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Ezra Koenig recommended Something Else by The Kinks in Music (curated)

 
Something Else by The Kinks
Something Else by The Kinks
1967 | Rock
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"When I was 14 my family took a trip to London, which was the first and only trip we took together outside of the US. For some reason, we had to go to Waterloo station and my dad told me there was a song by the Kinks about people who meet there, then he played it for me when we got home. I associate it with this exotic feeling I had when I was there. At the time London seemed like a totally mystical place and lived up to my expectations of Englishness. I grew up in New Jersey, so mid-60s Kinks albums seemed like a pure fantasy world. The themes of this one are quite grown-up – it's wistful and sentimental. I also like 'Two Sisters', which is about a woman who is jealous of her carefree, single sister but realises that the stability she has in her family life is more valuable. That's such a different kind of song to listen to when you're 14, as opposed to the stuff on pop radio about love and sex."

Source
  
We Met in December
We Met in December
Rosie Curtis | 2019 | Contemporary, Romance
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The protagonists of this novel are Jess and Alex, and the whole story is told from their perspectives. Jess moves to London from Bournemouth to pursue her dream of working in publishing. I really liked Jess, I liked her personality and her bravery to pursue something new in a completely different environment. I really liked listening to her thoughts about her family, friends, and of course, Alex. Alex left his well-paid job as a lawyer to qualify as a nurse because that’s what his heart wanted, costing him constant nagging from his family and losing his long-time girlfriend. He really annoyed me at times because he was very indecisive. He wanted one thing from life, but was acting completely differently. :/ I really liked all Jesse’s friends, they were so different and interesting to read about.

The events of one year, were described in this novel. It all starts in December, and I absolutely loved the way Rose Curtis described the atmosphere. She has a great eye for the picturesque views, and she really made me love London even more.
  
My Son, the Vampire (1952)
My Son, the Vampire (1952)
1952 | Classics, Comedy, Horror
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Mother Riley Meets Bela Lugosi
My Son, the Vampire as known as Mother Riley Meets The Vampire as known as Vampire Over London is a good movie.

The plot: Irish washerwoman Old Mother Riley (Arthur Lucan) foils a would-be vampire (Bela Lugosi) and his misguided robot.

This was the final film of the Old Mother Riley film series, and did not feature Lucan's ex-wife and business partner Kitty McShane, whom he had divorced in 1951.

In 1963, a recut American version called My Son, the Vampire was released, featuring an introductory segment with a song by American comedian Allan Sherman.

On the suggestion of producer Richard Gordon, Bela Lugosi had travelled to the UK to appear in a stage play of Dracula, which failed. He needed money to return to the US. Gordon persuaded fellow producer George Minter to use Lugosi in a movie in London.

Lugosi was paid $5,000 for his role. The plot was taken from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

Its a funny horror comedy.
  
The People Before
The People Before
Charlotte Northedge | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved this: creepy, tense and claustrophobic.

Pete and Jess buy a big house in rural Suffolk that needs a lot of work. Overwhelmingly so. Jess is clearly uncomfortable with the house. Pete works in London and Jess is left alone a lot with two children who need a lot of attention. And something clearly happened in London prior to their move that no-one is talking about.

This is a slow burner with characters I loved to dislike. Everything that could go wrong, did. Like Jess, I always felt I was left unbalanced about what was going on. What was going to go wrong next?! One thing after another seems to go wrong in this house. What was Pete up to? What had happened in the house before they had got there?

Honestly, I didn’t read the synopsis to this book before I read it, purely because I’d read and enjoyed The House Guest, Charlotte’s previous book. And I wasn’t disappointed. I’m eager to read whatever she writes next!
  
Rebellion (Eagles of the Empire #22)
Rebellion (Eagles of the Empire #22)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Entry number 22 in Simon Scarrow's long-running Macro and Cato series, and we're finally at what has been building for a while: Boudicca's Rebellion.

Which, like the French with Napoleon at Waterloo, if you knew nothing about British history you might be forgiven for thinking she won (she lost).

The majority of the novel is taken up with the impact the Rebellion had on the Romans in the south of England and (in particular) in London, with Macro and Cato still separated at the start of the novel and with the former in captivity amongst Boudicca's army following the fall of the veterans colony in the former novel, and facing quite gruesome execution.

I have to say, I was actually surprised how little of this novel was spent on the final pitched battle between the Romans and the Britons, with more of it spent on describing the sense of desperation and the breakdown of law and order (well, that's what the Romans would have said) as Boudicca's horde descends on London.
  
We Still Kill The Old Way (2014)
We Still Kill The Old Way (2014)
2014 | Mystery
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Story: We Still Kill the Old Way starts as we see a new hooligan gang led by Aaron (Hatchered) causing havoc in the streets of London, they use their numbers to beat, harass or threaten their victims, which sees them clash with legendary Charlie Archer (Berkoff), killing him. Charlie’s brother Ritchie (Ogilvy) has been living away in Spain, with Susan Taylor (Doody) leading the investigation.

When Ritchie gets the news, he heads back to London in search for answers, which sees him bring back the old gang Roy (Ellison), Arthur (Cosmo) and Butch (Denham) to hunt down Aaron and his gang.

 

Thoughts on We Still Kill the Old Way

 

Characters – Ritchie is the respected former gangster of the streets of London, retired now, living in Spain, he returns after the murder of his brother, bring his old gang together to take on the younger gang that is running terror in the old neighbourhood. He remains in control of each situation knowing how to play each and everyone of the gang, police and neighbourhood to remain under the radar. Susan is the lead detective investigating the case, she wants a clean answer, though she does know what Ritchie is capable off. Roy is one of the gang, he enjoys helping Ritchie, missing the old ways the gang once had. Aaron is the leader of the gang of hooligans running chaos around London, his behaviour is complete disgrace, you will hate him from the opening scene, from the way he treats his girlfriend to the way he treats the elders.

Performances – Ian Ogilvy in the leading role gives us a proper cockney gangster figure we can believe in. Alison Doody makes for a solid local cop. Christopher Ellison will strike fear in anybody that crosses him, while Danny-Boy Hatchard makes his character truly disposable.

Story – The story follows a retired gangster that returns to his old stamping ground after his brother is murdered by a young gang causing problems in his old neighbourhood. This is the basic revenge film in the way Ritchie conducts his business, while mixing the idea that the new generation isn’t respecting the old style of the people who ran the area before them, they have no rules or manners. It is good to see the whole gang being truly hated and how respected the old generation is around the area. There are certain side stories that are overly tagged in and with Lauren is one of the worst characters in the history of film.

Action/Crime/Comedy – The action is plenty of side ways pointed guns trying to be threatening, while having close up brutal punches being delivered. The crime side of the film uses the ideas of the two different generations of gangs in the underworld, this does give an element of comedy to how the older gang acts the town.

Settings – The film is set in London’s east end which shows us how the gangs operate around the neighbourhood.


Scene of the Movie – Hospital shoot out.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – Lauren’s decision-making.

Final Thoughts – This is a proper gangster film set in London which does work well with everything it is trying to do with the clash of gangs in London.

 

Overall: Fun gangster film.
  
The Limehouse Golem (2016)
The Limehouse Golem (2016)
2016 | Horror, International, Mystery
I really enjoyed this film. I loved the way that it explored the gritty streets of Victorian London and the acting is superb, especially from Olivia Cooke and Bill Nighy. The ending is a little predictable but I don't feel this ruins the film as it is still extremely well done and extremely clever. Just a warning though there is a lot of gore and violence. So if you're not a fan of that stuff then be aware what you're in for.
  
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Dean (6925 KP) rated Honest (2000) in Movies

Apr 28, 2019 (Updated Apr 29, 2019)  
Honest (2000)
Honest (2000)
2000 | Comedy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A pretty decent black comedy/love story with a good amount of humour. Set in the swinging 60's in East London. The girls from the band All Saints star in this along side a good array of English acting talent. The girls look to rob places up town to get a better way of life for their family but get mixed up in all sorts of trouble way above their heads. An enjoyable film catch it if it's on.
  
Demons Never Die (2011)
Demons Never Die (2011)
2011 | International, Horror
4
4.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Good to see the English having a go at a slasher film.....but why does it always have to be so low budget. Tulisa makes a 5min appearance, so not sure why on the cover of the DVD....bit of a marketing ploy there. Interesting take on the idea but the plot just twists in totally random directions at times. It was a nice surprise to see some of it filmed in and around Hammersmith in London where I used to live!
  
Kidulthood (2006)
Kidulthood (2006)
2006 | Crime, Drama
7
6.8 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A very good film with some young English actors. I'm not sure if this was a film made for TV but it has that feel to it. It's raw, gritty and brutal showing the life of a group of teenagers in West London. Unfortunately some scenes are quite true to what is going on with inner city teenagers today and the gang culture. Fades a little towards the end but still a good watch.......now to see the sequel Adulthood.