15 minute read
Film review: Onward
ONWARD
Although the prolific animation studio Pixar’s latest portrays what, at first glance, is a stereotypical fantasy world, it’s much more relatable than you might expect, as the actual magic has largely lapsed among the populace. So, a centaur cop drives a car, a dragon is kept as an overexcitable if ultimately tame pet, and unicorns rummage like squirrels through rubbish bins. It all makes for a lot of delightful silliness while setting the stage for the film’s more poignant moments.
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In amongst this world are our two leads, elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot – voiced respectively by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, with the Avengers stars’ chemistry consistently sparkling. The ever-reliable Julia Louis-Dreyfus voices the kind-hearted mother Laurel, who breaks the news that, now that Ian has reached his 16th birthday, the boys can inherit a very special item from their late father: a magical staff capable of Barley is the roleplaying geek who – with some of the good-natured doziness of Emmet Brickowski, the Lego Movie protagonist previously brought to audible life by Pratt – teaches Ian more and more of the spells he needs to succeed in his adventure.
restoring him to life for just 24 hours.
Alas, the brothers mess up the spell – leaving them, creepy though it sounds, with just their father’s sentient legs. The only hope for bringing back the rest of him before the 24 hours elapse is a rare gem waiting at the end of a Lord of the Rings-style quest. The brothers eagerly embark on it while towing along their literal half-dad, who becomes a riveting character of his own even sans torso. The first stop? A tavern where the boys hope to meet a mighty manticore – who, it turns out, is now rushed off her feet as an embattled restauranteur, Corey (Octavia Spencer).
That’s just one example of how Onward has fun updating a number of fantasy cliches. As the awkward self-doubter who initially knows next to nothing about magic, Ian represents probably most of the parents in the audience. Meanwhile, Director Dan Scanlon lost his own father early, and has spoken of how Onward is written from a place of “personal truth”. Even despite Onward’s lack of a clearcut antagonist, the emotional stakes are certainly high for Ian and Barley as they race against time before their patriarch has to disappear again, this time for good. No spoilers here about how the situation eventually resolves itself, but it will certainly resonate with viewers who have also lost a loved one in gut-punching circumstances.
Pixar has a long and established history of moving audiences close to tears; the love story told in the opening scenes of 2009’s superb Up particularly springs to mind. Onward doesn’t quite scale the heights – either creatively or emotionally – of that film, but that probably says more about how high the Disney-owned studio has set the bar than Onward’s own (few) shortcomings. Like Ian and Barley, Pixar has hearteningly succeeded in rekindling a little magic from a bygone era.
Craig Lenaghan Copywriter
24 We are offering a family ticket for any film at Vue Darlington at Feethams (valid for 2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children) All you have to do to enter is answer the following question... Answer: Q: If you play a practical joke on someone during April, what does that make them?
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April comes with a reputation – and for good reason. Although it’s not traditionally the wettest month in the UK, it is certainly one of the most unpredictable!
And we should know, as we’ve spent the last few decades’ worth of them repairing and installing roofs across the North East of England.
The danger with showers though, when it comes to your roof, is that any damage tends to worsen in dribs and drabs, as the skies open, clear, and open up again. So what starts out as a minor problem becomes bigger before summer, and often remains unchecked until later in the year.
That’s why this month is a great time to claim your Free Roof Health Check, by calling the Findley team on 01325 638905 or finding us online at www.findleyroofing.co.uk.
Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Everyone needs a basic Spaghetti Bolognese recipe that still tastes great, no matter how simple. Get that depth of flavour by cooking the sauce very gently until it’s super rich. This is designed to be a low cost recipe.
PREP: 30 MINS COOK: 30 MINS
Easy Serves 4
26 To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225 Ingredients Method • 2 tbsp olive oil • 400g/14oz beef mince • 1 onion, diced • 2 garlic cloves, chopped • 100g/3½oz carrot, grated • 2 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes • 400ml/14fl oz stock (made from stock cube. Ideally beef, but any will do) • 400g/14oz dried spaghetti • salt and pepper 1. Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and once hot add the beef mince and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook the mince until well browned over a medium-high heat (be careful not to burn the mince. It just needs to be a dark brown colour). Once browned, transfer the mince to a bowl and set aside. 2. Add another tablespoon of oil to the saucepan you browned the mince in and turn the heat to medium. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and fry gently for 5-6 minutes, or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the grated carrot then pour the mince and any juices in the bowl back into the saucepan. 3. Add the tomatoes to the pan and stir well to mix. Pour in the stock, bring to a simmer and then reduce the temperature to simmer gently for 45 minutes, or until the sauce is thick and rich. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary . 4. When ready to cook the spaghetti, heat a large saucepan of water and add a pinch of salt. Cook according to the packet instructions. Once the spaghetti is cooked through, drain and add to the pan with the bolognese sauce. Mix well and serve.
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in your home? What’s on
As you can probably imagine, we have to bring you a somewhat different ‘What’s on’ piece to our usual this month.
At the time in late March that Darlington Monthly was headed for press, the UK government had advised everyone in the country to avoid “non-essential” travel and contact with others, as the country sought to minimise the impact of the coronavirus, which causes the illness COVID-19.
As a result, large numbers of Britons have chosen to self-isolate or work from home. Many events have also been cancelled, and venues forced to temporarily close their doors.
So, with any local events that do remain on the schedule being subject to change, we thought that this month, we’d focus not on ‘what’s on’, but instead on what to do during these unprecedented times in recent history.
First of all... what do I need to do?
Hopefully, you’ll now know the basics of how to keep yourself as safe as possible during the coronavirus outbreak – and you can find the latest guidance on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk.
Nonetheless, as a refresher, the latest advice for avoiding catching and spreading the virus, as Darlington Monthly went to press, included frequently washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze, and avoiding social activities such as visits to pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas.
Things that the NHS says you should avoid, meanwhile, include touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands, and having visitors to your home – even friends and family. What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
The NHS currently urges people to stay at home if they have a high temperature or a new, continuous cough. If you experience these symptoms, you must avoid going to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital, and you don’t need to contact the NHS’s 111 line simply to tell them you are staying at home.
You should only call 111 if you are unable to get help online at https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/.
How can I find out what’s happening locally?
The Darlington Borough Council website’s section on the coronavirus is at www.darlington.gov. uk/health-and-social-care/public-health/ coronavirus. Local news websites, such as www. thenorthernecho.co.uk and www.gazettelive.co.uk, will also provide the latest details on how coronavirus is being handled in the area.
Otherwise, you can find the most up-to-date guidance and information on the UK-wide coronavirus outbreak at www.gov.uk and www.nhs.uk.
How can I spend my days, weeks or months in isolation?
Well, provided that you follow all of the necessary advice and guidance from the above bodies, that’s very much up to you.
May we suggest breaking out that Rubik’s cube, learning to paint, working or, perhaps, catching up on your reading of previous issues of Darlington Monthly? Hey, it’s only a suggestion...
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