For the first time in my life, music has given way to another form of entertainment as my favourite way to relax; cinema is now my main passion! I never thought I’d see the day, but here it is!

Recently my love for cinema has been rekindled by the enthusiasm of one of my media students, Lewis, who has an almost boundless interest in film, especially Disney and animation. Although I’ve always been a (fairly) regular visitor to the cinema, I was moved to attend more regularly after Lewis told me about his watchlist on the imdb.

I used to visit the local art cinema, Hull Screen, with my partner Maria, at least once a week, until its unfortunate demise about six years ago. We would see international films regularly, together with the best of new British cinema, and visit the local multiplexes every now and then for a more mainstream hit.

Until recently, we had become a little irregular in our (cinema!) habits, but now we are back into it, and also building up the Blu-ray and DVD collection in a frenzy which used to be reserved for CDs and vinyl!

I’ve discovered some great directors; Lone Scherfig, Atom Egoyan, Julie Taymor, and re-acquainted myself with some others; Alexander Payne, Wes Anderson, David Fincher, Lasse Halstrom, and the Coens.

I’ve seen classic films which I’d missed out on first time around (The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Fight Club, Paris, Texas) and revisited some old favourites (Repo Man, Apocalypse Now).

I’ve also been disappointed by so-called iconic films like Rumble Fish and enthralled by films which I went to with low expectations (Boyhood, Seven Years In Tibet, Wild).

I’m actually interested to see where the Oscars go this year – and hoping Eddie Redmayne picks one up for his sterling performance in the Theory Of Everything!

Yes folks, cinema is the new rock and roll!