Yesterday I mentioned Ricky Gervais, but somehow omitted the massive news that he's hosting the Golden Globes again.
I love how the organisers have forgotten their indignation from last year as they desperately try to boost viewing figures. Here's hoping Gervais' tongue is even sharper this year.
It seems that Pavlov's Dogs learn faster than the Hollywood Foreign Press.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Praise is too short
It's really easy for everyone to jump on the "I hate Ricky Gervais" bandwagon that critics roll out whenever he comes up with a new show. How quickly they forget how funny Extras was, or how The Office genuinely changed global comedy.
Was Life's Too Short as memorable as it's predecessors? Who can tell, yet? We've only seen the first episode. Let the characters establish themselves before you jump to negative conclusions.
Personally, I thought the whole thing was fairly funny until Liam Neeson turned up, at which point I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Was Life's Too Short as memorable as it's predecessors? Who can tell, yet? We've only seen the first episode. Let the characters establish themselves before you jump to negative conclusions.
Personally, I thought the whole thing was fairly funny until Liam Neeson turned up, at which point I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Three Beats Two
The best thing I can say about Paranormal Activity 3, is that it's better than Paranormal Activity 2. Although, let's be honest the bar was really low.
As a stand alone film, I really enjoyed the first Paranormal Activity. It reminded me a lot of The Blair Witch Project, it was low budget, and anyone who shares a bed with someone will get just how creepy the idea of someone standing over you for four hours while you sleep really is.
Much like Saw however (again, a film I really liked), the sequels really detract from the original. In PA3, the younger versions of the female protagonists from PA1 and PA2 are experiencing more supernatural occurrences. Why they don't remember this or reference it in the first two films however is anyone's guess.
Apparently, PA3 did huge business in the States, so expect a PA4 next Halloween.
As a stand alone film, I really enjoyed the first Paranormal Activity. It reminded me a lot of The Blair Witch Project, it was low budget, and anyone who shares a bed with someone will get just how creepy the idea of someone standing over you for four hours while you sleep really is.
Much like Saw however (again, a film I really liked), the sequels really detract from the original. In PA3, the younger versions of the female protagonists from PA1 and PA2 are experiencing more supernatural occurrences. Why they don't remember this or reference it in the first two films however is anyone's guess.
Apparently, PA3 did huge business in the States, so expect a PA4 next Halloween.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Quote of the Week V: The Empire Strike Front
Celebrating a friend's 30th birthday, we ended up having a games night, because that's the kind of crazy, mad-cap lifestyle that I lead.
Anway, one of the rounds was a pub quiz, which contained the question: "Which animal gives birth to the largest baby?" The correct answer was obviously "Blue Whale", but for some reason my friend Kelly's team decided to go with "Giraffe".
Me: Oh Kel, did you confuse biggest baby with biggest neck?
Kelly: I thought it was Blue Whale, but then I thought the question probably meant "which mammal".
Me: (pause) Erm, pretty sure the Blue Whale is a mammal Kel.
And in the end Kelly's team won. Which shows just how bad I am a competitive games.
I did find out that I'm oddly skilled at blowing a ping-pong ball across a line of upturned bottles and into a shot glass though. Don't ask.
Anway, one of the rounds was a pub quiz, which contained the question: "Which animal gives birth to the largest baby?" The correct answer was obviously "Blue Whale", but for some reason my friend Kelly's team decided to go with "Giraffe".
Me: Oh Kel, did you confuse biggest baby with biggest neck?
Kelly: I thought it was Blue Whale, but then I thought the question probably meant "which mammal".
Me: (pause) Erm, pretty sure the Blue Whale is a mammal Kel.
And in the end Kelly's team won. Which shows just how bad I am a competitive games.
I did find out that I'm oddly skilled at blowing a ping-pong ball across a line of upturned bottles and into a shot glass though. Don't ask.
Monday, 14 November 2011
The Lynx Effect
I work in Marketing. I get that male orientated health and beauty products need to be aspirational. Hence Gillette have the Mach3 and the Stealth and the Turbo.
Lynx are normally good at coming up with these names. Phoenix. Dark Temptation. Impulse. They're names with numerous connotations.
And then there's "Music Star".
I get that being a famous musician is aspirational to a lot of young men, in the same way that being a film star or a footballer might be. But is that the something you want to associate with a body spray?
I know musicians. When they've been on stage performing, they're hot, sweaty and sticky. There's nothing wrong with this, and God knows I'd be drenched in sweat if I'd've been performing on a hot stage for an hour. But does that have the right implications for a deoderant?
Maybe it's just me, but when I put on deoderant after I shower I want to associate it with:
- Not sweating
- Smelling nice
Maybe I'm wrong, but "Music Star" just sounds like the byproduct of a lazy marketing meeting.
"OK, guys, we need a new name. Something like Spartan or Warrior but not as obvious. What do kids want to be these days?"
"Err...music stars?"
"Screw it, that'll do."
Seriously, bad, bad name.
Just saying.
Lynx are normally good at coming up with these names. Phoenix. Dark Temptation. Impulse. They're names with numerous connotations.
And then there's "Music Star".
I get that being a famous musician is aspirational to a lot of young men, in the same way that being a film star or a footballer might be. But is that the something you want to associate with a body spray?
I know musicians. When they've been on stage performing, they're hot, sweaty and sticky. There's nothing wrong with this, and God knows I'd be drenched in sweat if I'd've been performing on a hot stage for an hour. But does that have the right implications for a deoderant?
Maybe it's just me, but when I put on deoderant after I shower I want to associate it with:
- Not sweating
- Smelling nice
Maybe I'm wrong, but "Music Star" just sounds like the byproduct of a lazy marketing meeting.
"OK, guys, we need a new name. Something like Spartan or Warrior but not as obvious. What do kids want to be these days?"
"Err...music stars?"
"Screw it, that'll do."
Seriously, bad, bad name.
Just saying.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
There's no place like home
I'm ambivalent about "Misfits".
I want to like it a bit more than I do. Partly because I know it's target audience is significantly younger than me (the early twenties market I wish I was still in), and partly because it's filmed in Thamesmead where I grew up.
Now, when I grew up there, there were always parts of town that were rough. And I know that since I moved away parts have got even rougher (I believe it was recently named the fraud capital of Europe). However, it's both sad and entertaining to see the way it's portrayed as a dystopian-ghetto in Misfits.
But hey, that's not a new thing, as anyone who's seen "A Clockwork Orange" knows.
Still, there's no place like home, is there?
I want to like it a bit more than I do. Partly because I know it's target audience is significantly younger than me (the early twenties market I wish I was still in), and partly because it's filmed in Thamesmead where I grew up.
Now, when I grew up there, there were always parts of town that were rough. And I know that since I moved away parts have got even rougher (I believe it was recently named the fraud capital of Europe). However, it's both sad and entertaining to see the way it's portrayed as a dystopian-ghetto in Misfits.
But hey, that's not a new thing, as anyone who's seen "A Clockwork Orange" knows.
Still, there's no place like home, is there?
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Suddenly I See
So this week I was treated to an incredible music experience - seeing KT Tunstall live in The Union chapel in Islington.
It was incredible for two reasons: 1) She was absolutely amazing, and 2) the venue was gorgeous. If you've never heard of it (and let's face it, if you live outside of The big smoke, why would you have?) it a converted church, where the altar has become the stage and the pews are the audience. The acoustics are outstanding and the atmosphere is almost indescribable. If you ever get the chance, definitely go and see something there.
The first of the support acts was Rozi Plain, whose folk music wasn't entirely to my personal taste. She won me over however with her borderline-aspergers asides between songs. I saw her afterwards being completely normal, so I can only assume her whole stage personality is an act. If so, hilarious. She was followed by a guy called Sam Lewis who was a bit more my speed. Some nice chilled accoustic stuff.
Then KT Tunstall came on. Her set was brilliant and she's clearly one of the most talented musicians in the industry. Switching between the guitar and (occasionally the piano), she made incredible sounds with her loop-peddle, which she overlaid on top of each other to form a cacophony of awesome. She even did a song acapella with no microphone and we could still hear her at the back. Brilliant.
Oh, and she did a version of "The Black Horse and The Cherry Tree" which mixed with The White Stripe's "Seven Nation Army". If you can find that on YouTube, check it out.
It was incredible for two reasons: 1) She was absolutely amazing, and 2) the venue was gorgeous. If you've never heard of it (and let's face it, if you live outside of The big smoke, why would you have?) it a converted church, where the altar has become the stage and the pews are the audience. The acoustics are outstanding and the atmosphere is almost indescribable. If you ever get the chance, definitely go and see something there.
The first of the support acts was Rozi Plain, whose folk music wasn't entirely to my personal taste. She won me over however with her borderline-aspergers asides between songs. I saw her afterwards being completely normal, so I can only assume her whole stage personality is an act. If so, hilarious. She was followed by a guy called Sam Lewis who was a bit more my speed. Some nice chilled accoustic stuff.
Then KT Tunstall came on. Her set was brilliant and she's clearly one of the most talented musicians in the industry. Switching between the guitar and (occasionally the piano), she made incredible sounds with her loop-peddle, which she overlaid on top of each other to form a cacophony of awesome. She even did a song acapella with no microphone and we could still hear her at the back. Brilliant.
Oh, and she did a version of "The Black Horse and The Cherry Tree" which mixed with The White Stripe's "Seven Nation Army". If you can find that on YouTube, check it out.
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