My Japanese Adventures – The Sensational Sakura Safari (Part IX – Kyoto)

The words may be a little confused, but I think the message still gets across.

With the weather being less than favourable on our final morning in Takayama, Dad and I decided that we’d catch an early train to Kyoto. The 2 hour shinkansen ride eased us through green hills and rural pastureland, snaking quietly into more built up neighbourhoods and manufacturing areas as the city of Kyoto welcomed us into her embrace. Knowing that we were far too early to check into our hotel, we opted to investigate the tourist information centre for some further ideas (even though we really didn’t need them!) about how to fill the seven days we’d be spending in the remarkable city. Grabbing a map and a couple of brochures, Dad and I started off in the direction of our accommodation.

March Movie Madness Is Back!

Well my mate Clay’s at it again – March Movie Madness is underway again! This year he’s asked us to pit some of the greatest movie heroes/protagonists against each other in an all out brawl for the title of Champion. Some of the entrants have their eye on the prize and will do anything to get it; others may have it thrust upon them regardless of their desire to remain in the background.

This year I was slow off the mark and missed out on backing Indy. I was also deprived of a couple of backup heroes and that makes this competition a real fight for me. So I went with one of the toughest fighters that cinema has ever produced – “Mad” Max Rockatansky.

How Do They Survive? (The Zombie Conundrum)

I think a lot; about both normal things and abnormal things (I’ll let you decide which sphere I spend the majority of my time in) and this one thing has been bothering me for quite a while. It’s a two-part philosophy that has been part of zombie fiction for as long as it’s been around:

If the only way to kill a zombie is to destroy its brain and zombies eat brains to “survive” – how does the zombie population grow exponentially?

On The Eleventh Day Of Christmas

Sometimes it’s impossible to be with your loved ones at Christmas time. Life is a complex creature and for many reasons, this holiday holds no significance to some people. If my last ten posts had you gagging on my disgustingly open-hearted love for the Season then this one might help you relax. If we find ourselves with some time off at the end of December and we have no other plans, I find that movies are a good way to pass the time if you don’t already have plans. Accordingly, whilst you may believe that Christmas movies are all sappy sentiments and lessons about forgiveness, sharing and caring – well, you’re only 80% correct.

Comparative Cinema: Dawn Of The Dead

 
 

When there’s no more room in Hell, the dead shall walk the Earth.

 
 
 
 
 
It’s Halloween! Well, nearly so this comparison is naturally going to be drenched in scary! At my blog-buddy Thoughtsy‘s excellent suggestion I’m going straight for the big gun before the end of civilisation the month rolls around. I should mention that if you need info about zombies, Thoughtsy’s probably our foremost expert, having done plenty of research on the topic. I’m pretty sure you’ll find everything you need to know to survive a Zombocalyse amongst her pages.

BRAIIIINNNNSSSS…

Dawn of the Dead tells the story of a group of people who, whilst trying to escape the Zombocalypse that has erupted around the World, decide to hole up in a suburban shopping mall. With the zombies working their way into their stronghold, the survivors must cooperate to decide what to do next – before they are dragged kicking and screaming into the ranks of the undead horde themselves!

Comparative Cinema: The Karate Kid

 
  
 

No such thing as bad student. Only bad teacher.

 
 
 
 
 
This week’s Comparitive Cinema has been a challenging one. Much like the protagonists in these movies though I will not run from it.

The movies focus on a young boy who is relocated out of necessity and faces not only adjustment to a new environment but also the physical bullying of a group of boys at his school. He fortuitously ends up being trained by a martial arts master and learns more than simple self defense as he prepares to face his tormentors in a decisive competition.

Comparative Cinema: The Wolfman

 
 

Even a man who is pure of heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.

 
 
Inspired by my guest post over at EduClaytion and the fact that there are numerous remakes coming soon to cinemas everywhere, I’ve decided to embark on a bit of a comparative review of some of the movies that have been revised, revamped and rebuilt over the years. To kick things off I’ve chosen “The Wolfman”, a movie that was originally released in 1941 and then re-released in 2009.

Naturally, each version revolves around the same theme. They both tell the tale of Lawrence (Larry) Talbot, who returns to his homeland from America after receiving news of his brother’s death. Larry is attacked by a Werewolf and survives but is now cursed to transform into a hairy, bloodthirsty beast each month when the moon is full. Which is a shame, because he was really starting to take a shine to young Gwen Conliffe…

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part II

There’s one thing that is beyond debate: the story of Harry Potter, his friends and enemies has been one of the greatest literary and cinematic achievements of all time. Whether you love it, loathe it or float somewhere in between, there’s no denying that you know SOMETHING about it.

Robo-Warriors – Are You Ready To Rumble?!

As a fan of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and CGI I’m always interested in seeing movies that contain one or more of these elements. With the recent release of “Transformers: Dark Of The Moon” I was excited to see some great CGI and I’m looking forward to seeing “Real Steel” later this year.

In a moment of “inspirClaytion” I thought I’d convert my blog into a temporary mech-arena and extend a challenge to you, my readers:

Present your finest robotic champion in a pitched battle for the honour of being hailed as the ultimate Robo-Warrior in the known multiverse!

“Transformers: Dark Of The Moon” – More Than Meets The Eye?

As a Gen X-er who grew up with Optimus, Megatron, Bumblebee and all the rest, the release of the first Transformers movie back in 2007 excited my inner child to a state of hyperactivity. I sat through the movie on the edge of my seat thrilled by the visual effects and action sequences that worked well to create an exciting homage to the robots that accompanied me through some of the greatest moments of my childhood. Two years later, a disappointing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was released and this year has seen an attempt to make up for the shortcomings of the last movie and restore pride to Optimus and the Autobots.