Category Archives: Reviews

Moon: Review

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Amazing performance from Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell coming towards the end of a three year shift on the Moon mining helium 3 for Earth based energy company Lunar Industries.

Cut off from Earth due to comms problems, Sam’s final days take a dramatic turn when he makes a discovery that will change his perceptions of reality forever.

Assured direction for a first feature for Duncan Jones, (who also wrote the original story) incredible production design considering the teeny $5 million budget. Moon’s interiors were shot at Shepperton on the same sound stage as ‘Alien’ and indeed harks back to a time when Sci-Fi had a brain.

There are plenty of references to the classics of the genre for the audience to spot, indeed Jones has mentioned in many interviews that ‘Moon’ came about off the back of conversations with Sam Rockwell where they discussed their fave Sci-fi classics (Silent Running, 2001, Outlands, Bladerunner..)

As if this wasn’t good enough, you will also get treated to a stunning soundtrack from Clint Mansell who’s previous credits include ‘Requiem for a Dream’ and ‘The Fountain’ AND a great voice performance from Kevin Spacey as Sam’s lunar companion GERTY.

To tell you more if the plot would spoil it. But this is one that demands a second viewing. And, if Sci-Fi ain’t your bag. Have no fear. This is also a treat for fans of psychological thrillers, and those that love to see a great actor at the top of his game.

Go see ‘Moon’, enjoy it, spread the word, go again and take a friend, they’ll love you for it. In a summer stuffed full of mega bucks CGI fests, it’s great to get more bang for yer buck when leaving the local cinema with plenty to talk about, and plenty to think about also.

Moon opens UK 17th June.

Check Duncan Jones’ blog for up to date release schedule on:

www.manmademoon.com

If you like, drop him a line on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/manmademoon

Where you’ll find a very amiable, funny geezer open to comments.

Further details on:

www.sonyclassics.com/moon/

Review: Paul Weller Wolverhampton Civic Hall 17/03/09

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The Modfather took to the stage @ Wolverhampton Civic Hall last night with a stripped down band including, I was glad to see, Ocean Color Scene’s Steve Craddock.

Kicking off with ‘Peacock Suit’ we were treated to almost two hours with choons covering Wellers career from The Jam (David Cameron’s fave ‘Eton Rifles’) The Style Council (‘Shout It To The Top’) and the full range of his solo career.

Solo wise also what seemed to include the majority of ‘Stanley Road’. While we only one outing appeared from ‘Wildwood’, the title track itself given a rather more sombre, somewhat Oasis sounding flavour rather than the acoustic of the original.

If I recall correctly few tracks came of the last solo outing ’22 Dreams’ and a further 3 new tracks were also delivered to the enthusiastic crowd including a great bunch of aging mods behind us.

As well as the great 60′s washed electric eclectic stacato tracks that Weller is well known for, we also had some great acoustic treats. The Jam’s ‘Tales of the River Bank’ for example which some chaps told us they had waited 20 years to hear live, this particular track ended with Weller and the band slipping into ‘Magic Bus’. Sadly though, no ‘That’s Entertainment’.

An amazing ‘Broken Stones’ was the highlight for me personally, probably one of Wellers best songs. We witnessed the Modfather, now 50, strut and preen like a man half his age. Seeing him live, it became very obvious where a certain Liam Gallagher got most of his moves from. Sure the face shows plenty of signs of the passing years. The enthusiam and energy seems to Still burn bright however one of Englands greatest song writers.

This was the first time we’d seen Weller. One fan told us we had been treated to one of his best ever shows (this after having seen around 50 himself), the man was on fire.

One encor and the night was topped off with a visceral ‘Whirlools End’.

Missed Weller at a larger venu last year, decided not to go at last minute as decided did not fancy the lack of intamacy the arenas represent. Glad we waited, and may now have to go to this summers open air do in Cannock Chase.

Film Review: Rattatouille

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Before going to see Pixars ‘Ratatouille’ with the family this afternoon, the only plus point I could think of was the thought of at least 90 minutes sleep in a large dark room. I was just not looking forward to another computer generated animation, ‘Shrek the Third’ killed CGI films for me, but the rest of the family were keen, and we are already going to see ‘Stardust’ later in the week.

So off we toddled down to the local VUE @ Star City and merrily made our way to screen 1. Screen 1 was virtually empty, so we headed up the steps to the back row high above the ground and I settled down for a pre sleep check. Chair danced to the Pearl & Dean advert intro music, and watched the trailers.

Rattatouille

Ratatouille started with a very amusing Pixar short ‘Lifted’ I wont ruin it for you if you have not seen it, will particularly appeal to alien abduction fans (if you can be a fan of alien abduction at all)

The main feature itself shook me out of my GOM (grumpy old man) state and proved that no matter how well crafted the animation, these CGI movies (and any) rely on a decent script and characters with whom we can build some sort of empathy with in a short period of time. Ratatouille achieves both easily, leaving one heading out the the exit content that (of course) it all worked out well.

The story is based on the original French classic ‘Le Rat qui va bien à un Chef’, the authors name escapes me at the moment. Gourmet country Rat with a nose for fine foods ends up in Paris and attempts to live his dream of becoming a world renowned chef after reading a cookery book ‘Anyone can Cook’, encouraged by the spiritual guide of the books dead author, and helped by the illegitimate son of the dead chef acting as a puppet, rat achieves his aims.

Things get in the way of success obviously, things are overcome, turns out nice again (as George Formby once said).

Paris looks fantastic, as does the CGI, things to look out for in CGI films to see if it’s good:

  • Hair
  • Water

Complicated, wayward natural things that are hard to create with a natural look with real physics and stuff, looks ace in ‘Ratatouille’, all the sets and props look extremely authentic, almost real (All the metalwork in the kitchen for example), to the extent you forget they are not, and you are able to concentrate on the story.

I have no hesitation in giving Pixars ‘Ratatatouille’ a free time thumbs up, see it.

I bet I can write a better review than that with a bit of practice, set the bar low eh?