Author Archives: thedogspollocks

Bottle Rocket

Posted on by
8
Bottle Rocket product image Buy Now

Interesting to watch just to see how Wes Anderson got started on his directorial journey and look for the clues that would lead onto him producing films like Rushmore, Zissou and Darjeeling.

It’s an OK film, with some laughs and charm but not a patch on the films since.

Anthony: So, did you enjoy your first visit to the nut house?
Dignan: Hey, hey, shh, shh, shh. Come on. Be sensitive to the fact that other people are not comfortable talking about emotional disturbances. Um, you know, I am, I’m fine with that, but… other people.

Incidentally, yesterday Ben linked me to the new trailer for Moonrise Kingdom, due out later this year.

Twenty Nine Years

Aside

Reply

Well, I’m 29, and that was one of the better birthdays so far.

Apart from all the birthday fun including a Japanese themed party, photos will follow, I discovered that two of my favourite bands have decided to reunite. C’mon Fugazi, let’s make it a turkey, there’s still time.

Time for some COD.

How I Ended This Summer

Posted on by
1
How I Ended This Summer product image Buy Now

Two men working at an isolated weather station in north east Russia, one goes off fishing and the other gets a disturbing message from headquarters, then it all goes downhill from there.

One of a very short list of Russian made films I’ve ever seen, its essentially quite a frustrating watch, as events escalate from a seemingly easily avoidable situation. The performances are superb, the visuals magnificent and the pace just correct.

Also, if you watch this and fail to enjoy anything about it, at least you will have learned how to properly salt a trout. Yes – its that kind of film.

Really liked this film. It might get 9 stars if it holds up on a second viewing.

My 2011 Review Winners

Posted on by
2

And the winners are… (view nominations)

Film

Paul product image Buy Now
Source Code – A nice understated Sci-fi that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

After starting to write the odd note for all the films I’ve watched, since earlier this year, its been interesting to have a reference place to quantify them all against each other. Despite some ratings being inevitably debatable, i don’t think its been a great year for films. Aim for this year – watch less mediocre 5-7 stars and more 8+ stars.

Television Series

Pointless – So good I bought the board game. 

Album

Beach House – Teen Dream - may have been somewhat subconsciously lured to choose this by its use in adverts for Guinness.

Song

Black Francis – Six Legged Man

Live Music

Willy Mason – Review here.

Game

Paul product image Buy Now
Portal 2 - A really great, good head scratch inducing, game with some very amusing characters. Only downside is a severe lack of re-playability once the puzzles are solved.

So good I bought it twice. 8-)

Also spawned this excellent fan mod.

Previous years winners – 2010, 2009.

The Thing (2011)

Posted on by
Reply
The Thing (2011) product image Buy Now

Well, that wasn’t terrible, by any stretch. What this lacks in special effects, compared to the John Carpenter movie, it almost makes up for in the quality of beards on show.

Its much the same really, pretty enjoyable, but not really sure it needed to be made. There aren’t as many of those memorable moments such as the defibrillator scene in the old one. Certainly though it’s not one of those remakes that diminishes the joy of the original… remake.

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Posted on by
Reply

Not really everything I would have hoped it would be but still, a worthwhile trip to a chilly Glasgow.

When WWPJ get going with the older faster stuff its really 10 times better than most of the stuff off the new album. I guess their still learning their trade somewhat but they could benefit from some lessons in showmanship and crowd interaction.

Also what happened? I remember when bands used to be older than me.