Project Hail Mary review

 

Based on the novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary is a tricky film to pin down. Part sci -fi odyssey, part environmental allegory, part charming if unconventional buddy flick, it travels as far as its main character does. Already being talked up as an Oscar prospect I would hesitate to place it quite so high yet it is hugely enjoyable, packed with imaginative vistas and tense scenarios. It is best seen on an IMAX screen where you, too, can travel to infinity and beyond.

Spoilers beyond this break

One Piece Season 2 Eps 5 to 8 reviews

The second half of the second season - time to meet Tony Tony Chopper!! 

Spoilers in the reviews from the start...

Wax On, Wax Off (wr Joe Tracz / dir Christophe Schrew)

By now we know to expect the unexpected when it comes to One Piece and this episode is a particular example of how eccentric a series it can be. Despite the tropical island setting there’s an air of Victorian macabre in the villainy afoot, a contrast to the bold heroics of the previous episode. As the gang each fall victim to sundry powers that exchange their personality or leave them isolated its at the hands of antagonists who can wield wax or paint with strange qualities. The first half of the episode seems to enjoy stretching these ideas as wide as Luffy’s rubbery abilities with a certain repetition creeping in.

Top of the Pops 14th and 21st March 1991

 Words: Chris Arnsby

14/03/1991

Simon Mayo: “Good evening. Welcome to Top of the Pops. A stonking [points at red nose attached to microphone] good edition we have today. Gonna start at number eighteen with a guy who’s never been on the show before. Back in the sixties his dad was on the whole time, he was Chip Hawkes from the Tremeloes. Here’s his son Chesney, the one and only. This week’s number eighteen. Go for it Ches…”

 [18] CHESNEY HAWKES: THE ONE AND ONLY. It’s Red Nose Day Eve, 1991. The night before the funnest day of the year. I hope you were ready to be pushed down a hill in a bath of trifle for charity. Everyone in the studio, well nearly everyone, is doing their bit wearing the 1991 brand red noses with little hands coming off the side.

I like the way David Lock opts to light Chesney Hawkes and friends with white spotlights that really make them stand out from the purple and blue lighting scheme, and the vast areas of darkness in the studio. Apart from that, I have little to say about the first act of the evening. (John- It is obligatory to mention that this song was written by Nik Kershaw and that this was indeed Ches' one and only hit)

One Piece Season 2 Eps 1 to 4 reviews

 

Sophomore seasons of a successful tv show always face a dilemma. Do they try and simply reproduce the signatures of the first season or do they strike out in new directions? Luckily for One Piece, the map was already drawn. The debut season, two and a half years ago now, established the world, brought together the Straw Hat pirates and only by the last episode did they have the capabilities to try and realise Monkey D Luffy’s ambition of becoming king of the pirates by claiming the One Piece. So the second season was always going to be different. If none of this makes sense, then you probably do need to watch season one before delving into the follow up. In fact the One Piece story, as told in the comics, is so vast and on going perhaps we will never see this quest end.

This first half of the second season delves deeper into the lore of the story, introducing some bizarrely attired and strangely superpowered characters while seemingly playing with a bigger budget. A show not to be taken over seriously but never to be underestimated, One Piece is close to perfect.

 Spoilers in the following reviews...

Top of the Pops 7th March 1991

 Words: Chris Arnsby

Nicky Campbell: “Oh, tonight’s Top of the Pops, let me tell you, is one of dazzling lustre and it’s a rare privilege to introduce to you to rock and roll megaliths, two living legends, two demi-gods, two super heroes, two big hairy bottomed, stonkermongers, Hale and Pace.”

 [10] HALE & PACE & THE STONKERS: THE STONK. Nicky Campbell is once again picked to be the host of the Comic Relief edition. Last time, 09/03/1989, he was joined by Lenny Henry and Hale & Pace, as The Management. This time The Management are onstage but Campbell’s overcooked introduction kills any opportunity for humour well in advance.

Science Fiction Monthly (1974-76)

 The Seventies was the golden age of monthly and weekly magazines which crowded the shelves of WH Smiths and John Menzies as well as local newsagents. One of the most visually memorable was Science Fiction Monthly. Due to being tabloid size (sixteen inches by eleven inches), like the weekly music magazines, rather than the conventional magazine size it stood out already. Yet what really made it dazzle were the covers. Gloriously colourful and evocative works depicting strange aliens, unusual planets, asymmetrical spaceships and much more were ideal images to stick on your bedroom wall! Which actually was the point!

Harold and Maude (1971)

 When Harold and Maude was first released in 1971 it bombed at the box office yet ever since it’s grown in reptation through repeat screenings in smaller cinemas and eventually physical media. Nowadays many film aficionados rate it as an all-time classic and I tend to agree with them while acknowledging its not a film for everyone. It’s eccentric narrative heralds individuality over conformity via two individuals whom you would think have nothing in common and showing what they do have.

Top of the Pops 28th February 1991

 Words: Chris Arnsby

Jakki Brambles: “Hello, good evening, and welcome along to Top of the Pops. This is the nation’s top TV music show and we’re linking up live with Radio 1FM to broadcast across the nation some audio bliss into your living room. It’s a bit of a groover tonight groovers and we’re starting off at thirty two. This is N-Joi and Adrenalin.”

 [32] N-JOI: ADRENALIN. [Deleted loads of stuff about the 2000AD series Zenith, and Phase III in particular. The series transformed stuffy old sixties comic character Robot Archie into an acid-house aficionado called Acid Archie who would do things like riding around on a T-Rex decorated with flower power symbols while shouting “MAD MENTAL CRAZY!” It’s not remotely relevant to Top of the Pops but the moment this performance started I thought it would be the kind of thing Acid Archie would love. Buy all four Zenith books if you’ve never read them*].