For All Mankind — Series 5 Episode 3 — “Home” — A Review

20th July, 2026.

“Home”.

The Introduction.

Right, then: it’s officially Monday, and dinner’s doing.

In point of fact, I’ve just heard my vegetables go ‘Bing’.

Or, at least, heard the microwave go ‘Bing’

So dinner is almost ready to be eaten … 

~≈🪐≈~

Right … that’s dinner out of the way … !

I’m writing this on Monday night: the day before I’m intent on watching “Home”, the next episode For All Mankind series five.

And will be finish the subsequent written and video reviews by this coming Friday.

Right now … ?

I’m looking for to it.

Episode 2 ended on a cliffhanger … 

~≈🪐≈~

Candyman (2021) — A Review

18th September, 2021

OK … 

I am — in the immortal words of Hector the Hound … ? — a great big silly old Hector.

I usually start my film reviews off, the evening I watch the films concerned.

Then finish them off the next day, after a good night’s sleep.

You’ll have to take the thought as the metaphorical — metaphorical? proverbial? — deed.

And assume I started this, last night.

At any rate, last night’s film was something I’ve been meaning to watch for some time.

Yes: the 2021, Nia DaCosta directed, Jordan Peele produced, horror film, Candyman.

~≈📽≈~

Léon: The Professional — A Review

1st August, 2021.

Right … as it says in the introductory video … ?

It’s a Sunday night.

Although you’re not reading this on the Sunday night that I’ve started writing this.

And it’s a Sunday night where I’ve done something I’ve not seen in a while.

I’ve started a post I’m going to finish the next day: a post about a movie that I last saw many years ago, and felt I should see again.

Yep: you’re right … 

I saw Léon: The Professional.

And going to carry on telling you about it, tomorrow …

~≈Á≈~

Relic — A Review

6th August, 2020.

Right … I have to confess to being in a funny mood, last night.

Which, frankly?

Is when I filmed that video.

Frankly?   I wanted to watch a movie: and had one lined up.

Courtesy of a Facebook group I belong to, called Horror Movie Maniacs.

They were having a watch party.

And, while the technology would work on my set up, it wasn’t exactly what you call perfect.

So I managed to get a copy through other sources.

I have to confess, though I was in a funny mood, last night: so only actually got through half of the film.

I do know this, though.

For starters … ?   I’ve boiled vegetables on both nights.

Secondly?   I’ve seen the rest of the film.

Thirdly?

Yes: Relic is interesting.

~≈®≈~

The Seventh Seal — A Review

5th May, 2020.

It’s got to be said: lockdown’s a pain.

Right at the moment, the UK’s in the sixth week of the Covid-19 outbreak.

And, frankly?

It’s generating talk, panic, conspiracy theories … and — for me — a lack of a haircut.

You can possibly tell, can’t you … ?

At any rate … ?

I do know that, tonight, I fancied watching a film.

And that, with the recent death of Max von Sydow … ?

The Seventh Seal, seemed an appropriate film to watch.

~≈⌘≈~

Color Out Of Space (2019) — A Review

11th April, 2020.

It’s had to be said, I have a movie collection.

A set of films, sitting on an external drive connected to my iMac.

And have access to a lot of streamed movies, as well.

From various sources.

Occasionally?

I like to actually watch a film: which is what I’ve done, today.

Tonight, I should say.

Granted?   When fiddling about, I couldn’t — initially — make my mind up, about what to watch.

Having something of a range of options.

Eventually, though?

I ended up watching the 2019, Nicolas Cage film that is Color Out Of Space.

~≈†≈~

Candyman — A Review

8th March, 2020.

OK … I have to confess, I’ve — sort of — got used to watching Dr Who on a Sunday night.

You’ve possibly realised that, if you’ve been following me for a while.

At any rate?

I’ve sort of got used to watching things on Sunday nights.

Tonight … ?

I fancied a movie.

And, frankly?

Consider an upcoming rebooted version is due out, in summer?

I felt watching the original might be an idea … 

~≈¥≈~

Joker — A Review

27th December, 2019.

You know, now Christmas is over … ?

I have to admit to feeling less stressed.

I get occasional bouts of depression.

The job situation doesn’t help.

I can mostly deal with it.

But Christmas does get one felling glum … 

~≈†≈~

On the upside … ?

On the upside, and courtesy of Christmas gift-cards?

I’ve got seem Dr Who blu-ray’s coming my way.

And a copy of Moorcock’s Oswald Bastable series.

And, sitting in the movie collection … ?

A copy of the 2019, Todd Phillips directed, Joaquin Phoenix film, Joker.

Do we have a good film?

Well … 

~≈†≈~

Midsommar: A review

31st October, 2019.

Yes, OK, OK …

I’m stuck indoors on Halloween night.

Although, thankfully?

I’m stuck indoors on Halloween night … and not been pestered by trick-or-treaters.

Which is something!


At any rate … ?

It’s quiet … it’s Halloween …

So that means it’s the sort of night that deserves a movie …

Yes: I finally decided on Ari Aster’s Midsommar.

The director’s cut, so you know.

~≈†≈~

Kidulthood — A Review

19th October 2019.

It’s a Saturday night.

It is a Saturday night, isn’t it … ?

Yes: it is.

I suppose everyone of us is allowed amount of doubt, trepidation and uncertainty.

Especially on a quiet night in: when you have little cash, little to do …

But at least have access to a large collection of films you’ve not seen: and an Apple TV to watch them on.

And something experimental you think you should try: if you get around to watching a movie …

Yes: I’m on YouTube.

And yes, I’m a YouTube partner.

Yes: I’d like to make money from any ads that get placed on them.


And yes: I’m thinking I should maybe add video content to my channel where I review films.

Or, at least, point Youtube viewers at the reviews I post here.

Point A?   Let me know if the extra video does something.

Point B?   I’ve just watched a fantastic film.

Point C … ?   The film in question is the Noel Clarke penned Kidulthood.

Point D … ?   I’m impressed with Kidulthood … !

~≈†≈~

Pet Sematary (2019) — A Review

18th August 2019.

Yes … 

It’s a Sunday night.



And frankly, it’s a Sunday night off.

After a couple of shifts that have been … exhausting, to say the least.

NOT helped by the fact I’m not exactly as thin as I was, twenty years ago.

I’m … 



I’m not having doubts about the job.



But may need to have a quiet word about the length of my shifts.

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?



I’ve had today off.

Off … and have no worries about getting up in the morning … 

Yes: you’ve guessed it: that’s given me enough time for a movie.

Now … did you figure out it was the 2019 version of Pet Sematary?

~≈†≈~

The Dark — A Review

15th August, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially official.

I’ve been asked … to swap shifts.

I am not complaining.

It means that, tonight … ?   I can stay up late … !

And watch a movie.

And, in case you hadn’t noticed the poster?



The film I watched was the 2018, Anglo-Austrian movie, The Dark.

I think we have a winner, here.

~≈†≈~

The Cured — A Review

4th August, 2019.



Right … 

You can possibly tell I’m having a quiet set of evenings.

You hadn’t?



The simple fact I’m out of work, and seen a lot of movies, recently?

Could possibly be a clue, couldn’t it … ?

Yes, it could … … … … … … …



Hmmm … 



I’m … possibly going sideways, there, aren’t I … ?



At any rate, it’s a quiet Sunday night, and I fancied a movie.



Annabelle was interesting … but left me cold.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse … ?

Great stuff: but just a trifle too long.

I fancied something with a touch of meat: that wasn’t so heavy on the hours.

I think I found it in the shape of The Cured.

Yes, I think I found what I was after … 

~≈§≈~

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest — A Review

22nd April, 2019.

I’m guessing you’re not necessarily a quiz fan: are you?

Or possibly you are: I won’t know, unless you tell me.

Either way?

You may or may not know that I do a daily brain teaser: and have done for a while.

Today’s has a theme.

Jack Nicholson.

Yes: today’s his birthday.

~≈§≈~

The reason I mention that … ?



The reason I mention that … is because I’m not a movie fan.

Rather I see myself as someone who likes watching movies: and have done for a while.

So, when I get the chance?

I watch a film.

Either at home, on the proverbial telly … or — if and when I can afford it — at the movies.

Tonight … ?

With time off … ?

I fancied a film.

And, given who’s birthday it is, today?

Felt the film I’ve seen tonight is the only one I could possibly watch …

~≈§≈~

2001: A Space Odyssey — The Review

4th February 2019.

Right … 

I have a lot of time on my hands, right now: I’m job hunting.

I’ve a call to make, tomorrow: chasing down one particular sunbeam.

My phone’s screen … ?

Is useable … but really does need fixing: although I’ve got that covered.

The laundry … ?   At least, the parts of it consisting of my socks, pants and bits … ?

Done, for the most part.

Although you possibly didn’t want to know about my pants.

Unless you’re looking for something really odd on Patreon.

Oh … and I had just enough savings to order a copy of German retro flïck, Der Golem, today.

I had a spout of arty German silent films, a while back: that, M and the various Mabüse movies are something I’d like to catch … at some point … 

Given I haven’t got them … ?

Given I had a quiet night in … ?

Given I wanted to catch a film I’d not seen in a while … ?

What could I do, except dig up the film its director called the “the proverbial ‘really good’ science-fiction movie … ”

2001: A Space Odyssey, it was.

And, yes: I think my intro video makes a point … 

~≈§≈~

Alien: A Review

28th December, 2018.

Yes … 

You have just seen the intro video, there, haven’t you?

Just in case you’re wondering … ?

Just in case you’re wondering about the Japan reference, there, I’ve got Japan’s Tin Drum album on in the background.

It’s both a personal favourite, gorgeous to listen to … 

And possibly something I’ve listened to a lot, at this time of night.

Good knows what the neighbours must be thinking.

Either way, it’s a LP I like listening too, while I write … 

~≈§≈~

Which is possibly something you may or may not have worked out.

As I think I’ve mentioned the blessed thing a few times … 

Funnily … it’s also not a CD I’ve ever owned … 

Nor, unfortunately, am I ever likely to.

Who buys CDs, or DVDs, these days, with things like Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Prime and Netflix?



That sad fact, there, is that record retailers, HMV, have gone into administration: and their owners make no bones about the fact that the move to streaming and downloading has played its part.

It’s sad: and believe me, I’m sympathetic to what the staff are going through, having been working at Threshers, when it collapsed.

But … ?

I can’t help but think a better online offering from the company could’ve been helpful.

Let’s face it, we all of us finding the streaming option so much easier than walking into a shop.

~≈§≈~

That’s not necessarily always the case.

Sometimes?

Sometimes we can happily watch a movie on DVD or blu-ray.

Although, personally?

I’ve not actually owned a DVD player for 3 or four years: if you see me mention my movie collection, that collection consists of digital files I’ve either bought on iTunes, and streamed across the internet.

Or digital files I’ve ripped, and have stored on an external hard drive.

That later, I can watch on my AppleTV.

That later option, raiding that external drive?

Is something I’ve done, tonight.

Yes: I’ve not seen fan favourite, Alien, for some time … 

~≈§≈~

Tron: A Review.

15th December, 2018.

No, really: I’m semi-serious in this post’s introduction video.

Has anyone got any free or blue dye, some old, preferable clean, spare bedsheets, and some sort of upright frame I and nail seem bright blue or bright green bedsheets, to?

The reason I ask … ?

Whilst I was job-hunting, earlier, I had YouTube on: when this video came up.





Explaining how to  use a free app to give your videos a twist: by using compositing.

A technique that’s occasionally called Green Screen, or Colour Separation Overlay, or CSO, or Chromakey.

Basically?   You film something in front of a green or blue screen.

Then, in post-production, the green — or blue — parts of the video, are replaced with something else: usually an image, but occasionally, moving backgrounds.

That tutorial interested me: it’s a technique that was used on Dr Who back in the 1970s, on Star Wars, Max Headroom, your average news studio, and Star Trek.

And it’s something I felt I could use for some of the videos on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

While Photo Booth’s nice, its background effects aren’t perfect.



You’ll have probably noticed the bleed over effect in the intro?   That’s from Photo Booth.

So hearing about a piece of software apparently powerful enough to let me improve on that?

That caught my attention.

Then, of course, inspiration hit me.

I could download something would only take up the limited room on my hard drive …

Or I could maybe poke around through the user manual on the various bits of software on my Mac.

It seems I can — given a green or blue screen — do basic compositing with my current version of iMovie.

It has to be said, thirty years ago?   I’d’ve needed a TV studio to make composite video.



Now all I need is some bedsheets.

~≈§≈~

Right now?

That possibly matters a lot less than … several other things.

Frankly, I started planning this post earlier tonight.

I’d seen Brainstorm, many years ago: and associated it with both WarGames and the original Tron.

I’d watched WarGames, last night.

Tonight?

I thought I should catch Tron … 

~≈§≈~

The Godfather: A Review

14th November, 2018.

Yes … 

It’s another night as a gentleman of leisure.

As you’ve possibly guessed.

Right at the moment,  I’m off work: and job hunting.

And worrying like hell about where my next bit of cash is coming from.

Cash?

Hell, worrying about my next meal is on the proverbial menu, as well.

Not that worry is doing me much good, right now.

Once unemployment kicks in long term … ?

Well, that’s when I’ll start having issues: health AND financial.

~≈§≈~

At any rate?

I’ve been keeping myself occupied job hunting: and am thinking that heading into Romford, or Billericay, handing out my CV could be good.

Or bad, depending.

I’m ALSO thinking — as I have, so many times before — that putting my CV on this blog could be good.

Or bad.

I might just have to ask my work coach: the job centre appointed mentor who’s supposed to suggest options for me to explore.

It might be an idea.

At any rate, I’ve job hunting keeping me busy.

AND the usual teasing writing, laundry, cleaning … 

And as I have some free nights … ?



Catching up with a movie or two seems an idea.

Given the subjects of today’s Teaser?   Tha Apalachin Meeting?

Something nefarious seemed in order.

Some with suspicious looking Italian Americans.

Something like … The Godfather … 

~≈§≈~

Split: That’ll Do.

23rd August, 2018.

You know … 

I woke up this morning, with the intention of watching a movie.

Made point of mentioning it on today’s Teaser, even.

Thinking Fiddler on the Roof would be a good one to see: I’ve never seen it.

But, after finishing dinner, teasers and laundry?

But felt three hours of musical was maybe a bit much … 

So … ?

Money being tight, I let my finger browse through my back catalogue.

I felt there’d be something in the collection that would … you know …

Appeal … 

As it turned out, there was.

The 2016, M. Night Shyamalan film, Split.

Nice film … 

But about James McAvoy … 

~≈§≈~

The Call of Cthulhu — A Review: Hello, Retro

23rd July, 2018.

OK, that’s the intro video done with.

Leaving me with something of a a conundrum.

Do I take five, or ten, minutes … to jump into the shower?

Actually?

It’s not a conundrum, at all.

I’ve just jumped in the shower.

Frankly, with a figure like mine, and on the hottest day of the year, a day when the Met Office has released an Amber Alert?

Washing off the sweat, makes sense.

Either way?

Can you blame a body for getting overheated?

I don’t think you can, to be blunt.

Especially not on a day like this.

Frankly?

It’s enough to make you stay in, it really is.

The only thing with that, of course?

Is having something to watch

Frankly, I did.

The 2005 film that is … 

The Call Of Cthulhu.

And, even this long after reading the original HP Lovecraft short story?

I stil don’t know how to pronounce Cthulhu … !

~≈§≈~