Doctor Who — The Evil of the Daleks: Episode 7 — A Review

21st January, 2022.

It’s got to be said, I’ve got back from Chelmsford.

I’m unemployed: so have to do various courses, and take part in assorted programmes or be sanctioned.

Have my benefit stopped, in other words.

I was in Chelmsford to attend one of those meetings.

I think we can safely my legs hurt: all that walking from home to station, from station to office, and back … ?

Was definitely tiring!

At any rate … ?

I’m home: and going to have dinner.

Once that’s done?

I’m going to watch the last episode of The Evil of The Daleks.

If all goes well, I’ll finish my written and video reviews for you, by tomorrow night.

Here’s hoping … !

~≈📺≈~

In Fabric — A Review

18th June, 2021.

OK: you’ve watched the introductory video, haven’t you … ?

I hope so.

If you have, you’ll realise that — at the time I made the thing — I hadn’t made my mind up about what to watch.

Amongst other options?

I had both Lucas’ THX1138, and Besson’s Léon: The Professional.

Something I may catch, another time.

I’ve settled for the Peter Strickland directed Giallo-esque, In Fabric.

Yes: I’m going to bed, and carrying this post on, tomorrow.

But, yes: I think I’ve just seen something amazing … 

~≈👗≈~

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.

~≈†≈~

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 … 

~≈§≈~

King of Thieves: A Review

26th January, 2019.

Right … 

as much as I like the current version of iMovie … ?

And Mojave … ?

I think I’m in a bind … 

As it’s taken about ten minutes to render the video in that intro.

I’m not exactly a happy bunny.

After all, that’s a lot of time … when you consider that iMovie had been doing those renders in about half that time.

At most.



This possibly means I need radical action, here.

Switching on my old Mac, and seeing what I can do.

At any rate … ?

That’s something I’ll have to concentrate on, another time.

Whilst I wait for any iMovie or Mojave updates.

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, it’s a quiet Saturday night.

And … ?



Well, I’m tempted to do several things … several sweaty things … several sweaty things that, unfortunately, involved either money or company … 

A movie it is, then … !

And, yes: I had just enough cash in my iTunes account to get … 

King of Thieves.

~≈§≈~

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 … 

~≈§≈~

Fiddler on the Roof — Wow!

30th August, 2018.

It’s a Thursday night.

It’s a Thursday night off.

And it’s a Thursday night off I think I’m going to value.

I’ve seen a film tonight.

And, if you’ve paid attention to both the intro video, and to the title card I’ve used as openers for this post?

You’ll realise which film I’ve seen.

Can I tell you something, here?

There’s a few — possibly a lot — of films out there people will tell you to put on your bucket list.

I’m know regular commenters, Olga Nuñez-Miret and Debbi Mack has both heavily suggested They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? several times, over the years.

I’ve still not caught it!

Other films have been suggested, too.

Metropolis for one.

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, for another.

The Third Man and as — HA — still extra films to add to a filmic bucket list.

There’s more.

Other people I know would suggest musicals.

And, granted?   I’ve seen both Cabaret and West Side Story.

And am very aware there’s possibly more around I should be adding to any given bucket list.

Including the one I’ve caught to night: a Norman Jewison directed musical based on Sholem Aleichem’s Tevye and his Daughters … 

Better known to us … ?

As Fiddler on the Roof.

And yes: I think ‘Wow’ is the right word.

~≈§≈~

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 … !

~≈§≈~

Black Panther: A Review

1st July, 2018.

You know, you can TELL it’s a Sunday night in, can’t you … ?

Yep.   It’s a Sunday night … 

It’s a Sunday night off … 

And yes: it’s a Sunday night where I’ve cleaned my pants.

Which I think is something I think you’d rather not know, but there you go.

At any rate?

It’s Sunday.

I’ve got Kraftwerk’s Autobahn on in the background.

And I’ve just seen a movie: the 2018 release, Black Panther.

And, yes: I am impressed, thank you!

~≈§≈~

High Tension/Switchblade Romance: Go Watch!

2nd June, 2017

OK … 

It’s late on a Friday night: and I’m up, after having watched a film.

Yes, I know: I could easily go out out and watch one.

But, frankly, the weather’s been changeable, today: veering from light drizzle to chucking it down.

 To highlight that?   I went to my local Nisa, earlier: thinking the rain wasn’t that heavy.

And came back looking like a drowned rat.

Or a very odd Ms Wet T-shirt 2017.

Yes …

I’m sure you find that a pretty mental image … !

And one that possibly avoids the point, here.

I fancied watching a film.

And, whilst I have copies of both Arrival and Passengers?

I fancied neither.

It wasn’t until a chap called Benjamin — a former customer at one of the pubs I worked in — asked for recommendations, that I got a suggestions, myself.

Courtesy of an old friend and neighbour, Faye.

Who suggested that New French Extremity film, High Tension, would go down well.

And that it was also know as Switchblade Romance, here in the UK.

I think Faye has a point.

If it’s not brilliant, then High Tension/Switchblade Romance IS very watchable.

~≈Â≈~

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Phew … !

13th April, 2017.

You know, I try not to regret things.

Really.

Regret is something I try and avoid.

I’d fair rather learn from my mistakes, make amends, and my apologies, where I can … 

And move on.

I’d far rather do something, than sit around regretting.

There’s one regret I’ve got at the moment, though.

I’ve had today off.

And, as I’ve done for the past few weeks?

I’ve caught a film.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Yes, Phew is appropriate.

And yes … 

So is regret … 

~≈Ê≈~

The Girl With All The Gifts: Wow!

6 April, 2017.

I’m a man of relatively simple pleasures.

No, really.

The occasional night out, a good book, a half way decent piece of music … 

Simple stuff: that’s relatively cheap.

Well, OK: maybe with the exception of a half way decent computer.

But relatively simple for all that.

One of those simple pleasures?

Is the occasional TV show.

Another, the occasional film.

I’m thinking I’m representative of many people my age.

I’ve quite happily sat down with the 2016, Colm McCarthy directed, The Girl With All The Gifts, tonight.

Yes.

‘Wow!’ is decidedly appropriate.

~≈Ê≈~

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari: or Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari.

16th February, 2017.

Have you ever heard of an actor called Conrad Veidt?

German chap, so you know.

Who’d done well for himself in German cinema and theatre: until he fled Germany before World War 2, as his wife was Jewish.

I had: but, in all honesty, couldn’t claim to have seen a film he’s in.

Oh, I know he crops up in Casablanca.

I’ve not actually seen it, though: yes, I know that’s possibly a hanging offence.

But there you go.

Sue me … !

~≈Ü≈~

At any rate?

At any rate, and just to re-iterate?

I’ve never actually seen a film with Conrad Veidt in it.

Not for lack of interest, either: more a lack of time, money … 

And possibly motivation, as well.

Tonight, though?

Tonight, though, I had a night off.

A desire to see a film.

And a copy of a film — with Conrad Veidt in a key role — that I’d been interested in for some time.

The film … ?

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari: or Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari, in the original German.

I wanted to catch it, not because Veidt’s appeared in the key role of Cesare.

But because the film has something of a reputation … 

~≈Ü≈~

The Martian — Wow!

8th March, 2016.

You know, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a film.

Let me clarify that, if I can.

Sunday?

Sunday, I managed to see Dad’s Army.

There’s slightly more ironic ways ways to celebrate Mothers Day, but I don’t know if I could you what they are.

At ANY rate, when I say “… it’s been a while since I’ve seen a film,” what I MEAN is … 

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie … indoors … that I’ve bought or rented, myself.

Tonight, I did exactly that.

Tonight I rented out The Martian.

And whereas the last Ridley Scott film I saw — 2012’s Prometheus — was watchable, but flawed?

The Martian seems to tell us Scott is back on form … 

~≈Â≈~

Mad Max: Fury Road: A Review … !

5th October, 2015.

Now, it has to be said, I like a film or two, now and again.

Who doesn’t?

After all, I think part of what makes us all human is a desire to tell — and listen to — stories.

All the way back from when — as cavemen/women/persons — we sat around a fire, telling each other of gods and monsters.

All the way to now: when an account with Netflix, Sky or iTunes has replaced the communal fire.

And gods, monsters, myths and legends have been replaced with other things.

Personally … ?

Personally, I’m the same: I like a tale or two.

As, I suspect, do you.

We like stories.

TV.   Books.   Hell, poetic epics!

Oh … and as I think I’m trying to say … movies.

I’ve been looking forward to one for a while, now.

The fourth member of the Mad Max franchise.

The George Miller directed, 2015, film that is … 

Mad Max: Fury Road.

And, yes: I think ‘Nice’ may be under-selling it … 

~≈fi≈~

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