Films I've Seen of Late (December)

#72 Collateral Beauty (2016)
Intriguing drama about a bereaved father who can’t move on from his daughter's death. His business partners try to remove him from the company so that they can make a crucial deal that will secure their business’ future, and employ three struggling actors to help them out. With a great cast and layered storyline, Collateral Beauty is a compelling and moving experience.
(8.5/10)

#73 The Polar Express (2004)
A boy who's losing his belief in Santa is invited aboard the magical 'Polar Express' to visit him at the North Pole. It seems like kidnapping and overly friendly old men are OK when it's Christmas time - the rest of the year it's a criminal offence. Anyway, back to the Polar Express. An interesting premise, but the ancient CGI (yup almost 14 years old) is distracting and some of the plot points feel clunky.
(5/10)

#74 Justice League (2017)
DCs most famous characters come together for this comic-book ensemble piece that, in my humble opinion, hits more than it misses. Following events from the much-maligned Batman vs Superman, Justice League balances story with its various heroes and villains well - although Steppenwulf the bad guy is a bit, well, vanillla. Still, good old-fashioned popcorn entertainment.
(7/10)

#75 Café Society (2016)
Woody Allen writes and directs this 30s drama about a young New Yorker who moves to LA in search of employment and excitement. He falls in love with a secretary who works at his uncle’s agency but this relationship proves complicated when she reveals she’s having an affair with an older, married man. With great writing, set design and costumes it’s only let down is its fairly muted ending that doesn’t really satisfy.
(7/10)

#76 John Wick (2014)
Keanu Reeves is a badass hitman who comes out of retirement after a Russian gangster pushes his buttons. Violent, slick and dark, John Wick shows no restraint as he goes on the rampage, but Interestingly he’s not portrayed as invincible - in amongst the mayhem there are moments of vulnerability and weakness which at least humanises him a bit. A solid thriller, but not for the faint hearted.
(8/10)

#77 Friends with Money (2006)
The ups and downs of life, love and money for four friends in their forties. Some good characterisation and an interesting story - it just ends without much of a satisfactory conclusion.
(6.5/10)

#78 In Bruges (2008)
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are two hit men, sent to Bruges In Belgium after completing a job. It soon transpires that they are not there just to lie low, but for something more heinous. A dark comedy with great acting (esp Farrell as a tortured, dim-witted soul), In Bruges is so much more than your typical hit man action flick.
(9/10)

#79 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
A solid return to the franchise with events continuing immediately after The Force Awakens. The Resistance are seriously depleted in numbers and are on the run from the First Order. It's up to Finn, Rey, Poe and friends to save the day - but can they do it against such odds? There are some odd directorial choices and plot holes (as always), but overall a worthy addition to the never-ending saga.
(8/10)

#80 The Star (2017)
Kiddie-friendly re-telling of the Nativity story from the perspective of Mary's donkey and various other animals. Does a reasonably good job of keeping the little ones entertained and conveys just about enough of the Christmas story to be true to it – but keeps it as 'safe' as possible.
(6/10)

#81 Die Hard (1988)
A seminal action movie that inspired countless copycats, this 80s thriller is nothing but flawless. Some may dismiss it as dated but I prefer to see it as aged and matured like a fine wine. Great fun.
(10/10)

#82 The Grinch (2000)
Jim Carrey hams it up as the green-skinned recluse who hates everything to do with Christmas, looking down upon the residents of Whoville with hatred and contempt. While similar efforts haven’t been quite so successful, this is a decent stab at Dr Seuss material.
(6.5/10)

#83 Bright (2017)
Lord of the Rings meets Training Day in this fantasy buddy cop mashup that, surprisingly, works. I can't understand the negative reviews. It's well-paced, gritty – and doesn't lecture the viewer with tons of backstory about how humans, elves and orcs are all somehow living together in LA. Will Smith is his usual good self, and Joel Edgerton is great as his orc partner. Looking forward to the sequel.
(8/10)

#84 Hidden Figures (2016)
Based on the true story of the black women working behind the scenes at NASA during the space race in the 60s. In spite of institutional racism and sexism, they soon become indispensible to America's journey to space. An inspiring and moving story, it serves as a reminder (as if we needed it) that intelligence and ability are not the preserve of white men.
(8.5/10)

Books I've read this year (2017)

Unlike movies, I get through books achingly slow. I tend to read seven or eight titles a year, depending on the kind of book and how busy life gets for me. Here's what I managed to read in 2017:

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick
Now that Amazon have produced a TV series based on the book, its source material has been eclipsed by its flashier, more in-depth screen version. I've only caught a few shows from the first series, but from what I have seen, Amazon have created an impressive show that explores the concepts in Dick's book with tremendous attention to detail.

Clearly, the book was written before the fad for 'world building', franchises and 'cinematic universes', as it is surprisingly brief and leaves you longing for more. Even so, Dick's writing is masterful enough to convey all that comes with the premise of an America defeated by its Axis enemies during World War Two, and the ongoing struggle to resist against a formidable German Reich and a not-so-formidable-yet-victorious Japanese Empire.

Its brevity disappoints in that there is no real satisfactory conclusion and leaves many questions unanswered, but then maybe that's the point.

Besides, if you really want to, you can turn to Amazon for more.

Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets
It's hard for me to critique such a book as this without sounding like a heretic, and yet there are some important spiritual truths within. This is despite its heavy charismatic leanings that make me feel slightly uncomfortable and wary. To sum up, it's vital for Christians to pray for all occasions and in all circumstances - and to do so on a regular, fervent basis. I couldn't agree more, so let's leave it at that shall we?

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne
Unsurprisingly influential, this book is an important commentary on man, technology, politics and ecology. Three men find themselves aboard a myterious submarine that has become a menace to shipping across the oceans. They come to know its owner, Captain Nemo, and voyage under the seas exploring all manner of watery wonders. Nemo's sinister motivations, however, soon become clear and his guests endeavour to escape their aquatic prison.

What is remarkable is how this book was written in 1870, when things were so different to present day. There had been no world wars yet, electricity was in its infancy and the political map was very different. Verne's writing is scarily prophetic, mainly when it comes to the workings of Nemo's underwater vessel marvel, the Nautilus. Because of this, '20,000 Leagues' is still relatable and relevant today and continues to be an inspiration to many science fiction and adventure writers.

The Time Machine by HG Wells
Like Verne, Wells is superior in his writing and understanding of technology, science and the human condition, despite coming from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although his grasp of space-time physics may be a little primitive (not that we're all experts in this day and age, of course), the story of a man who builds a time machine (probably the first incident of a time travel vehicle being committed to fiction) and propels himself thousands of years into the future is not just an exciting adventure yarn but full of social commentary as well. An astonishing piece of fiction for all sorts of reasons. 

Red Moon Rising
Telling the story of the 24/7 prayer movement, this is one of those books that gives you an incredible sense of awe about fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who risk it all for God's calling. Not only that, it's the amazament that God continually uses the insecure, doubtful and broken to fulfil his mission on Earth. On the flip size, the stories in Red Moon Rising make one feel just a bit left out and inadequate. Of course, not everyone is called to mission in such ways, and the book often points out that with every success (or vistory), there are copious amounts of failure, disappointment and grief - which is kind of reassuring. Still, inspirational about prayer and perseverance.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R R Martin
I've deliberately steered well clear of the Game of Thrones books because of the hype but got this book when I needed something to read (and there wasn't much else to choose from). A prequel to the immensly popular fantasty books, I was pretty much hooked from the start, and may well end up reading the others (although there are a lot of them - it's quite a commitment). It balances fantasy with historical fiction really well. There are only hints of magic, sorcery etc. and the real focus is on the realtionship between a hedge knight (the lowest rank of knight) and his squire (who just happens to be a prince in disguise) as they try and make ends meet in the cruel and merciless world of Westeros.

Metroland by Julian Barnes
A sort of English version of Catcher in the Rye, Metroland contains musings on life and philosophy from the point of view of a man at three stages in his life: adolescence, early adulthood and middle age. A lot of the observations are about sex and relationships with a typical 60s sexist slant. Well-written and interesting, but very much a window into a different age rather than anything insightful for the 21st century.

The Grandfather Invasion by John Peel and The Forgotten Son by Andy Frankham-Allen
Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart is a much-loved character from Doctor Who and Candy Jar Books has produced a series of licenced novels about the Brigadier which sees him fighting off all sorts of weird and wonderful baddies. I've read two of them so far, and you can read my fuller review of the Grandfather Infestation here and The Forgotten Son here.
 

Christmas Oreos!

I was delighted to come across chocolate covered Oreos (milk and white choc!) in the supermarket this Christmas.

I've had them in France before, but not in the UK since back in 2009 when I blogged about it with excitement (my most popular blog post of all time!).

Totally unhealthy but every shade of yummy, this is one of the best versions of Oreos I've ever tasted. There's something about encasing them in chocolate that makes them the epitome of perfection.

The only downside is that I'll probably have to share them with the rest of the family.

Doing the Deacon thing

A few months ago Wifey and I were approached by our pastor who asked if we'd be interested in joining church leadership - her an elder, me a deacon.

It was a bit of a crazy request, mainly because it's unusual for husband and wife to both be in church leadership (especially if they have a young family), but he felt it was a possible prompt from God so thought it worth exploring.

We were a bit surprised, but offered to go away and think/pray about it. Having done so, we felt it was right to accept, but to stagger things slightly - Wifey to start 'Eldering' first and me to 'Deac' a few months later.

Wifey has taken to her new role well, and is realy in her element. Me, I've only just been voted in (it was unanimous I think, so there's a vote of confidence!), so I have yet to find out what it's like.

It's dawned on me that I am of the age where me and and a lot of my peers are now the ones in church leadership, which is sort of scary. Years ago, I used to watch the leaders from the congregation and see them as older, wisened 'grown up' people, and it's a bit weird to think that maybe younger people now see me that way (maybe not the 'wisened' bit - just the 'older' bit).

I don't feel at all qualified, but I guess I have a reasonable length of life experience to draw upon (although maybe not so much when it comes to churchy stuff).

Who knows? Maybe I'll end up being a pastor one day (cue copious amounts of laughter and derision).

Justice League - a review

Warning: spoilers!

Justice league picks up after the events of Batman vs Superman, with a world left reeling from the aftermath of a cataclysmic battle between Superman and a kryptonite monster.

Fearing that something even worse will come to destroy the planet, Batman sets out to form a team of metahumans in preparation for the looming threat. With Wonder Woman already on the team. Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg eventually join – just as the lucifer-like Steppenwolf wreaks havoc looking for three of the ‘mother boxes’ (devices containing unlimited power).

Overall, I liked this film. It managed to handle its varied elements well and struck a decent balance between darkness and humour. While it was mercifully tight in terms of running time, it did feel slightly rushed. There was a lot to pack in (introducing new characters, setting up the threat,

Each of the League members brought something to the party: Batman’s gadgets and know-how, Wonder Woman’s level-headedness and kick-ass moves, The Flash’s comedic lines (and ultra-fast speed, of course), Cyborg’s tortured intensity combined with superior hacking skills and Aquaman’s demigod surfer dude-ness. Whilst the team chemistry hasn’t quite gelled yet, I think this is a good start and hopefully can be built upon in the follow up (if there is one).

Last of all, there’s Superman – coming back from the dead and predictably saving the day, although his role is small it’s not insignificant.

In some ways it’s a miracle this film ever got made and is in any way coherent. Not only did it suffer from its director pulling out after the tragic death of his daughter, but it needed $25 million of reshoots which also included the infamous digital removal of Henry Cavill’s moustache. It’s kind of noticeable if you’re looking for it, but if you didn’t know you’d be none the wiser.

One thing that disappointed me about Justice League was the aspect ratio it was shot in. Batman vs Superman was shot in 1.44:1 but Justice League in 1.85:1 (I think, anyway - IMDB is a bit confusing on this). Because of this, the former film felt more epic to me. The widescreen aspect helped convey the sense that this was an ‘event’ film. Justice League, on the other hand, felt like a bog-standard movie to me. It may have something to do with the cinema I saw it in (they have a tendency to keep the lights dimmed throughout the film, which is kind of annoying), but with a film like this I want to feel totally immersed in the experience.

Another disappintment was the character of Steppenwulf. He could have been big and scary and monstrous enough to prove a worthy baddie, but being a completely CGI character took away from anything he could have been. Why do filmmakers insist on this? It looks totally fake and pulls you out of the movie. It's not a DC thing, either. Marvel are just as bad with their woefully CGI'd Thanos.

As for the soundtrack, it was great to have Danny Elfman scoring the music. I have great affection for what he did on the Michael Keaton Batman films, and so it was nice to have him return to caped crusader territory. The original Batman theme tune was thrown in here and there (as well as the John Williams Superman fanfare at one point).

Overall, Justice League did a good job in my opinion (with the odds stacked against it in numerous ways), but the cracks in the DC Extended Universe seem to be all too clear.

Maybe DC should cut loose from Warner Brothers (a la Marvel) and do a reboot to their intellectual property. Even though it's not meant to be a competition, their comic book rivals are steaming ahead and can't seem to put a foot wrong.

And that's a real shame, because DC have some great characters that deserve decent treatment on the silver screen.

Avengers: Infinity War Trailer (yaaaawwwwnnn)

OK, so the Avenger: Infinity War trailer has dropped.
OH LOOK! IT'S ALL MY FAVOURITE SUPERHEROES IN ONE FILM! THERE'S IRON MAN! AND THOR! AND HULK! AND LOKI! AND SPIDERMAN! AND BLACK PANTHER! AND ANT MAN! AND WASP! AND BLACK WIDOW! AND CAPTAIN AMERICA! AND THE WINTER SOLIDER! ..... LOOK! BIG FIGHTS! EXPLOSIONS! BIG PURPLE BADDIE DUDE (THAT'S THANOS YOU KNOW)! AND AND AND ....

THE GUARDIANS OF THE GAAAALLLLLAAAAXXXXXYYYYYY!!!!!

I THINK I JUST HAD AN EMBOLISM!!!
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Please excuse the sarcasm.

I feel like I'm one of very few who are actually bored bored bored by all this comic superhero garbage. 

OK, I call it garbage but that's not fair. They're not all terrible.

It's just the relentlessness of them being stuffed down our throats that gets to me.

My reaction to this trailer was this:
- how can they shoehorn all of those characters into one film and make anything close to coherent?
- the CGI on Thanos is really bad. I mean, like, terrible!
- oh look, there's another portal thingy in the sky ... again
- there are legions of baddie soldier monster type things ... again
- seems like the entire world is under threat but superheroes will sort things out ... again

Is it called 'Infinity War' because this WILL NEVER END???

Ugh.