Journey 3D
Oh dear.
Oh dear.
(note, this review may contain spoilers)
Mainstream 3D films really need to get past the “playing with 3D” gimmicks before they’ll be taken seriously. Beowolf 3D was good - because it used the 3D to add depth - it was like “looking through a window”, rather than having characters in the film throw/push/hold things into the forground all the time, which is precisely how Journey to the Centre of the Earth 3D spends it’s time.
Once you’ve survived 20 minutes of balls, sticks, and tape measures being waved into the foreground space - the film picks up, but only by lifting a series of set pieces from other blockbuster movies of the past - and it’s just soooo predicatable as a result.
Underground - check.
Mine car “rollercoaster” from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Check.
Swams of insects/birds/bats/fish flying through the screen (as seen in pretty much every themepark 3D film). Check.
Floating Rock Stepping Stones (from pretty much every Super Mario Bros. game)
Implausable creatures underground. Check.
Inifinite Fall sequence where the characters stop screaming, have a conversation, then start screaming again. Check.
Well, as a technical demonstration for live action 3D movies, it’s passable, but as an action adventure movie, it’s not a patch on either National Treasure 2, or Indy Jones 4.
I remember why I hate cycling…
To the motorists of Cardiff (and elsewhere). Please remember these points…
- Cyclists cannot stop instantly.
- WE ARE NOT TELEPATHIC - use your indicators!
When you’ve done something stupid (like a 180 at a mini-roundabout, outside a school, without signalling), and a cyclist has had to take evasive action to avoid a crash, don’t look at the cyclist with an expression that seems to say “what are you doing?”
Remember, you’re nice and safe in a steel shell. Cyclists aren’t. If we collide, the chances are that you’ll barely feel it, and I’ll be dead.
As the UK authorities like to say to drivers “THINK!”
Dr Horrible
If you liked Buffy, Angel and Firefly, and you have a broadband connection - check out Joss Whedon’s latest creation - “Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog“
But be quick, for apparently, tomorrow it will be gone
That Feelgood Feeling
Last night, I went to see the new movie version of “Mamma Mia!” - now, I know it’s not my normal fare of action/sci-fi/thriller type movie - but having seen the stage version earlier this year in Bristol, I wanted to see how well it had translated to film.
You can tell a lot about how the audience found a film by watching as they leave the auditorium - most of the time, people have a fairly neutral expression, of if a film was really good a smile. Mamma Mia - people were walking out humming and singing “Waterloo” (which is the song they use over the closing credits). Note to everyone, do not leave the theatre until after Waterloo - the visuals on screen are laugh-out-loud funny.
Generally the film has taken the stage show pretty faithfully, added some spectacular locations, some “jumps” between scenes which weren’t possible on stage, and a ton of energy. This is a cast who are clearly enjoying themselves (although Pierce Brosnan’s singing voice is nothing to write home about). There’s lots of little touches which came from the stage show - including the “Flipper Dance” making a brief appearance.
I’m not going to go into the plot here - firstly, so I won’t spoil it, but moreso because it’s mostly irrelevant, being simply there to hang a series of Abba hits around.
Despite going on my own - I enjoyed it - I suspect because it was a full screening and the audience were having a lot of fun - unlike most films where anyone who says anything is likely to be “sushed” - in this one half the audience were singing along, and nobody minded!
Safer Driving?
The UK Highways Agency has produced a series of videos to help drivers understand why their driving style is dangerous.
If you drive - watch these four short videos, and see if you can see some of your bad and dangerous habits shown.
The only question I have is why are these videos not shown on TV every night at peak times to educate the UK’s drivers!
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