Doctor Who — The Crusade Episode 2 — The Knight of Jaffa — A Review

27th January, 2023: The Knight of Jaffa.

Right … it’s almost dinner time.

In theory, anyway.

Dinner is being cooked.

Chips, hideously grilled, fish, baked … and vegetables boiled.

By the time it’s all eaten … ?

I’ll be ready to watch The Knight of Jaffa: the next episode of classic Dr Who story, The Crusade.

This post will be up tomorrow: which is when you’ll find out what I thought … 

~≈👽≈~

Star Trek Discovery — Series 4 Episode 5 — The Examples — A Review

22nd April, 2022.

Right at the moment … ?

I’m doing two things.

Dinner: fish and chips, again.

And, much as I’d like to have more than peas with it?

I won’t, until tomorrow: when I go shopping!

That’s one thing.

The other thing … ?

I’ve started this post on a Friday: and watching The Examples: the fifth episode of Star Trek: Discovery’s fourth season, and letting you know what I thought, by tomorrow, at the latest.

~≈🚀≈~

Altered States — A Review

12th September, 2020.

OK: for those who’ve actually watched my intro video, there?

I think we can safely say a couple of things.

One?

I’ve reached a conclusion.

It’s possible to watch a film, AND do a Max Headroom, impression in the same evening.

And, yes: in case you were wondering.

It’s the first time I’ve sat down with a movie, in quite a while.

Two?

Right now, it’s rather late.

I MAY start this now.

But finish the write up in the morning.

At any rate … ?

You’ll have possibly guessed from the poster: that I’ve seen the 1980, Ken Russell directed, William Hurt vehicle: Altered States.

It’s been years since I saw it last … and it’s … interesting … 

~≈Ü≈~

Bacurau — A Review

9th May, 2020.

Yes: it’s officially the case: I’m getting better at solving a Pyramid.

Ish … !

And … ?

Well, OK, it’s not a major achievement, but at least I’ve got something to do with my hands.

I just wish I’d discovered the thing when I was giving up smoking: it possibly could have been useful.

Or re-discovered it: I got the original, a few decades ago … 

At ANY rate … ?

I had rice, eventually … 

And, yes.

I caught a movie … 

~≈♆≈~

The Invisible Man (2020) — A Review

1st May, 2020.

It has to be said, it’s not often I watch a movie, these days.

Why?

I wish I knew for sure.

The length of some films, though?

Is something I find intimidating.

I’d not be sitting through episodes of Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, again.

Three hours a pop is a bit much.

Perils of ageing, I think.

At any rate … ?

I’ve seen a movie: the 2020, Leigh Whannell directed, Elisabeth Moss film, The Invisible Man.

Which is just over two hours long, in case you wondered.

Hmmmm … 

~≈¥≈~

Annabelle: A Review

3rd August, 2019.

Yes: it’s actually a quiet Saturday night.

Believe it or not.

A quite Saturday night with nothing much to do.

Or that I can do.

You know, laundry, house work, what have you.

What’s bothering me … ?

Is simply the job situation.

I still won’t know, until Monday, whether I’ve got the one I’m supposed to be starting on Thursday.

Well … 



Bar worrying about it, there’s not much I can do there.

~≈§≈~

Except keep my mind occupied.

Obviously.

Recently?

I’ve been playing a few of the freebie games available on the AppleTV.

Including an implementation of Tetris that’s rather fun.

The other thing … ?

Now that I’ve got the bulk of the TV shows done with … ?

Is catch a movie or two.

Last night’s?

Was Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.



Tonight … ?

I fancied something shorter … a bit bloodier …

I fancied Annabelle.

If that doesn’t sound ambiguous … 



~≈§≈~

Mandy — A Review

17th May, 2019.

Yes: it’s true.

It’s been a while since I’ve actually gone and sat down with a lot of things.

Cheese, for example.

Not that I’m a BIG fan.

Or a Big Mac.

The nearest McDonald’s is a few miles away.

Something I’d imagine my GP is grateful for.

OR sat down with a good read.

Saying that?   I’ve got Ward Moore’s Bring the Jubilee sitting in my ‘To Be Read’ pile.

“So, Paul,” I hear you ask, “What ELSE haven’t you sat down to do?”

Lots.

But tonight … ?

Tonight, I sat down with a film: one recommended to me, by an old friend.

The 2018, Panos Cosmatos Nicolas Cage movie, Mandy.

Hmmmm … 

~≈§≈~

VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media — A Review

15th May, 2019.

Life is … odd, sometimes.

Really.

I’ve …

No, that’s possibly not the direction to go in, now is it … ?

Life … ?   Is what it is: odd, or otherwise.

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I had my nephew over, last week.

As a result … ?

SOMEONE mentioned to Grandma that Uncle’s Paul’s flat’s a bit mucky.

Which meant — if nothing else — making an effort to tidy the place seemed in order.

I’ve done the wall mounted cupboards.



Emptied them out, cleaned any surfaces that need cleaning, got rid of anything with a pre-war* sell-by date, what have you.

Jude possibly won’t be impressed, either way.



At least, not until Antman and the Wasp turns up with pizza.

I, on the other hand?

I’ve got a vague sense of achievement out of the job: plus more room in my cupboards.

And a conundrum or two.

Where did all the teacups — with matching saucers — come from?

And … 

Where the hell did I get the plate with the cheesy 70s style cow from … ?

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

The job situation is … 

Well, still ongoing.

Jude’s not here, until tomorrow.

Teasers — and the associated videos — done: up until the end of the month.

Frankly?



Believe it or not?   I fancied a documentary.

Given I’ve always taken an interest in technology, and that an old friend that suggested it?

VHS Massacre: Cult Films and the Decline of Physical Media seemed a good thing … 

~≈§≈~

Licence to Kill: a Review

23rd January, 2019.

There are times I’m glad I’m out of work … 

There’s times … I’m frankly not.

Frankly, money his possibly the tightest bits: although that’s always the way, I think.

Debts and payments expand as the income we receive, does.

If that makes sense?

What I’m trying to say … ?

Is simply that there’s pros and cons to being out of work.

The downside?

A lack of cash: and some extremely tight budgeting.

The upside?

Simply that I have time on my hand: and a large collection of media to watch.

Last night?   I was in a mode for some Bond… 

Actually, no: I was in the mode for some of Timothy Dalton’s Bond, as I’d not seen his second outing in the role for many years.

Last night?   I got myself good and befuddled: mixing up titles, to see The Living Daylights … !

Tonight … ?

I managed to remedy that, and watch … License To Kill … !

Hmmm … I think we’re looking at a very different film.

~≈§≈~

Invasion of The Body Snatchers (1956): A Review

26th December, 2018.

Hmmm … 

That’s something I didn’t realise … 

Old friend, and Old Peculiar regular, Debbi Mack, runs a podcast: the Crime Cafe.

And its associated Patreon page: here.

Given my current financial situation?

And the fact my PayPal account hasn’t seen a penny in years?

It’s something worth looking at … if:

1. I can square it with my benefits


2. Get enough of my arse in gear to put the work in!

Frankly?

I’ve never been that good at motivating myself … 

~≈§≈~

Hmmm … 

It’s possibly worth thinking about, isn’t it?

Motivation or otherwise.

At any rate … ?

At any rate, in all this time off … ?



I can catch up with the stuff sitting in the movie collection.

And, whether Debbi would call it as a B movie or not?

Tonight, I’ve managed to sit in with the original, 1956, Don Siegel directed, version of … 

The Invasion of the Bodysnatchers … 

~≈§≈~

A Christmas Horror: A Review

23rd December, 2018.

You know, it’s the night before Christmas Eve, and all through the house?

There’s the odd bit of dust.

I think that — potentially — I should be doing the odd but of … you know … sweeping up.

Possibly.

If I can … you know …



Get motivated.



Or get bothered!

At ANY rate … ?

It can’t have escaped you — or me — what time of year it is.

Yes … 

It’s Christmas.

And frankly?

Whilst I’m not working, now, I can, at least be grateful I bought a few presents, whilst I was … !

Not much … 

But someone’s going to get a lot of Lego*.

~≈§≈~



At any rate … ?



It’s Christmas: with all that implies.

If, like me, you’re at home?

You’ve a couple of options.

Some of them repeatable in public.

In my case?

Well, in my case, the first thing I did, was do my mother a favour: updating her iPad to the most recent version of the operating system it could deal with, and updating some apps.

THEN … ?

Well, I figured a movie would be the thing.



I’d seen Christmas horror films, before now — Rare Exports and Krampus — and felt the genre was maybe something to explore.

The big question … ?

Did I make the right decision, with A Christmas Horror Story?

Hmmm … 

~≈§≈~

Dune: The Review …

23rd November, 2018.

OK … 

I think I managed to totally ruining that intro video, there.

Yes: I’ve used the Pitch Shift Down button on the whole clip: rather than the few seconds I meant to use it one.

Cie la Vie!

If you’ll excuse the term.

At ANY rate … ?

It’s getting late … 

But I wanted you to know I’ve watched another movie.

Yes: I’ve finally decided to sit down and watch — and then write about — the David Lynch film that is … 

Dune … 

~≈§≈~

Kin: The review …

22nd November, 2018.

OK … Once again it looks like Blogger is playing silly buggers: and giving me gyp uploading pictures on to a post.

Trust me: you’re not sitting where I am.

It’s …

Rather frustrating when you earlier I didn’t have this issue with earlier versions of both Safari, and Blogger.

Hey …

Ho!

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate … ?

I’ve … had a lot of time on my hands.

As you ma or may not know, I’m between jobs at the moment.

So spent a lot of my time worrying about money, starving, thinking about how to keep warm …

Oh …

And watching a film or two.

Tonight … ?

Tonight I’ve managed to catch the relatively recent released that is …

Kin …

~≈§≈~

The Quatermass Xperiment: The Review.

21st November, 2018.

Yes: I’ve had an interview, today.

And yes: unfortunately, I didn’t get the job.

I’m … 

Well, disappointed, obviously.

On the upside … ?

They HAVE told me that they feel I would be more suited to they customer care team: and that, should I still be looking in February, I should re-apply, then.

Hmmm … 

Oh, and there’s another job I’ve put in for, that I’m going to have to walk away from … 

The want both my birth certificate and a driving license.

I don’t drive.

And adoption papers aren’t good enough.

You can imagine how hard job hunting’s getting, already, can’t you … ?

~≈¥≈~

All that is enough to drive a man to drink.

Something I can’t afford, on so many levels!

Especially if you consider I’ve not drunk since the turn of the century, or there abouts.

There’s possibly a lot of reasons for that: non of which I’ll be telling you about on a public blog!

At any rate?

At any rate, I was definitely feeling a touch sorry for myself … 

But have been able to keep myself distracted.

With my movie collection: I’ve a few still, sitting on an external drive on a shelf at my desk.

Quite a lot, as you might be able to guess.

Having that much choice, but also having seen the 1969 Quatermass and the Pit, recently?

I fancied keeping the retro thing going: with the 1950s movie, The Quatermass Xperiment … 

Hmmm … 

~≈¥≈~

John Carpenter’s The Fog: A Review

13th November, 2018.

I’m … 

Officially job hunting … 

You couldn’t possibly tell, could you … ?

Especially as I told you in this morning’s Daily Teaser.

Either way, I’m job hunting: and the full implications are sinking in.

I’m doing to be doing nothing productive, bar looking for work for however long that takes.

And have good old fashioned money worries.

After all, my next benefit payment will be in a few days time: but is a reduced Universal Credit payment, based on the hours I had been doing.

It’s only the month afterwards — the day before Christmas Eve — that I get whatever the first full payment is.

Something tells me I have financial problems.

My PayPal ‘TipJar’ is in the side bar, if you want to help!

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate … ?

I am officially a body with nothing to do, today.

Beyond wondering around like a forlorn leaf, blown mournfully in the autumnal breezes that can afflict a man’s soul at this time of year.

Come the evening?   I could sit around, sounding pretentious.

Or, of course, catch a movie … 

I caught a movie: one that’s been sitting in the collection for a while.

Yes, you’ve guessed it, haven’t you … ?

John Carpenter’s The Fog … 

~≈§≈~

It: Chapter One — A Review …

1st November, 2018

You know, you are — possibly — aware it’s late … ish.

At least, for me it is.

I’m not as young as I was when I started writing this blog, all those years ago!

And, right at the moment … ?

I’m thinking I’ve got to go to bed.

I’m tired … and have a long weekend at work.

But … ?

Well, I had a day off, today.

In amongst the video making, laundering, chasing prescriptions, wiping surfaces, and whatever else needed doing today?

I thought a scary movie would be in order.   As I was working, last night, catching a scary movie on Halloween night, itself, was out of the question.

So … … 

It … 

~≈§≈~

Summer of ’84: A Review

3rd October, 2018.

You know, there’s several things wrong with my life, at the moment.

A lack of cash?

That’s one thing.

A functioning boiler?

Well, the repair men I was due turned up, didn’t have the parts, and booked up another visit for today: for repair men WITH the parts.

Which turned out to be the wrong parts.

Sex life … ?

Don’t even go there.

The one thing — possibly — that isn’t wrong?

Is I’ve got time … 

And a movie collection.

And access to iTunes, the iTunes Store*, and an Apple TV … 

One way or the other … ?

One way or the other, I had access to a copy of Summer of 84.

Hmmm … 

~≈§≈~

Raw: that’s more like it …

10th April, 2018.

Yep, it’s officially official.

Bell’s Palsy couldn’t stop me.

My grinding intestines?

Bloody well could!

I hate that when it happens.

Frankly?

It means — as I’m sure you’re aware, by now — a loss of income.

With the finances being what they are, that’s not something I can afford to miss.

I have been stuck indoors … with only a movie collection for company.

One of those movies?

Was Raw.   And I think it’s a touch better than the last film I caught … 

~≈§≈~

Life: That’ll Do …

25th October, 2017.

You know, I was due to go into work, today.

Was, notice.

But I’m feeling annoyed, as my traitorous guts?   Decided to have an attack.

I’ve got Irritable Bowel Syndrome: and boy, it’s irritating!

Especially when it causes me to lose a days pay.

But at least I’ve figured out what’s caused the problem, after chatting with a friend or two, via Facebook Messenger service.

Yep.

Last night’s baked potato.

I’d put too much oil on the blessed thing!

~≈Ÿ≈~

So, there’s a downside.

There’s ALSO a couple of upsides.

For a start, I mentioned I managed to lose the arm of my glasses, the other day?

I did.

Well, I managed to haul my decaying carcass up to Brentwood High Street, once the stomach cramps had stopped*.

And managed to have a word with my opticians about it.

They’re going to replace the things: at — thankfully — no extra cost.

AND … ?

I managed to catch a movie.

Been a while since I've watched a decent film.
Let's see if #life is that film

— Paul Downie (@Cuddy2977) October 25, 2017

I don’t know if Life’s too short, a bitch or a four letter word.

But the film?   Is decent enough.

~≈Ê≈~

Lights Out: Hmm … With a twist …

10th October, 2017.

Damn …

Did I mention I had an interview, a couple of days ago … ?

I had an interview, a couple of days ago: at a local taxi firm.

I’ve just got the email, back, today.

I’ve not got the job.

Apparently?

They’ve found someone with more experience.

Hmmm … 

OK … 

I’m not happy: especially considering that the dratted thing was extremely local.

Oh, well … 

Onwards and upwards.

~≈Ÿ≈~