Queeny Tarantino

You know, I'm smarter than I look. For that reason, I can just about work out when I'm being had... I love the way that when somebody has a book/film/album to plug, they come out with some outlandish statement: e.g. "Edison didn't invent the lightbulb, I did! (Buy my book.)"

Quentin Tarantino (soon before the release of his latest movie) has drawn all attention to himself; although making himself look like a knob at the same time:

"Director Quentin Tarantino has slammed the Casino Royale producers for making the movie without his input, according to the UK movie magazine, Total Film.

"The minute I said I would do Casino Royale, it's on all the websites and it is the film that people want to see. They should have said thank you, " added Tarantino."

Isn't it wonderful that for every seemingly level-headed celebrity, there's another whose ego is the size of a large bouncy castle? Had Tarantino made the film, it would naturally have involved a Tarantino cameo (vanity's more fun when you're in charge) and probably a lot more graphic, gratuitous violence. So actually, Quentin, I quite enjoyed it as it was.

Get over yourself.

I really DO have a virus.

Excitement gripped the Shake Well offices today, when I realised we'd been hacked. It seems some "joker" has been posting viruses on Blogger sites, and when I tried to view my blog (in no way trying to boost my own hit-count) it went mental.

As you can probably see, it's not COMPLETELY back to normal..it turns out I'm rubbish at computers, and couldn't sort the amazing header out; but it'll have to do. If anybody knows how I can put it back to normal..that'd be wonderful!

In other news, I just watched the Big Brother finale, and shockingly...Brian won. Don't get me wrong, I think Brian's about as sweet as a puppy dipped in icing sugar, but it was all a bit predictable in the end. I personally have a soft spot for Jonty, who I see as a great bloke - misunderstood by many of the population on his entrance.

I really should get a life..

Knocked Up - Review

I first saw the trailer for Knocked Up on Valentines Day...that's February 14th.

I don't know about you, dear reader, but I saw the "teaser" for this film on the day of love, and I found it terrifying - accidental pregnancy apparently doesn't turn on either party involved in a first date. Surprising, I know. Upon seeing the trailer, I removed my hand from her knee; my confidence lost. Thanks to this early experience, I was a bit put off, as the subject matter appealed about as much as a discussion about colonic irrigation. (Which doesn't appeal. To me, anyway)

Putting all my preconceptions aside, I was curious to see the film that the Times have called "Near perfect" (yet oddly...only given three stars) and wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about.

I wasn't disappointed - there were enough laughs to make my payment seem worthwhile, with great moments between the hero, a lovable stoner called Ben Stone (Seth Hogan), and Paul Rudd's character, Pete. It was these fantastic, naturally funny scenes that kept me entertained throughout, yet somewhat casting a comedic shadow over the main storyline - the surprise pregnancy.

I'm sure (from sitting next to an elderly couple) that the more mature viewers would find find the baby-related humour most amusing; there were knowing laughs, and wry smiles throughout - yet for me, it took a lot of willpower not to be begin hyperventilating, when Ben is told of Alison's (Katherine Heigl) pregnancy. For a young man, such as myself, this film was rapidly becoming a scary film.

Yet Ben overcomes it, and Seth's acting abilities make this film for me, particularly when interacting with his idiotic stoner pals, and Pete. For me, the baby issue was a sideline - I was more interested in the relationship between Pete and Ben - new best friends - and the growth of Ben, as he is forced to leave his dream of becoming an adult website designer, and do some growing up. In many ways, the story is similar to that of The 40 Year Old Virgin, yet I found more achingly funny moments in that, rather than Knocked Up, which instead drew amused smiles rather than raucous laughter.

The entire premise unsettled me a little. Yet it was heartwarming enough, the romance between Ben and Alison blossomed, I left with a small smile (and palpitations) and I thanked my lucky stars that there's not more films about pregnancy. Particularly pregnancies which end in graphic birth scenes.

Penguin Classic Review.

Let's face it...I didn't get a great book.

On the plus side, Conrad's "Lord Jim" helped me sleep like a baby.

Click here for a link to my review. It seems that two people liked it enough to comment! More than I get on here, anyway. Grumph.

The Bourne Ultimatum - Review

I've always enjoyed the Bourne franchise; the first film was fantastic, the second was equally frenetic and enjoyable....but I always felt there was something missing.

The newest, and final installment of Bourne, fills the gap and provided me with 2 of the most enjoyable hours in a cinema since I saw Lord of the Rings with a hobbit-sized friend.

The film is essentially a chase/revenge movie, and delivers on both counts...I was constantly entertained and gripped by both the plot and the acting - neither were a let down. One of my favourite actors, Paddy Considine, makes an appearance as a slightly insipid Guardian journalist who finds himself embroiled in the Treadstone/Blackbriar business. Considine plays it brilliantly, and my only wish is that his part was bigger.

I liked the idea of a Guardian journalist in a Hollywood film - though my mind did wander a little, wondering what would have happened had a Daily Mail journalist stumbled upon the sensitive information....probably nothing. I thought I did spot a Guardian-style spelling mistake in the note-pad, with Bourne spelt "Bourn"... which if intentional (or there at all) is a great touch.

The locations have to be mentioned, and the ingenius use of each setting; Waterloo Station is used brilliantly, with the tight-packed crowds adding to the suspense of a tense chase, and the advertising boards are used by assassins. Tangiers is also used, with one of the most brilliant roof-top chase scenes I've ever seen. (And I've seen lots of roof-top chase scenes.) Even the wobbly camera, as so many critics have cried, didn't put me off at all, and only added to the sense of realism throughout the film.

The fight scenes are some of the best on film, yet post-production somewhat spoiled my enjoyment - do we really need a "swoosh" noise when someone swings a punch? Do we need to hear a loud (fake) punching noise, whenever Bourne gives a baddy a kicking? In short..no.

Other than my minor gripe, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience...and when the opening notes of Moby's "Extreme Ways" played at the beginning of the end-credits, I'd almost forgotten that I'd been watching a movie. Fantasmic.

Cosmic.

It's not often I get all science-loving on here, frankly it's not my strong point; boiling water completely bamboozles me....and don't even get me started on photosynthesis. But astronomy has always excited me a little; so I decided to whack in a photo.

Fun Facts!

• This is the Sombrero Galaxy
• It is 28 million light years from earth (Taking the first exit on the Chiswick Roundabout)
• It has 800 billion suns (Not to be confused with Angelina Jolie, who has recently adopted a similar number of sons)
• It is 50,000 light years across.

The above picture has recently been voted as the best taken with the Hubble telescope, and slightly puts my photo of a kitten eating ice cream to shame.