Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Sarah Silverman has a solution to end world hunger
The woman really makes me laugh, she really does. I've been checking out YouTube to see what of her stuff is out there and think I'll be together a highlights package to convince doubters over the next couple of days. Watch this space and I'll leave you with this Internet meme classic....
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Legion
Legion is the very directorial outing for former Visual Effects man Scott Charles Stewart and is all about the efforts of a bunch of midwest American folks to survive a biblical apocalypse with a little bit of help from Archangel Micheal.
Unsurprisingly given his background the strongest aspect of Stewart's film is the way it looks. With suitably creepy adversaries as they scuttle across the roof and suitable majestic looking wingspans on the Archangels that feature.
It however could have done with a couple of turns at tightening up the script and story. We get vague attempts at adding depth to the array of typical 'Assault On Precinct 13' siege survivors but crucially the least convincing one is the guy who ends up effectively saving humanity.
Paul Bettany's Micheal just about gets away with it thanks to a spirited performance of wild eyed steeliness. Although a last minute reprieve for him cheapens an earlier sacrifice.
The main issue however is the film doesn't really commit to a given a scenario. A slightly overlong preamble means that when things kick off the film lurches from set piece to set piece trying to fit as many in as it can when it may have worked well as a tension racked siege instead of a flurry of fists and guns.
One that falls into that 'mostly forgettable' category when the idea is better than the execution.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Trailer of the day ; The Social Network
Yes, I know it's judt been videos and trailers recently but I'll get to something more soon. In the meantime it's a first look at David Fincher's return with The Social Network and early word of mouth is promising indeed.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Trailer of the Day : Winter's Bone
Another breakout from Sundance and one that could well be the film of the year.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Sunday, 19 September 2010
R.Tv.OR.F : Bluetones
Back to the mid-90s with a spot of the Stereophonics and ironically as the summers draws to close it's a song that always makes me think of the start of summer for some reason.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Sunderland vs. Arsenal
Right I thought I might start putting my own game reports here for the SAFC games I attend (and maybe the odd other game)so we'll kick things off with today's visit form the Gunners.
From the first whistle Sunderland started brightly, pushing Arsenal back and denying them the time and space to slip into their dangerous passing rhythm. Egyption winger Ahmed Elmohamady in particular was causing problems for Arsenal breaking down the touchline and winning the vast majority of balls that came his way in the air. On loan Danny Welbeck also looked sharp.
With Arsenal not clicking into gear they caught a lucky break when Cesc Fabregas closed down a clearance from Anton Ferdinand and so the ball come back off him and loop some 40yards over a stranded 'keeper to give the London side the lead.
However from here Arsenal failed to really take control of the game and most of the play and pressure was coming from a spirited Sunderland. But for all the possession a clear cut chance to level the scores couldn't be created and the half chance that were made were not taken.
Into the second half and Arsenal looked to impose themselves on the game, coming close to adding a 2nd goal to their tally through Arshavin and Chamakh but were reduced to ten men as Song saw red after picking up a 2nd yellow card for a cynical block on Sunderland's Malbranque.
Still having no doubt been given a earful at half time Arsenal's passing was back to close to it's quick and dangerous best, often putting the Black Cats on the back foot as Sunderland pressed for an equaliser.
An Arsenal penalty seemed to signal a win for the London club but Rosicky (on for Fabregas) blazed over giving renewed hope to his opposition. The final fifteen minutes of the game was open with both sides looking threatening as Arsenal broke whenever Sunderland pressure broke down.
Deep into injury time Darren Bent finally secured a deserved point for the Wearside team pouncing on a failed clearance in the box to smash home with pretty much the last kick of the game.
I'd pick out Elmohamady as Sunderland's man of the match for his work down the wing (putting in a number of dangerous crosses) and willingness to keep running to the very last. Slightly under pas was Jordan Henderson who wasted a number of corners but Danny Welback lucks a promising acquisition for the year and acknowledge must go to Titus Bramble who was once again solid and the back.
From the first whistle Sunderland started brightly, pushing Arsenal back and denying them the time and space to slip into their dangerous passing rhythm. Egyption winger Ahmed Elmohamady in particular was causing problems for Arsenal breaking down the touchline and winning the vast majority of balls that came his way in the air. On loan Danny Welbeck also looked sharp.
With Arsenal not clicking into gear they caught a lucky break when Cesc Fabregas closed down a clearance from Anton Ferdinand and so the ball come back off him and loop some 40yards over a stranded 'keeper to give the London side the lead.
However from here Arsenal failed to really take control of the game and most of the play and pressure was coming from a spirited Sunderland. But for all the possession a clear cut chance to level the scores couldn't be created and the half chance that were made were not taken.
Into the second half and Arsenal looked to impose themselves on the game, coming close to adding a 2nd goal to their tally through Arshavin and Chamakh but were reduced to ten men as Song saw red after picking up a 2nd yellow card for a cynical block on Sunderland's Malbranque.
Still having no doubt been given a earful at half time Arsenal's passing was back to close to it's quick and dangerous best, often putting the Black Cats on the back foot as Sunderland pressed for an equaliser.
An Arsenal penalty seemed to signal a win for the London club but Rosicky (on for Fabregas) blazed over giving renewed hope to his opposition. The final fifteen minutes of the game was open with both sides looking threatening as Arsenal broke whenever Sunderland pressure broke down.
Deep into injury time Darren Bent finally secured a deserved point for the Wearside team pouncing on a failed clearance in the box to smash home with pretty much the last kick of the game.
I'd pick out Elmohamady as Sunderland's man of the match for his work down the wing (putting in a number of dangerous crosses) and willingness to keep running to the very last. Slightly under pas was Jordan Henderson who wasted a number of corners but Danny Welback lucks a promising acquisition for the year and acknowledge must go to Titus Bramble who was once again solid and the back.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Kermode puts his money on the table
And the last quick post of the day sees Mark Kermode put his money on the table and declare that once again 3D cinema will die out and once more be seen as a daft old gimmick.
I'm not so sure but I've yet to see a 3D film that really makes me think it's the way forwards
I'm not so sure but I've yet to see a 3D film that really makes me think it's the way forwards
Reach for that Halo
And indeed it is epic. Yes, at it's heart it is more Halo with few significant additions or changes to the formula. But it is all carried out a grand scale to the planet spanning fall of the titular human colony to the presentation and wealth of features in the package itself.
Alongside the campaign (noticeably darker in tone previous installments) you have the ever engaging Halo multiplayer with all it's options, the Forge, the Theater (a feature that continues to impress) and Firefight.
Firefight being the mode introduced in ODST that sees you fight off successive ways of enemy forces in the quest to score as many points as possible and it really is quite compulsive. On top of this four player co-op is available for Firefight and the main campaign.
Elsewhere the game engine has been overhauled and rebuilt and is now prettier than ever and capable of vast battles over open landscapes. The Covenant AI is scarily impressive as enemies behave as if they want to survive, well apart from the deliberately suicidal ones.
Plus this time the engine stretches to some fun space battles Star Wars style as the collection of Warthogs, Banshees and bikes extends to Space Fighters and Harrier Style fighter aircraft.
If developer Bungie keep their word and indeed never return to the Halo franchise they have gone out on a high note that can proudly sit atop the Halo tree.
Alongside the campaign (noticeably darker in tone previous installments) you have the ever engaging Halo multiplayer with all it's options, the Forge, the Theater (a feature that continues to impress) and Firefight.
Firefight being the mode introduced in ODST that sees you fight off successive ways of enemy forces in the quest to score as many points as possible and it really is quite compulsive. On top of this four player co-op is available for Firefight and the main campaign.
Elsewhere the game engine has been overhauled and rebuilt and is now prettier than ever and capable of vast battles over open landscapes. The Covenant AI is scarily impressive as enemies behave as if they want to survive, well apart from the deliberately suicidal ones.
Plus this time the engine stretches to some fun space battles Star Wars style as the collection of Warthogs, Banshees and bikes extends to Space Fighters and Harrier Style fighter aircraft.
If developer Bungie keep their word and indeed never return to the Halo franchise they have gone out on a high note that can proudly sit atop the Halo tree.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Trailer Of The Day: 'Halo:Reach'
A bit different today as we go for a game trailer. It's the (very) soon to be here final installment in the blockbusting Halo franchise.
It's the fall of Reach, a corner stone of the franchise's rich mythology and it's shaping up to be epic.
It's the fall of Reach, a corner stone of the franchise's rich mythology and it's shaping up to be epic.
...and we're back.
Inter world wide web super highway connectivity is restored at home and so a spot more of rambling on this here page can go on.
Since the last posts I have seen and loved Scott Pilgrim vs The World and Man Men, seen and thought quite good Shutter Island, seen and been disappointed by Hot Tub Time Machine. Was pleasantly surprised by FAQ About Time Travel, struggled to see what was going on in Pandorum and found Body of Lies to be quite average but passed the time in that Jack Ryan style thriller sort of way.
So here we go again...
Since the last posts I have seen and loved Scott Pilgrim vs The World and Man Men, seen and thought quite good Shutter Island, seen and been disappointed by Hot Tub Time Machine. Was pleasantly surprised by FAQ About Time Travel, struggled to see what was going on in Pandorum and found Body of Lies to be quite average but passed the time in that Jack Ryan style thriller sort of way.
So here we go again...
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