Film Review: Spectre (12A) (U.K./U.S.A. 2015) (Director: Sam Mendes), VUE (OMNI), Screen Four, Edinburgh, Tuesday 27.10.2015, 18:30

This is obviously the latest of the 'James Bond' films. It is by the same director who had helmed 'Skyfall' (2012) and I would say that it is of equal quality. Having said this, I do feel 'Spectre' to be better paced and more playful than the previous effort. I would say that this film, in terms of it's acting and storytelling, has subtleties that feel uncommon when considering the 'Bond' cannon.  

I was going to this with the sense of this being potentially the last Bond for me. This is due to finding the character of Bond a tad rapey and the films generally far too male. I was then very pleased to find that the female lead character of Madeleine Swan, performed by Lea Seydoux, is the most equal to Bond of any of the female characters from the 23 films. The film is also, in my mind, the least misogynistic of all 'Bond' films.

The story is a good yarn and there are no parts that sagged or were uncomfortable. I found this to be genuinely mostly harmless fluff. There are a couple of scenes which cause me to question the wisdom of a 12A certificate. I think it should have been at least a 12, as though couple of scenes are not for the eyes of young children. 

The film also ends in a way unlike any other 'Bond' film. I agree with what Simon Mayo said on Radio 5 Live, that with how the ending is, that it makes sense for Daniel Craig to now step aside. The film also nicely brings all of the previous Daniel Craig 'Bond' films into the same greater narrative, which was a nice touch, considering that 'Skyfall' had previously always been talked of as being a stand-alone story.

As I said before in regard to 'The Raid 2' (2014), I think action films are a curious thing in that you cannot really consider them alongside other genres of film. Though within the field of action films this is another top-notch effort and a perfectly enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours (and a bit). 

Rating: 10/10.      

Film Review: The Dance of Reality (18) (Chile/France 2013) (Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky) (Spanish with English Subtitles), Filmhouse, Screen Two, Edinburgh, Saturday 10.10.2015, 17:55

I first began to check out the work of Jodorowsky earlier this year when I found out that it is a key influence on the latest album by Laura Marling. I watched 'El Topo' (1970) on television, and saw 'Santa Sangre' (1989) during the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year. I also have 'Holy Mountain' (1973) on disk waiting to be watched. I have heard 'The Dance of Reality' being compared favourably to 'El Topo' & 'Holy Mountain' both of which are regarded as Jodorowsky's early hallucinogenic masterpieces. 

If you are not familiar with Jodorowsky's work, two little titbits that may give a sense of his output are that Marilyn Manson considers him the greatest director who ever lived, and Jodorowsky was meant to direct Dune before it got passed to David Lynch. From what I understand of what Jodorowsky's film would have contained, It sounds as though it would have been a far more interesting film than Lynch's, if he had been allowed to finish it.  

The film I understand to some degree to be based upon Jodorowsky's memories from early childhood, when his father was enamoured by Stalin and we are shown his mother only vocally expressing through operatic singing. The film has some funny moments, but on the whole is a far more abstract work than you could come across in the work of most other directors. It feels hard to describe the piece in anyway that would come close to describing how wonderfully weird it is, or that could give a fair snapshot of the story. This is a film which requires a leap of faith, for the viewer just to go with it and not judge too quickly. It feels difficult to say more about it, without given away vital plot details. Suffice to say I greatly enjoyed the piece and it has some spectacular Chiliean landscape scenery. 

I would say that the Russian film from last weekend 'Hard to be a God' (2013) did feel slightly more engrossing, though I would say that I had absolutely no idea what to expect of that film. I feel that I certainly did know what sort of work to expect this time round, though I don't feel that makes it any lesser a film. 

Rating: 10/10.      

Live Performance Review: Pokey LaFarge, Friday 09.10.2015 19:00, The Art School, Glasgow

This is the third time I have seen Pokey live and he never disappoints. Good-times inflected blues performed by musicians of a very high calaber. Pokey is a high-class showman and his band have presence and character as well. The audience were very enthusiastic, in fine voice having a good time. What more could you possibly ask for. 

I had the added joy of having my dad come along to a gig of my choosing and thoroughly enjoying himself. A special evening that will live with me.   

Rating: 10/10. 

Film Review: The Martian 2D (12A) (U.S.A. 2015) (Director: Ridley Scott), The Dominion, Screen One, Edinburgh, Sunday 04.10.2015, 17:00

This is the latest si-fi offering from Ridley Scott. When I was initially aware of it I was not keen from the information I had to go on. As the publicity crept-up I became more intrigued and had a mate ask if I was interested in seeing it, hence going yesterday. 

It was refreshing to have a space film that was not solely ponderously serious. I don't know enough of the science to know where all of the plot holes were. I understand that it is regarded to have made a good effort in regard to the science element, though there were still some aspects I could tell to be fairly ludicrous though they did not jar in terms of conveying the story. Visually it is very engaging and I found it to be an enjoyable watch, though I would not personally go as far as to suggest excellence. A good, fairly engaging watch which did not just feel like fluffy pop-corn. 

Rating: 08/10.       

Film Review: Hard to be a God (18) (Russia 2013) (Director: Aleksey German) (Russian with English Subtitles), Filmhouse, Screen Three, Edinburgh, Saturday 03.10.2015, 13:30

This is a film of epic proportions. From conception to completion the film took fifty years. The film is just shy of three hours though as with any very good film of epic length it is very well paced and never drags. The film essentially concerns a group of Russian scientists travelling to the planet Arkanar, which is still going through a period that we would understand as being medieval. The visitors are meant to be detached observers, though it's Hard to be a God...

The film starts on the alien world and has an unrelenting though steady momentum from start to finish. The films environment is stunningly realised and benefits greatly from the tactile black and white presentation. Most frames a crammed full of squalid, torturous, deformed and grotesque details, drenched in all manner of fluids. There have been entirely justified comparisons to the art of Hieronymus Bosch, and I think this is particularly apt when considering the Hell panel of his triptych 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' (1500). 

This is a film that rewards playing close attention, and it may be hard to follow if you don't. There are also parts of absurd humour which in ways reminded me of both the works of Monty Python, and Vivian Stanshall in the film version of 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End' (1980). 

Some may find the film a bit grim, though the entire experience is so complete that it truly feels immersive. This is a film which will in no way appeal to a large audience, though there is no question that this is a cracking masterpiece.      

Rating: 10/10.