Rambles about the wonderful world of wrestling.
‘Have you seen Toy Story? Well, imagine that, but with pets!’ You can only assume that was the elevator pitch for The Secret Life of Pets a film that follows what your family friend gets up to when you’re not at home and includes elements of all three Toy Story films.
Living in a shed at the bottom of her mum’s garden 29-year-old Anna has given up on life. The relatively recent passing of her twin brother has sent her spiralling over her edge, and she splits her time between working at a local activities centre for kids and making funny videos reflecting on existence starring her thumbs. That is until eight-year-old Clint comes into the picture, a remarkable kid whose mum is dying from cancer.
Duncan Jones’ Warcraft: The Beginning has been saved from flop status by its success in Russia and China and because of that has been deemed the most successful video game adaptation of all time. However, if you are going by reviews and its performance in countries like America, it is hard to see it as anything but a failure. The consensus has at best been meh and at worst been downright hateful.
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is over for another year and while I didn’t get to go to quite as many films as I would have liked – I am but a poor person after all – I did get along to a handful. One of those I have already talked about (the rather poor Kids In Love) but rather than do individual reviews of the rest I have decided to go for the quick-fire approach. So here’s my thoughts on five films I had the pleasure of watching.
Earlier this year I decided to take a plunge. For years now I have been hearing tales of the brilliance of From Software’s games and why if you don’t play them you can’t understand gaming. Yet, before this, my one attempt to get into the series failed miserably. I spent an afternoon with Demon Souls and bounced off it in every way possible. My main issue was a complete lack of patience. I didn’t have the head for standing back with my shield raised and waiting for my opportunity to strike, and it hurt me, which is where Bloodborne comes into things.
It’s hard to watch Kids in Love and not want to punch nearly every single character in it in the face.  Chris Foggin’s debut picture is teen wish fulfilment at its worst and has about as much depth as a puddle after a brief spring shower.
The way mentally challenged people are depicted on film is a mixed bag. For every great example, there are tens of horrible ones and entering any film that uses those issues as a central tenant is always a bit nerve wrecking. Thankfully, you can relax when sitting down to enjoy Chicken.
Sitting down to write about letlive is a tough thing to do. Since the release of their debut album Fake History, they have established themselves as a bands who continually defy expectation. It is a trend that has continued with the fantastic If I’m the Devil… an album which shows them upping the soul side of their soul-punk sound.
There is an argument to be made for Money in the Bank having replaced Survivor Series as one of WWE’s big four shows. The last few years have had important events take place at this ladder heavy spectacle and this year is no different. Perhaps unsurprisingly, spoilers do follow.
Have you ever read a book, watched a film or listened to a piece of music and wondered why you haven’t been doing this your whole life? That’s the feeling I got last year when I sat down and watched my first Studio Ghibli film. The second I turned on My Neighbour Totoro I fell in love, and I still can’t figure out what I had been doing for the previous twenty-three years. It’s a sadness that is compounded by them releasing what they say is their final film, When Marnie Was There.
