tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468143706600030692024-03-13T04:13:39.780+00:00T3-HouseSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-64305982924575645972014-12-12T14:33:00.001+00:002014-12-12T14:35:24.684+00:00Review of the Year - 2014Not many blog posts this year. Which is always a good sign for me. Means I've been busy (this year with running a <a href="http://www.treehousequizzes.co.uk/" target="_blank">pub quiz company</a>, DJing, playing in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheFamilyMonroe" target="_blank">new band</a> and writing a book!)<br />
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As always though, I remained opinionated, though didn't get to immerse myself in as much media as I would like. However, some ideas about the best and worst of 2014 below, let me know what you think...<br />
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<b>Best Film</b><br />
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Though I'm yet to see some possible contenders (Interstellar, Nightcrawler, The Hobbit, Paddington), 2014 was a solid year for film. In fact, I'm willing to put money on it that I've not seen my film of the year yet. However, two big contenders occupy two very different categories. <i>Inside Llewyn Davis</i> was charming, and what a soundtrack! But <i>22 Jump Street</i> was just hilarious. Like side-splitting funny. For now it will stand as film of the year, but I reserve the right to retract that once I've caught up...<br />
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<b>Best Comic Book Film</b><br />
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Everyone's probably shouting '<i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i>!' and don't get me wrong, it's bloody awesome. But on second viewings, I really thought <i>Captain America: The Winter Soldier</i> was the better film. A Cold War thriller that hits all of the right beats and had a real impact on the Marvel Cinematic universe.<br />
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<b>Best Album</b><br />
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Actually not a great year for music. Or I missed something excellent. Union Sound Set's <i>To the Wolves</i> gets a massive shout-out, though not quite as good as their 2011 outing, and Taking Back Sunday were back on form with <i>Happiness Is</i>. However, for the first time in a very long time (maybe <i>The Matrix</i> managed this) album of the year is a soundtrack album! Soundtrack to the summer of 2014, it's got to be <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i>.<br />
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<b>Disappointment of the Year</b><br />
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<i>The Amazing Spider-man 2 </i>deserves a mention here, but Peter Capaldi as the Doctor was always a a concern. He threw himself into the role and won us over (even if he isn't, and never will be, Matt Smith). The season as a whole was looking excellent, was a nice over-arching plot and some brilliant stand-alone episodes. But the finale. Oh the finale. What a disappointing bundle of mediocre-ness (yes that's a word.)<br />
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<b>Character of the Year</b><br />
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Robin Lord Taylor's depiction of Penguin in <i>Gotham</i> is one of the best things about the program. Danny Pink in <i>Doctor Who </i>deserves a mention, as well as Kevin Durand as Daryl, sorry, Vasiliy in <i>The Strain.</i><br />
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But the character that won everyone's hearts this year, no, not a talking tree, but a ripped, green fighting machine in the form of Dave Batista's Drax the Destroyer. Nothing goes over his head. His reflexes are too quick. He would catch it.<br />
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<b>Best Comedy Character of the Year</b><br />
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Yes, I'm making up categories as I go along. Gina from <i>Brooklyn Nine Nine</i> was just brilliant. She took the weirdness of <i>New Girl</i> and completely made it her own. Well done Chealsea Perretti, you had our house in stitches every viewing.</div>
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<b>Television of the Year</b><br />
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Blimey there was a lot of TV worth mentioning. I'll probably forget something, but most definite honourable mentions to <i>Gotham, The Walking Dead, The Flash, Arrow, Sherlock, Hannibal, American Horror Story, </i>the list goes on. We were truly spoilt.<br />
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<i>The Strain </i>almost take it for me. An excellent adaptation of Guillermo Del Toro's novels, it's <i>Walking Dead</i> not quite taking itself as seriously, and it rather brilliant.<br />
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However, I've got to split this into two categories....<br />
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<b>Best Comedy Televsion</b><br />
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<i>Brooklyn Nine Nine </i>was just brilliant. Consistently hilarious and a awesome and varied cast. Has set the bar for comedy from now on.<br />
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<b>Best Drama</b><br />
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<i>Fargo</i>. Not enough people saw it. It was stylish, witty, and completely gripping. Martin Freeman was at his very best.<br />
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<b>Best Podcast</b><br />
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I love Kevin Smith's Smodcast network, but the best edited and most informative and entertaining podcast of the year has to be WNYC's <i><a href="http://www.radiolab.org/" target="_blank">Radiolab</a></i>. Brilliantly put together, engaging hosts, and made with real care and attention, it's essential listening.<br />
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Well that's it for now. As said, I reserve the right to change my mind on these. Once I've caught up on everything in the world. If you think I've missed anything important, it's probably because I've not had the chance to catch it, but please let me know!</div>
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-59252289912884239562014-06-05T09:34:00.002+01:002014-06-05T09:38:04.253+01:00Marvel Studios and Doctor Strange<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Marvel Studios have so far impressed the world. OK, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but it’s pleasing to see a large studio not only respecting, but also loving the source material. There are three glaring (and probably many less glaring) reasons why the Marvel run of success seems to be showing no sign of slowing, and he top of that list is a certain Mr Feige.</div>
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Kevin Feige is the brains behind the operation It’s so important with any film project to have someone who loves the story at the helm, just look at Peter Jackson and the Middle Earth films. With Feige, It’s like having your local comic-book shop owner running the show. The man knows his shit, as they say, probably more than a lot of self-proclaimed geeks. And he’s really not afraid of mixing things up.<br />
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And that’s reason number two. This films could have slowly ticked over, trudging towards the big final fight against Thanos. And if that’s a spoiler to you, you’ve really not been paying attention. But it seems that was considered dull. So instead, in <em>Captain America: The Winter Soldier</em>, they took the entire status quo and flushed it down the pan, not only majorly affecting Captain America’s part of the over-all universe, but also confusing followers of the television series <em>Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.</em> as to what on earth the title of the show would be next season…<br />
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It’s that risk-taking attitude that has given Marvel Studios the edge. A more naïve company would have churned out superhero movie after superhero movie, but Marvel Studios realised that this would soon get dull. So to spice things up, they not only throw the occasional spanner into the overall plot, but each film is treated as an opportunity to play with genre. It’s the Captain America series that has truly embraced this philosophy, with the first being a classic Indiana Jones style war film, and the second a Tom Clancy style Cold War thriller.<br />
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News emerged this week that <em>Doctor Strange</em> has taken another step towards production with the announcement of Scott Derrickson as director. Derrikson directed the brilliant <em>The Exorcism of Emily Rose</em> and the rather frightening <em>Sinister</em>, suggesting that Marvel will be continuing their attitude to genre, and this is excellent news. In the comics, Doctor Strange leads Marvel’s charge into the world of the supernatural, not only in his own adventures, but also cropping up in the likes of <em>Daredevil</em> and <em>Uncanny X-men</em>. As well as being an Avenger. He’s a busy man.<br />
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So here’s hoping that the appointment of Derrickson is as it seems, and Marvel will be fully embracing Strange’s world and we’ll be seeing a <em>Constantine</em>-esque outing featuring someone a little more interesting than the currently muttered suggestions; Johnny Depp and Keanu Reeves. This muttering should be silenced immediately. Hopefully more likely are<a href="http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=40236" target="_blank"> some suggestions</a> by the always sensible Empire, and here’s hoping that Marvel have noticed that Oded Fehr looks exactly like Stephen Strange…Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-90052612584100675952014-05-30T10:42:00.000+01:002014-05-30T10:42:30.805+01:00X-men: Days of Future Past Spoiler Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It’s been a while since Fox released anything good in the X-men franchise. It all started to go a bit downhill with X-men The Last Stand, fell off a cliff entirely with X-men Origins: Wolverine, managed to grab an outstretched branch with The Wolverine and was left clinging for dear life over what was certainly a fatal fall. Then Brian Singer clearly noticed that someone had left his child unattended, lowered a rope and hauled the franchise back onto safer ground.<br />
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X-men: Days of Future Past is by no means perfect, but it is possibly the strongest outing for the franchise so far. The first two films were good, especially at the time when the competition in comic based movies was not exactly fierce. 14 years later, and with the likes of The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy knocking around, ensemble hero films have raised the stakes. Singer needed to bring his A-game, and bring it he did.<br />
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DOFP is by no means perfect. It’s a time-travel film, so was always going to contain flaws. Some flaws are unavoidable. Like the confusion around the time-travel. The laws are clearly laid out at the beginning of the film for all to see, but that doesn’t mean everyone will be able to keep up. Yet there are a few features of the film that could easily have been improved and just feel a little lazy in the writing department. The first fifteen minutes feel a little forced, with the audience expected to just jump on board an accept what’s happening. More intelligence within the writing could have laid down some solid ground-work, and the main offender here is the expectation that the audience will just accept that Kitty Pride has the ability to send people’s consciousness back in time. Just a line or two of dialogue could have addressed this, yet the writers didn’t deem it worth explaining…<br />
There are a handful of other plot devices that feel a little clunky. Beast’s serum that allows him to control his powers is a necessary device for Charles Xavier’s journey, but feels like a slightly forced way to give Nicholas Holt some proper screen time. And Mystique’s character arc isn’t as logical as it could have been. Yet there is so much good in the film as a whole, these things are easy to overlook.<br />
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Singer has been smart. The risk with ensemble films, especially one of this scale, is sacrificing character development. Yet sensibly there are only a handful of characters that follow a proper arc. This is James McAvoy’s film. X-men: First Class followed Magneto’s journey, and Fassbender still does an excellent job of developing him throughout this film. Yet it is Xavier who truly changes. And it’s an emotional one as well, taking McAvoy from being a ruined, drug-addicted mess, to the moral and powerful mutant we see in Patrick Stewart’s Xavier many years later.<br />
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A few characters do fall into the lack of character development trap, but in most cases it’s not an issue. Peter Dinklage’s Trask could have been used more, but probably just because Dinklage is a joy to watch. Beast gets sacrificed in this regard. But it’s with Mystique that the damage is done. There are points that she feels like a convenient plot device, and if it weren’t for the always wonderful Jennifer Lawrence, it might actually be a real issue.<br />
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This all might seem overly-critical, and that’s the point. These are the worst offenses within this film, and it just emphasises what a good job Singer has done. The action is spectacular, not to mention brutal. He doesn’t shy away from killing off the future X-men in some pretty extreme ways at the beginning of the film, and then does it all again during the final battle, supplying the audience with some pretty shocking moments. Seeing Halle Berry get impaled is not something many will expect to see.<br />
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Yet the star of the film comes in the form of American Horror Story’s Evan Peters. Quicksliver is many a fan-favourite in the comics, and there was a lot of excitement and concern surrounding his inclusion in the film. It is not a disappointment. Peters is funny, charming, and every second he is on screen is a delight. He also brings out the best in some of the leading cast (Fassbender actually has the ability to be hilarious) and anyone who can watch Quicksilver’s main scene and not grin throughout needs to get their sense of humour checked.<br />
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Some interesting choices have been made concerning Quicksilver. In the comics his power varies between being able to travel around Mach 4 and potentially hitting Mach 10 in his more powerful forms. The version we see in the film is clearly Quicksilver at his most powerful (rivalling DC’s The Flash for speed), and makes for a few amazing scenes, but unfortunately means he has to be dropped halfway through otherwise he would have too much influence on the plot. Considering that the villain in the next film will be Apocalypse (revealed in the post-credits sting), it’s safe to assume we’ll be seeing more of Peters in the next outing. But we’ll be seeing more of the silver-haired one in next year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, and the bar has been set rather high. Can Weedon and co. trump this incarnation of the speedster? With a certain Aaron Taylor-Johnson stepping into his shoes, it’s rather doubtful…<br />
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The most important element of DOFP however is the fact that this is effectively a reboot. Or a half reboot. The events of X-men, X-men 2, The Last Stand and the two Wolverine films have been cancelled out by this latest outing, allowing for the First Class generation to take over. It’s almost as if someone was apologising for some rather silly decisions made, especially during The Last Stand. Seeing Jean, and especially Cyclops back alive warms the heart. It could be great to see that generation strutting their stuff again, but it seems that the torch has been passed. But do not despair. We’ll likely see them again, just maybe a little younger…Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-42215012707270796692014-05-23T13:18:00.002+01:002014-05-23T13:43:44.018+01:00Godzilla Review<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who would have thought giant monsters fighting each other could be beautiful? Impressive, to be expected, exciting, you could hope, but beautiful? Impressively, that’s exactly what director Gareth Edwards has achieved.</span></o:p><br />
<o:p><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Edwards was given the reins for Godzilla (and what mighty big reins you would need) after his first monster flick, the appropriately named Monsters, impressed the right people. Yet taking on such an iconic beast, despite being a logic step, was definitely a brave decision for such a young director.</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Godzilla requires a little bit of patience. The first 45 minutes is spent in character development and establishing the mythology behind this incarnation of an already familiar character. There are some excellent choices on this front; neat laws that keep the story on track and allow for some excellent set pieces. Some will find flaws in the plot, but they really are only there if you really want them to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The film, as is often the case in monster flicks, is brought down a notch by the humans. Cranston is unsurprisingly brilliant, but doesn’t get enough screen time. Instead, we follow the excellently constructed arc of Taylor-Johnson, who despite giving good performances in various other films (Kick-Ass springs to mind), is just a little lukewarm. Yet he makes a reasonable vessel to take us from set-piece to set-piece. Elizabeth Olsen doesn't fare so well, with a bit of a non-plot. Equally so, Ken Watanabe is also afflicted by a mediocre storyline and spends the majority of the film with a look of surprise on his face, which is ironic as he’s one of a few to have actually encountered the monsters before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">However none of this matters. The human stories are interesting enough not to bring the film down around them, and are quickly forgotten when the big G himself enters the ring. In appearance, Godzilla is phenomenal. The design has reverted back to the classic upright poise. Equally so, his opponents (the M.U.T.O.) are creepy and threatening. Every set-piece is perfectly constructed. The first reveal in Hawaii is ridiculously exciting, whilst the final battle is desperate and brutal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet no matter how awesome the monsters, and how mediocre the characters, what takes Godzilla from being a 3 star job to 4, is Edward’s directing. Every shot is a pleasure to watch. He holds back in just the right places, knows when to let the camera do the work, and can make a giant rampaging lizard the most personable character on the screen. The likes of Michael Bay should take a leaf out of this director’s hand-book and realise that film is still an art, even if there are explosions involved.</span></div>
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-73481180729760984962014-05-22T13:24:00.001+01:002014-05-22T13:24:16.527+01:00The Amazing Spider-man 2 Spoiler Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There seems to be very little halting the torrent of super-hero films dominating our screens. It started as a trickle, with Burton’s Batman films (and those two afterwards that we don’t talk about anymore) followed a decade later by Raimi’s Spider-man films (and that one afterwards that we don’t talk about anymore). And then Marvel Studios became a thing. A big, hulking, juggernaut of a thing that just doesn’t seem to be stopping. Even DC, a company that truly gives the big M a run for their money in the print world, is poking it’s head out from behind the barricades and wondering if they can possible replicate what Marvel has achieved.</div>
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Another company that wants to emulate Marvel’s ‘cinematic universe’ success is Sony. Holders of the rights to Spider-man (bet Marvel’s regretting selling him off now) they are slowly trying to build their own Spider-man cinematic universe. <i>The Amazing Spider-man 2</i> graced our screens this month, and there was a lot to make up for after the lukewarm attempt that was <i>The Amazing Spider-man</i>. Andrew Garfield’s first outing in lycra saw him face the Lizard, not the most prolific of Spider-man enemies, or the most threatening. But then it was an origin story, and it did a reasonable job of establishing Garfield as our web-slinging hero, and introducing Emma Stone as the inevitably doomed Gwen Stacey.<br />
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Number two threatened to repeat the mistakes of the past. Raimi’s Spider-man 3 introduced the world to a new way of ruining a film, often referred to as ‘too many villains syndrome’. Yet surprisingly that wasn’t the downfall of Garfield’s second outing. What brought our handsome hero down instead was poor writing. Jamie Fox’s Electro was an excellent choice for the big-bad. With powers verging on God-like, there are points at which an audience will truly wonder how good old Spidey could possibly beat such a threat. Oh. He just did.<br />
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<i>The Amazing Spider-man 2</i> may not have fallen short because of too many villains, but it did fall short because of too much conspiracy. Peter’s father’s connection to Oscorp was something that was introduced in the first film, and although it was clearly an attempt to make the Spider-man universe richer, all it achieved was taking up valuable screen time with a plot that was, for most inconsequential, and served as a weak device to turn Harry Osborne against Peter.<br />
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That screen time would have been much better spent building Harry and Peter’s relationship, and developing Fox’s character. His switch between good and evil was so sudden, and so extreme, that it could only be put down to Max Dillon being utterly insane, which doesn’t appear to be what the writers were intending. Equally so, Harry and Peter were portrayed as long estranged friends. The audience were given two scenes of them rekindling their old friendship before Harry snapped. Again, a character who was clearly unhinged. It’s a sad return to the big flaw in Nolan’s <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>. What motivates the bad guys? Not a huge amount unfortunately.<br />
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But enough negativity. There are positive aspects to the film. It’s visually stunning. It’s funny. It’s probably the closest we’ve ever seen to the comic-book Spider-man on the big screen. And Garfield and Stone’s chemistry on screen in contagious. So why on earth would you kill her off?<br />
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Every comic-book fan knows that Gwen Stacey dies. However, did that mean she had to be killed off in film series? Why shoot yourself in the foot by killing off one half of an amazing partnership? No matter who they cast in number 3 as Mary-Jane, they won’t be able to replicate the enjoyment of Garfield and Stone together on the screen. That said, the death of Gwen Stacey is actually what saves <i>The Amazing Spider-man 2</i> from taking a seat with its predecessor in the carriage reserved for the average superhero films (a car occupied by the likes of <i>The Incredible Hulk</i> and <i>Iron Man 2</i>). Anyone in the know has been made to think that Gwen’s got away with it. The pair stand on the very bridge where she meets her fate in the comics, and nothing happens. It makes the final battle against Green Goblin feel a little crow-barred in. (Or maybe Hobgoblin? We’re never told… Either way, Harry’s laughter as he flies in is chilling and horribly ominous). But the scene is so perfectly directed, and so well performed by Garfield, the loss feels as desperate and tragic is if you were Peter himself.<br />
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Over the next few years, we’ll be venturing back into the Spider-man universe, not only in <i>The Amazing Spider-man 3</i>, but also in <i>Venom</i> and <i>Sinister Six</i>, a film that will spring from the end of Spidey’s latest outing thanks to Harry using his father’s technology to put together a band of villains powerful enough to take down the Spider-man. At the moment, the Spider-man universe feels a little under-cooked, but then that’s in comparison to the Marvel universe which has had 9 films (10 come the end of this summer with the very exciting <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i> being released). Maybe in three films time, it’ll feel a little different.<br />
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Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-64313047304490299112013-12-05T15:52:00.002+00:002013-12-05T15:52:20.529+00:00Review of the Year - 2013So it's been a busy year, hence the lack of posts on T3-House. But it's always nice to take a look back at a year that, at first glance seemed weak for entertainment, but when you delve a little deeper...<div>
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<b><u>Film of the Year</u></b></div>
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2013 was looking weak for films. Especially with 2015s films being announced (and what a year that will be...) But it all turned out OK in the end, with the final list to choose from being a tricky one. The top five including <i>Thor 2: The Dark World, Rush, Django Unchained</i> and <i>The World's End</i>. Yet, with some strong competition, the final choice has to go to Alfonso Cuaron's <i>Gravity</i>.</div>
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<b><u>Album of the Year</u></b></div>
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There was a lot of disappointments this year thanks to the likes of Kings of Leon and Daft Punk, but some rather excellent efforts from Frank Turner, Paramore and especially The 1975. Any other year, any of these albums could have made the top spot, but a truly impressive come-back from a band that just keeps growing has to have it...</div>
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<b><u>Television Series of the Year</u></b></div>
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An excellent year for television that left many people struggling to keep up to date, and a real rise in the popularity of online services such as Netflix. It's the future, deal with it.</div>
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Solid seasons from the usual suspects, <i>Game of Thrones</i>, <i>The Walking Dead </i>and<i> Doctor Who</i>, and apparently an excellent final series of <i>Breaking Bad. </i>But it was the new television this year that really impressed, with the stylish and surprisingly enjoyable <i>Dracula </i>and of course yet another home-run from a certain Mr Joss Whedon with <i>Marvel's Agents of Shield.</i></div>
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But Bryan Fuller's <i>Hannibal </i>blew the rest out of the park. Quality over quantity presided here, with 13 episodes that gripped the audience, and a cast of actors at the top of their game.</div>
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<b><u>Television Event of the Year</u></b></div>
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There's no competition for this one right? Well maybe come Christmas Day there might be...</div>
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<i>Agree? Disagree? Remember they're just opinions, but feel free to comment!</i></div>
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-51794275777814142422013-08-15T12:39:00.000+01:002013-08-15T12:58:12.108+01:00The Problem With Edgar Wright Films...I am a big Edgar Wright fan. <i>Spaced</i> is a masterpiece of British television, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Flavours_Cornetto_trilogy" target="_blank">Cornetto trilogy</a> is thoroughly enjoyable and I love <i>Scott Pilgrim Versus the World.</i> But I have recently noticed something sinister about Edgar Wright's work that has been bugging me and I've found difficult to ignore. There are no black people in Edgar Wright's films.<br />
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I heard through the grapevine that a dear friend of mine found <i>Scott Pilgrim</i> offensive. For various reasons. She knows who she is. My automatic response was that this was an over-reaction, how could anyone find <i>Scott Pilgrim </i>offensive? It's an adorable film, full of humour and wonderful geeky references. One of her complaints was the lack of any characters who weren't white. Again, my automatic reaction was to defend the film. There are two characters who aren't white!<br />
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Oh. Wait. Two characters. Of a cast of at least 35 speaking parts. And the Matthew Patel scene is horrifically stereotypical even to someone of my numbed sensibilities.<br />
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So I got thinking. I thought about <i>The Worlds End</i>. Everyone's white. I thought about <i>Hot Fuzz</i>. Everyone's white. I thought about <i>Shaun of the Dead</i>. Everyone's White. I thought about <i>Spaced</i>. Everyone's white...<br />
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I'm not normally someone who draws attention to this sort of thing. I don't post news articles on Facebook and claim people's rights are being oppressed. I don't yell at the television when adverts employ stereotypes to market their product. It's just not what I do. But I can't help but feel disappointed in the fact that someone who I held in such high regard is so oblivious in his casting.<br />
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We're not even talking about the usual film industry issue of a lack of lead black characters who have an impact on the story. Many people are aware that this is an issue in many films. But to have four hit films, and two seasons of a television series, with not only all-white leads, but other than the two mentioned, all-white supporting casts as well! I don't think there are even any black extras! Though that I do need to check out...<br />
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Which leads me to the fact that another disappoint came when I searched the internet for information about this. Nothing. No-one has brought this up. All I could find was one comment on <a href="http://www.edgarwrighthere.com/about/" target="_blank">Edgar Wright's blog</a>, which wasn't acknowledged by the man himself, and oddly wasn't commented on by any other readers of the blog...<br />
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Take what you want from this observation of mine. I'm not going to stand on the rooftops and yell 'Edgar Wright's a racist!' I'm not like that, and I don't want to believe that either. Neither will I be likely to mention this in the pub. Unless really drunk. And then I'll likely regret doing so as I don't know enough about fighting for equality in the world, and I'd likely lose any argument. I just felt that it was something that needed to be noticed. I shall leave you with the comment from Edgar Wright's blog, and be slightly relieved that I wasn't the only one who noticed...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"While I am truly in awe with each work of yours that I have seen, there has always be just ONE thing that truly bothers me about your films. As I said before, I have not seen very many of your television shows or films before "Shaun of the Dead," much of this criticism will be based on your works after 2004. Perhaps you have even already acknowledged this in your future films or perhaps someone else (another fan or just a colleague) has brought this to your attention. So, please forgive me if you've heard this before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">In my opinion, most of your biggest films feature LITTLE TO NO PEOPLE OF COLOR. In other words, except for Knives Chau and Matthew Patel, both characters from the derivative work of the "Scott Pilgrim" graphic novels, there are almost NO other main or secondary characters who are NOT white. While I understand that most of your films take place in England or Canada, I feel like an all-white cast in such metropolitan areas like Toronto and other locations in England is sort of misleading and under-representative of the ethnic and racial diversity of these areas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">As an African American man, I find it harder to absolutely love and fawn over a Edgar Wright film when I don't get to see any black characters, unless they are zombies or background pieces. Plus, I find it harder to get my black (and other minority) movie buffs in love with your awesome films when almost EVERYONE IN THE MOVIE IS WHITE. I am not trying to say that I have a problem with predominantly white casts, or white people in film. I was able to suspend this criticism for "Hot Fuzz" because it took place in a rural, conservative English community, but something like "Shaun of the Dead" or "Scott Pilgrim" has no excuse for the lack of racial/ethnic diversity in casting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Like I said, I love your movies, and I truly hope that you continue to do more great and hilarious works of arts, comedy, and action, but, as a black movie buff and a film studies student, PLEASE INCLUDE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN YOUR FUTURE FILMS.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-- Thank you for reading this message</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-- Have a Great Week</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A.C.D. Ashford"</span></div>
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-52941042591041907702013-07-23T15:09:00.000+01:002013-07-23T15:09:03.594+01:00The Problem with Ending Horror Movies...Horror movies have a tedious habit of ruining everything in the last half hour. Over the last 12 months alone, <em>Insidious</em> succeeded in setting itself up as one of the scary movie greats, only to descend into madness for the final chapter and ruined everything! Similarly, <em>Sinister </em>did an amazing job and, despite the ending, still deserves to be cemented in the horror hall of fame. But still, it wasn't even a half an hour chunk that dragged <em>Sinister</em> down, but rather the final 10 seconds, in which they forced in one last cheap scare.<br />
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There seems to be an attitude amongst some in the horror community that a movie can be measured by the number of scares it produces. Many producers and directors would do better to embrace a philosophy of quality over quantity. A few have, and it's always refreshing to see the likes of <em>The Woman in Black</em>, <em>Mama</em> and <em>Dark Skies</em> holding back in the scares department.<br />
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Yet once again, the endings are an issue. <em>The Woman in Black</em> too the ending of the play and threw it out of the window. The ending wasn't bad, but once again, it was weird. And that seems to be the thing. Horror films seem to be afraid to leave it hanging, and feel then need for closure. That either involves killing the protagonist or confronting the threat, and that's what can ruin things. <em>Mama </em>fell down on this count. Seeing what was a terrifying movie monster in full basically distracted from the terror and became slightly silly. A similar issue to <em>Insidious</em>.<br />
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So has any horror movie done the right thing lately? <em>Dark Skies</em> comes the closest, with the scares few and far between, but effective when they do come. And the ending, well, there isn't one. They took the brave option, and left it just hanging there...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-35467904798631976142013-07-01T17:49:00.000+01:002013-07-01T17:49:00.578+01:00Man of Steel ReviewA lot of negativity has surrounded Zack Snyder's <i>Man of Steel</i>, unsurprising considering how precious Superman is to many people, be they avid readers of the comics, or fans of the original movies. There have been many failed attempts to depict the hero on screen, from the later Christopher Reeve movies, the ever so 90s <i>Lois and Clark </i>(or as we know it in the UK, <i>The Adventures of Superman</i>), and let's not even start on the failure that was <i>Superman Returns.</i><br />
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Yet, for some reason, around <i>Man of Steel</i>, there was a glimmer of hope. Maybe it was because of the faith the world seems to place in Zack Snyder. Maybe it's because Christopher Nolan, having done so well with the Dark Knight trilogy (we'll save the debate surrounding <i>Rises</i> for another day) was leading Snyder by the hand through the process. Maybe it was simply because, it had been so long, surely it couldn't go wrong <i>again...</i></div>
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And it almost didn't. Not completely. <i>Man of Steel </i>is an excellent attempt at a Superman movie. In fact, as a stand-alone film, unattached to any mythology, it's an excellent watch. Five stars all the way. But that's the problem. It <i>is</i> attached to a mythology, possibly the biggest and most important mythology in any comic-book. And that's what makes it so precious. Superman should be simple. He's a hero. Genuinely trying to do good for the world. Then a big bad, with a big punch gets in the way and a massive fight occurs. And Superman will eventually triumph. That's it. It's a simple story, and so far, no Superman film has seemed to grasp this. Everything has to be complicated. In <i>Man of Steel</i>, it's wonderful to see Krypton it all it's glory, but it's over complicated and far too alien. General Zod is the perfect bad-guy for Superman, but once again, they complicate things with an over-enthusiastic plan to take over the world. Whatever happened to: 'I'm bigger and stronger than you, therefore I am king. Of the world. What's that Superman? You disagree? Very well, let us fight!'</div>
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And it's exactly that which makes <i>Man of Steel</i> an excellent movie, but a disappointing Superman film. Superman fans will be annoyed once again by the complexity of the story, and the moody tone of the film. It just doesn't feel like the Superman of the comic-book world. The relationship between Superman and Lois Lane is also an issue, not feeling as natural as it could have been. A little more screen-time for the two of them would have been great, but it was all occupied by things exploding.<br />
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And what explosions they are. Snyder demonstrated his aptitude for over-the-top action in <i>Watchmen</i>, <i>300 </i>and <i>Sucker Punch</i>. Superman continues his trend of making visually spectacular but brutal movies. For the first time, we truly see the destruction and sheer power you would expect from Kryptonians fighting. At one point, they literally punch each other into space. I'll repeat that for emphasis. They PUNCH each other into SPACE. You can't help but smile.<br />
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So we're not quite there yet, but we're closer than before. The perfect Superman movie could one day be made, and given a couple more chances, Snyder might manage it. But until then, this is the best we've got. And it's worth seeing for the action alone.</div>
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-80439447096624786292013-02-12T14:35:00.003+00:002013-02-12T18:19:43.843+00:00A Simple Guide - The Kindle Fire VS The iPad MiniIt feels like it's time for T3-House to provide some decent consumer advice, rather than rambling on about how good Ben Affleck is. So, keeping it simple (none of that confusing technical babble), which is better, the iPad Mini, or the Kindle Fire?<br />
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The Kindle Fire is a little thicker than the iPad, but still pretty slim, especially if you get one of the official cases from Amazon. Either way, both are very portable, and will potentially fit in a regular winter-coat pocket (which is of course the standard unit of measurement for tablets.)</div>
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Needless to say, style comes down to personal task in the long run, but it would seem that the general consensus is that the iPad wins on the sexiness scale, as is often the case with Apple products. Still, the Fire is pretty aesthetically pleasing.</div>
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Rather than throwing numbers out there, which means very little to the average person, it's easier to actually comment on how smooth each device actually is. If you've ever used an iPad in any of it's forms, you'll know that Apple's interface is inherently easy to come to terms with. Safari makes sense to the general internet user, and the tiles on the home screen make navigating between applications clear and easy. The Kindle on the other hand has a surprisingly efficient internet browser in the form of 'Silk' but the carousel system which becomes the Kindle's home-screen can be confusing, and messy if not kept under control. However, books, movies and music becomes easy to find after a few days of usage.</div>
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Size has already been mentioned, but what of screens, cameras and speakers?</div>
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The iPad's screen is a little bigger than the Kindle Fire. If you go for the Fire HD, then the screen is at least on-par (but might even exceed) the iPad's quality. However, if you go for the standard Kindle Fire, don't expect anything near the screen quality.</div>
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The iPad takes the crown with the camera, for photos at any rate. The Kindle's camera is on the same side as the screen, so you can't see what you're taking a picture of which makes it useless in that respect. However, when Skyping, the Fire's camera is as brilliant as the iPad's.</div>
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Speakers are where the Fire wins hands-down. The iPad's speakers are nothing to shout about, but the Fire speakers, for a portable device, are pretty spectacular.</div>
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<b><u>Price</u></b></div>
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£129 for the basic Kindle Fire, but you're much better off going for the HD for £159. The iPad however will set you back a minimum £269. </div>
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<b><u>The Verdict</u></b></div>
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As with all comparisons, there is always the need to factor in personal taste. However, there are a few things to factor in here:</div>
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<u>What do you want to use the device for?</u> If you want something that will be used in a similar way as a laptop: Surfing the internet, e-mails, Twitter, Facebook, etc, then the iPad's your device. However, if it's all about consuming media: films, television, music and especially books, then the Kindle Fire HD is most definitely the one for you.</div>
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<u>Do you prefer Apple or Amazon?</u> This is obvious. If you're a life-long Apple fan, you're unlikely to get on with the Fire. If you hate Apple, then why are you even reading this article?! It also depends on where you like to get your media. If you use iTunes, then iPad it. If you enjoy Amazon (and the flexibility you get when purchasing your music, let's not forget that!) then you'll get on with the Kindle like a house on fire.... (Yep, that joke was made...)</div>
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<u>How much do you have to spend?</u> It all really comes down to this. There's a £100 difference between the two devices, and if nothing mentioned above has swung it either way for you, then that £100 might. £159 for a tablet is a pretty cool, especially one as usable as the Fire.</div>
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-50575343238084321192013-02-05T12:12:00.002+00:002013-02-05T12:12:30.126+00:00Red State ReviewLovefilm's not bad at the moment. There's a reasonable number of films that need watching, and seemingly, not enough time to watch them in...<br />
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<em>Red State</em> is Kevin Smith's latest (and it's rumoured last) film, and is so far from his previous works as far as genre goes, that there's even a little intro by him at the start of the film warning off anyone expecting the likes of <em>Clerks</em>, <em>Mall Rats</em> or the brilliant <em>Dogma</em>. An odd addition, and something that immediately causes concern.<br />
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<em>Red State</em> is a horror. A horror about the power of cults, particularly in isolated communities in the south of America (of course.) A subject that should make it easy for a director to make a scary film. However, <em>Red State</em> succeeds in not being that scary. And when it does accelerate towards a massive (and potentially cult-film-cementing) twist, it veers suddenly away.<br />
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There are three major issues with <em>Red State</em>. It had a huge amount of potential, and Smith's followers and critics alike wished it well. However, firstly, the leader of the cult is, for the majority of the film, incomprehensable. Secondly, the three leads, are pretty unlikable from the start, and then half-way through, the focus of the film changes and they stop being leads! A very odd move, and one that was pretty jarring.<br />
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Finally however, Smith let himself down. He's know for embracing the supernatural. Think <em>Dogma</em> and the rediculous but brilliant bits of his films when Bob develops jedi powers. During <em>Red State</em> (potential spoiler warning) Smith veers towards a supernatural conclusion. There is a brief point when it could transpire that the cult was right all along. Despite all of their crimes against humanity, they were right, and will be rewarded in heaven. A truely horrific thought, and an ending that would have earned Smith the title of a horror director, and elevated <em>Red State</em> to the status of a great film. However it doesn't happen. The film was one turn away from salvation, and chickens out. It's such a shame.<br />
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It's always nice when an artist tries something new, and it's easy to remember the ones that work. Affleck sitting in the director's chair springs to mind. Tarantino taking on a spegetti-western. Everyone remembers the ones that work. Unfortunately, Smith's effort here will most likely be ignored by the majority.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-5900195623975388972013-02-01T12:07:00.001+00:002013-02-01T12:07:56.059+00:00World War Z Trailer<br />
Today I planned to write a review of the excellent Gangster Squad. But then I saw the trailer for World War Z.<br />
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Anyone who's visited my house, will likely be aware that on my book-case, there is one shelf full of my favourite books. Around 20 books, which if anyone asks me 'is there a book you'd recommend?', I immediately point in the direction of this shelf (which if we're in the pub can immediately become confusing...)<br />
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Max Brooks' World War Z has pride of place on this shelf and will never be demoted. I have read it several times and it still shocks and affects me every time I read it. You can imagine my excitement when I hear (a few years ago now) that Brad Pitt's film company <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plan_B_Entertainment" target="_blank">Plan B Entertainment</a> was taking it on...<br />
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It's been a while in the making, but we'll see World War Z hit the cinemas in June, and for me it'll be one of the most exciting films of the year. To hold our interest until then however, a trailer has already been released on the internet, and will be shown during the Super Bowl on Sunday (whatever that is... I for one will be watching a proper sport this weekend...)<br />
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The trailer looks nothing short of promising. I'm aware opinion on Brad Pitt is split, but I'm a big believer in the man. The majority of the footage shown is Brad Pitt running around with or without his family, looking concerned, but the thing that really struck me in this trailer is that the zombie hordes are literally that. Hordes. The film could lose points for the fact that a few of these scene look a little computer generated, but it's an approach to zombies that's really yet to be seen: Overwhelming hordes, climbing over each other in their desperation to feed. It chilling stuff, and if the film continues in this vibe, as well as embracing the political side that the book presented, it really could be a winner...<br />
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Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-34776070201804440392013-01-22T13:54:00.000+00:002013-01-22T13:55:31.443+00:00The Best of 2012! (PS. I'm back...)<br />
Due to my PC being in the computer hospital, my phone being in the phone hospital, and myself being... Well... Mostly absent or injured over the Christmas period, my annual 'year review' is a tad late. But let's overlook that fact, put our thinking caps on and consider 2012 and everything it brought us!<br />
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<b>Film of the year</b><br />
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Most people will sit there yelling Batman! Batman! I adored Batman: The Dark Knight Rises. However, it wasn't perfect. There were flaws. Major flaws... (Wasn't that an atomic bomb? Shouldn't thousands of Gothamites have been killed by the radiation? And how the heck did Bruce get from Gotham, to what I presume is the Middle-East, and back again?!) Instead, I put forward Argo as film of the year. See my review below for my complete opinion, but basically it was smart, stylish, dealt with a sensitive subject with the delicacy it required, yet still brings some laughs. Also, the final half an hour is, quite literally, edge of your seat stuff...<br />
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<b>Literature</b><br />
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Anything but 50 Shades of Grey. Just anything...<br />
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<b>Comics</b><br />
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With the revamp of the DC universe, there's a lot to choose from. I loved Justice League Dark and the new Batman run, but it's been all about Saga from me over 2012. Amazing comic book, with an exciting and touching story, complete with some of the prettiest art I've seen for a long time. Read it. Now.<br />
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<b>Television</b><br />
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I'm going to be honest here. I've not watched all of the television I wanted to. If I had, I imagine the likes of Homeland and Breaking Bad would be making this list. But instead, I'll rave about how good American Horror Story's been, The Walking Dead season 3, Wilfred season 2, and how much Modern Family has made me giggle over the months. However, it's nice to look over on our side of the pond, particularly at a certain Derren Brown who supplied us all with some major talking points with his Apocolypse special. But it was his Fear and Faith episodes that really impressed me... Instigating a religious experience in an athiest?! Amazing television.<br />
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Sadly, I wouldn't put forward Doctor Who this year... I know... Shocking right?<br />
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<b>Music</b><br />
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Gaslight Anthem's 'Handwritten' gets it for me, but only just, with Of Monsters and Men's 'My Head is an Animal' coming a very, VERY, close second. An honourable mention for Frank Hamilton's 'One Song a Week' as well, just for the pure quantity of good music!<br />
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<b>Sport</b><br />
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An amazing Formula One year. And exciting end to the footballs (of which I know little about, but even I found it interesting!). The Olympics was great (even those moaning about it in the run-up ended up jumping on board, and the tubes weren't that bad after all!) However, England's thrashing of New Zealand at Twickenham just has to be the best moment of 2012's sporting calendar. No-one expected it to happen, and if it did, it was only going to be through fluke... No such luck there for the All-Blacks. England played with style and handed the Kiwi's behinds to them on a platter. Amazing...<br />
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<b>Live Show</b><br />
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I had my first Bestival experience this year, and it deserves an honorable mention (as doing a 'Best Festival' category seems a little unfair as I only made it to one!) as it was rather amazing. But for best show, old Derren needs to rear his head again, as his Svengali show was, in places, absolutely mind-blowing... Wouldn't want to spoil it, but you can watch it on the tele-box, and you'll get what I mean when you see the painting section...</div>
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So well done 2012, you laid on quite a feast... I'm back now, with a working computer, so expect numerous reviews and pieces throughout 2013!</div>
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-72976453503665808772012-11-09T15:31:00.003+00:002012-11-09T15:31:55.647+00:00Argo ReviewBen Affleck's <i>Argo</i> seems to have quietly slipped under the hype radar, working it's way into the cinema with just a handful or articles in the likes of Empire and a few film festival appearances. It's almost as if Affleck's transition from actor to director is still being treated as a phase he'll likely grow out of, bless him. Here's hoping for the opposite. Argo is quite simply one of the best pieces of cinema this year.<br />
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Affleck was on the right foot from the start, with an inspiring and engaging story, yet a story which in the wrong hands could have been dull or just rather silly. The true story of one CIA operative's attempts to rescue six hostages from civil-war ridden Iran. His plan? To use the cover of a fake Hollywood film to gain entry to the country and extract the American citizens. <i>Argo</i> approaches a serious subject with all the tact it deserves, and just the right amount of humour to prevent the audience becoming overwhelmed by the political tale it tells. It's informative, opinionated and entertaining all wrapped up in a stylishly directed bundle which swings from subtly funny, to deadly serious, to quite literally edge of your seat stuff.<br />
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An excellent script, brilliant premise and exceptional directing from Affleck is cemented together by an outstanding cast. Affleck takes the helm, looking dishevelled, producing a solid performance. It's the support cast that's truly impressive though, with the likes of the always fantastic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0186505/" target="_blank">Brian Cranston</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000273/" target="_blank">Alan Arkin</a> coming out with some amazing one-liners as well as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004883/" target="_blank">Tate Donovan</a> and company, stranded in Iran, providing some truly genuine performances.<br />
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If you hadn't already guessed, <i>Argo </i>is rather brilliant. However, it was always going to be a tricky film to market. Look past the posters, which simply scream 'Look! This film stars Ben Affleck looking serious!', and prepare yourself for for one of the films of the year. And if anyone crosses you, be ready to tell them: 'Argo f*ck yourself!'Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-41413697591061869192012-09-25T11:40:00.001+01:002012-09-25T11:40:49.680+01:00No Mr Pond, I Expect You To Die!<br />
It's been two years since the world was first introduced to Amelia Pond. Two years in fact since the world was introduced to Matt Smith's incarnation of the Doctor. And what a couple of years it’s been! We've had some of the best story arcs the series has ever seen, as well as some of the best stand-alone episodes ('The Doctor's Wife' springs to mind, though a certain Neil Gaiman did write that one, so maybe that's cheating a little...)<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But Doctor Who is known for keeping things fresh, and it seems it's time for the series to make one of it's major changes. The Ponds are starting to feel a little old, in more ways than one (we were told in the last episode that they've known The Doctor for ten years! Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey and all that...) But just what fate can we expect for our dashing heroes?<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Series writer Moffat has already referred to their farewell as 'heartbreaking'. This has led to a huge amount of speculation that Amy and Rory are due to be killed-off. But that just seems too easy. Too simple for Moffat and co. Thinking back to previous companion's endings, many have been heartbreaking (Rose Tyler being trapped forever in another universe), yet only twice in the history of Doctor Who have major companions been killed off. The first is a young man called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adric" target="_blank">Adric</a> from the fourth Doctor's reign. The second, in the loose sense of the term 'killed-off', would be River Song herself back during Tennant's tenure, before she even became a proper companion.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Which brings us to some theories. First of all, River Song is safe. She needs to survive in order to die several seasons ago (wibby-wobbly…). The Doctor is safe, Matt's in the second half of season 7. Yet we know that Amy and Rory will be done come the end of episode five.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There have been a few clues across the season. Several times The Doctor has had conversations with people, or expressed concerns about the Ponds’ safety (Rory’s Dad Brian asks him if anyone’s every died. The Doctor replies with ‘Not them Brian. Never them.’) It all seems very ominous, especially considering there’s been a big focus on Rory’s family, not Amy’s. Two other clues that hint towards something rather nasty happening are leaked pictures of what looks like a funeral scene, and oddly Rory’s nurses badge in Episode one. It was issued in 1992. That doesn’t make any sense…<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the trailer for the Pond’s final episode, ‘The Angels Take Manhattan’, the Doctor mentions The Angels throwing people back through time. Could Rory be thrown back through time, removing him from Amy’s reach forever? That would be pretty heartbreaking…<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But there’s a positive spin that it would be nice to end on. Moffat is known for misleading us. The heartbreak might be simply The Doctor being left, once again, to travel alone. He loves the Ponds deeply, and it’s doubtful anyone could ever replace them (as Rose Tyler could never really be replaced for Tennant.) At the end of the episode ‘Day of the Moon’, the Pond’s daughter is seen regenerating in an alleyway in what could easily be New York. It always seemed to be an odd location at the time of watching. Could the last episode being set in New York be something more than just a coincidence? Could the Pond’s be reunited with their daughter? Could they have a happy ending? Is it too much to hope?<br />
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Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-70286290353174536852012-08-22T15:00:00.000+01:002012-08-22T15:00:51.977+01:00Fright Night Review<br />
A tad late, but I got round to seeing the remake of <i>Fright Night</i> the other day. As a fan of Colin Farrell (and <a href="http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Love-Colin-Firth/39251">most actors called Colin</a> at that), The Doctor himself David Tennant and all things supernatural, it had the makings of not necessarily a good film, but a Simon-friendly one at any rate.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Vampires are hard to deal with on film. <i>Twilight</i> made them too powerful and changed too much of the mythology. The <i>Underworld </i>lot should just be ignored. The recent <i>Dracula</i> movies lacked the fear vampires should invoke. Even in <i>Buffy</i> the majority were cannon-fodder, too easy to kill.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>Fright Night</i> takes the whole vampire mythology and does it well. Very well indeed. Holy water hurts them. Crosses repel them. Garlic probably does what it does best (smell bad and taste fantastic in a bolognaise). And they can’t come in unless you invite them. That is until there’s no house to invite them into…<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our protagonists are lukewarm and could have been played by better actors, Tennant is playing a very silly role indeed, whilst Colin Farrell walks around smouldering, because we all know that’s what vampires do. Until it all kicks off and then it turns out this is a vampire who’s pissed and has the tools to deal some real damage. You can fight him, but someone’s going to get hurt along the way…<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As a film, <i>Fright Night </i>won’t appeal to most. In fact, I have a nagging suspicion it will appeal to very few. A certain house-mate was unimpressed. But if you’ve been longing for a vampire movie where the mythology’s there, and vampires are actually pretty kick-ass without being stupidly powerful, or made of sponges and emotions, then give Fright Night a crack.<br />
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Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-69564594225614545662012-03-12T14:36:00.004+00:002012-03-12T14:43:03.430+00:00A Moth Ate Words at Pentameters Theatre<div style="text-align: justify; "><span ><a href="http://www.pentameters.co.uk/" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">Pentameters Theatre</a><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; "> in Hampstead is renowned for putting on original and slightly unconventional theatre, and the latest show to be put on at the venue, A Moth Ate Words, doesn’t break this habit in the slightest.</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px; " src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ae5vnaWNbY/T14KcAPvRbI/AAAAAAAAAGY/_sXJveln6a8/s320/A%252BMoth%252BAte%252BWords%252BFlyer%252BFront.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719020053025736114" /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The show is reminiscent of local theatre group <a href="http://www.butterflywheels.co.uk/">Butterfly Wheels</a>, who have put on several shows at Pentameters, and although the Butterfly Wheels name doesn’t feature on the credits, it’s clear that they have given a more than substantial helping hand in proceedings.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A Moth Ate Words is a multi-disciplined performance, featuring a live band, dance (both conventional and verging on the dreaded interpretive), spoken word and art. Such collaborations can often end is disaster, and although A Moth Ate Words works as a show, the jump between disciplines is often jarring.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Our story (to the extent that there is one) is lead by ‘The Riddler’, played brilliantly by Luke Stevenson, one of three speaking parts in the show. Although the part is excellently performed, The Riddler himself casts very little light upon what is a very vague, if at all existent plot. The show really is open to interpretation, something that will appeal to some, but for most will be a source of annoyance. The best that can be ascertained from the show’s set pieces is an attempt at commentary on humanity and commercialism, a well-trodden subject indeed…</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>But ignoring the lack of story, and the rambling script (which doesn’t feel all too original, with many recognisable lines from other works), the main purpose of the show really is as a conduit for the art and music. Visually, A Moth Ate Words is excellent, with some lovely visual trickery and brilliant art design, whilst the music is thoroughly enjoyable, although unnecessarily aggressive at times. If you’re into the likes of The Doors, or The Beatles Sgt. Pepper era, the music will appeal greatly, though, like much of the show, needs a little polishing around the edges.</span></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-51879555451392947132012-01-10T11:25:00.008+00:002012-03-12T14:43:36.332+00:00Howl's Moving Castle at the Southwark Playhouse - A Review<div style="text-align: justify; "><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">A rather </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/soktahu" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">wonderful friend</a><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; "> of ours surprised us over Christmas with tickets for a show. Always a lovely present, especially when that show is one you didn't know existed, and in hindsight, would have kicked yourself for not seeing. I'm a big </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Ghibli" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">Studio Ghibli</a><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; "> fan (isn't everyone?), and when I discovered the show we would be seeing was an interpretation of </span><i style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">Howl's Moving Castle</i><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">, I was rather excited.</span></span></div><div><span ><br /><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NnaymG1W9g/TxRNKVvJBDI/AAAAAAAAAGM/l81fQhz4fPc/s200/Howl%2527s%2BMoving%2BCastle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698264268559418418" /></span></span><div><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The show we were heading to see is actually based on the book (which I am now intending to read, once I've finished the epically long <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clash_of_Kings" style="font-style: italic; ">A Clash of Kings</a>) but the story is pretty similar to the film many of us are familiar with. The thing that really got me excited however, were the names involved in the show. A certain Stephen Fry supplied the voice of the Narrator, whilst the music was composed by Fyfe Dangerfield of Guilletmots fame.</span></div><div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So a foundation of decent talent raised my hopes, and to an extent I wasn't disappointed. The show itself is ambitious, with the set leading the charge; an extravagant creation involving projectors, a cut-out castle, and ever-changing scenery. The set worked brilliantly, as did the accompanying music, which flowed with the story and I'd enjoy watching the show again for the soundtrack alone.</span></div></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Cast-wise however, the show really was a let down. With only three actual actors on stage, they needed to be top-notch, and two of them were. But the actress playing young Sophie/The Witch of the Waste really let the side down, with what was frankly some of the worst acting I've ever seen on stage. Knowing a lot of very talented actors who are struggling to get work, casting like this annoys me. Cast people who can act, not just because they look the part...</span></div></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-58458032835325414212011-07-13T12:45:00.001+01:002011-07-13T12:58:04.402+01:00Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; color: rgb(122, 122, 122); font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><i>Article originally on <a href="http://alternativespotlight.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 124, 187); ">Alternative Spotlight</a>.</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">There have been a lot of announcements lately about Peter Jackson’s <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Hobbit</em> and I feel it’s not getting enough attention!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">This could be because <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Hobbit</em> has been too long in the making. It’s been a good few years, with <a title="Peter Jackson Wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_jackson" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Peter Jackson</a> dropping out, <a title="Guillermo Del Toro Wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillermo_del_Toro" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Del Toro</a> taking the reins and then relinquishing them again. Yet the films are now in full flow and over the past few weeks, exciting images have been released!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-260" title="277540_217504438285169_160617097307237_579649_5124322_o" src="http://alternativespotlight.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/277540_217504438285169_160617097307237_579649_5124322_o.jpg?w=239&h=300" alt="" width="239" height="300" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 5px; border-right-width: 5px; border-bottom-width: 5px; border-left-width: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; max-width: 490px; height: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(251, 221, 223); border-right-color: rgb(251, 221, 223); border-bottom-color: rgb(251, 221, 223); border-left-color: rgb(251, 221, 223); display: block; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The cast was actually announced a few months back, and was exciting at the time, but again, I feel lacked the excitement it deserved. As ever with Jackson, the actors involved are a lot more exciting if you’re British, with some wonderful cult actors like <a title="Aidan Turner Wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Turner" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Aidan Turner</a> of <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Being Human</em> fame featuring heavily. Fancy seeing Aidan as a dwarf? Well <a title="Aidan Turner as Kili" href="http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=31457" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">now you can</a>.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">And when it comes to the English actors, well, they’re everywhere to be seen. Thinking about it actually, I can’t think of an American in the entire film… Martin Freeman as Bilbo was genius from the start, Ian McKellen as Galdalf (anyone else would have caused uproar me thinks…) and Stephen Fry as the Master of Laketown. Laketown doesn’t actually appear until the second half of the original story, so maybe we’ll have to wait until 2013 (and the second part of the film, <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Hobbit: There and Back Again</em>) to see him!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">However, alarm bells have gone off. I personally trust Jackson to do what he wants as he did such a good job with <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Lord of the Rings</em>, however when you notice that certain actors names have appeared on the <a title="IMDB The Hobbit Cast" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903624/" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">IMDB cast</a>, such as Orlando Bloom and Christopher Lee, you can understand the concern. Bloom and Lee’s characters don’t appear in novel. It’s clear that Jackson is taking a few liberties with the story in order to throw in a couple of characters to make the transition between <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Hobbit</em> and <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Lord of the Rings </em>a smooth one. Having done some research though, Bloom is apparently only in the film for a couple of minutes. A brief cameo from a character who is, admittedly, immortal, and so could conceivably be around during the events of <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Hobbit</em>.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Yet Lee and Bloom aren’t the only <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Lord of the Rings </em>actors returning to their roles. We’ll be seeing Cate Blanchett again (once again, immortal, acceptable…) but more interestingly, Elijah Wood as Frodo and Ian Holm as Bilbo will be appearing. One can only presume that there will be a jump forward in time, most likely at the end of the second movie. A nice touch if that’s the case.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">On a final note though, and maybe just exciting for me and <a title="Kirjava13 on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/Kirjava13" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">a few others</a> I can think of, a <a title="Benedict Cumberbatch" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Cumberbatch" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">certain BBC star will be featuring</a>. Cumberbatch, star of BBC’s<em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Sherlock</em> will be voicing Smaug the dragon and also a character referred to as the ‘Necromancer’. A character briefly mentioned in <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Hobbit</em> and is basically Sauron before he becomes, well, Sauron. An interesting thing for Jackson to include, but I suppose having decided to make it into two films, he needs as much material as possible! Such liberties will either make <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The Hobbit</em> a modern masterpiece, or potentially dilute what was a strong story in its own right</p></span>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-1904763432642147222011-07-12T13:05:00.004+01:002011-08-26T13:20:38.383+01:00James Vincent McMorrow's 'Early in the Morning'<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I discovered James Vincent McMorrow when I missed him supporting City and Colour at the Royal Albert Hall. Dallas Green made a comment whilst onstage, something along the lines of McMorrow having an amazing voice. Coming from the master vocalist himself, high praise indeed. Disappointed at having missed him (and more so now that I've heard the album) something had to be done.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCyPpJ3prZ0/Thw7cQXTwbI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/Jg2FWsS5SO0/s200/James-Vincent-McMorrow-Early-in-The-Morning1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628438990921384370" /></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We're of course lucky to be able to listen to music without having to buy it nowadays. I remember ten years ago, hearing one song by a band and, if a friend didn't own the album, having to buy it off of the back of that song alone. A gamble that </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_Trio"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">often paid off</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> but occasionally resulted in a </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Town"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">tenner down the drain</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (yep, albums, the only thing that have actually gone DOWN in price over the years!)
<br />
<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But I digress. A brief snippet of his album on Spotify had me hooked. Yet my eMusic account only had enough credit to buy three of the songs (emusic is actually the cheapest way I've found to legally get music, though my package only allows one and a half albums worth of downloads a month... Maybe I should upgrade my package...) I grabbed the first three tracks, loved them, but a month later found out that the best was yet to come.
<br />
<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The rest of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Early in the Morning</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> contains some wonderful music. The sombre 'Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree' is haunting and a song that individually has changed my personal approach to song writing. Equally as beautiful, 'We Don't Eat' is one of those songs I will always wish I had written. Deeply personal and stunningly beautiful.
<br />
<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This album comes from a man, who ironically doesn't have the voice dallas green made me expect. Whispering, cracking, reminding me of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Duckworth"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sam Duckworth</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_and_wine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Samuel Beam</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. If you enjoy any them, or anything with a folkish vein running through it, go and buy </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Early in the Morning</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. You won't regret it.</span></span></span></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-48170965486898588942011-06-21T18:34:00.001+01:002011-06-21T18:35:43.892+01:00Bon Iver's 'Bon Iver'<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(122, 122, 122); line-height: 21px; "><i>Article originally on <a href="http://alternativespotlight.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 124, 187); ">Alternative Spotlight</a>.</i></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(122, 122, 122); line-height: 21px; "><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(122, 122, 122); line-height: 21px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><a title="Bon Iver Wikipedia article" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Iver" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Bon Iver</a>‘s first album was a triumph. At least that’s what the crazy A.I. from Portal claimed in her final song. That’s right. She wasn’t taking about the epic events of the game. She was referring to the ground-breaking debut album by Justin Vernon, oddly entitled <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">For Emma, Long Ago</em>. The album was a somber and beautiful as the title implies, and the sequel has been highly anticipated by humans and robots alike.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-240" title="Bon Iver - 'Bon Iver'" src="http://alternativespotlight.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/bon-iver-bon-iver.jpg?w=300&h=300" alt="" width="300" height="300" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 5px; border-right-width: 5px; border-bottom-width: 5px; border-left-width: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; max-width: 490px; height: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(251, 221, 223); border-right-color: rgb(251, 221, 223); border-bottom-color: rgb(251, 221, 223); border-left-color: rgb(251, 221, 223); display: block; text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The majority of the new album, <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Bon Iver</em>, isn’t a disappointment. The first few bars of opening track Perth will send shivers down spines. Simplistic and haunting guitar. Images of teenagers lying in darkened rooms with lava-lamps a-glow spring to mind. There’s a little experimentation in the first couple of tracks, but after a few listens, fans of the previous album will settle in nicely. Vernon’s voice floats around beautifully whilst the instruments meander along, carrying him where ever he’s planning to go. <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Holocene</em> really sets the album on it’s path, and really emphasises why Vernon has a band behind him now, rather than locking himself away in the mountains alone this time.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">This album really would be wonderful, if not for the final track. <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Beth/Rest</em> is an anomaly on this outing. It has hints of the classic Bon Iver sound, but sounds out of it’s time. More like something that would be found on a Phil Collins album than should be bring what is a five star album to a close. Ignore the final track, and Vernon may have just released a contender for album of the year.</p></span></i></span></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-40050622790343416212011-06-07T18:48:00.001+01:002011-06-07T18:52:51.199+01:00City and Colour's 'Little Hell'<div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-top: 0.6em; margin-right: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0.6em; margin-left: 0.6em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px; color: rgb(122, 122, 122); font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; "><i>Article originally on <a href="http://alternativespotlight.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 124, 187); ">Alternative Spotlight</a>.</i></span></p><p>Dallas Green is a beautiful man. Not necessarily physically (though there are several woman who will surely vouch for him in that respect), but with his musical skill and soaring, majestic vocals, he makes many a man and woman envy and love him at the same time.</p><p>Recently Dallas Green was on the verge of selling out the Royal Albert Hall. There were only one or two seats not occupied by awe-inspired individuals who, from the wealth of tattoos and piercings on show, had a solid background in the heavier side of alternative music. Yet they were in one of the country's most prestigious venues to enjoy one of hardcore's heroes venting his folk and country desires. Something that many would argue has brought him more success and recognition than his time in<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexisonfire" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexisonfire" title="Alexisonfire on Wikipedia" target="_blank">Alexisonfire</a> ever could have.</p><p>Today saw the released of Dallas Green's third solo album, under his usual guise of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_and_colour" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_and_colour" title="City and Colour on Wikipedia" target="_blank">City and Colour</a>. The audience at the Royal Albert Hall were given a sneak preview of some of the songs from the morbidly titled <i>Little Hell</i>, something that's not always received warmly, but this proved to be the exception. The taster did exactly that, wetted appetites with over a month before the album's release.</p><p>With such an album, it's difficult to pick out stand-out tracks. The magic comes when they're played together. What is easier of course is to pick the tracks that cause the record to stumble in the road. 'Fragile Bird' is a little out of place, and maybe would have been better rocked up and used on an Alexis album. In turn, 'Weightless' feels a little forced at first, but eases into itself towards the end.</p><p>Yet such hiccups are easily forgiven when there are gems such as 'Northern Wind' with Dallas' vocals floating hauntingly and the wonderfully honest and personal 'O' Sister' rising above many of the other tracks. Yet, when even the weakest songs are something beyond which most could ever write, it's difficult to find fault. Needless to say though, if hardcore's ventures into folk and country aren't your thing (listen to<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrice" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrice" title="Thrice on Wikipedia" target="_blank">Thrice</a>'s <i>The Alchemy Index </i> and <i>Beggars </i>for a comprehensive lesson in how to change your sound for the better) then City and Colour won't be for you. However, if it's right up your street, then <i>Little Hell</i> is a another step forward for Dallas Green, a man who has managed to progress with every album he's released. This is a magic third album, a time when many a band falls flat and fails to impress. Gone is the feeling that Dallas Green sits in his room alone with his guitar. He has friends now. <i>Little Hell</i> is proof that City and Colour deserve the sell-out shows that they're achieving. The sound is fuller, and Dallas' vocals will haunt me for weeks to come...</p></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-86927068612236182762011-06-07T18:16:00.000+01:002011-06-07T18:17:12.748+01:00Doctor Who and the Mystery of Amelia Pond<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; color: rgb(122, 122, 122); font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><i>Article originally on <a href="http://alternativespotlight.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 124, 187); ">Alternative Spotlight</a>.</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Geeks are an impatient lot. We spend our time desperately willing time to speed up so that we can enjoy the next installment of whichever franchise has tickled our fancy that week, and the past few days has been no exception to that. Last Saturday saw BBC1 air an episode of <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Doctor Who</em> with one of the biggest cliff-hangers the series has ever seen.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">For those who don’t know (and needless to say, spoiler alert!), the Doctor’s companion, Amelia Pond was revealed as being a ‘ganger’. A flesh duplicate of the original person, normally controlled remotely by that individual. In Amelia’s case, she is currently being held in some form of hospital, pregnant. And she’s about to give birth. The Doctor vaporizes her ganger, and we’re left wondering when on earth (and in space!) the switch was made.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">So, a few theories. Not because I necessarily think they’re correct, but because it’s impossible to resist speculation. Needless to say, there are people out there in the wealth of the internet who have beaten me to this article, credit shall be given where due!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The most common theory seems to be that Amelia was switched during the first two episodes of the current series (6). A logical theory, but one that I feel is somewhat flawed. Amelia would surely have had to have been switched before the start of episode 2, seeing as that was three months later and there was a severe lack of a baby bump. Also, doesn’t she see the lady looking through the hole in a wall during episode 1? (Can someone confirm that for me please?) If she does that makes it certain that she was swapped before the start of that adventure, meaning we have to look back at season 5.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Doctor Who is famed for planning ahead. All through Tennant’s run, we saw and heard references to things that wouldn’t be revealed until some time later, often entire seasons later. Could this whole affair have been planned right from the start of Matt’s turn as The Doctor? On <a title="Den of Geek - Doctor Who Article" href="http://www.denofgeek.com/television/921538/doctor_who_pondering_amy_pond.html" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Den of Geek</a>, is sensibly pointed out that things are looking amiss even in Amelia’s first episode. There are symbols on the lawn of her house, and her house has a mysterious third story. Stairs on the inside leading to a third floor, but only two floors from the outside. Prisoner Zero, who has been watching Amelia for years, warns The Doctor of the silence. The Doctor also mentions seeing ‘things out of the corner of your eye’. He was referring to Prisoner Zero. Or was he?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Having written all of that down, it really does seem to me that Amelia was switched in that first episode, potentially even before The Doctor returned. Another thing that backs this up, for me at least, is something that I’ve been hinting at through this entire article. Her name is Amelia Pond. Why did she change her name to Amy? Maybe, subconsciously, she knew something wasn’t quite right with her own identity…</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Another theory of mine is that the switch happened during ‘The Lodger’. The episode featuring James Corden. The space-ship that they find on the top floor of his house, is the same ship that they encounter during The Silence episodes at the start of season 6. I also seem to remember reading that James Corden will also be appearing in season 6. Maybe there’s something in this, but personally I like my original theory.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">There are many other things to get excited about with Saturday’s impending episode. For those who can’t wait, there’s a <a title="Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 7 trailer" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0bgbX_5IXY" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(243, 104, 109); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">trailer</a> to wet your appetite . It seems we’re going to find out the secret behind River Song (and then hopefully never see her again, though that’s just a person wish…), fingers crossed we find out when Amelia was switched, and maybe we find out a little more about the nature of Rory, seeing as he is inexplicably once again in his Roman costume. There’s also a figure running with a gun in a long trench coat. A certain Jack Harkness maybe, or is that wishful thinking? Or possibly Canton returning to help?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Well, I think time will tell. Once two days until the episode is aired, and why do I get the feeling that we’re going to be left with more questions than answers after viewing? This is the last episode for a couple of months, and there are just too many loose-ends to be tied up. When was Amelia switched? How will the Doctor save himself (now that he know he dies, thanks to Amelia telling him last episode)? What did The Doctor’s ganger mean by ‘Push, but only when she tells you’? And who the hell is River Song?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">But more importantly, there’s strong rumors that David Tennant and Peter Davison will be appearing in the final episode on season 6. Hell. Yes.</p></span>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-62472066452965945532011-06-02T13:12:00.001+01:002011-06-02T13:13:53.580+01:00TV's Just Not Geeky Anymore...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; color: rgb(122, 122, 122); font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><i>Article originally on <a href="http://alternativespotlight.wordpress.com">Alternative Spotlight</a>.</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Last week Smallville ended. Not big news for the majority of people, but for the fans it was an epic final episode that was an appropriate ending to a series which had taken us on a bit of a roller coaster ride over the course of ten seasons. Yet sadly, with the end of Smallville, comes the end of geeky television…</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Ten years ago, we were inundated. The likes of Startrek Voyager and Stargate-SG1 graced our screens. It was the sort of television that made your Mum ask ‘What’s this rubbish?’ Girlfriends didn’t get it (in the unlikely event that you had one) and you noticed Dad’s watching out of the corner of their eye. Being a fan of such programs granted exclusive access to a club of geeks and losers. And it was great.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The reason I bring this up is, and I never thought I’d utter these words, it’s just not the same anymore. Geekiness has become hip. It’s become cool. Smallville was the final season that was for the geeks. They didn’t fear dropping in obscure references to characters from the DC universe. It’s the final standard-bearer for the Buffy era of television.<br /><span id="more-192" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></span><br />I hear people out there asking how can television not be geeky with such gems as the current run of Doctor Who and Stargate Universe. Well, the current run of Doctor Who seems to be one of the most popular things on television at the moment, and it’s amazing yes, but it doesn’t isolate the general public with it’s intelligence. In fact it draws them in. Good for the Doctor. The same goes for Stargate Universe. One of the best series I’ve seen in a long time. But it’s been cancelled because the fans thought it was ‘too soap-operay’. Maybe I shouldn’t have put that in quotation marks, but you get the gist. It was about the people, and if it had been marketed properly it would still be running and pleasing us all. But it’s not geeky. My Dad liked it.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">So what can we do? It seems geeky has become cool, but in doing so it has lost part of what made it geeky in the first place. Every comic book is being made into a film, series about super-powers are being made left right and centre and there seems to be a new influx of television that’s dealing with alien invasions. I ask the geeks of the world, the Warhammer collectors and the Startrek fanboys, ‘What do we have left that’s just ours?’ Nothing is the answer. I’m going to take up stamp collecting.</p></span>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-446814370660003069.post-17965614813320612392011-05-16T13:42:00.004+01:002011-05-16T14:29:15.070+01:00Don't Panic. They're Back.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Panic! at the Disco were awesome. I will hear nothing against them, especially considering the reaction that greeted them when they released their first album. Thousands of teenagers embracing the theatrical approach they brought to music, complete with fantastic clothes and songs anyone with a sense of rhythm couldn't help but dance to.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Then it all went wrong. They released their second album, <i>Pretty. Odd</i>, and I'll be honest, I've not heard a band change their style so much in, well, ever. I loved it. However, the majority of people I knew hated what Panic had become. Not only were they sounding like a cross between The Small Faces and The Beach Boys, they had</div><div style="text-align: left;">also removed the ! from their name. The heresy...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4f5LRto8SlQ/TdEgmUPBgTI/AAAAAAAAAE8/YHACXMu7IP8/s200/Pretty.%2BOdd.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607298853691818290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>There was obviously some disfunction in the band. Ryan Ross, the pretty guitarist who had won the hearts of many a lady (and guy) was pulling the ba</div><div style="text-align: left;">nd in a direction that a certain front man didn't want to go in. He provided vocals for a large proportion of the second album and the conflict in genre was clearly his doing. Something had to crack if they were going to please their fans with a third outing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>And crack it did. Rumour has it that the split was amicable. Brendon and Ryan both accepted that they had differing styles and it was in both of their interests to continue separately. Brendon kept Panic at the Disco, and Ryan moved on to The Young Veins. I've just spent five minutes going over my past posts because I'm sure I reviewed their debut album <i>Take a Vacation!</i> (those boys love their exclamation marks) but apparently not.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k8YqM-05asM/TdEmel9yKsI/AAAAAAAAAFE/M8dtHiEWQhg/s200/Vices%2Band%2BVirtues.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607305318082161346" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><i>Vices and Virtues! </i>can be seen as Panic's return to their original form. It's clear from listening to their latest outing which members of the band were main thrust of their creative out-put for <i>A Fever You Can't Sweat Out</i>. Quite simply,<i> Vices and Virtues</i> sounds like Panic! at the Disco and will be a comfortable and familiar listen for an original fans who were put off by<i>Pretty. Odd</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>However (and there's always a however!) , <i>Vices</i> just doesn't hit the mark as well as<i>A.F.Y.C.S.O.</i> did. Maybe it's because Panic's first outing was original and different. Maybe it's because they've lost an important writing element in the form of Ryan Ross. Either way, it's good, but it's just not that good. I've given it a couple of listens now and there's only on song I can really remember (first single 'The Ballad of Mona Lisa'). It's not a bad album. It's just not a very memorable one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>But at least Panic are still going, and that's a good thing. It sounds sad, but they were an important part of my teenager years, and I'd be sad to see them end. May they continue for years to come.</div></div>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04678168639395492129noreply@blogger.com0