Iron Man

 Entertainment, Film
May 072013
 

I’ve very little to say about this masterpiece except that Favreau and Downey are Gods and it ripped the heart of my chest with one twisted metal gauntlet and stomped on my bruised and battered body. No Hulk was involved.
And thanks to Judith Lewis:
You might have missed these Easter Eggs:
http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/iron-man-3-easter-eggs/
Like you need an excuse to see it again

He IS Iron Man! “@Filmdrunk: THIS -> Robert Downey Jr. is a real-life superhero. ”

http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2013/05/rober-downey-jr-is-a-real-life-superhero

And FGS!! Watch until the end through 10 mins of flakey credits lol.

Les Miserables

 Entertainment, Events, Film, Life, Music
Jan 182013
 

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Seeing the film and listening to the Highlights album are completely different experiences.

The film is a visual feast of gorgeous and atmospheric scenery. The decision to do record on set while filming was a good one and works incredibly well though when Hugh sings I dreamed a dream something is wrong, perhaps they didn’t make it for that scene which is a shame as that was such an important moment and iconic song. Hugh was auditoringly disappointing for me. He acted the hell out of it but at the expense of his voice. Yes he has much experience on stage but not at all in the same class as Anne or Samantha (Eponine).
Anne’s performance of Fantine was stunning. Brutal, harsh, raw… every note, every gasp and sob and breath worked… just worked. She bled the character. Her downfall was catalogued in such numbingly raw portrayal.

Russell has a beautiful voice (I heard him live with his band at the Borderline in London), preferable to Hugh’s in some ways. It is tender and sweet as heard in Stars. Unfortunately though, perhaps concentrating on getting the singing right he loses the emotion in his face and for the most part visually fails the rawness and intensity that Anne, Hugh and particularly Eddie do perfectly. StoneyFaced thy name is Javert.

Eddie is a favourite actor of mine, only discovered in the last few years with stunning performances in British TV. It was a joy to find he can really really did you get that? REALLY sing.
I mean shivers. Seriously. His version of Empty Chairs has cut the lyrics into my heart. Beautiful.

Amanda well she was just annoying. Her voice so clawingly saccharine I could not enjoy her at all. Unlike young Cosette, so perfectly portrayed by Isabelle Allen

Helena and Sacha were stunning in their comedic genius, Well sung, colourful and incredibly well choreographed… just perfect. Their voices more than competent for the task. Helena we had already heard in Sweeney Todd but Sacha was a big surprise for me.

Also Daniel Huttlestone as the weeny Gavroche was amazing. So much character and mischief in a pint sized package. I confess it was his death that broke me and when Javert acknowledged it I sobbed like a baby.

Aaron as Enjolras was perfect. I don’t know if he has stage experience but he could not have been better. Eponine was brilliant but of course she should be due to her experience on the original musical set.

The scenery and costume of course should have been amazing. Those enough lucky enough to have seen the musical will know that its a big big part of the tale and they did not disappoint in anyway. Surely deserve all the awards for creating the atmosphere, filth yet joyful colour. Not once did I see any goofs in the 3d and the ordinary version. I might have been swept away by the whole epicness of it that I missed them. I have been known to get lost in the story and miss huge faults noticeable by others. The sets were HUGE. Was there really an elephant in that square in Paris? I understand that the barricade seen was Harry Potter’s Diagonal Alley rebuilt to tremendous result.

The score onscreen doesn’t have the impact of the live musical though. The dynamics of loud and soft don’t quite come across, but visually completely worth watching.

Denied the visual feast the Soundtrack is awesome, atmospheric and colourful, tugging at all the right places, cutting and tearing and warming the heart. Happily sits alongside my Original Cast CD. Yes they were actors who could sing but in my humble opinion they really hold their own. Well worth shelling out for. Just forgive Hugh for not being Colm.

Shout out to Glyn the King of the Beggars, my friend in the yellow jacket who I spotted twice ;)

**** To be added to as I remember things

London Film and Comic Con

 Entertainment, Events, Film, Life, Personal, TV
Jul 082012
 

So I had an unbelievably awesome weekend mingling with the stars at Olympia.

(updating as I think of things)

i had booked a ticket for the Sunday to meet Norman Reedus of BoonDock Saints and most recently the walking dead fame.  Then the beautiful Thomas Dekker cancelled Collectormania on me but rescheduled to come to this weekend instead so I had to buy Saturday as well ;)

Sadly Norman Cancelled this but the most awesome, lovely, humble and very shy John Simm came out to brave the hoards!  I was incredibly touched as I have met him a few times and know that he really doesn’t feel comfortable meeting fans, even just one or two let alone thousands ;( He was fine though and I hope everyone was friendly and respectful towards him.

I had to get a John Simm auto for my friend Vicky so I paid for three and then realised that with my Life on Mars and State of Play DVD’s I wasn’t going to get a personal one for me. So um err I got one for me and then went back later to get one for Vicky ;) . Like it wasn’t hard to see him again and I wasn’t looking for an excuse lol.

Everyone was awesome though I thought Gates McFadden was incredibly snooty.  I attempted to take a long shot from way at the side and I got the filthiest look and she covered her face.  I guess when noone is coming to see you and none is buying your photoshoot you aren’t best friendly towards stolen moments on film.

I understand if awkward pics of unfortunate facial expressions turn up on the internet but my pics are for my own pleasure and I share a few (though mostly in low res).

Everything was really relaxed, the stars could happily wander from place to place with minimal disturbance and body guard presence. Hayden Panettiere was guarded heavily though and she didn’t look too pleased when I smiled across at her and said hello how are you when I was queuing for Bernard Cribbins. She looked a  little startled and upset. Um sorry you were all alone for a rare moment.

Craig Parker was in front of his table, for better fan access I suppose as inevitably people wanted and got hugs and photos with him. He lounged around like a satiated tiger.. burnt chocolate from the sun. It didn’t half bring out the blue of his eyes *sighs* I swear he must be double-jointed.

Nicholas Lea was charming and gorgeous and has lost none of his appeal from when I had the hugest crush on him in the X-Files. Grown up but hmmmmmhmmm. So lovely and charming and at ease with everyone.

The X-Files talk was a bit of a disaster, we were in the largest stage that was IMHO opinion too big. There were six rows of Gold ticket seating at the front with none in them virtually. The mikes and sound broke so Pelliggi and Nic were shouting at us and we were shouting back and nothing was heard. We could have moved forward into the empty rows – that might have helped. Begrudged paying £15 for that disaster but it was a pleasure to be in the room with them.

When there is no queue and none waiting it is perfectly acceptable to go up and talk to the Stars. I made full use of this with the lovely Thomas Dekker but I was shaking like a leaf when I first met him and got my Circle poster signed, didn’t know what to say to him. I asked for a hug and got one. He was so warm and genuine and friendly and grounded for one so young.  Went by a couple of times to say hello. Sadly I left it too late and went into the Judge Dredd panel and he was gone when I came out ;(

Zach from Gremlins was all alone so I went up to tell him how awesome he was and was a huge beautiful part of my childhood in Gremlins ;)

Michael Socha was adorable. All big eyes and gangly limbs. He was fancying over Sorbo so I told him to go over and meet him ;) I hope that he did.

I went to the Doctor Who talk and found that two of the older cast members were there, putting their own hysterical spin on it, telling tales of their time with the Dr and pulling out fans from the audience to reenact scenes with hysterical results. Bernard Cribbins joined later, doing very well on his crutches 7 weeks after knee surgery.  You’d think they’d been together for years despite not having seen each other for 15 years +

View my set on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/hedgewytch/sets/72157630483644878

Snow White and the Huntsman

 News
May 312012
 

Interesting take on the Fairy Tale. Dark and atmospheric. Charlize was awesome as the Dark Queen. Kirsten did better but still disappointing as an actress. Everyone else was well cast and all well acted. The dwarfs were a who’s who of brilliantly cast talent. The two Heroes did well, though was that Scottish Chris was going for? He really shouldnt have bothered. Special effects were on the whole stunning except for the main fairy tale Light. Which was so bad I almost overdosed on cheese. How could they get that wrong?? As an archetype Aslan was a thousand times better. The Dark Queen, the birds the dark forest, the scenery were completely believable. On the whole I liked it just wished they’d picked someone else for Snow White but I fuelled Lily Collins was wasted in the cheaper Mirror Mirror.
Fairy tales as they should be. Dark and intense.

Heartbreaker / L’arnacoeur

 Entertainment, Film
Jun 272010
 

Mrs Depp is as wooden as the stick plunged into the ripe heart of this perfect apple of a movie, heavily smeared in thick rich, smooth toffee doused in nutty moments of comedic genius.Yes its all been done before but this film has so much heart, it’s endearing.  It reminds me of Luc Besson’s Les [...]