Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21st April 2024

21st April, 2024.

Right … it’s Sunday morning, again!

Which means … ?

Well, not a lot … bar that fact it’s going to be a quiet day.

I do know I’ve spotted something in the news.

Apparently, a woman in Hertfordshire is a tenant of my landlords: and received a small amount of compensation … after being overcharged on her services charges.

The figures she gave for hers?

Were similar to mine.

I was paying £44 a week, last year.

And now paying a fiver.

Hmmm … 

I don’t think I’d get anything from Clarion, on that front.

Not even so much as information on how to apply.

But … ?

I may as well send them an email: to see what happens.

~≈Ω≈~

It: Chapter Two — A Review

20th October 2019.

I’m officially terrible.

No, really.

I had dinner with my family, earlier this evening.

I’m job hunting right now.

I get to see my relatives … and get a meal.

So stuff works out.



Until, of course, I got home … and realised I’d left my spectacles at my mothers.

Hmm …

Thankfully?   My sister Anna, happily dropped them off.

I’m grateful … 



And kicking myself!

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, with time on my hand … ?



With time on my hand, I wanted to catch a movie.

Given it’s been recently released on demand, and that I’d seen Chapter One, last year?

Given I’d seen the radically different Kidulthood, last night?

I fancied something familiar, yet different.

I fancied It: Chapter Two.

And, if you’ve seen the extremely brief video I’ve posted on YouTube?



I have my doubts … 

~≈†≈~

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 Last King of Scotland: Blood, Guts and making DAMN sure you have a VERY long spoon.

You know, just every so often — as I’m sure you’ll have realised, by now — I’ll get a quiet evening to meself.

And usually manage to catch one in company: which frankly, was a BIT lacking, last night.

Given there was nothing on TV, though … ?

It DID mean I managed to dig up the copy of the Kevin McDonald directed, The Last King Of Scotland.

‹‹•››

Based on the Giles Foden novel of the same name, The Last King Of Scotland follows James McAvoy as the fictional Dr Nicholas Garrigan: a young doctor who is recently out of training, and looking for adventure.

And ending up as a doctor in a missionary hospital in Uganda, just as Idi Amin takes power there.

And … ?

And just after treating the dictator for a hand injury sustained in a car accident …

Is asked to become Amin’s personal physician, and the man in charge of rebuilding Uganda’s health service.

Something Garrigan initially feels no qualms about: after all, he initially feels Amin is nothing but good for the country … …

‹‹•››

Now …

Am I impressed … ?

Not greatly …

But certainly enough to recommend that you catch The Last King Of Scotland.

McAvoy’s performance as the naïve young doctor slowly finding out the horrible truth about his patient, AND having to question the choices he’s made, is worth watching.

As is Forest Whittaker’s extremely menacing performance as Amin: and this is coming from someone who grew up during the 1970s, and can remember hearing some of the horror stories about Amin’s leadership of Uganda*.

So just to give you a QUICK thought … ?

The Last King Of Scotland

★★☆☆

* I’m pretty sure some of the worst stories one hears are just that: stories. Then you come across some of the killings that DID happen …

John Carpenter’s The Thing and X-Men: First Class

You know, I THINK I’m going to say a quick thank you to Nina, bless her!

She’s ever so thoughtfully sent me an early Christmas gift.

Something I know , as a southpaw, am definitely going to value: a pair of left handed scissors.

Thanking you, Nina!

I’m just mildly ashamed I’ve nowt to give in return, apart from some rather effusive thanks*!

But let’s move on, shall we … ?

After all, I started this, with the intention of telling you about movies …

««·»»

I’ll be frank, bless him, I had Kevin D over, last night … !

And the pair of us managed to catch a film I know he was keen to share, X-Men: First Class.

Something I know I was happily pleased to see, although I’m not usually a fan of the Marvel franchised films.

X-Men: First Class sees Professor Xavier — played by James McAvoy — putting together a team of super-powered mutants — including a much younger Magneto, played by Michæl Fassbender — to help prevent the villainous Professor Smidt — beautifully over done by Kevin Bacon, there — trigger both the Cuban Missile Crisis, and — possibly — World War 3.

I think I can give you an idea of how much fun it was, by cutting straight to the stars …

X-Men: First Class

Paul: ★★☆☆

Kevin: ★★☆☆

Average: ★★☆☆

««•»»

Then there’s the film I managed to treat myself to, tonight, as there was nothing else onº: John Carpenter’s The Thing.

And I’ll HAPPILY admit, this STILL looks impressive after almost thirty years!

The film sees Kurt Russell as MacReadyª, a helicopter pilot assigned to an isolated US base in the Antarctic, when, one otherwise quiet day sees a lost dog wander on to† the base.

A lost dog that’s being chased by two hysterical Norwegians in a chopper, with a lot of weaponry …

««•»»

Now, I said John Carpenter’s The Thing was old … ?

Well, yes, it is … !

But of the two films I’ve seen most recently … ?

I’ll happily give it a better rating, I think, and let you make you mind up yourself …

John Carpenter’s The Thing

Paul: ★★★★

* Because, if nothing else, I can prove a point or two at some right-handed friends, I know that much: it probably helps if I add tune from Mongrels …

º Where are all the decent movies that turn up on TV, this time of year … ? No idea … ! Unless Sky TV’s paid a fortune for them!

ª Owner of possibly the most iconic hat in science-fiction.

† Actually, Debbi, I’m currently re-reading Orwell’s 1984. Going by the liner notes, there was a huge amount of discussion between him, and his English and American publishers. All about ‘on to’; and whether it should be ‘on to’ or ‘onto’. Wilde had a point, I think …