'Howl' (or, "Why We Need More Actors Like James Franco")

Evening, all.

James Franco as Allen Ginsberg.

So, after Christmas I'll be doing a university project wherein I get to decide the sort of performance I create and what sort of group of people I create it with. My idea is based on the poetry of the Beat generation and, in doing some Googling around, I stumbled across the film 'Howl' starring James Franco as prolific and influential beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

I gave it a watch and was very pleased with what I saw.

Flitting between a reading of 'Howl' by Franco as Ginsberg in an underground coffee shop with an audience full of beat poets, (Kerouac et al) in 1955 and an interview in his apartment in 1957 it tells the story of the controversy surrounding the poem following its publication. Interspersed with some surreal and sublime animation it makes for a very entertaining viewing experience, however, at times it gets a little repetitive and has a tendency to feel as self indulgent as the poets themselves were guilty of being at times.

The use of black and white scenes inter-cut with full colour ones makes for a very pleasing, palatable experience for the view and Franco sparkles as the troubled poet. Franco, to this writer's mind is one of the best actors of the modern age and so often displays his talents even when performing in sub-par films, (think Spider-Man III).

Franco may seem like an odd choice for Ginsberg given Franco's strong jaw line and sharp cheek bones, however, while he may not resemble the poet closely he seems to capture his mannerism and idiosyncrasies with a studious glee so few actors possess these days.

Franco as James Dean.

Speaking of Franco and his wonderful performances, I'd strongly recommend watching "James Dean", the 2001 television film which pretty much began his career. As you may have worked out from the title, Franco plays James Dean and does so with utter relish and aplomb. I've watched and re-watched his performance as Dean a number of times now and it is really quite eerie how Franco seems to channel the late actor so perfectly that at times it feels as though you are, once more, watching the one true Rebel in the flesh.

Franco seems to be able to set himself apart from all the other would-be leading men, to assert himself as one of the few great character actors of his time, playing real people, James Dean and Allen Ginsberg and Aron Ralston with honesty, sensitivity and utter and complete devotion.

Three qualities which are, sadly, lacking from modern day Hollywood.

For those of you who wish to learn more about Franco and his art, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzrDNLZ5qBk

To buy "James Dean" go here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/James-Dean-The-Movie-Franco/dp/B001P89A2K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355683233&sr=8-1

To buy "Howl" go here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Howl-DVD-James-Franco/dp/B004OQJSK4/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1355683266&sr=1-1

To buy "127 Hours" go here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/127-Hours-DVD-James-Franco/dp/B004I5C3V2/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1355683287&sr=1-1

Thanks for reading, until next time.

Derren Brown: A Fairy Godmother For The 21st Century

Derren Brown

Hello, darling readers, long time no blog, and I apologise profusely for such a large gap between posts but I've been mightily busy and am now in full swing of my third year of university. Not so busy, I'll admit, that I've not been able to get to grips with some TV what-which I've missed over the years.

Some of you may be aware that Derren Brown's most recent foray into the world of mind-fuckery "Apocalypse" was aired over the last two weekends. I'd never watched any of Brown's work before but my girlfriend was interested in watching the new show given that she had a passing interest in his work. Needless to say, I got hooked from the off and have since gone through most of his work; I still have no idea as to how he does a lot of what he does, but it's always fun to discuss.

Apocalypse

It was through one of these discussions, after last nights' "Fear & Faith", that I realised that Derren truly acts as a fairy godmother for the modern age, creating within people the things they actually need, whether or not they believe that's what they want. The fact that he achieves all of his results to the satisfaction of participants is one thing, that he makes damned good television is quite another.

The way that he achieves, through pyschological suggestion and physical experiments, a massive change in the lives of his participants is nothing short of miraculous, with many of those involved saying that Brown has thoroughly changed their lives, much like the classic Disney Godmother.

From 'Hero at 30,000 Feet', wherein he placed a man terrified of flying, after a series of confidence building tests, in a situation which required him to land a plan that was, supposedly, about to crash, to more the more minor league 'Trick or Treat' series, in which Derren shows his mischievous side in order to achieve big life changes within those involved, Brown seems to know no bounds to the human psyche and shows no intention of letting up.

The very fact that over the course of the career he's gone from freaking people out by 'reading' their minds, to more recently changing their minds in a more positive, constructive way, shows an ideal career trajectory that any person in any field could hope to emulate.

My girlfriend spilled the beans on what she's gotten me for my joint Christmas and birthday present and, to my extreme excitement and surprise, and she's gotten me tickets to Derren's new tour in April and I absolutely can't wait. If I'm lucky enough to get 'Derrened' I'll be sure to let you all know.

Until next time chums, I'll try to write a lot more frequently now, I promise!

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark.

WH-TSH

(That was a the sound of a bullwhip in case it wasn't completely obvious, which it totally was, okay?)

Today we're talking Raiders! My favourite film of all time ever!*

Yes dear reader, it's gotten to that stage when I've run out of relevant things to say and so I'm just going to chat to you about why Raiders is so perfect in my eyes.

From the very opening, as the words "South America, 1936" appear on the screen (actually Hawaii, fact fans!), you can see from Spielberg's lush cinematography that you're in for a visual treat, the sound of a rainforest fills your ears and you see a convoy of men (and their donkeys!) cross before your eyes.

The leader of the pack is none other than Harrison Ford as the fedora-wearing, gun-toting, whip-wielding Dr Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones Jr.

Indy ponders the idol...

But we don't know that yet.

The opening sequence which sees Indy steeling the Hovitos' fertility idol and narrowly avoid a smushing under a giant boulder is one which has been imitated, referenced and parodied many a time in popular culture and rightly so, the imagery is striking, stunningly original but remaining, at heart, a beautiful pastiche to the world of the televised adventure serial that inspired the Indiana Jones series.

What goes follows is an adrenaline fuelled romp around the world which sees simple story telling at its' best. Not only is Raiders a pure action-adventure film, it manages to tell a story while still retaining its' awe and spectacle, a feat not many modern films manage.

Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood.

Not only is the story a simple yet entertaining jaunt, it manages to feel perfectly at home in the 1930's while doing away with many of the more negative aspects of the decade, for instance, Karen Allen as Indy's jilted love interest, Marion Ravenwood is a classic example of how feisty female companions can really add to a story. In fact, Ravenwood as a character manages to keep up with, challenge, annoy and seduce Indy making her one of the most well-rounded and believable heroines in cinematic history. While she does her fair share of screaming in fear, she also lands our hero a punch on the jaw and shows that she can hold her own as much as 'The Man in the Hat'.

Paul Freeman as René Belloq.

While Indy and co. are taking on the wider enemy of Nazism it is, in fact, René Belloq that is Indy's main rival in his search for the Ark of the Covenant. The classic device of making the enemy, as Belloq puts it, "A shadowy reflection" of our hero is employed with masterful relish by writer Kazan and actor Paul Freeman, who amongst the Indiana Jones audience doesn't wish that at least 'The Last Crusade' featured Belloq, however, his death at the end of Raiders is a wonderful image that will haunt and entertain for decades to come.

From the amazingly thrilling set pieces, such as Indy being dragged behind the truck, the boulder chase and Indy's daring escape from the Well of Souls to the more tender moments he shares with Marion on board the Bantu Wind, Raiders is the ultimate balance of action, sentimentality, golden-age heroics and, most importantly of all, adventure.

The fact of the matter is that I could postulate for hours on end about Raiders and the entire Indiana Jones series, but I shan't, these highlights will have to suffice for now, and who knows, maybe one day when I run out of other things to blog about, I'll once more reach for the fedora and the whip and share some more of my thoughts on everyone's favourite archaeologist.

Until next time, gang, and remember, you throw me the idol, I'll throw you the whip!

*By the parameter "of all time ever" excludes those films which I have yet to see, read "of all the films I've seen, this is my favourite!"

My Week With Marilyn

'My Week With Marilyn'.

One of the evenings I spent in Lincoln last week with the girlf (see previous post) featured a much belated viewing of the film 'My Week With Marilyn'.

The film itself was very impressive, a nice little snapshot into the life of Monroe without feeling the need to go into any greater biographical detail. This is something admirable these days given that there's a fairly recent and current Hollywood trend to make films focussing on the entire lifetime of a cultural icon. Something I feel cannot be achieved fully within the time frame of two and half hours.

Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark.

What I found most enthralling about this film, one which centres around a very minute story, was how well it stood up, mostly thanks to some excellent performances from some very impressive acting talent; Eddie Redmayne puts in a very engaging performance as our narrator and way-in, Colin Clark. Unfortunately for Redmayne his character wasn't written too deeply and so is left to offer the best he can with a scantly drawn character. However, he does this incredibly well and holds the audience's attention, his character's lack of depth isn't too much of an issue either, partially due to the fact that the story is told from Clark's viewpoint and thus, allows for a more sketchy portrayal of himself.

Emma Watson as Lucy.

Another lightly drawn character is that of the singularly named Lucy, played with considerable skill by the ever-lovely Emma Watson. Not only does she look like a sweet natured, vintage-themed girl-next-door, she evokes an entirely different way of life to that of Marilyn and therefore creates a nice juxtaposition when confronted with the fact that Clark finds himself attracted to both Lucy and Monroe. Watson's portrayal is simple, subtle and without flair. That last sentence sounds like a criticism, it's not. Quite the contrary, in fact, I feel that Watson's ability to convey everything she needs to without going into more showy territory is worth of merit and thus her performance in this film is worth a mention, even if her part is only small and quiet, much like her character itself.

Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe.

Naturally, Michelle Williams shines as the titular Mrs Marilyn Miller (né Monroe) giving a very impressive and commendable outing as the troubled starlet. She is given the chance to flex her acting muscles and really show the audience what she can do as an actress, while simultaneously allowing her performance to seem natural and believable. I know very little about Monroe (something I intend to change post-haste) but Williams' performance served as a wonderful taster of the life and career of one of pop cultures most enduring icons. Williams was very lucky in the scripting department, with writers giving her some very natural, colloquial speech which seems to have allowed her to slip into the character of Monroe far easier than if she had been given the aforementioned Colin Clark treatment. Physically she's a very good bit of casting for Monroe, evoking her physical shape and size while also retaining a lot of her classic beauty. She's not a dead-ringer but what she lacks facially, she more than makes up for in sheer performance believability.

While there are many performances in this film worthy of mention, I don't wish to go into too much detail, naturally Dame Judy Dench is wonderful to the last, as she always is, Toby Jones gives a deliciously sleezy turn as Arthur Jacobs and Dougray Scott was inspired casting for Arthur Miller, however, my favourite performance of all in this film is the absolute genius that is Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier.

Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier.

I've always been a big fan of Branagh and his work, from directing and starring in Hamlet, to his more recent performance at the Olympic opening ceremony as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Branagh is one of the best, most prolific actor's of his generation. Suffice it to say, he has often been called the Olivier of the modern age, a title I believe he thoroughly deserves, so, indeed, who better to play Olivier himself?

Branagh's performance is well measured, equal parts subtle and explosive while also feeling heavily flavoured with Olivier's trademark theatricality. The most noticeable touches to his performance are when you see Olivier in front of the camera and behind the scenes in quick succession, Branagh seems to absolutely nail the idea of performing with a performance and does Olivier proud, never allowing the audience to hate the great man, even when you feel that you should.

The film itself is engaging, entertaining and very well made, the performances mentioned above elevate it from a simple tool of a Marilyn Monroe revival to being a wonderful piece of thought-provoking, heart-rendering theatrical cinema.

See you next time, dear reader.

Christie & Amber's Week of Fun!

Sorry for the crap title, I couldn't think of anything witty so I decided to go for the oft-copied "Joey and Janice's Day of Fuuuuuuun!" formula. Don't judge me.

Anyway, as you may have been about to glean from the poorly written name of this post, Amber (the Girlf) and I went back to Lincoln for a week in order to get some time away from the humdrum silence of home. We're both students in Lincoln and I have a house there, and what with my house-mates being in Edinburgh all last week, it seemed perfect that we could have some time to ourselves.

So that's what we did!

I shan't go into too much detail because I don't want to sound like your Nan after her third gin and tonic of the night when the holiday snaps come out. What I will do, however, is give you a run down of some of my favourite places/events of the week

The Coffee Aroma Logo
 Branded Onto a Tray.

When we arrived we got a taxi to my house, given that it's at the top of Steep Hill and neither of us fancied carrying our luggage up that beast. Especially given that I would've ended up carrying Amber's bag too and she seemed to have packed more than any human being could ever need for a week away! (Sorry dear!) However, this did mean I'd have to wait EVEN longer to get to one of my favourite places of all time; Coffee Aroma.

The Usual.

Coffee Aroma is a home away from home away from home to me. The coffee is heavenly beyond words, the cakes are trouser-tighteningly good and the atmosphere is incredible. The owner, Richard, has done an utterly incredible job in bringing this wonderful little establishment to the streets of Lincoln, and I, for one, couldn't be happier that it's there. I'm especially thrilled that each year, most of the freshers seems to overlook it in favour of their f*cking Starbucks Mochafrappacrappachinos with soya milk and extra syrups, leaving Aroma with the select few coffee-lovers who seem to appreciate and understand the place.

Amber Wears My Glasses
At Coffee Aroma.

Me Enjoying The Usual.

Long may it continue.

The thing about Coffee Aroma that makes it a cut above (aside from everything else I mentioned above) is the personal touch, every single person that works there is a character and you begin to get to know all of them with every repeat visit. They begin to know you, as well, along with your "usual" order. Seriously, there's no greater feeling that being able to in and order "The Usual". It makes me feel cool, though I'm certain I sound like a twat.

Vintage Biker Jacket @ Mr Bojangles.

The next place on my list of Lincoln Favourites would be Mr Bojangles Vintage. Run by a friend of mine, Mark Goddard, Bojangles boasts an absolutely MASSIVE array of quality vintage garments in all styles, shapes and sizes. The shop itself is modest in size yet packs a huge punch in terms of spectacle and range of products

I regularly go and check back with Mark to see what new stock he may have for me to in awe of, and it often works! On my first visit there on my trip with Ambs, I discovered a beautiful vintage biker jacket in exactly the size and style I'd been on the look out for. Result!

The Tinjo.

One of the other things that Mark had on display was the beautiful 'Tinjo'. An instrument made out of an old biscuit tin an absolutely stunning, hand made neck, this truly plays like a dream, and they're not going to break the bank either!

This was made by Different Strings and is a real belter! I'll place a link to their website at the bottom of this blog so, if you feel inclined, you can contact them about buying one of their wonderful products, or commissioning an incredible one off piece which will be sure to turn heads.

Now many of you may know that I like my records. I know that makes me sound like a pretentious, hipster idiot, but I don't care. I've loved vinyl for many years and I'm proud of the collection I've amassed recently. This is thanks, in no small part, to Back To Mono.

Back To Mono is the fantastic little shop packed to the rafters with an incredible amount of quality vinyl at ridiculously low prices. I will just say that if you're going to go and have a look around, keep your afternoon free, you may end up spending quite a long time in there.

That Thing You Do!

Amber and I were looking more for her than for me, she'd recently received a gorgeous Dansette record player from her mother for her birthday and she wanted to begin her collection in earnest.

And that she did.

The Play-Tone Label.

I may have also bought a few bits myself...


My favourite of which is this little beauty. "That Thing You Do!" by The Wonders - this a rare 90's gem that I've been in search of for many a year. This was released as promo material for the Tom Hanks film of the same name. I was thrilled to the core to see it, especially as I'd virtually given up hope of finding one, and then there it was... and at only £5 I couldn't pass it up! See what I mean by how cheap things are?!

A Pint of Alpine.

Amber Enjoys Her Pint.

 The final spot on my little list is Widow Cullen's Well; a beautiful little pub situated at the top of Steep Hill where the atmosphere is always friendly and the beer is always cold. And cheap.

Oh so cheap.

£1.65 a pint?! It's unheard of these days.

There's not much else to say about the Well except that it's best enjoyed with good friends and that when you go, be sure to sit upstairs because, in the words of Amber "it gives the best sense of not being hit on by dirty old men."

Wise words indeed.

Upstairs @ The Well.

Sorry for the essay, and if you ever find yourselves in Lincoln, be sure to check out some of these spots, you won't be disappointed!

Links:
Coffee Aroma's Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/CoffeeAroma
Mr Bojangles' Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/groups/121145184603493/
Different Strings' Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/Differentstringsguitars?ref=ts
Back to Mono's Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Back-to-Mono/137562496331894
Widow Cullen's Well Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Widow-Cullens-Well/101754349887243
Amber's Blog - http://thewayamberseesit.blogspot.co.uk/

The King is Dead; Long Live The King

Elvis Aaron Presley
1935 - 1977

Thirty-Five years ago today the man, the myth, the legend, Elvis Presley, died at his home in Graceland. I have no story of where I was when I heard the news, I have no memory of Presley being alive, for at the time, my existence was a long way off, in the far, futuristic land of nineteen-ninety-two.

What I do have, of Presley, though, is what everybody has. The music.

While the man himself struggled with addiction and depression, insomnia and paranoia, the music is timeless, untouched by the passing decades, unfaltering in its' appeal and at the core of every single one of us; anyone who claims to enjoy any sort of music will be aware, and almost certainly a fan, of Elvis Presley.

'Devil in Disguise'

When I was a small child some of my earliest memories are of hearing Presley's music, my mother was always a huge fan and I seem to recall being absolutely enraptured by the music. I seem to recall it being a greatest hits CD that was my Mum's absolute favourite. The song was 'Devil In Disguise' and for the first time in my young life, I felt so touched by music, so ultimately shaken to the core by the intense beat and pure soul in the voice of Presley that I did something I had never done before.

I danced. At the age of three years old I was dancing around the front room begging my mother to keep that one song playing again and again. And she did and I kept moving with that music.

From that moment on, Elvis was always a presence in my life, whether or not he was at the fore as a passion or whether or not he was but a distant whisper in the back of mind reminding me that regardless of how bad my life got, regardless of how I felt about the outside world, Rock and Roll would always be there.

Possibly the most distinctive memory of hearing Elvis is the time I watched the '68 comeback special. I don't remember how old I was, where I was, or even who I saw it with (chances are it was my mother, again). The one thing I do remember is Presley's incredibly passionate rendition of 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy'. The sound of his guttural, heart-felt singing, to this day, is engrained in my mind and it's something I know I'll never forget.

Elvis The Pelvis.

While I was never around while Presley walked the earth, while I have no living memory of him, his impact on the world has been so great, so unrivalled that surely, the image of Elvis's pelvis gyrating at the audience will be a benchmark of cultural excellence in the same way great artists such as Da Vinci and Van Gogh left their marks on their times.

The Fender Elvis Presley Kingman.

The global obsession with Elvis, which continues to this day, is astounding, and not undeserved. There are still books, DVDs, CDs, LPs, posters, films, documentaries, tribute acts, and, most recently, Fender have released a beautiful Elvis tribute guitar, in the guise of the Kingman, the guitar Presley played in his '67 film 'Clambake'.

The very fact that rock and roll continues in a very pure form, under the modern name of Rockabilly means that there are people like myself who are still moved to write, record, cover and produce rock and roll as it may well have been in the 1950's. I know for a fact Presley is a big influence on my music (as well as my hair style!) and I can't begin to express enough how much rock and roll has meant to me in my short twenty years on this earth.

Elvis combs his trademark hair.

Luckily for us, the era of Rock and Roll that really kicked off in the fifties thanks to the likes of Presley, Bill Hailey, Buddy Holly and many others wasn't confined to that ten year period when youth culture seemed to explode. To this day there is a great passion for rock and roll and a wonderful resurgence in the buying and collecting (and most importantly, playing) of vinyl records.

The anecdotes from my childhood about Elvis aren't the only ones I have, but they're two of the many happy memories the music have given me. Hopefully some of you out there will have similar memories of how Presley has touched your life, and maybe you'll even feel comfortable enough to share them with us.

Until next time, long live the king.

'Elvis has left the building.'

Batman: Knight & Squire

Knight & Squire

When I visited the library the other day to grab some more graphic novels to tide me over between books, I came across the namesake of this post. "Batman: Knight & Squire" the cover of which depicts a dynamic duo in the vein of Batman & Robin, the two things that caught my eye most about this particular cover though, were the fact that our titular heroes are stood in front of Big Ben, something I found very intriguing for what I took to be a Batman title, and the authors name, Paul Cornell.

Many of you may recognise Cornell's name and make the connection between he, and some of the best episodes of Doctor Who of recent years (Doctor Who being one of the other things I'm obsessed with) and so I figured that this, surely, must be well worth a read.

Upon reading said graphic novel, I couldn't find my hunch to be more validated. Knight & Squire is a wonderfully clever, well balanced, witty riff on our favourite billionaire and ward team while seeming as an almost entirely fresh, new piece of work in its' own right.

Initially I was apprehensive and worried that it was going to be an attempt to feed everything from the Batman universe into a British counterpart, however, this wasn't the case. Knight & Squire is set in the same universe as other DC heroes and actually makes reference to how each of our English heroes and villains seem like copies or "cover versions" of their American inspirations.

Jarvis Poker: The British Joker

Most notably of all (aside from The Knight as a wonderful take on Batman) is "Jarvis Poker: The British Joker" an absolutely ingenious play on the classic character. Poker is a so-called villain heavily inspired by The Joker, in fact, he's his "biggest fan" and admires his style yet could never bring himself to commit any crimes and, thus, is admired by the other heroes and villains for carrying himself with poise and dignity, commanding respect and admiration, even though he's dressed in a Chaplin-esque incarnation of a clown costume.

The artwork of this entire book is sublime and masterfully evokes the tone and style of many of the classic Batman stories without being a direct copy, the designs of The Knight and Squire are absolutely gorgeous. The Knight's armour is excellently referential while remaining a striking, original image, allowing the reader to buy into the stories within with much more gusto and fervour than if this were just an out and out British-Batman.

The Cidermen

The writing is wonderfully playful for British readers and equally action-packed if you're unable to spot some of the quirkier references, Cornell has laced the script for this book with so many pop-culture references it's almost mind-boggling. My favourite of all is when Cornell show's his Doctor Who fanboy side by incorporating a team of super-villains called "The Cidermen".

While reading this book I found myself questioning how absurd a lot of the action was, only to check myself and relate it back to its' American counterpart, only to see that, in actual fact, this is no more campy or sent-up than any of the earlier Batman comics; as The Joker himself says of England, "The sheer camp! For you people, it's like the sixties never ended!" and, if the world were really like Knight & Squire, that'd be okay by me!

Ultimately, Knight & Squire is a wonderful tweak of the established Batman & Robin we all know and love, and it's a welcome change, the story telling is excellent, with the right balance of humour and action, the illustration is rich and detailed and the inside-jokes for the whole of Britain are a wonderful flavour that may well have gone over the heads of many an American reader.

Jarvis Poker holds the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre hostage.

All in all, I'd recommend this as a sterling read. It's a shame it ended so soon.

Finally, I couldn't let you go without telling you about how giddy I got when I saw that my adopted home-city of Lincoln was featured, most notably the LPAC theatre. It got me ridiculously excited.

Thanks for reading chumrades!

Danelectro Guitars

I'm really into my guitars.

I've been playing since my thirteenth birthday and I've been obsessed with them ever since.

When I was fifteen I got a Saturday job at the local music shop (I still work there now whenever I'm not at university) and so I was initiated into a world of guitars, amps, accessories and other such treats (there were many downsides to the job, but the people I worked with and the stock I got to sell made it all worth while). Since starting there I've amassed a collection of nine high quality guitars that I absolutely love and today I'd like to talk to you about my favourite.

Dano Pro in Aqua.

While it's by no stretch the most expensive guitar I have, nor is the best guitar I own, the Danelectro Dano Pro is by far my absolute favourite. It just oozes vintage charm and suits my style of playing down to the ground.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone will love Danelectros but I think they're absolutely incredible instruments, especially given that nowadays, a Dano Pro will set you back just £225 (approx.) - I paid slightly less because I bought mine years ago and I got a staff discount (one of the perks of the job!) and it's served me well over the recent years.

Danelectro was founded in 1947 by Nathan Daniel and began producing solid bodied electric guitars 1954, however these instruments were sold under the brand-name of Silvertone Guitars (some guitars bore the name Airline, a brand name now owned and used by Eastwood guitars). Some of these original models can be found today but many only crop up through auction of eBay and will set the seller back a pretty penny.

Dano '63 in Red-Burst

The modern Danelectro guitars are excellent in terms of embodying that vintage charm they had way back through the 40's, 50's and 60's yet they feature modern equivalents of hardware and pick-ups to eliminate any undesired "vintage" problems.

In regards to staying true to the originals, Danelectro still produces cheap, smaller guitars that sound fantastic and play pretty darn well. The bodies are made out of compressed Masonite and then routed and finished in a range of kitsch vintage colours. My Dano Pro is in aqua, however, I also own a Dano '63 in red-burst.

Both guitars sound fantastic, thanks to their vintage-design "lipstick" pick-ups (so called for the shape of the casing), however, the range of sounds from Danelecto guitars is fairly limited, most feature two pick-ups and a three-way pick up selector, allowing you three types of sound, and feature one volume and one tone knob.

A young Jimi Hendrix playing a
Danelectro '59 Double Cutaway.

For guitarists more used to modern instruments these may come as a surprise, but for those more geared towards a 50's sound this isn't a problem, and besides. Danelectro make a wide range of effects pedals if you really feel the need to alter your sound.

Many professional players have picked up a Danelectro or two in their time; one of Jimi Hendrix's first electric guitars was a Dano and modern players such as E (of Eels fame) and Elvis Costello have both favoured Danelectro over the years.

E playing a Danelectro '56 Pro.

.The very reason Danelectro remains ever popular with players from all genres of music, I believe, is down to the fact they they illicit a certain sense of musical nostalgia, a time when teenagers in their bedrooms int he 50's would listen to the radio and hear the likes of Elvis and Buddy Holly and dream one day of becoming rock and roll stars. Not only do they look cool, sound brilliant and play extremely well, they make the player feel a part of that while simultaneously, looking forward to the future.

They might not be for everybody, but they're certainly for a certain type of player, yours truly being a proud member of that type. So, if you're looking for a new guitar that won't break the bank but will deliver all day long, I reckon Danelectro is a good way to go.

They definitely turn heads as well!

Thanks for reading guys, see you next time.

The Dark Knight Rises

So, I saw the film earlier (the 3:30 showing at the Kettering Odeon, fact fans!) and I must say, I'm going to have to sound like all the other people who've seen it, and it truly is a masterpiece of heroic proportions...

(See what I did there? Didcha? Didcha?!)

Nolan and team are once again on tremendous form and I maintain that the Dark Knight Trilogy has vastly improved with each film's release. I remember when I first saw "Batman Begins" and I was blown away, I couldn't believe how dark and gritty and utterly believable it was. "Then The Dark Knight" came along and blew it out of the water and, dare I say it, the same is true of TDKR, it's utterly incredible and stays incredibly true to the original "Bane" saga of the Batman comics while updating, amending and improving them so as to fit more snugly into the Nolan universe.

Tom Hardy and Christian Bale

The cast has been cherry-picked for the most wonderful results, Tom Hardy as Bane is the perfect mix of intellect and intent while also embodying Bane's physical side with sheepskin-clad relish. Initially many fans (including myself) voiced concerns about whether or not Bane's dialogue would be understandable underneath his mask. The first trailer raised these concerns to a very high level, something Nolan and team seemed to take on board. Not once throughout the entire duration of the film was I truly at a loss for what he said and I understood 99% of everything first time around. There was one sentence however, where I had to work it out from context, but hey, that's a tiny, tiny niggle.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is shining as a new addition to the cast and steals the show in every scene he's in. I won't go into too much detail about his character, but I will say his performance is superb. If you're fan of JGL in films like "Brick" and "(500) Days of Summer" you'll see him stretch many other acting muscles in this film, and he does them with skill and precision.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway is great as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, bringing out her murkier intentions behind the cat-burglar  routine. In fact, her performance is such a revelation in the character of Catwoman that I'd say she's one of the few actresses to breathe any discernible life into it. She's only upstaged by her own posterior when wearing her (excuse the pun) cat-suit.

Naturally Christian Bale is on stellar form as our favourite caped crusader and puts up a good fight (literally and figuratively) for the role of ultimate scene stealer, only pipped to the post by the glorious, ever brilliant, Sir Michael Caine.

Sir Michael Caine

Caine's performance is unbelievably well measured yet delivers at exactly the right moments in order to make you cry, either with sadness or joy. Caine is the star of this show, even though he's not in it for anywhere near as much as Hardy or Bale or Hathaway or Levitt. He makes all the difference in Bruce Wayne's life, and in the hearts of the audience and I can't sing his praises enough.

There are several veiled references to the rich back-catalogue of Batman comics, most of which humorous. No one other than me in the cinema got it, so often I was belly-laughing in a room full of silent people. But there we are, they're there if you think you can spot them!

The only other time I found myself chortling was during a fight-scene which caused Batman to get rather drenched causing his usually matte-finish, menacing looking suit become very, very shiny indeed.

(He looked like a big black dildo.)

While I agree whole-heartedly with Nolan's sentiments of this film being the perfect conclusion to his take on The Dark Knight, I can't help but feel that maybe he has some other intentions, should he be called upon to help Christian Bale into his tights once more.

But we'll see what the future holds, for now I'm thrilled with this film and I seriously think anyone who can, should go and see it.

'Till next time, chums!

Captain America: Patriot

People who know me will probably understand that I do, certainly, enjoy my comic books, thereby, graphic novels are a keen interest of mine.

The other day I went and got a selection out of the local library (many libraries stock a large selection of graphic novels and manga books, it's always worth a look!), among them was the namesake of this post, Captain America: Patriot.

Now, I'm not usually a fan of Captain America but I've often held a passing interest. I viewed the recent film with fanboy glee as they seemed to nail the nuances of war-time propaganda while maintaining the integrity of the character, job well done to all those involved, especially Chris Evans as the walking flag himself.

While the origin of Cap is one I've always related to/idolised I've not been overly interested in the stories after he becomes Captain America. Sure, his transformation from the scrawny, sickly, pale target of bullies and the butt of all jokes, to the butt-kicking, ultra-heroic super-solider we know him to be is a teenage nerd's wet dream, but after that I always lost interest. I guess, growing up in the UK, it was difficult (though not impossible) to feel moved by Captain America.

I've read a few Captain America stories in my time, but none have held my attention as much as this one. Set in during and after World War II it focuses on the exploits of Daily Bugle reporter Jeff Mace and his decision to take up vigilante crime fighting after a chance encounter with Captain America.

He takes up the mantle of "The Patriot" and promptly becomes famous as a homeland protector during the war (Mace was deamed 4-F and was, thus, unfit for service in the army).

In a "Watchmen" style series of events, many other individuals feel inspired by Mace's efforts as The Patriot and join him, forming an early super-team.

Soon enough, however, things turn sour for Mace and, through some rather intriguing and well thought-out events, Mace is called upon to become Captain America. What follows is a nice, rich story, steeped in character and conflict and makes for incredibly believable reading.

All the time I was taken aback by how simple it would've been for events similar to take place because, after all, Super-Heroes of the Patriot, Batman, Nite-Owl sort are nothing more than brave people who put on a mask to do what is right. This seems more poignant and plausible in times of extreme crisis and conflict in the world.

There were some very nice, very well written moments throughout the entire story arc, however, I think my favourite thread of it all is how Mace's Captain America and Namor are constantly at odds with each other, leading to the image on the right, which, I think, must be one of my favourite illustrations of recent years. Especially given that I really don't like Namor.

All in all, a really great, fun little read which has inspired me to A) re-watch Captain America: The First Avenger and B) to pick up some more of his stories and see if I can't find out why people are so besotted with him, I'm sure there's a good reason, and If this book is anything to go by, it sure is a doozy.

I'll be seeing The Dark Knight rises tomorrow afternoon (if all goes to plan) so check back early-evening time to read my thoughts about what appears to be the Jesus of all superhero films.

You can follow me on Twitter if you feel inclined to do so - @Christie_InHall

Thanks for reading!

The Difference Between Liking Something And It Being Of High Quality

(And Vice Versa)

One of biggest pet peeves is when people say something like "This song is SO good!" when, in fact, what they actually mean is "I really LIKE this song!". Do you see the difference? The very nature of language at the minute, especially with our modern generation, is the assumption that the liking of something automatically implies quality.

Adam Richman - Man V Food

This is incorrect.

One of the most redeeming features of people, I've found, is when they can recognise, and accept, the difference here. For instance, I enjoy watching Man V. Food from time to time, I find it highly entertaining, yet I wouldn't say it was "great" or "good" or even "extremely well made television" - I know it's pretty crap, and in essence, pretty horrible, but I enjoy it. I like it. That's all.

The same is true in the reverse, thousands of people LOVE Stieg Larsson's "Millennium" trilogy (both the books and the films), and that's great, good for them.

I've watched the first two of the original films and I couldn't stand them. This isn't me saying they're inherently bad, or that they're poorly conceived; I believe in quite the opposite. I think they're excellent stories, well drawn characters and superbly made films.

I just don't like them.

If you're one of the few people who can determine the good things you enjoy, from the bad things you enjoy, I feel that's a healthy state of mind, you're not kidding yourself by claiming to have perfect tastes in everything, you're accepting you're a human being who is susceptible to all sorts of tripe, along with some excellent media.

So before you go criticising someone for saying "Nicki Minaj is the best!" do what I do, and correct their arses off.

Sorry to have a little go at you, dear reader, in just my second post so to make amends, here's a cat picture.

Bitches love cat pictures.