We are three episodes into the new (3rd) series of Merlin. This is a BBC family fantasy drama serial shown on Saturday early evening. If you've never heard of it visit the official website below, they do excellent web-work.
www.bbc.co.uk/merlin
I know a seven-year-old who has trouble deciding if this or Doctor Who is her favourite show. It's the good Doctor for me, but I think she'd plump for Merlin but is afraid of hurting my feelings. I like Merlin too so I don't take it to heart.
The inspiration for this show was apparently Smallville, the US series about the early years of Clark Kent, before he became Superman. I've never watched Smallville but it's in its 10th and final season with a strong fanbase so it must have something going for it. The first ever episode of Merlin showed the eponymous hero arriving at Camelot as a young lad. He has some basic magical powers but knows that he must keep them secret. The king, Uther, has a deep hatred of magic and has had many practitioners put to death. Arthur is the arrogant warrior-prince, Guinevere (Gwen) is a serving girl to Morgana, Uther's ward.
Merlin is a sort of 'Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - The Early Days'. I suspect that students and fans of Arthurian lore may have a marmite relationship with this show. Historically it's rubbish, but as a piece of family entertainment it's a belter. I enjoy watching how the pieces start to fall into place, such as the first appearances of Mordred, Excalibur, Lancelot etc.
The journey of Morgana from fiesty young princess to evil witch is particularly good, and her journey to the dark side now seems finally complete. There has not been one single event that has corrupted her, rather a series of ordeals, dissapointments and revelations, all brought into focus by a manipulative mentor. Slow-burning and realistic.
Although there is a story arc, you could happily drop into this show at any point and enjoy it immensely. Give it a go, just turn off your internal history professor first.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
On Friday night I was planning to go up Broad Street (Birmingham's busiest street of pubs and clubs) to say goodbye to an old colleague of mine who's leaving for Australia. However I took the whole expedition far too lightly and ended up soaked to the skin while trying to find the venue. Next time I'll look at a map, get a contact number and wear a jacket.
Luckily the night wasn't a complete loss as I instead went to see Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. Well the cinema was dry, I wasn't going home without doing something worthwhile, and I'd wanted to see it for a while. My wife wasn't interested, and while my daughter was I thought, best not, as it was a 12A and I hadn't been able to vet it before hand.
I'm very glad I saw it because it's a great film. If you don't like comics or video games you may not want to bother, as that's the source of half the fun. There's some good music too and very nice action scenes. To give you a taste, when Scott beats an evil ex of his new love a glowing number appears over the scene and his opponent is replaced by a cascade of coins, just like beating a boss in a SuperMario game. It's a very original approach to converting a comic and it makes the film very surreal. Like I said, if you don't like comics or video games then you'll probably wonder what the hell is going on.
My only complaint is that Scott is far too wimpy (when he's not wielding a Katana or beating up six big stunt men). It's hard to like him, or see how he could have accumulated so many exes of his own when he's so wet. I haven't read the graphic novel so I don't know if that's down to the comic or the film.
Otherwise very good, and 12A seems a bit harsh to me. Well worth seeing.
Luckily the night wasn't a complete loss as I instead went to see Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. Well the cinema was dry, I wasn't going home without doing something worthwhile, and I'd wanted to see it for a while. My wife wasn't interested, and while my daughter was I thought, best not, as it was a 12A and I hadn't been able to vet it before hand.
I'm very glad I saw it because it's a great film. If you don't like comics or video games you may not want to bother, as that's the source of half the fun. There's some good music too and very nice action scenes. To give you a taste, when Scott beats an evil ex of his new love a glowing number appears over the scene and his opponent is replaced by a cascade of coins, just like beating a boss in a SuperMario game. It's a very original approach to converting a comic and it makes the film very surreal. Like I said, if you don't like comics or video games then you'll probably wonder what the hell is going on.
My only complaint is that Scott is far too wimpy (when he's not wielding a Katana or beating up six big stunt men). It's hard to like him, or see how he could have accumulated so many exes of his own when he's so wet. I haven't read the graphic novel so I don't know if that's down to the comic or the film.
Otherwise very good, and 12A seems a bit harsh to me. Well worth seeing.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Piranha 3D
Saturday I went to see Piranha 3D on an unexpected date night. What a great film. When we came out the whole audience was grinning, which would have been rubbish if we’d seen The Passion of the Christ, but for such a blatantly fun film it was perfect.
Just to summarise the plot, ‘prehistoric piranha attack spring break’. Now there’s a great example of a five word film pitch.
You do have to accept a couple of dubious assumptions though.
1. A colony of piranha could survive for two million years in an underground lake through cannibalism alone.
2. Ugly girls don’t go to spring break.
Some of the effects were excellent. CGI was used to support prosthetic and make up effects rather than being the main attraction, the exception being the piranha themselves. The after effects of the piranha attack were especially impressive, with one screaming half-eaten victim falling into two as rescuers carry her up the shore.
My favourite magazine SFX makes the very good point that horror is the true home of 3D and it works very well in this film, gratuitous and effective.
There was an excess of gratuitous female nudity too, which works for me. Actually there is male genital nudity but I will not elaborate, as it is far from erotic and much funnier on screen. Kelly Brook may have found the film here to break her in Hollywood. She’d make an excellent scream queen for quite a few years yet.
In fact there’s a six word pitch that may convince you to see this film if I haven’t sold you on it yet.
‘Kelly Brook, nude, underwater, in 3D’.
Just to summarise the plot, ‘prehistoric piranha attack spring break’. Now there’s a great example of a five word film pitch.
You do have to accept a couple of dubious assumptions though.
1. A colony of piranha could survive for two million years in an underground lake through cannibalism alone.
2. Ugly girls don’t go to spring break.
Some of the effects were excellent. CGI was used to support prosthetic and make up effects rather than being the main attraction, the exception being the piranha themselves. The after effects of the piranha attack were especially impressive, with one screaming half-eaten victim falling into two as rescuers carry her up the shore.
My favourite magazine SFX makes the very good point that horror is the true home of 3D and it works very well in this film, gratuitous and effective.
There was an excess of gratuitous female nudity too, which works for me. Actually there is male genital nudity but I will not elaborate, as it is far from erotic and much funnier on screen. Kelly Brook may have found the film here to break her in Hollywood. She’d make an excellent scream queen for quite a few years yet.
In fact there’s a six word pitch that may convince you to see this film if I haven’t sold you on it yet.
‘Kelly Brook, nude, underwater, in 3D’.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Avatar
I finally got around to seeing Avatar on Bank Holiday Monday. For some reason the Buzz around the film never really captured me the first time and the opportunity to see it never came up. I could have watched it on a trans-Atlantic flight but decided against it. I'd heard it was worth watching for the spectacle rather than the plot, so the 9 inch screen in the back of the chair in front didn't seem the best format. I waited for it to come back to the Imax in Brum and saw it there.
It was good, well worth the money but not as good as Cameron's The Terminator or Aliens (my favourite). It was a lot better than Titanic though. The 3D and effects worked best in the big battle scenes, with the Marine's ships and mecha looking especially realistic. Lingering shots of Pandora flora and fauna got a bit annoying and the 3D seemed a bit gimmicky then. Still you've got to admire Cameron's commitment and dedication to this film, plus the impact it's had on cinema.
I was struck by the commonalities with Aliens. Bad ass marines flying ships that looked very similar. A gorgeous Hispanic female marine. A corporate rep who turns out to be lower than low, Sigourney Weaver of course. Maybe he's planning a future cross-over, Aliens on Pandora. Now that would be fun.
It was good, well worth the money but not as good as Cameron's The Terminator or Aliens (my favourite). It was a lot better than Titanic though. The 3D and effects worked best in the big battle scenes, with the Marine's ships and mecha looking especially realistic. Lingering shots of Pandora flora and fauna got a bit annoying and the 3D seemed a bit gimmicky then. Still you've got to admire Cameron's commitment and dedication to this film, plus the impact it's had on cinema.
I was struck by the commonalities with Aliens. Bad ass marines flying ships that looked very similar. A gorgeous Hispanic female marine. A corporate rep who turns out to be lower than low, Sigourney Weaver of course. Maybe he's planning a future cross-over, Aliens on Pandora. Now that would be fun.
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