Boarders review

A few years ago, a group of under privileged but intelligent pupils spent a period at Rugby public school and it is that as well as his own experiences as a black pupil at a mostly middle class, white University that inspired writer Daniel Lawrence Taylor to pen Boarders.  I would doubt though whether a lot of the scenarios depicted in this lively and occasionally riotous series actually happened which is a good call that pulls the series a\way from being too over earnest. Set over three six-episode series, Boarders charts the varying experience of five bright sixth formers who are plucked from urban surroundings by an outreach programme and placed in the somewhat rarefied country atmosphere of  St Gilberts school. It’s a place with a raft of traditions, some formal school activities with Latin names, others exuberant and often weird student traditions. The narrative tries to cover each of the pupils equally, their different journeys exploring all the possibilities of the experience.

 

Top of the Pops 11 April 1991

 Words: Chris Arnsby

 Anthea Turner: “Hallo there! Welcome to another edition of Top of the Pops! On BBC1 and Radio 1 in FM stereo! We’ve got a really lively show for you tonight! That’s going to include Danni Minogue, Madonna, Monie Love, and we’re starting with The Wonder Stuff at six!”

 [6] THE WONDER STUFF: THE SIZE OF A COW. There’s an immediate difference to the look of the programme. Gone are the blue and purple lights and careful use of black spaces, instead the studio is lit with bright yellow and purple lights. Sure enough, there’s a new (old) name on the credits. Replacing David Lock, Graham Rimmington. He last had a go in the summer of 1990. I do like the way the BBC rotates staff off Top of the Pops. It keeps it looking different.

Top of the Pops 4 April 1991

 Words: Chris Arnsby

 Gary Davies: “Hello. Very good evening to you. We are all live tonight from Television Centre. We’re in stereo on Radio 1FM. In the studio we’ve got The Mock Turtles, Fergeal Sharkey, and N-joi, but first we start off with a song at number thirty in the charts. It’s called Caravan, Inspiral Carpets.”

 [30] INSPIRAL CARPETS: CARAVAN. There’s an odd detail on the VT Countdown clock at the start of this episode, a note that reads “P AS B” which stands for Programme AS Broadcast. I’m probably teaching everyone who reads this to suck eggs* but this note is there because this is a live edition. No time for edits. Cross your fingers and hope everyone behaves themselves.

Crookhaven review

This new series, showing on BBC and on the iPlayer,  adapted by Justin Young based on books by JJ Arcanjo and aimed at a family audience initially comes across as something of a cross between Alex Ryder and MI High. Yet it proves to be somewhat more complicated than the former and less comedic than the latter, dialling up conspiracies and double crosses aplenty. Its been a while since there’s been a drama for any audience with quite so many plot twists and turns. Neither does the series linger on its mysteries, for the most part answering them in an episode or two before moving on. The results are a strangely addictive show that benefits from bingeing if only to keep track of where the tangled plot is heading.

 

Robin and Marian (1976)

 There have been many versions of the Robin Hood story on both cinema and television all of which have essentially kept within the familiar timespan. Richard Leser’s 1976 film however takes up the story twenty years after those events introducing us to older versions of the characters. I suppose it’s a sequel to all of those versions that had gone before and after. The concept is definitely an intriguing one with the potential to explore a hero after their heroics are over, facing middle age and different problems. As it turns out, this is not quite that film but it makes a bold attempt to be different from the Robin Hood story we know.

 

Top of the Pops 28th March 1991

 Words: Chris Arnsby

 Bruno Brookes: “Hello, good evening, and welcome to the world’s number one music show. This is Top of the Pops. Hope you’re well. Okay it’s a Minogue who’s going to start us off on the show tonight, this record has already been number four in [adopts hilarious Aussie accent] Australia, and Love and Kisses of course is produced by the wonderful Danni Minogue.”

 [31] DANNI MINOGUE: LOVE AND KISSES. Is this a new set, or just a rearranged Triangle Stage? I think it’s the latter. The main omission is the big perspex cross, seen to good effect in Feargal Sharkey’s performance last week. David Lock has also slung three tightly-packed rows of horizontal lights over the top of the stage. This gives it the appearance of having a fixed roof, whereas before the top was open. It’s really surprising how a couple of very minor changes can have a big effect on the look. 

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.