David M. Brown's Blog, page 66
March 7, 2013
#BlogFlash2013: Day Five – Health
[image error]Naughty as I am I skipped yesterday’s post but I had a good reason: I wanted to catch up on reading everyone’s Day 1-4 entries. I haven’t done my commenting yet (SORRY!) but I’m totally gaga over all the incredible posts I read. This is why I love #BlogFlash!
Today, I was just about to do my piece for Health when I read Terri Giuliano Long’s entry on Mental Health and how stigmatized mental health illnesses still are. I pretty much did my #BlogFlash post in the comments so I decided to post it here with a link back to Terri’s site because this short but beautiful and poignant post is well worth reading.
[image error]Amazing post. We have to move away from the idea that people can ‘snap out of it’ where illnesses such as depression are concerned. Appreciate the fact that that person is fighting every day and facing misunderstandings, prejudice and the constant accusation of “it’s all in your head” alongside self-hatred, exhaustion, loneliness. Mental illness is life-threatening. It doesn’t have to be so destructive but when there is such a stigma about talking about it – particularly admitting suicidal thoughts – people are going to suffer in silence until they can’t anymore.
Oops – I think I just #BlogFlashed with my comment!
Thank you so much for posting this though. It’s incredibly important.
Related articles (external)
#Blogflash2013: Day Five – Mental Health
Blog For Mental Health 2013
My Year of Mental Health
26,000 sign kids’ mental-health petition
The Sequester: A Mental-Health Crisis
#BlogFlash2013: Day Five – Health | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: The Ice Storm
Starring: Kevin Kline, Katie Holmes, Courtney Peldon, David Krumholtz, Michael Cumpsty
Directed by: Ang Lee
Runtime: 108 minutes
Studio: Walt Disney Studios HE
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Review: The Ice Storm
Ang Lee’s 1997 drama looks at two American families in the early seventies: the Hoods – Ben (Kevin Kline) and Elena (Joan Allen) and their teenage children Paul (Tobey Maguire) and Wendy (Christina Ricci); the Carvers – Jim (Jamey Sheridan) and Janey (Sigourney Weaver) and their two sons Mikey (Elijah Wood) and Sandy (Adam Hann-Byrd). Both marriages are unhappy ones with Ben having an affair with Janey while Jim’s workload has distanced him from his sons, and Elena is feeling lost and looking for new purpose in life. The children are no better. Paul is a light drug user, competing with his roommate Francis (David Krumholtz) for the affections of Libbets Casey (Katie Holmes). Paul’s sister Wendy is in the midst of sexual awakening and though Mikey is happy to take part in her games, she also turns to Sandy as well.
Two families in the midst of so much disorder are all affected by an ice storm that descends on the town and causes chaos. Paul thinks his luck is in when Libbets invites him to her home for Thanksgiving but he is shocked to find Francis there and ready to bed yet another girl that Paul likes. Ben and Elena attend a party which turns out to be a wife swapping event. Jim and Janey are also there which only serves to increase the cracks in both marriages. With her parents out, Wendy decides to hook up with Mikey but ends up in the eager company of Sandy instead. Mikey heads out to enjoy the ice storm instead of meeting with Wendy and that night many things change for both families.
Despite a good cast and being in the capable hands of Ang Lee, something seemed to be missing from The Ice Storm. The characters are not particularly likable with Paul probably coming across as the most harmless. The fact he is away at university might have something to do with this. As with real life there are no easy solutions to these broken marriages and tragedy is waiting to strike which is the only thing that can stop the families and give them any clarity.
The Ice Storm isn’t Ang Lee’s strongest film but it still has some commendable moments. It doesn’t have the emotional punch of Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, which remains his best in my opinion. This was a good storyline but somehow is lacking in the end.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Ice Storm | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 6, 2013
Game Review: Rainbow Islands
One of my earliest memories of playing games back on the Amiga in the early nineties was Rainbow Islands. This sequel to Bubble Bobble was released as an arcade game in 1987 and founds its way onto the Amiga in 1990. Looking back it had the same simplicity as it predecessor and was regarded as one of the best games on the Amiga throughout the computer’s lifetime.
There are 28 levels in all, spread across seven islands, such as Combat Island and Dragon Island. Your main character Bubby (there’s also Bobby in two player mode) starts at the bottom of the level and must ascend to the top via platforms and also the rainbows he can fire. These provide makeshift platforms but are easily broken and soon fade so when climbing them you have to be quick. Enemies that are native to the island stand in your way so you have say caterpillars and flies to contend with on Insect Island, while robots and other mechanical terrors await you on Robot Island. You cannot afford to go slow on the game. If you dawdle an alarm will sound, the message “Hurry Up!” appears, and the pleasant music speeds up! What’s going on? The island is sinking, that’s what. The longer you delay, the sooner the ocean rises and if you don’t keep ahead of it you’re done for!
The seven islands are Insect, Combat, Monster, Toy, Doh’s, Robot and Dragon. After negotiating the four levels you face a boss battle, some easy, others really difficult. The giant spider and bomb dropping helicopter on the first two islands are straightforward but I used to pull my hair out on Monster Island when taking on Dracula. If you didn’t kill him at the first attempt it became much more difficult. Back on the Amiga I think the most progress I ever made was at least as far as Robot Island and maybe Dragon Island, but I never managed to finish Rainbow Islands. This will always upset me because my late grandfather, who also had an Amiga back then, promised me £1.00 if I finished Rainbow Islands but sadly I was never able to collect!
As you traverse the islands your enemies leave useful little items that enhance your character. A red shoe helps you to run faster, a red pot allows you to cast double rainbows (you can build up to triple), a yellow pot makes the rainbows go faster so you can fire them more frequently, and there are an array of foods such as vegetables and cakes to collect though they only add to your score and have no additional benefits.
Another feature of Rainbow Islands is the different endings. You can work your way through the seven islands as quickly as you can to complete the game, but you’ll only win loads of treasure and receive a note informing you that there are prisoners on each island that need to be freed. To do this is not straightforward. Sometimes your enemies leave behind diamonds whose colours are those found on a rainbow. If you collect the coloured diamonds in the right order, you not only liberate a prisoner, but a doorway appears when you go to take on a boss. Instead of fighting the boss you can pop into the doorway and collect a bonus item such as the shoes, wings or the red or yellow pots. The difference with the bonus items is that when you collect them their effects are permanent, whereas their smaller counterparts are lost if your character dies!
Rainbow Islands is a timeless game. Graphically it does show its age but in terms of gameplay it is still great fun. I think I prefer Bubble Bobble as the two player feature is much better than it is here. If you haven’t played the game before it is worth considering. It won’t last long but what’s there is great. I always found this to be a difficult game, especially Dracula, but one day I may go back and complete it in its entirety. I won’t win the money I was once offered but at least I’ll have defeated the game.
Verdict: 5/5
Game Review: Rainbow Islands | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 5, 2013
Film Review: The Mummy
Starring: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Arthur Byron, Edward Van Sloan
Directed by: Karl Freund
Runtime: 73 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures
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Review: The Mummy
It’s a while ago now but I can still recall a time when I would have refused to watch a black and white film. I wrongly assumed all the films from Hollywood’s earliest decades would be vastly inferior to the modern flicks but I’m please to say time gives one new perspectives. The classic horror films are ones I am eager to experience. Lugosi and Karloff I had had no affiliation with until the opportunity came along to try The Mummy, featuring the legendary Mr Karloff himself.
Those that have seen The Mummy (1999) will find some similarities here, indeed that modern film owes a lot to Karloff’s. The film focuses on Imhotep (Boris Karloff) who is mummified at the outset but is resurrected by a group of foolish archaeologists. They have discovered Imhotep’s tomb and along with the mummified body there is the Scroll of Thoth which one fool reads aloud and revives Imhotep. The mummy walks away with the scroll in tow and leaves one archaeologist behind laughing uncontrollably. The film quickly moves on ten years where archaeologists are approached by the mysterious Ardath Bey who gives them clues about some lucrative places to dig. When the archaeologists unearth the tomb of Princess Ankh-es-en-amon fame and glory await but of Ardath Bey?
It was a pleasure to finally see the great Boris Karloff in action. There isn’t much movement from him at the outset being mummified and all but he soon gets going when one of the archaeologists manages to revive him. The mummy disappears into the night with the Scroll of Thoth and a burning desire to complete a ritual from centuries before. We’re soon moving on ten years where Ardath Bey is eager to share secrets of Egypt with opportunist archaeologists and when they unearth some rare treasures and take them to the Cairo Museum, Ardath Bey is eager for an audience with these ancient relics but what is he up to?
It’s no surprise that Ardath Bey is actually Imhotep and herein is the first surprise with the film. I was under the illusion that we would have an actual mummy walking around as at the start of the film but beyond that this is purely Mr Karloff, minus the bandages, at work though to be fair to him he makes for a sinister Imhotep, his striking gaze almost hypnotising. Imhotep wishes to revive Princess Ankh-es-en-amon which explains his eagerness to share Egypt’s secrets. He is host to frightening power and those that stand in his way are soon made to suffer. Complications arise when Imhotep catches sight of Helen Grosvenor (Zita Johann) who is very similar to the Princess he sought from thousands of years ago. The question is will Imhotep succeed in his plans or is there a way to stop him?
I did enjoy The Mummy I’ll be honest with you. Yes, it looks pretty old but so would you on your eightieth anniversary. For a horror film this isn’t overly scary though Karloff manages to convey the malevolence of Imhotep well and makes for a great lead. I’ll certainly be sampling more of Karloff’s work in future as well as Lugosi.
The Mummy won’t give you nightmares but it’s still worth watching to see how horror was handled at the dawn of Hollywood. Karloff is a movie legend today and his performance here offers an insight into his striking presence on screen. The Mummy isn’t Karloff’s most famous work but for an eighty year old horror film I think this is still pretty good.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Mummy | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
#BlogFlash2013: Day Three – Innocence
Thank you to Terri Giuliano Long for hosting another BlogFlash event. To see Terri’s post for the day (and find links for others’ pieces) visit Terri’s blog. Follow along on Twitter (@tglong and#BlogFlash2013) or Facebook.
Day Three – Return to Innocence
[image error]There are some things that catapult you straight back to a particular moment in time: a smell, a certain food, a song. Return to Innocence by Enigma is one of those things for me, along with the taste of Long Island Iced Tea and the smell of cut grass. In those moments I’m a different person: the time is different, my age is different but I also haven’t had those experiences which have since shaped me. Those moments make me appreciate how much we change in our lives.
What catapults you back to the past?
#BlogFlash2013: Day Three – Innocence | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 4, 2013
#BlogFlash2013: Day Two – Technology
Thank you to Terri Giuliano Long for hosting another BlogFlash event. To see Terri’s post for the day (and find links for others’ pieces) visit Terri’s blog. Follow along on Twitter (@tglong and #BlogFlash2013) or Facebook.
Technology: without doubt, both a blessing and a curse
I love:
That I don’t need to own a TV but can still see my favourite movies
That I can chat with someone who lives thousands of miles away
That I can find what I need – however obscure – or where to get it
That I can read an ebook when I’m sitting in the park
I hate: That it feels so difficult to switch off
That technology often lets us forget about the person behind the screen
That when it goes wrong it really goes wrong
I love that we have the opportunity to use technology that would have been deemed magical just a couple of hundred years ago.
#BlogFlash2013: Day Two – Technology | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: 127 Hours
Starring: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Sean Bott, Lizzy Caplan
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Runtime: 89 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
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Review: 127 Hours
Danny Boyle’s Oscar-nominated survival drama received high praise on its release. I’d previously enjoyed the likes of Alive (1992) and Touching the Void (2003) so couldn’t wait to try this one. The film tells the true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco) who headed for Utah’s Canyonlands National Park in April 2003. After biking, hiking and meeting two girls, Kristi (Kate Mara) and Megan (Amber Tamblyn), Aron goes off alone. He heads down the Blue John Canyon when a boulder suspended on the rocks comes loose, falling with Aron and trapping his arm against the canyon wall. With little food and water, Aron faces a desperate struggle for survival and we follow his excruciating ordeal of 127 hours.
The film begins quickly with Aron heading off for a day’s hiking. Crucially he cannot find his Swiss army knife at the start and makes do with a blunt knife, a free accessory with a torch he received as a gift from his mother. Knowing the plot there is a sense of foreboding early in the film and even when Aron falls from his bike he is unconcerned. His life is an adventure. He hangs out with two hikers for a time and they invite him to a party that night which he accepts before going off alone. Aron’s accident is cringe-worthy, the boulder that falls into the canyon with him trapping his arm and proving too heavy for him to move. During five days of isolation Aron assesses his life, a former girlfriend (Clemence Poesy) whose heart he broke and the many calls from his parents which he never returned. At one point Aron films a TV show where he interviews himself and realises just how foolish he has been, heading out hiking and telling no one where he is going. The film culminates in the difficult decision Aron eventually made to amputate his own arm. This is not a straightforward process as you can imagine. The scene itself is not for the faint hearted and although I wouldn’t describe it as gory it is still an unpleasant moment. When it’s over you will feel for Aron and that this really happened makes it all the more harder to watch.
I really enjoyed 127 Hours. It lost out to The King’s Speech at the Oscars but there is no shame there. Franco is superb in the lead, spending the majority of the film alone and having to keep us gripped throughout which he accomplishes exceptionally well. I enjoyed the story so much that I had to read more about Aron and the aftermath is just as inspiring as his incredible story of survival. There is a valuable lesson or two within the film as well.
127 Hours is a brilliant survival drama of one man that endures so much before literally cutting himself free. Well directed and acted throughout, this is well worth the praise it has enjoyed. If you don’t know Aron’s story then this is a great opportunity to find out more about this remarkable man.
Verdict: 5/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: 127 Hours | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Much Ado About Nothing
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Briers
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Runtime: 104 minutes
Studio: MGM
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Review: Much Ado About Nothing
Gone are the days for me when William Shakespeare used to be an ordeal. I had a taste of the great man’s work at school, college and university. There was no escaping Will as I was growing up and my issues with him at the time were the difficulties in understanding the plays. While I don’t always understand every word even now I do appreciate just how integral he is to world literature. Mrs B recommended Kenneth Branagh’s take on Much Ado About Nothing and having not yet read the play I was happy to give it a try.
The film centres a visit made by Don Pedro (Denzil Washington) and a group of nobleman to the house of Leonato (Richard Briers) in Messina. What begins as a pleasant social gathering sees romance in the air with young count, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), finding Leonato’s daughter, Hero (Kate Beckinsale), as fair as he remembered before going to fight in a war. Don Pedro is quick to orchestrate a union between the two and wedding is soon planned. Don Pedro doesn’t count on his scheming half-brother Don John (Keanu Reeves) who plots to ruin the wedding plans and scupper Don Pedro’s plans. Amidst this intrigue are Leonato’s headstrong niece, Beatrice (Emma Thompson), with an aversion for men and Don Pedro’s friend and nobleman, Benedick (Kenneth Branagh), who has an aversion for women.
The film opens with Don Pedro’s arrival at Governor Leonato’s house and much excitement is in the air amongst the household at the prospect of many nobles dining amongst them. From the early introductions it is clear that Benedick and Beatrice have some history between them but in the present both are equally dismissive and impolite of another, quite content to stay out of each other’s way. Everyone is too caught up in the proposed union between Claudio and Hero to heed the warning signs from the evil Don John who is far from content with his status, being second to his esteemed half-brother and even having less privilege in Don Pedro’s eyes than the promising Claudio. With happiness heading the way of Claudio and Hero, Don John decides to try and ruin the wedding by driving a fierce wedge between the young couple.
Amidst the wedding plans, Don Pedro and Leonato hatch a plan to force a union between Benedick and Beatrice. Given their dislike for one another and lack of interest in the opposite sex this seems an impossible task. Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio choose their moment carefully. Sitting in the Governor’s gardens they speak loudly of Beatrice’s love for Benedick, knowing the verbose nobleman is in earshot though he hides and listens in. Hero plays the same trick on Beatrice, having her overhear talk of Benedick’s love for her and before we know it both Benedick and Beatrice are suddenly uncertain about their feelings for one another and it becomes a confusing time. The course of true love is never smooth, especially in Shakespeare, and when Don John’s plan to ruin the wedding succeeds it seems all hope is lost for Claudio and Hero, but also for Benedick and Beatrice.
Much Ado About Nothing is a fun and well acted adaptation of Shakespeare. Branagh is a specialist in the Bard’s work and doesn’t really put a foot wrong with his direction and portrayal of Benedick who is a great talker and fierce verbal sparrer at the outset but once he hears Beatrice loves him he begins to waver. Thompson is delightful as Beatrice, matching the ferocity of Benedick in the verbal exchanges and not being the sort of woman that sits around waiting for a husband, she is clearly independent and confident of managing without a man in her life, until she believes Benedick loves her! The rest of the cast are all very good with some great turns from Washington, Briers, Leonard and an amusing appearance from Michael Keaton while Keanu Reeves is effective as the evil Don John.
Much Ado About Nothing is a funny, romantic and dramatic Shakespeare adaptation boasting some good performance and great set-pieces. Perhaps not as vivid in the memory as a story like Romeo and Juliet and with an easy resolution in the end, this is still a lot of fun.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Much Ado About Nothing | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 3, 2013
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week – Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go was the first no.1 hit for Wham! and followed their transformation from moody songs to more upbeat colourful eighties party classics. This change in the group propelled them to global stardom. Having already built up a loyal fanbase before, Wham! could do no wrong but as a group they would disband a mere two years later.
Strangely enough, this song was inspired by a note Andrew Ridgley left for his parents asking them to wake him up up before they go. Having seen the error he stuck another “go” on the end. It seems a strange mix-up to inspire one of the eighties’ most well-known hits but Wham! with their new image and sound hit the big time. George also moved into solo work and though Wham! didn’t survive for much longer, George’s career would go from strength to strength, only to be sadly marred by controversies in more recent years.
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week – Wake Me Up Before You Go Go | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 2, 2013
Film Review: The Remains of the Day
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Christopher Reeve, Hugh Grant, Lena Headey
Directed by: James Ivory
Runtime: 134 minutes
Studio: Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment
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Review: The Remains of the Day
I enjoy the theme of unrequited love and it’s played a part in my writing and will continue to do so. Admitting one’s feelings for another is never an easy thing and in James Ivory’s The Remains of the Day, an adaptation of the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, we have a poignant tale of unrequited love that was nominated for eight Oscars but is it worth all the fuss?
The film opens in England in the 1950s where Mr Stevens (Anthony Hopkins), a butler at Darlington Hall, receives a letter from a former colleague, Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson), who used to be a housekeeper. The house owner, Mr Lewis (Christopher Reeve), agrees to give Stevens some time off to visit Miss Kenton. On the long drive, Stevens takes us back twenty years to 1930s England where he is butler to the misguided Lord Darlington (James Fox) and his fierce loyalty to his master and to social convention is threatened by the housekeeper, Miss Kenton.
Mr Stevens is an exemplary butler, head of a large household of staff but more than meeting his match in Miss Kenton. They clash many times when she first works at Darlington Hall but over time things slowly change. Stevens is utterly flawless at his work, keeping house clean, supervising staff at meal times and ensuring Lord Darlington and his many guests are never left with an empty glass. So focussed is Stevens on his work that he seems devoid of emotion. He enlists his father to work at the house only for the ageing servant to prove something of a liability. While serving Lord Darlington and guests at an elaborate dinner, Mr Stevens is summoned to his dying father’s bedside but he doesn’t even budge. Servitude is more important than his father’s mortality. By the time he does get away Stevens finds his father is already dead. The servants, including Miss Kenton, are in tears and she tries to console the butler only for him to insist he must get back to his duties. It is cold but it’s also the extent to how deeply engraved perfection and service are in Stevens’ heart.
As time passes the relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton becomes warmer. She often jokes with him but Stevens is unmoved, his barriers too thick for her to break down. In one powerful scene Miss Kenton finds Stevens in his room reading and backs him into a corner, struggling to prise the book out of his grasp. Stevens is visibly drawn to Miss Kenton but he controls himself and no romance develops. Miss Kenton has clearly fallen for Mr Stevens but sadly he cannot return her feelings and this is the core of the film, the unrequited love and the damage that it does to Stevens, all of his own making. We’re eventually led to Miss Kenton’s departure from Darlington Hall and you will scream at the screen as Stevens has a few opportunities to reciprocate Miss Kenton’s feelings. The worst has to be when he hears her crying in her room and stands outside hesitating. When Stevens finally enters the room you’ll be thinking will he say something now? No. He hesitates again then asks Miss Kenton to make sure a part of the house is cleaned! Stevens’ loss is augmented by the descent of Lord Darlington into unforgivable ties with the Nazis in the build up to the Second World War. Twenty years on, Stevens makes for a reunion with Miss Kenton but can he finally tell her how he feels?
The Remains of the Day is beautifully acted throughout. Thompson is delightful as Miss Kenton but Hopkins is simply perfect as Mr Stevens, whose penchant for servitude supersedes everything else, including his own happiness, but does he realise too late? A great supporting cast includes Christopher Reeve and an up and coming Hugh Grant but it’s Hopkins and Thompson that will demand your full attention.
The Remains of the Day is a simple but beautifully told story. The relationship between Mr Stevens and Miss Kenton will make you more angry than happy but the great acting and pristine English countryside will counterbalance all of that. Arguably career best performances from Hopkins and Thompson, this one is not to be missed.
Verdict: 5/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Remains of the Day | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
