and continue to the jury’s finding of not guilty.

Love Better

While we are fan-girling about the Shit You Should Care About team, here’s a collab they did with the Ministry of Social Development as part of a campaign aimed at fostering safe, positive and equal relationships.