Five word movie reviews

Last night Ray and I had an impromptu date night, so we went to see The Woman in Black at the cinema. It was a late showing, but after seeing it I had the urge to get back to writing A Blogs Life for the first time in months.

Rather than write a lengthy review however, I thought I’d throw together a few short words on some other films we’ve been to see over the past couple of months…so here are some five word movie reviews:

Woman in Black: Classic spooks; Radcliffe badly miscast.
Underworld Awakening: Vampires vs Werewolves; gory 3D.
Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows: Bromance continues; Steven Fry naked.

RWC 2011: Keeping angry!

So there you have it: Wales have opened their Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign with a disappointing single point loss to the reigning world champions, South Africa. I’m expecting many newspapers and sports correspondents to describe the dragons as ‘brave’ or ‘unlucky’, but what’s going to be more important is how Warren Gatland and his back-room team get the squad to keep the undoubted anger they’re feeling down in Wellington to last over the next week.

Wales cannot – and I hope will not – drop their heads over of today’s loss. Sure, South Africa were a shadow of their world-beating ways and were there for the taking, but the fact remains that Wales must prepare to next face the first of their two Rugby World Cup bogey teams: Samoa.

There is little doubt Wales are in their very own personal ‘pool of death’, facing not just one but two of the countries that have in the past put paid to any Welsh hopes of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in just the pool stages of the competition. In 2011 it is time to put those demons to bed for good, and beat both Samoa and Fiji over the next couple of weeks.

But where can Wales hope to finish in this tournament? Coming third in 1987 feels like a long time ago for Wales now; in fact many of the younger members of the squad weren’t even born back then. For them, the Rugby World Cup is associated with false dawns and under-achievements, something I – along with the rest of the Wales-supporting population – can only hope will spur them on.

But first let’s tackle the South Sea Islanders…

Budget leaves UK games industry looking for an extra life

LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy

The coalition government’s decision to drop video games industry tax breaks (proposed by the previous Labour administration earlier in the year) in this week’s so-called ‘emergency’ budget will be a significant blow to developers across the country, that’s for certain.

The UK is home to studios creating some of the biggest names and franchises in the entire multi-billion pound industry, including Grand Theft Auto, Burnout, LittleBigPlanet, SingStar, Football Manager, Championship Manager, Formula 1, Harry Potter, Fable, Need for Speed, and many, many more. It’s one of the biggest producers of video games in the world, and has one of the most passionate gaming communities too. It deserves the same level of tax breaks as the UK movie industry.

Perhaps it’s an indictment of just how people outside the industry perceive it to be the preserve of teenage boys holed up in their bedrooms? I guess Wii Sports and Wii Fit hasn’t made it into the family living rooms of those in Whitehall.

Publishers large and small, from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Square-Enix Europe, and Codemasters, right down to mobile phone game developers like Jagex and independent studios like Rebellion and Kuju, had breathed a collective sigh of relief when the Labour government announced plans to introduce the tax relief back in the spring.

It had been seen as a long overdue move, championed by Labour MP Tom Watson, who had called for the economic might of the industry to be rewarded and nurtured further. The introduction of a similar plan in Canada, specifically Quebec, had seen publishers like Eidos and Ubisoft flocking to the region – Montreal is now one of the key games development hubs, and that’s thanks to the government support it receives.

The UK could (and should) follow suit, but I feel that it’s not quite over just yet. If coalition plans to offer further levels of powers to the devolved governments in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and even Belfast, become a reality then regional tax relief could come into force within the next few years.

Scotland of course has a pedigree in producing video games, thanks to RealTime Worlds and Rockstar North (both located in Dundee), but might M4 links with London, the international airport, and a rejuvenated bay area help the Welsh Assembly Government attract studios to set up shop the other side of the Severn in the Welsh capital?

That will of course depend on whether the Senedd receives the powers many would like to see, enabling the Assembly Government the chance to offer tax incentives to one of the most important growth industries in the world – one that may wither dramatically as a result today’s action in Westminster.

When will Welsh rugby scale its biggest obstacle?

Are the All Blacks the real challenge facing Wales?

Tomorrow morning (at 8:35am BST) Wales face New Zealand in Dunedin as part of their summer tour, and once again Gatland’s men will attempt to overturn decades of disappointment against the big three southern hemisphere sides.

It’s now over forty years since Wales last beat a Tri-Nations side away from home (Sydney played host to the 1969 match) and 57 years after they overcame the All Blacks, so the odds of scoring a very rare victory against Graham Henry’s daunting side are so very slim indeed.

Defeat to South Africa in Cardiff two weeks ago highlighted Wales’ weaknesses over the past two seasons, when indiscipline, indecisiveness, and a lack of composure in the line-out, all worked against the men in red.

Despite finding themselves 16-3 against a weakened South Africa side, Wales ended the game losing 31-34. Of course ahead of the match, the Welsh news media branded Gatland’s men match favourites, once again leaving the more level-headed of us to scratch our heads in bewilderment.

Wales are a very, very good side with a lot of potential – but a readiness to press the self-destruct button just seems to scupper the side from realising it.

The frustration that’s increasingly etched on Warren Gatland in post-match interviews just highlights how much Wales has failed to build upon the 2008 Grand Slam year (much like they failed to do so in 2005), and with just 15 months until the Rugby World Cup kicks off in the land of kiwis and Hobbits, I’m left wondering whether he’ll stay the course or walk away having tried his best.

There are so many sparks of brilliance from Wales during an 80 minute match, and at least the Welsh supporters can take heart that in the game against South Africa the side actually started to play rugby from the very first minute. Let’s face it, for the past 12 months Wales has preferred to give opponents a 20-point head-start in the first half. It’s just a shame the dragon’s flame was dampened down in the second 40 minutes.

This weekend’s match against New Zealand is a massive mountain to overcome, especially on the All Blacks’ home turf – but I’m just left wondering whether the biggest mountain for the Welsh players to overcome is actually in their own heads.

(Early) Summer in the City

Looking towards the Welshback and Redcliffe

This weekend has almost been like going on holiday in the Med – and I’ve got the sunburn to prove it (I won’t be forgetting to slap the lotion on my legs anytime soon, that’s for sure!) The weather was glorious, and banished memories of the long winter of just a few months ago. What’s more it was well-timed, coinciding with Streetfest which took place in Stokes Croft.

Stokes Croft has many live music venues, including The Junction and The Croft, and at the weekend the entire community was out in show as live music and DJs performed the length of the street. Coupled with the stunning sunshine, you can imagine just how crowded it got.

Bristol (as I’ve probably said in previous posts) is a city that’s stunning in all weather – but in the sunshine, it becomes one of the greatest places to be in the country.

Streetfest, The Bear Pit

The harbour is a focal point for people, who gather along the edge of the water to drink cider and dangle their legs over the side; some even paddle in the fountains on the side of the quay or run through the newest ones in Quakers’ Friars.

Besides Streetfest, I also spent a lot of the weekend laying down in two of South Bristol’s biggest parks (Victoria and Greville Smythe) with friends –it was on Saturday in one of the parks that the damage was done to my shins (which are now smothered in aftersun for the third day running).

Lesson learnt, especially if we end up having a summer like this weekend!

Looking towards the Arnolfini and harbourside

Bristol in the summer is perhaps great because of the sheer amount of festivals and events going on; at the height of the season it seems like there’s something going every weekend, whether that’s the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, the Harbour Festival, or St Pauls Carnival (the Bristol equivalent of the Notting Hill Carnival).

This year will be one of the best for a number of years for those events if June, July, and August bring us long spells of sunshine – and the big screen in Millennium Square will no doubt see crowds come the World Cup next month too!

Mother’s Ruin: Los Conios and Langur

It’s easy to forget Mother’s Ruin, tucked between St Nick’s Market and Baldwin Street, but last night the venue played host to two local bands that surely deserve recognition on a national level. I’ve been lucky to see both Langur and Los Conios play live on at least two or three occasions, and once again they didn’t disappoint, despite playing in the unfamiliar surroundings of the split-level Mother’s Ruin.

Anyway – here are a few photos from the night:

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So long Gordon…and thanks for all the fish

Gordon Brown announces his resignation as PM

So that’s it: after 13 years, the era of New Labour is over. This evening, Gordon Brown resigned his position as Prime Minister of the UK, and advised the Queen to call the leader of the oppostion and invite him to form a new government.

Yesterday’s attempts by Labour to form a rainbow coalition were ripped apart in less than 24 hours, and as I write this we’re waiting for final confirmation of a Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition.

Making his inaugural speech on the steps of Number 10 as Prime Minister, David Cameron did at least confirm the desire to form an official coalition. George Osborne has already been confirmed as Chancellor, with rumours of William Hague and Andrew Lansley making the switch from Shadow secretaries to the respective positions of state.

The Queen meets her 12th PM

It’s becoming likely, at least according to reports, that the Lib Dems have secured six positions at cabinet. If that’s accurate, then coupled with the speculation of Tory concessions made to Nick Clegg, the Lib Dems will have played a stunning game!

Of course, parliamentary figures from both prospective coalition parties will have to agree to the terms set out by the negotiating teams – but hopefully by the end of play tomorrow, the UK will finally have its new government…the first coalition government since the Second World War.

Phew, so that’s it – normal A Blog’s Life of movies, gigs, food, tech, gaming, and random thoughts, soon!