Dune

Cinema time was yesterday.  It was the third time that we have been to the Curzon in Colchester, though by we, this was my daughter and I to watch Dune.  My wife had no interest in watching it, and while my son had expressed an interest in watching it before, he changed his mind.  

He may have been a bit stressed about the exams that he had earlier in the day, this being an SPAG English assessment (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar).  He has been a bit more stressed, getting lifts in from my wife and I so far this week rather than riding his bike into school.  He is happy to walk back with his friends, which is fine, so long as he lets us know this in advance.

Anyway, the film.  I do remember bits of the 1984 version of Dune from many years ago when I was a lot younger.  I do remember being told that it was a complicated film and this one appears to have overcome the constraints of changing the book into film by filming it over two parts.  Yes, at the beginning, the film was a bit ponderous, but it did speed up and I am looking forwards to the sequel.  I cannot really comment on the plot as it is based on the book, but the acting and directing made the story make sense.

Just one thing, how have the inhabitants of Arrakis lived so long if Sand Worms are attracted to movement in the sandy wastes of the planet? 

Cash For Questions

In PMQ's today, Angela Rayner tore Boris Johnson apart about corruption.

This is an issue that has been raised over an MP who acted in a matter that while many view as legitimate, was seem to benefit a company that he has been paid for.  The allegation is that the process that made the decisions is unfair and should be reformed with Owen Patterson then to be investigated under the new rules.  

Angela Rayner referred to a proposed change in the rules relating to how Rob Roberts was readmitted and how they wished to change the rules and review his case under the new rules.  Personally, while I think that the actions of Rob Roberts was wrong, a retrospective change of rules after a gap in the law has been found is also wrong.  I think that it was wrong for Labour to push for that in his case, just as I think that the same is wrong for Owen Patterson.  

The issue of cash for questions harmed the Conservatives under John Major, but so far, Boris Johnson and the Conservatives have avoided numerous allegations.

One relates to the holiday by Boris Johnson in Mustique.

Another relates to how COVID test contracts where handed out.

There are issues relating to the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat where Boris Johnson lives currently. 

And there are the issues with how PPE contacts were awarded, this appearing to include contracts of PPE that could not be used!

It is sad how the the population of the UK appear to be happy with this sleaze.  Many blame Keir Starmer for this, rather than the media who do not really hold this government to account.

The Predator

Disappointing.  I had got home late last night and decided to watch this.  If you wish to watch The Predator, do not.  Terrible directing and a disjointed plot, this was nothing like the first two films in the franchise.  Saying that, it has been years since I watched them and I may not enjoy them as much as I did back in the past.  

The plus point of the film is that it makes me appreciate other films more.

Do not watch it.  

The Forgotten Battle

First of all, the most important issue, family.  My son went out last night to Trick Or Treat with a friend and appeared to have fun dressing in my vampire cloak doing so.  My daughter had been out with friends earlier in the day to go to the local Escape Room.  Considering that yesterday was the last day of freedom before they return to school after the week off for half term, they both deserved it.  We handed out sweets with tongs to reduce the risk of COVID contamination when people came round.

Second, Arsenal.  Aaron Ramsdale was amazing. I thought (and still think) that Leno is great, but this youngster hopefully will be the future of Arsenal.  This game was one I expected to lose.  After all, we have not travelled that well and were up against a decent side.  To win in the way we did brings about hope for the rest of the season, and to make things better, the scum lost as well!

Finally, the film.  This was on my Netflix recommended list and I thought that it was worth it.  It was a battle that I did not know too much about and I felt that this carried across some of the horrors of war very well.  The acting and directing were great and this is a must watch for those who are interested in good quality war films.  

Fear Street Part One: 1994

My daughter and I finished watching this last night.  We had started to watch it before, and I have to say, I was shocked to find her cheering on the killer when the film started, but I loved the film. 

While I think that the best bit of the film is the soundtrack, that does not mean that I did not enjoy it. It had gore, twists and appealed to my sick sense of humour (though it is not a comedy).  While we watched it on Netflix, I would have been more than happy to have watched this in a cinema and I am looking forwards to watching the second part.  I felt it was written, directed and acted well and it will be interesting to see if the sequel stands up to this. 

The Addams Family

Our Halloween film today was The Addams Family.  My children has got the decorations out  from the loft and put them at the front door along with decorating the door itself.  They also discussed which film we should watch and the agreement was to watch Hotel Transylvania today and a Monster High film tomorrow.

However, me son changed his mind and wanted to watch The Addams Family, so I put it on, but tricked him as he had wanted us to watch the animated version.  To be fair, he stayed and watched it, even though he was tempted to leave before the end.

I knew I liked he film, but did not realise how much of it I had forgotten.  Yes, the CGI is dated, and parts of the plot were predictable, but this film is a great one, well put together with some classic scenes.  In fact, we all liked it, and especially as family film experiences are becoming rarer, that was the most important part.

Protesting about the Climate Change that is harming our planet

My daughter went to a local march for action on climate change today. I had wanted to go, but I am so tired from a late night out last night in Southend and also, I need to catch up at work (am typing this before I head back home).  I do hope she enjoyed herself there as she added her voice to the many who are trying to get our leaders to make the changes that our planet needs.  

At present, I am discussing this on Twitter with someone who refuses to acknowledge the seriousness of this.  Put simply, over millions of years, carbon dioxide has been locked away out of the atmosphere.  We need to act to drastically reduce the amount of fossil fuels that are putting this back into the atmosphere as well as looking at methods of carbon capture that means that we can take it out of it as well.