Who am I part 2

 

 

Since my review of Who am I part 1, Antoni Pearce got in contact and let me know he appreciated the honesty and constructive criticism, especially about the sound issues and let us know that he was working on it ready for Part 2 and the rest of his 13 episode long Fan series about the tales of the 12th Doctor.

 

So here it came intoDetoxTowers, Part 2.

 

Picking up seamlessly from part 1 we find the Doctor and Abigail in prison cells aboard the ship of the Malgorians, the hired guns of the alliance. The alliance had apparently ended the 11th Doctors life and were bent on distributing the same fate to the 12th incarnation. A quick escape and a rescue of Abigail later and the scene has been set for the rest of the series and the travels of the Doctor and his new companion.

 

Pearce productions did listen to us here at Scifind as the sound quality especially on the voices is better. It helps to enhance the cast as they take they foray into not just the world of animation voiceovers but also the very fickle fan base of Doctor Who.

 

The animation and voices are a lot more in sync in this second part of episode one and the gremlins that affected part 1 seem to have abated.

 

I am looking forward to the rest of the series as it is made and am fast becoming a fan of the way that Antoni Pearce writes. Even if the Doctor Who animation is not a success I can see Antoni going on to more bigger and brighter things as a screen writer.

The Syndicate – Episode 2

 

 

This episode started with Denise and flicked between the present day, with her consultation about cosmetic surgery options, and the night she realised the syndicate had won. The panic as she searched for the ticket, the part where her mother has to speak to the lottery winners line whilst Denise walks up and down the stairs in a confused state, a state I imagine anyone of us would be in should we be so lucky. When you see the heartbreaking seen when her husband David leaves her, and realise all the surgery is part of her plan to win him back, you begin to sense the dark depressive aura around the episode, and the warning of ‘Be careful what you wish for’ rings in your ears.

Its not all doom and gloom though, bright funny moments include Stuarts brother turning up to the shop in a brand new Ferrari for the police meeting, and the scene when Leanne and Denise go to a posh clothes shop is very reminiscent of a scene from Pretty Woman. Also the reaction of Denise during a tooth whitening procedure will make anyone giggle especially if you are not keen on a visit to the dentist yourself.

A warning to all people who come into wealth suddenly is included with the appearance of the local vicar, who it turns out just wants a handout and cant even remember the sex of Denise’s baby that passed away.

It all comes to a head during a celebration for Denise’s mothers birthday. Leanne receives a strange correspondence from her past, Bob is diagnosed with a possible benign tumor on the brain and Stuart is taken to the police station for further questioning regarding the armed robbery. Meanwhile David appears back in Denise’s life, although short-lived when she becomes aware of his ongoing relationship with another man, and during the confrontation she explains exactly how she has cut him out of the money.

Another good if not slightly slow episode that didn’t seem to have as much depth as the first, that being said the tribulations of each members lives being shown in more detail is good and I look forward to next week and what looks like the turn of Bob and a dark hidden secret.

The Ides of March

“A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March” Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

 

The Ides of March is written by, directed and stars George Clooney as Governor Mike Morris, a presidential hopeful in the forthcomingOhioprimary to gain the Democratic nomination to run. Full of ideas that others have been scared to suggest Mike is closing in on the win and only needs the support of Senator Thompson played by the very underrated Jeffrey Wright (Casino Royale) and his 358 delegates. The sticking point is Senator Thompson wants a cabinet post and Governor Morris wont commit to one. The Governors campaign strategy is being run by campaign manager Paul Zara. Philip Seymour Hoffman puts on one of his best performances to play Paul, a man of loyalty and integrity that would give his soul for the Governor to win. Press Secretary Stephen Meyers, played by Ryan Gosling (The Notebook, Murder by Numbers) is the young up and coming political brains who’s charm helps everyone to like him and pretty much follow his will. Stephen though falls foul of the Governor and Paul when he takes a meeting with the oppositions campaign manager Tom Duffy who offers Stephen a job. Although he declines the job the secret gets out and Stephen is unceremoniously fired from the Morris campaign. Unbeknown to anyone Stephen had been having an affair with a young intern, Molly, who’s father is the chairman of the democratic party. Its not just Stephen Molly has been sleeping with and she shares the secret that the governor had got her pregnant and that she didn’t know what to do.

A film about loyalty, politics, love and friendship, business and personal relationships stretched to breaking point, The Ides of March is superbly written, Passionately directed and an all star cast really bring the story to a believable level. When you think that outstanding actors such as Paul Giamati, Marisa Tomei and Gregory Itzin only have small cameos but light up the screen you can see how wonderful the main stars are. Ryan Gosling I have found to be an OK actor, the Notebook was enjoyable fare but I had worries that a step up in class to a movie such as this would be a step to far. I’m glad to say how wrong I was, his performance was powerful and he added the gravitas to the role that was needed.

George Clooney is fast becoming the best actor turned director in the business, with such films as Leatherheads, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and the awesome Good Night, and Good Luck already under his belt, he his rapidly chalking up many great directorial pieces and will be soon acclaimed in the same breath as Clint Eastwood possibly the most successful actor/director known.

You don’t have to like American politics to enjoy this film as the tagline reads “Ambition seduces, Power corrupts” now who’s not up for a film like that?

 

The Ides of March is out now on DVD

Clone out soon on DVD

Clone out soon on DVD

 

Clone starring Matt Smith (Doctor Who) and Eva Green (Quantum of solace, Merlin) is written and directed by Hungarian Benedek Fliegauf. Originally titled Womb on its 2010 cinema release, it is a tale of a woman’s all consuming love for her deceased partner and the trials and tribulations of a life long decision she makes to give birth and raise a clone of him from childhood through to manhood and the inevitable consequences that brings. The cloning story is given a twist from the normal Sci-Fi attempts of this subject and the story is filled with emotion and heartache. A human take on the tale if you will. There is an awful lot of silence in the film and camera panning scenery shots, and at some points it would be easy to give up on the movie but please don’t. Eva Green portrays Rebecca with more constraint than she would usually use in her films and it works very well especially in the times when the dialogue is small or non existent. Matt Smith is superb as Thomas and avoids sounding like his Doctor Who character, which is no mean feat and has happened regularly to others who have left the TARDIS for edgier film roles. At the beginning of the film I must give a mention to the various children that play the younger Rebecca and Thomas, child acting has moved on leaps and bounds in the last few years and these children if they carry on like this will have successful careers ahead of them.

Not a film for everyone, and I’m not sure it will be a commercial success, but if you like to watch something with compassion and that will spark debate amongst yourself and your close friends then give it a go.

 

Clone is out on DVD May the 7th

RedState

 

 

I am a huge fan of Kevin Smith. I own all the films, Silent Bob speaks is on its 200th read through on my bedside table, and YouTube footage of his speaking tours are some of the funniest things my eyes have seen. So it was with great reluctance I sat to watchRedState. Reluctance because I really wasn’t sure that I would enjoy a Kevin Smith film that was not in the geek comedy genre. I was aware of all the controversy surrounding the mock auction of rights where he bought his own film back for $20, and as with Dogma, I was aware of the religious and political backlash the film and Kevin himself had received. But watch it I did.

 

Set inmiddle America, three teenage boys contact an older lady through a non reputable dating website and set off for a night of sexual deviance. They soon realise all is not well and after having there drinks spiked they awake bound at the wrists and ankles and at the mercy of a cult like church the 5 Points Trinity. After seeing the brutal execution of a man for merely being homosexual, it becomes the boys turn for torture. The police on a routine visit stumble across the violence going on and once the Deputy is shot and killed the sheriff, himself caught by the church performing acts of sodomy and blackmailed by the group, calls in the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) bureau . Special Agent Keenan is in charge and on orders from above starts an almostWacostyle kill all attack on the churches compound.

 

I wont go any further as I don’t want to give away the ending. So, what did I think?

 

Michael Parks as Pastor Abin Cooper, leader of the 5 Points Trinity church is outstanding. He is convincing, scary, and preaches like the real extremists you see on television from time to time. I’m not sure at this juncture whether the film was released correctly in order to be considered by the Oscar committee, but if it was then Michael has to be up there for nomination.

Melissa Leo is a star in her own right but duringRedStateI found her to be stretching to far to get her character correct and it shows in soap opera levels of overacting, which is a shame because her character Sarah is critical to the plot.

Special Agent Keenan played by John Goodman is the highlight of the film for me. A man torn between following rules and orders he knows to be wrong in pursuit of the justice they have been trying to bring on the church for sometime, and a man of humour. The part towards the end, during his debriefing, is priceless.

 

The whole film is made well, the style of filming and rapid changing camera shots are good once your eyes adjust to the pace of the film.

 

Overall an excellent film. One that if Quentin Tarantino had made it, the plaudits would be raining down, I just feel, like me, that the world wasn’t ready to have Kevin Smith’s name attached to a film like this. But if you like extremism and violence in your movies pretend you don’t know who the director is and rent this.

Empire is best….Its official

 

 

I don’t mean to cause controversy whenever I open my mouth or write something down. I never intend to tell everyone they are wrong, its just a gift…I mean curse, that I have to live with. So today is no different. I am going to tell you all why the god-like George Lucas should have stopped with the original trilogy and why Empire strikes back is the best of all of the Star Wars films. Bring on the hatred and fan-boy death threats, I relish the fight.

 

Star Wars V – The Empire Strikes Back was directed by the late ( died November 27th 2010 ) Irvin Kirshner. Kirshner was responsible for my favourite non Bond, Bond film Never Say Never Again and also directed Robocop 2 and retired from directing after completing Seaquest DSV in 1993.

 

Whether it was from his time making documentaries in the Middle East or just the way he was, all Kirshner’s films had a slightly darker aura around them and were full of social alienation and the weaknesses that all humans posses.

 

Empire was no different. It had a slower pace than the others and really let you get to know the characters well. The intricate parts of there personality that you didn’t quite get in Star Wars IV – A New Hope and that made your enjoyment of Star Wars VI – Return Of The Jedi an awful lot better. Irvin Kirshner was all about the emotional base, the character or the person playing them, seeing the story through there eyes, quite literally in some scenes, which is why certain shots in the film are close ups of someone’s face. He wanted you to follow the story through the characters and not because of them. His style was to make films like an opera, especially the sequels. He wanted to leave all the climax for the third film and have his project be the emotional story telling Act Two.

 

The cast and crew, over the years, have all said they favoured Irvin Kirshner’s style and personality over that of George Lucas (New Hope) and Richard Marquand (Jedi), and that Empire was the film they liked making the most.

 

Return of the Jedi was a better film because you learnt so much in Empire and this is why George Lucas should have stopped her. With the first Trilogy. We really didn’t need episodes 1,2, and 3 and quite honestly they are not good films. The special effects are of course second to none, but that’s because they are nothing more thanHollywoodfilms. George Lucas, when asked by Irvin Kirshner why he wanted him to direct such a film, answered “Well, because you know everything a Hollywood director is supposed to know, but your notHollywood, I like that”

 

Should have listened to your advice George.

Red Dwarf… the other cast.

 

 

 

Its been awhile since I wrote a piece like this, a hybrid of a ‘the importance of the little people’ and a ‘where are they now’ article. When I say ‘little people’ I mean nothing derogatory by that, its just a way of me saying ‘outside the main cast’. You can have a small ensemble of main characters or as in a sports movie you can have a large cast, but there is always the other characters, the ones half way down the main credits, that no film or television show can be made without. On my agenda this week is the Sci-Fi show that kept British made science fiction on out televisions during the long hiatus that Doctor Who was away for, and that show is Red Dwarf.

 

For those of you that have been asleep since 1988 Red Dwarf was a science fiction comedy from the pens of Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. Here’s the synopsis….

 

Three million years ago a radiation leak killed the crew of the mining vessel Red Dwarf. The only survivor was Dave Lister, the chicken soup dispenser repair man. He spends his time on the ship with a holographic projection of Arnold Rimmer his uptight neurotic dead bunkmate, Cat a life form that evolved from Dave’s cat and Kryten a service mechanoid.

 

This is the thing, it really is a small cast of four characters. but it works very well and the story is helped with occasional pop up performances from other ship related items and past crew members, and its these guys I am on about in this article.

 

Captain Frank Hollister was played by Mac McDonald (born Terence McDonald) fromLong Island,New York. Captain Hollister first appeared in episode 1 and sentenced Lister to 18 months in stasis for bringing a cat aboard the ship. Hollister was always stressed and very easily annoyed, as the show went from series to series, it turns out Captain Hollister is actually Dennis the Doughnut Boy who had lied and stolen his way up the ranks. Mac McDonald was recently seen in Little Britain abroad and is doing game voiceovers, including Battlefield 3.

 

Kristine Kochanski was the ships navigation officer and the obsession of Lister’s since they had finished a relationship in the past. During season 7, Kochanski from the parallel universe joins the crew. During the parallel universe it had been her sentenced to stasis for hiding the cat. Kochanski was originally played by Clare Grogan who had found fame in the 1980′s with pop band Altered Images, before going on to star in a few episodes of Eastenders and most recently Skins on Channel 4.

The next actress to take the role wasLondonborn Chloe Annett. Chloe had been very watchable in the late 90′s show Crime Traveller and a few episodes of Doctors and Casualty appear on the resume, but Red Dwarf was, thus far, the career highlight.

 

Warden Ackerman was a slightly unbalanced man, who ran the “The Tank”, Red Dwarfs prison level. The character was portrayed by the excellent Graham McTavish. Hugely successful, his credits include Mikhail Novakovich in 24,Fergusonin Prison Break and is currently working inNew   Zealandon the set of the Hobbit starring as Dwalin.

 

Olaf Petersen was the Danish catering officer, Lister’s best friend and drinking companion. “Felicitations, beautiful ladies, my name is Olaf Petersen. I am very good in bed” still makes me laugh after all these years. In my opinion, possibly, the most talented member of the cast, Petersen was played by the excellent Mark Williams from the Fast Show and mega successful Harry Potter films and is due to be in the Doctor Who episode Dinosaurs in Space later in the year.

 

Holly is the ships tenth generation AI holographic computer. ” I am Holly the ships computer. I have an I.Q of 6000. the same as 6000 P.E teachers or 12000 parking attendants”. Norman Lovett originally auditioned for the part of Rimmer, has popped up over the years in The Bill and has done lots of voice over work on books and games and is a favourite amongst convention fans.

Hattie Hayridge also played Holly for a while and is an incredible comedy writer. She has written for Lee Evans, Jasper Carrott, and Rory Bremner.

 

Then we come to my favourite character outside of the big four. Toaster!!

A product of the Crapola Inc company, Toaster played in two episodes only and was voiced by the awesome magician John Lenehan.

 

There are also so many people that starred in just one or two episodes and I am sure more fanatical viewers than myself will have there own memories of the unspoken heroes but I will leave you with a quote from mine…..

 

” May I just ask one question?… Would anyone like any toast? “

Who am I Part 2

First published on www.scifind.co.uk April 2012

 

Since my review of Who am I part 1, Antoni Pearce got in contact and let me know he appreciated the honesty and constructive criticism, especially about the sound issues and let us know that he was working on it ready for Part 2 and the rest of his 13 episode long Fan series about the tales of the 12th Doctor.

 

So here it came intoDetoxTowers, Part 2.

 

Picking up seamlessly from part 1 we find the Doctor and Abigail in prison cells aboard the ship of the Malgorians, the hired guns of the alliance. The alliance had apparently ended the 11th Doctors life and were bent on distributing the same fate to the 12th incarnation. A quick escape and a rescue of Abigail later and the scene has been set for the rest of the series and the travels of the Doctor and his new companion.

 

Pearce productions did listen to us here at Scifind as the sound quality especially on the voices is better. It helps to enhance the cast as they take they foray into not just the world of animation voiceovers but also the very fickle fan base of Doctor Who.

 

The animation and voices are a lot more in sync in this second part of episode one and the gremlins that affected part 1 seem to have abated.

 

I am looking forward to the rest of the series as it is made and am fast becoming a fan of the way that Antoni Pearce writes. Even if the Doctor Who animation is not a success I can see Antoni going on to more bigger and brighter things as a screen writer.

The Syndicate: Episode 1 – TVReview

First published by Regent times  http://regent-times.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, April 03, 2012 steve taylor-bryant

Kay Mellor always writes superb character driven drama…
The Syndicate arrived on our screens last week courtesy of the BBC. A stellar cast including Timothy Spall, Sarah Jayne Dunn, and Joanna Page fresh from Gavin and Stacey plaudits star in this new drama from the pen of Kay Mellor who created such triumphs as Band of Gold and Fat Friends.
A small community convenience store in Leeds is the setting for this tale. You are introduced to the different characters and their tribulations which range from financial hardship and credit issues to stress and a premature birth.
The cast are superb in their roles and you really start to sympathise with the trials of their daily lives and with us all living in troubled financial times you certainly relate to some of the issues covered.

Things come to a head with the news of the Right Buy U store being closed by head office, and the trouble that that causes everyone. Assistant Manager Stuart (Matthew McNaulty) is even planning to rob his own store to cover the rent on a new flat to keep his family together. His brother Jamie (Matthew Lewis) plans it but manager Bob (Spall) returns which leads to him being smashed over the head with a drinks bottle.
All the staff come to the hospital, whilst Stuart and his brother argue over the events of the night. Denise (Lorriane Bruce) comes round and informs them of the syndicate’s Lotto success and the guilt and worry starts to consume Stuart, but the keeping of the family is so important to him he has to tell his girlfriend.
McNulty as Stuart is a joy to watch. He plays the part of a man with split emotions about his success but the guilt of what he’s done extremely well especially when he finds out, due to non payment of dues, he is ineligible to be part of the windfall. The scene at the hospital when they arrive with the Lotto manager to inform Bob is heartbreaking to watch. The compassion showed by Bob towards Stuart leaves a lump in the throat. In the coming weeks there is going to be twists for sure.
Kay Mellor always writes superb character driven drama and the obvious chemistry amongst a fairly large group all vying for attention drives the story along nicely.

Titanic….A familys folklore

When I was asked this week if I would review ITV1′s new drama Titanic, I had to decline. Not because I have any problem with the ITV network, on the contrary I believe they make world leading drama. No I declined on family reasons. You see we a folklore passed down through the generations about Titanic, that fills us with dread at the mere mention of the name. Now Before I go on please know I am not ordinarily a believer of conspiracy theories, but I was a boy who listened to his Granddad. Lets start back in 1909. My Great-Grandfather Albert was a riveter. He was a riveter for the Harland and Wolff ship builders inBelfast,Northern Ireland. He saw a lot and for a poor man was privileged to be working for such a huge company. He worked on all three super liners the RMS’s of Titanic, Britannic, andOlympia.

On the 20th of September 1911 RMS Olympia had a collision with British Navy warship the HMS Hawke just off the coast of theIsle of Wight. Olympia was rushed back to Belfast for repairs and seeing the impending financial hardship approaching White Star Line “borrowed” bits from Titanic to get Olympia back out to sea quickly, in fact they did this on numerous occasions. Now all I have written is actual fact. It is all a matter of record, but this is where the family twist comes in. My Great-Granddad Albert tells the story of the launch date for Titanic being put back so many times that to avoid bankruptcy White Star Line changed the crockery from the newly built Titanic and replaced them in the now weak and battle scarred Olympia and in fact it was Olympia that set sale that fateful April in 1912 and the collision with the iceberg wrecked the already weak hull and the ship sank fast, breaking up along the way and leaving 1517 people dead. An insurance fiddle on a cut and shut, just on a grand scale. Now this seems very daft and the kind of tale you would expect a Great-Grandfather to tell a young and impressionable family. Years later I came across a television series, about conspiracies, which told this same story about the boat switch, along with the crew member Violet Jessop who survived all 3 White Star Line disasters, the Olympia collision with HMS Hawke, Titanic and the 1916 sinking of Britannic.

The only reason I haven’t fully believed the board of White Star Line could do this is because Managing Director Thomas Andrews Jnr was on board.

So there we have it NO Titanic dramas for me, it may be my Great-Grandfathers excellent conspiracy of mass murder or maybe the fact he was a riveter on said ship and our family are useless at building things.