Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22-1-2021: Howard’s Way.

22nd January, 2021.

Right … first things first, shall we?

I’ve finished my written and video review of Snowgums Films’ version of Troll Bridge.

And frankly?

It’s possibly the best Terry Pratchett adaptation I’ve seen.

What’s made my day … ?

Is simply that Snowgum Films, the company that made it?   Have politely thanked me on Twitter!

Yay!

You're very kind! Thank you so much for your review, it made our day!

💙💙💙💙

cc: @DonBridges1, @jackstone007

— snowgumfilms (@snowgumfilms) January 22, 2021

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Just as a quick thought … ?

I’ve just had another scam call from someone claiming to be from BT Openreach: trying to tell me my router was putting out rogue signals.

It took a while … 

But my usual routine in these circumstances — talking endless twaddle about gibbons — seemed to work.

They hung up … 

~≈†≈~

As a final thought, before we move on … ?

No Time To Die, the last film to star Daniel Craig as James Bond, has been postponed again: from April to October.

Heigh … ho … !

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As an even final, final thought?   Here’s Troll Bridge: it’s worth watching!

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Conan The Barbarian: Sword, Sorcery, and very old-fashioned fantasy … !

Quiet nights in, eh … ?

Where WOULD we be without them … ?

Actually, more to the point, where would we be, without something to watch on a quiet night in … ?

Personally … ?

Well, faced with a quiet night in and nothing on TV … ?

I’m just glad I had a copy the 2011 version of Conan The Barbarian.

And — and this is where I know Kevin D will disagree, as I’ve already quietly asked him about it — I’m personally thinking that Jason Momoa, cast as the eponymous barbarian for this version of the R. E. Howard*’s hero, was and is absolutely spot on … !

««†»»

Conan The Barbarian sees Jason Momoa as Conan: and following the character from his birth — during a raid on his village — and as he grows.

However, during a later raid — lead by Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang), who is hunting the pieces of an ancient magical object called the Mask of Acheron: something that will allow he and his daughter to revive his dead wife, AND give him absolute power — Conan is left as the only survivor.

Conan is — understandably — upset, and swears revenge on the man who killed the remains of his family.

And many years later … ?

Happens to come across one of the raiders …

««†»»

Now, I’ve GOT to admit, I definitely enjoyed this take of R. E. Howard’s hero.

For me, it managed to capture the look and feel of the man in a far more satisfying way than the somewhat humourless 1982 version, with Arnold Schwarzenegger: a film I know I’ve never been quite able to sit through, completely.

Given that, and the feel of this cut … ?

Well …

Conan The Barbarian

★★★☆

* There’s an old gag about a time when ‘… men were real men, women were real women, and hideous things from BEYOND humanity’s darkest imaginings were REAL hideous things from BEYOND humanity’s darkest imaginings.’ R. E. Howard took it seriously …

Solomon Kane: Viciously Kaned …

You know, I think — think, mind — that Movie Night Adrian and I have seen an …

Hmmm …

An interesting movie, tonight …

Possibly …

You see, tonight we managed to catch the Michæl J. Bassett directed Solomon Kane, with James Purefoy in the title role of R. E. Howard’s pulp character.

A character that was — from what I can see — never exactly filled in, by Howard, himself.

Hmmm …

The film sees Kane returning to England, after having his soul condemned to Hell in its opening scenes, by the Devil’s Reaper.

An event that find’s him determined to try to redeem himself, when he get’s back to England …

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Now, I’ve got to confess Solomon Kane isn’t the most stunning of films.

It’s worth watching, don’t get me wrong: nicely scripted and acted, wonderfully shot, competently directed and very atmospheric.

But I’m not convinced that Solomon Kane is anything other an atmospheric one-night-stand.

Nice, for an evening.

But, long term … ?

Well …

You tell me.

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Solomon Kane
★★☆☆