9 THE EVENT
!RT #OMPUTING #REATIVE 7RITING &ASHION &ILM -USIC 4ELEVISION
)SSUE 0,53
-ARTIN !MIS 4HE (OLLOWAYS 53 AND 5+ SITCOMS
#ONTENTS &ASHION
-USIC
!LBUMS THE &RATELLIS THE ,ONG "LONDES AND *ARVIS #OCKER 3INGLES +LAXONS #ORRINE "AILEY 2AE AND THE /RDINARY "OYS 'IVE A HOLLER FOR THE (OLLOWAYS ,IVE 2EVIEWS 7E !RE 3CIENTISTS THE 2APTURE AND 0ATRICK 7OLF
-ORALITY AND FASHION CAN THE TWO MIX OR NOT !N EVENING IN WITH 4OPMAN
!RTS
! HEART TO HEART WITH -ARTIN !MIS (ENRY 6 /NE -AN 3TAR 7ARS AND %ARLHAM S $ARK 3ECRET
&ILM
4HE ASSASSINATION OF $UBYA A TELEVISUAL TREAT OR TRAVESTY
4HE (ISTORY "OYS LEAP TO THE BIG SCREEN 4HE $EPARTED 4HE 'UARDIAN AND /PEN 3EASON REVIEWED !TOMISED AND 4HE $EER (UNTER REVIEWED ON $6$ $ISASTER lLMS CAN THEY STILL SCAR US
#REATIVE 7RITING
,ISTINGS
#OMPUTING
46
2OBIN (OOD #REATURE #OMFORTS AND - ! 3 ( PLUS SOAPS
! SELECTION OF POETRY AND PROSE FROM THIS WEEK S CONTRIBUTORS
#ENTRE &EATURE
3ITCOMS A PERENNIAL TELEVISION FAVOURITE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE !TLANTIC "UT WHAT DIFFERENCES ARE THERE IN HUMOUR ON EACH SIDE OF THE POND
#HRIS %DITORIAL )T S BEEN QUITE A BUSY WEEK FOR ME ) SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN #ONCRETE ) HOSTED A RADIO SHOW ) GOT MY LIP PIERCED ) LISTENED TO 4HE 'OOD 4HE "AD AND 4HE 1UEEN A LOT MORE THAN ) PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE ) HAD A NICE LITTLE BIT OF MUFlN ) GOT VERY DRUNK AT 7E !RE 3CIENTISTS AND JUMPED MY LITTLE HEART OUT ) WATCHED LOTS OF lLMS ON $6$ AND AT THE CINEMA +ISS +ISS "ANG "ANG REALLY IS QUITE BRILLIANT ) WATCHED THE lRST FEW EPISODES OF SERIES OF ,OST ) WORKED TO KEEP MY STUDENT OVERDRAFT AT BAY ) PRESENTED A VIDEO FOR .EXUS ABOUT A BUSY #/.#2%4% PRODUCTION WEEKEND ) BOUGHT LOTS OF THINGS FROM 0LAY ) WENT TO .OR WICH $INOSAUR 0ARK ) THREW A CAN TALOUPE AT THE lLM EDITOR ) BOUGHT THINGS FOR A FANCY DRESS COSTUME ) WENT TO A COMEDY EVENING IN THE (IVE ) PRE ORDERED A 7II ) PROB ABLY DID LOTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT ) CAN T EVEN REMEMBER NOW AND WHICH WERE PROBABLY EQUALLY BOR ING ) AM HOWEVER MIGHTILY LOOK ING FORWARD TO THE &RATELLIS TOMOR
ROW NIGHT OF COURSE BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS IT WILL HAVE HAPPENED BUT RIGHT NOW ) M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT %NOUGH OF ME ) HAVE TO EXTEND MY THANKS THIS WEEK TO ALL THE PEO PLE IN THE BOX TO THE RIGHT OF THIS BLURB 7ITHOUT THEM THIS PAPER WOULDN T BE HELD IN YOUR GRUBBY LIT TLE MITTS RIGHT NOW 2OANNA KEPT ME ENTERTAINED BY GETTING EXCITED OVER &RENCH PANCAKES AND TALKING ABOUT 4HE (ISTORY "OYS A LOT MORE THAN ) THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE 0HIL AND ) TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT -ARIO +ART AND TOLD LOTS OF RUDE JOKES )MAN SEEMED EMBARASSED FOR ME WHEN ) BARGED INTO THE OFlCE AFTER THE 7E !RE 3CIENTISTS GIG AND PLAYED THE FOOL 5MAY CALLED ME A BUG FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE REASON AND THEN WENT ON TO MAKE THE FASHION PAGES BETTER THAN ) COULD HAVE HOPED FOR IN A MONTH OF 3UNDAYS !NDY THREW WATER AT ME AND WATCHED 4HE $E PARTED AT THE CINEMA WITH ME NOT AT THE SAME TIME *EMMA POKED ME AT 7E !RE 3CIENTISTS 'REG AND
4HE GAME OF !L 0ACINO S CLASSIC 3CARFACE REVIEWED PLUS WE REWIND HISTORY TO LOOK BACK AT -ARIO +ART
) TALKED ABOUT *ARVIS #OCKER AND +ATE *ACKSON BEFORE GETTING EX CITED OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF MEET ING $E ,A 3OUL .ATASHA CALLED ME LOTS OF RUDE NAMES THAT MADE ME LAUGH ALTHOUGH THIS WAS BECAUSE ) D HURLED A TIRADE OF ABUSE AT HER &INALLY &IONA MADE SURE 4HE %VENT WAS BEING SORTED WHILE ) DID MORE IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE EAT AT THE 0IZZA (UT BUFFET )F YOU KNOW ANY OF THESE PEOPLE MAKE THEM A CUP OF TEA OR SOMETHING AS THEY TRULY DESERVE IT -Y THANKS ARE ALSO EXTENDED THAT LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO ALL THE WRIT ERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO EACH SECTION 7HETHER IT S SOMEBODY WHO S WRIT TEN SOMETHING FOR THE FASHION PAG ES OR SOMETHING FOR THE COMPUTER GAMES PAGE OR ANY OF THE MANY BITS AND BOBS IN BETWEEN YOU RE THE GLUE THAT BINDS THIS PAPER TOGETHER AND WE RE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL &OLLOWING ON FROM LAST WEEK S RANT ABOUT %AMON (OLMES AND #OUNTDOWN ) WAS SOMEWHAT DISMAYED TO DISCOVER THAT $ES / #ONNOR WILL BE FOLLOWING THE PREVIOUS $ES INTO THE #OUNTDOWN CHAIR (MM (E LL PROBABLY BE RIGHT AT HOME JUDGING FROM HIS CONSTANT SICKENING mIRTING WITH -EL 7HATSHERFACE ON 4ODAY WITH $ES AND -EL HE LL PROBABLY BE LEERING AT 6ORDERMAN QUICKER THAN YOU CAN SAY hGIVE ME A CONSONANTv 7E LL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW HE DOES (AVE A GREAT COUPLE OF WEEKS ) M GOING TO WATCH %DDIE )ZZARD NOW !ND IN CASE YOU RE WONDER ING IT S A PICTURE OF ME AS A BABY
#HRIS
THE EVENT The !NNA 3TEWARD %DITOR IN #HIEF %DITOR AND $ESIGNER #HRIS (YDE $EPUTY %VENT %DITOR &IONA "ILLINGS !RTS %DITOR 2OANNA "OND $EPUTY !RTS %DITOR -IRANDA "RYANT #ONTRIBUTORS 'RACE #OOKE +ATRINA 2UMSBY
#OMPUTING %DITOR 0HIL 2OBINSON #ONTRIBUTORS *AMES #AREY
#REATIVE 7RITING %DITOR )MAN 3ID
#ONTRIBUTORS 4OM "ENN *ACK #LARK $ASSI %LBER !NTHONY *ACKSON ,ETITIA -C+IE 'ORDON 7EETMAN
&ASHION %DITOR 5MAY +ALSOOM $EPUTY &ASHION %DITOR #ARINA 2IZUI
#ONTRIBUTORS .ICK "ROOKES ,AURA 1UARTLY *AMES 0ARTRIDGE
&ILM %DITOR !NDY *UDSON
#ONTRIBUTORS 3ANCHITA "ASU DE 3ARKAR 0AUL "OND +IERAN #ORNWELL 3TEPHEN (ALL !MANDA ,IM ,IAM / "RIEN %STHER -ARTIN .ICK -ELLISH !LEXANDER -ORRIS $OROTHY 7AINWRIGHT $ANNI 7ARD -ARY 7OLLSTONECRAFT
,ISTINGS %DITOR *EMMA 4HAKE -USIC %DITOR 'REG 3ULLIVAN
#ONTRIBUTORS !LEX !LLEN .ICHOLAS "ROOKES *ACK #LARK +IERAN #ORNWELL 7ILL 'REAVES -ATT (IMSWORTH #HRIS (YDE *OSH ,IT TLE ,EWIS -ORTON 0HIL 2OBINSON "ARNABY 4IDMAN
46 %DITOR .ATASHA +UNDAIKER
#ONTRIBUTORS
(OLLY #URTIS +IERA / "RIEN !NDREW 3TAFFORD
THE EVENT
&ASHION
C o n c r e t e Fa s h i o n
()'( &!3()/.
,
IVING IN AN ENVIRON MENTALLY CONSCIOUS AGE IT WAS ONLY A MAT TER OF TIME BEFORE FASH ION JOINED THE ETHICAL
CAMPAIGN %THICAL FASHION RANGES FROM OR GANIC COTTON RECYCLABLE MATERIALS AWARENESS OF THE NATURAL WORLD TO FAIR TRADE STANDARDS THAT REPRESENT NOT ONLY THE MATERIALS THAT MAKE THE GARMENTS BUT THE WORKERS AND THEIR CONDITIONS AS WELL ! SUDDEN INmUX OF CELEBRITIES AND DESIGNERS ARE EMBRACING THE NOTION OF %THICAL &ASHION CAUSING A STIR AND MAJOR RETAILERS ARE RUSH ING TO BE PART OF THIS GROWING ECO FASHION TREND 4HERE S SOMETHING FOR EVERY ONE 3TELLA -C#ARTNEY MAKES VE GAN FRIENDLY SHOES DESIGNER 0ETER )NGWERSEN AT $ANISH LABEL .OIR DESIGNS CLOTHES WITH FAIR TRADE IN MIND AND THE 0EOPLE 4REE LABEL UTILISE ORGANIC COTTON NATURAL RECYCLABLE lBRES AND FAIR TRADE STANDARDS -ANY RETAILERS MANUFACTURE CLOTHES IN PLACES LIKE "ANGLADESH WHERE WORKING CONDITIONS CAN BE APPALLING WORKERS ARE TREATED LIKE SLAVES SUFFERING INTIMIDATION AND THREATS 5NABLE TO FORM UNIONS THEY ARE FORCED INTO WORKING LONG HOURS FOR LITTLE PAY #OTTON IS THE MOST ENVIRON MENTALLY DAMAGING CROP IN THE WORLD IT S ESTIMATED THAT OF THE WORLD S HARMFUL PESTICIDES ARE USED TO CULTIVATE COTTON -ATERIALS SUCH AS HEMP CAN BE MORE ENVI RONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AS THEY@RE CHEMICAL FREE 5 S "ONO HAS GOT IN ON THE ACT TOO CO FOUNDING THE 2ED CAMPAIGN &IVE BIG BRAND NAMES %MPORIO !RMANI 'AP -OTOROLA
!MERICAN %XPRESS AND #ONVERSE HAVE JOINED FORCES TO TARGET DIS EASES LIKE 4" AND !IDS IN !FRICA 0ROMOTED BY THE LIKES OF 3CARLETT *OHANSSON AND 'ISELE "UNDCHEN THIS COLLABORATION HAS ALREADY BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE &EBRUARY RAISING A HUGE a M SO FAR 4HE INITIATIVE FO CUSES NOT ON THE IDEA OF CHARITY BUT INSTEAD DONATES MONEY FOR EACH PURCHASE OF 2ED PRODUCTS TO 4HE 'LOBAL &UND ENCOURAGING US TO SHOP FOR 2ED T SHIRTS SHOES OR EVEN A NEW PHONE 9OU LL BE AWARE OF FAIR TRADE ON THE 5%! CAMPUS HAVING BOYCOTTED .ESTLE AND #OCA #OLA PRODUCTS WE VE PROVEN THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE A STRONG SOCIAL CONSCIENCE AND WE RE NOT AFRAID TO USE IT "UT IT STILL COMES AS A SURPRISE TO MANY OF US THAT THESE UNSCRUPULOUS RETAILERS AND THEIR APPALLING PRACTISES ARE HIDING IN OUR WARDROBES !PPEARING IN THE ,#2 LAST WEEK WAS @,ABOUR BEHIND THE LABEL 4HIS OUTlT CAMPAIGNS FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF WORKERS AND INVOLVES LOOKING A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME THAN JUST BIG NAME LABELS 3HOPS SUCH AS 'AP 4OPSHOP AND 0RIMARK HAVE BEEN CRITICISED FOR THEIR ETHICS #ONDEMNED FOR ITS USE OF SWEATSHOPS IN THE PAST THESE DAYS 'AP TOPS THE LISTS OF ETHICAL HIGH STREET SHOPS )N .ORWICH THEY ARE CURRENTLY SELLING 2ED #AMPAIGN T SHIRTS AND HOODIES RETAILING FROM a UPWARDS #ULT ON 3WAN LANE IS HOME TO A NUMBER OF LA BELS CLAIMING TO BE ETHICAL FOR EX AMPLE +OMODO WHICH USE HEMP BAMBOO lBRE AND RECYCLED TYRES IN A BID TO MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY MINDFUL 4OPSHOP RAN A ONE MONTH TRIAL OF LABEL @0EOPLE 4REE AS A CONCES SION IN THEIR /XFORD 3TREET STORE
()'( -/2!,3
IN WHICH 0EACHES 'ELDOF MADE FAIR TRADE JEWELLERY $UE TO ITS GREAT SUCCESS THEY DOUBLED THE SIZE AND EXTENDED THE CONCESSION INTO THE NEXT SEASON $ON T HOLD YOUR BREATH THOUGH THERE ARE NO PLANS AS OF YET TO BRING THE CONCESSION BACK LET ALONE REACH OUR OWN .OR WICH 3TORE $ON T PANIC YOU CAN STILL BE AN ECO WARRIOR WITHOUT SPENDING ALL YOUR MONEY AND TIME OR EVEN SACRI lCING YOUR STYLE FOR GREEN CLOTHES )N $ECEMBER THE ,#2 WILL BE OPENING IT S DOORS TO TO CELEBRATE ETHICAL FASHION WITH A FAIR TRADE PAR TY 4HIS WILL FEATURE STALLS FROM BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL ETHICAL CLOTHING LABELS *OIN IN THE FUN WHICH WILL INCLUDE $* S GRAlTTI ARTISTS ORGANIC FOOD HAMPERS AND JEWELLERY MAK ERS TO NAME BUT A FEW 4HE OLD FASHION STEREOTYPES ARE OUTDATED )N SHOPS SUCH AS THE HEMP SHOP @,EAF AND 4HE 7ORLD #LOTHING 3HOP YOU LL lND ETHI CALLY MADE JEANS FOR ONLY a THE SAME AS 4OPSHOP EXCEPT THESE COME WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND BECAUSE YOU RE SUPPORTING A GOOD CAUSE THERE S EVEN MORE REASON TO SPEND YOUR PENNIES &EATURE BY ,AURA 1UARTLY 0HOTO 2IGHT BY 0%4!
&!3()/. .%73 7E SAW YOU THERE 9OU ARE PROBABLY IN THE PICTURE LEFT 4OPSHOP S @3TUDENT 3HOP ON 4UESDAY TH /CTOBER WAS A GREAT SUCCESS FOCUSING ON THE LUXURIOUS SIDE OF SHOPPING WITH A FREE GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE TO BOOZE UP ON BEFORE SPENDING A SMALL FRACTION OF YOUR LOAN IN ONE NIGHT )F YOU MISSED A BARGAIN IN THEIR @EVEN BETTER WITH THAT EXTRA OFF SALE RACK THEN YOU COULD GO BACK THE NEXT NIGHT TO THE @3TUDENT 3HOP THAT STILL HAD THE SAME PARTY VIBES AND ATMOSPHERIC MAYHEM OF THE GOOD OLD @LOCK IN 4OPSHOP S VERY OWN PERSONAL STYLIST #HARLIE GAVE lFTEEN MINUTE @QUICKIE APPOINTMENTS TO lND THE PERFECT OUTlT THAT WOULD SUIT YOU YOUR WARDROBE AND YOUR BUDGET )F YOU LOVE FOOTWEAR THEN @3HOES 4HE !GONY AND THE %CSTASY EXHIBITION IS A MUST SEE AT THE #ASTLE -USEUM ON #ASTLE -EADOW #ELEBRATE THE ART OF SHOEMAKING AND ENJOY PLEASING YOUR EYES WITH -ANOLO "LAHNIK S AND *IMMY #HOO S TO MOCCASINS AND WELLIES THEN YOU CAN DROOL OVER THE CELEBRITY KILLER HEELS AND lND OUT WHY IT IS THAT WE ARE SO OBSESSED WITH OWNING SHOES SHOES AND MORE SHOES &INALLY THE NEWS YOU VE BEEN WAITING FOR #LOTHES 3HOW ,IVE IS BACK ON 46 )F YOU RE REALLY INTO FASHION THEN YOU LL PROBABLY HAVE WATCHED IT EAGERLY AS A CHILD 0RESENTED BY ,OUISE 2EDKNAPP #ARYN &RANKLYN AND "RENDAN #OURNEY THE FASHION PROGRAMME WILL BE BACK IN IT S SIGNATURE 3UNDAY AFTERNOON SLOT FROM THE ND /CTOBER ON 5+3TYLE
THE EVENT
&ASHION
G ets Se rious(ish)... A 'B T I J P O 'B E F T 4 U Z M F J T & U F S O B M : W F T 4 B J O U - B V S F O U
3TUDENT 3HOP h.O ,ONGER 2IGHTv &OR 'UYS 4HIS WEEK SAW THE RETURN OF THE HUGELY POPULAR 4OPSHOP 4OPMAN @LOCK IN REVAMPED IN ITS QUADREN NIAL YEAR AS THE @STUDENT SHOP WHERE ARDENT FASHION LOVERS RECEIVE A COM PLIMENTARY GLASS OF BUBBLY @FREE GIFT BAG AND A GENEROUS TWENTY PERCENT DISCOUNT ON ALL STOCK h9ES v WE CAN HEAR YOU ALL CRY hlNALLY ) CAN GET THAT DARK PLUM REVERSIBLE CARDIGAN ;AVAIL ABLE FOR a AT ALL GOOD 4OPMAN STORES= AT A CHEAP CHEAP PRICE AND MAYBE EVEN GET LASHED ON THE SIDE v 9ET TRAGICALLY DESPITE THE CUR RENT UPWARD TREND IN MEN S FASHION 4OPMAN UNLIKE PREVIOUS YEARS HAS mOPPEDINTHEFACEOFMOUNTINGEXPEC TATION DEEMING THE 4OPMAN @LOCK IN hNO LONGER RIGHT FOR THEM v ESSENTIALLY LEAVING 4OPSHOP TO mY THE mAG SOLO 3O LIKE MANY OF YOU WHO SPOKE TO US IN BEMUSEMENT OVER THE PAST WEEK WE HERE AT #ONCRETE WERE NOT ONLY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS BACKWARDS STEP IN MEN S FASHION BUT CONFUSED AT THIS SEEMINGLY INSANE BUSINESS DECISION 4HEREFORE WE DECIDED TO ASK A 4OPMAN REPRESENTATIVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THEIR MARKETING STRAT EGIES AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE &IRSTLY THEY WERE KEEN TO DISPEL ANY NOTION THAT THEIR MEN S RANGE IS A SECONDARY CONCERN AND THAT IN FACT THEY SIMPLY HAVE A DIFFERENT MARKET ING STRATEGY 4HE SOURCE OF THIS BEING hA SHED LOAD OF RESEARCHv INDISPUTABLY PROVING THAT WOMEN ON AVERAGE SHOP ON IMPULSE WHERE AS THE AVERAGE DIS CERNING FASHION CONSCIOUS MAN ENJOYS MAKING A WELL REASONED AND EVALUATED DECISION ON HIS PURCHASE 4HIS HAS LED TO A GAME PLAN THAT HAS ULTIMATELY CREATED THE EARLY DEMISE OF THE 4OP
Buy it or Bin it !MERICA S .EXT 4OP -ODEL "ITCHY AND "EAUTIFUL IT S UNBEATABLE ENTERTAINMENT
4HIS WEEK %LOISE 3ECOND 9EAR 3PANISH
8F’WF OPUJDFE ZPV BSPVOE XF mOE ZPV WFSZ BUUSBDUJWF XPVME ZPV VINN UFMM VT XIFSF ZPV HPU JU GSPN
#OAT 0RIMARK 3CARF ( "AG ( *EANS 0RIMARK
$AZZLE YOUR AUDI ENCE WITH DRESSES THAT SPARKLE 0URPLE 7E WEREN T SURE EITHER BUT #OURT NEY IS SLOWLY CONVINC ING US MAN LOCK IN 4OPSHOP WILL CONTINUE THEIR ANNUAL TWO NIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN WHEREAS 4OP MAN SEEKS TO EMPLOY A MORE SUBDUED LONGER LASTING CAMPAIGN OFFERING DISCOUNT OVER LONGER SEASONAL BLOCKS TO ENTICE YOU NEW MODERN AND FASH ION CONSCIOUS MEN 4HIS GOES TO SHOW THAT IN FACT MEN S FASHION HAS NOW BEEN UNDERLINED FOR ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE INDUSTRY AND HAS THUS SPAWNED ITS OWN MARKETING PLANS )F THIS IS THE CASE THEN SURELY THE ADVERTISING HAS FAILED AS NUMEROUS FASHION CONSCIOUS MEN HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED IN THEIR DESIRE TO GRAB THE ELUSIVE DISCOUNT HAVING BEEN MISLEAD ABOUT THESE SPECIAL STUDENT SHOPPING EXPERIENCES SUBSEQUENTLY LEAVING THEM DOOMED TO TRAIL THEIR HYPERACTIVE CHAMPAGNE DRIVEN IMPULSIVE GIRLFRIENDS AROUND THE TESTOSTERONE BARREN LOWER mOOR OF 4OPSHOP 0OOR FOOLS 3O WE IM PLORE YOU 4OPMAN WE DON T MIND YOUR CRAZY RESEARCH DRIVEN CAMPAIGNS BUT JUST TELL US WHAT S HAPPENING
-AKE -E ! 3UPERMODEL 9OU JUST CAN T BEAT 4YRA SO WHY TRY
3HOES .EW ,OOK
*G ZPV SF TUZMJTI BOE PO DBN QVT CFXBSF BT UIF GBTIJPO QB QBSB[[J BSF PO UIF QSPXM BOE ZPV NBZ KVTU HFU TOBQQFE
9OU WERE ALL EVICTED AND YET YOU CONTINUE TO HAUNT OUR MEDIA h7ANKERSv
4WO &ASHION #ONSCIOUS -EN XXX
THE EVENT
!RTS
4HE !MIS 0APERS )N .ORWICH AGAIN -ARTIN !MIS SPEAKS TO -IRANDA "RYANT ABOUT HIS STRUGGLES WITH THE EVER SPECULATIVE %NGLISH PRESS HIS LATEST NOVEL AND THE DREADFUL LEGACY OF SUCH AN ACCUMULATED SURNAME $ESPITE ALL THIS SHE lNDS HIM SURPRISINGLY OPTIMISTIC
&
ANTASTICALLY BAD PAINFULLY ADORABLE JUST A COUPLE OF THE OXYMORONIC PHRASES PICKED UP FROM A THIRTY MINUTE CHAT WITH THE HOUSEHOLD NAME OF %NG LISH CONTEMPORARY WRITERS -ARTIN !MIS BARES A NAME SATURATED WITH LEGACY %VEN IF YOU DISCOUNT HIS "OOKER PRIZE WINNING FATHER !MIS HAS BUILT UP A NAME OF HIS OWN THAT CONJURES AN IMAGE OR AT LEAST AN ADJECTIVE IN THE MAJORITY OF "RITAIN S NOVEL READING PUBLIC 7AITING IN A .ORWICH HOTEL COCK TAIL BAR FOR AN AUTHOR AND lGURE OF SUCH GRAVITY COUNTLESS ARTICLES AND TELEVISION FEATURES ABOUT HIM IN THE PAST MONTH ONE CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL A SENSE OF FOREBODING 3URELY A MAN WHO CLAIMS HIS ONLY IDEOLOGY IS h) HAVE NO IDEOLOGYv IS GOING TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS ARROGANT /R IS THERE A CHANCE THAT HE MIGHT BE AN ELOQUENT AND SENSITIVE GENTLEMAN !S IS STANDARD WITH ANY NOVEL ARTICLE SHORT STORY OR EVEN QUOTA TION IN !MIS NAME HIS LATEST WORK (OUSE OF -EETINGS HAS BEEN MET WITH HYPER CRITICAL SCRUTINY "UT PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN GENERA TION FEEL OWNERSHIP OF HIS WORK IN A WAY THAT IS MORE COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE POSSESSION PEOPLE FEEL OVER THEIR TEENAGE MUSIC ICONS h)T S QUITE INTEREST ING IN A WAY THEY HAD THE WRITER '* 4AYLOR ON 46 ;ON .EWSNIGHT= THE OTHER NIGHT TALKING ABOUT ME AND HE SAID THAT HE GETS PROTEC TIVE ABOUT MY BOOKS BECAUSE HE SORT OF GREW UP WITH THEM !ND SOMEONE WHO S QUARTER OF A GENERATION YOUNGER THAN ME OR HALF A GENERATION YOUNGER THAN ME THEY SORT OF THINK THEY OWN ME OR SOMETHING 7HICH IS SORT OF NICE IN A WAY BUT IT S IT S DISTORT ING v !MIS MIXED OPINION ON THE ISSUE IS UNDERSTANDABLE AS IT SEEMS ALMOST SELF DESTRUCTIVE FOR HIS FANS (IS AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO hBEAUTIFUL WIFEv RATHER NEATLY AND RATHER BLUNTLY ASSESSED THE SITUATION AS THIS h9OU LL NEVER GET A GREAT REVIEW IN %NGLANDv !MIS IS RATHER MATTER OF FACTLY RESIGNED TO HIS FATE @) THINK SHE S RIGHT ) MEAN THE REVIEWS ;OF (OUSE OF -EETINGS= ON THE WHOLE WERE PRETTY GOOD BUT THERE S ALWAYS THE SENSE OF SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON )T S HAPPENED A FEW TIMES 9OU KNOW h7HAT S HE DOING WRITING A BOOK ABOUT THE 'ULAG (E S NEVER
h"EFORE ) REDRAFTED -ON EY ) THOUGHT A WHITE VAN WOULD ARRIVE OUTSIDE MY mAT AND PEOPLE IN WHITE COATS WOULD SAY @COME WITH US NOW v BEEN TO THE 'ULAG ) KNOW WHERE HE S BEEN ) KNOW WHAT HE S BEEN DOING n HE S BEEN IN ,ONDON OR OFF IN 5RUGUAY v 3O ON TRACKING HIS MOVEMENTS ARE %NGLISH CRITICS ENVIOUS OF THE HAPPY LIFESTYLE THAT !MIS HAS ACQUIRED /R DO THEY FEEL JEALOUS BECAUSE HE IS NO LONGER A FULL TIME ,ONDON RESIDENT AND NOW SPENDS MORE TIME IN 5RUGUAY 7HATEVER THE REASON HE SPOKE TO A FULL HOUSE IN ,ECTURE 4HEATRE /NE THIS WEEK AT THE !RTHUR -ILLER #ENTRE LITER ARY FESTIVAL 4HE INTEREST IN THIS AUTHOR S WORK HAS NOT DULLED WHATEVER THE SPECULATION 4HE POLAR OPPOSITE OF TIMID !MIS DOES NOT AVOID @DIFlCULT TOPICS (AVING ALREADY WRITTEN A NOVEL ON THE (OLOCAUST IT IS RE VEALED THAT THE IDEA WAS BORROWED FROM HIS WRITER TENNIS PARTNER AND ON 3TALIN HIS LATEST NOVEL RETURNS TO A SIMILAR GEOGRAPHY THE 'ULAG #ONTRARY TO THE VIEWS OF HIS CRITICS !MIS CONSIDERS A TRIP TO 2USSIA THE WORST POSSIBLE PREPARATION FOR THIS NOVEL h(AVE YOU EVER BEEN TO 2USSIA BEFORE v ASKS 4HE %VENT h.EVER BEEN TO 2USSIA ) WILL DO BUT ONCE ) D
THE EVENT
STARTED THIS ;(OUSE OF -EETINGS= ) THOUGHT @7ELL ) CAN T GO TO 2US SIA NOW v !ND HIS REASONING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PRESS IT S ABOUT THE KIND OF FOCUS REQUIRED OF A NOVELIST (E EXPLAINS h)F ) D DONE THAT JOURNEY ) WOULD VE HAD A HEAD FULL OF JOURNALISTIC DETAIL 4HE DIFFERENCE IS THAT JOURNALISTIC DETAILS ARE VIVID BUT THEY WON T BE ORDERED TO A CERTAIN THEME v h3O YOU DIDN T WANT YOUR MIND CLUT TEREDv SUGGESTS 4HE %VENT h#LUT TERED IS THE WORD YES v $ESPITE BEING SIMILAR IN SUBJECT MATTER AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT THE (OLOCAUST AND THE 'ULAG REQUIRED TOTALLY DIF FERENT TREATMENT h7ITH !USCHWITZ RULE NUMBER ONE WAS DON T MAKE ANYTHING UP "UT ) DIDN T HAVE THAT ISSUE WITH THE 'ULAG )F ANYTHING ) MADE THE 'ULAG SEEM WORSE v 4HE REALITY OF THE 'ULAG SEEMS PRETTY HORRIlC THOUGH 4HE 'ULAG WERE SLAVE CAMPS OF THE 5332 AND !MIS NARRATIVE TAKES HIS NARRATOR FROM THERE IN UP TO THE 9ENISEI &OCUSSING ON A WORLD SO DIF FERENT FROM THAT OF HIS HOME IN 5RUGUAY WAS A STRUGGLE FOR !MIS )N FACT THE ENTIRE PROCESS SEEMS TO
HAVE BEEN A STRUGGLE h) WROTE IT ;(OUSE OF -EETINGS= IN 5RUGUAY IN AN IDYLLIC SETTING ) COULD SEE THE SEA AND HEAR IT FROM MY STUDY ROOM ) WAS LEADING A STRESS LESS EXISTENCE 5RUGUAY S VERY PLEAS ANT AND CIVIL AND ) JUST THOUGHT ) CAN T JUST SIT BY A POOL AND WRITE ABOUT IT THE 'ULAG 3O ) HAD TO SUFFER !ND ) DID ) FELT IT WAS BEG GING ME TO ABANDON IT !BANDON ME .EVER COME BACK v 3TRUGGLE SEEMS TO BE WHAT MAKES AN ARTISTIC WORK GOOD THOUGH n SOMETHING +INGSLEY !MIS ADVISED HIS SON ON h-Y FATHER SAID IF YOU WRITE A NOVEL WITHOUT ANY KIND OF STRUGGLE IT S NOT GOING TO BE ANY GOOD BUT THEN IF YOU WRITE THE WHOLE THING AT A FUNK THEN IT S NOT GOING TO BE ANY GOOD EITHER 9OU DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A FUNK AT SOME POINT THOUGH IT S GOING TO COME SOME TIME 3OMETIMES IT DOESN T HAPPEN UNTIL YOU RE ABOUT TO SEND IT IN v ! LATE STRUGGLE IS WHAT OCCURRED FOR !MIS WITH -ONEY @) REALLY ENJOYED WRITING IT FOR A YEAR AND THEN ) READ IT BEFORE SENDING IT IN AND ) PANICKED ) JUST THOUGHT hTHIS IS JUST A VOICE NOVEL ALL THE EGGS ARE IN THAT BASKET v )T WAS ONLY A
FEAR OF BEING SECTIONED @) THOUGHT A WHITE VAN WOULD ARRIVE OUTSIDE MY mAT AND PEOPLE IN WHITE COATS WOULD SAY hCOME WITH US NOW v THAT MADE !MIS RE DRAFT IT )T S AL MOST CERTAINLY LUCKY THAT HE DID AS THE COMPLETED VERSION HAS BECOME PART OF THE MODERN LITERARY CANON AND WAS RECENTLY VOTED THE SECOND BEST NOVEL OF THE PAST TWENTY lVE YEARS BY A VERY PRESTIGIOUS LIST OF LITERARY NAMES FOR THE /BSERVER "OTH SENSITIVELY DEALT WITH AND VIVID THE PERSONAS OF (OUSE OF -EETINGS ARE ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING ASPECTS 3O GREAT IS THE DEPICTION OF !NANIAS THE REPELLENT DRAMATIST !MIS MANAGES TO SUM UP HIS CHARACTER IN A HANDSHAKE @)T WAS LIKE HOLDING A GREASED RUBBER GLOVE HALF FULL OF TEPID WATER 4HE SENSATION DESCRIBED IN THE NOVEL DERIVES FROM A REAL ENCOUNTER h) ONCE SHOOK A HAND THAT WAS SO HORRIBLE THAT ) IN FACT DID KISS HIM GOODBYE *UST SO ) DIDN T HAVE TO SHAKE HIS HAND AGAIN v 4HE VILE HAND S IDENTITY @) M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHO IT WAS 1UITE WELL KNOWN !ND HE S A GOOD MAN "UT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAP PENS YOU JUST THINK h) VE GOT TO GET THIS IN v )NCREDIBLY SELF CONTAINED IT IS DIFlCULT TO IMAGINE THE NOVEL S FORMAT TAKING A DIFFERENT SHAPE /RIGINALLY !MIS ANXIETY OVER WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE A NOVELLA HAD MADE HIM FEEL IT NEEDED CUSHION ING OR hPROTECTINGv AS HE PUTS IT 0ROTECTION WAS TO COME IN THE FORM OF TWO SHORT STORIES ONE ON A 3EPTEMBER TH HIJACKER -OHAM MED !TTAn RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN THE 'UARDIAN AND THE OTHER ON ONE OF 3ADDAM (USSEIN S DOUBLES WHICH WOULD COME AT EITHER END OF WHAT HAS NOW BECOME (OUSE OF -EETINGS 3EEMINGLY !MIS WAS INCREDIBLY DISTRUSTFUL OF THE QUALITY OF WHAT HE HAD WRITTEN )NTERVIEW lNISHED AND EN ROUTE TO 5%! THE SECOND HALF OF -ARTIN !MIS NAME FEELS A LOT LIGHTER /N THE REVELATION OF A RATHER SAGGY CONNECTION TO HIS SON HE ASKS h/OH WHAT S HE UP TO 7HAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT HIM v AND HIS HUMANITY IS AGAIN CONlRMED ! NAME WITH A LEGACY BUT THE FASCINATING VOICE OF -ARTIN !MIS NOVELS IS WHERE OUR FOCUS SHOULD LAND
(OUSE OF -EETINGS IS PUBLISHED BY *ONATHAN #APE RRP a
!RTS
4HEATRE
#OMEDY
4HE 'ARAGE
%ARLHAM S $IRTY ,ITTLE
(ENRY 6 0LAYBOY OF THE 7ESTERN 7ORLD TH AND TH /CTOBER
(ENRY 6 AND 0LAYBOY OF THE 7ESTERN 7ORLD .OT THE MOST OBVIOUS DOUBLE BILL /R SO YOU MIGHT THINK "OTH PLAYS EXPLORE DIVERSE NOTIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND MISGUIDED HEROISM (ENRY 6 HERE VIBRANTLY UPDATED BY ACCLAIMED THEATRE COMPANY ,OVE AND -ADNESS IS THE LATEST ADAPTATION FROM A GROUP DETERMINED TO BRING 3HAKESPEARE TO THE MASSES 4HE PLAY FOLLOWS THE TRIALS OF A NATION FORCED TO FOLLOW THEIR RIOTOUS OVER ZEALOUS LEADER INTO WAR A TOPIC RICH WITH RESONANCE IN THIS AGE OF TESTOSTERONE FUELLED "USHISM 0LAYBOY OF THE 7ESTERN 7ORLD EXPLORES THE lCKLE NATURE OF CELEBRITY AS IT FOLLOWS THE STORY OF A MURDERER WHO ATTRACTS THE ADORATION OF A RURAL )RISH COMMUNITY AFTER KILLING HIS FATHER (ENRY 6 PROVED AN INNOVATIVE AFFAIR THE TRAVERSE STAGING LENDING THE PROCEEDINGS AN AIR OF INTIMACY WHILE WE WATCHED THE PLAY S EVENTS UNFOLD ADDING GREATLY TO THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE ACTING .EIL 3HEPPECK THE COMPANY S FOUNDER HERE PLAYING THE EPONYMOUS HERO WAS SUPERB CREATING A SENSE OF QUIET DESPERATION WITHIN THE ENIGMATIC KING WITH WHOM WE
ARE NEVER QUITE SURE HOW MUCH WE EMPATHISE 4HE CAST WERE EXCEPTIONALLY VERSATILE EFFORTLESSLY SWITCHING BETWEEN CHARACTERS AND A NUMBER OF THE SMALLER PERFORMANCES TRULY SHONE 4HE CHORIC SPEECHES SEEMED A LITTLE LACKLUSTRE HOWEVER AND WERE SOMEWHAT LESS ENGAGING THUS SLIGHTLY DETRACTING FROM THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THE PIECE !FTER A VAGUELY LABOURED START THE ACTION BUILT UP TO A TENSE UNNERVING CLIMAX WHICH WAS WONDERFULLY EXECUTED AND THE HUMOUR OF THE PLAY S lNAL SCENES PROVIDED A PERFECT CONTRAST TO THE TAUT DECONSTRUCTION OF LEADERSHIP THAT HAD GONE BEFORE 0LAYBOY OF THE 7ESTERN 7ORLD HOWEVER PROVED A HIGHLY OBSCURE CREATURE 4HIS PRODUCTION HAD MUCH TO RECOMMEND IT AND THE CAST BROUGHT THE SCRIPT TO LIFE BEAUTIFULLY HOWEVER PARTS OF IT SEEMED SIMPLY INESCAPABLY DATED 5NDOUBTEDLY THIS WAS MORE THE FAULT OF THE WRITING THAN ANYTHING ELSE BUT IT WAS HIGHLY PREDICTABLE IN AREAS AND SLIGHTLY TOO SUBDUED 4HE STANDARD OF THE ACTING SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING THIS SLIGHTLY OLD FASHIONED PLAY TO LIFE HOWEVER AND DESPITE THE SLOW DESCENT
INTO FARCE PACKED IN SOME WELL THOUGHT OUT EMOTIONAL PUNCHES PARTICULARLY AT THE END WITH %LEANOR 4URNER AND *ACK -C'ABHAM TURNING IN ESPECIALLY EVOCATIVE PERFORMANCES AS THE TWO LEADS /VERALL THE TWO PLAYS MADE FOR A THOUGHT PROVOKING COUPLE OF NIGHT S ENTERTAINMENT 4HOUGH THEY LACKED A PROFESSIONAL SHEEN PERHAPS VERGING ON CLASSY AMATEUR DRAMATIC PRODUCTIONS AT TIMES WITH THE FAIRLY LOW BUDGET SETS AND BASIC COSTUMES PROVIDING ALL THE DECORATIONS WE WERE GIVEN IT WAS THE HINT OF RAW ANIMAL FEROCITY BEHIND THE ACTORS PERFORMANCES THAT TRULY MADE THESE PLAYS STAND OUT ,OVE AND -ADNESS ADMIRABLY BRING THEATRE BACK TO WHAT S IMPORTANT AT A TIME WHEN WE RE SURROUNDED BY NUMEROUS THEATRICAL EPICS AND MUSICAL MELODRAMATICS 3OMETIMES IT IS TOO EASY TO FORGET WHAT REALLY MATTERS 4HIS DOUBLE BILL PROVIDES US WITH A TIMELY REMINDER OF WHAT GOOD ACTING ALONE CAN ACHIEVE -ORE OF THIS PLEASE 2OANNA "OND
4HE 7ORKSHOP /N THE SECOND 7EDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH @%ARLHAM S $IRTY ,ITTLE 3ECRET TAKES PLACE .OW FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE SITTING THERE WONDERING @EXACTLY WHAT IS %ARLHAM S SECRET !ND WHY IS IT SO DIRTY THE ANSWER IS TUCKED AWAY UP %ARLHAM 2OAD HIDDEN DOWN IN THE BASEMENT OF @4HE 7ORKSHOP 4HIS IS A FUNKY LITTLE BAR CAFÏ THAT IS GUARANTEED TO APPEAL TO YOUR STUDENT SENSIBILITIES 7HETHER IT IS THE MELT IN THE MOUTH AROMA OF PIZZA AND BURGERS THE FREE SWEETS THAT COME WITH ANY DRINK OR SIMPLY THE BUZZING ATMOSPHERE OF THE PLACE n YOU WILL BE GLAD TO HAVE ARRIVED .OW IT IS EASY TO GET SIDETRACKED BY ALL THIS AMBIENCE BUT THE ANSWERS TO YOUR EARLIER QUESTIONS AWAIT DOWNSTAIRS %SSENTIALLY @4HE 7ORKSHOP IS OFFERING
YOU A CHILLED OUT INTIMATE NIGHT OF AMATEUR STAND UP COMEDY 6ARIOUS COMEDIANS WILL GET ON STAGE AND OFFER YOU THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT REAL lLTH IS 4HE JOKES RANGE DRAMATICALLY IN STYLE AND TASTE FROM (ITLER TO DRAMATIC SPEECHES ABOUT CENTAURS AND DWARVES .OW THE CHANCES ARE THAT THERE WILL BE NO TEARS OF LAUGHTER LEFT ROLLING DOWN YOUR CHEEKS BY THE END OF THE NIGHT 9OUR SIDES MAY WELL REMAIN DECIDEDLY UNSPLIT $ESPITE THIS 4HE %VENT FEELS THAT IF A CHILLED OUT NIGHT IS WHAT YOU ARE AFTER SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT FOR A 7EDNESDAY EVENING PERHAPS IT IS TIME YOU VENTURE DOWN TO THE DARK UNDERBELLY OF %ARLHAM AND CAST YOUR OWN OPINIONS ON ITS DIRTY LITTLE SECRET 'RACE #OOKE
/NE -AN 3TAR 7ARS 4RILOGY .ORWICH 0LAYHOUSE
TH 3EPTEMBER
/N &RIDAY TH 3EPTEMBER 4HE %VENT VISITED THE .ORWICH 0LAYHOUSE FOR A NIGHT OF GEEKY NOSTALGIC INDULGENCE IN A RATHER ORIGINAL HOMAGE TO 3TAR 7ARS 7E MUST WARN POTENTIAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS THAT THIS SHOW IS ENTIRELY FAN PROOF !S #HARLES 2OSS HIMSELF SAID TO ANY POTENTIAL COMPLAINERS hWATCHING MY SHOW WITHOUT HAVING SEEN 3TAR 7ARS IS LIKE ME GOING TO THE DESERT WITHOUT ANY SKIN v &OLLOWING A SELL OUT RUN AT THIS YEAR S %DINBURGH &RINGE &ESTIVAL THE SOLO ACTOR OF THIS SHOW TAKES ON THE JOB OF PERFORMING THE MORE ESTEEMED ORIGINAL 3TAR 7ARS TRILOGY IN THE SPACE OF AN HOUR #OMPLETE WITH ACCURATE SCENE SPLITS AND INTERSPERSED CLIPS OF THE SOUNDTRACK THE ENTIRE PIECE IS DELIVERED FROM THE MOUTH OF 2OSS SOMETIMES SO
QUICKLY THAT IT IS HARD TO DOUBT HE HAS ANY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 4HE FACT THAT 2OSS HAS PERFORMED HIS SHOW OVER TIMES EXPLAINS THE SHEER SPEED OF THE CHOREOGRAPHY AND WHY HE NOW WANTS TO EXPAND HIS REPERTOIRE TO INCLUDE /NE -AN ,ORD OF THE 2INGS !CTING OUT THE PATH OF THE OPENING CREDITS SPACE CRUISERS THE DROIDS AND ,ORD 6ADER 2OSS GAINS AS MUCH EFFECT FROM HIS VISUAL ACTIONS AND INTONATIONS AS THE DIALOGUE ITSELF 3TEAMING THROUGH THE lLMS ALBEIT WITH VAST SCENE OMISSIONS 2OSS CREATES A COMIC PORTRAIT OF THE ICONIC CHARACTERS ALONGSIDE HIS OWN HILARIOUS SIDE COMMENTS PROJECTING AN APPROPRIATELY TONGUE IN CHEEK ATTITUDE TO SUCH A TIME CONSECRATED AND BELOVED FRANCHISE +ATRINA 2UMSBY
THE EVENT
46
0RIMETIME
2OBIN (OOD ""# PM 3ATURDAYS 7HETHER YOU KNOW THE STORY FROM THE CLASSIC %RROL &LYNN MOVIE FROM THE MULTITUDE OF BOOKS STAGE TELEVISION AND lLM PRODUC TIONS OR BY WATCHING THE $ISNEY VERSION AS A CHILD THERE IS NO ESCAPING %NGLAND S MOST ENDUR ING AND WELL KNOWN FOLK TALE OF 2OBIN (OOD ""# S NEW a MILLION ADAPTATION TAKES A FRESH MODERN OUTLOOK AT THE HERO SCRAPPING THE TIGHTS IN FAVOUR OF A MORE REALISTIC AND EDGY FEEL 2OBIN OF ,OCKSLEY PLAYED BY THE RELATIVELY UNKNOWN *ONAS !RMSTRONG RETURNS HOME FROM THE #RUSADES TO lND HIS MANOR IN DISARRAY UNDER THE RULE OF THE NEW 3HERIFF +EITH !LLEN AND THE VILLAINOUS 'UY OF 'ISBORNE
2ICHARD !RMITAGE !FTER SAVING SOME OF HIS VILLAGERS FROM HANG ING 2OBIN AND HIS SERVANT -UCH PLAYED BY 3AM 4ROUGHTON ARE EX ILED AND THEN MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE INFAMOUS 3HERWOOD &ORREST &OR THE DIE HARD FANS A LOT HAS CHANGED 4HE -ERRY -EN MINUS &RIAR 4UCK HAVE NOW BECOME THE /UTLAWS WHICH lTS IN WITH THE DARKER ATMOSPHERE OF THE SHOW 4HEY ARE NO LONGER THE JOVIAL ROB BERS BUT A BAND OF ROGUES WITH NO DISCERNABLE PURPOSE OR DIREC TION UNTIL 2OBIN ARRIVES 2OBIN IS A CHANGED MAN RETURNING FROM THE (OLY 7ARS VAIN ARROGANT BUT NONE THE LESS A BROKEN SOL DIER STRIPPED OF HIS INNOCENCE !RMSTRONG PLAYS A MODERN
2OBIN COMPLETE WITH INDIE LOOK AND STUBBLE BUT MANAGES TO BE CAPTIVATING AND CHARISMATIC 7E STILL HAVE A mICKER OF ROMANCE BE TWEEN 2OBIN AND -ARIAN ,UCY 'RIFlTHS WHICH WILL SURELY DE VELOP AS THE SHOW PROGRESSES 4ROUGHTON S -UCH IS THE SOURCE OF COMIC RELIEF OFTEN WANTING TO BREAK INTO SONG BUT 2OBIN NEVER LETS HIM (IS LOVE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT FOR HIS MASTER IS ENDEARING !L LEN IS FANTASTIC AS THE DESPOTIC 3HERIFF OF .OTTINGHAM SEAL ING THE SHOW WITH HIS MENACING AND ENTERTAINING PERFORMANCES 4HERE IS ONLY SO MUCH THAT YOU CAN SHOW AT O CLOCK ON A 3ATURDAY BUT THE SHOW MANAGES
TO CAPTURE THE SINISTER NATURE OF WHAT 2OBIN IS lGHTING AGAINST ALTHOUGH WE DIDN T SEE IT THE CUT TING OFF OF TONGUES FROM INNOCENT VILLAGERS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE FEATURED IN A PURELY CHILDREN S SHOW (OWEVER 2OBIN (OOD MANAGES TO SATISFY BOTH THE YOUNGER AUDIENCE WITH FANTASTIC lGHT SEQUENCES STUNTS AND AR CHERY WHILE MAINTAINING A MORE INTELLECTUAL WITTY AND POLITICAL MINDSET FOR ITS OLDER AUDIENCE
3OAPS
46 $6$
)T HAS BEEN AN EVENTFUL WEEK IN #HESTER WITH "ECCA TELLING A HUNG OVER AND STUNNED *USTIN THAT SHE DOESN T WANT TO MARRY HIM 4O LASH BACK HE GOES TO THE POLICE CLAIMING "ECCA ABUSED HIM WHEN SHE WAS A TEACHER "ECCA RESOLVES TO TALK TO *USTIN BUT HE SOON REALISES THAT SHE ONLY WANTS TO GET THE CHARGES DROPPED MAKING THE SITUATION WORSE #LAIRE REMAINS IN THE DOGHOUSE FOR LEAVING 4OM ON HIS OWN BUT -AX ACCEPTS HER APOLOGIES WHEN SHE ASKS HIM OUT FOR LUNCH -EANWHILE -ERCEDES AND *ACQUI GO TO A MEN S TOILET IN A PARK TO PICK UP A PACKAGE FOR ONE OF *ACQUI S PRISON MATES 4HE GIRLS ARE BEMUSED TO lND A CERAMIC DOG AND SHOCKED TO DISCOVER IT CONTAINS THOUSANDS OF POUNDS 7HEN $AVEY WANTS HIS MONEY BACK -YRA WITHDRAWS ALL HER SAVINGS AND GIVES HIM HER THREE ENGAGEMENT RINGS BUT IT STILL IS NOT ENOUGH *ACQUI ASSURES EVERYONE THAT SHE HAS FOUND THE MONEY BUT WHAT THEY DO NOT REALISE IS THAT SHE WILL BE PAYING $AVEY BACK IN FAVOURS AND HE WILL BE COMING ROUND TO COLLECT -ERCEDES IS LEFT HEARTBROKEN WHEN 2USS LEAVES HER .ATASHA +UNDAIKER
#REATURE #OMFORTS WAS ORIGINALLY ADAPTED FROM THE /SCAR WINNING SHORT lLM BY .ICK 0ARK BE FORE HE SHOT TO FAME WITH 7AL LACE AND 'ROMIT AND #HICKEN 2UN )N THE STYLE OF ALL !ARDMAN !NI MATION PRODUCTIONS THE CHARACTERS ARE CREATED OUT OF PLASTICINE AND CLAY AND ANIMATED USING THE STOP MO TION TECHNIQUE A METHOD WHICH RE SULTED IN THE lRST SERIES BEING MADE IN EIGHTEEN MONTHS WITH FOUR SEC ONDS OF lLM BEING SHOT EACH DAY 5NUSUALLY FOR AN ANIMATED PRO GRAMME THE SHOW USES AN ENTIRELY ANONYMOUS CAST OF VOICE OVERS !LL THE VOICES ARE PROVIDED BY NORMAL PEOPLE CREDITED AS @4HE 'REAT "RITISH 0UBLIC AND THE WHOLE SE RIES IS COMPLETELY UNSCRIPTED AND UNREHEARSED 7HEN THESE RANDOM
(OLLYOAKS
.EIGHBOURS 4HE PATERNITY OF 3KYE S UNBORN BABY AGAIN CAME INTO QUESTION AFTER A SCAN REVEALED THE BABY WAS CONCEIVED LATER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT 4HIS MEANS $YLAN CAN T BE THE FATHER AND IT CAN ONLY BE 3TINGRAY SOMETHING 3KYE HAS SO FAR ONLY SHARED WITH $R +ARL +ENNEDY 0AUL AND 'AIL S FAKE WEDDING CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT WHEN 0AUL ATTEMPTED TO LURE EVIL 2OB OUT OF HIDING BY LURCHING AROUND YELLING h) NEVER LOVED YOU v WHICH RESULTED IN HIM BEING SHOT ,UCKILY THE POLICE HAD THOUGHT TO PROTECT HIM WITH A BULLET PROOF VEST AND 2OB WAS ARRESTED -EANWHILE THE IMPRISONED +ATYA WAS RESCUED FROM HER TRAILER VAN JAIL BY 4OADIE AND 3USAN (OWEVER POOR +ATYA S WEEK WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE WHEN SHE WAS ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED DOWN BY -AX S CAR AND SHE ENDED UP SPENDING MORE TIME IN THE HOSPITAL AS A PATIENT THEN SHE DID AS A NURSE %VERYTHING WENT SOUR FOR 0AUL AND 'AIL TOO BIZARRELY 0AUL DECIDED TO SEDUCE A GIRL #AMERON HAD HIS EYE ON USING THE LURE OF A GUIDED TOUR OF ,ASSITERS SURELY SOMETHING NO RED BLOODED WOMAN COULD RESIST AND BLITHELY OPENED THE DOOR TO HIS EX WIFE GIRLFRIEND AND SON WITH HIS SHIRT ALL UNBUTTONED 4HIS RESULTED IN QUITE A FEW SLAPS TO 0AUL S FACE AND 'AIL S RETURN TO 4ASMANIA -EANWHILE 3KYE IS UPSET WHEN A CLAIRVOYANT PREDICTS HER BABY S LIFE MAY BE IN DANGER AND 3USAN GUESSES THAT 3TINGRAY IS THE FATHER OF 3KYE S BABY AND WRITES HIM A LETTER +ARL STOPS THE LETTER REACHING 3TINGRAY BUT HAS TO PRETEND TO *ANELLE THAT HE HAS THE HOTS FOR HER +IERA / "RIEN
THE EVENT
4HE TALE OF 2OBIN (OOD HAS BEEN RESHAPED AND REDRAWN OVER THE CENTURIES IN ORDER TO lT THE SURROUNDING TIMES AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT WITH THE ""# VERSION /NE CANNOT AVOID THE REFERENCES TO THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF WAR AND TYRANNY IDEAS WHICH ARE PREV ALENT IN THE MIND OF THE PUBLIC 4HIS IS PERHAPS WHAT MAKES THE SHOW SO INTERESTING AND REALISTIC IT ECHOES BACK TO OUR OWN LIVES .ATASHA +UNDAIKER
#REATURE #OMFORTS 3ERIES a RAMBLING SOUND BITES ARE PUT TO GETHER WITH THE ANIMATED ANIMAL CHARACTERS EVEN THE MOST BOR ING OF HUMAN DIALOGUE IS GIVEN A NEW MEANING DUE TO THE PER FECT MATCHING OF VOICE TO ANIMAL &OR EXAMPLE THE VOICES OF TWO YOUNG BOYS BICKERING OVER WHO COULD BEAT THE OTHER IN A HUNDRED METRE RACE IS SET TO AN ANIMATED SCENE OF THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE AND SUDDENLY IT BECOMES A LOT MORE INTERESTING h) COULD WIN THE lRST THIRTY METRES v WHINES THE TORTOISE WHILE THE HARE COMES BACK WITH h9OU COULDN T WIN THE lRST HALF A METRE v /N THIS 3ERIES $6$ WHICH INCLUDES EPISODES ON PET HATES SPORT AND EXERCISE SELF IMAGE ANI MAL MAGNETISM AND THE #HRISTMAS SPECIAL THERE ARE ANSWERS TO QUES
TIONS WHICH SURELY EVERYONE HAS PONDERED AT LEAST ONCE SUCH AS WHAT MAKES PIGS FEEL SEXY !RE BALD EAGLES EVER MADE TO FEEL SELF CON SCIOUS (OW DO POLICE HORSES FEEL ABOUT DRUNKEN PEOPLE SINGING HIP HOP !ND OF COURSE WHAT WOULD A $AME %DNA %VERAGE IMPRESSION SOUND LIKE IF PERFORMED BY THE RAVENS IN THE 4OWER OF ,ONDON 4HE SHOW HAS BEEN SO POPU LAR ALL OVER THE GLOBE THAT THERE IS EVEN A 53 VERSION OF THE SHOW BEING MADE DUE OUT IN 4HE SHOW TRANSFORMS THE MUN DANE INTO AN ARRAY OF UNIQUE AND WITTY COMICAL SKETCHES REMAINING A QUINTESSENTIALLY "RITISH COMEDY )F YOU LOVE 7ALLACE AND 'ROMIT #REATURE #OMFORTS IS A MUST SEE +IERA / "RIEN
46 #LASSICS - ! 3 ( - ! 3 ( -OBILE !RMY 3ERV ICE (OSPITAL HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND THE RE RUNS JUST KEEP ON GOING "ASED ON THE NOVEL BY 2ICHARD (OOKER AND 2OBERT !LTMAN S lLM WITH SERIES IT PROVED TO BE BY FAR THE MOST POPULAR RENDITION 3ET IN THE +OREAN 7AR IT TELLS OF THE BRAVERY OF EVERYONE AT THE TH (UMOUR IS KEY USED BY THE TEAM TO KEEP THE TERRIBLE ATROCITIES
OF WAR AT BAY AND PREVENT INSANITY 4HE WITTY REPARTEE BETWEEN THE CEN TRAL CHARACTER THE LOVABLE ,OTHARIO #APTAIN h(AWKEYEv 0IERCE !LAN !LDA AND THE REST OF THE GANG EN SURE THE COMEDY KEEPS COMING 7ITH SUCH A COLLECTION OF WEIRD AND WONDERFUL CHARACTERS INCLUDING COMPANY CLERK h2ADARv / 2EILLY 'ARY "URGHOFF WHO OF TEN KNOWS WHAT S JUST ABOUT TO HAP PEN FROCK WEARING +LINGER *AMIE
&ARR h4RAPPERv 7AYNE 2OGERS AND h(OT ,IPSv (OULIHAN ,ORETTA 3WIT IT S A BIT #ATCH ESQUE 4HERE ARE SEXUAL PUNS APLENTY ACROSS THE /2 AS THE DOCTORS AND NURSES PATCH UP SOLDIERS WHILST OC CASIONALLY BEING SHELLED FOR GOOD MEASURE !ND ALTHOUGH - ! 3 ( BECAME DARKER IN LATER SERIES AND SOME JOKES MISS THE MARK DUE TO AGE IT S STILL WELL WORTH WATCHING (OLLY #URTIS
46
+ILL "USH 6OL $OCUMENTARIES HAVE TAKEN A STRONGER STANCE IN TODAYS MEDIA DEVELOPING THE GENRE AND BLURRING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN FACT AND lCTION !NDREW 3TAFFORD TAKES A LOOK AT THE CONTOVERSIAL #HANNEL DOCUMENTARY WHICH FOLLOWS THE ASSASINATION OF 'EORGE 7 "USH
$
EATH OF A 0RESIDENT IS A GRIP PING DRA MA THAT EXPLORES THE 53 AD MINISTRATION S RESPONSES TO AND IS INSPIRED BY THE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE CAUGHT UP IN THE @7AR ON 4ERROR )T HAS WON THE )NTERNATIONAL #RITICS 0RIZE AT THE 4ORONTO &ILM &ESTIVAL AND IS SET TO BRING #HANNEL A LOT OF PUBLIC ITY OVER THIS CONTROVERSIAL DRAMA 4HE FILM COMBINES ##46 FOOTAGE AND INTERVIEWS WITH PEO PLE BOTH SUPPOSEDLY CLOSE TO THE 0RESIDENT AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ALL IN AID OF SIMULATING REALISM )T IS FILMED IMITATING THE FORMAT OF A DOCUMENTARY WE WOULD SEE ON TELEVISION "EING BROADCAST IN THE YEAR $EATH OF A 0RESI DENT DOCUMENTS THE EVENTS OF THE ASSASSINATION OF IN #HICAGO WHERE 'EORGE 7 "USH IS GIVING A SPEECH TO BUSINESS LEADERS ABOUT THE 53 FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC POLICIES "USH IS CONFRONTED BY A MASSIVE ANTI WAR DEMONSTRATION BUT UNPERTURBED HE CONTINUES HIS PLANS AND GIVES HIS SPEECH BUT GETS GUNNED DOWN BY A SNIP ER AS HE IS LEAVING THE VENUE 4HE DOCUMENTARY OPENS WITH
DEMONSTRATORS FEROCITY INCREAS ES TO THE BREAKING POINT 4HE TENSION HAS BEEN BUILDING AND MOUNTS UNTIL THE INSTANT WHEN THE SOUNDS OF GUN SHOTS RING OUT 7HILE THE NATION GOES INTO MOURNING THE HUNT FOR THE KILLER IS ON AND THE STATE SWINGS INTO AC TION TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE HORRIFIC ATTACK ON THE ADMINISTRA TION 4HE DOCUMENTARY HOWEVER SWITCHES TO A MORE MYSTERIOUS STYLE AND FOLLOWS THE &") S HUNT FOR THE ASSASSIN 4HEY CAPTURE AND INTERVIEW MANY SUSPECTS ALL WHO TURN OUT TO BE INNOCENT $EATH OF A 0RESIDENT IS A GRIP PING TWO HOUR DRAMA IN WHICH EVENTS ARE @RE CREATED BY THE USE OF FOOTAGE AND INTERVIEWS AND SHOWS THE MEDIA STORM AROUND THE 7AR ON 4ERROR AS -USLIMS ARE BLAMED AS THE CULPRITS BE FORE THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE 4HE PRIME SUSPECT IS A 3YRIAN MAN WHICH FUELS THE MEDIA INTO SEE ING THE ASSASSINATION AS AN ACT OF TERRORISM 7HAT IS INTEREST ING IS THAT EVEN WHEN THE REAL KILLER IS FOUND THE INNOCENT 3YRIAN IS NOT RELEASED REMAIN ING IN PRISON AWAITING TRIAL 4HE ASSASSINATION SCENE WAS CREATED DIGITALLY WITH AN ACTOR PLAYING THE ROLE OF 'EORGE 7 "USH AND THEN "USH S FACE WAS
! 6ERY 3OCIAL 3ECRETARY FRANTICALLY EDITED ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF AN ANTI WAR DEMONSTRATION AND THE AUDIENCE ARE THROWN AMONG THE RAGING CROWD OF PROTESTORS WAITING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE "USH CONVOY 4HE CROWDS ARE ANGRY AND DEMONSTRATORS BREACH SECURITY WITH ONE PROTESTOR EVEN MAKING IT TO THE 0RESIDENTIAL CAR BEFORE BEING TAKEN DOWN !LTHOUGH BE ING WARNED AGAINST CONTINUING "USH GIVES A PATRIOTIC SPEECH IN SIDE A HOTEL WHILST OUTSIDE THE
SUPER IMPOSED DURING EDITING 4HE DOCUMENTARY FEATURES ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT FATEFUL DAY THE PROTESTORS OUTSIDE A #HICAGO HOTEL THE SUSPECTS IN THE SHOOT ING AND THEIR FAMILIES THE 3ECRET 3ERVICE MEN WHO FAILED TO PROTECT THEIR CHARGE THE PRESS AND AN AR RAY OF EXPERTS DESPERATELY SEEKING MEANING IN THIS ACT OF VIOLENCE 7RITER AND DIRECTOR 'ABRIEL 2ANGE HAS BECOME WELL KNOWN FOR HIS USE OF THE TECHNIQUE OF
@RETROSPECTIVE DOCUMENTARY IN HIS CELEBRATED FILMS 2ANGE S PRE VIOUS TWO DOCUDRAMAS ARE ALSO SET IN THE hNEAR FUTUREv 4HE $AY "RITAIN 3TOPPED IS ABOUT THE CHAIN OF EVENTS WHICH LED TO THE BREAK DOWN OF THE COUNTRIES TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND CAUSED NEARLY A HUN DRED FATALITIES AND 4HE -AN 7HO "ROKE "RITAIN IN WHICH A CITY TRAD ER CAUSES A NATIONAL RECESSION 2ANGE HAS BEEN CRITICALLY AC CLAIMED FOR THE TECHNICAL VIR TUOSITY OF HIS FILMS WHICH COM BINES ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE AND THOSE FILMED SCENES TO CREATE DISTURB INGLY REAL VISIONS OF CATASTRO PHES !S ONE MIGHT EXPECT HE IS ULTIMATELY INTERESTED IN AD DRESSING TODAY S POLITICAL ISSUES THROUGH THE LENS OF THE FUTURE 8ENOPHOBIA THE HIDDEN COSTS OF WAR AND THE NATURE OF CIVIL LIB ERTIES IN A HYPER MEDIA AGE ALL COME UNDER THE MICROSCOPE 4HE FILM IS NEVER A PERSONAL ATTACK ON "USH 2ANGE SIMPLY SEEKS TO EX PLORE THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENC ES THAT MIGHT FOLLOW FROM THE 0RESIDENT S POLICIES AND ACTIONS #HANNEL PLANS TO SCREEN SIMILAR DOCUMENTARIES SUCH AS 4HE 4RIAL OF 4ONY "LAIR FROM
h4HE DOCUMENTARY SHOWS THE MEDIA STORM AROUND THE 7AR ON 4ERROR AS -USLIMS ARE BLAMED AS THE CULPRITS BEFORE THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE v
THE MAKERS OF ! 6ERY 3OCIAL 3EC RETARY A SATIRE ABOUT THE AFFAIR BETWEEN $AVID "LUNKETT AND +IMBERLY 1UINN 4HIS WILL TAKE A DARKLY HUMOROUS LOOK AT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE 0RIME -INISTER AFTER HE LEAVES OFFICE WITH 2OBERT ,INDSAY STARRING AS 4ONY "LAIR A ROLE WHICH HE ALSO TOOK IN ! 6ERY 3OCIAL 3ECRETARY !LTHOUGH IT HAS CAUSED OUTRAGE WITH MANY !MERICANS BECAUSE IT TOUCHES TOO CLOSE TO HOME $EATH OF A 0RESIDENT IS WORTH WATCHING IF ONLY AS A STUDY OF THE BLURRING OF BOUNDARIES BETWEEN REALITY AND FICTION 4HE SUBJECT MATTER IS VERY RELATIVE TO TODAY S SOCIETY 4ERRORISM IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF THE MIND OF THE PUBLIC AND AL THOUGH IT TAKES PLACE IN !MERICA IT DOESN T TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT THE TOPIC IS CLOSE TO HOME 4HE DIGITAL ASPECTS ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE AWARE THE FOOTAGE IS NOT AC TUALLY OF "USH IT IS HARD TO NO TICE MANY ERRORS WITH HIM BEING SUPERIMPOSED INTO SHOT HOW EVER THEY PLACE SO MUCH FOCUS ON "USH THEY FAIL TO MAKE THE REST OF THE CAST BLEND IN AS WELL
THE EVENT
#REATIVE 7RITING
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02/3%
!UTOMATON 0OETRY
4HE $OLL 0RINCESS
4HE "US 3TOP
"UBBLE 4IME $OGS 0LAYING )RAQIS WILL TAKE LEAD -ONOGAMY AN INTIMATE LOOK LOVE OF SEX 3HOW AX 'IBSON INTERVIEW 3IENNA -ILLER DISSING 0ORTMAN "ORROWS OF (EPBURN S LITTLE BLACK DRESS /R +EISHA +ILLER THIS WEEK S TRAVEL 0ADRES STOP LIVE TIGERS 4RAVEL (ONG "LIND OR TAKE MAGAZINE CIRCUS (EAD IN BUTT -AGAZINE CIRCUS ADULTS
0!24 ?3/5, 7)2%$ !- ,/.$/. $)342)#4?
4HE STAGE IS BARE WITH ONLY A BUS STOP SIGN $/2)3 SHUFmES ONSTAGE TO STAND BESIDE THE BUS STOP POLE 3HE IS TOWING A TARTAN SHOPPING BAG ON WHEELS AND WEARING A HUGE OLD COAT 3HE STANDS AT THE STOP AND PEERS AROUND HER
"Y 'ORDON 7EETMAN
(ER -AJESTY SHE WALKS WITH A FACE LIKE A SMACKED ARSE HER RHETORIC REEKS OF A SUPERIORITY COMPLEX THAT LATER IN LIFE PYSCHOLOGISTS WILL PROBABLY RELATE TO HER DADDY S OVER INDULGENCE WHEN SHE ENTERS A ROOM HER NOSTRILS CONTORT PUPILS NARROW AND THE LIP MINUTELY UPTURNS AS IF SHE S SMELT SOMETHING AWFUL A CORPSE ROTTEN lSH OR THE ORDINARY A SELECT FEW ARE DEEMED OKAY TO SIT BESIDE OR FOLLOW HER AROUND EVERY SO OFTEN THE MUSCLES IN HER FACE WILL AWAKE TO SOMETHING THAT RESEMBLES A SMILE BUT IT S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHETHER IT S A GENUINE RELFECTION OF HAPPINESS OR ANOTHER TOOL OF MANIPULATION IN HER ARSENAL OF GRABBING THE GAZE "Y !NTHONY *ACKSON
0ERVY /LD -EN )S IT JUST ME /R DO YOU AGREE 4HAT THE MOST DISAGREEABLE THING THAT CAN BE )S BEING PERVED ON BY UGLY OLD MEN )S IT JUST THEM !S THEY COUGH UP THE PHLEGM &ROM SMOKING TEN FAGS EVERY HOUR $O THEY HONESTLY THINK 7HEN THEY RE STINKING OF DRINK 4HAT A YOUNG GIRL OF TWENTY WOULD BE (APPY AT ALL WITH THEIR BASE MATING CALL .OT DRIVEN ALMOST TO THE BRINK )S IT JUST THE BEER 7HEN THEY START TO LEER 4HE DRINK BUBBLING AWAY IN THEIR GUTS 4HEIR BALD HEADS ARE SHINING 4HEIR TROUSERS TOO TIGHT $O THEY THINK THAT BARMAIDS ARE SLUTS "Y ,ETITIA -C+IE
THE EVENT
; = 7ITH A PRECISE THRUST HE INSERTED THE DATA JACK INTO THE BIO PORT 3HE JERKED A LITTLE STARTLED BY THE UNEXPECTED mUIDITY OF THE SINGLE MOTION (E ALWAYS TOOK HER BY SURPRISE
0,!93 $/2)3 /H GOOD THE BUS ISN T HERE YET 3HE THINKS ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT
$IGI DRUG 8 VERSION SURGED THROUGH HER CIRCUITS mOODING EVERY ARTIlCIAL SYNAPSE WITH WAVE AFTER WAVE OF SCATTER SHOT BLITZKRIEG INTENSITY ! PLEASURE OF SUCH SUBLIME CONCENTRATION IT OVERLOADED EVERY ENGINEERED lBRE OF SINEW EVERY MEMORY DATABANK EVERY AUGMENTATION EVERY PROSTHETIC UPGRADE UNTIL EVERY NANO lBRE IN HER CONSCIOUSNESS SCREAMED AS ONE 0ERFECTION "ANE ALMOST ENVIED HER !LMOST ; = "Y 4OM "ENN
&IREWALK /N THE EVE OF THE ST OF !UGUST ) BECAME A &IREWALKER )T WAS A lRE OF MY OWN MAKING /N THE PRECEEDING MORNING OUR GROUP HAD FOLLOWED THE 4RAINER 0ETE INTO A BRIGHT GROVE ADJACENT TO OUR FARM ) WALKED STEADILY INHALING THE SMELLS OF ANCIENT OAK FRESH EARTH AND HUMAN SWEAT UNHINDERED BY DEODORANT 7E WERE TWENTY TWO 4RAINEES EACH LOST IN HIS OWN REVERIE /NLY THE SOFT MURMUR OF A STREAM AND THE RUMBLE OF THICK CLOUDS DISTURBED THE SILENCE ) THOUGHT OF MY #OMMITMENT 4HE ASSISTANT 4RAINER ,EA HAD WORKED WITH ME ALL NIGHT ) #OMMIT MYSELF TO WRITING A BOOK THAT WILL INSPIRE AND IMPASSION 7HEN 4HE BOOK WILL BE lNISHED A YEAR FROM NOW ON THIRTY lRST OF *ULY (OW ) WILL BEGIN WRITING THE DAY ) COME HOME 7HY "ECAUSE ) WANT TO BE A WRITER )F EVERYONE YOU LOVE ABANDONS YOU WILL YOU STILL HOLD TRUE TO YOUR #OMMITMENT 9ES 6ERY WELL #LOSE YOUR EYES 4OMORROW YOU WILL WALK ON lRE 7ITH EVERY STEP YOU TAKE YOU WILL BRAND YOUR #OMMITMENT INTO YOUR mESH ; = "Y $ASSI %LBER
/R ) VE ALREADY MISSED IT ) M THE ONLY ONE HERE SO IT COULD HAVE COME AND GONE 7HAT S THE TIME $/2)3 LOOKS AT HER WATCH 4HREE O CLOCK 'IVE OR TAKE A MINUTE 3HE PATS THE BAG AND GETS OUT A BAG OF FROZEN PEAS 3HE LOOKS CLOSELY AT THE PACK $/2)3 0EAS FROM AROUND THE WORLD 7ELL ) SUPPOSE THAT S GOOD ) VE ALWAYS WISHED FOR 7ORLD 0EASx(EH HEHxWORLD PEASxHEHx7HERE S THAT BUS 3HE LOOKS AT HER WATCH AGAIN 7HILE WATCHING THE WATCH SHE SLIDES THE PEAS ABSENTLY BACK INSIDE HER COAT *UST GONE THREE 3HOULD BE HERE ANY MINUTE 7ISH IT WOULD HURRY UP 3HE RETRIEVES THE PEAS FROM INSIDE HER COAT AND STARES AT THEM -ORE -ORE PEAS 4HAT S FUNNY ) THOUGHT ) HADx 3HE LOOKS ALL ROUND FOR THE @lRST PACK /PTIONAL SOUND &8 %NGINES OF APPROACHING BUSES $/2)3 /H HERE S THE BUS !ND ANOTHER -AYBE ) LL WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE SO ) DON T DISAPPOINT THE OTHER DRIVER 3HE GLANCES AT HER WATCH *UST GONE THREE 4HERE LL BE ANOTHER ONE IN A MINUTE "Y )MAN 3ID
0ICK 5P ,INES (EY ) WAS WONDERING DO YOU WANT TO CATCH THAT TRAIN UNSCREW THE LIGHT lXTURES AND MEET AT THE END OF THE LINE EYES WIDE OPEN $O YOU WANT TO GET OFF #HAIN SMOKE &IND THIS GREAT CLUB ) KNOW THEN DANCE AND CATCH THE LAST CAB BACK TO MY PLACE )T LOOKS LIKE AN INSANE ASYLUM BUT THAT S OKAY WITH ME $O YOU WANT TO RUN RUN RUN AND SPIT GIN INTO THE GLARE OF A STREETLIGHT JUST TO MAKE OURSELVES SOME MIST TO DISAPPEAR IN $O YOU COME HERE OFTEN $O YOU WANT TO COME HERE OFTEN WITH ME !RE YOU A VEGETARIAN )T S OKAY IF YOU ARE $OGBONES lSHBONES CATBONES THEY RE ALL THE SAME ; = "Y *ACK #LARK
3END IN YOUR 0S 0OETRY 0ROSE AND 0LAYS %MAIL YOUR STUFF TO )MAN 3ID AT CONCRETE CREATIVEWRITING UEA AC UK OR I SID UEA AC UK
&EATURE
&EATURE
)NTERNATIONAL 0UNCHLINE
-Y &AMILY VS !RRESTED $EVELOPMENT
7HO MAKES A BETTER SITCOM &IONA "ILLINGS TAKES A LOOK AND WE COMPARE TWO !MERICAN AND
&OR TWO SITCOMS BASED AROUND THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY DYNAMIC THESE SHOWS TAKE VERY DIFFERENT ROUTES FROM THIS PREMISE -Y &AMILY IS CENTRED ON A FAMILY OF lVE WITH THE PATRIARCH "EN AND MOTHER 3USAN RAISING THREE TEENAGERS WHO SOON BEGIN TO WANT LIVES OF THEIR OWN AND ONE BY ONE LEAVE THE FAMILY NEST !RRESTED $EVELOPMENT TAKES A DIFFERENT APPROACH CHOOSING TO INTRODUCE A LARGER FAMILY GROUP OF THREE GENERATIONS THEREBY GIVING THE WRITERS MORE CHARACTERS TO WORK WITH -Y &AMILY BEGAN INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS IN SUBSEQUENT SERIES GIVING THEM MORE mEXIBILITY WITH THE STORYLINES
TWO "RITISH SITCOMS TO SEE IF WE CAN lND THE ANSWER
&
ROM &RIENDS TO &UTURAMA "LACKADDER TO "LACK "OOKS SITCOMS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE !TLANTIC HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR 46 CULTURE SINCE THE S (OWEVER THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DISTINCT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SHOWS FROM "RITAIN AND !MERICA AND 4HE %VENT ASKS WHY AND IF THEY ARE SO DIFFERENT WHICH IS BETTER 3ITCOMS BEGAN IN THE EARLY S IN BOTH COUNTRIES )N THE 5+ THE lRST BIG SITCOM WAS (ANCOCK S (ALF (OUR WHICH RAN FOR SIX SERIES AND WAS ON BOTH 46 AND RADIO ) ,OVE ,UCY WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE SITCOM SENSATION IN THE 53! AND WAS ALSO THE lRST TO BE RECORDED ON lLM ENABLING THE NETWORK TO SHOW RE RUNS !S THE YEARS WENT ON EACH COUNTRY DEVELOPED THEIR OWN STYLE OF SITCOM 4HE 5+ WAS PRODUCING THE LIKES OF $AD S !RMY &AWLTY 4OWERS AND /NLY &OOLS AND (ORSES WHICH ALL HAD DISTINCTIVE THREADS OF "RITISH HUMOUR RUNNING THROUGH THEM -EANWHILE !MERICA WAS WORKING ON IDEAS LIKE 2OSANNE 4HE #OSBY 3HOW AND #HEERS DRAWING AVERAGE AUDIENCES OF AT LEAST MILLION PER WEEK 4HE S SAW THE MAKING OF ARGUABLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL !MERICAN SITCOM TO DATE &RIENDS 3TARTING WITH A THEN VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN CAST AND RELATIVELY LOW
BUDGET THE SERIES TURNED INTO A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FRANCHISE EXPORTED TO COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD /THER 53 SUCCESSES OF THE S INCLUDED #HEERS SPIN OFF &RASIER 7ILL 'RACE AND (OME )MPROVEMENT ALL OF WHICH ARE STILL REPEATED ON %NGLISH 46 CHANNELS -EANWHILE THE S IN THE 5+ SAW &ATHER 4ED 3PACED AND -EN "EHAVING "ADLY HITTING THE SCREENS 3O WHAT MAKES AN !MERICAN SITCOM DIFFERENT FROM A SO CALLED @"RITCOM 7ITH ONLY ONE CURRENT EXCEPTION -Y &AMILY 5+ SITCOMS USE ONLY ONE OR TWO WRITERS WHILST THE !MERICAN TRADITION IS TO EMPLOY A TEAM OF WRITERS TO COME UP WITH THE SCRIPT 4HERE ALSO TENDS TO BE A LONGER BUILD UP TO FEWER JOKES IN "RITCOMS AND A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE IN THE STYLE OF HUMOUR 4RADITIONALLY "RITISH HUMOUR IS SEEN AS USING SATIRE AND SARCASM ALONG WITH UNDERSTATEMENT IRONY AND FREQUENT PUNS TO CREATE A WINNING SITCOM !MERICAN HUMOUR IS MORE SLAPSTICK OBSERVATIONAL AND HAS LITTLE FOCUS ON CLASS AS THE 53 HAS NOT GOT AN INHERITED CLASS SYSTEM 4HE ISSUE IS WHETHER HUMOUR CAN CROSS THE INTERNATIONAL PUNCHLINE 7HEN TALKING ABOUT !MERICA TO THE 5+ IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS TRANSFERENCE IS DECIDELY MORE COMMON THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND #HANNEL AND ""# IN PARTICULAR IMPORT LARGE AMOUNTS OF 53 PROGRAMMES AND #HANNEL HAVE JUST LAUNCHED A NEW
"RITISH HUMOUR RELIES ON SATIRE AND SARCASM WHEREAS !MERICAN HUMOUR IS MORE SLAPSTICK
CHANNEL ON &REEVIEW DEDICATED ENTIRELY TO !MERICAN SHOWS 4HE /FlCE IS ONE OF FEW PROGRAMMES TO MAKE THE RETURN TRIP ACROSS THE POND TO !MERICA WITH THE "RITISH ORIGINAL AND THE 53 VERSION BOTH BECOMING AWARD WINNING SUCCESSES )N THE 5+ VERSION WON A 'OLDEN 'LOBE FOR @"EST 46 SERIES -USICAL OR #OMEDY SHOWING ITS APPEAL ACROSS THE SPECTRUM (OWEVER SOME PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED THAT 4HE /FlCE IS MORE OF A @MOCKUMENTARY THAN A PROPER SITCOM )N !MERICA "RITISH SHOWS ARE NOT OFTEN SEEN ON COMMERICAL NETWORKS SUCH AS !"# AND #"3 AND INSTEAD ARE ON 0"3 AND CABLE CHANNELS LIKE ""# !MERICA )N CONTRAST 53 SHOWS ARE ON MOST CHANNELS IN THE 5+ AND THE &REEVIEW CHANNEL !"# SHOWS ROUND THE CLOCK !MERICAN SITCOMS LIKE 3IMPLE 2ULES 2ODNEY AND (OPE AND &AITH /NE ASPECT OF THE !MERICAN MARKET SO FAR RELATIVELY UNTOUCHED BY "RITAIN IS THE ANIMATED SITCOM 53 MADE PROGRAMMES LIKE 4HE 3IMPSONS !MERICAN $AD 3OUTH 0ARK AND &AMILY 'UY HAVE ALL HAD MASSIVE IMPACTS IN !MERICA AND THE 5+ ALIKE BOTH IN TERMS OF AUDIENCE lGURES AND MERCHANDISING REVENUES (OWEVER "RITAIN HAS FOUND IT DIFlCULT TO EMULATE THE SUCCESS OF THESE !MERICAN COUNTERPARTS 4HE TWO MAIN ATTEMPTS AT A "RITISH ANIMATED SITCOM WERE "ROMWELL (IGH AND %MPIRE 3QUARE "ROMWELL (IGH
WAS A SERIES ABOUT THREE TROUBLE MAKING SCHOOLGIRLS IN A 3OUTH ,ONDON COMPREHENSIVE !LTHOUGH EPISODES WERE MADE ONLY SIX HAVE BEEN SHOWN IN THE 5+ TO DATE AND THE SERIES NEVER MADE IT TO !MERICA %MPIRE 3QUARE lRST BROADCAST ON #HANNEL IN IS A COMPUTER ANIMATED SITCOM THAT COMBINES A GROUP OF DISGUSTING TEENAGERS WITH CRASS HUMOUR TO CREATE A SITCOM !GAIN THE "RTISH ATTEMPT AT ANIMATED HUMOUR FAILED WITH THE SERIES BEING PUSHED BACK TO A LATE NIGHT SLOT FAIRLY QUICKLY )T IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS DIVIDE IS DUE TO BUDGET RETRAINTS ON 5+ ANIMATED SITCOMS HOWEVER SHOWS LIKE 4HE 3IMPSONS STARTED LIFE WITH MINIMAL FUNDS AND HAVE SINCE RISEN TO INFAMY "UDGETS ARE AN ISSUE THAT COULD BE CITED AS A REASON FOR THE LARGE AMOUNT OF 53 SITCOMS COMPARED TO THOSE FROM THE 5+ 7ITH !MERICAN NETWORKS BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR STARS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS &RIENDS BEING A NOTABLE EXAMPLE IT ISN T HARD TO SEE WHY HUNDREDS OF NEW 53 SITCOMS APPEAR ON OUR 46 SCREENS EVERY YEAR &OLLOWING A QUICK POLL IT IS APPARENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF SITCOMS WE WATCH ARE FROM THE 53 4HIS IS NOT SUPRISING CONSIDERING THE LARGE NUMBER OF !MERICAN IMPORTS ON OUR SCREENS !S FOR THE QUESTION OF WHICH IS BETTER IT PROBABLY JUST DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON PREFERENCE AND YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR 7HAT S YOUR CHOICE
4HE FORMULA FOR A SUCCESSFUL SITCOM )N $R (ELEN 0ILCHER A MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGIST AND STAND UP COMEDIAN HEADED A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS WHO ATTEMEPTED TO DIS COVER THE FORMULA FOR A SUCCESSFUL SITCOM #OMISSIONED BY 5+46 'OLD THEY ANALYSED OVER TWENTY YEARS OF COMEDIES AND CAME UP WITH THE FOLLOWING
#
; 2 X $
6= X &
3
!
)N THIS FORMULA 2 IS THE RECOGNISABILITY OF THE MAIN CHARACTER WHICH IS MULTIPLIED BY THEIR DELUSIONS OF GRANDUER $ !DDED TO THIS IS THE VERBAL WIT OF THE SCRIPT 6 AND THEN ALL OF THIS IS MULTIPLIED BY THE AMOUNT OF TIMES CHARACTERS FALL OVER OR INJURE THEMSELVES & 3 THE DIFFERENCE IN SOCIAL STATUS BETWEEN ALL THE CHARACTERS IS ADDED AND THEN EVERYTHING IS DIVIDED BY ! THE SUC CESS OF SCHEMES AND PLANS IN THE SHOW !CCORDING TO THIS FORMULA THE FUNNIEST "RITISH SITCOM IS /NLY &OOLS AND (ORSES FOLLOWED BY 4HE /FlCE AND &AWLTY 4OWERS )T HAS NOT AS YET BEEN APPLIED TO ANY !MERICAN SHOWS BUT ONE OF THE LOWEST SCORING 5+ SHOW WAS !CCORDING 4O "EX A SHORT LIVED ""# SITCOM NOW BEING ADAPTED FOR 53 46
THE EVENT
4HERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO SHOWS "OTH EMPLOY TEAMS OF WRITERS SOMETHING THAT IS UNUSUAL FOR A "RITISH SITCOM WHICH NORMALLY ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO 4HIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT -Y &AMILY S CREATOR IS THE !MERICAN SITCOM WRITER &RED "ARRON WHO DECIDED TO BRING THE IDEA FOR THE SHOW TO THE 5+ AFTER HE WAS UNABLE TO lND A PLACE FOR IT IN THE 53 (E ALSO BROUGHT THE !MERICAN IDEA OF lLMING BEFORE A LIVE AUDIENCE TO THE "RITISH SMALL SCREEN ALTHOUGH IN CONTRAST !RRESTED $EVELOPMENT DOES NOT DO THIS PREFERRING TO LET THE AUDIENCE AT HOME DECIDE THE PARTS OF THE COMEDY THAT THEY THEMSELVES lND AMUSING /VERALL THE TWO SHOWS ARE VERY DIFFERENT -Y &AMILY ONE OF VERY FEW HOME GROWN HIT SITCOMS FOR THE ""# IN RECENT YEARS HAS LASTED A CREDIBLE SIX YEARS DESPITE SUSTAINED CRITICAL PANNING A TESTAMENT TO THE PUBLIC RECEPTION OF THE SHOW 7HILE !RRESTED $EVELOPMENT DESPITE CRITICAL ACCLAIM AND A SMALL BUT LOYAL FAN BASE WAS CANCELLED AFTER THREE SEASONS 0ERHAPS THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE TO SHOW WHO BELIEVE THAT THE 5+ CAN NO LONGER MAKE SITCOMS &IONA "ILLINGS
3CRUBS VS 'REEN 7ING 7HEN LOOKING AT THESE TWO SHOWS THE OBVIOUS SIMILARITY IS THAT BOTH CENTRE ON DOCTORS AND THE HOSPITALS THEY WORK IN BUT THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES WHICH MAKE EACH OF THE COMEDIES UNIQUE 'REEN 7ING DOESN T FEATURE ANY PATIENTS AND WE NEVER SEE THE CHARACTERS DOING MUCH OF THEIR JOB 4HERE IS THE OCCASIONAL SCENE IN THE /2 BUT THE SHOW IS MORE lLLED WITH THE SPACE IN BETWEEN WORK OR RATHER THE THINGS THEY DO TO AVOID DOING ANY )T S ALL ABOUT MAKING THE MUNDANE TASK OF WORK SEEM INTERESTING 3CRUBS MAIN FOCUS IS THE PATIENTS AND HOW THE CAST COPE WITH ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS THAT COME WITH BEING A DOCTOR AS WELL AS BALANCING RELATIONSHIPS AND WORK 3CRUBS HAS THE CLASSIC ON AGAIN AND OFF AGAIN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN %LLIOT AND *$ WHICH KEEPS OUR ROMANCE FACTOR IN CHECK AND IN 'REEN 7ING THE CONSTANT OBSTACLES BETWEEN -AC AND #AROLINE EVEN INCLUDING A COMA MAKE FOR INTERESTING AND TENSION lLLED TELEVISION (OWEVER IN 'REEN 7ING WE DON T GET THE SAME MORAL PONDERINGS PURELY BECAUSE IT IS MORE SELF ORIENTATED %VERY EPISODE OF 3CRUBS HAS A BIT OF SOUL SEARCHING AND THE HUMOUR LIES IN HOW THE CHARACTERS GET TO THEIR lNAL DESTINATION WHETHER FROM BETTING ON A PATIENT S HEALTH OR FROM HIDING YOUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THE DESPISED #HIEF OF -EDICINE "OTH SATISFY IN REmECTING REALISTIC ASPECTS OF WORKING IN AND AROUND A HOSPITAL 'REEN 7ING SHOWING WHAT DOCTORS DO TO PASS THE TIME AND 3CRUBS GIVING AN OUTSIDER S VIEW INTO THE WORLD OF THE DOCTORS AND THEIR EGOS BY INCLUDING THE HOSPITAL JANITOR WHO OFTEN STEALS THE SHOW )N COMPARISON THE "RIT COMEDY IS CRUDER WITH 'REEN 7ING BEING MORE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT OFTEN USING THE DISGUSTING GROSS AND LEWD AS A SOURCE OF LAUGHTER 3CRUBS IS A MORE CEREBRAL COMEDY ABOUT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN SIMPLY FUNNY AND AWKWARD CIRCUMSTANCE AND THOUGH THERE ARE SOME CHEAP LAUGHS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE SHOW IS WITTY COMEDY .ATASHA +UNDAIKER
THE EVENT
-USIC
!LBUM 2EVIEWS 4HE &RATELLIS #OSTELLO -USIC 2EWIND TO WHEN THE ,IBERTINES STUMBLED OUT OF ,ONDON CLUTCHING THEIR PRECIOUS RED JACKETS AND A +WIK 3AVE BAG FULL OF TUNES AND THE INDIE WORLD WENT MAD FOR THESE SHAMBOLIC TROUBADOURS 4HE RUMOUR MILL WENT INTO OVERDRIVE POINTING TOWARDS A VERITABLE AVALANCHE OF 0ETE @N #ARL WANNABES THAT TOOK THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF THE BAND BUT NEVER QUITE ACHIEVED THE SAME RESULTS &AST FORWARD TO WHEN THE SUPPOSED mOOD OF ,IBS RIP OFF BANDS FAILED TO MATERIALISE AND INSTEAD THERE LAY A BARREN WASTELAND OF SYNTHESIZER WIELDING S THROWBACKS ! CERTAIN GROUP OF 3HEFlELD TEENAGERS BUCKED THIS TREND AND GUITARS BECAME EXCITING AGAIN &ROM THIS ALMOST ARCTIC WASTELAND IF YOU LL EXCUSE THE PUN EMERGED THE &RATELLIS MARRYING THE ROCK SENSIBILITIES OF THE ,IBERTINES WITH THE LYRICAL WITTICISM THAT !LEX 4URNER USES TO CAUSE .-% READ ERS TO FEEL WEAK AT THE KNEES 4OP SINGLE AND ALBUM OPENER (ENRIETTA STARTS THE ALBUM OFF IN lNE STYLE TAKING BIG BRASH GUITARS AND STUPIDLY OVERBLOWN DRUMMING AND COMBINING THEM WITH THE SORT OF CHORUS THAT WILL ROLL AROUND YOUR HEAD FOR DAYS LIKE A MARBLE IN A WASHING MACHINE 4HIS GLAM INFUSED TREND CARRIES ON THROUGHOUT THE ALBUM WHETHER IT S BEING MIXED WITH SKA &OR THE 'IRL S ROCK AND ROLL 6INCE THE ,OVEABLE 3TONER OR MELODIC ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND PLOD DING RHYTHM FORTHCOMING SINGLE 7HISTLE &OR 4HE #HOIR THE SWAGGER OF -ARC "OLAN IS ALMOST PALPATABLE 0ERHAPS THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD GLAM STOMP IS #HELSEA $AGGER DOUBTLESS FAMILIAR TO MILLIONS THROUGH ITS BEING USED AS A GUARANTEED DANCEmOOR lLLER IN INDIE DISCOS UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY &ROM ITS VISCERAL BUZZSAW RIFF TO ITS NAG GINGLY INFECTIOUS REFRAIN IT S AS IF 4 2EX THEMSELVES HAVE
*ARVIS #OCKER *ARVIS !FTER WINNING #ELEBRITY 3TARS IN 4HEIR %YES AS 2OLF (ARRIS MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT *ARVIS #OCKER S CAREER JUST COULDN T GET ANY BETTER &OUR YEARS ON AND 3HEFlELD S FAVOURITE GEEK RETURNS FROM MUSICAL HIBERNATION FOR A BIT OF A MOAN AND BY EXTREMELY HAPPY COINCIDENCE HAS PRODUCED SOME OF HIS BEST WORK TO DATE $EPENDING ON YOUR OPINION OF #OCKER THE CONTENT OF THIS ALBUM WILL EITHER STRIKE YOU AS SUBLIME OR RIDICULOUS $ON T ,ET (IM 7ASTE 9OUR 4IME IS FOUR MINUTES OF @GIRL POWER ADVICE TO A FEMALE FRIEND ON HOW HER MAN IS A BIT OF A GIT ) 7ILL +ILL !GAIN IS A BEAUTIFULLY MELODIC PIANO BALLAD WRITTEN ABOUT A HOMICIDAL MANIAC OF COURSE &AT #HILDREN TAKES THE ANARCHY OF THE 3EX 0ISTOLS AND TURNS IT ON ITS HEAD BY COMBINING HARD HITTING PUNK ROCK WITH A CONSERVATIVE MINDED RANT ON THE TROUBLESOME YOUTH OF TODAY 4HEN THERE IS THE INFAMOUS 2UNNING THE 7ORLD A HEARTY PORTION OF PROTESTATION PIE DRIZZLED WITH A LARGE SERVING OF & AND # WORDS THAT THE ' MAY lND HARD TO DIGEST #OCKER HAS NEVER BEEN ONE TO SHY AWAY FROM CONTROVERSY AND HIS LATEST WORK DOESN T DISAPPOINT *ARVIS IS HEAVILY OPINIONATED BUT FAR FROM BEING MERELY A PROTEST ALBUM THE EX 0ULP MAN HAS MANAGED TO BRING SOME FAIRLY HEAVY ISSUES TO THE FORE WHILE STILL MAKING A THOROUGHLY LISTENABLE RECORD *OSH ,ITTLE
THE EVENT
REFORMED YET ABOUT A MILLION TIMES BETTER 4HE ENERGY DIS PLAYED IN THIS SONG AND THROUGHOUT THE ALBUM IS ALMOST EXHAUSTING TO LISTEN TO "Y THE TIME ALBUM CLOSER /LE "LACK AND "LUE %YES ROLLS AROUND THE LISTENER ALMOST FEELS PHYSI CALLY EXHAUSTED "UT THEN SUCH IS THE INFECTIOUSNESS OF THE ALBUM YOU LL SKIP BACK TO THE START AND LISTEN TO THE WHOLE AFFAIR ALL OVER AGAIN ,IKE THE 9OUNG +NIVES THE &RATELLIS HAVE MANAGED TO CHURN OUT AN ALBUM OF ALL KILLER AND NO lLLER WITHOUT BAT
TING AN EYELID WITH EVERY BOX TICKED FROM GREAT CHORUSES AND FANTASTIC MUSICIANSHIP THROUGH TO GENRE STRADDLING AND SONGS MORE CATCHY THAN FRESHERS mU )F YOU FANCY A TICKET FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE BEST STICK YOUR THUMB OUT NOW n #OSTELLO -USIC GRABS YOU BY THE SCRUFF OF YOUR NECK CHUCKS YOU lRMLY INTO THE BACKSEAT AND TAKES YOU ON AN UNFORGETTABLE THIRTEEN TRACK JOURNEY OF MUSICAL GENIUS #HRIS (YDE
4HE ,ONG "LONDES
*EREMY 7ARMSLEY
3OMEONE
)NDIE TROUBADOUR *EREMY 7ARMSLEY HAS BEEN WRITING SONGS SINCE THE AGE OF (IS WEBSITE REVEALS HE COMPOSES SONGS IN HIS HEAD AND hTHEN MAKES THEM COME OUT OF A COMPUTERv OR PLAYS THEM ON INSTRUMENTS THAT hDON T EXISTv *EREMY 7ARMSLEY IS CLEARLY NOT A CONVENTIONAL YOUNG MAN !T TIMES BRILLIANT 4HE !RT OF &ICTION IS TOO FREQUENTLY FRUSTRATING )T OFTEN FEELS LIKE 7ARMSLEY IS UNSURE OVER WHICH MUSICAL DIRECTION TO LEND HIS CONSIDERABLE TALENTS THE RESULT BEING SONGS THAT CROSS lVE GENRES IN THREE MINUTES &OR ALL HIS CREATIVITY IT FEELS AS IF HE IS OVER REACHING AND BEING SLIGHTLY SELF INDULGENT AT TIMES MAYBE HIS PRODUCING THE ALBUM HIMSELF IS PERHAPS A CAUSE OF THIS /PENER $IRTY "LUE *EANS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS INDECISION WITH A MELODY TOO DISJOINTED TO APPEAL AND SERVING ONLY TO UNDERMINE THE STRONG LYRICAL CONTENT AS THE SONG MOVES FROM STRING AND OBOE SECTIONS TO ELECTRONICA )T S THE SAME ON SONGS SUCH AS *ONATHAN AND 4HE /AK 4REE WHERE WE SKIP FROM A FOLK INTRO TO JAZZ TO A BRIDGE OF A DRUMBEAT AND STRIPPED DOWN RIFFS 4HE ALBUM JUST SEEMS TO LACK CONTINUITY 4HERE IS A VERY GOOD ALBUM SOMEWHERE ON THIS RECORD IT S JUST HIDDEN BY 7ARMSLEY DOING HIS BEST IMPRESSION OF AN !NGLO &RENCH "ECK /RIGINALITY IS SOMETHING TO BE COMMENDED BUT THIS IS A CHALLENGING ,EWIS -ORTON LISTEN
4O $RIVE 9OU (OME 3INGER +ATE *ACKSON S CLAIM THAT THE ,ONG "LONDES HAD BEEN WIDELY TOUTED AS "RITAIN S @BEST UNSIGNED BAND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS OPEN TO DEBATE (OWEVER ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THE 3HEFlELD QUINTET HAVE lNALLY GOT ROUND TO RECORDING THEIR DEBUT WITH 2OUGH 4RADE )N HER OWN WORDS *ACKSON S LYRICS STEM FROM S "RITISH CINEMA 0ENGUIN CLASSIC BOOKS AND S POP 4HERE IS DElNITELY AN ELEMENT OF THE SOCIAL CRITIQUE AN ALMOST *ARVIS #OCKER ESQUE ABILITY TO OBSERVANTLY AND HUMOROUSLY COMMENT ON SOCIETY FOR EXAMPLE @.INETEEN YOU RE ONLY NINETEEN FOR 'OD S SAKE YOU DON T NEED A BOYFRIEND IN /NCE AND .EVER !GAIN %QUALLY INmUENTIAL PERHAPS IS THE SLIGHTLY S "LONDIE INmUENCE IN HER VOCAL STYLING COMBINED WITH THE POUNDING SYNTHESISERS THAT CREATE INSTANTLY CATCHY DANCEABLE POP TUNES THAT SOUND LIKE FORGOTTEN CLASSICS 4HE ,ONG "LONDES ARE AN INNOVATIVE BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN AN INCREASINGLY STAGNANT CROWD OF BEIGE COLOURED BANDS ALL HOLDING DESIRES TO hlLL YOUR LITTLE WORLD RIGHT UPv AND WHILST WE IMAGINE THE CHEERY /NCE AND .EVER !GAIN WON T BE EVERYONE S TRACK OF THE WEEK EXPECT IT TO TAKE INDIE DANCEmOORS BY STORM !LEX !LLEN
4HE !RT OF &ICTION
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'OLDEN 3OUNDS 4HE 3TONE 2OSES
-AGICK
4HE 3TONE 2OSES !LONG WITH THE RISE OF THE ,A S THE 3TONE 2OSES WERE PRETTY MUCH THE SAVING GRACE OF THE S "EFORE THEM WE SEEMED DESTINED FOR AN ETERNITY OF HEAVY METAL JACKETS WITH THE SLEEVES ROLLED UP AND SWEAT BANDS BUT LIKE A RANK OUTSIDER MAKING A VICTORIOUS DASH FOR THE lNISHING LINE ALONG CAME THESE FOUR -ANCS WITH ENOUGH SWAGGER AND ATTITUDE TO ALLOW THE DECADE OF DECADENCE AT LEAST SOME CREDIT 2ECORDED IN WITH LEGENDARY PRODUCER *OHN ,ECKIE 2ADIOHEAD 0INK &LOYD 2IDE THE ALBUM S AP PEAL CAME IN UNITING BOTH THE VIVACIOUS RAVE SCENE OF THE TIME AND THAT OF INDIE CHILDREN OF THE IMPENDING "RITPOP MOVEMENT THAT THE 2OSES ARE WIDELY AGREED TO HAVE SPARKED /PENING TRACK ) 7ANNA BE !DORED IS AS EUPHORIC AS IT IS REmECTIVE OF THE THEN CURRENT STATE OF MIND OF -$-! AD DLED "RITISH YOUTH DEl ANT AND IN VINCIBLE h) DON T HAVE TO SELL MY SOUL (E S ALREADY IN MEv WITH CLOSER ) !M 4HE 2ESUR
RECTION A SIMILAR STATE OF AFFAIRS 4HE ENTIRE ALBUM SHOWCASES *OHN 3QUIRE S FERTILE TALENT TAKING THE MAN TLE FROM *OHNNY -ARR AS THE MOST INmUENTIAL GUITARIST OF HIS GENERATION AND SETTING A NEW CORNERSTONE FOR THE PATH OF "RITISH MUSIC 3IMILARLY 2ENI AND -ANI WERE TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS THE TIGHTEST RHYTHM SECTION SINCE TIGHT BREAD AND WITH A MUSICAL ENSEM BLE AS SOLID AS THE THREE AT WORK HERE IT DIDN T MATTER A JOT THAT )AN "ROWN HAD AND STILL HAS AS MUCH VOCAL TALENT AS A WASP WITH A COUGH !BSENT FROM THE RELEASE BUT AVAILABLE ON THE TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION IS THE 2OSES MOST CELEBRATED PIECE THE EPIC &OOL S 'OLD #OMING IN AT SEVEN SECONDS SHY OF TEN MINUTES THE SONG WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE A " SIDE OF 7HAT THE 7ORLD IS 7AITING &OR BUT WAS RELEASED AS A DOUBLE ! SIDE AT THE BEHEST OF THEIR RECORD LABEL ,IKE THE BAND THEMSELVES THE SONG REFUSED TO BE PIGEON HOLED INTO ANY ONE CATEGORY &UNK DANCE INDIE @-ADCHESTER A TERM THE BAND WERE SAID TO LOATHE IT COULD BE ANY OF THESE BUT IT DIDN T REALLY MATTER THE 3TONE 2OSES BROKE DOWN BOUNDARIES BE IT BETWEEN CATEGORIES PEOPLE OR IDEOL OGIES 2EGULAR TOP SPOTS IN @GREATEST ALBUM POLLS HAVE KEPT THEIR DEBUT MASTERPIECE IN THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE AS IF THE MYRIAD BANDS INSPIRED BY THEIR LEGACY WASN T ENOUGH %SSENTIAL LISTENING NOT ONE TO BE MISSED 0HIL 2OBINSON
/THER 3INGLES ILLUSION THAT HER VOICE CREATES $ESPITE THIS AFTER A HARD DAY DOING ALL THE WORK WE STUDENTS HAVE TO DO IT S DIFlCULT TO THINK OF A BETTER SONG TO CHILL OUT TO #ORINNE "AILEY 2AE STARTED HER CAREER BY SINGING IN CHURCH IF ) HAD THE PROMISE OF HEARING HER VOICE EVERY 3UNDAY MORNING ) D CERTAINLY BE HEADING DOWN MORE OFTEN -ATT (IMSWORTH
#ORRINE "AILEY 2AE ,IKE A 3TAR )T S NEARLY A YEAR SINCE WE lRST HAD THE PLEASURE OF LISTENING TO THE SOFT DULCET TONES OF #ORINNE "AILEY 2AE S DEBUT %0 ,IKE A 3TAR .OW THE SONG HAS BEEN RELEASED AS THE THIRD SINGLE FROM HER MULTI PLATINUM ALBUM IT TIMES PERFECTLY TO SHOW OFF THE VOCAL TALENTS OF THE RECENT WINNER OF TWO -/"/ AWARDS )T S ALSO TESTAMENT TO THE BEAUTY OF THIS SONG THAT WHEN #ORINNE RECENTLY GUESTED ON 3TEVIE 7ONDER S ,! RADIO SHOW HE SANG IT TO HER 4HE LYRICS SHOW #ORINNE TO BE A SONGWRITER WITH LOVE ON HER MIND h*UST LIKE A STAR ACROSS MY SKYxFEEL LIKE ) LL NEVER BE THE SAMEv 9ET ) $ON T !RGUE ,IKE 4HIS 7ITH !NYONE "UT 9OU SHATTERS THE SUGAR COATED
+LAXONS
4HE 'OOD 4HE "AD AND 4HE 1UEEN (ERCULEAN &OR OVER A DECADE NOW $AMON !LBARN HAS SCULPTED THE FACE OF "RITISH MUSIC (E PROVIDED THE THINKING MAN S ANSWER TO /ASIS LOUTISH MACHISMO SWAGGER DURING "RITPOP S HEYDAY AND GAVE BIRTH TO
'ORILLAZ ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE MUSIC PROJECTS FOR THE LAST YEARS 4HE 'OOD 4HE "AD AND 4HE 1UEEN IS HIS LATEST MUSICAL MANIFESTATION &OR A BAND THAT FEATURES EX MEMBERS OF BOTH THE #LASH AND THE 6ERVE AND HAS PRODUCTION FROM $ANGERMOUSE (ERCULEAN IS EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS YOU WOULD DARE HOPE 4HE DELICATE KEYBOARD MELODIES ARE OVER DUBBED WHILST !LBARN S LYRICS DEPICT A GRIM PORTRAIT OF SUBURBAN LIFE h7ASH YOUR FACES GO TO WORK THERE IS NO WARNINGv )N YEARS TIME !LBARN WILL BE RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THIS "RITAIN S MOST IMPORTANT ARTISTS EVER 4HIS IS WHY ,EWIS -ORTON
3EE WHAT THEY DID THERE 4HEY PUT A + AT THE END OF MAGIC .OW THAT S USING YOUR IMAGINATION ISN T IT )MAGINATION IS GOLD DUST IN THIS @NEW RAVE SCENE AND THE +LAXONS KNOW THIS !FTER THEIR GIG AT THE 7ATERFRONT THE OTHER WEEK OUR NEW FAVOURITE BAND PROVED IN A RIGHTEOUSLY RECKLESS MANNER THAT n GLOW STICKS ARE NOW KOOL AGAIN SEE WHAT WE DID THERE n WHEN SIRENS COME BELTING OUT OF HUGE AMPS ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WELL AT THE TIME WE THOUGHT SO AND n IF YOU WANT TO ESCAPE THE MUNDANE AND INSTEAD mURRY IN THE MAGNIlCENT YOU NEED TO START LISTENING TO THE +LAXONS 4HEIR NEW SINGLE -AGICK DESPITE NOT BEING THEIR GREATEST TRACK SUCCEEDS WHERE EVERY OTHER "RITISH POP TRACK OF THE LAST DECADE HAS FAILED ! SYNTHESIS OF GUITARS ELECTRONICA WEIRD VOCALS AND SHEER UNADULTERATED JOY THIS THREE AND HALF MINUTE ROLLERCOASTER RIDE SHOULD PROPEL THEM TO THE UPPER REGIONS OF PLANET GREAT 9OU DON T NEED TO BE WHACKED OUT ON % TO ENJOY THIS THAT S THE PLEASURE THE VOICE IS THE MAGIC INGREDIENT WHICH MAKES THE 2UMBLE 3TRIPS FUSION OF -ADNESS AND -OTOWN REALLY WORK 4HE BEST MOMENTS ARE WHEN THE HORNS DRUMS AND VOCALS COINCIDE CREATING AN UPLIFTING WALL OF NOISE 4HE WEAKEST MOMENTS ARE WHEN THE BAND TRIES THEIR HAND AT INSTRUMENTAL SECTIONS WHICH INVARIABLY SLOW THE PACE AND MAKE THE SONGS SEEM EMPTY HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VOCALS (OWEVER THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING IDEAS AT POINTS LIKE THE JUXTAPOSITION OF TRIBAL DRUMS WITH TWEE PIANO RUNS IN "ORN "ORED BUT THESE WHILE BEING INNOVATIVE FAIL TO SHINE 2UNNING !WAY CONCLUDES THE %0 WITH AN ATTEMPT AT REGAINING THE HEIGHTS THAT THEIR FAR EARLIER SINGLE -OTORBIKE SCALED !LL THE INGREDIENTS ARE HERE n AN ANTHEMIC VOCAL HOOK LOUDER THAN LIFE HORNS ACAPELLA SECTIONS OFFBEAT RHYTHMS n BUT SOMEHOW IT FALLS SHORT AND THE %0 FADES INTO SILENCE A VICTIM OF ITS OWN MELODRAMA 4HE 2UMBLE 3TRIPS COULD BE GREAT IF ONLY THEY CONTROLLED THEMSELVES A LITTLE MORE *ACK #LARK
2UMBLE 3TRIPS #ARDBOARD #OLOURED $REAMS )N THE AGE OF VOCODING PITCHSHIFTING AND SHAMELESS TWEAKING IT S NICE TO HEAR A VOICE WHICH STANDS ON ITS OWN AND STAND IT DOES FOR
4HE /RDINARY "OYS ,ONELY AT THE 4OP )T SEEMS SLIGHTLY IRONIC THAT THE PRECEDING SINGLE FROM THIRD ALBUM (OW 4O 'ET %VERYTHING 9OU %VER 7ANTED )N 4EN %ASY 3TEPS IS A MORE RADIO FRIENDLY SOUND THAN THE "OYS
! SINGLE THAT S STUPID AND SO SO CLEVER ALL AT ONCE -AGICK IS A DANCE PUNK CLASSIC THAT WILL SET lRE TO EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH 4HE +LAXONS ARE WAY MORE THAN @NEW RAVE PIONEERS THEY RE A GENUINELY INTELLIGENT UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE EVEN WITHOUT THE GLOW STICKS AND THE SMILEY FACE T SHIRTS 7ELLx MAYBE NOT THE GLOWSTICKSx 'REG 3ULLIVAN
MOD REVIVAL AND SKA ROUTES 0RESTON IS PLEADING TO BE LEFT ALONE BY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JUMPED ON THE BANDWAGON YET THIS HAS CLEARLY BEEN MADE FOR THEM RATHER THAN FANS OF PREVIOUS WORK (ITTING THE BIG TIME AND PRODUCING A BLEND OF MUSIC FOR NEW AND OLD FANS ALIKE IS ALWAYS A TOUGH TASK BUT ONE CAN T HELP AND THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A PLOY BY LABEL " 5NIQUE TO MILK THE BAND S CELEBRITY STATUS 4O BE FAIR IT S A VERY CATCHY RECORD WITH A COOL FUNKY BASS A CHORUS THAT WILL GET STUCK IN YOUR HEAD AND IS DElNITELY DANCEABLE TO 3AYING THAT NOBODY LIKES IT WHEN FAME lNDS THEIR FAVOURITE BAND AND MORE MONEY IS SPENT FOR A POORER VIEW ! FEW /RDINARY "OYS FANS AREN T GOING TO BE TOO PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY HEAR AS WELL +IERAN #ORNWELL
THE EVENT
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4HE 3UNSHINE "AND 4HE "ABYSHAMBLES FRENZY THAT ENGULFED THE 5%! WAS FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS SMASHED WINDOWS ,IBERTINES NOSTALGIA AND A FRESH FACED YOUNG SUPPORT BAND ON THE BRINK OF GREATNESS 'REG 3ULLIVAN MEETS THE (OLLOWAYS ,ONDON S BRIGHTEST NEW UPSTARTS
0
ETE $OHERTY S CONTROVERSIAL BELATED VISIT TO THE 5%! HAS BEEN THE MOST TALKED ABOUT AND DEBATED TOPIC TO HIT 5%! SHORES THIS SEMESTER 0OST GIG REACTION WAS MIXED WHEREAS SOME THOUGHT OLD CRACK HEAD HAD LOST HIS MARBLES AS EXPECTED OTHERS TAGGED $OHERTY AS A RECKLESS GENIUS )T IS HARD TO TAKE SIDES BUT FOR THE MAJORITY THE WHOLE EVENING FELT LIKE THE LOST COHORT WAS TAKING ONE MORE STEP TOWARDS THE BRINK OF IMPLOSION 7HEN 0ETE S IN THE SAME BUILDING AS YOU IT S EASY TO GET SIDETRACKED 7HAT MANY FORGOT AMONGST THE COMMOTION WHICH ENSUED AS $OHERTY TOOK TO THE STAGE WAS THE SHEER PROWESS OF THE SUPPORT 7E RE TALKING ABOUT 4HE (OLLOWAYS ONE OF THE HOTTEST NEW BANDS TO HIT OUR SHORES IN A LONG TIME 4HE BAND ARE RIDING HIGH OFF ONE HELL OF A SUMMER #ARLING ,IVE "ESTIVAL AND A MUCH COVETED 6 &ESTIVAL SLOT PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS h4HE .-% PRINTED THAT WE WERE PLAYING AT 6 WHEN WE WERE ACTUALLY ONLY IN 4HE 2OAD TO 6 COMP THAT MEANT WE COULDN T PLAY AT 2EADING v -AYBE NEXT YEAR THEN LADSx 2EWIND BACK PRE GIG AND 4HE %VENT IS ALL OVER THE SHOP 7E BRIEmY CATCH A GLIMPSE OF $OHERTY BUT YOU RE NOT GONNA GET MUCH OUT OF HIM CURRENTLY 4HE ,#2 WAS TRANSFORMED IN SOMETHING VAGUELY SIMILAR TO !LCATRAZ STATE PRISON AND OUR SCHEDULED (OLLOWAYS INTERVIEW IS TAKING PLACExWELLxWHO KNOWS WHERE !FTER MINUTES OR SO OF AIMLESS WANDERING WE EVENTUALLY lND OUR BAND IN THE 5NION WHERE ELSE AND FOLLOWING A HEAVY DEFEAT ON THE POOL TABLE BASSIST "RYN &OWLER IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN TO GIVE US A BRIEF INSIGHT INTO THE LIFE OF THE NEW BAND OF THE PEOPLE h4HE 5%! IS LIKE A CITY ON IT S OWN v 7OW LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY S FAVOURITE UNI HAS OVERWHELMED ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHAT CAN WE SAY h3ERIOUSLY WE VE ONLY BEEN HERE A FEW HOURS AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT S GOT A HELL OF A BUZZ ABOUT 4HAT S NOT SAYING THAT WE AREN T NERVOUS ABOUT TONIGHT THOUGH v
)T S NOT SURPRISING THAT EVERYTHING THAT S COMING FROM THE MOUTH OF &OWLER IS MET WITH A TINGE OF WONDERMENT !FTER ALL THESE ARE STILL EARLY DAYS FOR THE BAND &ORMED ON THE BACKBONE OF LATE THE .ORTH ,ONDON FOUR PIECE STILL SEEM TO BE GRAPPLING WITH THE REALITY OF WHEREABOUTS THEIR MUSIC HAS GOT THEM 4HEIR RECENT STINT WITH "ABYSHAMBLES ON THE &ROG 4OUR HAS PROPELLED THEM TO NEW HEIGHTS AND THERE S EVEN BEEN THE ODD SINGLE OF THE WEEK IN EVERYONE S FAVOURITE MUSIC WEEKLYx h9EAH WE RE REALLY PLEASED WITH THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THE .-% HAVE GIVEN US TO HAVE SINGLE OF THE WEEK IN THERE HAS BEEN AN AMAZING LIFTv 4HERE S ONE THING THAT SEEMS TO BE BOTHERING HIM THOUGH CONCERNING ANOTHER TOP SELLING MUSIC PUBLICATIONx h4HEY GAVE US ONE STAR OUT OF 4HEY VE ALWAYS GIVEN ALL MY FAVOURITE ALBUMS REALLY POOR REVIEWS ) THINK THEY COMPARED US TO 4HE ,IBERTINES )T REALLY ANNOYS US WHEN PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO PIGEON
THE EVENT
HOLE US LIKE THAT IT S TOO EASY TO DO 9ES THEY HAVE INSPIRED US BUT NOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE THINK WE HAVE TO COPY A CERTAIN BAND &UNDAMENTALLY WE MAKE MUSIC WE ENJOY 4HEY GAVE THE NEW *ET ALBUM OUT OF ) MEAN WHAT DOES THAT SAYxA BAND THAT HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS TOURING ROUND THE WORLD SUDDENLY RETURN WITH AN ALBUM DESERVED OF STARS v &OWLER SHRUGS IT OFF IN A NONCHALANT MANNER h) COULD ONLY REALLY IMAGINE OUR FANS AS THE TYPES WHO READ PUBLICATIONS LIKE THE .-% THEY PUSH WHAT S NEW AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT SIGNIlES THE YOUTH AUDIENCE v 4HE (OLLOWAYS $)9 AESTHETIC IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHINES OFF ON THEIR FANS NOT THAT THAT S A BAD THING ,IKE MUCH OF THE NEW CROP ON THE WAY UP THEY RE NOT SCARED TO INTERACT WITH THE EVERYMAN 4HEY ARE A BAND OF THE PEOPLE WITH A LARGE AND LOYAL FAN BASE THAT HITS NEW LEVELS POST FESTIVAL SEASON EVEN SOMEONE WITH THE STONIEST OF HEARTS WOULD FAIL TO DISMISS CURRENT SINGLE 'ENERATOR AS
%VERYONE WAS LIKE hYOU RE GOING TO BE THE !RCTIC -ONKEYS OF THIS YEARS FESTIVALSv ) DON T THINK WE QUITE AGREED
ANYTHING BUT FANTASTIC &OWLER LIKE EVERY FESTIVAL GOER DIDN T WANT THE SUMMER OF TO COME TO CLOSE h4HIS SUMMER HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR US 5NFORTUNATELY WE WEREN T ABLE TO PLAY 2EADING AND ,EEDS BUT WE WENT DOWN A STORM AT 6 %VERYONE WAS LIKE hYOU RE GONNA BE THE !RCTIC -ONKEYS OF THIS YEAR S FESTIVALS ) DON T THINK WE QUITE AGREED HOWEVERxv 4HEIR ONLY DOWN POINT IRONICALLY CAME ABOUT IN 2EADING h7E WERE SUPPOSED TO PLAY AN AFTER SHOW BUT THE COACH TAKING THE FANS FROM THE SITE TO THE CLUB NEVER TURNED UP 4HERE WE WERE GUITARS @N ALL READY TO PLAY AND NO ONE SHOWED v !LL IS IN THE PAST NOW AND AS MOST WOULD NOW AGREE THEY ARE PROBABLY HALF THE REASON THE SUN IS STILL SHINING MID /CTOBERxWELL YOUKNOWxCOUPLED WITH GLOBAL WARMING AND ALL THAT %VENTUALLY WE REACH THE SUBJECT OF THIS EVENING )T WASN T HARD FOR &OWLER TO ANTICIPATE THE FORTH COMING QUESTIONS h4HE &ROG 4OUR S BEEN A BIT OF WEIRD ONE REALLY 7E VE HAD SOME GOOD GIGS AND SOME BAD 4HE SECURITY S BEEN HORRIBLY TIGHT AND PERSONALLY ) DON T THINK 0ETE IS PURPOSELY LOOKING FOR ANY MEDIA INTRUSION (E DOES THINGS BECAUSE HE S PISSED OFF HE CAN T ESCAPE FROM THE SECURITY OR THE MANAGER IT SEEMS VERY HARD FOR HIM AT THE MOMENT )F HE WALKED INTO THIS BAR RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY WOULD ANTICIPATE ANY WRONG DOINGS PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE LONGING FOR THAT NEXT SCOOP ON 0ETE $OHERTY 4HAT S WHAT HE S SCARED OF v !SIDE FROM THE CONTROVERSY THAT SURROUNDED @THAT GIG THE FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHT FOR THESE FOUR .ORTH ,ONDON UPSTARTS h(OPEFULLY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE LL BE SITTING HERE ONCE AGAIN TALKING ABOUT THE (OLLOWAYS HEADLINING A TOUR LIKE THIS 4HAT S WHERE WE WANT TO BE v 9OU MIGHT WANT TO THINK TWICE BEFORE SHRUGGING OFF 4HE (OLLOWAYS AS ANOTHER INDIE POP CLICHÏ 4HEY PROVED TO A BLEARY EYED 5%! CROWD THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF BIG THINGS AND FOR MANY THEY WERE THE SUN SHINING THROUGH THE DARK DEBRIS THAT $OHERTY AND CO LEFT BEHIND h0ERSONALLY ) THINK WE RE FUN WE RE ENERGETIC AND WE RE LIVExNO !LIVE v 4HERE S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT AS LONG AS THESE GUYS ARE HERE THE SUN IS NEVER GOING TO STOP SHINING
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,IVE 7E !RE 3CIENTISTS &RIDAY TH /CTOBER 5%! @4HE "IGGEST 4OUR )N 4HE (ISTORY /F ,IFE 4OUR 7OW -OST BANDS WOULD STRUGGLE TO GET AWAY WITH GIVING THEIR NEW TOUR SUCH A CHEEKY MONIKERxBUT 7E !RE 3CIENTISTS ARE NOT MOST BANDS /N THE BACK OF THEIR SET STEALING PER FORMANCE AT LAST YEAR S .-% 4OUR THE WONDERFULLY NERDY TRIO KICKED OFF THE lRST LEG OF THEIR "RITISH STINT IN FRENETIC FASHION "UT lRST LET S GET THE OPENERS OUT OF THE WAY 0ERHAPS THE LESS SAID ABOUT !U 2EVOIR 3IMONE THE BETTER THE LIVELIEST THING THEY DID ALL NIGHT WAS DANCE WITH 7!3 ON THE REMARKABLY WEIRD ENCORE "UT MORE OF THAT LATER .EXT &RANZ &ER DINAND ENDORSED BAND THE "LOOD !RM TRIED VALIANTLY TO WHIP UP AN ALREADY FRENZIED ,#2 9ET DESPITE CATCHY SIN GLE 3USPICIOUS #HARACTER AND AN !$($ SINGER CLIMBING ALL OVER THE SPEAKERS THE BAND WERE FRANKLY RUBBISH 4ONIGHT WAS ABOUT ONE BAND (AV ING PROMISED hAN AWFUL REDHOT METEOR SHOWER RAINING DOWN FROM THE BLACK NESSv THE GUYS FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THEIR APOCALYPTIC PROMISE )NSTEAD WE WERE REMINDED JUST WHY WE FELL IN LOVE WITH SONGS SUCH AS .OBODY -OVE .OBODY 'ET (URT IN THE lRST PLACE !ND FOR THOSE
WHO MISSED OUT THE LAST TIME THEY WERE HERE 7E !RE 3CIENTISTS BEGAN CONVERT ING A WHOLE NEW LEGION OF CRAZY FANS 3INGER AND LEAD GUITARIST +EITH -UR RAY HAD EARLIER PROMISED TO hPLAY SOME HITS PLAY SOME mOPS AND THEN PLAY ANOTHER HIT TO MAKE UP FOR THE mOPSv "UT THEN HE WAS JOKING !NY BAND THAT OPENED THEIR SET WITH A 0HIL #OLLINS COVER MUST HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF HU MOUR !ND AFTER SUCH A BIZARRE OPENER IT WAS ALL UPHILL 4HE GUYS PLAYED ALMOST THE ENTIRETY OF THEIR RIDICULOUSLY CATCHY ALBUM 7ITH ,OVE AND 3QUALOR 0ARTICULAR HIGHLIGHTS 4HE 3CENE IS $EAD #AN T ,OSE AND )T S A (IT QUICKLY HAD THE SWEAT DRENCHED AUDIENCE SINGING ALONG 3OON ENOUGH A RAPTUROUS CHANT BROKE OUT CLEARLY BRINGING DELIGHT TO THE BAND $ESPITE LAST YEAR S ALMOST RELENTLESS TOURING 7!3 SCATTERED THEIR SET WITH A FEW NEW SONGS 4HEY ALL SOUNDED AS DANCEABLE AS WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT WHETTING APPETITES FOR NEW MATERIAL THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE OUT SOME TIME NEXT SUMMER 7E WERE ALSO PLAYED A FEW SONGS FROM THEIR FORTHCOMING COVERS AND " SIDES ALBUM #RAP !TTACK )N FACT THE ONLY SLIGHT QUIBBLE WHICH COULD BE LEVELLED AT THE GUYS IS THAT WHETHER
PLAYING NEW SONGS COVERS OR OLD HITS THEY CAN OFTEN SOUND SIMILAR "UT WHEN THAT SOUND IS SO FUN AND FRANTIC DOES IT MATTER 4HE NIGHT ENDED WITH FAN FAVOURITE 4HE 'REAT %SCAPExALMOST &OR WE MUST NOT FORGET AN ENCORE WHICH SAW THE GUYS PERFORM A GLORIOUSLY HEARTFELT RENDITION OF THE "OYS )) -EN CLASSIC %ND /F 4HE
2OAD 3UCH A BRILLIANTLY ODD CONCLU SION SEEMED ONLY lTTING ON A NIGHT WHICH MARKED THE SUCCESSFUL RETURN OF EMERGING 5%! CHAMPIONS 7E !RE 3CI ENTISTS !NOTHER WEEK ANOTHER FANTASTIC GIG COURTESY OF THE UNION S ENTS DEPART MENT 4HE SCENE IS DElNITELY NOT DEAD 7ILL 'REAVES
0ATRICK 7OLF
4HE 2APTURE
4HURSDAY TH 3EPTEMBER 7ATERFRONT
4UESDAY TH /CTOBER 7ATERFRONT
(IDING IN A HOOD BUT SHINING IN SOUND 0ATRICK 7OLF FOUND A CRACK IN THE AIR AND USING HIS INITIATIVE WIDENED IT AND SAW THROUGH TO OTHER PLACES )F EVERYONE WAITS FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL TO HAPPEN DOES IT COME TRUE 5NIMAGINED AND POTENT VAGUE PRAYERS REmECTED BACK WITH LIGHTS LIKE TORCHBEAMS HITTING THE SPOT !RE MUSICIANS A LITTLE PSYCHIC )T LL BE NICE TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THESE SHAPES SOON (IS OUTlT WAS AN INVERSION OF PARANOIA AND THROUGH DEFENCE WEARING A HOOD HE GREW IN CONlDENT SOUND 4HE HOOD AS WORN BY RUDEBOYS IS A PROTECTIVE SECRETIVE ROBE THAT AT THE SAME TIME RADIATES THREAT AND DANGER 0ATRICK S WEARING A HOOD GIVES HIM POWER AND BY SHRINKING AWAY HE STEPS OUT (E HAS HIS OWN WORLD IN HIS HOOD LIKE WE HAVE OUR OWN WORLD FOR TWO HOURS IN
THIS ROOM 3OMETIMES THE WORLD LOOKS BORING AND GREY WITH VEINS OF GLORY RUNNING THROUGH -AYBE THE VEINS BETRAY A DEEPER LEVEL OF COLOUR UNDERNEATH 7HEN INSIDE THESE VEINS THE WORLD IS FELT THROUGH THE COLOUR OF ITS OWN FORCES 4HE WORD COLOUR IS TOO $ TO USE )T WAS ALL AROUND US 4WO ALBUMS OF DARK ELECTRICITY ALTHOUGH NOT NECESSARILY UNHAPPY AND NOW THIS JOY IT S LIKE BEING IN YOUR HOUSE FOR A FULL DARK WINTER S DAY AND THEN DRAWING THE CURTAINS TO ALL THE STREETLIGHTS AND MISTY BUSES RECEIVING A PHONE CALL FROM A FRIEND AND DOODLING THE STREETS ON YOUR BIKE WITH YOUR CRAZY WALKMAN IN YOUR BACK POCKET ,EAVING THE GIG WAS LIKE COMING DOWN NOT FROM THE SADNESS OF DEPLETED 3EROTONIN BUT THE LOSS OF AN INTENSE ENDEARING HAPPINESS 0ATRICK CREATES NEW SPACES FOR YOU TO BE IN APART FROM NORMAL LIFE ;OR MAYBE TAPPING INTO LIFE= 9OU MIGHT REPLY THAT THE SONG TAKES TIME TO LISTEN TO AND YOU THEREFORE HAVE NOT ESCAPED TIME OR THE NORMAL WORLD 4HE SONGS MOVE AT A DIFFERENT PACE AND THE SONG IS WIDER THAN THE TIME IT TAKES TO LISTEN TO IT ! CONCATENATION ALIGHTS OTHER IDEAS IN YOUR HEAD AND SHOWS ITS EFFECTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS 4HERE IS NO ACCIDENT TO THIS EMERGENCY "ARNABY 4IDMAN
!FTER ALL THE HYPE OF THE +LAXONS AND 3HIT DISCO SUPPOSEDLY LEADING A NEW DANCE RAVE ROCK REVOLUTION THE 2APTURE CAME TO .OR WICH INTENT ON REMINDING THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WERE THE ONES WHO KICKED IT ALL OFF YEARS AGO &IRST A SPECIAL MENTION MUST BE MADE TO THE SECOND SUPPORT SLOT THE 0RESETS AN !USTRALIAN TWO PIECE WHO USED SYNTHS COW BELLS AND A SET OF DRUMS HIT VERY HARD TO PERFORM A TIGHT SET OF SKEWED SONGS THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WEREN T COMPLETELY ORIGINAL DID CONTAIN A MAD ENERGY THAT PERFECTLY SET UP THE ARRIVAL OF THE 2APTURE /PENING WITH (EAVEN ITS OPPOSING HARMONISED AND THRASHED SECTIONS WERE DESPITE THE BUNGLED START BY ,UKE *ENNER A PERFECT ATTENTION GRABBING MOMENT 4HIS MOMENTUM WAS KEPT UP THROUGHOUT WITH ALL FOUR MEMBERS CLEARLY HAVING A GREAT TIME IN THE PERSONAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE 7ATERFRONT EVEN DROP PING AN !LAN 0ARTRIDGE JOKE TO THE DELIGHT OF THE CROWD 7HILST PLAYING 3ISTER 3AVIOUR FOLLOWED BY 'ET -YSELF )NTO )T SO EARLY MAY HAVE SEEMED A BAD CHOICE IT SERVED TO KEEP THE NIGHT ROAR ING ON RIGHT THROUGH AN ELECTRIFYING VERSION OF THE SONG THAT STARTED IT ALL (OUSE OF *EAL OUS ,OVERS 3O WHEN THE NIGHT CLOSED ON THE DEAFENING ENCORE OF %CHOES THE 2APTURE
ONCE AGAIN FELT LIKE THE EPITOMY OF EVERY THING THE BANDS OF THE NEW RAVE REVOLUTION ARE TRYING TO BE .9# S lNEST 2IGHT NOW THERE S NOT MUCH THAT CAN TOUCH THEM .ICHOLAS "ROOKES
THE EVENT
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-AIN &EATURE 4HE (ISTORY "OYS $IR .ICHOLAS (YTNER "ASED ON THE AWARD WINNING PLAY 4HE (ISTORY "OYS PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE BEST "RITISH lLMS OF THE YEAR 4HE YEAR IS THE MUSIC IN THE OPENING CREDITS IS THE 3MITHS AND THE SETTING IS A .ORTHERN GRAM MAR SCHOOL WHERE EIGHT ! ,EVEL BOYS ARE BEING PREPARED FOR THE /XBRIDGE ENTRANCE EXAM #LASH ING FUNDAMENTALLY ARE THE TWO TEACHERS APPOINTED TO GUIDE THEM THEIR POPULAR %NGLISH TUTOR (EC TOR WHOSE INSPIRING LESSONS WILL COVER EVERYTHING FROM +EATS AP PRECIATION TO CAMP RE ENACTIONS OF lLMS AND -R )RWIN THE YOUNG NEW RECRUIT WHO HOLDS AN APPARENTLY SUCCESSFUL HARD LINE POLICY ON GROOMING THE BOYS INTO STUDIED ORIGINALITY 4HE CONmICT BETWEEN TRADITIONAL TEACHING AND NEW METHODS HAS NEVER BEEN SO STARK AND THE BOYS lND THEMSELVES TORN BETWEEN THE TWO !ND YET THE lLM FOLLOWS MORE THAN JUST THE ACADEMIC ASPECTS OF THE STUDENTS LIVES /NE OF THE MOST TOUCHING STORIES MARKS ONE BOY S HOPELESSLY UNREQUITED CRUSH ON HIS HANDSOME FELLOW COLLEAGUE WHO ALSO BEING AN UNABASHEDLY SEXUAL TEENAGER lNDS HIMSELF CURI OUSLY ATTRACTED TO THE RESTRAINED -R
2ELEASE $ATE
)RWIN 4HE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE MADE ALL THE MORE DIFlCULT WHEN (EC TOR S HABIT OF GROPING HIS STUDENTS IS DISCOVERED BY THE (EADMASTER 4HE CAST NEARLY ALL OF WHOM ARE REPRISED FROM THE ORIGINAL SHOW ARE mAWLESS 4HE MONTHS OF WORK ING TOGETHER HAVE LED TO AN OBVI OUS CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE BOYS WHICH BURSTS WITH ENTHUSIASM ON THE SCREEN &RANCES DE LA 4OUR PROVIDES STELLAR SUPPORT AS THE NO NONSENSE HISTORY TEACHER -RS ,INTOTT OBSERV ING THE PROCEEDINGS THROUGHOUT AND DELIVERING A lNAL MONOLOGUE THAT GIVES THE lLM ADDED GRAVITAS 3TEPHEN #AMPBELL -OORE AS )R WIN DISPLAYS AN INTENSITY THAT NOT EVEN THE STAGE COULD HIGHLIGHT SO MOVINGLY AND HE IS SUCCESSFUL IN CREATING A SYMPATHETIC CONmICTED CHARACTER WHICH SERVES TO MAKE THE lLM FAR LESS BLACK AND WHITE "UT IT IS 2ICHARD 'RIFlTHS WHO STEALS THE lLM (E IS TRULY MAG NIlCENT IN THE ROLE INJECTING ALL THE PASSION AND VITALITY OF AN EC CENTRIC SCHOOLTEACHER THAT MADE HIS PERFORMANCE SO MEMORABLE ON THE STAGE (IS WARMTH AND SINCER ITY APPEAL TO THE VIEWERS DESPITE THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL PEDERASTIC ASPECTS OF HIS CHARACTER
#INEFILE
#OMPARISONS WITH THE PLAY ARE INEVITABLE 7RITTEN BY !LAN "EN NETT IT S HARD TO IMAGINE A MORE PERFECT SCRIPT IT IS IN TURN FUNNY POIGNANT AND PHILOSOPHICAL YET REMAINS IMMENSELY QUOTABLE THROUGHOUT !ND YET SOMEHOW THE TRANSFER FROM STAGE TO SCREEN HAS NOT BEEN ENTIRELY SMOOTH 7HILST THE CLEVER LINES AND ENSUING LAUGHS
COME APLENTY THERE IS A DElNITE LACK OF REALISM WHICH JARS WITH THE GRITTY SETTING OF THE lLM n AFTER ALL WHEN WERE A GROUP OF YEAR OLDS EVER SO WITTY AND MATURE 0LACED IN THE REGULAR TOWN STREETS AND CLASS ROOMS THE CHARACTERS CAN SEEM ALMOST TOO LARGE FOR LIFE AND LOSE CREDIBILITY $ESPITE THESE MINOR SETBACKS
SAME NAME BY *EFFREY %UGENIDES $IRECTED BY 3OlA #OPPOLA THIS WAS HER lRST lLM AND IT mESHES OUT THE BOOK FAITHFULLY FOLLOWING THE LIVES
THE EVENT
3ANCHITA "ASU $E 3ARKAR
4HE 6IRGIN 3UICIDES THE FAMILY APART OCCUPY THE lLM S PLOT BUT THE STORY ISN T NECESSARILY THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE #OPPOLA CAPTURES PERFECTLY THE MOOD OF DISAFFECTED YOUTH OF RESTRAINED DESIRES AND CLAUSTROPHO BIC DOMESTIC SPACES
4HE TITLE SOUNDS A LITTLE SCARY TO ME IS THIS A HORROR MOVIE .O NOT AT ALL IN FACT THIS IS AN ADAP TATION OF THE ACCLAIMED NOVEL OF THE
4HE (ISTORY "OYS IS AN EXCELLENT AD APTATION OF A VERY lNE PLAY 3PORT ING A GREAT SOUNDTRACK CONSTANT HUMOUR AND ISSUES THAT WILL LINGER LONG AFTER LEAVING THE CINEMA HALL IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THERE IS SOMETHING IN THIS lLM THAT WILL AP PEAL TO EVERYONE
4HE 6IRGIN 3UICIDES AND TRAGIC DEATHS OF THE lVE ,IS BON DAUGHTERS 4HEIR BLOSSOMING ADOLESCENCE OPPRESSIVE PARENTS AND THE TRAGEDY THAT SLOWLY TEARS
3O WHO SHOULD ) WATCH OUT FOR IN THE MOVIE 7ELL ANOTHER OF THE MOVIE S GREAT STRENGTHS IS THAT THE CASTING WORKS SO WELL AND MANY OF THE ACTORS YOU CAN RECOGNISE FROM OTHER lLMS *OSH (ARTNETT TURNS WHAT COULD EAS ILY HAVE BEEN A STEREOTYPED ROLE AS THE HIGH SCHOOL 2OMEO INTO A COMPLEX CHARACTER THAT BREAKS ONE OF THE DAUGHTER S HEARTS 4HE PER FORMANCE THAT REALLY MAKES THE lLM THOUGH IS THAT OF +IRSTEN $UNST AS THE SMOULDERING SIREN ,UX ,ISBON 3HE USED THIS ROLE TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HER CHILDHOOD ROLES AND BEING AN ADULT ACTRESS AND WE SEE
THE TRANSFORMATION ON SCREEN FROM GIRL TO TEMPTRESS (ASN T 3OlA #OPPOLA WORKED WITH $UNST BEFORE .OT BEFORE THIS MOVIE (OWEVER THEY HAVE RECENTLY COLLABORATED AGAIN IN THE NEW lLM -ARIE !N TOINETTE WHICH IS RELEASED THIS MONTH AND REVIEWED IN THE NEXT ISSUE #OPPOLA S lRST PAIRING WITH $UNST ALSO STARTED SEVERAL TRENDS WHICH RUN THROUGH ALL HER lLMS SO FAR )T HAS A GREAT SOUNDTRACK AND EXPLORES THEMES LIKE LOSS MEMORY AND COMMUNICATION WHICH ALL AP PEAR AGAIN IN ,OST IN 4RANSLATION "OTH lLMS AREN T ALWAYS THE EASIEST TO WATCH BUT ARE REWARDING IN THEIR OWN WAYS #OPPOLA CONTINUES TO MAKE INTERESTING BEAUTIFUL lLMS BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHERE IT ALL STARTED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS THOUGHT PROVOKING CLASSIC 0AUL "OND
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/THER 3CREENS
/PEN 3EASON
4HE $EPARTED
4HE 'UARDIAN
4HE 4EXAS #HAINSAW -ASSACRE
7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER
4HE $EPARTED
/PEN 3EASON
4HE 'UARDIAN
7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER
4HE 4EXAS #HAINSAW
$IR -ARTIN 3CORSESE
$IR 2OGER !LLERS
$IR !NDREW $AVIS
$IR /LIVER 3TONE
-ASSACRE 4HE "EGINNING
2ELEASED
2ELEASED
2ELEASED
2ELEASED
$IR *ONATHAN ,IEBESMAN
/PEN 3EASON COMES FROM THE 3HREK SCHOOL OF THOUGHT WITH THE MAIN TWO CHARACTERS "OOG AND %LLIOT BEING PALE RIP OFFS OF 3HREK AND $ONKEY CHARACTER WISE (OWEVER IT IS ALSO QUITE A DIFFERENT lLM TAKING A MORE TRADITIONAL CARTOONY APPROACH AND THEMATICALLY IT IS SQUARELY AIMED AT CHILDREN NO IN JOKES FOR OLDER WATCHERS ARE TO BE FOUND HERE 7HICH IS A SHAME AS THE lLM IS SO DISTINCTLY LACKING /PEN 3EASON S MAIN mAW IS ITS PROTAGONISTS WITH %LLIOT AND "OOG BEING SUPREMELY IRRITATING !DD TO THIS DIRECTING THAT FEELS MORE LIKE /PEN 3EASON 4HE #OMPUTER 'AME THAN /PEN 3EASON 4HE -OVIE AND A CONTENDER FOR THE 7ORST 3OUNDTRACK AWARD CORNY ANNOYING AND YOU HAVE SOME MAJOR HURDLES TO OVERCOME 4HANKFULLY THEY ARE IN PART 3TEP FORWARD THE SUPPORT ANIMALS 4HEIR ARRIVAL IN THE SECOND THIRD OF THE lLM ELEVATES IT FROM THUS FAR SOPORIlC TO ENGAGING FOR ITS REMAINDER &ROM 3COTTISH SQUIRRELS TO SPACED OUT PORCUPINES THEY ARE FUN AND MEMORABLE 4HERE IS ALSO A VERY NICE SET PIECE INVOLVING AN EXPLODING DAM WHICH LENDS ITSELF TO SOME NICE UNDERWATER SHOTS /VERALL THOUGH /PEN 3EASON IS JUST TOO ORDINARY FOR THERE TO BE ANYTHING TO REALLY WRITE HOME ABOUT )T S ENJOYABLE mUFF BUT WE DOUBT MANY CHILDREN WILL RANK IT AS A lRM FAVOURITE .ICK -ELLISH
4HE 'UARDIAN FOLLOWS THE STORY OF LEGENDARY 2ESCUE 3WIMMER "EN 2ANDALL PLAYED BY +EVIN #OSTNER WHO TURNS TO TEACHING AFTER LOSING HIS CREW IN A FATAL CRASH !SHTON +UTCHER PLAYS HIS PROTÏGÏ *AKE &ISCHER WHO UPON GRADUATION FOLLOWS HIM TO !LASKA WHERE THE INHERENT DANGERS OF THE "ERING 3EA ENSUE 4HE 'UARDIAN IS SET UP TO BE THE ULTIMATE ACTION THRILLER $ESPITE HAVING THE POTENTIAL TO BE TOO SICKLY AND MORALISTIC FOR THE AUDIENCE THERE IS ENOUGH GRIT AND ORIGINALITY TO THE PLOT TO ENSURE THE AUDIENCE IS KEPT CAPTIVATED 9ET THE PLOT WANDERS TOWARD THE END AND THIS REVIEWER WAS LEFT FEELING THAT SHE WAS WATCHING TWO SEPARATE lLMS )NDEED CLAIMS THAT THE lLM IS TOO LONG AND LACKS COHERENCE HAVE BEEN ECHOED THROUGHOUT CRITICS REVIEWS (AVING SAID THAT #OSTNER WHO S BEEN DOGGED BY A SERIES OF TERRIBLE lLM CHOICES GIVES A PERFORMANCE SO STRONG THAT HE IS NOW BACK WITH A VENGEANCE 4HIS REVIEWER CONlDENTLY PREDICTS THAT WE LL SEE HIM IN MORE CHALLENGING ROLES IN THE FUTURE 4HE 'UARDIAN IS EMBARKING ON TERRITORY THAT S BEEN TRAVERSED MANY TIMES BEFORE AND ITS DISPARATE ENDING WILL LEAVE MANY ACTION FANS DISAPPOINTED 4HOSE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO PASS THEIR EYES WITH LITTLE OR NO IMPACT IN THEIR LIFE SHOULD GO AND SEEK OUT THIS lLM -ARY 7OLLSTONECRAFT
3OME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT 7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER CAME TOO SOON WITH THE PAIN OF STILL A RAW SUBJECT FOR THOSE CONCERNED AND FOR THE 7ESTERN 7ORLD AT LARGE "UT ALL CREDIT TO /LIVER 3TONE FOR WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY A DIGNIlED AND RESPECTFUL MOVIE !LTHOUGH IT SEEMS TOO (OLLYWOOD IN PLACES HE HAS CLEARLY MADE AN EFFORT TO BE RESTRAINED AND ACCURATELY REmECT THE TRUE STORY OF THE LAST TWO MEN RESCUED FROM THE RUBBLE AFTER THE TOWERS COLLAPSED 4HE ACTIONS AND RESPONSES OF RELATIVES ARE SHOWN IN REAL TIME WHICH ALLOWS 3TONE TO HIGHLIGHT THE ENORMITY OF THE SITUATION THAT THE TWO MEN FACED ! GOOD lLM BUT NOT A GREAT ONE 7E EXPECT THAT IT WILL TAKE MORE TIME BEFORE A TRULY MOVING AND HARD HITTING PICTURE IS MADE THAT WILL PROPERLY CEMENT IN CINEMATIC HISTORY AND PROVE A lTTING TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO DIED IN THE 4WIN 4OWERS 4HIS lLM IS TOUCHING IN PLACES BUT DOESN T INSPIRE EMOTIONS AS STRONGLY AS ONE MAY HAVE EXPECTED OR HOPED FROM A lLM OF THIS NATURE 4HIS IS OF COURSE A STRONG CRITICISM TO LEVY AT 7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER AS ANYONE WHO SEES THE lLM AT THIS POINT WILL RECALL THOSE STRONG FEELINGS STIRRED WITHIN THEM AS THEY SAW THE 4WIN 4OWERS FALLING LIVE ON TELEVISION 5LTIMATELY THIS IS A lLM THAT SHOULD BE SEEN WITH AN OPEN MIND AND FEW ASPIRATIONS TO IT ENCOMPASSING YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE OF $OROTHY 7AINWRIGHT
-ARTIN 3CORSESE S NEWEST RELEASE 4HE $EPARTED TRANSCENDS FROM AN %ASTERN lLM CALLED )NFERNAL !FFAIRS A HUGELY POPULAR MOVIE THAT NEAR SINGLE HANDEDLY SAVED THE (ONG +ONG lLM INDUSTRY 7ITH THESE FACTORS IN MIND YOU KNOW YOU RE IN FOR A TREAT 4HE lLM FOLLOWS TWO @MOLES ONE -ATT $AMON INlLTRATING THE HIGHER RANKS OF THE POLICE FORCE AND ANOTHER ,EONARDO $I#APRIO ENTERING THE INNER CIRCLE OF THE CITY S MOST NOTORIOUS GANGSTER &RANK #OSTELLO *ACK .ICHOLSON 4HE lLM ALSO FEATURES SUCH STELLAR ACTORS AS -ARTIN 3HEEN -ARK 7AHLBERG !LEC "ALDWIN AND 2AY 7INSTONE EACH TURNING IN TERRIlC PERFORMANCES !S THE lLM PROGRESSES BOTH THE POLICE FORCE AND #OSTELLO EVENTUALLY LEARN THAT THERE IS AN IMPOSTER IN THEIR RANKS BOTH $AMON AND $I#APRIO S CHARACTERS THEN BEGIN THEIR DESCENT INTO PARANOIA AS THEY ARE INVESTIGATED 3OON ENOUGH BOTH MOLES ARE ASSIGNED TO HUNT DOWN THE OTHER AT WHICH POINT THE lLM REALLY HEATS UP 4HE CAST ARE IMPECCABLY CHOSEN .ICHOLSON AS EVER IS SUPERB THOUGH ULTIMATELY $I#APRIO SHINES IN HIS ROLE AS "ILLY #OSTIGAN -ARK 7AHLBERG S CHARACTER IS ALSO ONE OF THE BEST HE IS PERFECTLY SUITED TO HIS CHOSEN ROLE BUT SADLY HE JUST ISN T IN IT ENOUGH 4HE $EPARTED IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST lLM RELEASED THIS YEAR TRUE TO 3CORSESE S LEGACY AND AN INSTANT CLASSIC WHICH ) FULLY RECOMMEND !LEXANDER -ORRIS
2ELEASED 3O ANOTHER YEAR ANOTHER REMAKE RE TREAD OVER THE 4EXAS #HAINSAW -AS SACRE 4HIS TIME WE ARE TREATED TO A PREQUEL OF THE REMAKE OF THE ORIGI NAL n BEAR WITH US /NCE AGAIN AN UNFORTUNATE GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS lND THEMSELVES IN THE REALLY REALLY WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME AND ARE SUBJECTED TO VARIOUS ASSAULTS BY ,EATHERFACE AND CO 4HE MAIN DIFFERENCE FROM OTH ERS IN THE SERIES IS THE LEVEL OF GORE WHICH WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT IS SAYING QUITE A LOT SO THOSE OF A SQUEAMISH NATURE SHOULD STAY AWAY )T SEEMS THAT (OSTEL HAS SET SOME KIND OF PRECEDENT AND NOW HORROR lLMS ARE TRYING TO OUTDO EACH OTHER WITH LEVELS OF GORE "UT REALLY IS THAT ACHIEVING MUCH 3EEING THIS lLM IS LIKE A TEST IN ENDURANCE AND SO IT S DIFlCULT TO RECOMMEND !FTER ALL SURELY YOU WANT ENTERTAINMENT AND THRILLS 4HERE IS SOME TENSION TO BE HAD BUT THIS IS SECONDARY TO THE BLOOD !TTEMPTS TO ADD SOMETHING MEAN INGFUL BY INVESTIGATING THE FAMILY S ORIGINS ARE WASTED BY POOR WRITING AND THE lLM ACTS LIKE THESE SCENES NEVER EXISTED ONCE THEY OCCUR )T S A SHAME THAT NOTHING NEW IS ADDED BECAUSE SEQUELS AND REMAKES ARE NOT NECESSARILY BAD n THE EXCEL LENT REMAKE OF 4HE (ILLS (AVE %YES BEING AN EXAMPLE "EST AVOID THIS ONE %STHER -ARTIN
THE EVENT
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$6$ &EATURE
4HE $EER (UNTER
$IR -ICHAEL #IMINO /NE OF THE lRST lLMS TO DEAL WITH THE 6IETNAM 7AR -ICHAEL #IMINO S MASTERPIECE IS PREDOMINANTLY CONCERNED WITH ITS AFFECTS ON 0ENNSYLVANIAN STEEL WORKERS .ICK -ICHAEL AND 3TEVEN 4HE THREE ENLIST IN THE 53 ARMY AND THROUGH THEIR TIME SPENT lGHTING ARE CHANGED FOREVER BY THE DEVASTATION THEY BECOME WRAPPED UP IN 2UNNING AT A LENGTHY THREE HOURS THE lLM SPENDS BARELY TWENTY MINUTES ON THE ACTUAL WAR 0ARAMOUNT IS SHOWING THE LIVES OF THESE SIMPLE MEN BEFORE AND AFTER AND HOW DRAMATICALLY THEY ARE SCARRED BY THEIR EXPERIENCES IT S DRIVEN BY A WHOLE HOST OF ASTOUNDING PERFORMANCES INCLUDING #HRISTOPHER 7ALKEN S SCENE STEALING .ICK AND -ERYL 3TREEP S HEART BREAKING DEBUT AS HIS GIRLFRIEND )T IS 2OBERT $E .IRO HOWEVER AS PROTAGONIST -ICHAEL WHO STEERS THE lLM IN AN AWE
2ELEASED /PTIMUM (OME %NTERTAINMENT
INSPIRING TURN (IS RANGE IS NEVER MORE EASILY OBSERVED PLAYING ANOTHER DISILLUSIONED WAR VETERAN AS IN 4AXI $RIVER HE CREATES A WHOLLY DIFFERENT AND AT TIMES MORE ABSORBING CHARACTER 4HE AUDIENCE IS THRUST INTO THE HORRORS OF @.AM -ICHAEL .ICK AND 3TEVEN ARE GATHERED IN A BAR AROUND A SERENELY PLAYED PIANO WHICH SUDDENLY BECOMES THE SOUND OF A CHOPPING HELICOPTER )N AN INSTANT OUR VIEWING PLEASURE IS ALTERED TO FEELINGS OF DISMAY FOR THE THREE FORCED INTO THE lRST OF THE lLM S INFAMOUS AND PETRIFYING 2USSIAN ROULETTE SEQUENCES !S NERVE WRACKING AND EMOTIONALLY DRAINING AS ANY IN THE HISTORY OF THE CINEMA NOTHING IS EVER THE SAME FOR THEM AGAIN -ICHAEL ON HIS RETURN HOME IS UNABLE TO PICK UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF WITH HIS LIFE AND FRIENDS 5NABLE TO COMPREHEND THE HORRORS OF THE WAR HE FEELS AT ONCE ISOLATED FROM
4HE $EER (UNTER EVERYONE HE ONCE SO DEEPLY CARED FOR )T IS A TRUE NIGHTMARE AND ONE REGULARLY DEPICTED ON SCREEN BUT NEVER MORE CREDIBLY THAN HERE 2ARELY HAS A lLM MANAGED TO REACH
SUCH EMOTIONAL DEPTH 4HIS UPDATED TWO DISC VERSION IS ACCOMPANIED WITH AN ENLIGHTENING DIRECTOR S COMMENTARY AS WELL AS THREE IN DEPTH INTERVIEWS THAT ARE
HIGHLY COMPLIMENTARY AND WORTHY OF THE BREATH TAKING MAIN FEATURE /NE OF THE GREATEST PICTURES EVER THIS HAS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED +IERAN #ORNWELL
$6$ 2ELEASES
2EEKER
THE EVENT
2EEKER
!TOMISED
7ILDERNESS
$IR $AVID 0AYNE
$IR /SKAR 2OEHLER
$IR -ICHAEL * "ASSETT
2ELEASED
2ELEASED
2ELEASED
TH #ENTURY &OX
-OMENTUM 0ICTURES
-OMENTUM 0ICTURES
(OME %NTERTAINMENT
(OME %NTERTAINMENT
(OME %NTERTAINMENT
#ALLING A lLM @2EEKER WAS SURELY A MISTAKE FROM THE OFF BUT DIRECTOR $AVID 0AYNE BARELY MANAGES TO PUT A FOOT RIGHT DURING THIS DIRE MINUTES 4HE NARRATIVE FOLLOWS A GROUP OF STEREOTYPICAL SQUABBLING YOUTHS AS THEIR CAR BREAKS DOWN CROSSING THE !MERICAN DESERT 3AFE TO SAY NOTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THIS lLM COULD BE DESCRIBED AS ORIGINAL SHOCKING OR REMOTELY INTERESTING ASIDE FROM THE ENDING WHICH IS DELIBERATELY SHOWY RATHER THAN CLEVER 0AYNE HAS DIFlCULTY NEGOTIATING PACE AND THE WOEFUL SCRIPT HAS THE PROTAGONISTS MAKING MASTURBATION JOKES n AMONGST OTHERS SHORTLY AFTER THEIR FRIENDS HAVE BEEN MURDERED 4HE KILLER IS SOME SORT OF HAZY CLOUD OF SMELLY ODOUR WHICH PROVIDES ONLY HUMOUR INSTEAD OF TERROR AND WE CHEER WITH RELIEF AS THIS ANNOYING GROUP ARE SENT TO THEIR OBLIVION JUST AS THIS lLM SHOULD BE 3TEPHEN (ALL
!TOMISED IS A MOVING 'ERMAN lLM FOLLOWING THE LIVES OF TWO INCRED IBLY DIFFERENT BROTHERS 3EXUALLY DISTURBED "RUNO -ORITZ "LEIBTREU AND MATHEMATICAL GENIUS -ICHAEL #HRISTIAN 5LMEN MUST STRUG GLE WITH THEIR DARK PAST AND COPE WITH THE TRAGIC ROMANCES IT HAS LEFT THEM 4HE lLM EXAMINES SUCH DIVERSE ISSUES AS PAEDOPHILIA PROMISCU ITY CLONING AND SEPARATION 4HESE SUBJECTS ARE OF COURSE UNAVOIDABLY UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES AND ARE NOT SOOTHED BY THE ALL TOO GRAPHIC IMAGERY USED ON OCCASIONS 9ET THIS COARSE ROUGHNESS IS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS OWN WAY IN THAT IT ALLOWS THE VIEWER TO FEEL REAL PITY FOR THE BROTHERS SAD STORY 4HIS IS CERTAINLY A lLM THAT ONE EITHER LOVES OR HATES (OWEVER IT CAN BE APPRECIATED BY THOSE WHO DO NOT NORMALLY ENJOY SUBTITLED lLMS !TOMISED IS DElNITELY RECOM MENDED $ANNI 7ARD
"RITISH HORROR lLM 7ILDERNESS DI RECTED BY -ICHAEL * "ASSETT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS $OG 3OLDIERS MEETS "AT TLE 2OYALE 4HE HORROR mICK BEGINS IN PRISON WHERE HARDENED CRIMINALS FACE THE CONSEQUENCES AFTER FELLOW INMATE $AVIE MYSTERIOUSLY DIES 4HEY ARE SENT TO A SUPPOSEDLY DE SERTED ISLAND BUT THEY COME ACROSS A GROUP OF FEMALE PRISONERS AND A TRAMP !FTER THE TRAMP IS FOUND VIOLENTLY MURDERED THE TWO GROUPS STAY TOGETHER AND ONE BY ONE THEY ARE PICKED OFF TO BE KILLED ,ETTERS ARE MARKED ON THE DEAD BODIES AND IT IS SOON MADE CLEAR WHO IS AFTER THEM 7ITH NO SUS PENSE LEFT PRISONER #ALLUM GOES AF TER THE KILLER WHILST THE OTHERS lGHT AMONGST THEMSELVES 7ITH MINIMAL SURVIVORS AND A GORY SUBTEXT THIS lLM LACKS ORIGINALITY AND THAT ES SENTIAL THRILLING EDGE LEAVING IT PRE DICTABLE AND LACKLUSTRE )T S A SHAME CONSIDERING THE lLM S INTERESTING PREMISE !MANDA ,IM
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4HE #HANGING &ACE OF $ISASTER )N THE CURRENT CLIMATE OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS ,IAM / "RIEN LOOKS AT HOW THE CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT OF DISASTERS HAS AFFECTED AN ENTIRE GENRE
)
T SEEMS THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY ALL OVER THE WORLD 7ITH THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US IN BE IT ON 46 IN THE PAPERS OR ONLINE ANY INCIDENT OF DEATH OR DISASTER HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF REACHING US 4HE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ALL THIS IS THAT IN A SENSE WE BECOME DESENSITISED TO TERRIBLE EVENTS 4HE !SIAN 4SUNAMI OR THE EVENTS OF HAVE A SEPARATE IDENTITY BUT AT THE SAME TIME BECOME PART OF A LONG LIST OF SUCH EVENTS THAT EXPANDS FROM DAY TO DAY 4HESE EVENTS DIFFER IN SIZE AND OVERARCHING CONSEQUENCES BUT THEY ARE STILL ALL DISASTERS 7HERE SUCH EVENTS WOULD HAVE ONCE BEEN AN INFREQUENT AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT UNIQUE OCCURRENCE THEY ARE NOW PART OF OUR SOCIAL IDENTITY BECAUSE OF THEIR PERCEIVED FREQUENCY 9ES DISASTERS ARE TERRIBLE BUT WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEM AND WE DEVELOP MECHANISMS TO COPE WITH THEM $UE TO THIS CHANGE IN THE WAY WE VIEW THE WORLD THE lLM INDUSTRY HAS BEEN FORCED TO DRASTICALLY ALTER THE WAY IT TREATS DISASTER ON lLM /NCE THE SHEER THRILL OF SEEING THINGS GOING TERRIBLY WRONG ON THE BIG SCREEN WAS ENOUGH TO ENSURE A CERTAIN RETURN ON THE STUDIO S INVESTMENT )NDEED DISASTER MOVIES WERE EXPENSIVE
7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER AND 2IGHT AT 9OUR $OOR STRIVE TO CONSTRUCT A WORLD THAT IS RECOGNISABLY OUR OWN
BUT THEY COULD ALSO BE EXTREMELY LUCRATIVE 4HE DISASTER PICTURE WAS FOR DECADES A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO SCRIPT AND MARKET A MOVIE &ILMS LIKE THE 4OWERING )NFERNO THE 0OSEIDON !DVENTURE $ANTE S 0EAK AND !RMAGEDDON WERE BIG AT THE BOX OFlCE LEADING WITH STRONG SIMPLE PREMISES 4HE PLOT OF SUCH lLMS CAN BE DISTILLED TO ONE CORE CENTRAL CONCEPT THE DISASTER ITSELF AND IT WAS THIS FEATURE OF SUCH lLMS THAT LED ITSELF TO EASE OF PROMOTION 4ELLING A PROSPECTIVE VIEWER @AN ASTEROID IS GOING TO HIT %ARTH IS EASIER THAN EXPLAINING THE MAIN IDEAS CONTAINED IN THE LATEST ROM COM @PERSON ! LOVES PERSON " BUT ! HAS A CRUSH ON PERSON # WHOSE 'REAT !UNT 'LADYS LIKES PERSON $ $ISASTER lLMS WERE ALSO STAR DRIVEN BIG BUDGET AFFAIRS CRAMMED WITH ESCAPIST HEROISM AND EXCITEMENT NOT TO MENTION AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SPECIAL EFFECTS AND TECHNICAL WIZARDRY 4HIS APPEALED ACROSS THE AGE GENDER AND RACE DIVIDES SOMETHING (OLLYWOOD BEAN COUNTERS LIKE TO HEAR 4HESE WERE lLMS BUILT TO ENTERTAIN THE MASSES THAT HAD A SIMPLE APPEAL THEY OFFERED A TERRIBLE SPECTACLE ACTION AND ADVENTURE FOR THE PRICE OF AN ADMISSION TICKET (OWEVER IN IF DISASTER IS NO LONGER A UNIQUE UNUSUAL THING HOW CAN THE DISASTER GENRE CONTINUE 4HE DISASTER MOVIE HAS SURVIVED INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO EVOLVE &OLLOWING
THE EVENTS OF 3EPTEMBER TH THE WAY THE WORLD IS VIEWED HAS CHANGED COMPLETELY AND THE DISASTER GENRE HAS SMARTLY REACTED TO THIS )N RECENT YEARS THE DISASTER MOVIE HAS EVOLVED FROM ESCAPIST ADVENTURING INTO SOMETHING WHOLLY DIFFERENT SOMETHING OFTEN WORLDS AWAY FROM THE BIG BUDGET EXTRAVAGANZAS OF OLD )NDEED IT WOULD SEEM THAT IN A POST CONTEXT EVEN DISASTER MOVIES HAVE SOMETHING VALID TO SAY ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND US 4HE NEW BREED OF lLM GENRE TAKES ITS INSPIRATION OFTEN NOT FROM NATURE AND ITS DESTRUCTIVE CAPABILITIES BUT FROM TERRORISM AND IN PARTICULAR THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN 7HEN THE TWO PLANES HIT THE 7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER lVE YEARS AGO IT WAS TRULY LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A DISASTER MOVIE 4HE !MERICAN SETTING THE MAJOR LANDMARK IT ALL FELT AS IF IT WERE RIPPED FROM THE BIG SCREEN 4HE lLM INDUSTRY SAW THE PARALLELS AND FED TERRIBLE IMAGES OF GLOBAL CATASTROPHES INTO THEIR PRODUCTIONS 4HUS A @NEW WAVE OF DISASTER MOVIES APPEARED LESS CONCERNED WITH THE DEPICTION OF UTTER CARNAGE BUT WITH EXPLORING THE HUMAN CONDITION UNDER TERRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES 4HE RECENTLY RELEASED 2IGHT AT 9OUR $OOR AND 7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF THE @NEW WAVE OF DISASTER lLM MAKING "OTH CONCERN TERRORISM AS THE DISASTER AT THEIR CORE !TTACKS ON A MAJOR !MERICAN CITY FORM THE HUB OF BOTH lLMS WHICH ALLOWS THESE MOVIES TO EXPLORE THE EFFECTS SUCH ATTACKS HAVE ON REAL PEOPLE 4HE CENTRAL PROTAGONISTS IN THESE lLMS ARE NOT THE RICH AND ELITE FOUND ABOARD THE GOOD SHIP 0OSEIDON BUT AVERAGE MEN AND WOMEN DOING NORMAL JOBS LIVING NORMAL LIVES 3PECTACLE IS NO LONGER THE NAME OF THE GAME HERE IT IS THE EFFECTS OF DISASTER NOT THE DISASTER ITSELF THAT IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW 7E WERE ALL ABLE TO WATCH THE DISASTER UNFOLD RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES 4HE VOYEURISTIC FEELING OF WATCHING SOMETHING TERRIBLE UNFOLD IS NOT ALIEN TO US AND AS SUCH DIRECTORS AND WRITERS PUT US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAYHEM NOT AS A VIEWER BUT AS A PARTICIPANT %NSURING WE THE AUDIENCE CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE CENTRAL CHARACTER MAKING THEM AS HUMAN AS POSSIBLE MEANS THAT THE HORROR OF WHAT IS GOING ON BECOMES MORE ACCESSIBLE
2IGHT AT 9OUR $OOR IS A lLM THAT CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THESE NEW PRINCIPLES )T DELIBERATELY AVOIDS GIVING INFORMATION TO THE MAIN CHARACTER AND THE AUDIENCE ,ARGELY SET IN A HOUSE SEALED OFF FROM A DEADLY @DIRTY BOMB ATTACK THE lLM PLAYS ON THE CONVENTIONS OF TODAY S SOCIETY BY CUTTING US OFF FROM THE MEDIA %VEN WHEN NEWS DOES COME THROUGH ON THE RADIO IT IS OFTEN CONTRADICTORY OR CONFUSED 4HE FEAR COMES FROM NOT KNOWING NOT SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON 7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER SIMILARLY KEEPS ITS FOCUS ON THOSE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE DISASTER SHOWING US THE STRUGGLE OF THE MEN TRAPPED IN THE RUINS OF THE TITULAR STRUCTURE AS WELL AS THEIR LOVED ONES ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN $IRECTOR /LIVER 3TONE GIVES US BOTH POINTS OF VIEW THAT OF THOSE DEPRIVED OF INFORMATION AND OF THOSE OVERCOME BY IT "OTH lLMS ARE ALSO SQUARELY SET IN THE REAL WORLD 7HEREAS !RMAGEDDON ET AL EXISTED VERY MUCH IN AN ACTION MOVIE WORLD 7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER AND 2IGHT AT 9OUR $OOR STRIVE TO CONSTRUCT A WORLD THAT IS RECOGNISABLY OUR OWN 0EOPLE DIE SUDDENLY AND HORRIBLY IN THESE lLMS DEATH IS NOT SHOWN AS SOMETHING HEROIC AND DANGER IS NOT EXCITING BUT TERRIFYING 2IGHT AT 9OUR $OOR ESPECIALLY LIVES AND DIES ON ITS BELIEVABILITY WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE TRUTH IN EVERY SCENE THE PLAUSIBILITY IN EVERY SITUATION 7ORLD 4RADE #ENTER IS SIMILAR IN THIS RESPECT BUT HAS THE @ADVANTAGE OF BEING BASED ON REAL EVENTS WE KNOW HAPPENED AND AS SUCH THE SCENARIO IS EASIER TO INVEST IN 2EALITY HOWEVER IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF BOTH STORIES 7HAT IS CLEAR OVERALL IS THAT DISASTER AT THE CINEMA HAS CHANGED 7HERE ONCE THE DISASTER WAS THE STAR THE FOCUS IS NOW ON PEOPLE AND THE EFFECTS OF CATASTROPHE &ILMMAKERS NOW DELIBERATELY OBSCURE EVENTS KEEPING THE CHARACTERS AND THE AUDIENCE ISOLATED AND ALONE IN THE DARK 3UCH lLMS NOW HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN IN THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO REPRESENT OUR FEARS AND SHOW US OUR WORST NIGHTMARES WHILST SIMULTANEOUSLY SETTING THEM IN A CONCRETE AND BELIEVABLE REALITY )N CHOOSING TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE THE DISASTER BECOMES ALL THE MORE TERRIFYING
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#INEMA #ITY ,ISTINGS
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! BELATED APOLOGY TO BOTH 0IRATE 3OCIETY AND THE !MERICAN &OOTBALL TEAM FOR THE MIX UP IN THE LISTINGS FOR THE lRST ISSUE
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#OMPUTING
3CARFACE 4HE 7ORLD )S 9OURS 2ELEASED ON 03 0# 8BOX 030 3CARFACE THE 7ORLD IS 9OURS IS THE VIDEOGAME BASED ON THE GANGSTER EPIC 3CARFACE IN WHICH !L 0ACINO PLAYED THE ROLE OF SMALL TIME #UBAN GANGSTER 4ONY -ONTANA )N THE MOVIE -ONTANA WORKS HIS WAY UP TO THE TOP OF THE -IAMI COCAINE EMPIRE UNTIL HE IS KILLED IN ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SCENES IN CINEMATIC HISTORY 9OU KNOW THE ONE IN WHICH -ONTANA SHOUTS THE INFAMOUS LINE h3AY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND v WHILE WAVING A MASSIVE ASSAULT RImE ABOUT 4HE GAME PICKS UP THE STORY AT THE END OF THE ORIGINAL MOVIE WHERE -ONTANA S MANSION IS BEING OVERRUN BY #OLUMBIAN GANGSTERS 4HE GAME ASKS WHAT IF -ONTANA MANAGED TO SOMEHOW SHOOT HIS WAY OUT OF THAT BLOOD BATH AND MAKE IT TO SAFETY 4HE PLAYER THEN HAS TO TRY TO RE ESTABLISH -ONTANA AS AN UNDERWORLD FORCE IN A 'RAND 4HEFT !UTO STYLE FREE ROAMING -IAMI 4HE GAME ALLOWS YOU TO HIRE HENCHMEN SUCH AS ASSAS SINS ARMS DEALERS AND ENFORCERS TO HELP 4ONY -ONTANA THROUGH MISSIONS IN ORDER TO EARN CASH AND REBUILD HIS REPUTATION AS AN UNDERWORLD +INGPIN 0LAYERS CAN ALSO SELL DRUGS TO DEALERS TO EARN MONEY -ONEY THAT YOU EARN FROM MISSIONS CAN BE USED TO BUY @EXOTICS SUCH AS BOATS PLANES CARS AND FURNITURE FOR THE -ONTANA MANSION 5LTIMATELY YOU BEGIN TO EARN MORE @TURF BY KILLING OFF RIVAL GANGS UNTIL YOU GAIN CONTROL OF -IAMI 4O HELP YOU
IN CERTAIN MISSIONS THERE IS ALSO A @BLIND RAGE MODE IN WHICH -ONTANA BECOMES INVINCIBLE AND HAS ACCESS TO UNLIMITED AMMUNITION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME 4HIS PROVES INCREDIBLY USEFUL WHEN YOU ARE FACING A LARGE GROUP OF RIVALS 4HERE ARE MANY SMALL THINGS IN THE GAME THAT THE PLAYER COMES TO APPRECIATE 4HE S SOUNDTRACK IS EXCELLENT AND @4ONY S -IXTAPE ALLOWS YOU TO CHOOSE WHAT MUSIC YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO AT ANY GIVEN TIME 4HERE ARE ALSO MANY MINI GAMES SUCH AS POKER BLACKJACK AND SLOT MACHINES WHICH BECOME HIGHLY ADDICTIVE WHILE EATING AWAY AT YOUR HARD EARNED CASH 9OU CAN INTIMIDATE CIVIL IANS AND @FAST TALK TO POLICE IF THEY STOP YOU MEANING YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET GRIEF FROM THE COPS 4HERE IS ALSO THE NOVELTY OF BEING DEVOURED BY SHARKS IF YOU SWIM TOO FAR OUT FROM THE SHORE /N THE NEGATIVE SIDE THE GAME DOES HAVE A SOMEWHAT REPETITIVE NATURE WHERE THE PLAYER JUST SEEMS TO DEAL DRUGS SHOOT RIVAL GANG MEMBERS AND STRIVE TO ACHIEVE SOMETIMES POINTLESS AND UNNECESSARY MISSIONS ,UCKILY THE FACT THAT YOU CAN PICK YOUR OWN MISSIONS ADVANCING AT YOUR OWN SPEED AND UNLOCKING EXTRA @EXOTICS MEANS THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS REWARDS WORTH ATTAINING AND ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES REPETITIVE THE SHEER ENTERTAINMENT OF THE MISSIONS MEANS THAT THE PLAYER IS ALWAYS HIGHLY ENGAGED IN THE GAMEPLAY
'AMING 'REATS 'AME 3UPER -ARIO +ART #ONSOLE 3.%3 2ELEASED *ANUARY THE 0OLISH FERRY *AN (EWELIUSZ SINKS OFF THE COAST OF 2àGEN IN THE "ALTIC SEA KILLING PEOPLE 4HE )RAQ DISARMAMENT CRISIS INTENSIlES !ND 7HITNEY (OUSTON S ) 7ILL !LWAYS ,OVE 9OU ENJOYS ITS TENTH WEEK AT NUMBER ONE "UT HEY IT S NOT ALL BAD NEWS 3UPER -ARIO +ART GETS RELEASED ON THE 3.%3 .OW IF THERE WAS EVER A BETTER WAY TO FORGET ALL YOUR 0OLISH FERRY WOES OR THE SOUND OF 7HITNEY (OUSTON S ARDUOUS DRONE THAN KARTING ABOUT PSYCHEDELIC LANDSCAPES
@POPPING @CAPS INTO 0RINCESS 4OADSTOOL S @ASS THEN WE D LIKE TO HEAR IT .INTENDO HAS ALWAYS BEEN NOTABLE THOUGH NOT ALWAYS COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL FOR HAVING THE @FUN EDGE OVER IT S MORE @REALISTIC COUNTERPARTS 3EGA 0LAYSTATION AND -ARIO +ART WAS CERTAINLY NO EXCEPTION TO THE RULE !RGUABLY ONE OF THE lRST TRUE @PARTY GAMES THE MULTIPLAYER MODE WAS THE REAL SELL HERE !LRIGHT IT WAS ONLY PLAYER WE RE TALKING EARLY NINETIES HERE BUT THE SHEER ENJOYMENT DERIVED FROM KICKING BACK WITH A BEER AND lRING RED SHELLS AND BANANA SKINS AT YOUR BEST
MATE ALL NIGHT LONG WAS AKIN TO WE IMAGINE A NICE PINT OF HEROIN 4HE FULL GAMUT OF CHARACTERS ARE HERE AND THE SENSE OF IMAGINATION TYPICAL OF .INTENDO PERMEATES THE GAME 4O SPICE UP PROCEEDINGS VARIOUS @WEAPONS CAN BE USED TO HINDER YOUR OPPONENTS PROGRESS BANANA PEELS GREEN AND RED SHELLS OBVIOUSLY AND GHOSTS OBVIOUSLY AGAIN AND A @MUSHROOM CAN BE USED TO GIVE YOU A @BOOST GOOD SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE FOR THE KIDS THERE )T S COMPLETELY MENTAL BUT AT NO POINT DID WE EVER WONDER @WHY IS A DINOSAUR IN A 'O KART LAYING AN EGG "ECAUSE THAT S WHAT .INTENDO ARE GREAT AT SUSPENDING YOUR BELIEF AND ALLOWING A LITTLE ESCAPISM IF HALLUCINATORY DRUGS AREN T TO HAND #OMPUTER GAMES SHOULDN T ALL BE ABOUT HOW REALISTIC GORE CAN LOOK ON SCREEN /K THEY SHOULD SOMETIMES GRANTED "UT FOR SHEER FUN AND A GAME THAT WILL HAVE YOU COMING BACK FOR MORE TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE GET IN A 'O +ART BE A DINOSAUR AND LAY AN EGG 7HY THE HELL NOT 0HIL 2OBINSON
&OLLOWING IN THE WAKE OF OTHER GANGSTER MOVIE TO GAME RELEASES SUCH AS 4HE 'ODFATHER AND 2ESERVOIR $OGS 3CARFACE IS ULTIMATELY A SOLID TITLE WHICH ENTERTAINS WHILE DELIVERING A VIOLENT GAMING EXPERIENCE !LTHOUGH IT WILL BE ACCUSED IN SOME QUARTERS OF BEING JUST ANOTHER OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF '4! CLONES 3CARFACE THE 7ORLD IS 9OURS IS AN ENJOYABLE TITLE WHICH ALLOWS THE PLAYER TO EXPLORE THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A CINEMATIC LEGEND *AMES #AREY
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#ONCRETE #ROSSWORD $/7. 0OLISH PHYSICALLY ATTRACTIVE 3LUGGISH &EMALE FOX &RIENDLY POLITE &EMALE POSTERIOR TREASURE 6ITAL ORGAN 3UBMERGED CORAL 7ITCH S HOUSE MATERIAL IN (ANSEL AND 'RETAL 4ENNIS -EN S 5 3 /PEN WINNER (OLIDAY TRAILER 4YPE OF CHEESE !USTRALIAN TERM FOR A "RIT -ALE NAME FEMALE HAIRCUT 3HRILL CRY @3AVED BY THE "ELL CHARACTER 'OODBYE 3PANISH 0OSTAGE RUBBER 3POILT CHILD &EMALE VEST ABBR 0OTTERY FURNACE #HEESY S POP SONG h) M A MANv
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,AST FORTNIGHT S CROSSWORD WINNER WAS 4HALIA 'ALLOWAY AND THE SUDOKU WINNER WAS 9ONG (U #OME ALONG TO THE #ONCRETE OFFICE TO COLLECT YOUR PRIZES