tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2009-11-13:/A blog where I randomly, and usually not coherently, discuss linguistics and language an' shiiiii' that is too boring to bother anyone I know in the flesh with. Interspersed with occasional slices of my life. Basically, it's "The Boring Drone of an English student".MokoFeed2009-11-13T00:47:09+01:00tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2007-12-31:/2007/12/31/review_i_am_legend~3509216/Bryan2007-12-31T01:09:11+01:002007-12-31T01:09:11+01:00 <p>So it's been months and months and months since I went to the cinema. So here's a long overdue review.</p> <p>-*-*-*-*-</p> <p>I AM LEGEND</p> <p>So, Will Smith’s latest film is called <i>I Am Legend</i>. No, it’s not the sequel to <i>Ali</i>, but with Smith dolled up as Mohammed Ali’s boxing legend daughter Laila. Cos that’ld be stupid. No, it’s the latest post-apocalypse film in a <i>28 Days Later</i> stylee. Indeed, “stylee” probably isn’t the right word to use. It’s almost <i>exactly</i> like <i>28 Days Later</i>, but set in the “capital” of America: New York. Basically, a virus gets lose (sound familiar?), kills half the world (yep), and turns the rest into mindless, savage zombies (<i>de ja vu</i>?). And almost no one survives. Cue eerie mid-day shot of a deserted Lon—I mean, New York.</p> <p>Actually, the film ain’t half bad. Will Smith is a seriously underrated actor. Yeah, sure, his films are big box office draws, but ask anyone to name the top three great male film actors of the day, and it’s likely “Will Smith” won’t be on their list. Popular, but not critically acclaimed. Which is a shame: from <i>Wild, Wild West</i> to <i>Men In Black</i> to <i>I, Robot</i> to <i>Ali</i> to <i>Independence Day</i> – okay, scratch that last one – Will Smith is every inch the man. And, for all the ladies out there – and all the repressed homosexuals – there is a fantastic topless scene where sweaty Will Smith does some dirty exercises. Oh yeah.</p> <p>Now, let’s talk real terms. </p> <p>The visuals <i>are</i> truly stunning, even if we’ve (kinda) seen it before. The overgrown, deserted New York is genuinely believable and evocative. I mean, it’s been three years since the virus, so we wouldn’t expect to see a Tyrannosaurs or elephants running wild. And thank God, we don’t; one of the greatest compliments I could pay this film is, despite basically being an action film of sorts, it does not resort to over-the-top cheesiness to get the blood pumping. </p> <p>The characterisation is spot on. You care for the characters, particularly Smith’s. There were times when I realised I was cringing, flinching, and biting my lip for the characters. That doesn’t happen too often in a cinema these days.</p> <p>This film has the perfect balance of elements. Just the right amount of action; just the right amount of suspense; just the right amount of shocks; just the right amount of horror; just the right amount of humour. And, unlike some recent-ish post-apocalyptic films (ah-ah-choothedayaftertomorrow!!! Bless me), <i>I Am Legend</i> absolutely <i>does not</i> drip sickly, treacle American blockbuster sentimentality (ah-ah-choowaroftheworlds!!! Bless me again). </p> <p>Despite inevitable comparisons, this film really is no rip off. Somehow, in spite of a very similar plot, <i>I Am Legend</i> is every bit its own. It is definitely <i>not</i> a poor man’s <i>28 Days Later</i> (that honour ironically goes to <i>28 Weeks Later</i>). </p> <p>I give it 8.5 out of 10. I gave <i>28 Days Later</i> 9.5 out of 10. So why isn’t <i>I Am Legend</i> quite as good as <i>28 Days Later</i>? Two reasons. One, it lacks the psychological terror of the “enemy within” element. And two, it isn’t set in London.</p> <p>-- Bryan A J Parry (30th Dec. 2007 11.45pm) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2007/12/31/review_i_am_legend~3509216/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2007-12-31:/2007/12/31/brief_catch_up~3509201/Bryan2007-12-31T01:01:33+01:002007-12-31T01:01:33+01:00 <p>Hi anyone reading,</p> <p>So I finished uni, got a First Class Honours, graduated a cupple of weeks ago, and now I'm working three part-time jobs, including English Language tutoring. So all is well.</p> <p>I'm waaaaaaaaay more active at YouTube now, so catch me at <a href="http://youtube.com/profile?user=BryanAJParry">http://youtube.com/profile?user=BryanAJParry</a> if you're interested.</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2007/12/31/brief_catch_up~3509201/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2007-08-04:/2007/08/04/metric_imperial_dual_labelling_petition~2755638/Bryan2007-08-04T19:11:41+02:002007-08-04T19:11:41+02:00 <p><a href="http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/duallabelling/">http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/duallabelling/</a></p> <p>Hi anyone reading this, here's a petition that you may or may nor want to sign. If not, no worries. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Bryan </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2007/08/04/metric_imperial_dual_labelling_petition~2755638/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2007-06-22:/2007/06/22/film_review_the_war_on_democracy~2501232/Bryan2007-06-22T18:40:27+02:002007-06-22T18:40:27+02:00 <p>Well, I haven't done this for a while. Particularly since I decided to stop writing for the uni paper. My last review was of Apocalypto... but I lost it before I could type it up!</p> <p>Anyway....</p> <p>FILM REVIEW: The War On Democracy</p> <p>Award-winning journalist John Pilger’s <i>The War On Democracy</i> concerns itself with the United States’ imperialism in South America, and the consequent quashing of freedom and basic human rights. </p> <p>It’s the latest film in what seems to be somewhat of a Renaissance in documentaries. I may find Michael Moore to be a grotesque, beard-sporting propagandist, but it seems hard to deny that his films are the cause of the recent revival of the documentary. I just watched <i>Taking Liberties</i> last week, an expose of sorts of how the government is using the threat of terror to take away our freedoms, and now this! I’m left salivating at the prospects of perhaps yet more hard-hitting social and political commentary docus to come.</p> <p>First, let me say John Pilger’s film is highly entertaining. Slightly drier, and with less eye-candy than films such as <i>Taking Liberties</i>, <i>The War On Democracy</i> is nonetheless punctuated with dry humour that’ll make you laugh out loud. It’s well worth a watch. There is less the sense that we are watching a film, and more of watching a 96 minutes BBC news report. Take that as you will, but I like the news. </p> <p>On the downside, I have to say some of the camera-work was positively heavy-handed. Going from a long shot, and quickly zooming to a close up as soon as the interviewee breaks down in tears, and holding the camera there, is not only amateurish in technique, but it is exploitative, too. Such tricks are see-through and cheapen Pilger’s message. And yet this method of invoking sympathy and emotion was used several times. It’s a shame, because at other times, the bare facts alone elicited strong emotions from me.</p> <p>Overall, good stuff, but <i>Taking Liberties</i> is better. 7/10 </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2007/06/22/film_review_the_war_on_democracy~2501232/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2007-05-06:/2007/05/06/growing_up_aka_growing_boring~2221276/Bryan2007-05-06T17:55:20+02:002007-05-06T17:55:20+02:00 <p>So yeh, I always used to run and jump around as a "kid" (I'm only 22 and one half years old now, so not old, but not a "kid", per se). In fact, I won gold and silver at boro sports. So yeh. When I was ten/eleven, I could jump (from standing position), around six foot. By aged twelve, I could jump (running jump/long jump style) around fifteen feet, as I recall. </p> <p>I was out just now, and thought, "I really wanna know how far I can jump". </p> <p>I thought a running jump on concrete would be a particularly stupid idea. But what's stopping me from a standing jump? </p> <p>But you know what, try as I might, I couldn't do it. It was a quiet street. No one was about. And yet I couldn't do it. </p> <p>I was puzzled, but not because I didn't know the reason. I know the reason. I was ashamed. Ashamed to jump down the street. Even tho I wanted it badly. I was ashamed someone would see me and I would look idiotic. </p> <p>And that's what "growing up" is, if you ask me. One day my mind will rebel and do away with these urges to jump cos I know I can't. And that is basically the final step in becoming a boring old fart.</p> <p>Prevention is better than cure, as they say, and the first step in prevention is awareness of what will and won't cause an ailment's onset. Here's to hoping I don't succumb to the old age bug. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2007/05/06/growing_up_aka_growing_boring~2221276/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2007-05-06:/2007/05/06/so_youtube~2221226/Bryan2007-05-06T17:46:58+02:002007-05-06T17:46:58+02:00 <p>Yeh, so I got into the whole vlogging thing. Hence my not being here much any more. Here's my channel: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BryanAJParry">http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BryanAJParry</a></p> <p>"vlog" is an interesting word. It is formed from "video" and "blog". "Blog" itself is a shortening down from "weblog", "web" of course being the increasingly obsolete word for the internet, a shortform of the now totally obsolete "world wide web". Furthermore, "vlog" seems to violate English phonological constraints by beginning with a /vl-/; the only other words that begin English with vl- are names like "vladimyr".</p> <p>HOW INTERERSTING!!!!! <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2007/05/06/so_youtube~2221226/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2007-02-03:/2007/02/03/cool_youtube_links_i~1675653/Bryan2007-02-03T20:52:39+01:002007-02-03T20:52:39+01:00 <p>This guy is amazing!!!</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2007/02/03/cool_youtube_links_i~1675653/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2007-01-02:/2007/01/02/42_rate_gud_questions_2_answer_an_put_on~1507187/Bryan2007-01-02T22:04:15+01:002007-01-02T22:14:15+01:00 <p><i>I got sent this right now, so here we are....</i></p> <p>42 RATE GUD QUESTIONS 2 ANSWER AN PUT ON MYSPACE</p> <p>^ 42 lol, duglas adams!</p> <p>1. what is ur name?<br> <i>Bryan</i></p> <p>2. what is ur middle name?<br> <i>Which one?</i></p> <p>3. wht is ur uncles name?<br> <i>Which one?</i></p> <p>4. how old r u?<br> <i>22</i></p> <p>5. crispy or burnt?<br> <i>What?</i></p> <p>6. linoleum or tarmac?<br> <i>Linoneum??</i></p> <p>7. have u got a b/f / g/f?<br> <i>You mean, a tranny?</i></p> <p>8. wht is there name?<br> <i>Where name?</i></p> <p>9. there uncles name?<br> <i>Where uncles name?</i></p> <p>10. who would win in a fight- Godzilla or jack bauer?<br> <i>Who is jack bauer? </i></p> <p>11. who would win in a fight- jack bauer or ur mom (lmao ur mum is godzilla!)<br> <i>Who is jack bauer?</i></p> <p>12. how many cans of carlsberg export can u drink?<br> <i>Depends.</i></p> <p>13. what is ur shoe size?<br> <i>10 or 11.</i></p> <p>14. whats thi best religion (gods)?<br> <i>Define "best". </i></p> <p>15. have u read a book in the last 8 years- if yes skip to 17.<br> <i>Yes.</i></p> <p>16. r u an illiterate fuckwit?<br> <i>Yes.</i></p> <p>17. whas ur favourite industrial grade uranium fuel rod regulation algorithim?<br> <i>Beige.</i></p> <p>18. whos jeff?<br> <i>From Akbar & Jeff fame?</i></p> <p>19. how many underwears do u have in ur drawer?<br> <i>"Underwear" is a collective noun.</i></p> <p>20. how many underwears do u have on person?<br> <i>What person? Also, "underwear" is a collective noun.</i></p> <p>21. how many underwears doi u have on uver ppl?!<br> <i>Huh? Furthermore, "underwear" is a collective noun.</i></p> <p>22. how many underwears r soiled?<br> <i>What? In the world?</i></p> <p>23. how many underwars r soiled by uver PPL!!?!<br> <i>My underwear is not soiled, therefore any soiled underwear is someone else's.</i></p> <p>24. do you likeeminem?<br> <i>I do.</i></p> <p>25. do u like popular muisic? If yes skip to 28.<br> <i>Yes. </i></p> <p>26. Italian/french/germain/other opera?<br> <i>No.</i></p> <p>27. describe in 400 words thi themes n morals Giamocco Puccini was trying to shiow when he wrot e the opoera gianni schicchi an why he based the protagonist (who the opera is named fr) on a guy from Dante's work an stuff<br> <i><br> You're quite knowledgeable on the topic of opera for an illiterate, aren't you?</i></p> <p>28. how many frieds u got?<br> <i>I have one packet of chips in my freezer. Its contents are not yet fried.</i></p> <p>29. how mny close frieds?<br> <i>None are presently in my proximity.</i></p> <p>30. would u do any of them?<br> <i>Do? You mean make? Make them into what?</i></p> <p>31. even the men?<br> <i>Even the men. How does one even men? What?</i></p> <p>32. any good at school?<br> <i>Who? You? The even men?</i></p> <p>33. did u do anyhting morally backwrds 2 get the grades u needed?<br> <i>Define "morally backwards"</i></p> <p>34. if u did i've prolly seen it on the intrneyt<br> <i>No, you haven't.</i></p> <p>35. have you watched tv in the last 2 days<br> <i>No.</i></p> <p>36. did u see the weather forecast?<br> <i>No.</i></p> <p>37. who was presentin it?<br> <i>The weatherman.</i></p> <p>38. whos' ur fav weather presenter?<br> <i>I don't watch telly.</i></p> <p>39. wht do u think of Michael Fish?<br> <i>Any relation?</i></p> <p>40. wht do u think of Michael Moore?<br> <i>I don't.</i></p> <p>41 wht do u think of Michael Moore doing Fishing?<br> <i>It depends on if Fishing doesn't mind being done.</i></p> <p>41.b. wht do u think of Michael Fish doing Mooreing (a boat)?<br> <i>So long as he doesn't talk about it in public, I don't mind.</i></p> <p>41.c. wht do u tihnk of Michael Fish DOING Michael Moore (lol!)<br> <i>Doing? Making?</i></p> <p>42. if a terrorist bust into ur home and held you and ur family at gunpoint and said that he was going to rape ur family then make them hav sex with each other then he was goin 2 shit on them an then kill them and then shoot u in the knee caps then rape u then finally kill you UNLESS you were to insert a chocolate bar up ur anus..… what chocolate bar would u choose?<i><br> I'ld smash his face in with the wok whilst he was explaining the above.</i></p> <p>once u have read this u have teh curse of uncle bulgaira of the wombles an the curse only lieves u when u pass this message on to 6 more people. If u do that then uncle B will protect you an u will never get STDs so u never need a condom again exept to stop teh babies. if u don't pass this 2 at least 6 ppl then thi next time u buy marks n spencers sushi it will taste rly bad. Rly.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2007/01/02/42_rate_gud_questions_2_answer_an_put_on~1507187/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-12-29:/2006/12/29/musings_of_a_cherry_coke_fiend~1490308/Bryan2006-12-29T12:36:44+01:002006-12-29T12:36:44+01:00 <p>Erm, anyone know what happened to her? :S </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/12/29/musings_of_a_cherry_coke_fiend~1490308/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-12-29:/2006/12/29/the_true_meaning_of_christmas_aka_yule~1489264/Bryan2006-12-29T01:10:48+01:002006-12-29T01:14:09+01:00 <p>Yesterday, I came back from a cottage in Sussex with my family and a few close frends. We were in the middle of nowhere. We lived together, ate together, drank together. We made merry each day and each night. We ate obscene amounts of the finest foods. We drank obscene amounts of the finest of alcohol. We sat and talked and laffed by the burning fire. We gave gifts to each other. We enjoyed each others company. And huddled together, in the warmth, and away from the harshness of Winter raging outside, we reaffirmed our bonds.</p> <p>To me, that is what "Christmas" is about. It is almost obscene, to me, a non-religious person, that Christmas should have anything to do with Jesus or God or any of that rubbish at all(!). I agree that Christmas has become "too commercialised" (altho, let's define the meaning of that <i>another</i> day). HOWEVER, the idea to me that Christmas has anything to do with God at all is, frankly put, ill. </p> <p>It turns out that, <i>back in the day</i>, before Christianity, and before Christmas was so-called but was rather "Yule", that *IS* what Christmas was all about. Drinking and eating large amounts of food, singing songs, playing, talking, laffing, making-merry, and basically having a great time. Many of these old Heathen traditions are still with us. Mistletoe, holly, burning of the yulelog, the Christmas ham. There were also tales of the fiery old Gods Woden and Frey. These tales have been replaced by positively dreory ones about a little baby, his craddle, and a few visiting asses.</p> <p>For Christians, this story <i>is</i> amazing. It's the story of the birth of mankind's savior. For those of us who are not at all religious- but who do not frown upon its existing, either, I must say- then it is nothing to do with Jesus, and he and the church are merely intruding on our ancient midwinter festivities. It's just that we've forgotten all the old tales about Woden and co. </p> <p>So, to sum up, I use the term "Yule" to refer to the celebration that <strong>I</strong> have each winter. That re-affirming celebration of life, in which folk sing, dance, huddle together for warmth, companionship, and love, drink and eat copious amounts of fine food, and generally feel inlivened and help Winter be less a hard piece of depressing drudgery, and more a time of life and energy. Oddly, at my Winter cottage, some of us did not celebrate that festival. They celebrated the, supposedly reaffirming, but in reality superstitious and unfulfilling festival of the baby Jesus. But they kept that to themselves (including discretely going off to various masses). And I my religous views (or lack thereof) to me. And we celebrated heartily together. </p> <p>It does tire me, tho, that Christians have to hijack this festival of life for their own, claiming that most people have forgotten the "true meaning" of Christmas. As far as I'm concerned, people may have just begun to remember. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/12/29/the_true_meaning_of_christmas_aka_yule~1489264/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-12-19:/2006/12/19/thought_of_the_day_ii~1458265/Bryan2006-12-19T21:35:05+01:002006-12-19T21:35:05+01:00 <p><i>"Latin is a language<br> As dead as dead can be,<br> First it killed the Romans,<br> And now it's killing me"</i></p> <p>1. If Latin is dead, how is it still killing people?</p> <p>2. STFU NOOB. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/12/19/thought_of_the_day_ii~1458265/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-12-19:/2006/12/19/aww_int_that_sweet~1458087/Bryan2006-12-19T21:01:59+01:002006-12-19T21:01:59+01:00 <p>Well, I got a card from work to-day. Not a, "it's been nice, but please leave our company <i>immediately</i>" kind of card, but the other kind, a Yuletide Card. And, unlike in foregone years, it hasn't been blank save for a speedily written, un-understandable form of my manager's signature. No, with the new management comes new practices, and new ways of loooking at the world. Not only did the card feature, in nice handwriting, the signatures of ALL the members of management, but it was addressed to me by name, and thanked me specifically for the jobroles I personally perform. Wow, way to go. It's stuff like this that helps moral. It's a shame, then, that only the very day before- yesterday- my boss pulled me up in front of all the staff, and proceeded to tell me that I was a workshy liar, and decided to patronise me when I pointed out, quite straightforwardly, that in fact all her allegations were false and also showed how they were false (I won't bore you with the specifics of the thing, just trust me: I was right, and she was wrong. Quite really).</p> <p>Talk about mixed messages. And then they wonder why staff get demotivated. A cupple of weeks ago, they awarded a bottle of champagne to one of my student part-time colleagues for his Sterling work. Less than a week later, they effectively threatened to sack him when he asked if he could drop one of his shifts; that is, from three to two per week. They told him he could keep his shifts, increase his shifts, or leave the company. And let it be known they were, shall we say, rather <i>frank</i> in the way they put this to him. It is apparently, all-of-a-sudden, now against company rules to work less than three shifts a week. Strange, then, that in the same week they hired a new girl who would be working but one shift a week. Indefinitely. Hmmmm. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/12/19/aww_int_that_sweet~1458087/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-12-19:/2006/12/19/wtf~1458044/Bryan2006-12-19T20:51:55+01:002006-12-19T20:51:55+01:00 <p>Has it already been a month since last I posted? Jesus. Well, as they say, time flies when you're, err, doing essays about advanced syntactic theory non-stop.... Drat you, Chomsky, DRAT YOU TO HELL. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/12/19/wtf~1458044/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-11-23:/2006/11/23/remember_this_one~1360403/Bryan2006-11-23T12:37:28+01:002006-11-23T12:38:29+01:00 <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHKCNPAKnLE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHKCNPAKnLE</a></p> <p>Whooa, Whooa<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> [synth]Babby boys are back in town[/synth]<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> Whooa, Whooa</p> <p>If you're alone and you need a hen,<br> Someone to help you get some problems,<br> Come along, honey, take my hand,<br> I'll be your scrubber to-night.</p> <p>Whooa, Whooa<br> This is what I wanna do<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> [synth]Let's have some sprogs[/synth]<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> One-on-one just me on you<br> Whooa, Whooa</p> <p>Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!<br> I want you in my womb!<br> Let's spend the night together, forever in my womb</p> <p>Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!<br> I want a double room!<br> You and me together, forever in my womb!</p> <p>Whooa, Whooa<br> [synth]Come on lover, let's get down[/synth]<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> [synth]To the cleaning job in town![/synth]</p> <p>Whooa, Whooa<br> This is what I wanna do<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> [synth]Let's have some sprogs[/synth]<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> One-on-one just me on you<br> Whooa, Whooa</p> <p>Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!<br> I want you in my womb!<br> Let's spend the night together, forever in my womb</p> <p>Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!<br> I want a double room!<br> You and me together, forever in my womb!</p> <p>Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!<br> I want you in my womb!<br> Let's spend the night together, forever in my womb</p> <p>Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!<br> I want a double room!<br> You and me together, forever in my womb!</p> <p>Whooa, Whooa<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> Whooa, Whooa<br> Whooa, Whooa</p> <p>... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/11/23/remember_this_one~1360403/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-11-21:/2006/11/21/riverside_studios_double_bill~1352439/Bryan2006-11-21T09:24:46+01:002006-11-21T09:24:46+01:00 <blockquote><p> RIVERSIDE STUDIOS: DOUBLE BILL</p> <p>Riverside Studios, “one of London’s flagship cultural centres” (according to <i>The Observer</i>), is in a quiet neighbourhood overlooking the Thames in Hammersmith. It’s a great little art-house, with stage and screen even, and art exhibits, and a lovely café and lounge areas. Sometimes the people involved in the productions even talk to playgoers afterwards.</p> <p>Last night I went for a double bill screening of <i>CSA: Confederate States of America</i> and <i>An Inconvenient Truth</i>. I flashed my student card, and wham: £5.50 for over three hours of (great) cinema. Can’t say fairer than that.</p> <p>First up was <i>CSA</i>. This is a scary look at a world where the South (Confederates) won the US civil war instead of the North (Unionists). Slavery is still legal, and apartheid exists in America. The film takes the form of a documentary which is punctuated with fake adverts for racist products, such as a QVC-like shopping channel where you can buy your own slaves.</p> <p>Between films there was a half hour break, so I went back downstairs for some good nosh and a drink. The great thing is you aren’t made to watch both films. You can see one, the other, or both, and can go downstairs if you’re in need of refreshment. It’s all very laid back.</p> <p>After the break, I went back upstairs for the second showing: <i>An Inconvenient Truth</i>. Al Gore (the former next president of the USA, as he jokes) takes us thru the damage we’re doing to our world, and then tells us what we can do about it. The film’s a deeply moving and beautifully crafted piece from director Davis Guggenheim. He surely deserves an Oscar for this masterwork. Best of all, the film isn’t some excuse for the Democrats to knock the Republicans; it’s actually fairly politically unbiased. As Gore says in this film, “this is ultimately not a political issue, but a moral one”.</p> <p>Riverside is a great place for chilled out time. And it’s also very affordable. With frequent screenings of obscure and hard-to-see films, along with some great plays, Riverside is somewhere everyone should regularly check out. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/">http://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/</a></p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/11/21/riverside_studios_double_bill~1352439/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-11-21:/2006/11/21/review_csa~1352434/Bryan2006-11-21T09:22:59+01:002006-11-21T09:22:59+01:00 <blockquote><p> CSA: CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA</p> <p>I love alternative history books and films. What if Hitler hadn’t invaded the Soviet Union? What if Napoleon had won at Waterloo? What if William the Conqueror lost the Battle of Hastings? How would the world be different? This is the exact question <i>CSA: Confederate States of America</i> confronts us with: What if the South (Confederates) had won the US civil war instead of the North (Unionists)?</p> <p><i>CSA</i> explores this idea thru a fake BBC documentary of American history in this alternative reality where the south won. In this reality, slavery still exists to-day, and the black rights movement never achieved lasting success.</p> <p>Punctuating the film are fake adverts for racist products such as “darkie” toothpaste and a bizarre QVC-style shopping channel where slaves are up for auction. Delightfully, and somewhat scarily, we find out at the end of the film that most of the mentioned racist products were REAL products (such as “niggerhair cigarettes”, “darkie toothpaste”, and “samba car oil”). </p> <p>The film is at times very funny. Sometimes this is down to hammy acting. Mostly, however, it’s intentional; the feel is very blackly comic.</p> <p>My only gripe with the film, other than that the low budget sometimes shows thru, is I wonder just what writer-director Kevin Willmot was trying to do. It seemed too much like an excuse to knock southerners. As the film itself mentions, the Civil War actually had very little to do with slavery, and more to do with a disagreement over the rights of the states. Slavery would have ended up being abolished, anyway. So why is it we are presented with this stereotype of southerners as being a bunch of racist, bigoted fools? Why belabour an unfunny, old, and inaccurate portrayal of Americans from the southern states? Is it just so we can laugh at the ignorant hick (as usual)?</p> <p>In any case, the film was none-the-less very entertaining. A brilliant idea which was implemented fairly well. I suggest, if you ever see it in the shops or at a local cinema, that you go watch it.</p> <p>7/10</p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/11/21/review_csa~1352434/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-11-21:/2006/11/21/review_borat~1352425/Bryan2006-11-21T09:20:36+01:002006-11-21T09:20:36+01:00 <p>Okay, I'd written a few reviews which for some reason I still haven't posted up on this blog. Here they are. </p> <blockquote><p> BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION KAZAKHSTAN<br> Yakhshamersh. My name Cohen. I Jewish comedian who pretend to be Kazakh journalist. I embarrass many peoples. It’s <i>niiiice</i>.</p> <p>Yes, Sacha Baron Cohen, the man behind wannabe Ali G (innit), and Kazakh journalist Borat (niiice), returns to the big screen four years after his debut <i>Ali G: Indahouse</i>. In <i>Borat:CLoAfMBGNK</i> [surely an award is due for the longest, stupidest subtitle in history -Ed], our favourite Kazakh journalist travels to America to make a documentary for his people back home.</p> <p>The genius of the Borat character is that he takes all those fears most Brits and Yanks never even knew they had about the generic foreigner and combines them into a living, breathing realisation of our deepest nightmares. He’s misogynistic, homophobic, anti-Semitic, and sexually perverted, with broken English, broken morals, and a serious lack of “polite discretion”. And in this guise, Cohen has managed to pull some great stunts for the show, such as getting an American hunter to talk of how the Nazis were on the right track with their final solution. The film is more of the same. But times ten.</p> <p>As the posters proclaim, this film is “outrageous”. In fact, that word doesn’t do it justice. I have never, ever seen such a delight in the grotesque and bodily as there is in <i>Borat</i>. However, it isn’t a mean kind of gross-out film. So even if you don’t like Tom Green or the Wayans Brothers, you’ll probably still soil yourself.</p> <p>Basically, <i>Borat</i>’s a mixture of satire and gross-out, and a pretty potent mixture at that. Watch it.</p> <p>8/10</p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/11/21/review_borat~1352425/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-11-12:/2006/11/12/the_demented_poppy_thief_strikes_again~1321995/Bryan2006-11-12T15:29:14+01:002006-11-12T15:29:14+01:00 <p>Well, yesterday whilst I was at work, a smart man in a suit casually strolled in, nicked the poppy appeal collection box, and casually strolled out. My manager went racing to the car and shot after the thief. Unfortunately, he lost him. By the way, don't ask me why my manager decided to shoot after the guy, but there we are.</p> <p>Anyway, it's in the <i>Mail</i> to-day, if you're interested at all. Look at it and go, "Hey! That guy I barely know who has a blog I hardly read, he works there!!".</p> <p>Read all about it. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/11/12/the_demented_poppy_thief_strikes_again~1321995/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-11-08:/2006/11/08/written_off_day~1309142/Bryan2006-11-08T16:15:43+01:002006-11-08T16:15:43+01:00 <p>I went to sleep at around 1am last night, and I woke up.. half an hour ago at a quarter to three (pm). Shit. I hate it when that happens. Why, Bryan, why!? Why did you have to sleep in so long? Aaaargh!! Well, that's that day knackered. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif" alt=":'(" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/11/08/written_off_day~1309142/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-10-17:/2006/10/17/an_urban_ballad~1233134/Bryan2006-10-17T23:11:15+02:002006-10-17T23:11:15+02:00 <p>Yeah, I have mixed feelings about this one (as always). </p> <blockquote><p> It was early in the morning,<br> Not long after sunrise,<br> That I was trudging to my workplace,<br> Crusty sleep in eyes;</p> <p>My sagging head was lowly hung,<br> My face was bleak and wan,<br> And then at once bold in my path<br> Was stood a gleaming swan; </p> <p>A mother warding her dear child<br> Destroyed my pensive mood,<br> The swanling doddled ‘tween her legs<br> Canal bank grass for food. </p> <p>Her breast was out, her neck was stiff,<br> Her eyes that shone were keen,<br> Her form was strong, unmoving<br> Save her eyes that had me seen,</p> <p>And nearer by a couple glid<br> So calm, and peaceful, free,<br> With pink mouths ope and trumpetting<br> Their happy song to me,</p> <p>And there! My gloomy wallow was forgot<br> As joy and bliss and truth begot. </p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/10/17/an_urban_ballad~1233134/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-10-14:/2006/10/14/yet_still_further_more_doggerel~1222132/Bryan2006-10-14T22:26:42+02:002006-10-14T22:29:41+02:00 <p>Crippled Pigeon<br> Crippled pigeon, half brown, half gray,<br> How have you hobbled thru the day?<br> How have you safely thru the throng<br> Hopped your way the long day long?<br> How have you gathered up the food<br> To keep you strong when you’re eschewed,<br> And scorned, or kicked and chased from sight<br> By vicious children, fearless wight?<br> Yet on road-side you lamely stand,<br> And then I but outreach my hand<br> And Lo! Ascending to the sky<br> No crippled pigeon, strong you fly. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/10/14/yet_still_further_more_doggerel~1222132/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-10-11:/2006/10/11/wmd_pt_ii~1211498/Bryan2006-10-11T22:57:36+02:002006-10-11T22:57:36+02:00 <p>It's amazing, really. Iraq. It turned out that all along the US and UK governments were lieing about Iraq being able to blow the universe up. They knew it wasn't true, but the invasion went ahead anyway (despite massive opposition to it, including the biggest protests in God knows how many years).</p> <p>Now it turns out that North Korea has da bomb. Does anyone <i>really</i> think we are going to go ahead and declare war on North Korea? Of course we're not. I believe that most people in Korea would rather die fighting that ever submit to a US lead invasion force. Frankly, Bush and co. know this. Likewise, Iran. Ooh, axis of evil etc. There is no way in hell we are going to invade either of these countries, no matter what WMDs they have. It would be a disaster (I mean, if you thought Iraq was a cock-up...). </p> <p>The state of world politics really saddens me sometimes. I know politics is, and always has been, a dirty game. But when it affects the lives of millions of guiltless people around the world, it upsets me. </p> <p>If we invade Iran or N. Korea, it would be a disaster for the west, in both the short and long terms. And if we don't, we still have a destabilised situation due to our invasion and occupation of Iraq, and subsequent sabre-waving at nations like North Korea.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/10/11/wmd_pt_ii~1211498/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-10-10:/2006/10/10/review_children_of_men~1207561/Bryan2006-10-10T20:42:50+02:002006-10-10T21:00:20+02:00 <p>Wow, watched this when it came out (same with "The Queen"). Only just posting this review now. That's what uni does to you, I guess. </p> <blockquote><p> Children of Men</p> <p>The Concept: Britain in the year 2027. Mankind has been infertile for eighteen years now, and no one is quite sure why. The result is the impending end of civilisation. Kind of far-fetched, but stick with it, because this film is <i>definitely</i> worth it.<br> <i><br> Children of Men</i> is adapted from the P.D. James novel and portrays a world without a future, where the government has seized various powers to “deal” with the crisis, and in the process turned Britain into an Orwellian police state right out of <i>Nineteen-Eighty Four</i>. To put that in more concrete terms, there’s crime and poverty everywhere, torture is deemed a fair way to deal with suspects, identity cards must be carried on you at all times (or else), and foreigners and other minority groups are locked away in concentration camps to be brutalised and worse. If you’ve been keeping up with the news, perhaps this isn’t so far-fetched after all.</p> <p>Thankfully, for those of you not into political thrillers, or others of you who hate sci-fi, no fear! Whilst technically a sci-fi, Star Trek-like techno-babble and little green men with glow-in-the-dark extremities are nowhere to be seen. Likewise, whilst there is a political undercurrent to the film, the film is not about politics at all. It is the story of a man who, under difficult circumstances, tries to do the right thing. This means becoming the unwilling ward of the first pregnant woman in eighteen years and sheherding her to safety. </p> <p>Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Michael Caine, you really can’t ask for a better line-up. All three give superb performances, but Owen’s subtle and deep performance of protagonist Theodore Faron really is worth seeing. Certainly, if writer/director Alfonso Cuarón doesn’t get a major award for this film, Clive Owen definitely should. </p> <p>Frankly, apart from <i>A Scanner Darkly</i>, this is the best acted, most original, artfully made, and compelling sci-fi film I have seen since <i>Gattaca</i> (1997). What’s more, as a Londoner, it was great to see a film set in a London of the future (that, for a change, was totally believable).</p> <p>8/10 </p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/10/10/review_children_of_men~1207561/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-09-30:/2006/09/30/review_the_queen~1174282/Bryan2006-09-30T11:38:16+02:002006-09-30T11:38:16+02:00 <blockquote><p> The Queen</p> <p><i>The Queen</i> is the dramatisation of the events immediately foregoing and following the death of Princess Diana. The film depicts how the Queen and Royal Family struggled with these events, and how the relationship between Tony Blair and her Majesty was shaped by them. Or at least, an interpretation of what <i>may</i> have happened. </p> <p>A portrayal of events so recent, and of people still very much alive (with the exception, of course, of Tony Blair… Oh yes, and the Queen Mum), was a very tricky thing to do. However, I feel the writing (Peter Morgan) and direction (Stephen Frears), plus the superb acting, represent things in a relatively fair and even manner. </p> <p>The acting was wonderful. Whether it was Helen Mirren’s Elizabeth II, James Cromwell’s Prince Philip, or Michael Sheen’s Tony Blair, you felt less like you were watching actors doing impersonations, and rather that you were actually watching the real persons themselves. This was no glorified episode of Dead Ringers. My only gripes about characterisation are with Cherie Blair who comes off as some over-the-top, devil-on-Blair’s-shoulder, Monarchist-hating, Left-wing-lunatic. Also, Tony Blair’s speech in defence of Her Majesty towards the end of the film seemed a little hammy and forced. </p> <p>The film is (for the most part) delicately acted, written, and directed, and presents a well-rounded picture. The only group vilified in the piece is the press whose actions over the period of Diana’s death, and since then on numerous other issues, has been <i>more</i> than crass, disgusting, and irresponsible. </p> <p>Basically, this film was a pleasant surprise. Whether you’re a Monarchist, a Republican, a Voyeur or other, this film will appeal. </p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/09/30/review_the_queen~1174282/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-09-23:/2006/09/23/some_more_doggerel~1152611/Bryan2006-09-23T10:33:10+02:002006-09-23T10:33:10+02:00 <p>Just a few short things what I writ last night.</p> <p>***</p> <p>It never 'fore this day to me did seem<br> That happiness was like a fleeting dream<br> Whose freshness, cheer, and song warmly embraced,<br> Too soon was gone, as if my life it never graced.</p> <p>***</p> <p>I've been to school and learnt for years and yet<br> My tung cannot thru learnedness beget<br> Those turns of phrase I wish to praise you with;<br> Uncouth, my life is all I can you give.</p> <p>***</p> <p>If words could only ever speak<br> Of forces strong you potent wreak<br> Upon my soul, but no, just look;<br> My eyes are such an open book.</p> <p>***</p> <p>I sometimes want to hold your hand<br> And give to thee a wedding band;<br> Sometimes your neck I want to ring,<br> Sometimes you make me stand a king!<br> Sometimes to madness I am driven,<br> Or else to ecstacy I'm given,<br> But every feeling you inspire<br> Serves only to my soul raise higher. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/09/23/some_more_doggerel~1152611/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-09-23:/2006/09/23/hellas~1152477/Bryan2006-09-23T09:38:05+02:002006-09-23T09:38:05+02:00 <p>Came back from lovely, lovely Greece on tuesday. It was my first holiday with my girlfrend of almost three years. </p> <p>What can I say? The people were frendly, the climate was fine, the scenery was butiful, and it was fairly quiet and not over-builtup. All in all it was exactly what we were looking for for a first holiday. My only gripe is the week seemed to go by too quickly.</p> <p>Back to work, back to uni, back to a state of constant deadlines. Bugger. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/09/23/hellas~1152477/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-09-07:/2006/09/07/thought_of_the_day~1105044/Bryan2006-09-07T14:13:06+02:002006-09-07T14:13:06+02:00 <p>I'm listening to Syd Barrett's wunderful "Octopus" from his album "The Madcap Laughs", and the thought hit me, in coming centuries, say the twentieth fourth, will people still listen to popular music from our era? Will the music still be extant? If so, how much <i>will</i> be? And will people still have the capacity to listen to it (I mean, it would require electricity, and a CD/record/tape player and/or a release in whatever format people may use then, if they use electrical formats at all...)? I wunder what the legacy of our culture will be. Will my great grandchildren, a fifteen generations from now, have a lesson in school on twentieth century pop music, and then listen to a recording of Dark Side of the Moon as I once did? I wunder... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/09/07/thought_of_the_day~1105044/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-08-27:/2006/08/27/review_a_scanner_darkly~1072637/Bryan2006-08-27T07:09:53+02:002006-08-27T07:10:30+02:00 <blockquote><p> A SCANNER DARKLY</p> <p><i>A Scanner Darkly</i> is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.</p> <p>What? You want more? Well, alright, then.</p> <p><i>A Scanner Darkly</i> is the film adaption of the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name. It’s the third story of his to be turned into a film, the others being <i>Minority Report</i>, and <i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</i> (turned into classic SciFi-Noir <i>Bladerunner</i>). </p> <p>The film is set in an America of the not-to-distant future, where there’s a drugs pandemic, and one in five people are total dependents. What’s more, there’s a new drug called "D", which is like a combination of every single drug in the world times by a hundred. Basically, it’s the AIDS of the drug world. The film follows copper Bob Arctor (Keanu Reaves) and his attempts to penetrate the unseemly drug underworld. </p> <p>Okay, the special effects. No doubt you’ve heard, but this film’s visuals are absolutely stunning. I won’t make out like I understand the technicalities, but it uses a process known as "roto-scoping". Basically, they shoot a live-action film, run it thru a computer, and turn that into an animation. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. However, it isn’t just a cheap (multi-million dollar) ploy to get more bums on seats (altho there is that). It doesn’t really look like a live-action film, and it doesn’t really look like an animation. Rather, it seems to dwell in some dreamlike in-between. The unique, ever-shifting visuals are completely appropriate to the film’s drugged-out nature. This film is about drugs. And the film’s visuals will make you feel like you are on drugs, yourself. </p> <p>The film is dark. The film is trippy. The film plays with notions of the real and the unreal. The film is often hilariously funny. The film is bitingly satirical. The film is far from a super-star packed (Keanu Reaves, Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson, Robert Downey Jnr.) soulless blockbuster. I don’t want to ruin the plot for you. Suffice it to say, fans of Philip K. Dick should definitely see this film (what am I saying!? You probably already have). As for the rest of you: <i>free your minds</i> and go see an excellent adaption of a great book.</p> <p>8/10 </p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/08/27/review_a_scanner_darkly~1072637/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-08-23:/2006/08/23/review_tideland~1062862/Bryan2006-08-23T16:29:48+02:002006-08-23T16:29:48+02:00 <blockquote><p> TIDELAND<br> <br> <i>Tideland</i> is the latest film from maverick director and ex-Python Terry Gilliam (<i>Twelve Monkeys</i>, <i>Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</i>). Forget about Gilliam’s previous soulless mediocrity that was <i>The Brothers Grimm</i>; <i>Tideland</i> has all the vision, heart, and humour that <i>Grimm</i> lacked.</p> <p><i>Tideland</i> is the tale of a little girl, Jeliza-Rose (Jodelle Ferland), who lives with her heroin-addicted parents. However, when Jeliza’s mother dies from the drugs, her aging rockstar father Noah (Jeff Bridges) decides to whisk little Jeliza-Rose away to the abandoned house where he grew up on the prairies.</p> <p>The direction and acting in this film is superb. It’s everything we’ve come to expect from Gilliam; evocative and richly beautiful visuals, unforgettable characters, wonderful black humour, and disturbing imagery. A particularly disturbing, yet hilarious scene, is where Jeliza-Rose prepares some heroin for her Daddy so he can "go on a little vacation", as he puts it.</p> <p>Jodelle Ferland is easily the most impressive child actor I have seen in a long time. If her performance wasn’t up to scratch, the whole film would fall apart. Thankfully, she does a brilliant job. The rest of the cast also excel themselves, whether it’s Brendan Fletcher’s portrayal of lobotomised epileptic Dickens, Jeff Bridge’s portrayal of Heroin addicted, ex-rocker Noah, or Janet McTeer as Dell, ex-lover to Noah, sister to Dickens.</p> <p>The heart of this film is a little girl, a child, who has to take on far more responsibility at an earlier age than anyone should, and who manages not only to deal with it, but to maintain to some degree her childishness and innocence. It’s a tender portrayal by Jodelle Ferland, and a beautiful film. My only real criticism is that, after she and her father move to the prairies, the film slows up somewhat, eventually grinding to an ending which I find slightly unfulfilling.</p> <p>Many people who see this film won’t know what to make of it, and many others will be offended. I wasn’t offended, but to be honest I don’t know what to make of it. Gilliam’s films have a tendency to defy boundaries of genre, style, and all attempts at classification. However, I strongly suggest you go watch what will probably be the most original film of 2006.</p> <p>7.5/10</p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/08/23/review_tideland~1062862/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:leornungcniht.blog.co.uk,2006-08-08:/2006/08/08/pirates_of_the_caribbean_ii_dead_man_s_c~1023249/Bryan2006-08-08T15:26:17+02:002006-08-08T16:06:39+02:00 <blockquote><p> PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN II: DEAD MAN'S CHEST</p> <p><i>Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest</i>, sequel to 2003’s smash <i>The Curse of the Black Pearl</i>, has finally burst onto our screens after a seemingly endless three years wait. The all-star cast includes Johnny Depp, Kiera Knightly, and Orlando Bloom. </p> <p>The first film was magic. Just the right amount of action, just the right amount of drama. A solid, involving plot, with likeable and cheeky characters, in the very best swashbuckling tradition. Unfortunately, <i>Dead Man’s Chest</i> isn’t quite as well balanced, and (some of) the characters are not quite so likable. </p> <p>It’s a good film, no doubt, although a minor complaint is Kiera Knightly who’s mildly irritating as the squawking Elizabeth Swann. The humour is still tongue-in-cheek and still makes you laugh out loud. Yet the film seems to get lost somewhere along the way in a muddle of never-ending action sequences. </p> <p>There’s a general rule with trilogies. The second film is usually the weakest. If that is so, we are certainly looking at a cracking end to the trilogy next year when the final film is released.</p> <p>7/10</p></blockquote> <p> <small> <a href="http://leornungcniht.blog.co.uk/2006/08/08/pirates_of_the_caribbean_ii_dead_man_s_c~1023249/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>