Shaking some dust

CARNIVÀLE

It’s taken me a good long while to get round to it, but I finally finished watching the second (and sadly final) season of HBOs hugely underrated TV series, Carnivàle. The show was only broadcast here terrestrially on TG4, so there was precious little chance of many people having seen it, which is a real shame considering how special and unique a show it turned out to be.

Set in 1930s America during the heart of the depression, the show followed a curious mix of characters that travelled in a carnival from one dusty little town to the next. Broadly speaking, the show dealt with the never-ending battle between good and evil, forces that were physically embodied by two characters on the show. While this all sounds quite far-fetched, the writers made it work by setting the story against a gritty, realistic backdrop and populating the show with complicated, three-dimensional characters.

What really made the show so compelling was its characters. I’ve never known a show to be populated by such a range of rich and vibrant individuals. Unlike most shows, we aren’t simply given a summarised introduction to each of the characters in the pilot episode. Instead we naturally get to know them as series progresses. But because they each have their distinct personalities (complimented by beautifully nuanced performances from the actors), you get a feel for each of them quite quickly. There was a depth and realism to each of the characters that I found endlessly engaging.

Some disliked the shows relatively slow pace (although it did pick up steam in season 2), but I really have to applaud the writers for taking their time to develop the story and allowing their characters to breathe. I’ll admit, the show demands quite a bit of patience from the viewers. And while most episodes will leave you with a few unanswered questions, you never feel cheated because at least SOME mysteries are revealed. From the very start, series creator Daniel Knaff had an overall arc planned for the show, so it was satisfying to see how plot points given in one episode (which seemed random and confusing at the time) were eventually expanded upon and finally made sense as the show progressed. Its always refreshing to experience a well crafted story arc on television!

The writing for the show was never less than engaging and almost always compelling. The feeling of dread and menace that the show managed to convey was astounding. The tension would build ever so slowly throughout the episode and only when the credits rolled would I realise that I’d a knot in my stomach!

The casting was absolutely spot-on. And it was a true ensemble cast, where even the “no-name” actors got just as much screen time as their better known counterparts. The acting was equally top notch all round, everyone filling out his or her respective roles like they were born to play them.

Even though they all deserve a mention, it would be remiss if I didn’t single out Clancy Brown for his exceptional portrayal of Brother Justin Crowe. He was like a force of nature when on camera and dominated all his scenes with a presence that was both mesmerising and terrifying. He was dark and evil and frequently scared the hell outta me. Equally praise-worthy was Amy Madigan who played his sister Iris with a fervour that bordered on the fanatical.

With a hefty $4 million per episode budget, the production of the show was gargantuan. Chief among the highlights was the “Carnival” itself. The attraction featured rides, tents, stalls, trailers and even a fully working Ferris wheel. The entire beast took four days just to dismantle and reconstruct (which they had to do each week, as the show was shot on location!). From the start, the Carnival takes pride of place in the show and is so alive as to almost be a character in and of itself.

The crew went to great lengths to make the show as authentic as they could. The sights, sounds and dialogue were so reminiscent of the period, that you’d swear they travelled back in time 60 odd years to film the show. This attention to detail really helped to ground the show in reality and gave the actors something tangible to work with.

The production design was out of this world and would be the envy of any big-budget Hollywood movie. The sets were lavish affairs (even the broken-down squalid ones) and the costumes really are of another age, brimming with fine little touches. The make-up and visual effects were exceptional, most of the time working so subtly that you don’t even realise they were an effect.

Even though they picked up the pace in season 2 with some huge plot advancements, Carnivàle never managed to retain the audience it had during its first season and HBO were forced to cancel it. The other factor was of course the immense running costs of the show.

The vast story arc for the show was plotted out in three “books”, with two seasons to a book, so only the first book was completed. While this did result in an ending of sorts (the main arc of seasons 1 & 2 is resolved), the writers made no effort to tie up the many threads that would have been followed up in subsequent seasons. Even though I would have liked for everything to be wrapped up in a nice neat bow, I’m pleased that the writers refused to compromise the original vision of the story, just to facilitate the cancellation of the show.

Carnivàle is a rarity in T.V. land; bold, challenging and well worth repeated viewings. A word of warning though; after watching this show, most other programmes will seem cheap and shallow in comparison!

Not the wolley variety

The trailer for "Jumper" didnt exactly set my world alight, but I gotta admit, thats one fricken cool poster they've got there! :D Jumper tells the story of a guy who can teleport himself anywhere he wants. That idea alone has endless possibilities, so I'm hoping director Doug Liman makes the most of it. The film stars two ex-Jedi's, Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson and opens next February. At the very least, it should make for an entertaining ride :P

More like 113 Minutes of Sh!te

30 DAYS OF NIGHT

I’m a huge vampire buff, but since I’d never read the comic on which this movie was based, I had no preconceptions or hopes before heading into the cinema. The premise of the movie was quite clever though. Once a year, a little isolated town waaaay up north goes through a period of 30 days without any sun. This would obviously offer the perfect playground for the enterprising vampire.

A number of things let this film down. Chief among them was the complete lack of characterisation. In a survival horror film such as this, an emotional connection to the victims is vital, but sadly none materialised.

It didn’t help that leading this cast of one-dimensional towns-folk was Mister Plank himself, Josh Hartnett. I swear to good god, if this man were lit on fire he’d struggle to burn convincingly. I’ve got big love for Melissa George, but this movie really didn’t do her any favours either. There was no tension to be had in the entire film and the director did a poor job of marking the passage of time. It seemed like the whole thing took place in one night rather than 30 days.

The highlight of the film had to be the vampires themselves. Ever since “Interview for a Vampire”, movies have been romanticising the creatures, but here they were depicted as vicious, violent animals. Combined with the excellent make-up effects, the results were truly terrifying.

Once again, I thought that Ben Foster was riveting and stole every scene he was in. His performance was so good that it only served to highlight the dearth of acting chops surrounding him! His portrayal of the vampire’s sycophantic usher was just plain disturbing. He definitely seems to have a knack for the unhinged characters :P

I could only recommend this movie to horror fans who enjoy watching people getting mauled convincingly.

Place in my stereo

SET THE MOOD ~ David Jordan

I'd got my first taste of David Jordan through “Popjustice.com” (my number one resource for pop news!), and while the vocals on his debut single “Place in my Heart” were impressive, the song itself didn’t sit well with me. All I can say is, thank the good lord for MySpace and its album samplers :P

What initially struck me about Jordan is that at times he sounds spookily like Terence Trent D'Arby (who in my humble opinion has one of the most distinct and versatile voices on the planet). While Jordan isn’t up to D'Arbys standards just yet, his voice is still a marvel. He's equally adept at the high falsettos and the bassey lows, but is also capable of altering the texture of his middle range from smooth to gravelly (another D’Arby trait), allowing him to jump between any number of different genres.

And I can honestly say I've never heard an album as musically diverse as Jordans debut. Apart from the typical pop/RnB flavour, you also get a fair amount of edgier rock/funk elements (think Lennie Kravitz) thrown in. What makes it even more distinctive is the interesting mix of classical and even folk sounding music on a couple of tracks.

Initially I found the production of the album to be a little overwhelming and tracks were so dense that they almost drowned out Jordens voice. After a few more listens though, it does open up and the “wall of sound” employed is easier to appreciate (though I’d still love to hear an acoustic version of the album).

Even though I wasn’t wild about a few tracks, there’s still something interesting about each of them, whether it be the harmony used, the change in key for the chorus or the choice of unconventional instrumentation. None of the songs bore, that’s for sure. And it’s so rare (and risky!) for an artist to be so musically adventurous with their debut, so I have to applaud him for that.

While the album is fresh and OH so different (compared to recent pop efforts), I’d be lying if I called it completely original. I’ve already likened his voice to Terence Trent D’Arby, but the comparison doesn’t end there. Some of the tracks are very reminiscent of D’Arbys earlier work, though that in itself is not a bad thing. “Set The Mood” is a very impressive and eclectic first work from an artist who I’m hoping doesn’t get lost in chart obscurity.

Standout Tracks:

• On The Money
• Sun Goes Down
• Set The Mood
• Glorious Day
• Only Living Soul
• Fight The World
  

The Boys are back in town

UNBREAKABLE ~ Backstreet Boys

It’s hard to believe that this is the Boys 6th studio album (7th if you count their greatest hits collection). This time round the group has been reduced to a four piece, but thankfully this has had little effect on the quality of their output (no offence to Kevin!!!). Their last album “Never Gone” wasn’t exactly their finest hour, but “Unbreakable” is definitely a return to form :)

With each new album, they always try their best to move with the times and throw in a couple of "current" sounding tracks. But in the end they cant seem to escape that clearly identifiable "Backstreet Boys sound" that they started with their first album, way back in 1995 (that’s 13 years ago, boys and girls!). Not that having an established sound is a bad thing. Fans will love the album, as all the songs have a comfortable familiarity to them, but it worries me that after SO many years, they've been unable to progress musically. But maybe I shouldn’t blame them for sticking with what works :P

The production is suitably slick. As well as the lead single (which just gets better with each listen) there are some excellent songs on the disc. And the Boys still know how to work those trademark harmonies of theirs. I got the deluxe edition of the album, which has three bonus songs, and at 17 tracks, the album drags a little towards the end. Then again, if there were fewer tracks, I’d be moaning that the album is too short! There’s just no pleasing me :P As far as Backstreet Boys go, the album is a winner.

Standout Tracks:

• Everything But Mine
• Inconsolable
• Something That I Already Know
• Helpless When She Smiles
• Any Other Way
• One In A Million
• Panic
• Treat Me Right

Flavour of the week - Jude Law

*sigh* Why oh why do I find arrogance so bleedin sexy? :P Jude Law turns 35 at the end of the month, so what better time to celebrate a man of his incredible beauty. He regularly plays the role of the confident charmer in his movies and I think that colours my perception of his real life persona too. Look at that face. Just look at it. Hes gorgeous, but doesn't he know it :D

A little piece of heaven

STARDUST

When I first heard that they were making Neil Gaimans wonderful novel "Stardust" into a movie, I was filled with excitement, but also a fair amount of apprehension. To be fair, its been a while since I've read the book, so I cant say with confidence whether or not they stayed absolutely true to the source, but since Gaiman was signed on as producer, I'm assuming he made his presence felt during the adaptation. Still, it could very easily have turned into a disaster. So imagine my surprise when it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable films I've seen all year!

Matthew Vaughn helmed the picture and did a good job of holding onto the reigns of a story that spread itself over many different locations and encompassed a wealth of characters.

Oft-times the would-be hero of the story can come across limp and bland, but thankfully that wasn’t the case here. I found Charlie Cox, who played the lead, Tristan, to be very likeable. I'm a huge fan of Claire Danes anyway, but she was great in the role of the fallen star. She has a truth and sincerity to her that I always find refreshing.

Michelle Pfeiffer was absolutely brilliant as the deadly witch Lamia and threw everything she had into the part. And it must be said that she looked stunning. Hard to believe shes turning 50 next year! :O The biggest surprise had to be Robert De Niro, who went above and beyond with the character of Captain Shakespeare and seemed to be having a ball while doing so :D

I'm not at all enamored with Sienna Millar, but she was at least serviceable as Tristans first love Victoria, though she was very much the weak link in an otherwise stellar cast.

Other than the main players, most of the supporting cast was rounded out by what seemed by practically every other British actor working today! Ricky Gervais stood out like a sore thumb, playing his usual fast talking character, but he got away with it since he had some of the funniest lines in the film :D

Stardust was a fairytale in the best sense of the world and had all the traditional elements; fair maidens, dashing princes, evil witches and the fate of a kingdom hanging in the balance. What elevated it above the usual childish fare was the brave move to keep Gaimans wickedly dark tone and black British humor intact.

The only thing that I found a little underwhelming were the visual effects. There weren’t bad, per say, but lacked that all-important "wow-factor". The costumes and sets were gorgeous and the scenery was incredible (though I'm guessing some were just cleverly made matt paintings).

All in all, a hugely enjoyable film that I will no doubt be rushing out to buy on DVD!

No jolly rancher

3:10 TO YUMA

I'm not exactly a fan of westerns. I've never seen a single John Wayne movie, or any of Clint Eastwoods "Dollar" series (an injustice verging on the criminal, I'm sure :P ). The only western I've seen that I enjoyed was “Unforgiven”, but that’s generally regarded as a classic. Directed by "Walk The Line's" James Mangold, and staring the heavy hitting pairing of Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, "3:10 To Yuma" was far more enjoyable than I expected it to be.

The story revolved round Crowe (a wanted criminal) being taken to justice by a few "good men" (this was the tough Old West, so they were only in it for the money :P ) and their primary objective was to have him on the 3:10 train to Yuma, where a high security prison awaited him. Not only were they trying to beat the clock, but they also had to stay ahead of Crowes posse, who were hot on their heels to spring their captured boss.

I tend to go into a Russell Crowe movie not wanting to like it OR him (its sad when an actors real world antics affect my opinion of the characters they play or the movies they star in, but sometimes its hard to separate the actor from the character!). Luckily for Crowe, he’s an excellent actor and as much as I hate to admit it, he MADE the movie for me. I found that (quite despite myself), I really enjoyed him on screen and he embodied the roguish character of Ben Wade perfectly.

Bale, while consistently excellent in all his movies, didn’t have as much to work with, playing the straight-laced do-gooder. I was also quite impressed with Bales son, played by William Evans. Unlike most "no Pop, I'm coming WITH you!!!" kiddy characters I've seen over the years, he wasn’t the least bit annoying and his performance was genuinely affecting.

This was the second movie I've seen this year with Ben Foster in it (the first being Alpha Dog) and once again, he almost stole the show from the other bigger-name actors. His portrayal of Charlie Prince, Crowe's die-hard second in command, was riveting and the crazy look he has in his eyes suited the character perfectly.

The film took a while too get going, slowly easing you into the characters and their situations, but after that you just sat back and enjoyed the ride. The only thing that let it down was its slightly unbelievable ending. Still, "3:10 To Yuma" is a rousing flick thats defo worth a look.

Aiming high

SKYBOUND ~ Tom Baxter

Simply put, there’s just no other man who can make a happy song sound so sad.

While the album has been available for months from his website, its only now being widely released in shops. "Skybound" is the long awaited follow-up to Tom Baxters excellent (and mostly unknown) debut "Feather & Stone".

Like his first, the album has a relatively short number of songs (10), but since some of them have Meatloaf length running times, you are still getting more than your moneys worth from Tom. The production is exquisite and features a far more varied use of instrumentation than heard on his debut. He has also become a little more musically adventurous these past few years and on a number of tracks he breaks away from his traditional rocky/folkly sound to incorporate some Latin flavored beats and even some gorgeous classical flourishes.

The highlight of the album is of course Tom’s voice, which is so wrought with emotion that you'd believe he'd been all the way to hell and back and lived to tell the tale :P Even though the album ends on quite an uplifting song, the preceding few tracks are quite heavy and much more melancholic than anything he's recorded before. It would make for a much more rounded and enjoyable listen if the sadder songs were spread evenly throughout the disc.

But sad songs or not, Toms voice is always a moving experience and the lush orchestrated sounds of the album only help to amplify the intensity of his music and lyrics. I thoroughly recommend "Skybound" for those in search of a bit of substance.

Standout Tracks:

• Night Like This
• Skybound
• Better
• Miracle
• The Last Shot
• Icarus Wings

A rose by any other name

Sarah and Freddie have got to be one of the cutest couples in the world. So happy am I with their pairing that I'd actually be content if neither of them ever made movies again, so long as they stayed happily together :) In celebration of their 5th wedding anniversary, Sarah Michelle has decided to finally shed that famous Gellar moniker shes being clinging to for oh so long. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Sarah Michelle Prinze!

It drives me Elemental!

Right now, Avatar: The Last Airbender is my absolute favourite show on the telly. I've just finished watching one of the best episodes of the season so far (Season 3, Episode 8) called "The Puppetmaster". It starts off all nice and safe (to lull you into a false sense of security), but by the end of the episode, my stomach was in knots! And then to close the episode on such a horrific and sombre note!!! I honestly don't know how the creators get away with this stuff on Nickelodeon of all places :P And here I was, worried that they'd gone all lighthearted and kiddy this season!

My real reason for this post is that last week the first two Avatar boxsets arrived on my doorstep! :D The slipcases and foldouts themselves are truly beautiful works of art. Here are some shots of them, for your viewing pleasure :)









Aren't they purdy?? :D

Joss keeps the Faith

Whedon fans rejoice! After years of trying (and failing) to get movies off the ground, Joss returns to the small screen with a new show called “Dollhouse”. Best of all is that hes bringing past Buffy alums “Eliza Dushku” and “Tim Minear” along for the ride.

Heres the pitch: the show revolves around a group of guys and gals who are imprinted with memories, personalities and abilities to suit a particular job or task. Once they’ve completed their task, they return to their collective home (the “Dollhouse” of the title) and have their memory wiped, until they are being prepped for their next job. Things start to unravel when memories of past jobs leak back into the "dolls" heads.

The one downside of the announcement is that the show is being broadcast on the Fox Network, the same network that cancelled the last three shows Whedon, Dushku and Minear were all involved in (the excellent Firefly, Tru Calling & Drive respectively). I predict “Dollhouse” will be an amazing show, brilliantly executed, brimming with interesting characters, a fantastic ensemble cast and witty dialogue, only to be cancelled by Fox after its first two episodes. WE SHALL SEE....

Dust off your alien probing devices

Rumours are rampant that a new X-Files movie is in the works and that both Anderson and Duchovny are signed on. While the prospect of once again being treated to the familiar Mulder/Scully dynamic is a tantalising one, I’m a little sceptical of the announcement. Right now Duchovny seems to have a good thing going with his new show “Californication”, which just ended in the States and has been picked up for a second season. After so many years on the X-Files, I’d imagine he’d want to keep as much distance between himself and his former Mulder character as possible. But the world works in mysterious ways, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for this one. Fans all know where the truth is!

Flavour of the week - Gael García Bernal

Despite his penchant for choosing quirky or oft times twisted roles in movies, Gael García Bernal always manages to stir a strong sense of empathy within me for the characters he portrays. He infuses his roles with a brutal honesty that can be quite disarming. He is, without doubt, one of my favourite actors. He also speaks five languages and is equally adorable in all of them :D

Wired to the moon and back

THIS DELICATE THING WE'VE MADE ~ Darren Hayes

If we were to take a hammer to Mr. Hayes’s head and smash it wide open, this album is what’s likely to spill out and leave a stain all over your lovely carpet.

Without having to bow to the expectations or restrictions of a major record label, Darren has given birth to something quite extraordinary: his unfiltered self :P Being answerable to no one has allowed him to be much more creative with his music. Even the title “This Delicate Thing We’ve Made” speaks of how personal this album is to him.

The downside of flying solo in the music world is the utter lack of promotion and financial backing of a big record label, but since he got practically NO support on his last two solo albums, he probably didn’t see this as much of an issue. Still, there are times when an artist needs someone who can step back from the musical work and tell them when they’ve gone that bit too far.

I’d have to question the albums length. Normally I wouldn’t complain about an artist being generous with the amount of material they release, but I’ve got to admit, it’s a tough job to make it through this double disc in one sitting.

First, there’s quite a bit of padding going on. If the lacklustre tracks were removed, a much stronger single disc would have remained. In this case, I think two CDs were a little bit self-indulgent.

The other reason it’s a bit of a strain on the old ears is Darrens voice. On many of the tracks he has had his voice altered and modulated to give it a surreal, processed edge. I get that this was intentional and in line with the overall sound of the album, but it does get a bit grating after a while!

Now moving onto something more positive! :D The album has very a strong cohesive sound to it and there’s definitely an over-arching theme running through it. A couple of the tracks even follow on from one another, subject-wise. His voice is still as dynamic as ever and can go places most male (and female! :P ) artists can only dream of.

There are some truly excellent tracks to be found on the album. I’d go so far as to say that some of the songs are the best of his career to date. Because of the sheer wealth of material being offered, there really is something for everyone. There’s the catchy dance numbers, the unashamedly upbeat gay anthems, heartfelt ballads and a number of tracks that are truly epic in sound and scope.

Since his last album “The Tension and the Spark”, Darren has shown a more introspective and darker side to his writing. Here he continues to delve deep and produces some meaningful and somewhat disturbing lyrics that are of particular interest.

I see this album as being Darrens experiment in sound (and generally what he can get away with musically). The production is top notch and highly ambitious, mainly influenced by 80s electro-pop, but dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Gone is the instantly accessible (and far more commercial) sound of his Savage Garden days. Even the 80s electronica of his solo debut "Spin" is tame in comparison to his newest release. But all this album requires is a bit of patience and after a few listens it reveals some real gems.

Standout Tracks:

• A Fear of Falling Under
• Who Would Have Thought
• Casey
• Step Into The Light
• Sing To Me
• A Conversation with God
• The Future Holds a Lions Heart
• Neverland
• I Just Want You to Love Me

My daugter is also called "Vashti"

TOM BAXTER - LIVE AT THE VILLAGE

I'd never been to The Village before, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a pretty decent venue (apart from the fact that is was hot as HELL the whole night!). The stage was moderately sized, but there was plenty of room to stand around. The crowd was also nice on the night, no pushing or shoving to speak of (even though my bro insisted we stand up near the front!).

Tom came out at the start, casual as you like, to introduce his warm-up act. "Vashti", who I'd never heard of before, turned out to be his sister (from the name I expected it to be either a band, or a man!). She was dressed exactly like how I'd picture a stereotypical French girl would dress (red neckerchief, polka dot dress, tight spandex pants cut off just before the ankles). Just like her big bro, she had a great big voice on her and a lot of emotion behind the lyrics. She was pleasant enough, but none of the songs grabbed me enough to shell out on her album (copies of which were laid out on a table near the bar).

When Tom and his band finally emerged, they kicked things off with a rousing version of "Night Like This", the opening track to his new album "Skybound". What I was amazed at (and I think he was too) was that most of the crowd knew the words to his new material (or the chorus's at least!), despite the fact that the album is so far only available from his online website. He continued on with a couple more tracks from the new album, along with a few from his first. Sadly, he didnt sing "The Mood & Me", my fav song from "Feather & Stone" :( I was sure he'd bring it out during the encore, but it wasn't to be......

My only complaints would be that there wasn't a whole lot of audience interaction going on, but Tom was on fine form throughout the night, putting everything into his performance. Of course he couldn't resist a few over-the-top, uber-dramatic moments during some of the songs, but its easy to forgive such indulgences :P He is one of the few artists I think sounds as good, if not better live than on CD, so I would heartily encourage everyone to go see him in person if they ever get the chance.

His album is currently available from his website for the low low price of £10.00 (plus P&P) or £7.49 as a digital download.

www.tombaxter.co.uk

Pumping Iron

The first official trailer for IRONMAN is now live on the link below, and its lookin pretty feckin sweet :P

The film is directed by Jon Favreau and bolstered by an all star cast including Robert Downey Jr (as Ironman), Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Samuel L. Jackson (as a BLACK Nick Fury!!! BOO YEAH :D :D :D) Hilary Swank and Leslie Bibb.

Ironman is due for release on the 2nd May 2008.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/ironman/

Touchy-feely

Last Wednesday, Apple unveiled their new iPod product lineup for the coming Christmas season in the usual wave of hype and hyperbole :D

The iPod Shuffle received only a cosmetic makeover; now its available updated colours! (big whoop :P ) Other than that, the storage and price remain the same (1gig at €79). The battery life is rated at 12 hours.

The iPod Nano has been totally redesigned. Its now smaller in height, has a wider screen and plays video! The casing is now entirely metal too, so no more plastic-y bits at the top and bottom. It comes in two versions: a 4gig for €149 and an 8gig for €199. The battery life is rated at 5 hours for video and 24 hours for audio.

The regular iPod video has been renamed the iPod Classic and will come in two sizes: an 80gig for €249 and a whopping 160gig for €349. The 80gig has a battery life of 5 hours for video and 30 hours for music. The 160gig has a life of 7 hours for video and 40 hours for music.

The big release was of course the iPod Touch, which is basically an iPhone without the phone (something I said was needed when the iPhone launched!). Included are the same array of features found on the iPhone such as a touchscreen interface, a gorgeous 3.5inch widescreen display and full internet access over wi-fi. Another addition is the inclusion of a mobile version of iTunes which allows you to browse and download songs from the iTunes catalogue from anywhere theres wi-fi access!

The device is available in two sizes: 8gigs at €299 and 16gigs at €399. The rated battery life for video is 4.5 hours and up to 20 hours for audio.

Finally, in a move that enraged recent buyers of the iPhone, Apple choose to cut the cost of the iPhone by $200, in an aggressive effort to shift more units over the busy Christmas period.

All in all, Apple have done a great job of refining their current stock and debuting some serious new kit. However, Apples stubborn refusal to build in something as basic as a radio into their pods still keeps me from even thinking about purchasing one!

Slippery little devil

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

Bourne is back, and he’s here to rescue the cinemagoer from a summer of lackluster movies, woohoo! So far, this movie has been the one and only summer blockbuster that has met my expectations. Helmed once again by Paul Greengrass (who also directed the second), this film hits the ground running and never stops for so much as a breath the whole way through.

This is a trilogy in the best sense of the word. The characters carried through all three are expanded upon, and plot threads that began in the first two are wound nicely into this one. The movie very much relies on people having seen the first two (in my opinion, seeing them first is essential to appreciating this story fully). Like the previous movies, the dialogue is sparse yet its still densely plotted and will no doubt benefit from a repeated viewing.

The action is still as franticly paced as before. The fight scenes possess a sharp brutality that makes you wince with every blow and kick. As ever there is the obligatory breathtaking chase sequence (but he’s not just confined to a car this time round!). Another hallmark of the Bourne movies that is still present is its globe hopping nature (particularly around European locations) and makes the movie that little bit more distinct from the usual Hollywood fare. Greengrass's shakycam style of direction is still present though, which proved to be a wee bit distracting at the start.

Damon pulled off another stormer as Bourne. Not only was he up to the physical tasks the movie demanded of him, but he also maintained the extreme intensity that defined his character from the start of the series. And despite having the emotional range of a robot (due to his government conditioning), Damon still manages to make his character compelling for the audience. There’s also something strangely primal and satisfying about watching Bourne kick some serious ass :D

This time round he was backed up by another great performance by Joan Allen. Julia Stiles has only had a minor role in previous Bourne movies, but here she puts forward her most subtle and affecting performance yet. The series has always had great character actors playing “the bag guy we love to hate” and in this movie David Strathairn fills that role quite nicely.

The quality throughout this series has been astonishingly consistent and The Bourne Ultimatum easily maintains that standard. He may be a master of evasion, but I urge everyone to try and catch Bourne in the cinema ;)

Big girls, you are beautiful

HAIRSPRAY

Traditionally, musicals aren’t really my thing. The whole idea of people breaking out into song in the middle of a scene can be jarring and oft times plain silly. Animated features can get away with this quite easily, but in live action it’s harder to excuse. This was one of the main reasons I didn’t enjoy Dreamgirls. The songs seemed forced into places where words alone would have sufficed. Hairspray is different kettle of fish entirely.

It started life as a John Waters cult movie in the 80s and then made the transition to a successful stage musical before being revamped into a Hollywood movie. While I can’t speak for either of the previous incarnations (its been SO long since I saw the original, I cant remember it at all), this latest version is an absolute delight.

The story follows the lovable little Tracy Turnblad as she strives to get onto her favourite show and in doing so, bump hips with the guy of her dreams. Her only obstacle is the objections concerning her appearance (Tracy is an ample girl, you see).

While the movie looks quite light and fluffy, it tackles some fairly weighty issues (pun very much intended). The theme of prejudice, segregation, acceptance and integration (applying to both Tracy and the black community in the 60s) runs throughout the movie. Sometimes the message of tolerance was a bit heavy handed though (even bordering on preachy at times!).

Where the movie really shines is of course the music. The songs are great fun and appropriately combine the theatrics of a stage musical with the quality and style of the music of the 60s. Add that to the fantastic choreography and you can’t help but toe-tap your way through most of the musical numbers. The set designs were perfect, the costumes were brilliantly garish and the hair was suitably over the top.

The star of the movie would have to be Tracy Turnblad, played with gusto by newcomer Nikki Blonski. For the most part, the remaining roles were populated by people who are known to have experience in singing / dancing, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well James Marsden handled himself. The rest of the cast were a joy to watch and performed admirably.

The only exception would be John Travolta. Having such a recognised star play a woman was a tad distracting (even though I’m aware the role was previously played by a drag queen!) and the accent he put on for the entire movie bugged the hell out of me (can anyone say "Doctor Evil"?!). But fat suit or no, he still did a great job with the musical numbers :D

Hairspray is a must see movie with a tremendous feel good factor. Try as you might, theres just no stopping that beat!

Bennifer in Blue

God, how much do I love this woman? Possibly too much :P Jennifer Garner sheds her typically scattered and giddy look for the premier of her new movie "Juno". Doesn't she look marvelous folks?

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Ever since he won X-Factor, I've been convinced Shayne Ward had big things ahead of him. His voice is incredible and can go places other singers can only dream of, so I was gutted when he came out with one lousy single after the other. Well rejoice my friends, cause with "No, U Hang Up", Shayne Ward is on the cusp of releasing his first ever decent single (with an accompanying video that warrants repeated viewings!!) Its only taken him two years and four other songs, but who's counting? Compared to other high profile pop stars, the song is still mediocre at best, but its the first single of his which doesn't make me cringe and change the radio station as soon as it starts.

Its hard to believe that its taken this long for his management to give him something that borders on a quality song. Whoever has been (or maybe that should read "whatever hasbin"!) guiding his career this far really needs to get their finger out (and I'm not making any suggestions as to where its been!). One would hope that a similar fate doesn't lie ahead of poor little Leona Lewis..........

Sex and violence still sells!

In an effort to drum up a little more hype, the R-rated trailer for Robert Zemeckis's "Beowulf" has just been released, adding a touch more sex and violence to the mix.
Whereas the first trailer tastefully hinted at Angelina Jolies nudity, this one leaves nothing to the imagination. CGI or no, this woman has no qualms about getting her baps out for the lads :P
I was a tad surprised at just how gory and disturbing some of the new scenes were.........but then I just had to remind myself that this did come from the mind of Neil Gaiman :D


The R-rated trailer for "Alien VS Predator 2: Requiem" is also out now, and is probably the most spoilerific trailer I've seen in my life.
(WARNING : SPOILERS!) One by one, it depicts the grisly demise of (what I assume is) most of the cast, hapless victims that they all are. With special effects that now border on realism, it makes me wonder how people can possibly enjoy watching others get killed in such shockingly violent ways.

Flavour of the week - Jared Leto

As the dreamy Jordan Catalano in the TV show "My So-Called Life", Jared Leto was one of my earliest teen crushes (have you ever seen such captivating eyes?!). Since then hes gone out of his way to star in ever more diverse film roles.

He's also got a surprisingly good voice on him and while most actors misstep horribly when attempting the cross-over to the music world, Leto and his band "30 Seconds to Mars" have been making a credible name for themselves.