Frankenstein (2025) — A Review

27th November, 2025: Frankenstein.

The Introduction.

I need several things.

Money?

Dinner … ?

An occasional film?

There’s several things I could do with.

And yes: one of them is dinner.

I’ve got a burger cooking as we speak.

Yes: money’s handy.

Payday’s tomorrow, which is nice: but feel free to put something in my tip jar!

That’ll clean up the last of the Christmas, and birthday, presents.

Once dinner’s eaten, though … ?

I’m going to have a change in direction: and watch a movie.

And, yes: you’ve possibly guessed — from the poster — that the film I’ll be watching is very different to the last one I caught.

Given a well done burger, and time?

I’ll have this review done by 1st December. 

~≈🧟‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10th October 2019.

9th October, 2019.

Right … 

I’ve lost my job.

I’ve lost my job.

Or, at least?

Haven’t successfully completed my probation period.

Hmmm … 

I grant, there’s a lot I could be doing better, there: being slightly faster on the till, and opening my gob a bit less, would.

But … ?

Remember the interview I had where my adoption papers were at issue?

That was this job: for the branch of McColl’s in Warley.

There were one or two impressions I picked up.

One or two … personal opinions, that had me questioning my decision to start the job in the first place.

And something else.

Why was it that I was given the heave-ho by the area manager … when it should have been the store manager’s job?

~≈∏≈~

At any rate … ?

One nice bit of news?

Is that I’ve been job hunting, while at the shop: we’ll have to see if that pays off.

That fact I can now claim help for fares to interviews*?

Is a good thing.

It’ll help.

But, I have managed to do some busy work: and managed to upgrade to macOS Catalina.

Which seems to have gone well.

The only downside is that dragging and dropping links to the Desktop seems to work differently.

But?

The shift from the iTunes app, to the new Music, TV and Podcast apps has gone without hiccups.

The dynamic wallpaper is pin sharp.

And, if I had the money?

Apple Arcade would be very tempting …

~≈∏≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9-10-2016

Oh, for God’s SAKE!

If it’s not one thing, it’s another!

I’m between jobs, at the moment: and due to start work on Monday.

I’m also claiming help from the relevant government: I’m claiming a benefit called ‘Universal Credit’.

Part of that … ?   Replaces an older benefit: that’s supposed to help me pay my rent.   The older benefit was administered by the local council, and went to straight to my landlord.

The newer one?   Is supposed to come straight to me, then get passed on.

And hasn’t, technically, started yet: as the Job Centre’s in the process of passing the various evidence I’ve given them on.

They had it, what … ?   Tuesday?   Wednesday?   The middle of the week, at any rate.

Yesterday?   I get a polite letter from the Department of Work and Pensions, the government department that handles these things.   (Dated 5th October: Wednesday, in other words)

Telling me I’d given them ‘Insufficient Evidence’ of my rent: that they’ve written to my landlord, and wanted me to discuss it with them!

This is, I should add, despite my given them my tenancy agreement, and a rent statement.

Before I go to work, tomorrow?

I’m going to have to get on the phone.

In all honesty, though?

What on EARTH do these departments WANT … ?

~≈¥≈~

Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark: Interesting Effort …

3rd April, 2015.

I have to admit, there’s several things I’ve not done for a while.

No, really.

I’ve not gone out to the pub, for a while.

I’ve not — thankfully — smoked tobacco.   Or marijuana, come to think of it.

I haven’t had sex, either, come to think of it.   Nor run down Brentwood High Street, stark naked, and singing a happy tune about cheese.

Which is possibly something you didn’t want to know, now I’m come to see the words written down.

At ANY rate … ?

Amongst things likely — or otherwise — there’s one thing I know I’ve not done.

Seen a movie for a while.

And, granted I’ve a few quid on my iTunes account?

Granted I’ve got that, I know I had a copy of the Guillermo Del Toro penned, Troy Nixey directed, Don’t Be Afraid Of The The Dark lurking around in my collection: and it’s something I wanted to watch.

Having nothing else to do?

I thought I should clear the movie watching backlog.

Given there was nothing else on … 

~≈Ê≈~

Pacific Rim: Entertaining … !

28th December, 2013.

Blimey, THAT was entertaining … !

Really … !

No, really … !

Hmmm … 

I’d better slow down … and tell you why I seem to have proliferating ellipsis … 

~≈Ê≈~

You see, I’ve been over old friend, Kevin D’s, tonight: we both fancied company, and Kevin had something of a treat in store.

The 2013, Guillermo Del Toro directed, monster — and I do mean monster — movie that is Pacific Rim.

And it HAS to be said, it’s a film I found both spectacular … and entertaining … 

~≈É≈~

30th December, 2013.

AND something it’s taken me a long time in getting back to … !

I’ll be frank, since Saturday night, when myself and Kevin actually saw Pacific Rim, it’s been a touch busy: not least because on Sunday — yesterday, in other words — I was helping with my nephew, Jude’s birthday party.

You possibly wouldn’t believe — unless you’re a parent —exactly how mentally exhausting watching a bunch of three year olds can be … !

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I’m now happily back to the action.

Well, ok: back to the post … !

And to my point: of telling you about the film Kevin and I caught, Saturday night: the 2013, Guillermo del Toro directed, Pacific Rim.

Set in the late 2020s, the film tells us of the war being fought between the people of Earth and the Kaiju*: hideous — and huge — creatures who are invading Earth from an inter-dimensional portal, at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

And being fought by a UN military body that uses Jægers: huge fight mecha†, driven by two pilots, whose brains are linked together to spread the otherwise damaging mental load.

The trigger point for the film … ?

Is the fact that the organisation who controls the Rangers, the military unit that consists of the jægers and their pilots, is to be closed, and replaced by a BIG wall.

A big wall that fails to protect several cities, when especially large kaijus start attacking.

Leaving the unit’s commander, Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) to call up the retired Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam), along with several other pilots, in a last ditch Attempt to make sure the Kaijus — AND their portal — go out with a bang!

~≈É≈~

Now, where, I hear you ask, does that leave Kevin and myself, in regards to the film … ?

Well, mildly disagreeing.   I think we both saw it as entertaining, Kevin was somewhat underwhelmed, feeling it not to have lived up to the advertising, with me finding it — if not seriously high art — than certainly worth the money.

Hmmm … 

Either way, I think my best bet is to leave you seeing stars, isn’t it … ?

Pacific Rim

Paul ★★★☆

Kevin ★★☆☆

Average ★★½☆☆

*        The word, Kaiju is Japanese, and roughly translates as ‘strange creature’: in the past five decades or so, it’s been applied to the type of monster that appear in Japanese monster movies.   Things like Godzilla, in other words.

†         Mecha is another word of Japanese origins: and one that usually refers to giant humanoid, powered suits that, in the associated manga and films, are driven by humans, and used for all sorts of purposes.   The Jægers are one: the mecha in BattleTech are another, as are the loaders we see Ripley using in Aliens.

The Devil’s Backbone; or El espinazo del diablo: Oh, Well Played, Guillermo … !

Hmmm … That’s kicking off an understandable fuss.

Seemingly … ?   The trailer for the 50th anniversary episode of Dr Who has been shown at this year’s Comic Con.

And many — myself included — feel a certain amount of anger and resentment about that.

I’ve spent a few bob over the years on assorted bits of Dr Who merchandise: and had it bought for me.

I’ve ALSO paid my license fee.   I feel I should have seen the trailer on my TV: BEFORE a bunch of fans at a US convention.

I’ll quietly leave that there: but if any one is sending Steven Moffat a letter of complaint … ?   Put my name on it!

Pan’s Labyrinth — Or El laberinto del fauno: Nice …

21st July, 2013

You know, I’m think that movie making genius is a hard thing to define.

Really.

And that any definition I come up with … ?

Is going to be one that you are immediately not going to agree with.

Which is fair enough.

Let’s face it, everyone is different.

Even in large groups: which is possibly enough to give a statistician a headache.

If nothing else, your view of movie making genius is going different to be to mine.

My view’s certainly includes telling you about the soundtrack for Small Town Murder Songs: the film was good, but the soundtrack, sounding like the the Polyphonic Spree had turned Amish, is beautiful … and playing on my iPod, at the mo.

You might just disagree about how good it: but it’s worth a listen, I feel.

At any rate, I’m pretty determined to not tell you about Small Town Murder Songs: however I actually feel about it.

No, I’m bound and determined to tell you about a film I’ve seen.   Last night, in fact: one it’s taken me a while to catch up with.

The 2006 Guillermo Del Toro fantasia, Pan’s Labyrinth.

And genius … ?

Hmmm … I think I’ll have to give you a hesitant yes, there …

~≈◊≈~

22nd July, 2013

Sorry, sorry, BIT of a gap, there.   Possibly one that involves me heading into Basildon.

Which is possibly a story for another time, maybe.

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I was telling you about the film I’d caught, on Saturday night: the gorgeous Pan’s Labyrinth*.

And I’m thinking that gorgeous is quite possibly the word, here.

Set in 1944 Spain, in the early years of Franco’s rule, Pan’s Labyrinth follows the story of Ofelia and her mother: a recently remarried widow.

Unfortunately for Ofelia … ?   Her mother, Carmen, has married Captain Vidal: a vicious Falangist who’s hunting down the last of the anti-fascist forces in the area.

Her mother is heavily pregnant with Ofelia’s half brother, and has a lot on her mind.

And Mercades, the Captain’s housekeeper … ?   Has only so much time to spare.

Leaving Ofelia to go exploring her new home: and some of the weirder parts of its back garden.

It’s only when she meets a faun — a genuine faun, none of your Narnia stuff, here in rural Spain — that she starts to realise that there’s parts of the world she’s been nowhere near …

~≈◊≈~

Now … GENIUS …

Yes, I think I’ll hesitantly attach the word to Pan’s Labyrinth: mostly off the back of the fact I’ve not seen that much of Del Toro’s work.

I should add that the film is both gorgeous looking — I’m thinking Del Toro’s taken a few hints from the David Lynch school of colours — and wonderfully acted: I don’t think I can fault it.

All told … ?

Go watch Pan’s Labyrinth.

It’s worth it.

Pan’s Labyrinth.

★★★☆

*        Or El laberinto del fauno, if you want the original Spanish title