The Day The Earth DIDN'T Stay Still...

Hey everyone!
Well, well, well. Today I went on a small excursion to my local cinema. What I really wanted to see was New Moon, mainly because I'm fed up of people going on about it and thought that after I went to see it, it would stop being cool, as usually happens. Alas, the showings were at really awkawrd times, and the only other good thing showing was 2012, so I went for that instead. And actually, it was a good decision. This film will amaze you. Fact.
Plot-wise, I'll admit it was pretty rubbish. Dubious science aside, half the characters seemed to exist just to feel sorry for themselves, and the other half were too stuck up and arrogant to care about the ordinary people. On top of this, I got the impression that throughout the movie essentially every disaster movie for the past ten years had been plagiarised - There were elements of Knowing, elements of Titanic, Day After Tomorrow, Sky Captain, not to mention plenty of Biblical references. The two things that stand out to me were, firstly, the fact that two people, of dubious experience, could fly a completely un-prepped Antonov (that's the largest aeroplane in the world, for those not in the know) off a rapidly shortening runway and get it all the way from America to China without any mishaps until the last minute. I mean, come on! Forget neutrino particles, or whatever, it's little things like that which ruin it for me. The other thing was the fact that the whole make-or-break relies on the lead character pulling some guy's leg out from between too giant cogs. You'd have thought they'd have had a backup system or something.
Despite this, the movie left me with an impression of brilliance, and that brilliance was due, for the most part, to the incredible graphics employed throughout the movie. Ultimately, that is the movie's Unique Selling Point - the fact that it depicts the end of the world in greater detain and realism than ever before. And it delivers, easily! There isn't a building left standing by the end of it. The Yellowstone volcano was breathtaking, but that was only the start! Admittedly, it was a little more sinister in my opinion because one of my few real fears is... well, inevitability. Like, when you know something really bad is going to happen, but can't stop it. So that bit with the aircraft carrier was a bit distressting, and likewise the many bottomless pit of doom incidents. That's what makes this movie so great though - it ramps up the fear factor to make the end seem ever more victorious. That guy must be gutted about his leg, though.
Those who know me well will have recognised that I'm a sucker for inspiring epic-ness, and 2012 delivered this both in the single 2-hour-ish dose and also through a lasting impression - I've just downloaded the credits song - Time For Miracles by Adam Lambert, which has some awesome chords and has got be thinking, as many things do these days. Quite what'll become of this inspiration remains to be seen - I've got far too much schoolwork to be doing to spend time projects that are actually fun and creative, clearly! But until life clears up a little,

See ya 'round!

Jack

Rogue 4, Standing By...

HEY! Surprise!
Anyway, I'm in a particular good mood today because of some very exciting developments in the world of the Rogue Traders! That'll have to wait, though, because I've recently gotten my mitts on Empire At War. As Star Wars games go, it's.... pretty definitive. It captures perfectly the whole spirit of the original Star Wars movies, something I think is quite important. Now that the "real" Star Wars movies are over (At least until someone does a remake - "The Star Wars", anyone?), it's an increasing worry that all the next generation will remember is Jedi, battle droids and Obi-Wan with a wooden beard. Gone, in general, are the days of chasing TIE Fighters down the Death Star trench, unless it's in LEGO. Gone are the days when faceless drones would provoke humorous responses without an air of desparation. Gone are the days when Boba Fett stalked his quarry through the smoky chambers of Jabba's Palace. the Star Wars ethos was practically obliterated with just two words: Clone Wars.
But there is a glimmer of hope. A few years ago, Empire At War blasted onto computer screens. It's esentially a strategy game; you command the Rebel Alliance or the evil but cool Empire (No wishy-washy Separatists here) and attempt to conquer the galaxy, through the medium of map-based, land-based AND space-based RTS. And it is all done in real-time as well, even the Galactic Map sections. Where this game differs from others of its type, however, is in the ingenious little button known as the "BattleCam." Essentially, when war is in full swing, the player can switch to BattleCam and watch the fight unfold before his/her eyes in cinematics which put him/her right in the thick of the battle - Just like in a Star Wars movie!
And there's more. Whilst there are echoes of the Clone Wars in here (Geonosis crops up; The clone Assault Cruisers still have a presence), the game is at heart a return to the 'golden years' of Star Wars videogames. Back in the days of Rogue Squadron and X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. Wow, those were good times. Sometimes it is easy to forget the older Star Wars movies - After all, our generation was one whose final impression of the universe was Anakin being burnt to a crisp and Padme giving birth in a hospital run by faceless CGI spacemen. But then things like this turn up, and remind you that, while episodes I-III may have been good movies (more or less), they weren't really Star Wars. So I guess what I'm saying is, more than being a good game, which it is, Empire At War could get by purely as a nostalgia tour for those who saw the last three first.
Anyway, in other news... I know you're bored of me going down this road, so I'll keep schtum about it afterwards, but let me first make a reccomendation. If you've taken my former advice and listened to any music by Frank Turner, (A) Good on ya, and (B) Now I suggest you try Ben Folds. Genre-wise, he's a little different, mainly piano ballads and such but with a bit of rock in there as well, but thematically the two are quite similar, both clearly students of the Larkin school. In terms of albums... Rockin' The Suburbs is probably the best, because of its variety and its memorable tunes. So yeah, there's that.
But now the moment you've all been waiting for... The Rogue Traders are back!! Yes, Today (or yesterday) the video for their latest song, "Love Is A War" went live. In this blogger's humble opinion, I have yet to like Mindi, the new singer, as much as I liked Nathalie, purely because her voice is so squeaky! She's like a mouse! To be fair, with only one song to go on, I can't really judge, so I'll wait and see when the rest of the album comes out. Other than that, awesome as usual! The Rogues are definitely back on form. Not necessarily better than Voodoo Child, but definitely better than most of the other stuff in the charts currently. If they release over here, I'll definitely download it ASAP!
Speaking of which... They've also finally released Better In The Dark (that's the third album) on the UK iTunes! Wahey!! Needless to say, I downloaded it the moment I saw it, and after one listen, I'm impressed. It doesn't quite have the same variety or originality as Here Come The Drums, but it is definitely a disc choca-block with party anthems! So yeah, download that too.
I think that's all I need to talk about today, so until next time, think of me on your way to the disco...

...on your way to the disco!

Jack

Fighting the Vampires

Hey everyone.
The thing that's bugging me most at the moment is Twilight. Yes, I know, I've extolled its virtues many times before, but after much thought I am sure of one thing: Every guy in the world must hate the Twilight films. Think about it. Back in 2007, it was perfectly acceptable to be normal. To be imperfect. To be human. I mean, there was Daniel Craig for the dads to aspire to, but Harry and Ron never had a fan-girl following, did they??
And then Twilight comes along. Suddenly being average is not okay. Suddenly the female gender starts to compare everyone they see to the supposed demigods Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Even Mike Newton looked quite handsome. Suddenly you have to be an Edward Cullen clone just to have any chance of getting a girl to notice you. And those who know me will know that I'm the least Cullen-est of potential Cullens. I mean, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's not a problem. Maybe out there in the real world every man is the very image of perfection, and when you leave school all your faults just evaporate and you become another generic model.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the books and I could see why the film was good... sort of... but you can't deny that the romantic livelihoods of the male gender collectively went into a tailspin the moment Pattinson stepped onscreen. Any slim chance I may have had of getting someone to love me has officially been obliterated for the next ten years or so. I know girls have had the same issue for many, many more years, and I don't want to seem insensitive. On the contrary, I'm only just realising how extreme the pressure is. It's like, everywhere I go, Pattinson's cold eyes are staring back at me, saying "I am the best. You are nothing. Just try and be like me."

So yeah, I guess what I'm saying is: Body image has become a guy problem too.

And I hate Vampires.

Jack

Ood Days And Bad Days...

Well...

Cripes, where to start? I'd better say hello: Hello! Where I'm sure you were all expecting a deep insightful reflection on my life, I'm afraid you've come across something far worse: That's right, it's the Who Review!! Yes, the Great Doctor Who Famine is now officially over, with the Waters of Mars airing... literally, just now! And boy, do we have a lot to talk about!!
Okay, first things first.... plot. Internally, as a stand-alone story, I must admit the plot is not that great - The alien virus doesn't even have a name, we never find out what they're up to with the ice, not to mention the fact that a robot covered in Martian water has just been left lying around in the street! I mean, I loved the premise, I loved the ideas, but given that it was predicted to be the scariest episode ever, I wasn't really that satisfied. Nevertheless, it was almost worth it just for that feel-good, grin-spreading glorious moment when the Doctor springs back into action! Even if it was a bit short-lived.
This brings me smoothly on to the "contextual" plot. Namely, the Doctor going through his grumpy teenager phase. No, wait, that's clearly an understatement. I think what surprised me most is the Doctor's arrogance - He's never been so overtly full of himself. I mean, he's been mischeivously so sometimes (quote: "I'm very good!"), but never as extreme as "The Time Lord victorious" before! I mean, that's Master talk! Or worse!! Just because he knows he can't die until he meets the Master again, and because there's no-one else to keep him under control, he suddenly thinks he can go around changing time willy-nilly. Isn't that going against everything else you've already said? Isn't that contradicting five years of well-established ethos? Rose would be ashamed of you! But maybe that's just it: He doesn't have a companion any more, there's no-one to be his conscience. I mean, if any of us were in his position, I'm sure we would do the same, but his whole belief is that certain events can never be contradicted. He ought to know better! Y'know... just for once, I don't like the Doctor. The Final word is "No." But it's the kind of "No" that sends shivers down your spine...
Okay, boring bit now. Non-Lit students skip this paragraph. But I couldn't help making comparisons, especially towards the end, between Who and Oedipus. The idea that no matter what you do, fate always catches up with you. Nobody outwits the Oooood... It's not just that, it's the whole idea that the higher you climb, the greater your fall. They spent five years establishing that the Doctor has this code of what you can and can't do in Time, and the whole "aren't-I-good-I-follow-the-rules" concept, and the moment he realises that, actually, there shouldn't be anyone to care if he does break the rules, everything goes completely wrong. I guess you're supposed to feel sorry for him, but like Oedipus, I really don't. Does that make me a bad viewer? Possibly. C'mon Doctor Who, I dare you to make me cry again!
Anyway, Oedipus analogies over, Setting! Honestly, how amazing was that Mars base?! I know maybe it wasn't as 'tangible' as the desert of the last one, but all the same - The fact that you can go from barren rubble one moment, to lush rainforest the next, to grimy maintenance corridors, to pristine labs and computers, and the middle of it all, the TARDIS... actually, thinking about it, the TARDIS hasn't had a proper look in for aeons, it seems. I mean, it was vaguely important in this one, I guess, but considering the Doctor is pretty useless if he can't actually do any travelling, you'd expect it to be more important. I dunno, maybe they're preparing it for some massively pivotal role in the final story. It deserves that much. But yeah, back to what I was saying, just the sheer contrast in settings was beautiful, even if the glacier room was just Warehouse 15 from Series 4... hehehe... Good use of the Eden project though, or wherever it was they filmed.
This brings me on to the graphics and effects. Um... actually, not convinced. I mean, at face value, they were okay, but little things annoyed me. Like, the monsters, when they squirted water out of their mouths, it was clearly just some squeezy pouch that forced water out a tiny hole when they bit down, or something. That's why they couldn't talk! And the external shots of the base weren't quite as refined as, say, the Ood planet, or the Library for instance. Matte paintings, that's the key! Also, when Gadget was doing his turbo-charged thing - Great for little kids, and quite funny, but when the rest of the episode is trying to be professional and deal with actually quite serious deep thoughts, the idea of a cute robot whizzing cheesily across the desert kind of undermines the whole effect.
So, cast. Remember that darker side of the Doctor I was craving after last episode? I should never have doubted them. A bad day for the Doctor is a good day for David Tennant, and he played his role amazingly. Even the last lines - You might worry that, having been the character for four years, he would turn around and say, "hang on a minute, the Doc would never say this! Ever!" But instead he launches himself into every second, cramming the emotion in there. It's almost a pantomime: The fear, the mourning, the arrogance, the... control-freak-ness. The others were... alright. I mean, clearly, the spotlight was on the Doctor, but even then, the others maybe didn't get as much exposure as they should have. I think the most poignant thing about Adelaide was her suicide at the end; to have come through all that, to have been told you're "supposed" to die, and then to have been told, "actually, don't die, otherwise the Doctor won't like it." It's almost as though she understood Time better than he does.
Okay... it's time to talk... MUSIC! And, well, once again, Murray Gold has done what only he can do - made us feel every emotion on the scale. Everything from the militaristic drumbeat of them running down the corridor the first time, to the haunting choral numbers which foreshadow death - the crew's and his own. Yes, that's right, note similarities between the score of TWoM and the Ood Songs of Captivity and Freedom. And there at the head of it all, that iconic action tune, undoubtedly stolen from Pirates but every bit as recognisable as the theme tune itself. When that comes on, no matter how big-headed the Doctor may seem, you can't resist grinning and thinking "Yay, he's saving the day again!". Mr Gold, I salute you.
Now, let's get down to the serious part. What can all this mean for the future? The Ood are... back? Ish? Maybe? Or maybe the Doc's just hallucinating. Darn it, I said I wouldn't talk about the trailer, but YES, they are back! and sporting a nice enlarged cranium there, if I may say so myself. And purple. Definitely their colour. I have a hunch there's a connection between the Ood and the Time Lords. I think the Ood have summoned the Doctor to bring him to justice regarding his time manipulation. Not just that, I think the Ood ARE Time Lords in hiding... maybe that's stretching it too far. But the Ood clearly have some control over the strands of Fate. What if they manipulated (somehow) the Master to come back because only another Time Lord could make the Doctor recognise what's wrong with him. After all, there's been a recurring theme of people who are "almost" the Doctor. But maybe they brought the master back with that intention, only once he's achieved his goal, he starts wreaking havoc, and it's up to the Doctor to go back and stop him. Or something. So yeah, what I'm saying is that maybe the Master is initially the good guy, but the Doctor doesn't recognise that until it's too late... just trying to be dramatic here.
And Catherine Tate's back. Groan. I mean, come on! Doesn't she burst into flames if she remembers, or something? Or maybe the whole idea is she doesn't recognise the Master, and they become friends, which essentially makes him invulnerable, because the Doctor can't do anything when she's around. I dunno, my head is far too full of ideas. Maybe I should just wait and see what happens. That's never successfully happened before, but still! Anyway, leave a comment or somesuch if this has piqued your interest, and if not, well, I'm happy to have wasted your time yet again! To misquote Panic at the Disco, "Things are shaping up to be pretty Ood!"

See ya 'round!

Jack

Second Thoughts

Hello folks!

I've got another confession to make. And no, no-one's getting the best, the best, the best, the best of me. Having considered what I wrote yesterday, but in the cold light and fresh air of day, I've decided that it's really not bugging me that much. It was late last night and History homework had been frustrating me. Can you forgive me? I mean, the same things I said still annoy me, but maybe I'm not quite as fed up with them as I made out. So yeah, I'm not infallible, and the whole purpose of this blog is for me to be able to write what I think as I think it. So, sorry anyone who was expecting drama, but passivity has won out yet again.

In other news, I'm just debating whether to watch the latest FlashForward episode or a film I've been given to watch for French. On the one hand, my conscience tells me to do the former because that way I can hand it back in tomorrow, but on the other, I can't get enough of Jack Davenport in that series. I mean, considering he's a villain, albeit a reluctant one, I find myself oddly sympathetic to him, and oddly apathetic to the alcoholic police guy who's supposed to be the hero. He just seems much more suited to his role here than in Pirates, but he doesn't get nearly enough time on camera.

Darn it, my conscience is too good. FlashForward tomorrow!

See ya 'round!

Jack

Weep Is For The Sleek

Hello friends and relations!
Much as I'm trying to keep up my cheery disposition, certain things are getting me down at the moment. Firstly, a friend lent me Frank Turner's first-ish album, 'Sleep is for the Week'. It's not bad musically, surprisingly similar to 'Poetry of the Deed', and I can't say it's beaten 'Love Ire and Song', but it would be bearable from a sound point of view. The thing that's set me off is that currently, whenever I listen to Turner's music, it reminds me too much of other people cramming their own opinions down my throat and not giving me a chance to get a word in edgeways. If that makes sense. I mean, I hate having to talk over people, because I just don't do it, but I'm fed up with having my own views drowned out. I don't want to be taught a lesson, I want to have a conversation. My opinions are worth as much as yours.
I know this isn't directly linked to Frank Turner. After all, expressing his views is practically his staple food, if his lyrical content is anything to go on. And the whole thing with his music, as with all artists' work, is that you can't stop them mid-flow and say, "hang on a sec, I disagree with you there.". That I understand. But just because an artist can't have a conversation with their audience, doesn't mean a normal person shouldn't. Next time we try to have a conversation, I don't want to recieve a soliloquy, and then be smiled at patronisingly when I say what I think. I want you to know who I am just as much as you want me to know who you are. I'd rather not go through life never saying anything of value, always having to submit to the other person.
I know it seems really cowardly me writing this here, but I'm going to say this to the face of those concerned tomorrow. This is just streaming live from my brain - literally, the entirety of the argument is still forming from a jumbled up blob of feeling. But I guess what it boils down to is: I take you seriously. So take me seriously too.
Anyway, let's move on. You'll be shocked to hear that I've decided I officially don't fancy anyone at the moment. So yeah, contrary to what my usual tune is, I am currently quite happy being single. Maybe it's work driving all other thoughts from my brain, or maybe it's just time for a fresh start. Maybe I'm just fed up with everyone! Bah, humbug! Six months from now I'll be in a new house, in a new University, with new people to meet and new things to experience, and then we'll see. But even a girl I chased after for three years, I looked at her today and thought: Her nose looks huge. No offense - I used to find it attractive. Now, I don't know what kind of planetary alignment must have been completed for this phenomenon to occur, but I'm happy knowing that I can reset now at zero and see what happens next year.
Cripes, it's another post full of deep thoughts. But on a brighter note, I'm going to treat myself to some Paloma Faith tickets for March next year! No idea who I'm going to invite - any takers? But yeah, that should be awesome; she strikes me as the sort of artist who would be good on stage. After all, she's also an actor and a former magician's apprentice. And I love her accent. I really do. On top of that, I need to write my Christmas List soon, and start thinking about what to buy people!
Finally, I can barely contain my excitement because next Sunday is the EVENT that is the next Doctor Who special: 'The Waters of Mars'!! I won't get my hopes up, but it could potentially be as scary as the Ood or the Stephen Moffat episodes of the previous serieses. Imagine being scared of water! Is there nothing they haven't tried to terrify us with?? So yeah, expect a full review of that once I've watched it, and until then, keep smiling!

Jack