Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-10-2024 — It’s Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

5th October,  2024: Monty Python's Flying Circus.

It’s still official: I still haven’t received a payment from the Department of Work and Pensions.

I know: because I’ve been compulsively check my bank since the decision.

Saying that?

It’s Saturday: so it’s about what I was expecting.

It’s still frustrating to see, though!

~≈💷≈~

Oh, just as a confession: if this post seems a little delayed.

I’ve just found a game on Apple’s Arcade service called John Bottom.

It’s fun, addictive … 

And very reminiscent of an old ZX Spectrum game called Jumpin’ Jack … !

~≈🂫≈~

The Death of Stalin — A Review

11th February, 2020.

You know … the job hunting is really going badly.

Honestly.

I would’ve expected something to turn up, by now.

Unfortunately?

I’ve had not a blessed sausage.

Not even a vegetarian one!

It’s … 

It’s depressing, to be honest.

I’m coping, I’m looking forward to eventually landing a job … 

But, lord, it’s hard work!

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?

I’ve been able to keep myself occupied.

I don’t have much money: but do have a collection of movies, sitting around: ripped from the occasional DVD, and blu-ray.

And able to rent and streaming both the occasional TV show … and the occasional movie.

The latter is something I’ve done, tonight.

Yes: I’ve watched a movie that’s been in my collection for a while.

The 2017 film, The Death of Stalin.

~≈†≈~

Australiens — Or, how To Have Fun In Brisbane …

22nd August, 2016

Ouch … !

How do you like that for size?

JUST as I’ve gotten to thinking I’m having a nice relaxing evening?

Yep … 

My guts start — mildly — twanging.

IBS.   Don’t you just love it!

Although, to be frank … ?   Maybe that cheeky chocolate bar wasn’t a sensible idea.

Not after sitting down for two hours.

Watching … Australiens … !

~≈É≈~

Dad’s Army — Don’t Panic … !

6th March, 2016.

You know, it’s been the weekend of my birthday: Friday, just gone, so you know.

AND Mother’s Day.

Which means that … 

Well … 

It’s been rather long.

And … ?

Well, Friday definitely saw a shirt with just a bit too much gorgonzola dip.

And today … ?

Well, today saw a staff meeting, this morning: I came in third in the staff competition, winning a small prize in the process.

And, this afternoons, in a sort of joint celebration of Mother’s Day, AND my birthday … ?

Me and my family … ?

With the mild sense of irony my family tends to occasionally exhibit, my family and I went to see Dad’s Army … 

~≈Á≈~

Black Sheep: Shear Stupid Fun … !

4th November, 2014.

You know, there’s times a body has to cut loose, there really are.

You know, do something a touch out of the mainstream.

Some people going skiing.

Others … ?

Go on murderous rampages, shooting everyone in sight, with large caliber weaponry.

I should add that the latter … ?

Isn’t something I intend doing.

Well … 

Not outside my imagination, anyway … !!

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, people do different things, in order to have a change from the usual routine.

Personally … ?

Personally, I like to have wild orgies, involving lots of attractive blondes who can’t get enough of me: and want to be the mothers of my children.

Barring that … ?

Barring that, of course, I’ll settle for a  movie, a nice cup of tea, and a bun.

Or the movie and a cup of tea: I’m trying to lose weight, thank you.

~≈Ô≈~

Hmmm … 

I’m in full on burble mode, aren’t I … ?

You’d noticed, hadn’t you … ?

I can tell.

Whether I can or not, I’m very aware it’s late.   I’m burbling … 

And I wanted to tell you about the film I’ve just seen.

That’s how I occupy myself on a quiet night.

I catch a film.

Tonight’s movie … ?

Was the 2006, iTunes rental that is … Black Sheep.

And if I told you it was bloody stupid … would you believe me … ?

~≈Ô≈~

Orcs: 101 Uses for a leftover Uruk … !

9th March, 2013

You know, I really am grateful it was my birthday, on the Monday, just gone.

No, really … !

Basically, it means I’ve not only got a handy present from my family: the Dock for my iPod, as well as the cable to hook it up to my TV.

But also, an iTunes card or two, to bung some content on there.

OK, there’s a couple of albums gone into my iTunes collection: and I’m eyeballing some remakes of a few old ZX Spectrum games from back when I was a youngster*.

Oh … 

And I’ve ALSO manage to rent a movie or two.

Oh, BOY, haven’t I rented a movie or twoª … !

Including the extremely xheap and cheerful turkey, I watched tonight: Orcs!

~~≈≈~~

10th March, 2013

Set in the fictional Balancing Rock National Park, Orcs sees its central characters, Cal and Hobie^ —  a pair of incompetent park rangers — taking their time about the job, and arguing with their boss.

Until, about halfway through the day, the park gets invaded: by a bunch barbaric, marauding ORCS!

Like the title isn’t a giveaway.

The film carries on … ?   By following the pair, as they desperately battle for life, limb and sanity, armed only with a tranquilliser gun, a few darts, a couple of torches, a lantern, an UZI 9mm, lots of shotguns, rifles, SMGs, rocket launchers, and a girl with a longbow, and dynamite fuel arrows.

Now … 

Have I made this sound silly, yet … ?

Gosh, I hope so … !

I’ll be frank with you, Orcs is not a stunningly good film, not by a long shot.

About its one redeeming feature is, for ALL it’s cheap, hammy, and covered in cheese, is that the blessed thing refuses to take itself seriously: and plays its story if not for outright laughs, than certainly with its tongue in its cheek.

Which is what — from where I’m sitting — makes the £2·49 rental price — and star and a half rating — none too bad.

I’ll leave you to watch the trailer, shall I … ?

Orcs!   ★½☆☆☆

*        The shame of it is that NO-ONE’S done an iOS remake of Maziacs, Atic Atac or Pssst.   Personally, I call that bloody disgusting … !

ª        I know Dr Kevin was asking me how one did this: Kevin, you’ll need to download the relevant version of iTunes for your Windoze machine.   Using iTunes, you’ll need to create an Apple ID.   Once that’s done, you can buy an iTunes giftcard: you can get them in most shops in Brentwood High Street, and are something like credit card sized scratch-cards.   On the iTunes store, you’ll find a ‘Redeem’ link, under ‘Quick Links’.   Feed the code into the box, and you’re ready to roll … !

^       For the LIFE of me, the iTunes version of the characters names, doesn’t agree with the IMDb version!   Or, indeed, cast list!   Be warned.

Grabbers: Well, it grabbed me … !

2/1/2013.

OK … 

It’s early January, 2013.

You can tell that from the date I’ve posted, can’t you … ?

And frankly … ?

Frankly, I have to admit to spending some of my Christmas loot: or iTunes card, at any rate.

If you’d not already worked out — from the poster — that I’ve spent some of it on the 2012 film, Grabbers, then I’ll have to be blunt, won’t I … ?

I rented Grabbers.

Hmmm … 

I think I’m going to hit the sack, and finish this, tomorrow.

I’m starting to wander … !

~≈Ê≈~

3/1/2013.

Yes … I think I can say I feel a little better for that.

At least, better enough that I managed to spot the obvious typing errors.

And take a deep breathe, so I can tell you about … Grabbers …

Set on an obscure island off the west coast of Ireland*, Grabbers sees Richard Coyle as Garda Ciarán O’Shea: an Irish policeman who’s got a taste for a pint or two.

And one who’s joined at his small — and very rural — station by Garda Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley) an up-and-coming young officer who’s not only teetotal, but seriously prim and proper.

The odd-couple officers are forced to start working together when one of the locals finds what he dubs a grabber, and takes it along to a local scientist, played by Russell Tovey.

A scientist who’s ALREADY trying to work out what’s happening to the pilot whales that are washing up on the local beaches.

As it turns out … ?

The creatures that did that to the whales are — quite literally — after blood.

And … 

Well … 

It turns out that’s actually a good excuse for a beer … 

~≈Ê≈~

Now … ?

Was Grabbers any good … ?

Well, I thought so.

Granted, Grabbers isn’t going to grab any awards in the ‘Big Budget’ category.

But it is a very entertaining little romp of a film.

A romp … 

With a big heart, better tentacle … 

And a shed-load of old fashioned Irish hospitality.

We might want to have a word with the locals about that … 

*        Almost … !

Ted: Now that’s what I call fun … !

You know, I’ll HAPPILY admit that’s it’s not often, just recently, that I’ll catch a movie in the afternoon.

Or in company.

But I’ve just done both: as, only a couple of days ago, it was Kevin D’s birthday.

If THAT’S not an excuse to treat a friend to their choice of iTunes rental, I don’t know what is.

Kevin’s choice … ?

Kevin’s choice was the recently released, 2012 film, ted.

My word, Kevin can pick ’em, sometimes … !

Jennifer’s Body: succubi, incubi … oh, and teenage hormones … !

30/08/2012 22:46

You know, that’s REALLY starting to get to be a habit.

You know …

Grabbing a screen shot of some description, just to show you I ’ve had Bruce hooked up to my TV set, to watch a movie.

The really weird bit … ?

Was that 2009 film, Jennifer’s Body, was one I’d actually taped from Channel’s film channel, last Saturday night: and transferred over to Bruce — my Mac Mini — to watch later.

Oh … 

And that an extraneous pair of feet seem to have wondered in from somewhere … 

±±±±±

31/08/2012 20:54

Well, of course a pair of feet wondered in: I’m actually sort of thankful that my chair’s comfy enough — and big enough — for me to really bleb out, should I so choose.

I usually do, if I think I have something to watch.

Thankfully, I did, last night.

The film in question being the one I’d taped, last Saturday: the anarchic 2009 horror comedy, Jennifer’s Body.

Told as an extended flashback, Jennifer’s Body sees Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox as Needy and Jennifer, a pair of schoolgirl friends who manage to sneak off to a local bar, to catch a band that’s playing there.

When the bar burns down, mid-gig, they manage to get separated: Jennifer being effectively kidnapped by the band, whilst Needy is left to struggle home on her own.

It’s not until Jennifer manages to get back to Needy’s — looking like a serious wreck, and vomiting slimy black goo all over the kitchen floor — that Needy realises the band weren’t quite what they seems.

And that the mysterious deaths — of a local exchange student, the school quarterback and a local emo — that Jennifer isn’t as unscarred as she claims to be … 

±±±±±

Now … 

Jennifer’s Body: good, bad or indifferent … ?

Well, just to avoid answering that one, I’d say “Fun,” actually.

Which is a fairly accurate comment.

Oh, I’m sure those of us looking for flaws will find dozens.   But Jennifer’s Body is about people getting hideously killed and eaten by Megan Fox*.

It’s not necessarily this year’s big Art House DVD release!

Putting it bluntly, if you liked Heathers, then Jennifer’s Body will be right up your street.

I loved Heathers, myself …

Jennifer’s Body

★★½☆☆

*        Yeah, I had to think for a minute, there: writing “getting eaten by Megan Fox” would’ve got me trouble … 

Iron Sky: Blood, Presidential satires and Space Nazis …

Oh, dear …

I’ve GOT to admit, I’m nothing LIKE a football fan …

And USUALLY make a point of avoiding the game.

But fair play to the England team: they’ve managed what I’m told is a creditable win against Sweden, tonight, in the Euro 2012 tournament.

With not a sign of Wayne Rooney, I should point add.

At ANY rate, and as you can possibly tell … ?   I wasn’t watching the football, tonight.

I fail to see why watching the game tells you I’m patriotic, or heterosexual: which is the irritating sort of attitude I’ve seen a lot of, after 14 years working behind a bar.

Hmm …

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?   BEFORE I launch into a rant of some description … !

››·‹‹

To be frank … ?

To be frank, I managed to entertain myself with recent iTunes release, the 2012 film, Iron Sky.

Little realising that the crowd-sourced film had a mild air of controversy to it.

More on that a little later, I think.

To summarize … ?

Set some six years into our immediate future, Iron Sky sees an American astronaut (James Washington, played by Christopher Kirby) crash on the dark side of the Moon, during the reelection campaign of a US President: one played by Stephanie Paul, looking a lot like a well known Alaskan politician.

Unfortunately … ?

Unfortunately, when his ship crashes, Washington finds that — FAR from being tabloid headlines — there actually Neo-Nazi’s hiding on the dark side of the moon.

Neo-Nazis who’ve survived there since World War 2, and who are looking to re-establish the Master Race and look good in Hugo Boss outfits … 

And, inevitably, TAKE OVER THE WORLD.

››·‹‹

Now, I mentioned MILD controversy … ?

Well, yes … 

Seemingly, it’s UK distributers, Revolver, decided, in their infinite wisdom, to give Iron Sky a one day cinema release.

They’ve since relented, after a huge a great fuss from film fans: but as you can imagine, that caused a bit of a fuss.

Which is something of a shame.

I’m VERY aware that Iron Sky was done on the proverbial cheap: and that Nazis — even comedy one’s that we’re supposed to be laughing at — aren’t going to be everyones* cup of tea

On the other hand … ?

This may be done on the cheap, and may well come over as flat in places.

But I can’t help but think is a surprisingly unexpected find.

I’d suggest seeing Iron Sky.

And letting me know what you think …

Iron Sky
★★★☆

*     I know many Jewish people I’ve met over the years will prefer to keep them at arms length: understandably.   I can but reiterate that the Nazis in this film are ones set up as clowns,  to be laughed at: whether that’s a good thing or not, is a whole other matter.

The Frighteners — Ooga, wooga BOOGA!

OK …

I think I’m going for a late night post, here.

Actually, no …

What I’m ACTUALLY doing … ?

Is STARTING a post, late at night.

But I thought I should peg the fact I’ve just finished watching the rather fun Peter Jackson directed film, The Frighteners to the Old Peculiar timeline, so to speak.

And hope like HELL that sentence makes sense* … !

‹‹∞››

At any rate … ?

At ANY rate, I’ve got to confess that, with nothing to watch on TVº, I managed to sit myself down with a film, tonight.

As you’ve no doubt guessed, the 1996, Peter Jackson directed comedy horror film, The Frighteners.

Starring Michæl J Fox, the film sees Fox as the down-at-heels Frank Bannister: a former architect who — after his wife’s death in a car crash — uses his genuine psychic ability to rig exorcisms to make money.

His first job … ?

Sees him clearing the home of Ray and Lucy Lynskey‡ of ghosts: before Ray is killed by a supernatural thing that seems to be disguised as the Grim Reaper.

AFTER Bannister notices the fact Ray seems to have the number ‘37’ burnt into his forehead … !

««∞»»

Now, I’m a’wondering quite how to describe The Frighteners to you … 

Hmmm … 

I think, on reflection … ?

On reflection, I think I’ll be content to be honest with you: and tell you that The Frighteners really isn’t a great big art-house movie, not by a long shot!

But it IS a light, frothy — and ENTERTAINING — film, that asks you to do nothing else, bar enjoy yourself: AND shows you what Jackson, Wingnut and WETA Digital were doing, before the Lord of the Rings road show hit town.

Here … 

Let me show you the trailer … 

The Frighteners

★★☆☆

Just as a thought, by the way … ?   I’m listening to the Dire Straits album, Making Movies.   Go listen to Les Boys, if you get the chance: STUNNING track … !

*        If someone could leave me a comment and let me know, I’d be really thankful.   In a ‘I owe you a pintª’ kind of way.   Well … As soon as the money improves, I will … !

ª        There’s an irony, there: in that I’m now being followed on Twitter by one of the pub’s I used to work in.   SCARY … !

º        Why DO I bother having one … ?   Oh, yeah … Dr Who and Being Human.

‡        Played by Trini Alverado, I should add: who I’d not seen since her first film, Times Square, MANY years ago … !

BBC News - Dad's Army co-creator David Croft dies aged 89

Blimey …

THAT I didn’t expect!

BBC News - Dad's Army co-creator David Croft dies aged 89

Well …

OK, I maybe should have EXPECTED to hear about the death of someone of comedy writer, David Croft’s age, 89.

But it’s still …

Well …

Unexpected, to say the least.

Especially given that he co-wrote some of the best remembered Britain’s ever seen.

I don’t know about you … ?

But I grew up watching both Dad’s Army and the downright politically incorrect It Ain’t Half Hot Mum*: both of which were VERY funny.

I’m thinking that the best way of commemorating his passing … ?

Well …

Is to leave you with these …

* Seriously, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum is hysterical: but much like ’Til Death Do Us Part and its US equivalent, All In the Family, you REALLY couldn’t get away with them, today … !

Fanboys: Geeks, Freak, Fools … And VERY Silly … !

Phew …

I know, I know, Kevin … !

This one’s a bit after the fact … !

But play fair, I’ve been writing Teasers!

Now why do I get the feeling I’m going to have SOME one looking at me funny … ?

Ahem … !

But at any rate … ?

Well, I’ve got to be honest, Kevin D and me — yes, I know it’s I, Grub, but I’m feeling vernacular — managed to get together for a film, last night.

The one in question … ?

Was the incredibly light and fluffy Fanboys.

Which certainly managed to find itself an appreciative audience, last night, I know that.

Set just before the release of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace*, Fanboys sees five former high school friends deciding to make a road trip for the benefit of the terminally ill Linus, in order to try and steal the rough cut version of Episode 1.

And the assorted trials, tribulations and rabid Star Trek fans they go through to get to their goal …

»»•««

Now …

I could probably — and happily — bore you to tears, talking about Fanboys, I really could.

But I think it’s safe to say that, while we’re not looking at a huge art-house movie, we ARE dealing with a light and fluffy comedy …

That’s very entertaining, and loaded with enough fanboy references to keep Bjo Trimble and Julian May happy for hours!

Personally … ?

Well, I’ll let the starts do the talking …

Fanboys

Paul: Keeper ★★★☆

Kevin: Keeper ★★★☆

Average: Keeper ★★★☆

Along with a couple of clips …

* Remind me to tell you about the various titling options, at some point. Oh, and gently remind Mr Lucas who’s paying for all this …

The Boat That Rocked: The Day the Music Drowned …

Well, now …

THERE was a night!

Well, a movie, at any rate!!

You’ve probably guessed, by now, that the movie nights I’ve been holding for the past few months have become less frequent.

But haven’t actually stopped.

Oh, No!

Lordy, no!

And I, Allison, Kevin Z and Movie Night Adrian will, I think, happily admit to laughing ourselves silly, at possibly the best modern feel-good movie we’ve seen at one of these evenings.

The Richard Curtis written and directed, 2009 hit that was The Boat That Rocked: and yes, Andrea, it’s the movie otherwise known as Pirate Radio.

And, to put it simply, this is a film that, for one thing, out and out ROCKS!

Literally!

And, what’s more, had all four of us out and out laughing!

Back in the day, Richard Curtis’ first big international hit — Four Weddings and a Funeral — was equally as much of a joke laden feel-good film.

But where Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love, Actually were romantic comedies, The Boat That Rocked is a rite de passage that follows Carl — played by Tom Sturridge — as he’s sent to work for his godfather, Quentin — Bill Nighy — on Radio Rock.

Out in the North Sea.

It’s 1966.

And Radio Rock’s under increasing pressure from an increasingly hostile UK government … !!

See if you can tell what you think Radio Rock’s based on …

Now, I’m not going to tell you too much about the plot: other’s have done it a lot better than I. And it is getting late, after all.

But I will tell you that all of us found this a very funny and entertaining film. One that both Kevin and Allison found very emotional, as did I.

And one that got a very impressed “Hmmm” from Adrian.

Which is very high praise, indeed.