There's been no wacko jacko controversy for a few months. Thankfully this popped up on my news feed this morning:
Michael Jackson Mother Sues AEG For Sons Death
Kathleen Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson, is suing touring company AEG for the “wrongful death” of her son
Huzzah!!! No more apocalypse!!!
AEG, they make ovens don't they? no. will not go there.
B
17 September 2010
14 September 2010
Cooking with Bruce: Risotto Cake
Been awhile since we had a cooking with Bruce episode, so here's what I made last week.
The original recipe can be found here: Saffron risotto cake with grilled vege
My feeling was the herbs and spices used would overpower the saffron, aside from colouring, I couldn't see it achieving much. So my version, which tasted bloody marvellous, is as follows:
Ingredients
1 onion, finely chopped
olive oil
dill
chives
coriander(fresh)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
chilli flakes
tin of chopped tomatoes
300gm risotto rice
salt and pepper
1/2c white wine
1L stock (see notes)
fresh basil
1 aubergine, thinly sliced
2 courgettes, thinly sliced
125g mozzarella, sliced
1 red pepper roasted and skin removed
parmesan
Cook onion in oil on a low heat until soft, add dill, chives, coriander, chilli, garlic, cook gently. Add tomatoes and rice for five minutes - slightly hotter. Season and add wine (I'm presuming you're drinking already).
Stock: I used the rest of the tin of tomatoes,then topped things up to around 1L with vege stock.
Add stock slowly and let it get absorbed before adding more. When things are ready, rice should be pretty soft, but not collapsing. Add the basil and leave to cool.
Drizzle olive oil over the veges and grill them, should have streaks of blackness, and still be soft. Magic!
Grease baking tin, add 1/3 of the rice, top with courgettes, half the aubergine, mozzarella and peppers, sprinkle with parmesan. Add another 1/3 of rice, remaining vege, cheese, then top with remaining rice.
Bake in a medium oven for 30 minutes, until kinda golden around the top. Not too much tho as the rice will viciously attack your gums as you chew. It's a nasty wee bugger like that.
Nice hot and cold.
Love, B
The original recipe can be found here: Saffron risotto cake with grilled vege
My feeling was the herbs and spices used would overpower the saffron, aside from colouring, I couldn't see it achieving much. So my version, which tasted bloody marvellous, is as follows:
Ingredients
1 onion, finely chopped
olive oil
dill
chives
coriander(fresh)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
chilli flakes
tin of chopped tomatoes
300gm risotto rice
salt and pepper
1/2c white wine
1L stock (see notes)
fresh basil
1 aubergine, thinly sliced
2 courgettes, thinly sliced
125g mozzarella, sliced
1 red pepper roasted and skin removed
parmesan
Cook onion in oil on a low heat until soft, add dill, chives, coriander, chilli, garlic, cook gently. Add tomatoes and rice for five minutes - slightly hotter. Season and add wine (I'm presuming you're drinking already).
Stock: I used the rest of the tin of tomatoes,then topped things up to around 1L with vege stock.
Add stock slowly and let it get absorbed before adding more. When things are ready, rice should be pretty soft, but not collapsing. Add the basil and leave to cool.
Drizzle olive oil over the veges and grill them, should have streaks of blackness, and still be soft. Magic!
Grease baking tin, add 1/3 of the rice, top with courgettes, half the aubergine, mozzarella and peppers, sprinkle with parmesan. Add another 1/3 of rice, remaining vege, cheese, then top with remaining rice.
Bake in a medium oven for 30 minutes, until kinda golden around the top. Not too much tho as the rice will viciously attack your gums as you chew. It's a nasty wee bugger like that.
Nice hot and cold.
Love, B
9 September 2010
I am destined for sainthood
Which, as titles go, may rate as most unlikely to see, concerning me.
However, I have proof. Convincing proof. Not only did I manage to get a new version of MSN Messenger onto the parentals computer (thanks R) using the cached MSI files that MS don't tell you are stored locally. But I then proceeded to fix their email using remote assistance via MSN.
Nothing too exciting there, until I mention they refuse to join the 21 C., and connect using a 56k modem. Yes modem. Here is a picture of a 'modem', they connect using an old fashioned communication device termed a 'telephone'. Here is a picture of a telephone.
It took just under an hour, most of which was waiting for screen refreshes, but we got there.
So, although I'm incredibly busy at the moment, it is lunchtime so I'm investigating how to become a saint. Or as we in the biz term it, canonization.
Am keen to avoid the initial criteria of martyrdom, I have too much to offer the world to depart this mortal coil.
Thankfully Pope JP2 (the return of JP, we're still waiting for JP3 when JP loses to Rowan Williams and lands the rematch of the century) codified things a bit in the early 80s. Catholicism doesn't count spandex, lycra, or keytars as essential requirements, but capes, capes are an essential part of religiousness, proving god is a Prog fan boy.
Servant of God. Sadly I have to be dead for this, but no harm in preparing the paperwork early. There are initial technical issues to get over (whose god, what service, etc etc). I'll give Pope EggBene a heads-up, see if he can skip the 'must be dead' bit. Apparently someone needs to be my postulator. Which sounds rather like an outbreak of the black plague, but never mind.
Declaration 'Non Cultus' Someone has to dig up my body. And play with my relics. Those of you wanting a trial period, give me a yell now, play with my pre-relics!
"Venerable/Heroic in Virtue" I think may have to skip the heroic in virtue section, and focus more on venerable as I have to be realistic and focus my, admittedly prodigious, talents. It is at this stage I get to have prayer cards printed concerning me. Again, it seems churlish to wait until I'm dead, I think we should all make a start on this right now. For a start, since I'm not going for the virtue side, we can flog off signed copies on ebay. Help pay for the whole shennanigans. Go Team B !!!
"Blessed" as I'm not going for martyr, I have to be a confessor. This means a documented miracle is required. See earlier section. This usually involves a a miraculous cure, that doctors cannot explain, of some sick loser. I feel it's time for the church to move with the times, embrace technology, and sanctify (your love) me for my techno skillz. See, I'm even down wiv da kidz.
"Saint" booyar. Miracle achieved, I've already got beautific vision, so yet again, another box ticked. I say start building some damn parishes in my honour. Hell, let me open them, it'd be a nice touch (possibly avoid using the word 'hell' too much in the opening speeches...). At this point the faithful may freely and without restriction (mmm badly phrased) honour the Saint. I'm keen if we focus my faithful on hot scantily clad babes. Coffin dodgers pawing at my pre-relics doesn't appeal. At all.
Result.
Love, St. B.
However, I have proof. Convincing proof. Not only did I manage to get a new version of MSN Messenger onto the parentals computer (thanks R) using the cached MSI files that MS don't tell you are stored locally. But I then proceeded to fix their email using remote assistance via MSN.
It took just under an hour, most of which was waiting for screen refreshes, but we got there.
So, although I'm incredibly busy at the moment, it is lunchtime so I'm investigating how to become a saint. Or as we in the biz term it, canonization.
Am keen to avoid the initial criteria of martyrdom, I have too much to offer the world to depart this mortal coil.
Thankfully Pope JP2 (the return of JP, we're still waiting for JP3 when JP loses to Rowan Williams and lands the rematch of the century) codified things a bit in the early 80s. Catholicism doesn't count spandex, lycra, or keytars as essential requirements, but capes, capes are an essential part of religiousness, proving god is a Prog fan boy.
Servant of God. Sadly I have to be dead for this, but no harm in preparing the paperwork early. There are initial technical issues to get over (whose god, what service, etc etc). I'll give Pope EggBene a heads-up, see if he can skip the 'must be dead' bit. Apparently someone needs to be my postulator. Which sounds rather like an outbreak of the black plague, but never mind.
Declaration 'Non Cultus' Someone has to dig up my body. And play with my relics. Those of you wanting a trial period, give me a yell now, play with my pre-relics!
"Venerable/Heroic in Virtue" I think may have to skip the heroic in virtue section, and focus more on venerable as I have to be realistic and focus my, admittedly prodigious, talents. It is at this stage I get to have prayer cards printed concerning me. Again, it seems churlish to wait until I'm dead, I think we should all make a start on this right now. For a start, since I'm not going for the virtue side, we can flog off signed copies on ebay. Help pay for the whole shennanigans. Go Team B !!!
"Blessed" as I'm not going for martyr, I have to be a confessor. This means a documented miracle is required. See earlier section. This usually involves a a miraculous cure, that doctors cannot explain, of some sick loser. I feel it's time for the church to move with the times, embrace technology, and sanctify (your love) me for my techno skillz. See, I'm even down wiv da kidz.
"Saint" booyar. Miracle achieved, I've already got beautific vision, so yet again, another box ticked. I say start building some damn parishes in my honour. Hell, let me open them, it'd be a nice touch (possibly avoid using the word 'hell' too much in the opening speeches...). At this point the faithful may freely and without restriction (mmm badly phrased) honour the Saint. I'm keen if we focus my faithful on hot scantily clad babes. Coffin dodgers pawing at my pre-relics doesn't appeal. At all.
Result.
Love, St. B.
6 September 2010
Tacos
Stolen link from the Anti labels blog. Everything is better with tacos, including music covers.
AlbumTacos.
There's four pages of taco-ness there.
AlbumTacos.
There's four pages of taco-ness there.
5 September 2010
Movies
Having decided I wasn't moving much on Saturday evening, I lined up a few movies. Here's some brief reviews...
If... McDowell plays a schoolboy (Mick Travis) at a public (ie private for the rest of us) school, he and his mates don't fit in. Initally focussing on school traditions and power structure, the movie emphasises how the radicalism of Mick will create conflict with the 'Whips'. There's a number of reviews out there emphasising the surrealism of the movie, possible for it's time yes, and certainly later in the film, yes. But the first half, things seemed reasonably linear. Mick's activities seemed designed to torment tradition and establishment, setting the movie nicely as 'anti-establishment'. The choice of school was a good move too. The surrealism and general schoolboy anti-establishment fantasy kicks in during the second half when an arms cache is found. I enjoyed this, apparently it had an X rating when first released, showing how far we've come (what would they have made of Elephant?, similar in subject...) for ratings. Not hugely thought provoking, but excellent story, acting etc and worth watching. I do think McDowell was typecast after this tho'....
The Human Centipede I guess it comes as no surprise that I watched this. Mad german scientist, initially joining three dogs together, decided to move onto people. Annoying American chicks get kidnapped, along with an asian truck driver. Madness ensues. The movie has created a lot of comment in the press recently, for its apparent gross-out factor. Meh. It's a bgrade, dialogue isn't too bad, scripting and pacing is reasonably good, there's plot holes aplenty - but for all that the movie does try to be original. Which, in general, I think it achieves. It's not very disturbing (yeah that maybe me...), and when the evil doctor is crippled by the 'pede so begins one of the slowest chase scenes I've seen. Great stuff. I found it all quite funny. Your mileage may vary.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil Decided to rewatch this. It's such a sweet doco, you can't help but feel for Lips and Anvil. So trusting, and still trying to live the dream. They do make Spinal Tap seem irrelevant, and possibly too subdued. If you haven't seen it, and want an incredibly engaging story of two school mates taking on the world, and largely, failing - but with each other, go watch this.
If... McDowell plays a schoolboy (Mick Travis) at a public (ie private for the rest of us) school, he and his mates don't fit in. Initally focussing on school traditions and power structure, the movie emphasises how the radicalism of Mick will create conflict with the 'Whips'. There's a number of reviews out there emphasising the surrealism of the movie, possible for it's time yes, and certainly later in the film, yes. But the first half, things seemed reasonably linear. Mick's activities seemed designed to torment tradition and establishment, setting the movie nicely as 'anti-establishment'. The choice of school was a good move too. The surrealism and general schoolboy anti-establishment fantasy kicks in during the second half when an arms cache is found. I enjoyed this, apparently it had an X rating when first released, showing how far we've come (what would they have made of Elephant?, similar in subject...) for ratings. Not hugely thought provoking, but excellent story, acting etc and worth watching. I do think McDowell was typecast after this tho'....
The Human Centipede I guess it comes as no surprise that I watched this. Mad german scientist, initially joining three dogs together, decided to move onto people. Annoying American chicks get kidnapped, along with an asian truck driver. Madness ensues. The movie has created a lot of comment in the press recently, for its apparent gross-out factor. Meh. It's a bgrade, dialogue isn't too bad, scripting and pacing is reasonably good, there's plot holes aplenty - but for all that the movie does try to be original. Which, in general, I think it achieves. It's not very disturbing (yeah that maybe me...), and when the evil doctor is crippled by the 'pede so begins one of the slowest chase scenes I've seen. Great stuff. I found it all quite funny. Your mileage may vary.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil Decided to rewatch this. It's such a sweet doco, you can't help but feel for Lips and Anvil. So trusting, and still trying to live the dream. They do make Spinal Tap seem irrelevant, and possibly too subdued. If you haven't seen it, and want an incredibly engaging story of two school mates taking on the world, and largely, failing - but with each other, go watch this.
4 September 2010
Stuff of the moment
Is this the best music interview of the year? Nick Cave is usually good for a quote, but this one is better than most. "There was a miscommunication with the costume department," nods Cave, a little ruefully. "And we ended up looking like gay Roman footsoldiers." He brightens a bit. "Still, we've got the legs for it."
Here's the video they were talking about. I really like it, refreshingly different, good combo of pretty much every major religion and their partypieces, old religions (river Styx), b-grade movies (anyone else feel it's a cool rip of Jason and the Argonauts?) - wonderful stuff. I just keep watching it, it's so good.
Grinderman 'Heathen Child' from Trim Editing on Vimeo.
More on the music front. Radiohead were so impressed with a fan made video (50 camera shoot) of their Prague concert, they gave them the audio masters. The fans have turned it into a variety of formats, AVI, MKV, DVD even blu-ray coming soon. Go forth and download, legally! I can't comment on it as I'm still downloading, but eh, it's Radiohead, that's enough for me.
Here's the trailer:
Oh hell, I'm on a music roll, why stop. I was pissing around online the other day and came across the new Brian Wilson, doing versions of Gershwin. In theory, good plan. Let's face it, the catchiness of the Beach Boys output owes a lot to Broadway. Personally, I'll take the BB over Broadway, but the influence is still there. I'd argue the BB took the campness out, leaving a purer melody,which possibly explains why their music is more recognisable than a lot of Broadway classics. So yes, you'd imagine this could work if Wilson was tidying things up. In no way does this work. I'd rather listen to elevator music, although I can see this album turning up in elevators, at which point I'd be keying my own wrists.
I don't want to inflict the video for you, but there's one soulless dead track here. I see yesterdays music review said much the same, "But, goodness, what a horrible album this is."
It was so horrible I went and overdosed on some Immortal to get rid of the ick. Here's some Blizzard Beasts for you.
Might meander off for a haircut. See, radicalism is alive and well in Shepshed.
B
Here's the video they were talking about. I really like it, refreshingly different, good combo of pretty much every major religion and their partypieces, old religions (river Styx), b-grade movies (anyone else feel it's a cool rip of Jason and the Argonauts?) - wonderful stuff. I just keep watching it, it's so good.
Grinderman 'Heathen Child' from Trim Editing on Vimeo.
More on the music front. Radiohead were so impressed with a fan made video (50 camera shoot) of their Prague concert, they gave them the audio masters. The fans have turned it into a variety of formats, AVI, MKV, DVD even blu-ray coming soon. Go forth and download, legally! I can't comment on it as I'm still downloading, but eh, it's Radiohead, that's enough for me.
Here's the trailer:
Oh hell, I'm on a music roll, why stop. I was pissing around online the other day and came across the new Brian Wilson, doing versions of Gershwin. In theory, good plan. Let's face it, the catchiness of the Beach Boys output owes a lot to Broadway. Personally, I'll take the BB over Broadway, but the influence is still there. I'd argue the BB took the campness out, leaving a purer melody,which possibly explains why their music is more recognisable than a lot of Broadway classics. So yes, you'd imagine this could work if Wilson was tidying things up. In no way does this work. I'd rather listen to elevator music, although I can see this album turning up in elevators, at which point I'd be keying my own wrists.
I don't want to inflict the video for you, but there's one soulless dead track here. I see yesterdays music review said much the same, "But, goodness, what a horrible album this is."
It was so horrible I went and overdosed on some Immortal to get rid of the ick. Here's some Blizzard Beasts for you.
Might meander off for a haircut. See, radicalism is alive and well in Shepshed.
B
2 September 2010
Metal !!!
Taking a break from the jazz, country and classic rock for some metal \m/
The first band takes their name from a pesticide, made more (in)famous as the poison d'jour for the concentration camps. Hey don't judge them, thalidomide was such a raging success...
And now for some Unleashed
I'm quite looking forward to the gig later this month with Dimmu Borgir, supported by Enslaved - who I also like. I've posted Enslaved tracks before (I think), probably from their Vertebrae album, but here's something earlier:
The first band takes their name from a pesticide, made more (in)famous as the poison d'jour for the concentration camps. Hey don't judge them, thalidomide was such a raging success...
And now for some Unleashed
I'm quite looking forward to the gig later this month with Dimmu Borgir, supported by Enslaved - who I also like. I've posted Enslaved tracks before (I think), probably from their Vertebrae album, but here's something earlier:
Cider tasting
I've just realised it's a year to the day since I started at Lboro. I should really comment on that soon - probably need to consider who reads the blog, or maybe not. Hmmm. Ponder.
Anyway, here's a couple of cider reviews. Both were picked up from Sainsbury's - I think.
Longueville Cider made from Gros CEillet apples.
Fresh, French, dry, very appley and fizzy. This was divine. It really did taste like fresh apples in a bottle, and went down very very easily. Reminded me of the Fresh-Up Crisp Apple flavour, but with the added bonus of 4.5% alcohol.
I could drink this for hours, unlike many ciders I didn't find that weird musty flavour, nor was it too sweet.
Sheppy's Vintage Reserve
I like the Sheppy's ciders I've had. This one is 'oak matured' and weighs in at 7.4% alcohol. Crisp flavour, but has that weird mustiness to it, typical (or so I've found) of English ciders. It's sweeter than the Longueville, but still very drinkable. I wouldn't call it a session cider (ignoring the 7.4%) as I find it a little sweet for more than a glass, but very drinkable. There's no age statement on the bottle, so dunno what 'vintage reserve' actually means.
I'd recommend the Longueville, in fact I may go and get more of it. That could be dangerous, especially if I pick up the Crabbies Ginger Beer 4 packs which are on special - both of those are very very drinkable.
It's music night, so far:
Branford Marsalis : Requiem
VA : Countryman
Decided I couldn't be bothered cooking dinner tonight, so toast, avocado, basil leaves, tomato and a flick of olive oil or balsamic vinegar will do me. Followed by melon. Mmmm.
I did bake some friands, custard and rhubarb flavour. Looking forward to trying them later.
Love, me.
Anyway, here's a couple of cider reviews. Both were picked up from Sainsbury's - I think.
Longueville Cider made from Gros CEillet apples.
Fresh, French, dry, very appley and fizzy. This was divine. It really did taste like fresh apples in a bottle, and went down very very easily. Reminded me of the Fresh-Up Crisp Apple flavour, but with the added bonus of 4.5% alcohol.
I could drink this for hours, unlike many ciders I didn't find that weird musty flavour, nor was it too sweet.
Sheppy's Vintage Reserve
I like the Sheppy's ciders I've had. This one is 'oak matured' and weighs in at 7.4% alcohol. Crisp flavour, but has that weird mustiness to it, typical (or so I've found) of English ciders. It's sweeter than the Longueville, but still very drinkable. I wouldn't call it a session cider (ignoring the 7.4%) as I find it a little sweet for more than a glass, but very drinkable. There's no age statement on the bottle, so dunno what 'vintage reserve' actually means.
I'd recommend the Longueville, in fact I may go and get more of it. That could be dangerous, especially if I pick up the Crabbies Ginger Beer 4 packs which are on special - both of those are very very drinkable.
It's music night, so far:
Branford Marsalis : Requiem
VA : Countryman
Decided I couldn't be bothered cooking dinner tonight, so toast, avocado, basil leaves, tomato and a flick of olive oil or balsamic vinegar will do me. Followed by melon. Mmmm.
I did bake some friands, custard and rhubarb flavour. Looking forward to trying them later.
Love, me.
27 August 2010
Live Movie review
Tonight, accompanied by wine, The Invasion (2007) with Nicole Kidman. A rip-off of the all time classic, Invasion of the Bodysnatchers. Ya see what they did there?! Clever Hollywood. First thing that strikes me, bloody product placement is not so subtle here: mountain dew, bose, cisco,nokia.
Being generous in description, the plot concerns : space shuttle crashes with some form of organism, infects humanity (just Americans, evidence of intelligent life?). Kidman appears to be roughing it, waste of her talents (acting, not anything else before you horrible sordid bums comment). Daniel Craig, isn't even trying with the dire scripting he's working with. He's using that British accent the Americans think the Brits have. Which sounds pretty much like nothing I've heard here. Oh awesome, pop psychology, but the dogs know, the dogs know. Clever dogs. They should run away, like the dolphins in Hitchhikers Guide, they've probably read the script, that'd explain the whimpering.
People are throwing up, dying. And yet I'm not engaged. This movie is *really* bad. Oh Mac product placement now. Sheesh.
Oh dear, they've stolen some of the best lines from the original. They've got no impact here, at all. Pop evolutionary psychology! Even better. FFS I've had first years producing better arguments.
On the plus side the movie hasn't gotten any worse, and as the action increased, it may have improved. Slightly. I am not going to comment on the science. It's likely to make me ranty. Nope the pace has gone again, Nicole (she's a doctor, just can't remember her characters name) is fixated on saving her son (sheesh, renewable resource!) and therefore risking everyone else's life. And my wine has finished. I enjoyed the wine. The movie, well it's utter crap. It has no redeeming features, it drags (aside from a 20 minute period, kinda in the middle), there's no boobies, and it's a waste of time. I like bgrades, but this, this hits a 2/10 on the bgrade scale.
I feel dirty having watched it, and probably need to watch the original to cleanse and purify myself.
B
Being generous in description, the plot concerns : space shuttle crashes with some form of organism, infects humanity (just Americans, evidence of intelligent life?). Kidman appears to be roughing it, waste of her talents (acting, not anything else before you horrible sordid bums comment). Daniel Craig, isn't even trying with the dire scripting he's working with. He's using that British accent the Americans think the Brits have. Which sounds pretty much like nothing I've heard here. Oh awesome, pop psychology, but the dogs know, the dogs know. Clever dogs. They should run away, like the dolphins in Hitchhikers Guide, they've probably read the script, that'd explain the whimpering.
People are throwing up, dying. And yet I'm not engaged. This movie is *really* bad. Oh Mac product placement now. Sheesh.
Oh dear, they've stolen some of the best lines from the original. They've got no impact here, at all. Pop evolutionary psychology! Even better. FFS I've had first years producing better arguments.
On the plus side the movie hasn't gotten any worse, and as the action increased, it may have improved. Slightly. I am not going to comment on the science. It's likely to make me ranty. Nope the pace has gone again, Nicole (she's a doctor, just can't remember her characters name) is fixated on saving her son (sheesh, renewable resource!) and therefore risking everyone else's life. And my wine has finished. I enjoyed the wine. The movie, well it's utter crap. It has no redeeming features, it drags (aside from a 20 minute period, kinda in the middle), there's no boobies, and it's a waste of time. I like bgrades, but this, this hits a 2/10 on the bgrade scale.
I feel dirty having watched it, and probably need to watch the original to cleanse and purify myself.
B
23 August 2010
various movie reviews
Actually I'll start with a TV review.
True Blood S3 yawn. S1 was great, S2 lacked a decent story arc and seemed to introduce new characters every other week. S3 appears to be suffering the same problems. There's no cohesive storyarc, which would be fine if it wasn't HBO, but we do expect better from them. I'm sure it's winding up for an explosive ending to the series, but it's very hard to engage with any of the characters. It's a useful waste of an hour, but not much more. Having said that, I think it's a little better than S2.
I realise the limitations they've got with the source material (it's really bad, struggled through the first book, never ever again), but still you can rewrite that.
Green Zone Can't remember if I mentioned I'd seen this. Really enjoyed it, excellent thriller. Interesting plot, well acted (Matt damon) and well paced. Basically if you want something thats not dumb, that critiques US policy in Iraq, and has explosions, watch this.
Shutter Island Having been very disappointed with Leo's Inception, I watched Shutter Island. Much much better. Interesting concept, although it has the been done before vibe about it. Having said that, the story is tight, acting excellent, and the atmosphere builds nicely.
I'll sleep when I'm dead No not a Warren Zevon retrospective, but a Clive Owen gangster flick. Owen is an ex-gangster who comes back to town after his younger brother dies. It's a nicely paced thriller, that feels cheaply made, which in this case, works well. Some of the dialogue is a bit hammy (think 60s UK crime movie), which is unfortunate as the cast is pretty damn good, but over all it works. Things aren't tied up nicely, no-one is blameless, and the implication you can't escape your past works well, without being overbearing. Enjoyed this. Oh and directed by Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Flash Gordon, and Queen's 'Body Language' single).
There's been a number of Bgrades too, but nothing of outstanding quality (?) which I need to bring to your attention.
B
True Blood S3 yawn. S1 was great, S2 lacked a decent story arc and seemed to introduce new characters every other week. S3 appears to be suffering the same problems. There's no cohesive storyarc, which would be fine if it wasn't HBO, but we do expect better from them. I'm sure it's winding up for an explosive ending to the series, but it's very hard to engage with any of the characters. It's a useful waste of an hour, but not much more. Having said that, I think it's a little better than S2.
I realise the limitations they've got with the source material (it's really bad, struggled through the first book, never ever again), but still you can rewrite that.
Green Zone Can't remember if I mentioned I'd seen this. Really enjoyed it, excellent thriller. Interesting plot, well acted (Matt damon) and well paced. Basically if you want something thats not dumb, that critiques US policy in Iraq, and has explosions, watch this.
Shutter Island Having been very disappointed with Leo's Inception, I watched Shutter Island. Much much better. Interesting concept, although it has the been done before vibe about it. Having said that, the story is tight, acting excellent, and the atmosphere builds nicely.
I'll sleep when I'm dead No not a Warren Zevon retrospective, but a Clive Owen gangster flick. Owen is an ex-gangster who comes back to town after his younger brother dies. It's a nicely paced thriller, that feels cheaply made, which in this case, works well. Some of the dialogue is a bit hammy (think 60s UK crime movie), which is unfortunate as the cast is pretty damn good, but over all it works. Things aren't tied up nicely, no-one is blameless, and the implication you can't escape your past works well, without being overbearing. Enjoyed this. Oh and directed by Mike Hodges (Get Carter, Flash Gordon, and Queen's 'Body Language' single).
There's been a number of Bgrades too, but nothing of outstanding quality (?) which I need to bring to your attention.
B
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