Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Greetings, ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ is a 2023 movie directed by James Mangold and serves as the fifth film in the franchise that started back in 1981. Mangold is known for directing ‘Walk the Line’, ‘3:10 to Yuma’, ‘Knight and Day’ as well as the well-received ‘Logan’. ‘Dial of Destiny’ is the first entry in the series that wasn’t directed by Steven Spielberg or had creative input from George Lucas and the lack of their cinematic touch is pretty self-evident early on. Harrison Ford returns as the iconic globetrotting adventurer and is accompanied by new comers Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Mads Mikkelson, Toby Jones and Ethann Isidore who is fairly new to the industry. Some of the old cast reprise their previous roles including Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood and John Rhys-Davies as Sallah. Celebrated conductor John Williams, best known for his world renowned collaborations with Spielberg and Lucas, provided the score once more for this latest Indiana Jones film and provides stellar work as per usual.
The plot begins in the French Alps in 1944 with Nazi forces being pushed back and hurriedly evacuating the territory as it comes under Allied bombardment. Indiana is being held captive by the Nazis in a castle after his cover has been blown during an attempt to retrieve the Lance of Longinus, the spear that pierced Jesus’s side during his crucifixion, from the Germans. His friend Basil Shaw, a British archaeologist, was also part of the recovery efforts before being captured and taken on board a Berlin-bound train. Indiana isn’t treated as mercifully as he is sentenced to death by hanging but before he is strung up, astrophysicist Jürgen Voller informs his superior officer that the spear is a fake. Voller assures his boss that he has something more impressive in his possession. He boasts of half a dial made by the ancient mathematician Archimedes that, once fitted with its other part, is believed to reveal fissures in the space-time continuum that allows for the possibility of time travel. Voller boards the train with the dial as Indiana is being hung. Indy tries to distract the soldiers by mocking Hitler as he clandestinely cuts through the ropes that bind his hands with a shard of glass.
One of the Nazis kicks the stool out from under Indiana in a rage but Indy is quickly saved by a bomb that crashes through the roof and incinerates the soldiers. He is thrown around the room by the impact but narrowly manages to escape his death by removing the noose just in time. Still dressed as a Nazi, Jones makes his way to the train after a danger filled chase and manages to climb on to the moving carriage. He manages to sneak around in his disguise until he encounters Voller and the kidnapped Shaw. Indiana quickly knocks out Voller and takes the dial for himself while the train is soon attacked by Allied planes. With Shaw in tow, they escape the train packed with German soldiers who are now fully aware of his presence by fighting them off and leaping into a river below. The film then skips forward to 1969. A white haired Indiana, who has long since retired from adventuring and is on the cusp of retiring from his academic career, is about to find himself caught up in another perilous mission.
While I enjoyed the opening scenes which felt like the fun action movies that preceded it, it was unfortunately all downhill from there with Phoebe’s character of Helena being a considerable source of irritation. Her inclusion made me long for the return of Shia LaBeouf’s Mutt Williams who was unceremoniously killed off screen in the Vietnam War according to the latest movie. There is also a poor stand in, meant to invoke the sidekick role that had previously belonged to Short Round, called Teddy who has none of the charm of Ke Huy Quan’s character. While it isn’t as egregious as the rumours suggesting Indiana Jones would literally be erased from existence and replaced by Helena, it’s still an unnecessary movie that damages the brand. It is farcical this picture exists when it was clearly joked in ‘Crystal Skull’, 15 years ago when this blog first started, that the ageing Indiana was not at the top of his game back then. As such, this is one instalment that you can miss.
Plot=5/10
Characters=5/10
Special Effects=6/10
Overall=5/10
Quote of the Day
Army or not, you must realize, you are doomed.
General Grevious
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Dead Set
Greetings, ‘Dead Set’ is a 2008 horror mini-series that was created by comedian Charlie Brooker, best known for later going on to write the anthology series ‘Black Mirror’, and had been directed by Yann Demange. The cast is mostly made up of actors and actresses who are known for being in British soaps. Among the top cast are Jamie Winston as main lead Kelly, Andy Nyman, Kevin Eldon, Beth Cordingly, Adam Deacon, Riz Ahmed and TV presenter Davina McCall who plays a zombified version of herself. Out of all the cast, I am most familiar with Nyman thanks to his co-creation of the stage play ‘Ghost Stories’ that he later adapted into a movie of the same name in 2017. The music was composed by Dan Jones who has contributed to numerous films and television series in his career but little of which are particularly noteworthy.
The plot is set in 2008 when reality TV show Big Brother was still a considerable contender in British programming. It begins during an eviction night in which one contestant is voted out of the house by the public. Unbeknownst to the housemates who have been locked in the studio for weeks without communication or access to the outside world, Britain is being rocked by violent riots. With the Emergency Services unable to control the outbreak of violence, the military has been called in to restore order but it soon becomes apparent that there is something horrifying causing the unrest. The producer behind Big Brother, Patrick, is concerned the news may bump his show and orders his team to keep everything running as per normal. In fulfilling his command, housemate Pippa is voted out much to her disappointment. As part of the planned coverage, Pippa’s mother is being transported to the studio to support her tearful daughter when her chauffer notices a figure shambling across the road.
The chauffer gets out of the car to investigate and is suddenly attacked by the lurking assailant. Pipa’s mother and a show runner, who was also in the car, flee the chaotic scenes until they reach the studio gates where they and a security officer are bitten by the now reanimated chauffer. It isn’t long before the security guard succumbs to the disease and makes his way towards the large, enthusiastic crowd who have gathered to see Pippa’s eviction segment. With such a vast gathering of people to prey on, the guard begins biting the audience members and the zombie virus rapidly spreads through the masses. The confined studio easily becomes overrun with the undead and the outside world doesn’t fare much better as the zombies are wreaking havoc across the United Kingdom. As the horror unfolds around them, the blissfully unaware housemates and one show runner by the name of Kelly have no idea of the danger they are in.
While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to the zombie genre, I had quite a lot of fun with ‘Dead Set’ and thought the use of the Big Brother house was an interesting setting for the story to unfold in. I particularly liked how it made good use of their isolation as the housemates were initially sceptical of the threat and believed it was simply a ruse by the producers. There is some good characterisation within it which riffs on the real life counterparts of the vapid contestants who participate in such reality shows, desperate for their national 15 minutes of fame. Reality shows have never been my cup of tea but I found there was a something of a nostalgic quality to this which I enjoyed as I recall simpler days back when Big Brother was a cult phenomenon. If you’re looking to satisfy your zombie cravings and your humour gels with Brooker’s, this may be the show for you.
Plot=7/10
Characters=6/10
Special Effects=6/10
Overall=7/10
Quote of the Day
I woke up. Why don't you? You're an asset. An expendable asset. And I used you to get the job done, got it?
Dillon
Predator
The Holdovers
Greetings, ‘The Holdovers’ is a 2023 film directed by Alexander Payne who is also known for directing ‘Election’, ‘Sideways’ and more recently ‘Downsizing’. His latest offering is a period piece as it is set around the Christmas holidays of 1970 and the cinematography is shot in a way to evoke the feeling or aesthetic of the bygone era. The main cast is fairly small due to the isolated plot and stars Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham. The actor had previously worked with Payne in ‘Sideways’. Newcomer Dominic Sessa, who plays Angus Tully, is another main lead as is Da’Vine Joy Randolph who is known for her recurring role in Steve Martin’s ‘Only Murders in the Building’. The OST was composed by Mark Orton who had also contributed musically to Payne’s film ‘Nebraska’ which was released in 2013.
The plot takes place in a New England boarding school named Barton Academy where Hunham teaches classical studies to apathetic students. Hunham, due to his brashness and off-putting personality, is disliked by the majority of his pupils and his fellow facility members. With Christmas fast approaching, a member of staff must watch over any students who have nowhere else to be during the holidays. Hunham is chosen for the position after another teacher shrugs off the duty with a fake excuse. The reason for his selection is because Hunham, in his high scholarly expectations, had flunked a wealthy donor’s son by issuing a poor grade after the submitted work failed to meet his rigorous standards. Hunham isn’t delighted by the news but accepts it without much complaint as he has very little in the way of a social life and rarely leaves campus.
There are only a few boys left behind as ‘the holdovers’ including one Angus Tully who discovers to his deep frustration that his mother had suddenly cancelled their festive plans in favour of honeymooning with her new husband. To add insult to injury, Hunham is an authoritarian who forces the boys to study for the majority of the day and forces them to run outside in the cold. This lasts for six days until a rich parent of one of the students arrives and offers to take ‘the holdovers’ on a family skiing trip. All but Tully are able to go as their parents provide their permission while his are unreachable. A dejected Tully realises he has to spend Christmas and ring in the New Year with Hunham and Mary Lamb, one of Barton Academy’s cooks who is recently bereaved over the death of her son in Vietnam. Hunham, sensing how difficult the time is for everyone left behind, tries to conjure up a little Christmas cheer.
I had heard rave reviews for this movie and had high expectations of it going in which were thankfully and effortlessly met. It is a funny, charming and touching film which I never felt bored of or felt that it dragged during any part of its over 2 hour run time. The characters were well realised with my particular favourite being the studious and socially awkward Paul Hunham who thawed out as the plot progressed. Randolph and Sessa also deserve some praise as they drove some of the more emotive scenes which struck a nice balance with its more humorous moments. As a result, I’m intending to watch some of Payne’s other works and delve into some movies in which Paul Giamatti starred.
Plot = 10/10
Characters = 10/10
Special Effects = 10/10
Overall = 10/10
Quote of the Day
The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station.
Grand Moff Tarkin
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Happy New Year: 2023 Review!
Greetings, as hard as it is to believe it’s time to say farewell to 2023 and to welcome in 2024! The year has seemingly flown in as it doesn’t feel that long since we were ushering in 2023. As its New Year’s Eve, that means it’s also time for my yearly round up of the entertainment I immersed myself in these past 12 months. If there was any particular media you enjoyed and you think it should be highlighted, feel free to mention it in the comments as I might be tempted to check it out myself.
Television Show of the Year: Better Call Saul
‘Better Call Saul’ is a spinoff of the smash hit ‘Breaking Bad’ and focuses on the side character of Saul Goodman, a crooked lawyer who played a crucial role in Walter White’s criminal empire. It is certainly a different type of show from the one that spawned it but despite a slow start, I rate both of these series very highly. I really enjoyed how it expanded the ‘Breaking Bad’ universe, introducing new characters and adding more depth to already established ones as the viewer learns how Jimmy McGill slowly transforms into his flashy alter ego of Saul Goodman.
Book of the Year: Full Dark, No Stars
A collection of four stories by renowned horror writer Stephen King, ‘Full Dark, No Stars’ was released in 2010 and the works within are connected as they share the same thematic idea of retribution. Undoubtedly, ‘1922’ is the work most would be familiar with thanks to the movie adaptation that came out in 2017. It is about a farmer and his son who make a monstrous decision when their lifestyles are threatened by the metropolitan aspirations of their wife and mother. In usual King fashion, their decision comes back to haunt them quite literally.
Game of the Year: Devour
‘Devour’ is a four player horror game in which players must banish satanic forces by destroying or incinerating 10 sacrificial items or livestock before they find themselves hunted down by a demon possessed cultist. It is a very fun and often challenging game that was published by a small British based studio which is still in its formative years as they only opened their doors in 2019. At present there are only a handful of maps available to play but I’m looking forward to returning to this game in 2024 when new levels have been added and seeing any new additions that have been included since I played it last.
Film of the Year: The Whale
Brendan Fraser of ‘The Mummy’ trilogy fame made a welcome come back to the cinematic world after a long period of absence as he stars in a unique offering from director Darren Aronofsky. 2022’s ‘The Whale’ is a depressing but engrossing film about a morbidly obese English teacher called Charlie who has more or less given up on life and is slowly killing himself with his poor diet. After he suffers a near death experience, Charlie realises that he wants to repair his relationship with his estranged daughter Ellie and makes active efforts to be part of her life once more.
That’s all for 2023! It has been one of the better years recently in my own opinion and I hope you had a great time. As always, I’ll be back to blogging in January with regular updates and I’m already playing around with various ideas for future Write Wise projects. I’ve decided to take it easy for a few months however after the considerable effort that went into the 2023 entries. Until then, I’m wishing you all the best for 2024!
Quote of the Day
I'm just a mean, green mother from outer space and I'm bad!
Audrey II
The Little Shop of Horrors
Merry Christmas 2023!
Greetings, the year has flown in and Christmas Eve is here once again! As such, I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas for tomorrow and hope you have a good day taking it easy. We had a great Write Wise challenge this year to celebrate the occasion. It finished off a brilliant year that had some excellent pieces from each writer. I’m looking forward to what new works will come about in 2024 and will need to start thinking of my own projects in the coming weeks. There is one blog update left for 2023 in which I’ll round up the year’s entertainment but have a Happy Christmas before then!
Quote of the Day
Hello, Bedford Falls! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan! Hey! Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter!
George Bailey
It’s a Wonderful Life
Devour
Greetings, ‘Devour’ is a co-operative horror game from 2021 that was developed and published by Straight Back Games. The Edinburgh based company is fairly new, having only come into existence in 2019 when it was started by Joe Fender and Luke Fanning. They have one other title in their completed works to date which was released a year earlier in 2020. That other game is called ‘The Watchers’ which looks to be fairly similar to ‘Devour’ in terms of gameplay and subject matter. While ‘Devour’ has a maximum of 4 players, ‘The Watchers’ is limited to 2 as the players take on the roles of a brother and sister team as they stealthily evade cultists while trying to unravel the mystery behind their mother’s disappearance.
The plot of ‘Devour’ is very simplistic as it was never intended to be the main selling point of the game and it is effectively the same in all the variations of maps the players can explore. The players belong to a satanic cult called ‘The Watchers of Azazel’ and one of their fellow cultists has been possessed by the malevolent entity known as Azazel. They must banish and excise the demonic presence by destroying a total of 10 totems or ritual items. These totems differ in each of the five maps but they consist of sacrificial possessed goats, pigs and mice as well as inanimate objects such as spider eggs and books. The livestock need to be lured towards the player by placing food such as hay or a bowl of food.
As aforementioned, there are five maps at present with more due to be added in the future. The first of these is the Farmhouse which is haunted by Anna, the Asylum is watched over by Molly while the Inn has a particularly creepy antagonist in Zara, an arachnophobia sufferer’s worst nightmare. The Western setting of the Town is the undead gunslinger Sam’s terrain while Nathan lords over the Slaughterhouse. After each totem is destroyed, the difficulty is ratcheted up a bit more as the enemy becomes increasingly more deformed and faster paced. The bosses are aided in their attempts to kill the players with their ghoulish minions who have to be repelled by focusing a flashlight on them before the battery runs out.
‘Devour’ is definitely a fun game but after the player gains the satisfaction of figuring out how to beat the antagonists, it loses its appeal a bit which is probably the same for any game of its ilk. The characters do have backstories in their bios although little is done to distinguish them from any of the other choices in actual gameplay. There is also a minor set of objectives in each map as the player is tasked with locating 25 hidden objects which have been scattered about. This is much harder than would initially be believed as the player is often trying to outrun the possessed cult leader or is overrun by smaller enemies. This game apparently shares the same universe as ‘The Watchers’ which I might check out at some point.
Plot = 5/10
Characters = 5/10
Graphics = 7/10
Overall= 7/10
Quote of the Day
To my dear Prince Alexis... I did not "usurp" the crown. I found it, in the gutter, and I, I picked it up with my sword, and it was the people, Alexis, the people who put it on my head. He who saves a nation violates no law.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Waterloo
