Saturday, November 2, 2013

Movie Review ... Thor: The Dark World

 

Thor_The_Dark_World_poster1Thor has been a mainstay for Marvel Comics.  Created over 50 years ago, the self-proclaimed ‘God of Thunder’ has garnered a loyal fan-base.  They’ve followed his solo adventures as well as his involvement in The Avengers.  His first cinematic foray proved a great success with star Chris Hemsworth ably filling Thor’s shoes.  ‘Thor: The Dark World’ continues his silver screen exploits with a suitably dazzling display of heroics worthy of his comic-book origins.

Primeval race, led by the dastardly Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), return to destroy Asgard and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must do battle.  Attempting to prevent the universe from being plunged into darkness, his obstacles are many.  Teaming with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and wicked brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor’s strength becomes sorely tested.  With time fast running out, the fate of all he holds dear becomes the conduit for Thor’s looming quest.

It’s easy seeing the care and respect gone into ‘Thor: The Dark World’.  Adhering closely to the rich source material, it crafts a fine follow-up to the successful movie.  Expanding the mythology whilst adding fresh elements, you further understand the character’s motivations.  Made easy due to the wise decision not to swamp the story with a plethora of new characters, this focus extends to the always exciting script.

Director Alan Taylor’s excellent direction maintains the right mix of adventure and humour.  You truly believe in Thor’s authoritative conviction despite outlandish situations.  Taylor is aided by some superb production design bringing Thor’s home-world to colourful life.  For a comic-book movie, no expense has been spared in creating the universe in which everyone lives.  This is an epic production in scope and vision with the momentum never faltering to its suitably spectacular conclusion.

‘Thor: The Dark World’ continues the field of excellence Marvel has established.  Fans should be pleased with the results as it leaves you wanting more escapades from a hero refusing to fade.

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Movie Review Rating out of 10:  8

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

Agree with Patrick's Movie Review? Then please use the comment box.

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

TRAILER

SOUNDTRACK

Thinking Renovation 02 November

 

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A Robert Taylor Moment

 

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Robert Taylor, 1938

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Trivia Bits 02 November

 

  • Everyone in the Middle Ages believed -- as Aristotle had -- that the heart was the seat of intelligence
  • Wasabi is the common name for Japanese horseradish.
  • The Stanislavski method is associated with the profession of theatre or acting.
  • Prince Andrew, born in 1960, was the first child born to Queen Elizabeth II after she was crowned in 1953.
  • In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Muriel was a goat.
  • The word Amen is the same in 1200 different languages without changing in any way.
  • The former pearling point of Denham is the most westerly town in Western Australia.
  • German former high high jumper Ulrike Meyfarth became the youngest individual Olympic champion in athletics at aged 16 when she won the Olympic title in 1972.
  • The request for a response to an invitation RSVP is taken from French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply."
  • The Sultan of Brunei’s palace Istana Nurul Iman at 200,000 square metres, is officially the largest royal residence anywhere in the world. The palace, completed in 1984, is replete with golden domes and vaulted roofs - designed to echo Brunei's twin influences of Islam and Malay culture. 

Super Saturday

 

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Quotables 02 November

 

LAUGHTER

Friday, November 1, 2013

Thinking Renovation 01 November

 

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Fall apart

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Just For Fun 01 November

 

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X-Men: Days of Future Past : Official Trailer is Here!

 

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James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are back, as are Nicholas Hoult and Lucas Till (as Beast and Havok) – and this time we’ve also got Evan Peters as Quicksilver, and Peter Dinklage as Bolivar Trask. Joining them is Jennifer Lawrence and Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan ..... and the list goes on.

From IMDB: “The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.”

Murphy’s Law .... Buses

 

  • If its raining, or cold or both the bus will be late
  • If you're running late the bus will be too
  • If  you think you have lots of time before your bus you have read the timetable wrong (or its out of date or both)
  • If you're early the bus is late If you're late the bus was early
  • The other people at the bus stop are waiting for the bus that has just pulled in
  • If you have no change then the bus driver won't have any either
  • The customer can be thrown off the bus at any time no explanation necessary
  • Two buses for the same place will always pull in together
  • The sign at the front of the bus is merely for decoration it is not the destination of the bus
  • Waiting for a bus seems to be longer than the journey.

Barbra Streisand – The Classic Christmas Album (2013)

 

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Artist: Barbra Streisand

Album : The Classic Christmas Album

Label : Columbia / Legacy

Genre : Pop

Playtime : 54:40 min

A 2013 holiday collection from one of the most beloved names in the music business. Deck the halls, wrap those gifts, jingle those bells and usher in the holidays with this platter of joyful Christmas melodies that will make your season even brighter!

Track Listing:

01.Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas [03:09]

02.The Christmas Song [03:56]

(Chestnuts Roasting an an Open Fire)

03.Ill Be Home for Christmas [04:10]

04.A Christmas Love Song [03:55]

05.The Best Gift [03:08]

06.It Must Have Been the Mistletoe [03:08]

07.I Remember [04:56]

08.I Wonder as I Wander [03:13]

09.Sleep in Heavenly Peace (Silent Night) [03:01]

10.Snowbound [02:58]

11.Jingle Bells [01:52]

12.My Favorite Things [03:04]

13.Christmas Lullaby [03:29]

14.O Little Town of Bethlehem [02:53]

15.Christmas Memories [04:45]

16.White Christmas [03:03]

A Robert Montgomery Moment

 

Robert Montgomery, 1932,

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Cool Images 01 November

 

Fences

 

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Movie Review ... Beautiful Creatures

 

241624id1_BC_Teaser_1Sheet.inddLike most current teenage-skewed films, ‘Beautiful Creatures’ is based on a fantasy book series.  Experiencing a recent genre resurgence, it appears anything having a mystical and romantic element is quickly turned into a movie.  Some like the ‘Twilight’ series have made a fortune whilst others have faded from view.  ‘Beautiful Creatures’ gamely attempts to rake in the cash for its producers although it eventually turns into a very bland product.  It has some spark although not enough to break free of the formulaic shackles commercial cinema insists on enforcing.

Lena (Alice Englert) is a new arrival in the town of Gatlin.  Hiding a dark secret, she becomes friends with Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich).  An easily bored soul, Ethan is quickly bewitched by Lena’s charms.  Little does he know her magical allure is real as she possesses special powers.  Forced to participate in The Claiming – sending her into the realms of dark or light – their relationship takes a turn none could foresee.

‘Beautiful Creatures’ is a production of two halves.  Its first pokes knowing fun at the conventions set by ‘Twilight’ with some deliciously over the top performances.  Unfortunately these are dragged down by a slow second act indulging in the very conventions it initially mocked.  This robs it of its uniqueness with an increasingly complicated back-story ruining the simple premise.  Its’ derivative nature spoils its coming of age angle further drawing-out events.

Despite the disappointing quality distortion, director Richard LaGravenese successfully captures the strange atmosphere enveloping his characters.  Their attempts in escaping the confines of the small religiously-fuelled township effectively reveal the motivations for their actions.  Even if its story plods to a limp conclusion the cast, including Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson, capture the sinister charm of their roles with ease. 

More fun than most of its type ‘Beautiful Creatures’ ultimately amounts to very little.  Decent CGI and acting can only go so far with its overall generic nature changing it from being a potential innovator to another imitator.

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Movie Review Rating out of 10:  6 

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

Agree with Patrick's Movie Review? Then please use the comment box.

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

TRAILER

SOUNDTRACK

DVD

This Little Piggy …

 

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Trivia Bits 01 November

 

  • Journey to the Centre of the Earth was written by Jules Verne in 1864.
  • In darts, a big bag of nuts is a score of 45.
  • Emperor Nero's lust for excess was most evident in his elaborate parties. According to the ancient writer Seutonius, Emperor Nero's Domus Aurea had a circular main dining room with a roof that revolved day and night, in time with the sky. In what remains of the palace today, there is a large octagonal room with a domed ceiling that some believe is this dining room. The octagonal room has a large dome with an oculus in the middle. It predates the Pantheon--and was probably the inspiration for it. The architects of the Domus Aurea developed an innovative mechanism cranked by slaves, that made the ceiling underneath this dome revolve like the heavens. While the ceiling revolved, perfume was sprayed from the ceiling and rose petals were dropped on the diners. Legend has it there were so many rose petals falling at one dinner that one of the guests was asphyxiated.
  • Dipsomania is an abnormal craving for alcohol.
  • James Brown, US Singer, was nicknamed the Godfather of Soul.
  • In the 1962 song Ahab the Arab, the title character’s camel was called Clyde.
  • Pascals is the unit used to measure pressure.
  • James Stewart, the likeable movie actor born May 20, 1908, starred in a humorous movie with an invisible rabbit – Harvey.
  • In China, the cherry blossom symbolises immortality.
  • Emperor Trajan, who ruled from 98--117 A.D., was celebrated as the greatest of Roman emperors. In fact, for the rest of Roman history, new emperors were honored by the Roman senate with the prayer felicior Augusto, melior Traiano, meaning "may he be more fortunate than Augustus and better than Trajan." In Dante's Divine Comedy, Trajan is the only emperor allowed into heaven.

Happy Friday

 

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Quotables 01 November

 

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