Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30-7-2019: Oh, Mr Nolan

30th July, 2019.

Yes, I have an interview, today: over in Pilgrim’s Hatch, near where my family live.

And I’m not actually feeling nervous about it.

Possibly?

I’m getting older: or — ha! — more confident.

More possibly?

I’ve a lot more on my plate to worry about.

We’ll have to see how it goes.

~≈§≈~

As a quick thought: one I know Old Peculiar regular, Debbi, may disagree with me, here.

But I notice that a cross-party group of MPs on a fact finding mission to Canada who’ve publicly advocated legalisation of recreational cannabis: and feel it may, successfully, go through parliament in five to ten years time.

It’s not something I like the idea of.

I’ve met a few people, over the years, who’ve had various shades of schizo-affective disorder, or schizophrenia, and who’ve blamed their cannabis use for triggering or severely aggravating their condition.

Something I believe is supported by the little research I’ve been able to access.

Right here and now?

Legalising recreational cannabis use?

Is not something I feel I could support.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30th July, 2018.

30th July, 2018.

Yep: I’m on a short week, this week.

And, understandably?

I’m having mixed feelings about it.

Yes: I’m going to be using holiday time to pad out my hours.

Otherwise I’d be getting paid less, next week.

On the other hand?

At least I’ve some time off coming.

That’s an upside: at least I’d be able to clean, launder, maybe catch a movie, or two.

But?

Right now, I’ve got two quid left for the rest of the week.

I’ll let your imagination do the rest, shall I … ?

~≈§≈~

Man Of Steel: Impressively Messianic …

9th December, 2013.

You know, I’m — and I swore I try and keep the use of the next word down — impressed.

Quite heftily so, in .fact.

You see with some of the last bit of iTunes credit I’ve had, I’ve rented a film, tonight: the 2013, Zack Snyder take on DC’s flagship hero, Superman, and I’m thinking it may not be stunning … 

But IS something I wish I had the money to buy on DVD.

I feel it may well be worth sitting down with, again.

It’s ALSO something I’m going to sleep on: it’s getting late.   Either way, I’ll back in the morning … !

~≈Ì≈~

10th December, 2013.

Right … 

Now I’ve got that sleep I was wanting, … ?   Let me tell you about Man Of Steel.

As I think I said, last night, I had a quiet night to myself, last night.   Quiet: with nothing to do, nothing on TV, and just enough money on my iTunes account to rent a film.

The film in question, of course, being the 2013, Zack Snyder directed, Christopher Nolan produced, Superman reboot, Man Of Steel.

The story opens by showing us the doomed planet of Krypton, where Jor El (Russell Crowe*) is with his wife, Lara (Ayelet Zurer), as she gives birth to their son, Kal El.

The pair are as doomed as their planet: and plan to send both their son, and a gene-bank of their race, as far as possible from their dying world.

Dying … 

And civil-war-riven.   Jor El’s arch rival, General Zod is determined to control the gene bank and to make sure the only Kryptonians who survive are the one he chooses.

Zod fails: and is sentenced to 300 years in the Phantom Zone as punishment.

Just before Krypton finally explodes … 

~≈Ì≈~

The film cuts to some years later.   And shows us Kor El wandering the world, having grown up on Earth as Clark Kent, having been informally adopted by John and Martha Kent (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane), having flashbacks to his Kansas youth, whilst anonymously helping, using his powers, where needed.

Interweaved with this story is that of Daily Planet reporter, Lois Lane (Amy Adams) who we initially meet in the wintery parts of Canada, investigating an anomalous object being in a glacier.

It’s only when she’s poking around the camp at night, she notices Clark — who’s been using the name ‘Joe’ — seems to have found a route to the object: a 3000 year old Kryptonian spaceship, and one that allows Clark to access the one small piece of home he’s managed to keep.

Access, and use to find out a lot more about his biological parents, his people, Krypton …

All in full view of Ms Lane, who’s kicking herself for having lost her camera.

It’s only AFTER Lois’ boss, Perry White — Laurence Fishburne — has turned down the story that Lois decides to leak it to the internet.

Which is ALSO the time a mysterious spaceship shows up, orbiting the Moon, broadcasting to everyone on Earth to help the ship’s captain find Kal El.

That ship’s captain … ?

Is Zod … 

~≈Ì≈~

Now … 

Impressed … ?

Hell, yes … !

For starters, this is a stunningly designed, and very visual film: with Kryptonian outfits, sets and kit looking like Mœbius designed Timelords,  with H. R. Giger designed armour.

On top of that … ?

On top of that, it’s well written — having Christopher Nolan along for part of the writing seems to help, although I’m sure the rest of the writing team are equally competent — and has an especially strong ensemble cast: I have to say, Crowe, Lane and Costner and Zurer as Clark’s assorted parents, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and, indeed, Cavill himself, as Superman, were great.

The REAL standout … ?   For me personally, the outstanding member of the cast was Michael Shannon, as Zod: giving the villain a humanity and depth I feel highlights the comic book nature of Terence Stamp’s version.

Additionally, while she’s not the feisty ball-breaker Margo Kidder’s Lois Lane was, Amy Adams is both a level headed, beautiful … and intelligent … alternative.

And, while the story wasn’t perfect, I’m also feel it was pretty damn good: offering danger, emotion, and origins in one and the same package.

I think Man Of Steel would repay a lot of viewings.

Personally … ?

Well …

Man Of Steel
★★★★

*        Doing a far better English accent than he did in Robin Hood

The Dark Knight Rises: Hmmm …

3/12/2012.

You know, I’ll happily confess, I’ve started this post with the date: as I’m intent on STARTING this particular post at something of a late hour on a Monday night.

With, frankly, the intention of finishing it off, tomorrow.

And with the EXTRA intention … of something else that’s ACTUALLY slipped my mind, at this point.

Oh, Yes!

The intention of making sure I’d tell you of how impressed I was — comparatively — with a film I’ve rented from iTunes, tonight.

Frankly … ?   I’m willing to bet you’ve had a good guess at what the film actually is.

The 2012 film that is the Christopher directed The Dark Knight Rises.

I’m possibly impressed with this … 

~~~~~

4/12/2012.

And please note I say possibly.   But let me try and explain the film to you.

Set some eight years after The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises opens with a charity event run by the Wayne Foundation: one that the man himself doesn’t attend, as he’s been in seclusion for quite some time.

After both the death of Harvey Dent, AND pulling out of a Wayne Enterprises deal into clean fusion energy, on learning the reactor could’ve been used as a weapon.

That changes.

As a valuable necklace is stolen from a safe owned by Bruce … by a cat burglar called Selina Kyle.

A cat burglar who then sells Bruce’s lifted fingerprints to a Wayne business rival, called John Dagget: a rival who’s hired the terrorist, Bane, to do a lot of dirty work for him.

~~~~~

Hmmm … 

Which is actually simplifying the plot by quite a hell of a lot … 

The Dark Knight Rises is a rich piece of work: possibly too rich for me, although it is a beautifully made piece of work.   Frankly, I think Nolan and co are incapable of making a bad Batman movie.

Personally, though … ?

Personally, I have to admit, I found this a stunner, but not as much of a stunner as The Dark Knight, although that could be just well be Heath Ledger’s death leaving its mark.

Whatever … 

I’ll leaves you seeing stars …

The Dark Knight Rises   

★★★☆

The Prestige: The Pledge, The Turn … and the Other Thing … !

You know, you can tell that the ITV/AMC remake ofThe Prisoner has really grabbed me, can’t you … ?

Can’t you … ?

I mean, the fact that tonight, on the night that the last episode was due to air, I thought I really couldn’t be doing with watching it …

So when Movie Night Adrian popped in on me, this afternoon, to ask if I fancied a movie, I quite happily started ringing around to see who else fancied it .

Which was just Sarah and Kevin D, as it happens, but Kevin and Sarah — who was feeling a touch poorly, tonight — but Kevin D did manage to bring along a film that was new to me.

The 2006, Christopher Nolan directed, film, The Prestige.

I’m actually impressed with this one.

Based loosely on the 1995 Christopher Priest novel of the same name, it sees two rivals magicians — Christian Bale as Alfred Borden and Hugh Jackson as Robert Angier — whose early friendship turns to rivalry after the death — on stage — of Angier’s fiancée: told in court by the Michæl Caine character, Cutter, who’s been the equipment supplier and engineer for both men.

I’ve got to admit to being bewitched by this one.

Now, other people have done plot summaries, far better ones than I could do at this time of night.

But I will recommend you see this one.

It’s definitely worth a turn … !!