House of Cards (US)
Netflix - 2013 onwards
Netflix have done a dynamite job with the US remake of the nineties original. House of Cards is some of the most compelling viewing on TV at the moment which a stellar cast putting in top notch performances. Kevin Spacey is spectacular.
Season 3 is the weakest of the bunch so far but still very good, the latest season (4th) was riveting and my girlfriend and I recently marathoned all 13 episodes over two days.
Daria
MTV - 1997 to 2002
Daria is a series so close to my heart, coming out in the late nineties with a dry sarcastic wit that could have been british, this is MTV at its best.
Five seasons and two TV movies later, Daria built up a massive cult following which led to nearly 10 years of online campaigning for a DVD boxed set which we finally got in 2010. Unfortunately this boxed set in that none of the original ackground music could be retained. Thousands of clips from songs of the time were cheap/free to use when broadcast on MTV but a costly nightmare to license.​
Inception
Dir: Christopher Nolan - 2010
This movie had me thinking for days, pondering what was actually going on, I had to see it again as soon as I could and had the Blu-Ray pre-ordered immediately.
This is a film that excelled in the cinema, where Hans Zimmers amazing soundtrack can blow you away as Nolans intensely mind-bending storytelling unfurls.
Fight Club
Dir: David Fincher - 1997
Brad Pitt along with Ed Norton star in this film, unjustly criticised and misunderstood at the time of it release.
Whilst a success at the box office, many people simply did not 'get' this film, thinking it all went off the rails halfway through. With time it has become highly regarded as a modern classic and a must for most males aged 18-30.
Fiefly & Serenity
Dir: Joss Whedon - 2002 / 2005
A TV series but one that deserves its place in this list due to the highly original Sc-Fi Western format conjured up by Joss Whedon.
Firefly series was cancelled by Fox in a foolish move only 11 episodes into its debut season. 14 episodes had been filmed and were aired, albeit in the wrong order. The correct sequence has been restored on the DVD and BluRay releases which remain hugely popular.
A strong cult following led to Joss Whedon finally getting a film sequel off the ground in 2005 although sadly not to the box office levels required for any more.
Serenity is also a solid standalone movie for anyone who hasn't seen the TV series although I strongly recommend watching it all in order first.
Deadpool
Dir: Tim Miller - 2016
It finally got made, thanks to Ryan Reynolds not giving up on the project and the character he so wanted to bring to the screen. Deadpool is witty, dark, self-aware and a great film. That it took ten years and a ground roots campaign for fox to see that this was a good idea is mad.
Great performances all-round and a stellar script saw Deadpool quickly surpass expectations at the box office and herald in a new attitude to superhero movies.
"Happy international womens day!"
Daredevil & Jessica Jones
Netflix - 20014 / 2015
Netflix have once again come up trumps with their darker takes on Marvel characters. Starting with the impressive Daredevil and followed by the faultless Jessica Jones, this Marvel new television universe is more compelling than the cinematic one playing out in cinemas. Not having to edit for a 12 year old audience makes a real difference.
Probably the most standout aspect of both these shows are the villains. The Kingpin and Killgrave are both so well acted portrayed you watch the show as much for them as the leads. David Tennant has never been so creepy.
Dogma
Dir: Kevin Smith - 1999
The best of Kevin Smith's films in my opinion. Featuring cameos by many of the usual crowd but with a higher budget and hollywood geared approach, this is slightly less cult and more mainstream. It does still however sit very well with Smiths previous work and I know many Kevin Smith fans who consider this their favourite also.
The religious jibes are well written and no-one escapes being ridiculed in some fashion. Damon and Afleck are excellent in their lead roles, showing how good they are as a pair.
District 9
Dir: Neill Blomkamp - 2009
Starting out in a comedic vein, this film subtly changes and makes you question your prejudices and views on immigration.
With an unknown cast, the Neill Blomkamp has been able to cast believable South African characters rather than have dodgy American impersonations.
Battlestar Galactica
Sci-Fi - 2003 to 2009
Generally heralded as the most original show on TV in the early noughties, Ronald D Moores re-imagining of the 70's original, Battlestar Galactica goes beyond normal Sci-FI. It is regularly described as a drama series set in space and a great way to show naysayers of science fiction that there is something for everyone.
​I can't sing the praises of this show enough, from the start it is compelling and gripping, the characters are excellent and the story arc is brilliant.
