Off to Cineworld in Rushden Lakes with Jo and Janet to see the 6.20pm performance of ‘Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning’.

This is the concluding part to 2023’s blockbuster of a similar name – Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part 1 (later re-titled to Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning). I guess we all thought this one would be following a similar naming convention, but they seem to have dropped the ‘Part 2’ err, part, and slightly altered the ‘strap’. No doubt, some clever marketing person will understand the reason for this.

Our original plans were to see this one over at The Savoy in Corby (our now fave Cinema) but it wasn’t showing there tonight, so we ‘slummed it’ at CineWorld at Rushden Lakes. As usual, it was a Friday night and the car park at Rushden Lakes was heaving! Luckily, we found a solitary space not too far from the entrance, and were soon queuing for our beverage-of-choice.

In we go!!!

There are lots of rumours circulating that this will be Cruise’s final appearance in the MI franchise, but maybe that’s just hype to fill the cinemas around the world. He’s certainly revitalised this series of films and brought the 60’s TV series to a whole new audience – and many of the old audience too! (Oh! Just me then!)

Official Trailer

The above trailer first appeared about a month ago, showcasing Tom Cruise’s obsession with doing all his own stunts – and trying to ‘out-stunt’ his previous efforts! If anyone recalls his motorcycle scene where he rode off the side of a mountain – that’s going to take some beating in this one (read on… the biplane stunt is unforgettable!)

Synopsis

Ethan Hunt and the IMF team race against time to find the Entity,
a rogue artificial intelligence that can destroy mankind.

Worth Seeing..?

Mild Spoilers Ahead!

After we got through what seemed to be an extra-long series of previews for ‘coming soon’, we were finally ready for the Final Reckoning. Well, on a positive note, it looks like June might be quite busy for us at the cinema! CineWorld, Screen 14 was maybe half full by the time curtain up came, where most people had decided that to save time, eating separately in a restaurant, they’d stock up with mega-buckets of popcorn. Worse still, instead of traditional popcorn, the latest obsession (well, in these parts) a trough of Chilli with the obligatory dips! I don’t mind the first, but Chilli is a bit of an acquired taste – especially in public!

Back to the movie! That’s a first! A short piece to camera pre-film by TC himself thanking us for seeing the film. Apart from a genuine desire to cement himself as one of the nicest people in the industry, I wasn’t sure of the purpose. Hey-ho, he certainly made us feel err, ‘special’.

It was a long one at 2 hours 50 minutes, although fortunately, it didn’t feel quite that long! So, camel bladders only for this one, it seemed! Unlike previous MI instalments, the first part of tonight’s was a bit of a chatterbox, with not that much action. I guess this was needed to help those who hadn’t seen Dead Reckoning – Part 1 and to help wrap their head around what was going on. Clever gadgets and latex face masks, so much a staple of the MI ‘thing’, were sadly sidelined to a degree in this one, in fact, if you’d arrived partway through, you might have wondered if this was a Mission Impossible film AT ALL! Yes, not exactly a gadget-fest! – more’s the pity!

All our favourite characters were back (Grace, Benji and Luther) but be warned, some don’t make it to the end credits. Tom Cruise excels at what he does best – running and extreme stunts – and if we were worried about whether he’d top the ‘bike scene’ from the previous movie, we needn’t have! Example 1: The scene in the sunken submarine is NOT for anyone who:- has a hint of claustrophobia/hates water – but most of all, loathes drowning!!! . It’s a scene that will have you on the edge of your seat on more than a dozen occasions! And to top that, there’s example 2: the biplane chase towards the end of the movie! Good grief, that was stressful to watch, but worth the ticket price for that alone!! It’s well known that TC does most of his own stunts, and having apparently passed out whilst ‘hanging on a wing’ (as you do!) during rehearsals, this outing confirmed he’s either completely bonkers or he’s fearless! Once you’ve seen it, answers on a postcard, please!

Apart from the ‘regulars’, there are a few faces from past episodes making a welcome return – with one, especially, completely unexpected where you’ll need a good memory for which MI film you first saw them in (I think it’s the first one from 1996!)

The film motored on, with a lot of Tom Cruise running everywhere (OK, that’s an MI ‘thing’!) and where the action scenes, when they eventually arrived, were top notch. It’s a storyline that demands you don’t look too deeply for plot-holes, but it all made for a riveting three hours – thank heavens for CineWorld’s ultra comfy seats! The whole ‘AI’ plot driver is very vague as to how ‘it’ would accomplish its goals, but the tin-foil hat brigade will be able to dine out on this one for ages! Acting by everyone is very convincing, where, in spite of the ludicrous plot, they give us a credible glimpse of a future that seems to benefit no-one on the planet!

All in all then, a thoroughly engaging film, but if I’m honest, I was slightly disappointed at the amount of talking vs the amount of action, especially in the early scenes. It’s an overly sentimental ending that seems to be mandatory for these kind of outings these days (our friends across the pond, seem to demand it!), but it brings things to a satisfying conclusion. The final scenes are sufficiently ambiguous so as not to confirm nor deny the possibility of the Mission Impossible franchise continuing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was another in some or other in a few years. However, if it’s without TC, it won’t be the same.

I know it’s respectful to sit through the credits, but there’s no mid nor end credit scene to give you a clue as to what’s next, so best get an early night in!

Main Cast

Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt
Hayley Atwell as Grace
Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell
Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn
Esai Morales as Gabriel
Pom Klementieff as Paris
Henry Czerny as Kittridge
Holt McCallany as Serling
Janet McTeer as Walters
Nick Offerman as General Sidney
Hannah Waddingham as Admiral Neely
Tramell Tillman as Captain Bledsoe
Angela Bassett as Erika Sloane
Shea Whigham as Briggs
Greg Tarzan Davis as Degas
Mark Gatiss as Angstrom

Creatives

Based on the television series created by Bruce Geller

Written by Erik Jendresen & Christopher McQuarrie

Chris Brock: Executive Producer
Tom Cruise: Executive Producer
David Ellison: Executive Producer
Dana Goldberg: Executive Producer
Tommy Gormley: Executive Producer
Don Granger: Executive Producer
Susan E. Novick: Executive Producer
Phew! So many ‘Execs!’

Gina Hallas: Co-Producer

Music by Max Aruj and Alfie Godfrey
Cinematography by Fraser Taggart
Editing by Eddie Hamilton

Full cast list HERE courtesy of IMDB.

In spite of my reservations of the lack of action and gadgets, is it worth nearly three hours of your time and would I watch it again? Yes and yes! Would I buy it on 4K DVD when it’s released? Yes! (although the biplane scene won’t feel quite as impactful on the small screen!).

Go see!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

10.27pm: Evening all! It’s nearly showtime at 11pm and well past my bedtime – but we think it’s worth it, as Jo and I are here at Cineworld, Rushden Lakes about to watch the season series finalé of one of our favourite programmes – Doctor Who.

Yes, THE CINEMA! In a masterclass of marketing, last week’s episode and ‘tomorrow’s’ – ‘Empire of Death’ – are being shown in a special double-bill. The last time they tried something similar, it was for the 50th Anniversary starring Matt Smith and David Tennant in the title role(s?), and I was there for it at the local Odeon on the 23rd of November – where it was packed!

…and eleven years later, it was a also great turnout at Screen 9 – with a ride range of ages from, I’d say, 20s through to 70s!. See! We’re not the only two fans left!!

11.16pm: We’re off!

What’s all the fuss about? Above is the official trailer! See you in around two hours, where, as a bonus for us fans, the finalé is slightly longer than usual – 55 minutes.

1.16am: That’s a first! Rushden Lakes is almost deserted! It’s just after 1.15am and it seems like it’s not worth going to bed… but I did, eventually!. So, before I hit the ‘land of nod’, just a few words to say that this evening/morning was definitely worth it! This quaint ol’ British Sci-fi series transferred perfectly to the big screen and easily held its own amongst other recent blockbusters from the same genre. Do yourself a favour – even if you’re not a fan – and tune into BBC1 at 6.40pm tonight to watch what we just watched! Story-wise, my detailed review will be up tomorrow night in a separate post after the finalé airs – whilst for impatient sorts, the episode drops on iPlayer from 6am.

1.43am: Nighty-night!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Doctor Who Series Finalé 2024 – Advanced Screening appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Off to see the 7th instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise.

As an extra treat, Jo, Janet and Ann and I drove over to Rushden Lakes to enjoy the superior sound and picture quality.

Official Poster

Mission Creep?

The runtime for this one is a mighty 2 hours 43 minutes.

Mission Brief

The IMF team embark on a dangerous mission to track down a terrifying weapon that threatens humanity, before it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, and with dark forces from Ethan’s past closing in, a deadly race around the globe begins. Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.

Mission Crew

CAST
Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt
Hayley Atwell as Grace
Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell
Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn
Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust
Vanessa Kirby as Alanna Mitsopolis
Esai Morales as Gabriel
Henry Czerny as Eugene Kittridge
Pom Klementieff as Paris
Cary Elwes as Director of National Intelligence Denlinger
Shea Whigham as Jasper Briggs

CREATIVES
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Writers: Bruce Geller, Erik Jendresen and Christopher McQuarrie
Music by Lorne Balfe
Cinematography by Fraser Taggart
Director of photography
Editing by Eddie Hamilton
Casting by Mindy Marin
Production Design by Gary Freeman

Full List HERE, courtesy of IMDB.

Mission Budget

It’s only money…
M:I 1 (1996) $80m
M:I 2 (2000) $125m
M:I 3 (2006) $150m
M:I 4 aka ‘Ghost Protocol’ (2011) $145m
M:I 5 aka ‘Rogue Nation’ (2015) $150m
M:I 6 aka ‘Fallout’ (2018) $178m
M:I 7 aka ‘Dead Reckoning Pt1’ (2023) $290m

Mission Over?

Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning (Part Two) is scheduled to be released on June 28, 2024.

Hit or Miss(ion)?

MILD SPOILERS
AHEAD

It’s been described as ‘the Summer Blockbuster of 2023‘ by many! However, with the American film writers’ strike already happening and many actors also coming out in sympathy, I’d make the most of this one. The rollout for movies towards the end of the year and into 2024, will be severely restricted. At this rate, I might have to go and see ‘Barbie’*

*Only joking, I’m not that desperate!

Phew! I’m exhausted – what a ride! Yes, all the familiar ingredients of M:I past outings were present – gadgets, OTT stunts, end-of-the-world type threats, masks, car insurance claim forms and sprinting along the rooves of tall buildings. And whilst we’re talking ‘sprinting’, what about TC’s unique posture when running!!! (yes, I am jealous; how can anyone run that quickly, and so VERTICALLY, and not break a sweat!?!?).

All the familiar faces are back including one that hasn’t been seen since the 1996’s ‘M:I-1’ that kicked off the franchise.

Probably the only thing that looked like it was missing was the familiar theme tune. Hang on in there though; just when you think it’s not going to happen, those familiar eight (?) notes kick in.

The CARnage is considerable, but at least it’s not just the big and posh ‘wheels’ getting the limelight. If you’re a fan of the iconic Fiat 500, then prepare to be impressed!

It was pretty much scene-after-scene of non-stop, nail-biting action, punctuated by the occasional humorous quip. And all complemented by the threat of AI!

Not bad for a Sunday!

Everyone acted as though their lives depended on it, and being M:I, it usually did! If there’s an acting award, I’m conflicted between the Fiat 500 and Hayley Atwell. She – the latter – given it’s her first time on the franchise, is required to act her socks off throughout as the IMF’s latest recruit. From totally confident trickster to reluctant role-player, she is totally convincing throughout, and when she acts ‘terrified’, she really looks it!

Overall, Part 1 had a bit of an ‘007’ feel about it – in a good way – and then some! And then some more!!! There’s been a lot of talk about ‘that’ motorcycle stunt (see below), but for me, this wasn’t the action piece that wowed me the most. Yes, the bike stunt was daring, clever, dangerous and much more – and Tom Cruise didn’t use a stunt-double. But, I think the movie is worth seeing just for the terrific train stunt towards the end. Probably the most nail-biting, nerve-shredding and realistic action scene, I think I’ve ever seen in any movie, EVER!

If you like your cinema trips ‘edge of the seat’ stuff, then this one is a must – marginally more so, I’d say, than the latest Indiana Jones outing. But, based on all the media hype recently, if you’ve got any concerns about the growth of AI, then best pop on your tin-foil helmet and NOT grab a ticket, as it’ll confirm your worst nightmares!!

The more observant of you will have noticed the title – there’s obviously a sequel coming – but you’ll have to wait until June (28th?) 2024 for ‘Part 2’!

Mission Trivia

Nerdy types (like me) will know the significance of the name: Jim Phelps – and its connection with M:I canon. Did you know there’s a Jim Phelps in THIS one? (sort of!) Yes, really!! Read here, if you can’t wait!

Off for a lie down now! How can watching a film be so exhausting????

PS: That Motorbike Stunt!

Apparently, the most dangerous stunt in cinema history!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part 1 (2023) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

A little bit outside our usual routine today as we headed for Cineworld at Rushden Lakes. Crikey! Rushden Lakes on a Saturday! Are we mad? Easter Saturday too! Madder than mad!!! But you probably knew that already!

Why Cineworld? Mobile phone operator THREE gave away two Adult tickets for just £3 each to its customers via its ‘3+’ app – no limitations, apart from ‘use them by the 28th’.

The film Operation Mincemeat is an adaptation of Ben Macintyre’s 2010 historic book of the same name. A Wartime plan that was so ridiculous it shouldn’t have worked! However, Ann was only there because of Colin Firth!

Historical Context

Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation of the Second World War to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily.

More background information HERE, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Worth seeing?

We pretty much had Screen 14 to ourselves – just three other Firth fans joined us!

This was a beaut! I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Great acting all round, good soundtrack and superb cinematography created a very convincing London and the retelling of events leading up to the events of 16th July, 1943. There was just the right amount of intrigue, even if you know the story well. It was even humorous in places. If I had just a tiny criticism, it felt a tad too long (by about 15 minutes) – but that’s me being picky! Be prepared for a plot twist towards the end (that even an old cynic like me, didn’t see coming) that added to the tension – that was already on ‘9’ – as we headed for the final curtain. The best £6 we’ve spent all year! If you like your ‘war films’ authentic or are just a fan of Mr Firth, go see!

Oh, and if you like James Bond this will raise a smile! (yes, really!)

Runtime: 128 minutes

Directed by John Madden

Writers Michelle Ashford (screenplay) Ben Macintyre (book)

Main cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, Mark Gatiss, Jason Isaacs

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: Operation Mincemeat (2022) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Our Christmas movie! With Ralph and Karen, we headed off to Cineworld in Castleford to see The King’s Man.

SPOILER-FREE!

Any good? Well, we’d seen both the original Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Kingsman: the Golden Circle (2017) – and they were quite entertaining and loosely based around the comic book series that debuted in 2014. This latest outing was the prequel set in the lead-up to The Great War.

Clocking in at a bladder-friendly 131 minutes (well, my bladder!), it starred a wealth of well-known faces, including Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, Tom Holland and Djimon Hounsou.

Alas, no Colin Firth (contrary to some reports!) Taron Egerton, Mark Strong nor Michael Caine, – and no sign of any of the other characters from the previous two instalments in the franchise either (full cast and crew is HERE). Therefore, not surprisingly, it had a feel all of its own and didn’t rely on the previous two outings for it to make sense. A perfect standalone!

It tells the story of the beginnings of the Kingsman Agency and it’s pretty much non-stop action all the way through! And historically, it was pretty respectful to events around the time the film was set.

Think of it as a James Bond/Indian Jones mash-up! (and better than either IMHO! – surely not???)

Ralph Fiennes excelled as the action hero (which was a very pleasant surprise) and Rhys Ifans’ character is just plain sinister. Do take a few tissues though!

In short: great acting, great music, great story, great script, great cinematography and great special effects. Bet you can’t guess who the ‘big bad’ turns out to be!!! (We didn’t!)?

Ann and I don’t often agree on ratings for films these days, but we both said that for us, this was the best film we’d seen in ages!

Go see!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: The King’s Man (2021) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Those that know me, know that I like my superhero movies! My favourite film studio is Marvel and the cinema chain of choice for me, Cineworld.

So, combine all of these at the same time and I’m in heaven (well, hopefully, Cineworld at nearby Rushden Lakes!). Just leave me in one of their comfy seats, near the back and towards the centre! Give me a large soft drink and an even larger bag of Maltesers, and you won’t hear a peep out of me! (some say that’s an extra bonus!)

Huzzah! With all the above boxes ticked (apart from the Maltesers!) step forward Marvel’s latest superhero blockbuster (released last Friday, after multiple postponements – February 12/May 7/July 9 – due to you-know-what) the snappily entitled…

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”

Since Marvel’s release of Black Widow back in July, this is the latest instalment of the continuing MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) ‘Phase 4‘ suite of movies (stay awake at the back Tomkins!). It’s also the first to feature a superhero of eastern origin with Simu Liu as our titular hero, Shang-Chi (pronounced Shung-Szee).

Full list of cast, crew and creatives is HERE

With only two Phase 4 cinema adventures released so far in 2021, is Marvel cutting back? Apparently not! According to Wikipedia, there are plenty more in the ‘grand plan’, coming to a cinema near you, including:-

Phase 4 (CINEMA)

• Eternals (5 November, 2021)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 17, 2021)
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (March 25, 2022)
• Thor: Love and Thunder (May 6, 2022)
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (July 8, 2022)
• The Marvels (November 11, 2022)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 17, 2023)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5, 2023)
• Fantastic Four (date tbc)

Not enough? Well, following the success of WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and What If? on the small screen, there’s an extensive list of Phase 4 material coming to your TV too!

Phase 4 (TV)

• Hawkeye (2021)
• Ms. Marvel (date tbc)
• Moon Knight (date tbc)
• She-Hulk (date tbc)
• Secret Invasion (date tbc)
• The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (date tbc)
• Ironheart (date tbc)
• Armor Wars (date tbc)

All-in-all then, there’s enough to keep a Marvel fan like me happy for quite a while.

Anyway, enough of the pre-amble, was Marvel’s latest any good? All those lucky enough to be invited to the Previews (not me!) were very positive, commenting on the stunts, the action and the storyline. In other words, the ‘usual Marvel formula’. There was also praise for the diversity of the cast.

We headed to Cineworld, Rushden Lakes to catch the 1.50pm screening and to find out if it was as good as they said…

THE VERDICT (SPOILER-FREE)

In my experience, origin stories like this always seem to have the edge in terms of their clear narrative and their beginning-middle-end structure – and this turned out to be no exception. Keeping the structure simple, always gets my vote! (must be my age!). Additionally, modern blockbusters tend to have longer running times, so it was perhaps no surprise that Shang-Chi clocked in at a generous 132 minutes!

Everyone carried off their part with conviction and there’s even a re-appearance from a character last seen in Iron Man 3 (which might be a tad confusing for casual Marvel viewers!). For us uber-fans, there are a number of respectful nods to the past MCU back catalogue and the story, therefore, sits well with what had gone before.

In fact, for me, it was one of the best storylines EVER from the Marvel franchise. The plot is a simple one – good vs evil – so it’s hardly original, but the movie is delivered in a pacy, upbeat fashion with all the (very) impressive CGI that fans have become accustomed to when Marvel is at the helm.

When it came to the script/dialogue, it was more Ant-Man than Thor: The Dark World, so you’ll be certain to leave the cinema with a smile on your face rather than looking for something/someone to cheer you up! Even Ann, who wouldn’t position the sci-fi genre as one of her favourites, enjoyed it! Praise indeed!! There’s even a healthy number of references to The Eagles and a certain hotel! (Bonus points from me then!).

Last word: This is a VERY worthwhile addition to the Marvel Portfolio and works just as well as a standalone movie as well as one for the MCU-completist fans. No word of a sequel yet, but don’t forget to stick around for the now-standard obligatory mid-credits scene, as it sets things up nicely for Shang-Chi’s future.

UPDATE – Tuesday, 7th September: Blast and botheration! ?. Apparently, there was also an END-CREDIT scene (that I didn’t know about, and so we didn’t stay). I’ve just read the details online and it reveals a significant plot twist, negating some of the optimism from the closing scenes of the movie.

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings appeared first on Steve's Blog.

It’s been a while since we last went to the cinema (December, last year, when we saw Wonder Woman 1984). That visit was to the local Odeon, but it’s been even longer (August, 2020 – almost a year) since we went to the shinier, newer, Cineworld, here at Rushden Lakes to see Christopher Nolan’s mind-boggling Tenet.

Today, we’d pre-booked the 2D, 2.50pm performance of Marvel’s latest blockbuster: Black Widow. the 24th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film series – and it was good to be returning!

I say latest blockbuster, but this Marvel ‘origin story’, was actually due for release last May! Since then, its rollout has been delayed three times. Thanks Covid!!!

We picked up Jo and Janet just before 2pm as that would give us a bit of breathing space for Janet to drop into the Wildlife Centre, and for us to (sign-in and then) plug-in to take advantage of the Lakes’ free EV charging. We needn’t have bothered with the latter as the Lakes were heaving! Hardly a parking space to be found – and no charging bays available either, as they were all full too!

Actually, going out to see a film still felt like a real treat, and Cineworld always feels extra special. The film has been out for a few weeks now, so I suspected, we were one of the last to see it. It certainly felt like it, judging by the empty seats when we arrived!

Now that the ‘House of Mouse’ own Marvel Studios, we could have, instead, streamed it at home via Disney+ (a first in the UK) for £19.99, but there’s nothing like the ‘big screen’ is there? Nerdy fact: Disney netted $60m on the opening weekend via the Disney+ app, prompting some are blaming this strategy on a poor cinema attendance.

THE CHARACTERS AND PLOT

Starring Scarlett Johansson as the titular hero Natasha Romanoff and directed by Cate Shortland, it was finally here on the big-screen, and as a self-confessed MCU fan, I knew I was in for a treat! Marvel fans will not need reminding that chronologically, the film follows the timeline between 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War – both Phase 3 – although because of the film’s three postponements, it’s become the first film in MCU’s Phase 4 release schedule.

Co-stars Florence Pugh (as Yelena Belova), Ray Winstone (Dreykov), Rachel Weisz (Melina) and David Harbour (Alexa) ALL did a great job in supporting roles, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Yelena Belova character re-appears in later MCU adventures. Full cast list is HERE

I wouldn’t worry too much about the plot – it’s pretty simplistic (bad guy tries to control the world!) but that leaves more brain-cells free to enjoy the stunts and the amazing special effects. In other words: Marvel Studios at their best!!!

Verdict

Excellent! Even though it has a running time of over two hours (134 minutes), it never felt like it, with plenty of action delivered scene after scene. Think of the Jason Bourne or the Bond franchises, but with added spandex!

And if you’re not really into Marvel and/or all this superhero stuff in general, it works pretty well as a standalone spy movie.

The fate of our heroine is old news these days, but it didn’t spoil the narrative; if anything, adding to the significance of Black Widow’s final appearance in Marvel’s 2019: Avengers: Endgame.

Oh, and don’t forget to stick around for the now-familiar Marvel-post-credits scene. It’ll reintroduce a character last seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and leave you scratching your head about another Marvel character.

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: Black Widow appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Here we are then, my first visit to the cinema since before lockdown. And what better movie to blow the cobwebs away than Christopher Nolan’s latest epic – TENET? Nolan is famous for his dislike of green-screen and CGI, so we were looking forward not only to the story, but the ‘set pieces’ too. Apparently, it’s more like Nolan’s Inception than his recent Dunkirk.

Jo, Janet and I set off for Cineworld at Rushden Lakes for the socially-distanced 7pm performance – the IMAX version of course! (What? You’ve never seen a film on an IMAX screen? – more details HERE).

All the hype about this movie suggested a brain-scrambling plot involving time-travel, and that’s all we knew. The cinema-screen was about a third full and everyone seemed to be observing the wearing of masks (until the lights went down because obviously, COVID can’t travel when it can’t see!). After sitting through what seemed like a million cycles of Cineworld’s ‘unlimited’ advert, the main event finally began – that massive IMAX screen looked fantastic but the centre (voice) channel was a bit muffled.

How Was It?

In true Director style, Christopher Nolan’s cinematography was epic featuring scenes that made the most of the big-screen. If our hero (‘The Protaganist’) doesn’t win an Oscar for his performance then he’ll surely win the ‘Most Perfectly Manicured Beard’ award!

Nolan has a habit of always casting Michael Caine in his movies, but in this outing, his part was small – albeit significant. Kenneth Branagh was the baddest (and nastiest) bad-guy I’ve seen in a while.

Why crash a jumbo-jet using the latest post-production SFX when you can use the real thing – and with car-chases a staple of many films of this genre, to stand out from the crowd, Nolan does the same – but films much of it backwards??! Standout moments for me were the ambushing of the security vehicle involving a perfectly choreographed 10-minutes of multi-vehicle manoeuvering – remember, no CGI here, just good ol’ fashioned planning and precision, perfectly executed.

TENET was one of those movies that demanded that you pay attention. A quick visit to the loo could spell a disaster in that every minute was relevent to the story.

With the actress and the bishop on standby, apart from Michael Caine’s ‘small part’, it was a really long one (ooo err!), coming in at a whopping 2 hours and 30 minutes!

Overall then? Well, I guess this film might be looked back on in years-to-come as either a masterpiece or a complete dud. For us three, and me in particular, it felt like the latter – a totally incomprehensive mess, clever in concept, but completely confusing with a plot that demanded a very large brain and 199% attention! The poor sound quality of the narrative channel didn’t help things either.

or

If you’re looking for a Saturday-night-style blockbuster, this IS it, but if you want a coherent plot with a beginning, middle and end – this ISN’T!

In short, BIG and BAFFLING and totally BANANAS!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: TENET appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Off to our fave cinema – Cineworld at Rushden Lakes – for the just-released TV-series-turned-movie: Downton Abbey.

If you fancy a ‘bit of posh’ you couldn’t do better than this! . Most of the recurring characters from the TV series make it to the big-screen outing, with just a few omissions (due to actors’ unavailability).

“Above Stairs”…
Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham
Allen Leech as Tom Branson
Matthew Goode as Henry Talbot
Harry Hadden-Paton as Bertie Pelham
Douglas Reith as Lord Merton
Penelope Wilton as Lady Isobel Merton
Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, the Countess of Grantham
Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley
Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley (eventually ‘Pelham’)

“Below Stairs”…
Jim Carter as Carson, the butler
Phyllis Logan as Mrs Hughes, the housekeeper
Rob James-Collier, as Mr Barrow, the butler
Brendan Coyle as Mr Bates, the valet to the Earl of Grantham
Joanne Froggatt as Anna, the personal maid to Lady Mary
Kevin Doyle as Mr Molesley, footman
Lesley Nicol as Mrs Patmore, the cook
Sophie McShera as Daisy, the under-cook
Michael Fox as Andy Parker, footman and Daisy’s Fiancé
Rachel Cassidy as Phyllis Baxter, Lady Crawley’s Maid

Expect to see some other well-known TV faces too. In particular, Mark Ady (as an ‘alt-Arkwright’) and David Hague, in a part that was surely written for him as The King’s Page of the Back Stairs.

Set in 1920s, it depicts the world of the Crawleys as they prepare for a visit from royalty – King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James).

It’s all class-hokum of course – for a start, the benevolence of ‘upstairs’ with those ‘downstairs’ doesn’t match anything I’d ever read about life in servitude back in the day!

Still, it was wonderful hokum! Call me an old romantic, but Julian Fellowes has done a fantastic job in transferring it all from small to the big screen. The TV series was pretty lavish, but this takes it up a notch (or ten). It was superbly filmed, with the actors effortlessly re-creating their roles like they’d never been away. There are are quite a few plot-lines, some big, some small, but it all comes together very nicely by the final act. Maggie Smith did not disappoint, and has now achieved an AS Level (Advanced Sarcasm) in her specialist subject – so many wonderful cutting lines!

So, spend the next 120 minutes immersed in the rosy world of the idle rich (but do take a tissue as there’s a major ‘blub’ moment towards the end).

There’s plenty of chatter online about whether they’ll be a sequel or not – I’d say the chances are very high.

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: Downton Abbey appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We headed over to Cineworld at Rushden Lakes this evening to catch the latest cinematic incarnation of ‘The Lion King‘.

Featuring the voice-talents of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (as well as James Earl Jones reprising his role from the original film) the movie is directed by Jon Favreau.

But more about the movie itself a little later!

And what could be better than seeing a movie in a spanking new(ish) cinema? Well, seeing it in 3D… And what could be better than seeing a movie in 3D..?
…seeing it in 4DX of course (whatever that is!).
Everyone knows that 3D is a well-worn tactic for getting people to go to the Cinema, but what about this new fangled ‘4DX’?

This was our first experience of this technology to augment a film, and we roped-in good friends Jo and Janet to share the experience! Ahh! that’s what friends are for!

And after our now familiar routine of plugging-in ‘Robert‘ for some free ‘leccy’, courtesy of Pod-Point, we headed for the special ‘4DX Screen’. Given the promised reality of this ground-breaking multi-sensory experience, I noted they don’t provide sick-bags!

But what about the Film?

Much has already been written about this new release – and it’s only been out for a few days! After all, it was as recent as 1994 that Disney released ‘the all new The Lion King Animated Movie’. So, is the world ready for another remake so soon? Well, if they can do it with SpiderMan, and pull in new audiences, surely something as cuddly as a lion-cub is going to be easy! With visuals touted as ‘hyper-real‘ and ‘photorealistic‘, we’re going into this with high expectations!

And we weren’t to be disappointed! With those two particular adjectives ringing in our ears, and just when you think animation can’t get any more real, along comes this movie, that blurs the lines between ‘real’ and CGI.

OK, I think everyone knows the story, so I won’t re-tell it here. Instead, let me concentrate how it all felt...
Breathtaking is an under-statement – and that would have been our view without the addition of 4DX. With every hair of the lions clearly possessing a life of their own, you have to wonder what the next big jump in screen animation will be like. At times it really was impossible to tell that none of these animals were actually real (apart from the fact they talked!) With the addition of the 4DX effects (strobe lighting, vibrating and pivoting chairs, scents and smoke), it made a brilliant movie totally unforgettable!

Go see!

PS…

Even if the movie doesn’t break records, the weather is heading that way! Up here in Northamptonshire we’ve got it cooler (relatively) than those in the south-east, and across Europe, where temperatures are promising to hit the high 30s!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: The Lion King appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We travelled not far from home today, returning to Cineworld at Rushden Lakes.
This time, to catch the latest Marvel Super-hero Movie: Spiderman: Far from Home.

And not just any old film presentation! We chose the iMax version (and in 3D too!). What a feast for the senses!

We picked Jo and Janet up at 3.45 and headed for our destination and the 4.20pm performance. A typical Saturday at Rushden Lakes meant that parking was err, ‘challenging’ – and that included the majority of the electric charging points too!

Luckily (and pretty close to the cinema itself) we spotted an empty charging-bay and we parked-up quicker than you can say ‘kilowatt’.

After grabbing some drinks, we headed for the iMax screen armed with our free 3D glasses. We were soon seated in row ‘M’ (almost at the back and perfectly central to enjoy the best view). Surprisingly, I’d say that the Screen was only about a third full (but maybe other fans had seen it earlier in the week when it was first released).

Unlike other screens here, the iMax seats DON’T recline, but even so, they were very comfortable! Word to the wise! – avoid Row L for a while, as a Marvel fan in front of us managed to completely spill her two-gallon bucket of Coke on the nearly new seats! – and that was before the Movie had started!! Even Spiderman’s hands are that ‘sticky’!

On the dot of 4.20, we slipped on our 3D glasses and we were off!

Wow! The 3D effects were amazing, and the picture itself was pin-sharp! Apart from our first visit here earlier in the week, I can’t recall ever seeing such a clear picture (maybe apart of the film: ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ that we’d seen at the local Odeon back in November, 2017).

As the story unfolded, it became clear this wasn’t a typical super-hero yarn, and it therefore required a fair bit of concentration. There’s a massive plot-twist around an hour in, but it’s OK, I won’t reveal the details here; suffice to say, it’s not a good time to pop to the loo!

The SFX were simply outstanding – but that’s becoming the norm these days! Even so, we were still mightily impressed! As an example, if you have a familiarity with London’s Tower Bridge and the surrounding area, then prepare to be amazed… and some!

Like all Marvel films, it’s wise to sit through the end of the credits, not just to see the sheer amount of talent it took to get this latest blockbuster to screen, but to gain a clue-or-two as to what’s next for the Marvel-verse.

Even without any 3D effects this is a must-see movie for Marvel fans – and even if you’re not, it’s a very engaging and watchable adventure. Go see!

On the way out, we slipped into Heavenly Dessert nearby for some err, heavenly desserts! By the time we’d finished eating, Robert (our e-Niro) had been on charge for a little over 3½ hours – it turned out to be have been enough time to completely ‘top the car up’ – and best of all, for zero cost! Happy days!!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: Spiderman: Far from Home appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We took the short drive over to Rushden Lakes today – this time, not for shopping! (some mistake surely) – but in consolation, we did sneak in a cheeky dessert courtesy of Heavenly Desserts!

Instead of shopping, it was our first visit to their shiny new, two-week-old, Cineworld cinema (their 100th opening in fact!). We saw Rocketman, the biographical film based on the life of musical legend Elton John.

Directed by Dexter Fletcher and written by Lee Hall, it stars Taron Egerton as the titular singer, with Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard in strong supporting roles.

Having also seen Bohemian Rhapsody back in November, comparisons were going to inevitable, but we went with open minds (and ears!)

Mostly chronological, it charted Elton’s life from a young boy, and didn’t hold back on those three rock-star essentials – sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. With that in mind, it’s probably not a film for Grandma, and best to leave the sprogs on the cinema’s climbing wall in Reception!

Taron Egerton more than held his own singing the Elton John staples, and if he ever gets bored of acting, a singing career awaits! Unlike Bohemian Rhapsody, the songs had, in most cases, been re-orchestrated to complement and follow the storyline – it worked really well with an uncanny match of the lyrics to the scene’s mood. Overall, the movie followed a deeper and darker theme throughout compared with Queen’s equivalent – and in places, was even sadder (Who’d be a pop-megastar ehh???)

Having said all that, I was hooked throughout! What a movie! For me, easily the best I’ve seen in a long, long while – and I’m not a particular fan of Elton’s music, nor actors trying their hand at singing!

And therefore, I suppose, the inevitable question has to be answered: “Was it better than Bohemian Rhapsody?” With its more graphic storyline, for me, most definitely, “yes”.

A must-see movie!

And the Cinema itself..?

I can’t recall the last time we went to a Cineworld cinema – we tend to plump for Odeon, only because there seems to be more of them around. Actually, a quick search of my Blog revealed we’d been to MK’s Cineworld back in January 2018 to see Darkest Hour (free tickets courtesy of Sky) – my memory is definitely getting worse!

First impressions of The Lake were very positive ones! First of all, it’s massive inside! So large in fact, it has its own climbing wall for the kiddies (and why not!?). The whole place was scrupulously clean and with major areas bathed in red neon, it looked very inviting. The cleanliness extended to the loos too! Inside Screen 1, the seats were super-comfortable and the sort that recline. The picture quality on-screen was eye-popping – the best I’ve ever seen in any cinema anywhere – pin-sharp and with audio to match. Our expectations were well-and-truly exceeded (and that doesn’t happen too often these days!).

In fact, it made our local Odeon look very shabby by comparison! We were so impressed, we’re going back again on Saturday – this time to see Marvel Studios’ latest: Spiderman: Far from Home (and I have a feeling, we’ll be making quite a few more visits in the future).

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Film: Rocketman appeared first on Steve's Blog.