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Yinka Shonibare MBE
Book
Born in London and raised in Nigeria, Shonibare employs a diverse range of media - from sculpture,...
A Woman in Arabia: The Writings of the Queen of the Desert
Book
The writings of one of the great woman adventurers of the twentieth century - the 'female Lawrence...
City of Tiny Lights
Book
***Now a film starring Riz Ahmed, Billie Piper, James Floyd, Cush Jumbo, Roshan Seth and Antonio...
David McK (3425 KP) rated National Treasure (2004) in Movies
Sep 10, 2021
Family friendly 2004 treasure hunt film, in which Nicolas Cage dials back his usual manic energy to play the lead character who - for plot reasons - has to steal the Declaration of Independence (yes, *that* Declaration of Independence) in order to stop the (British, of course) villain of the piece - as portrayed by Sean Bean - from doing so and then destroying that artifact.
As such, heavily aimed at the American audience rather than more international fare, coming across (to my UK eyes, at least) as very much an American attempt to set up a new Indiana Jones series. Oh, and the whole plot point of something being on the back of the Declaration? Remind you much of The Da Vinci code, and something on the back of the Mona Lisa ...?
Having said that, it's polished enough to not be the worst way of spending about 2 hours or so in front of the box.
As such, heavily aimed at the American audience rather than more international fare, coming across (to my UK eyes, at least) as very much an American attempt to set up a new Indiana Jones series. Oh, and the whole plot point of something being on the back of the Declaration? Remind you much of The Da Vinci code, and something on the back of the Mona Lisa ...?
Having said that, it's polished enough to not be the worst way of spending about 2 hours or so in front of the box.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The World's End (2013) in Movies
May 22, 2018
Predictably smart and funny comedy-SF movie from the makers of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz; five old friends come back together on an ill-conceived pub crawl and find that revisiting past mistakes is less important than dealing with the alien forces apparently at work in their old home town.
The director claims this is SF in the British tradition of John Wyndham; to me it looks much more like an update (not quite a spoof) of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, set somewhere in the Home Counties. Terrific cast, some very good jokes; also some rather impressive action sequences. Not quite in the same vein as Shaun of the Dead, as this movie has some quite dark emotional threads running through it, with themes of regret and guilt and coming to terms with getting older.
I have to say that while I loved this film, I am of the same generation as the main characters and can fully sympathise with their various situations; younger people of my acquaintance couldn't quite see the point of the film. Almost certainly an age thing - whether your response to the track listing of the soundtrack is 'Wow, non-stop classics!' or 'Eww, dad rock' (or even 'Never heard of any of this') will probably be a good indicator as to whether you'll like the actual movie or not.
The director claims this is SF in the British tradition of John Wyndham; to me it looks much more like an update (not quite a spoof) of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, set somewhere in the Home Counties. Terrific cast, some very good jokes; also some rather impressive action sequences. Not quite in the same vein as Shaun of the Dead, as this movie has some quite dark emotional threads running through it, with themes of regret and guilt and coming to terms with getting older.
I have to say that while I loved this film, I am of the same generation as the main characters and can fully sympathise with their various situations; younger people of my acquaintance couldn't quite see the point of the film. Almost certainly an age thing - whether your response to the track listing of the soundtrack is 'Wow, non-stop classics!' or 'Eww, dad rock' (or even 'Never heard of any of this') will probably be a good indicator as to whether you'll like the actual movie or not.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Johnny English Strikes Again (2018) in Movies
Oct 10, 2018
Unwanted and underwhelming third outing for Rowan Atkinson's credit-card-advert-character from long ago. When a cyber-attack on the British government exposes the identity of every active agent, retired spy/moron Johnny English is brought back to find those responsible. Much obvious slapstick and many painfully telegraphed punchlines ensue; I did laugh a bit, but possibly out of sympathy.
This time around it seems obvious that the film is being pitched towards a very young audience, which explains its general silliness and reluctance to engage in anything resembling actual satire - as it is, the film's capacity to get real-world issues utterly wrong is almost uncanny (Britain and the Russians team up to stop cyber-terrorists). On the other hand, some of it feels aimed at older viewers who are generally suspicious and resentful of the modern world (the internet is bad, smartphones are bad, the Health and Safety Act is silly, etc). Maybe it's meant to be a film for right-wing grandparents to take their kids' kids to.
On the other hand, it's Rowan Atkinson, who is a superbly gifted clown, and there are inevitably a few amusing bits along the way - but not nearly enough, given his talent. Hopefully this is as close to actually not being funny as he will ever get.
This time around it seems obvious that the film is being pitched towards a very young audience, which explains its general silliness and reluctance to engage in anything resembling actual satire - as it is, the film's capacity to get real-world issues utterly wrong is almost uncanny (Britain and the Russians team up to stop cyber-terrorists). On the other hand, some of it feels aimed at older viewers who are generally suspicious and resentful of the modern world (the internet is bad, smartphones are bad, the Health and Safety Act is silly, etc). Maybe it's meant to be a film for right-wing grandparents to take their kids' kids to.
On the other hand, it's Rowan Atkinson, who is a superbly gifted clown, and there are inevitably a few amusing bits along the way - but not nearly enough, given his talent. Hopefully this is as close to actually not being funny as he will ever get.
Eight Arms to Hold You: 50 Years of Help! and the Beatles
Book
"Remarkable as it may seem, but this is the first book on The Beatles' film Help! and that in itself...
Vanishing Streets: Journeys in London
Book
Vanishing Streets reveals an American writer's twenty-year love affair with London. Beguiling and...
8 1/2
Book
Federico Fellini's masterpiece 8 1/2 (Otto e mezzo) shocked audiences around the world when it was...
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Bait (2019) in Movies
Oct 2, 2020
Blow the man down
Bait is a beautiful disorientating gem of a movie about how we failure to understand and communicate with each other on a daily basis. Set in an old fishing village that's having to change with the times while leaving its locals struggling to make a living. bait is loaded with conflict and tension as tourists and locals cross paths and confront each other on a daily basis. Watching bait is a constant visual treat it's scratchy, jumpy, weathered and seemingly missing vital scenes giving it not only a sense of nostalgia but great authenticity too. Dialog is stiff, seemingly mismatched and layered in an almost hazy dream like way adding brilliantly to the overall atmosphere, harsh themes and knife point tension. Acting is tip top too with every single character seething with realistic portrayals of frustration, jealousy, anger and #hatred these along with close up shots of clenched fists and faces showing eyes of sheer boredom add superbly to a film that feels so relatable and incredibly British. Bait is by no means a happy watch with its intense close up imagery, pulsing scratchy film reel and defining silence that accompanies all the constant drama and conflict but theres something so pure, heart warming and nostalgic in all it's damn fine riveting hopelessness that rewards all that stay till it's haunting and mezmerising conclusion.