Film #77: Jumanji

A Jumanji double-bill gave me the opportunity to see the first one and I don't believe I saw it when it was initially released. (Don't ask).

The CGI has dated really really badly but the story still holds up.

I did prefer the second one though...sorry!

Film #76: The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec

A film I had never heard of directed by Luc Besson, who I don't believe has done a film I've not liked. So one I had to see.

It's Besson's take on The Mummy franchise featuring a rich woman seeking an Egyptian mummy who has the power to bring her dead sister back; she died in a tennis accident.

There's a pterydactyl for no reason and a quite dark ending.

I really liked it and the Besson run continues.

Film #75: American Friend

This was seen just to kill time whilst waiting for my next film. A waste of time directed by Wim Wenders starring Dennis Hopper. It was really really slow, and writing this one month after seeing it I barely recall what happened.

Film #74: Mission Impossible Fallout

Zoinks Scoobs!! The bad guy would have gotten away with destroying the planet if it wasn't for that pesky midget with the face masks and his team of nerds.

It's a good film but the plot is too obvious and everyone makes a big hoohaa for Tom doing his own stunts again. He also manages to do a rooftop run from St Pauls to Blackfriars despite there being a wide road around the Cathedral (although it looks like the window he jumps out of on the way is in Mermaid House, my old workplace). In the last one I really liked Rebecca Ferguson, and it's cool that she's in this again but with a slightly reduced role because she was pregnant during filming. 

Film #73: Office Space

An old film from 1999 which I think it based on a comic strip. It's about a kid in an office who manages to do well by senior management despite being a complete slacker. A wise man once said give a hard task to the laziest person as he'll find the most efficient and optimal way to do it; that's basically this film.

There's a weird guy with a love of staplers who has a breakdown too. The comedy from him isn't as strong as the comedy from the good writing of the main character, but his scenes still made me laugh.

and for some reason Jennifer Aniston is in it and I'm not sure why. The ending is also quite abrupt, it could easily have gone another 10 minutes.

Gigs #60-74: Blue Dot Day 3

It was raining but I sat through Elle Mary and the Bad Men. OK, but not Lauran good.

Roberts Bakery Band were very good.

Park Hotel were OK

Lost Horizons, I couldn't get into them.

George Fitzgerald wasn't really my thing. A bit like a poor Bonobo.

Ummm, I'm not sure who this is.

Algorave is a lot of fun. Completely inclusive and random. They had a lengthy set that I kept going back to.

Warm Digits had a delayed starter and reduced set but were really good.

Levels seemed to be suffering from some syncing issues with the guy on the left being noticeably out-of-time with the rest of the band. But when they got it right they were great.

Boy Azooga weren't too shabby. I do like Girl Behind A Cigarette.

Snapped Ankles, weird.

The final headline act was the Chemical Brothers who were amazing. I'm seeing them again later in the year.

Henge are odd, just like in previous years.

Human After All was a terrible Daft Punk tribute act. They were severely impeded by the post-midnight volume lowering. Can we get the real Daft Punk please?

Gigs #47-59: Blue Dot Day 2

Opening Day 2 was Lauran Hibberd. Probably my favourite new act of the weekend and she's set for big things. 

Radiophonic Workshop playing for the second time. These old guys are really good.

Game_Program. Lots of cables and a very electronic set.

The Long Now were quite orchestral for a festival. I wasn't sure what to make of it.

Mancunian's Pearl City were very good.

Lamb is an act some friends always see when they play live but I didn't get it. I did now, despite them having technical issues that prevented them playing their own set. Their music needs to be heard live and they have such a presence on stage. 

Finishing the night with the bonkers fun of cassetteboy. Such was it's popularity we had to ditch the chairs to let more in.

Re-Tros were really good. I missed the start of their set but really enjoyed the end of it.

I can't remember which band this was, Fehm perhaps?

I'd seen Hookworms at All Points East. Their show was much the same complete with the lead guy wearing unnecessary cycling shorts.

Gary Numan sounded more Nine Inch Nails than Nine Inch Nails.

I'm not sure who this is either!

Headline act on Day 2 was Future Islands who aren't a main event band and their lack of any sort of show proved that. There must have been another act line up that fell through.

Gigs: #34-46: Blue Dot Day 1

Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band were playing as I arrived with their little procession going through the site.

Vide0. I guess they were on early for a reason.

Rhain has quite an operatic voice. Her backing band were those Mermaid folk.

Mad Professor Dub. I didn't stick around for the whole set.

Gymnast felt like they were playing their first set. They were ok.

TallSaint, I liked them.

Ana Matronic from The Scissor Sisters playing a flat 4/4 set with quite a lot of loops. She enjoyed herself though.

Roni Size was great. He's touring with a 20-years of New Forms. It was really good to here Brown Paper Bag live. His final tracks were super heavy on the bass. A little worrying some parents thought it ok to dangle their kids over the barriers with no ear plugs.

Lemmy Ashton. I can't remember his set.

UNKLE was a little disappointing. I was wanting some of their early stuff but I know Lavelle has moved on since then. 

AK/DK were alright.

Invading from the Isle of Wight, Plastic Mermaids were a great early act featuring a couple of acts I'd see later in the day.

Headlining Day 1 was The Flaming Lips. They had lots of inflatables and put on a very good show but I don't like their music.

Film #72: Ant Man and The Wasp

I caught the second Ant Man film. this time accompanied by a wasp in Boston not realising it wouldn't be released in the UK a month later, so I had no-one to talk to about it when I got back.

The film is really good but suffers from all the best clips being used in the trailer. In this jolly adventure the ant and the wasp try to rescue the wasps mother who's stuck in the quantum dimension. 

As well as things being shrunk we get things increasing in size again like Ant Man becoming GiAnt Man. 

oh, and we get two clips during the credits. Definitely stay for the first one, it's the best of these clips yet!