Oh, hello there. I've been to see Rogue One again, and rather than bore you silly with nitpicking and needlessly in-depth opinions, I've made you some Skittlez character-posters instead*1.
[ Click for Big (opens in new window) ]
More soon.
You're very welcome.
All of The Star Wars.
Yep.
It does.
It's a strong showing.
Nope.
Yep.
Level 0: It is Star Wars.
Although if you really wanted to go the long way round with it…
Rogue One features the mo-cap and voice work of Guy Henry, a face perhaps more familiar to UK viewers as a long-time Holby City regular, as is Hugh Quarshie who rocked up in 1986's Highlander alongside Clancy Brown, an actor who appeared in Cowboys & Aliens, as did a certain Harrison Ford, who headlined 1992's Patriot Games, a film which featured Pip Torrens, who also had a role in 2012's Anna Karenina alongside Domhnall Gleeson, who played one of the Weasley's in Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, a film that also starred Mr Guy Henry from off of Rogue One…
*1 You may well call that a cop-out, but I assure you that if you did you'd be very right indeed. Snarking aside, I haven't finished with Rogue One yet, there'll be more words in a future review.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
Iron Man 3 (2D) - Fourth-Pass / Heavy Spoilers Cert: 12A / 135 mins / Dir. Shane Black
Here is an exclusive transcript of an extended/deleted scene which will feature on the BluRay release of Iron Man Three…
Int. Stark Enterprises. Day.
PEPPER POTTS and ALDRIDGE KILLIAN are seated in a plush business office, having an informal meeting.
Potts: Right, first question - Why was I so goggly-eyed and taken aback when I saw you just there?
Killian: Erm, because I'm a super-smooth playboy now, and not the awkward nerd you remember?
Potts: Well, you're super-smooth to the point where you're wearing a blue checked suit, a red patterned tie, brown loafers and no socks. What fucking school of cool did you enroll in? I notice you haven't fixed the part of your brain that governs fashion sense?
Killian: Wow. Start strong, eh?
Potts: Trust me, in five minutes you'll be looking back at the sartorial critique with a sense of warm nostalgia.
Killian: Oh, good.
Potts: Right. Anyway. Second question - You're telling me Killian, that in the third film in the series, a nerdy, narcissistic scientist is going to come to me, the CEO of an international tech giant, and ask for funding and development of a project which re-writes/enhances human DNA by means of an empty socket in the brain, and I'm obviously going to turn you down on general principle in a move that will come back to bite me on the arse in the second or third act?
Killian: ...yes..?
Potts: Right. And you're hoping that throughout this scene, not one person - not one - is going to say aloud in the cinema "Oh what, like in Batman Forever, you mean?"
Killian: ...also yes?
Potts: I don't think evoking the spirit of Jim Carrey in green lycra is going to work for you, Killian.
Killian: Piss off, you thought Batman Forever was cool!
Potts: In 1996, Killian. Around the same time I thought Kula Shaker were cool.
Killian: You're such a hipster.
Potts: Says the guy wearing a check-suit and no socks.
Killian: Look, can we get back to why I'm here please?
Potts: Oh what, your big brain?
Killian: My big brain.
Potts: Right. Big brain. Go.
Killian: ...so, if you look at the hole in my big brain here, you can clearly see that it's a sign that we're designed to be upgraded!
Potts: Hmmm. Surely the implication, even at this early stage of the film, is that you've undergone 'the upgrade' yourself? I mean, I know we won't know for sure until the third act, but it's kind of a foregone conclusion, isn't it?
Killian: Erm, possibly. What's your point?
Potts: Well, why is there a hole in your big brain then? If that's the socket for the upgrade, and this is a live-feed, does that mean you're not all badass super-strong yet?
Killian: Be fair, Pepper, I haven't mentioned anybody being badass yet. All I said is that the DNA can be re-coded to repair itself, it was you who instantly thought it could be weaponisable.
Potts: True, this is what comes from dating an arms-dealer, I suppose.
Killian: So, no. There's definitely no way that the technology I'm working on to regrow lost limbs could be-
Potts: Oh, is that what it's for?
Killian: Yes, sorry, didn't I say?
Potts: No, you didn't. Although to be fair, you didn't get very far with what it's actually for, before I assumed it was weaponisable and was about to throw you out.
Killian: That bit with the plant that Maya was working on earlier? That's what that was hinting at. Although the limb thing won't come into play until later when Tony's snooping around my files.
Potts: Okay. Still, it's a bit... Lizardy, isn't it? Regrowing lost limbs?
Killian: ...Lizardy?
Potts: Erm, yeah. Like in last year's Spider-Man film.
Killian: You've got a point, there. That's two 'references' to other superhero films and we're not even past the first act, yet. It's probably best if I don't really mention the limb-thing, and just concentrate on the Extremis glowy-hot human-weapon thing.
Potts: ..the what?
Killian: Well, you're right. Obviously. Of course it's weaponisable. This shit makes people go all glowy-red-hot and super-strong. And turns them into evil-henchpeople. Obviously.
Potts: Ah, speaking of that, I read ahead in the script and I've got a third question.
Killian: Go for it…
Potts: How come when you're prising Rhodes out of the War Machine armour (call it by its name), and you go all super-shit-hot and breathe fire etc, but your shirt doesn't catch fire?
Killian: Probably the same reason your sports-bra doesn't burn when you fall into the fire later on?
Potts: Whoa! SPOILERS! I hadn't got that far into the script! I fall into a fucking fire??
Killian: Oh, don't worry about it, you've got super-shit-hot-Extremis powers by that point, so you and your sports-bra just climb out.
Potts: Super powers? Ooh, does this set me up for an action role in Avengers 2? Ni-i-i-ice!
Killian: Nah, you get 'fixed' in one very short voice-over line at the end.
Potts: Bunch of arse.
Killian: Hey, at least you're still around…
Potts: True… but y'know, your fate as antagonist is more or less a straight line. We all know how that'll end.
Killian: I've gotta try, I've gotta try…
Potts: What's more worrying is that you somehow believe that even with all this, Yen over at WorldofBlackout will still give the film full marks.
Killian: Oh, trust me, he's sold. He loves it because of its faults, not in spite of them.
Potts: Well, yes, let's not forget he enjoyed Prometheus... Listen, we should get back on script.
Killian: Yeah. So. 'Extremis'. You're in?
Potts: No, I'm not in. I'm Doubting Wayne, remember?
Killian: Balls. I'm off then. I'll see you later at the hotel when I've snapped that hapless waiter's neck for no reason, okay?
Potts: Wait, wha?
Killian: BYE!
FADE OUT
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
Iron Man 3 (3D) - Third-Pass / Spoiler-Free Cert: 12A / 135 mins / Dir. Shane Black
Oh, hello there. I've been to see Iron Man 3 again, and while I do have some thoughts I want to expand on, I need to do a bit of background/context reading first. If it's words you're after, you can read my first (spoiler-free) review here, and my second (mildly spoilery) review here.
Meanwhile, as is par for the course, I've made you some pictures (click for big, opens in new window).
Hey, don't even mention it.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
Iron Man 3 (2D) - Second-Pass / Contains Spoilers Cert: 12A / 135 mins / Dir. Shane Black
Now that I'm recovered from the midnight showing of Iron Man 3 (and have had an actual night's sleep in between), I can sit back, watch it again, and take in more detail. Well, certainly make more sense of the plot anyway…
Not withstanding the slight red-herrings in the above (ie who's in which suit at any given moment), and the massive red-herring (ie the true nature of the Mandarin threat), there are still a lot of lines which never made it into the movie;
• My name's Tony Stark, I build cool stuff… • You elected me on a single platform… • You don't know who I am…*1 • Today is the first day of what's left of your life. • Do you want an empty life, or a meaningful death? • …Here's my boys
None of these are in the cut I watched. I'm used to one or two lines, but six? Some of them point towards a film more centered around The Mandarin, and I can certainly understand the people grumbling on the message boards about how his character was treated. Personally I loved what they did with him, even if the Extremis thread could have been handled better, and it's worth remembering Extremis doesn't even get a mention, visually or verbally, before you sit down to watch IM3.
So, ^that^ trailer: not overly representative of the actual plot, but it captures the feel perfectly.
Iron Man 3 certainly engaged and entertained me for its entire run-time, although it was easier to enjoy the second time around, when I could see past the bluster and concentrate more on what was going on. Speaking of which...
If what it sets out to do is conclude the Iron Man trilogy while keeping the focus firmly on Tony Stark, then yes. If there's meant to be a clear agenda for The Mandarin which sets out his motivations, methodology and goals, then no. Even discounting the lines from the trailer which don't arrive in the cinema, it certainly feels like there's a whole backstory which has been cut to stop this being a three-hour film. The threading of the Ten Rings group throughout the movies seems shamefully overlooked, and instead of being an anchor which pulls the trilogy to a close, it's treated like an Easter-Egg for the hardcore fans to grin over. Elsewhere, Extremis is handled in the same manner, as if it had already been explained in a previous movie and here we were just seeing it being used.
But, as I said, in terms of rounding out Stark's personal story and setting it up for the evolution of the Iron Man character, it's damn near perfect. And since Stark's always been the most likeable thing about these films, that's what's important, right?
If you're a fan, you'll want to see it as soon as possible so cinema, obviously. It'll be just as much fun on DVD or BluRay, but it definitely feels like a cinema-film. The 3D is fairly well applied with no ghosting etc, and it is there, but didn't add a lot for me (confirmed by a second viewing in 2D). As with Avengers, there's already too much happening for the third dimension to make much difference.
If you don't like this film, you have no soul and are dead to me. Now get out of my house.
As if you have to ask that...
I initially said no, but this time around I could have sworn I heard one very low in the mix. In the final confrontation between Stark and The Mandarin, when Jarvis tells Tony that the Mark 42 suit is incoming, there could be one when that suit bites the dust. Although I may just be wishing that.
*1 This one is especially misleading. The recurring catchphrase, theme, and indeed the clue laid down for Stark to follow is the words "You know who I am". If anything, this trailer actually makes less sense after watching the film.
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
Review #1 (Spoiler-free) here, and Review #2 (Spoilery) here.
You know the deal by now. I've been to see Prometheus again, and I don't think I'm going to get anything more out of this version of the film. I really need that extended-cut to answer some questions, and of course ask some new ones.
So I've made you a picture!
^^ Click for bigger (1072*857px, 150kb, opens in new window) ^^
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
Hello. Been a couple of weeks, and these have been on my mind.
Series-3-era Dwarfers...
^^ Click for bigger. 1400*709px, 204kb, Opens in new window
Closer? Go on, then.
You're welcome.
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
Hello, I made you this thing:
^^ Click for bigger: 1520*400px, 271kb, opens in new window.
I think I'm done doing these for the time being. Unless you've got any requests?
What's that? Characters from The Empire Strikes Back and/or The Clone Wars animated series? Leave it with me...
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
Two of my favourite things. Star Wars and statistical analysis.
Notes: Round 2: Kenobi won the fight, but with Jinn's green lightsaber. For this round, green won and lost. Round 5: Skywalker won with the red and blue blades, but since he went into the fight with blue, and walked out still with it (and since Dooku lost with the red), I've declared blue the winner. Round 6: Kenobi won the fight with a blaster, but in the saber-duel, managed to disarm Grievous completely. Look, blue won, okay? Round 8: I haven't put Red down for losing or drawing here, as Sidious staged his saber-loss to goad Skywalker into action.
Supporting Data:
Rnd
Location:
Colour
Colour
Won
Drew
Lost
1
Tatooine
Green
-vs-
Red
-
G / R
-
2
Naboo
Blue / Green
-vs-
Red
G
-
R / G
3
Geonosis
Blue / Green
-vs-
Red
R
-
B / G
4
Geonosis
Green
-vs-
Red
-
G / R
-
5
Coruscant
Blue / Blue
-vs-
Red
B
-
R
6
Utapau
Blue
-vs-
Blue/Green
B
-
B / G
7
Coruscant
Blue / Green
-vs-
Red
R
-
B / G
8
Coruscant
Purple
-vs-
Red / Blue
B
-
P
9
Mustafar
Blue
-vs-
Blue
B
-
B
10
Coruscant
Green
-vs-
Red
-
G / R
-
11
Death Star 1
Blue
-vs-
Red
R
-
B
12
Bespin
Blue
-vs-
Red
R
-
B
13
Death Star 2
Green
-vs-
Red
G
-
R
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
CAUTION: Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised. From pencils…
…to pixels.
More to come; I'm working on a couple of projects with the little fellas...
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
Yeah five times. Don't act so surprised, princess... Besides, there are some big movies coming out this year, and I don't want them to take the repeat-viewing crown from SW, now do I?
DISCLAIMERS: • ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
