A Day in Northumbria

The weekend before last, we were gifted with some beautiful and unnaturally hot weather (and to think, I once complained that it was unnaturally cold for a while).  While the sun prevailed, I decided to take a day off and take a ride to Northumbria.  There are many fantastic sights and castles to be seen in this English district; running along the coast north of Newcastle, we were able to visit Warkworth Castle and Dunstanburgh Castle.

Warkworth is a castle I remember well, for I had visited it several years earlier.  Despite the ruined state of the bailey, its walls are still tall and impressive.  Its gatehouse is especially noteworthy, for it has multiple gates that, in the medieval times, would have trapped unwanted guests; archers behind the walls would have turned the gatehouse into a merciless kill zone.  Beyond the gates, there are some ruined towers, and one impressively-intact keep.  From the keep, it is possible to see the nearby town of Amble, the ocean beyond, and a lighthouse in the distance.

Warkworth Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle required a substantial walk from the small coastal town of Craster; it took at least thirty minutes to cross the wide-open fields between the town and the castle.  Even from a distance, the castle is a unique sight, with its ruined round tower and its long wall stretching toward the sea.  A number of sheep and cows were grazing all around.  At the castle, I didn't have time to walk around its grounds (I needed another thirty minutes to walk back to town; if I lingered around the castle any longer, I feared the gates would have closed).  As it is, I saw a big tower on the other end of the castle grounds.

Dunstanburgh Castle

In between the two castles, we stumbled upon a beach near Warkworth that was hardly occupied.  On any other English day, it probably would have been cold and dreary; on this day, it was a magnificent pleasure to feel the hot sand and cool ocean water at our feet.  I realized that it had been years since I've visited a proper beach; even though I didn't come prepared for a swim, it was still refreshing and inspirational to walk along the shoreline.

Warkworth beach, with a heavy mist from the ocean spray.

In spite of all these activities, we never did find the time to explore Holy Island, Bamburgh, or Lindisfarne, which would have been our next destinations.  There just wasn't enough time in the day to visit them all; on the plus side, this leaves more for us to do on a future excursion.

Cold Spring, Hot Summer

Here in England, it seems as though we've had nothing but cold, dark, rainy weather for the entire spring time.  There were a few nice days in March, but the rest has been nothing but coldness.  I don't think I've ever seen the cold last this long; it was getting rather disconcerting.

Fortunately, the last few days have cleared up perfectly, and we've been blessed with perfect summer weather.  It's so perfect, it's almost become unnaturally hot for England.  It's ultimately weird how his spring has embodied both the extreme cold and the extreme heat in such a short time frame.

The sheep are watching...

Having endured so many cold days, I was compelled to drive around and explore someplace new.  One lunch break, I took a walk around Fewston reservoir, which was nice in itself.  After work, I went to Grimwith reservoir and went for a loner hike.  Sure, it's not quite as thrilling as visiting a place like London or Leeds or a major historic site; the problem is, such places tend to be crowded, busy, and stressful.  In both cases, the scenery was gorgeous.  Both areas were exquisitely quiet and tranquil.  Not only do places like these produce nice photos, but they are relaxing.  It feels very down-to-Earth to be among natural beauty.  Even if the good weather doesn't prevail, I was more than happy to have visited these places.

Grimwith Reservoir.

As far as writing goes, it's been going, believe it or not.  My five-year endeavor on Angel-Craft might finally be coming to an end, but there is still much work to do.  If there's time, I'll keep on working on my short stories as well, and hopefully post another one here soon.

Creepy sheep skull on the sign for Grimwith Reservoir.

Five years of assembling; four superheroes; one epic movie!

The Avengers

Over the past twelve years or so, the market has been pummeled by superhero films.  It’s gotten to the point where Marvel itself has become a studio all on its own, with the resources and corporate strength to make its own products and keep them uniform.  In the past five years, the releases of Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Captain America have all been carefully planned and marketed so that the ultimate mash-up of superheroes can be brought to the big screen.  With so many characters from so many different films by so many different directors starring so many different actors, I imagine that bringing all of these storylines together and making them coherent could have been disastrous under lesser talents (or, it could have easily been ruined by too much post-production tampering by studio executives, as it was with X-Men Origins: Wolverine).

Rest assured:  The Avengers is a well-oiled and carefully-constructed machine, which successfully pumps out the fun.  The action in the first half generally doesn’t disappoint; there are a whole bunch of impressive fight scenes among the different superheroes, and even among the minor characters, before things shape up and lead into a massive grand finale.  The mass destruction throughout the finale is truly awe-inspiring, and each hero gets their fair share of action.  But what really makes this film work is that the tone is perfect for this type of summer blockbuster.  There is enough humor throughout to keep the story light and fun, and to keep it accessible to all audiences.  It is every bit as fun of a superhero movie as every other superhero movie before it; as ambitious as the project is, however, it comes quite close to being the end-all be-all superhero film.

Fortunately, the film is not entirely shallow either.  If generally follows the same plot formula of The Ultimate Avengers cartoon that came out in 2006; this film version is far more in-depth, especially with its roots dug firmly in the previously-mentioned Marvel films.  Chances are that if you haven’t seen these other films, you may be missing out on some minor details concerning who the characters are, where they come from, what SHIELD is exactly, and how the various artifacts came together for The Avengers. Going into it blind may leave a few folks in the dark.  But even if you have the most basic knowledge of who the different characters are, you should be able to pick up on it and just enjoy the ride.  Even when the thrill ride isn’t running at full speed, the film manages to keep things rolling, thanks largely to the characters and their complex interactions.  Each character remains true to themselves, with hardly any scene or line that can be considered stupid or out-of-character.  Each character serves to reinforce the idea that the Avengers team is dysfunctional and dangerous.  There are probably some finer points that get buried (such as the fate of Betty Ross, or Jane Foster (which is mentioned just briefly), or Steve Rodger’s adjustment to the 21st century (which was cut from the film)); ultimately, there’s enough to the film where these points don’t even come to mind that much.

Cinematically, the film is every bit as slick and polished as the other Marvel films.  Photography is very solid, and looks good all the way through.  Editing is good.  Acting is top-notch:  just about every actor brings their A-game to the table.  Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L Jackson all inhabit their characters very well.  Mark Ruffalo is not bad playing Bruce Banner; I do prefer Edward Norton and Eric Banna in the role, but Ruffalo’s performance is earnest and satisfying.  Writing all around is great; the dialogue is often witty, and maintains its focus on the characters perfectly.  This production spares no expense on the sets, props, costumes, and special effects.  Music isn’t bad either.

This film met my expectations perfectly.  Chances are that, thanks to the hype, some may find this film overrated.  Regardless, I don’t really see anything wrong with this film, and I feel no shame in granting it a perfect score.  Recommended!

5/5 (entertainment:  5/5, story:  4.5/5, film:  4.5/5)

Time really is money.

In Time


How’s this idea for a scary future: everybody who lives past 25 years gets one more year to live, and all their time can be earned and spent as currency. It can be quite interesting to see this scenario and how it’s implemented; if nothing else, the film does a fine job of presenting its main concept and sticking with it. There is a fair amount of action (some fighting and car chases), but nothing that really stands out. Fortunately, the film never really bored me at all.

I found the story and concept to be quite interesting. Anybody who knows sci-fi inside-out may immediately draw some parallels to Logan’s Run, and given the standard dystopian setup, they may find this film quite predictable (although throughout the last hour or so, I felt this was some kind of sci-fi version of Bonnie and Clyde, and I thought it was cool that way). With the premise, there are a lot of inherent implications that can be drawn (with some help from the script, which makes clever use of time-themed phraseologies); the film seems to occasionally hint at the audience that time is short, time is precious, and we gotta make the most out of what little time we have. It also goes on to underscore the dichotomy between the rich and the poor (as do most dystopian stories). At the core, the story has a serviceable set of characters; they’re not mind-blowingly deep, but they aren’t totally boring either.

The film is competently made, with decent photography and editing. Acting is a mixed bag; it can be hard to take Justin Timberlake seriously, but he does have his moments. Amanda Seyfried is gorgeous and I loved watching her in her role; Cillian Murphy was pretty darn cool as the Timekeeper. Writing shows a few good strengths and a few bad weaknesses. This production has decent-looking sets, props, and costumes. It’s one of those movies that uses modern locales and props to show an ultramodern setting. Music is alright.

In the end, I didn’t really see that much wrong with this film.  I'd recommend it as a rental for anybody who's interested.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4/5, film: 4/5)

"People have an innate desire for conflict."

Sherlock Holmes:  A Game of Shadows

This film is pretty much more of the same. Those who enjoyed the first Sherlock Holmes will likely enjoy this as well, with its wild visual flair, its explosive action scenes, and its amusing chemistry between the two leading characters (plus, some added chemistry with the villain). Those who didn’t like all this probably won’t like this sequel either.

You can definitely expect action in this film; there are plenty of fight scenes, some wild gunfighting, and a lot of stylish slow-motion scenes. I think it’s all pretty darn cool, but chances are that all this emphasis on style and action will be off-putting for many folks.

As far as the story goes, it’s a little disappointing to see that it’s very linear, with none of the mystery or intrigue that went into the first film (and all the classic stories). It works as a straightforward actioner, but not so much as a mystery. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Tomorrow Never Dies. Fortunately, the story continues to put the emphasis on the characters; Sherlock Holmes is as manic and ingenious as before, if not moreso, while Watson continues to serve as a quality foil character. What will really make this story worthwhile will be the revealing and exploration of Moriarty, whose intellect matches Sherlock’s, and causes the two to become entangled in a form of intellectual mortal combat (which takes on a literal interpretation in the film). It’s generally fun and satisfying, but still leaves a lot of room for further exploration (I’m assuming a third film will come along and form this into a cohesive trilogy).

Cinematically, it has much the same style as the first film. It’s very stylish with lots of interesting camera angles and trickery, and interesting editing. Acting is still very strong, with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law reprising their roles impeccably. Jared Harris plays Moriarty like a classic megalomaniac villain (which is good). I rather enjoyed watching Noomi Rapace in her role. Writing is about as strong as the first film. This production has an insane amount of quality sets, props, and costumes, with quality special effects. Music is still very folky (and it’s good that way).

Recommended only if you liked the first film.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 4.5/5)

Mission finally accomplished?!

Mission Impossible:  Ghost Protocol

After one-and-a-half decades, this is now the fourth film in the series, and the series overall has had massive ups and downs. The first original film has memorable moments, but the sum of its parts never was greater than the parts themselves. The second film is just whack. The third managed to tie in quality substance and action, with only some annoying shakey-cam to disrupt the experience. As such, I believe this fourth installment is the best of the series; it finally manages to weave action, storytelling, and style in a seamless fashion.

The film starts off quite fast and remains evenly-paced throughout. There are some excellent action setpieces throughout, filled to the brim with pursuits, chases, and fights. Even when the characters aren’t running for their lives, the espionage proves very intriguing as various situations are set up that require the characters to use their skills to get by.

The story for this doesn’t have the same investment in the characters as MI:III did (especially since there is no standout villain), but quality characterization and progression still exists in the background. What really matters here is the political intrigue, which cleverly sets up a scenario where the characters lose their backing organization and they are all forced to complete their mission with limited tech (although what tech we see is still pretty damn cool) and no backup. It’s easily one of the more satisfying spy thrillers in the genre, and certainly one of the most exciting; it’s just not quite as deep in terms of characters or themes.

Thankfully, the photography and editing for this film are quite sane and stable; the camera is not as jittery as MI:III. Acting is pretty fun all around; Tom Cruise generally has his ups and downs, but I certainly enjoyed watching Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, and Jeremy Renner in their roles. It was kinda interesting to see Michael Nyqvist as the villain. Writing is decent. This production spares no expense on the sets, props, costumes, locales, and special effects. Music is pretty cool.

4/5 (entertainment: 4.5/5, story: 4/5, film: 4/5)

"Everyone loves a good underdog."

The Hunger Games

Every now and then, there comes a sci-fi film that pushes the boundaries of what is considered civil, for even though civilization may prosper, there will always be a demand for violent entertainment.  Films that portray futuristic death-matches for sport could probably be counted only in the double-digits; titles like the original Rollerball, The Running Man, Battle Royale, and the Death Race remake typically dominate this obscure corner of sci-fi.

In this niche, The Hunger Games might be the most accessible film ever.  It doesn’t indulge on gory, graphic details the way these other films do; most deaths in this death-match are off-screen, obscured, or just plain bloodless.  There’s still enough roughness to emphasize the harrowing nature of the actual Hunger Games; some might even say it’s better that way.

It takes a good hour or so to get to the games; the film runs a good long length and takes its time to establish the story, characters, the environment, and the conflict, before getting down and dirty with everything else.  The film entertains throughout; very few, if any scenes, dragged.  I personally found myself well-invested in the story.

And the story will be the thing worth seeing.  Those familiar with Suzanne Collins’ book will probably relate to the film best, as they can pick out all the fine details and understand every nuance the best.  The film does a first-rate job of adapting the original story; there are many minor changes, but most of it is just like the book.  Those unfamiliar with the book may be alienated from the film, though most of it can stand on its own.  Characters stand out pretty well; a romance does come about that seems reminiscent of Twilight, which will attract young audiences (especially the ladies) and could be off-putting for dudes wanting straightforward fighting.  Regardless, the film never comes off as sappy or pandering. 

My biggest complaint is in the filming; it looks great half of the time, but harsh, shakey, jittery cameramanship rears its ugly head throughout.  There are three or four times where I wish I could have seen more of what was going on, but couldn’t because of the photography.  Otherwise, parts of the film look great and stylish, and have fine editing.  I was pleased with the acting and writing; everybody put on a quality performance.  This production has some very fascinating sets, props, and costumes.  For special effects, I’ve seen better and I’ve seen worse.  Music is pretty nice.

I’d recommend this best to fans of the book, and interested sci-fi fans.  Those seeking more hardcore material can do better.

4/5 (entertainment:  4/5, story:  4.5/5, film:  4/5)