Sunday, June 26, 2016
Glastonbury 2016
I've watched a few bands on TV who were performing at the Glastonbury festival this year. I enjoy watching the festival, it reminds me of the festivals I've attended in the past. Generally I'm very happy that I'm not there myself, what with the queues and the rain and the mud. I imagine it is rather an other-wordly bubble that feels weird and wonderful while you are there and one that you miss when you can't attend. It is certainly more of a commercial venture now than it has been in the past and security has tightened a lot. My favourite TV clips have been from Band of Skulls and Wolf Alice. I watched some of Muse's set and most of Adele's. Adele was on fine form.
Night of the Demons
I watched this film hoping it would improve all the way through and as the end credits appeared on my screen I turned it off disappointed. There isn't really anything to say about this film that really redeems it. It is just about some stupid drunks who are having a house party that get shut down by the police. All the guests leave except for the small group of 7 who become the targets of some demons in the house to possess them. I really can't be bothered to explain any more because the film is lazy and gore infested without any good reason. The costumes reveal quite a lot of cleavage for the ladies involved but it's still a crap film.
The Children
This wasn't on the horror channel but is supposed to be a horror film. It involves children so won't be for everyone. The children are supposed to be the scary ones in it. It is set in contemporary England and two families are renting a large house in the country for what I think us a Christmas getaway. It wouldn't be too bad a horror film for Christmas time. But at the present time, I can hardly think of Christmas.
The children turn out to be possessed or something. Again the plot of this film leaves a lot to be desired. It isn't as incoherent as the Cradle of Fear film but it doesn't do very much to explain what is happening and the children in the film are very young. The character called Casey is played by Hannah Tointon who played Simon's girlfriend Tara in season 3 of The Inbetweeners, one of my favourite series. Hannah is the best thing about the film in my opinion, she plays her part well.
The children turn out to be possessed or something. Again the plot of this film leaves a lot to be desired. It isn't as incoherent as the Cradle of Fear film but it doesn't do very much to explain what is happening and the children in the film are very young. The character called Casey is played by Hannah Tointon who played Simon's girlfriend Tara in season 3 of The Inbetweeners, one of my favourite series. Hannah is the best thing about the film in my opinion, she plays her part well.
Cradle Of Fear
I have been recording a few films on the DVD Recorder recently, since clearing a lot of room on the hard drive. The films have been mostly B movie quality. One of them was a film called Cradle Of Fear that had a starring role for Dani Filth from the black metal band Cradle Of Filth. He didn't say very much throughout the film, he just had a role in looking downright filthy and scary.
The film supposedly follows a number of short stories all connected by the last story. This is a similar format to some 1970s films from hammer and Amicus, I believe the style is called Portmanteau but I might be wrong about that!
The film is not one I would recommend. It is barely coherent and the acting is generally terrible. It relies far too heavily on gore and it is gory throughout so there is no sense of climax at the end. In short, it's a crap film with no likeable qualities.
The film supposedly follows a number of short stories all connected by the last story. This is a similar format to some 1970s films from hammer and Amicus, I believe the style is called Portmanteau but I might be wrong about that!
The film is not one I would recommend. It is barely coherent and the acting is generally terrible. It relies far too heavily on gore and it is gory throughout so there is no sense of climax at the end. In short, it's a crap film with no likeable qualities.
Friday, June 24, 2016
EU Referendum
Well our votes were cast yesterday and the decision has been made. The UK is going to leave the European Union but the timetable is not absolutely clear. David Cameron has decided to leave his job as Prime Minister by the Conservative conference in October.
I am sorry that this was the decision. It was very close, 52% v 48%. And Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the UK, so the ramifications are important. Remarkably the turnout was 72%, which is high for an election however that's still a significant number of people who didn't vote, sadly.
I disliked the way that both the Leave and Remain campaigns were run. There was scare mongering and incitement of hatred against immigrants. I also think that there is a feeling that the difference between the young and older voters was significant in that younger voters were in favour of remaining in the EU and older voters were against BUT I'm not sure that this was really the case.
It's possible that Scotland will have another independence referendum, they certainly seem to be seeking one. The UKIP leadership were jubilant this morning, while it was noticeable that Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were sombre and paid tribute to David Cameron. Looks like there is a question mark over Jeremy Corbyn as leader as well.
I hate politics!
I am sad about the decision, I was very proud that the UK was part of Europe and I think the economic arguments for remaining in the EU were convincing.
I am sorry that this was the decision. It was very close, 52% v 48%. And Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the UK, so the ramifications are important. Remarkably the turnout was 72%, which is high for an election however that's still a significant number of people who didn't vote, sadly.
I disliked the way that both the Leave and Remain campaigns were run. There was scare mongering and incitement of hatred against immigrants. I also think that there is a feeling that the difference between the young and older voters was significant in that younger voters were in favour of remaining in the EU and older voters were against BUT I'm not sure that this was really the case.
It's possible that Scotland will have another independence referendum, they certainly seem to be seeking one. The UKIP leadership were jubilant this morning, while it was noticeable that Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were sombre and paid tribute to David Cameron. Looks like there is a question mark over Jeremy Corbyn as leader as well.
I hate politics!
I am sad about the decision, I was very proud that the UK was part of Europe and I think the economic arguments for remaining in the EU were convincing.
Saturday, June 04, 2016
Muhammad Ali RIP
He was more than a fighter, he stood up for what he believed in. There is evidence for this in his refusal to fight against the Vietnamese in the war with Vietnam in the 1960s and early 70s. A great champion who took too much punishment and fought too many fights. He should have been prevented from carrying on his career as a fighter but was probably allowed because too many people would have lost out if he stopped. A great shame we have all been deprived of his spirit and intelligence.
Dave Swarbrick RIP
I was saddened to learn yesterday that another musical genius had died. It was the turn of ex Fairport Convention fiddle player Dave Swarbrick. The Fairport Convention album Liege and Leaf is one of my favourite folk-rock records and his playing on it is second to none.
Bluebird Tea Company
I drink a lot of tea and coffee. Several cups a day, every day. So I like to try different teas occasionally. Last time I bought some loose leaf tea was when I was in Brighton and visited the Bluebird Tea Company shop, they have a very wide selection of blends they produce and are very innovative. I have blogged about the teas I bought the first time. This week, when my wife visited Brighton again she bought me a tin of one of their best selling teas, the Great British Cuppa. Here is my new tin...
Into the DSLR zone
This week while I was working away from home I saw a second hand camera that looked like it was in good condition. It was a DSLR, a type of camera that I have not owned before. I have been considering getting a DSLR for a few months now. We have been framing pictures around the house, including a few in our bedroom that are colour photocopies. So I have been wanting to take photos that I can print out in a large size for the walls. My travel compact camera (a Lumix TZ40) is still a brilliant camera but if you dial up the ISO in low light the amount of noise is very noticeable.
So I had been thinking about getting a Nikon DSLR because it is the best make of camera in my opinion. Canon are also a good brand, so too Sony, but in DSLR photography they are not quite as good as Nikon in my opinion. My last Canon camera was an EOS SLR and I really liked taking photos with it. I hope I enjoy my new camera as much. After saying that though, it is about the time you spend and care and attention you take with each shot that counts, the camera is an extention of the photographer's imagination.
So, I saw the camera in the window of CEX in Manchester's Arndale Centre on Tuesday evening and left it a day while I did a bit of research. The price was about right, it was just down to the condition. When I took a look at the camera the next day, it was in great condition for a camera that is not only second hand but 6 years old. I get the feeling that the camera was in some person's cupboard for a long time and had not been used very much. So I decided that I would buy it.
However, while I was being served I couldn't help but overhear what I thought was an altercation with a shop assistant and another customer. Now, I have noticed that sometimes CEX attracts a few unsavoury characters and they have to be sure that the goods they take in are in good enough condition to sell and guarantee for a couple of years. I thought at first it was someone who was angry that their phone wasn't being accepted but it turned out to be a guy who was on the phone to what must have been a woman. They way he was shouting aggressively at her though was very abusive. He was really going for it and it was very intense for everyone else to have to hear him effing and blinding down his phone as he walked out the shop. Even the assistant apologised to me even though it was nothing to do with the shop.
The Nikon D5000 was the first Nikon DSLR to feature an articulated screen that has the hinge at the bottom so that the camera can be used low to the ground and high in the air in combination with Live View. When it was released it was the next step up from the D60 and cost between £450-550. It cost me less than half that 6 years down the line.
So I had been thinking about getting a Nikon DSLR because it is the best make of camera in my opinion. Canon are also a good brand, so too Sony, but in DSLR photography they are not quite as good as Nikon in my opinion. My last Canon camera was an EOS SLR and I really liked taking photos with it. I hope I enjoy my new camera as much. After saying that though, it is about the time you spend and care and attention you take with each shot that counts, the camera is an extention of the photographer's imagination.
So, I saw the camera in the window of CEX in Manchester's Arndale Centre on Tuesday evening and left it a day while I did a bit of research. The price was about right, it was just down to the condition. When I took a look at the camera the next day, it was in great condition for a camera that is not only second hand but 6 years old. I get the feeling that the camera was in some person's cupboard for a long time and had not been used very much. So I decided that I would buy it.
However, while I was being served I couldn't help but overhear what I thought was an altercation with a shop assistant and another customer. Now, I have noticed that sometimes CEX attracts a few unsavoury characters and they have to be sure that the goods they take in are in good enough condition to sell and guarantee for a couple of years. I thought at first it was someone who was angry that their phone wasn't being accepted but it turned out to be a guy who was on the phone to what must have been a woman. They way he was shouting aggressively at her though was very abusive. He was really going for it and it was very intense for everyone else to have to hear him effing and blinding down his phone as he walked out the shop. Even the assistant apologised to me even though it was nothing to do with the shop.
The Nikon D5000 was the first Nikon DSLR to feature an articulated screen that has the hinge at the bottom so that the camera can be used low to the ground and high in the air in combination with Live View. When it was released it was the next step up from the D60 and cost between £450-550. It cost me less than half that 6 years down the line.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)