It's refreshing to see a science fiction film that's not a sequel, reboot or mindless action flick. Oblivion may be partially constructed from bits of other movies - not least Moon and Independence Day - but ultimately it rises the source inspiration and becomes its own beast. For every few twists I managed to second-guess, … Continue reading “Oblivion”
Category: Reviews
“Hugo” – with Eddie and Gus
EDDIE: Seen Hugo? GUS: Yes. I watched that particular film quite recently. EDDIE: Whaddaya think? Use simple words, buddy, not the posh ones. GUS: Well, I think that Hugo is an inspired, and inspiring, love letter to cinema past and present. The warmth of its characters and narrative are matched only by the dazzling complexity of … Continue reading “Hugo” – with Eddie and Gus
“Avengers Assemble” – with Eddie and Gus
Overheard in a Soho pub ... EDDIE: So, what about the Avengers movie? GUS: I must confess that superheroes aren't my favourite genre. However, I did think that director Joss Whedon managed to weave a compelling drama, robustly supported by imaginative set-piece action sequences ... EDDIE: Why do you talk like that? Nobody talks like … Continue reading “Avengers Assemble” – with Eddie and Gus
“Skyfall” – with Eddie and Gus
Overheard in a Soho pub ... EDDIE: Seen the new Bond film? GUS: "Skyfall?" Yes. EDDIE: And? GUS: I thought it was a most enjoyable cinematic experience. It retains the reboot grittiness characteristic of the Daniel Craig era, while, at the same time, restoring many of the humorous and romantic sensibilities that have been missing from the franchise in … Continue reading “Skyfall” – with Eddie and Gus
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
I feel sorry for The Hobbit - Tolkien's original novel, that is. It's a simple story that bounces cheerfully along in episodic fashion, sketching in a delightful fantasy world along the way. It has singing dwarves and talking animals. It's cheerful and charming and sweet. Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Hobbit was always going to … Continue reading “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
“Prometheus”
Most people who like cinema have a movie that shines like a beacon in their memory, brighter than all the rest. Mine is Alien. I was there for its first release in 1979, sneaking past the warning signs in the theatre foyer even though I was too young for the movie's X-certificate. One sign screamed: … Continue reading “Prometheus”
“The Croning” by Laird Barron
In this debut novel by award-winning short fiction author Laird Barron, nothing is quite what it seems. A Lovecraftian mélange of passion and hidden powers, the story of The Croning is told through the eyes of septuagenarian geologist Donald Miller who, given his advanced age and frequent memory lapses, makes for a pleasingly unreliable narrator. After … Continue reading “The Croning” by Laird Barron
The Spaghetti Western Orchestra
A ghostly wind whistles in from the desert. A saloon door creaks open. Spurs jangle as a pair of cowboy boots treads up to the bar. A trembling hand jostles hard liquor into a clinking glass. There's a sharp intake of breath, then a hush descends as everyone waits to hear what the stranger will … Continue reading The Spaghetti Western Orchestra
“50 Words For Snow” by Kate Bush
I happen to believe that, as well as being an enduring and popular singer/songwriter, not to mention my all-time favourite recording artist, Kate is also a fantasy author. Sounds crazy? Let me explain. Kate Bush sprang to the attention of both the public and yours truly with her first single, Wuthering Heights, in 1978. In … Continue reading “50 Words For Snow” by Kate Bush
“Reamde” by Neal Stephenson
I first stumbled upon Neal Stephenson (not the man himself, you understand) in my local library. I was browsing for something new that I could really get my teeth into, preferably by an author I hadn't read before, when I chanced on Cryptonomicon. I read the blurb and decided it fitted the bill. I borrowed … Continue reading “Reamde” by Neal Stephenson
Graham Edwards 