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| Gimme a kiss, white-boy ... |
But I decided to have a stab at the lastest British-made-but-set-in-Africa zombocalypse movie ... The full review is, as you're doubtless becoming wearily accostomed ... here on What Culture!
Showing posts with label What Culture article. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What Culture article. Show all posts
Blu-ray: THE DEAD
But I decided to have a stab at the lastest British-made-but-set-in-Africa zombocalypse movie ... The full review is, as you're doubtless becoming wearily accostomed ... here on What Culture!
Blu-Ray: THREE MUSKETEERS / FOUR MUSKETEERS
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| Yes, in his day, Ollie could light fires with his heat vision! |
They draw together the unlikeliest call-sheet imaginable … So you have the truly bizarre spectacle of Charlton Heston ordering the torture of Spike Milligan (a Lester regular) who is married to Raquel Welch. Indeed, the first film opens with a fight scene between Michael York (playing D’Artagnan) and Joss Ackland (playing his dad) … Yes, you read that right: Basil Exposition crossing swords with Chuck De Nomolos!
And as for the rest of the cast ... You've got a starring vehicle for Oliver Reed (Athos), who was a formidable force of nature at the time, and is rarely to be seen having more fun on screen. He is supported variously by Richard Chamberlain (as Aramis), Frank Finlay (as Porthos) and a delightful Roy Kinnear in the almost silent role of the put-upon squire, Planchet. Allied against our heroes are Christopher Lee as the one-eyed Rochefort (who made this film in-between his turns in The Wicker Man and The Man With The Golden Gun) and the scheming, ice-cold Milady DeWinter (played by the then white-hot Faye Dunaway). Wow.
The full review of these great, under-valued British classics is here on What Culture!
One thing you won't find on the What Culture! site is this - my favourite Spitting Image sketch ... "Just tell 'em you went for a drink with Ollie Reed!"
TRUE BLOOD 4.12 – “And When I Die”
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| How'd you like your stake? |
It's been a while ... Crazy time! Now for a little catch-up:
The series finale of True Blood. Overall, I thought this was the best-written and most satisfying episode we’ve had this year. As a whole, the season seemed to lack focus, for me … It rambled. The questions asked in the first episode were not satisfyingly answered in the last, and that means that the structure of the series seems off-kilter.
And, as for Sookie ... She spends NINE episodes doing precisely nothing. Yes, I understand that the show is about her emotional development, but couldn’t they have had her doing something useful and even interesting whilst being in love with New Eric?
For a show like True Blood, a season needs to be like a novel, with each chapter leading you progressively towards a satisfactory conclusion. Fair enough, leave a few loose ends if you want, but do it with subtlety. Like Dexter does it, in other words!
Anyway, my full in-depth review is on What Culture! here:
TRUE BLOOD 4.11 – Soul of Fire
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| Okay ramblers, let's get ramblin' ... |
So, it’s all kicking-off! After interminable weeks of piddling-about, waiting and wondering if Bill was ever going to man up and Sookie was ever going to wake up now, finally, we have the show-down between the armies of the night and the most dangerous enemy they’ve ever faced. Yes? Well … Sort of.
Essentially we have a siege, but it’s a very sedate siege, really. With a lot of talking and not much besieging. However, we do have Eric performing the coolest blood-suck of the series and then, suddenly, it’s all over!
You'll have to read the full review to learn all the gory details. You can find it on What Culture here.
And you can some behind-the-scenes video action (with lots of spoilers) here:
TRUE BLOOD 4.10 – Burning Down the House
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| Let's go to work ... Finally. |
The last few weeks’ episodes have been named after the songs which have accompanied the end credits … So, this week, I was all geared-up for some Talking Heads action … But no, it’s a cover by The Used. Devastated!
Sookie is finally motivated to doing something that doesn’t involve showing the world her knicker collection. She gets mad and, finally, after nine weeks of, frankly, doing bugger-naff-all, she unleashes all kinds of super-powers. She saves the day – and both of her vamp bfs – and knocks all of the wide-eyed-puppy-dog stuffing out of Eric.
otherwise, it's a performances episode, with several actors getting to update their audition reels with some powerful scenes. What don’t we get? You'll have to read the full review to find out.
You can find it on What Culture here.
Then come back and listen to the version of Burning Down the House they should have used!
TRUE BLOOD 4.9 – “Let’s Get Out Of Here”.
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| Sookie continues to frequent only the finest lingerie shops ... |
Meanwhile, on a not unrelated matter, Sookie, with nothing better to do, fantasises about her two vampires. She insists she doesn’t want them fighting over her … But, of course, that’s exactly what she wants!
I have been asked not to re-print my What Culture reviews here so, for the time being, following this link will be your best way to read this full review. Don't panic, my cinema reviews will still be appearing here, when I get some free time to catch up with them!
Then, when you have read the review, pop back here and watch this mini making-of:
Tom Hanks had the RIGHT Idea ... I Want MY Money Back!
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| Larry Crowne didn't play my local cinema because, contrary to appearances, it doesn't contain any car chases and therefore is of no interest to the mouth-breathers who frequent my local kinema. I, therefore, have no opinion on the film ... But there are others on which I certainly do! |
So, you’ve seen the news story – reported here in The Guardian – of Tom Hanks giving the cinema ticket money back to two people who didn’t like his film Larry Crowne. Is that a dangerous precedent or the way forward?
Well, I think that might be the way forward! Bringing film-makers to book.
So, over on WhatCulture! I've put together a list of the five biggest miscreants who OWE ME BIG!!
You'll find the list here.
And yes, it is meant to be funny!
TRUE BLOOD – 4.8 – Spellbound
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| Sookie and Eric lying in a bed S-H-A-G-G-I-N-G |
Bill brokers a meetings with Marnie-Antonia to take place, appropriately, in a cemetery.
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| Yes, with extra Anchovies ... |
But what of Eric and Sookie, the love-birds, I hear you cry? Well, under the influence of her Faerie blood, they act like a couple of stoned teens as they’re all nekkid in the shower. And, yes, Alexander Skarsgård finally gets his ass out. Happy now?
And so we arrive at the meeting between Bill and Marnie-Antonia and there are an extraordinary number of surprises and shocks in this culminating sequence.
After this, they really will be at war! Can’t wait.
Oh, and the best five minutes of the season so far is followed by the best piece of end credit music!
I have been asked not to re-print my What Culture reviews here so, for the time being, following this link will be your best way to read this full review. Don't panic, my cinema reviews will still be appearing here, when I get some free time to catch up with them!
Then, when you have read the review, pop back here and watch this mini making-of:
Then, when you have read the review, pop back here and watch this mini making-of:
TRUE BLOOD – 4.7: Cold Grey Light of Dawn
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| Deborah Ann Woll seems to be the big hit of this season ... Her career's really hotting up! |
It’s still Full Moon; weirdness still abounds!
We get more of Jesus and LaFayette’s adventures down Mexico-way.
We get more of Pam's hilarious spite, plus an odd make-over for her.
We get more of Jesus and LaFayette’s adventures down Mexico-way.
We get more of Pam's hilarious spite, plus an odd make-over for her.
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| Pam's new beauty regime is kept under wraps. |
The Marnie/Antonia story finally takes centre-stage and Bill reminds us just how potentially dangerous she is - just before she demonstrates her power in the most shocking cliff-hanger ending of the season.
I have been asked not to re-print my What Culture reviews here so, for the time being, all the details and my review in full is here: On What Culture! Don't panic, my cinema reviews will still be appearing here!
Then, after you've been there, swing back here and watch this mini-making of:
TRUE BLOOD 4.6 – “I Wish I Was The Moon”
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| Bill looks back sourly as his days modelling for Grattan ... |
Snookie finally goes from ‘get out of my house’ to ‘get into my knickers’.
This results in Bill turning into the bad-guy and passing a True Death sentence on Eric.
This results in Bill turning into the bad-guy and passing a True Death sentence on Eric.
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| Sam - Tommy, Tommy - Sam ... Just like that! |
Tommy finds that he can now shape-change into other people, a turn-up that could prove to have fatal consequences for him.
Meanwhile, it turns out that Jason's superpower is that he’s extra-good at sex. Oh, and speaking of which ...
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| So, Jess keeps her clothes on this week ... One of the few who do! |
... Jess turns up to be with him.
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| No-one expects The Spanish inquisition! |
Down in King Bill’s dungeon, Marnie continues to be a pathetic, needy spirit whore – begging The Spanish Witch to use her. She may regret what she wishes for ...
I have been asked not to re-print my What Culture reviews here so, for the time being, All the details and my full review in full here: On What Culture! Don't panic, my cinema reviews will still be appearing here!
Then, after you've read it - swing back here to watch this mini making-of:
I have been asked not to re-print my What Culture reviews here so, for the time being, All the details and my full review in full here: On What Culture! Don't panic, my cinema reviews will still be appearing here!
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