Author: Ian

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Silence

I sauntered out to Rochester cinema last night to see Silence. I have, of course, rated this film on IMDB and you should read this communication about my rating scale. I went to see a showing that had the programme start at 20:40. This was a late night for me!

So, this was a long film, but didn’t actually feel that long. I enjoyed it a lot. I would recommend you see it. I am not sure I would watch it again, but it deserves an 8 on my scale. It is a thoughtful, slow, beautiful film with lots of torture and suffering.

I was mildly amused at the beginning of the film as right at the point that its name glares across the screen SILENCE there is no audio from the film but the doors to the auditorium were open and the noise of people outside in the foyer filled our room.

Having done a little Wikipediaring I have found that this is based on an historical fiction novel about the treatment of Roman Catholics in Japan during the 17th century. You will not be surprised to find that I do not understand that people would rather die through torture than recant their belief in a [possibly mythical] Jew from the middle-east who was likely a naughty boy. However, this is what they did and they died for their faith. As have many before and since. This, I can’t compute.

This film is worth watching. I will be watching Ghost In The Shell today because there is a live action version out soon!

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Steps Challenge

My niece and I are currently in a week long “steps” battle. We both own Garmin fitness trackers and are in a challenge via the Garmin app. Whoever does most steps this week wins. I did well with a run yesterday but was worried today would let me down so I went for a walk to the local monetary. It’s a Carmelite monk place called Aylesford Priory or The Friars. It’s quite picturesque and even has its own relic of a saint.

Aylesford Priory Altar
Aylesford Priory Altar

It’s a pretty place within a lovely setting just next to the river Medway.

River Medway
River Medway

There are some nice gardens, although not a lot about at this time of year.

Aylesford Priory - A View
Aylesford Priory – A View

The weather was perfect for an atmospheric horror movie, but I didn’t see anything untoward.

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Heading For Tomorrow – Gamma Ray

I originally had this album on vinyl. I can remember looking at it in the shop and wondering if it will be any good. It had an odd double jacket which I think was just because the branding of the band had changed over time. That was all I knew when I got it.

I think this is a great album. It’s very operatic hardcore German metal. If you like Helloween then you’ll love this. Largely because one of the Helloween members went on to create this band. The whole album has operatic themes and great riffs and remember-able hooks to the choruses.

Heading For Tomorrow
Heading For Tomorrow

Lust For Life, Heaven Can Wait, Space Eater, Money, Freetime and Heading For Tomorrow are all great songs. Just bloody brilliant.

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Grind Ya Down – Motörhead

Every now and then I buy a Motörhead album and pretty often I am disappointed. There is a good reason for this. “No Sleep ‘Till Hammersmith” is a live album that will [eventually] be reviewed here. I will let you know now it’s the dog’s bollocks, an absolutely brilliant album. And that’s where the problem lies. All other Motörhead albums are going to pale in significance.

As far as I can make out this is a compilation album, probably to make a quick profit for those liking the whole “Ace Of Spades” thing. The track listing has some very good songs, but when you have already heard them on the aforementioned live album these songs seem a little bit tame.

I suggest you just get No Sleep ‘Till Hammersmith.

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Gorillaz – Gorillaz

I actually bought this on CD. I remember liking the song being played on TV and the radio and thought I’d get the whole album. I did like the characters in the videos and how they looked quite anime.

I think if I played this album I would recognise a couple of songs but I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever used it as background music, it’s not something I’ve listened to actively.

Isn’t some Blur member in the band?

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Metallennium Falcon

I got a proper christmas present from Jo and this is the first part of it. It’s a model of the Millennium Falcon coming in at about 75mm long and 50mm wide. I have R2 and an X-Wing to make yet. This was pretty fiddly! There were about thirty pieces of metal sheet to pop out and then fit together. My eyes are possibly slightly too old for this shit! But it does look good.

Millennium Falcon
Millennium Falcon

If you want to see a 360 degree version, and who wouldn’t, then click here. One more view:

Millennium Falcon
Millennium Falcon

Yes, I know the word “christmas” should be spelt with a capital letter. But I don’t care.

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Travelling The South or Why Isn’t Anything Open?

After seeing Rogue One (again) Mr O and I decided to visit a military museum. Rather, what we did was use the POI thingy on the Sat Nav and it came up with the Military Museum in Aldershot. I’d never been to this garrison town before and it is something to behold! Plenty of red signs everywhere.

We journeyed from Guildford to Aldershot. The road was a curious one making its route atop a ridge.

Journey Part 1
Journey Part 1

After arriving at the museum we noticed the gates were locked shut. We weren’t that far from a set of armed guards securing the base itself so we tried a search for something else. This time we checked the website to make sure it was open. Off we set for Tangmere Museum. It would appear the Mr O misread the website as it clearly states it opens in February. But, we weren’t aware of that and so drove to Tangmere near Goodwood.

Journey Part 2
Journey Part 2

Along the way we saw many lovely countryside sites with layers of fog which, if we had a decent camera, would have been great photos. It was very picturesque. Except for one bit. We had seen a race course on the top of a hill and we were discussing whether it was Goodwood or not and BLAM. The sun was directly in our eyes along the line of the road. I came to a halt. I couldn’t see shit. The sun was literally in line with the road.

Blinded
Blinded (highlighted bit)

We had to try and drive for about 200m without being able to see. I found that if I moved my head so the door pillar blocked the sun I could just make out the left and right sides of the road. I still couldn’t see anything in front but we ambled along and hoped that someone else would stop if they were coming the other way. It was a curious experience and one I don’t really want again. We should have made a note of the time because there would be a decent set of mathematics to be done to check where the sun was and how much it aligned with the road. If I had the inclination we could probably work out where and what time just from the facts I have already said.

Tangmere
Tangmere

Another set of locked gates indicated closure. Bugger. All we wanted now was a cup of tea and some cake. We knew Goodwood circuit was nearby and so we drove to that. Everything there was also closed. The day had turned out to be a series of closed places that we wanted to visit. We had to drive back to (near) Reigate for a cuppa.

Journey Part 3
Journey Part 3

The journey itself was fun, interesting and a delight. It’s just a shame everything we were trying to see was closed.

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Rogue One (2)

Well, this is definitely a first for me. Re-reviewing a film. I wrote about this film in this communication. I stand by everything I wrote in that. However, I enjoyed the film much more the second time around. Perhaps I had already accepted all of the annoying things and just wanted to enjoy the film. I still think it’s worth a 6 on the IRPFS.

I watched the film this time at the Odeon in Guildford with two old friends. One of them reads this shoddy site, the other doesn’t. It was very nice to see them both. We went to a ten o’clock showing of this film, which was very similar to seeing it the first time. I wonder what it is with middle-aged men that we go to see films early in the day? I think it’s because we have other responsibilities and aren’t allowed out in the evenings because then bad things can happen!

What do you do after a film when you still have spare time? Go to a military museum, obviously.

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