Sweet Sweet Sleep
I’ve spent most of the last week catching up with sleep and relaxation. I’ve done very little else, which in this rare case is actually a good thing! I did have genuine intent to get a load of writing and Legoing done, but the muse was just not with me. Rather than get frustrated with it I embraced my brain deadness and invested in lying around, reading and going to the cinema.
There have also been important things like my other half’s birthday. I take a great deal of pleasure in wrapping things just to see them get unwrapped later. It also provides an opportunity to make birthday cards, which I love. So we’ve also spent a lot of time together ambling around and of course indulging in our love of cinema. The new Cap’n ‘Merica film was a suitable birthday delight.
This week I get to judge a mini-Lego movie competition!
Improv Foolings
On Saturday I was grateful to be invited to play at The Same Faces birthday gig at The Criterion in Leicester. They’re a fun bunch and I now have an enjoyable reputation of spreading chaos and horror. It’s a straight up short form improv gig in the mould of Whose Line? and I’ve been finding that very relaxing and satisfying to contribute to. It’s nice to be so warmly welcomed. Their next show is on Saturday 3rd May.
We had fun with Shakespearean and musical scenes at last week’s improv jam, finishing off with mini-musicals and Shakesey plays. I was pleased on April 1st to spot our man Martin in the Nottingham Evening Post‘s Robin Hood story!
♥Last Week’s Scribbles
This week, Monday 31st March 2014 – Arkham Horror + whiskey
Lego Blog: Lego City Heavy-Lift Helicopter 4439 – a satisfying build.
Film Review: The Legend of Hercules (2014) – Even worse than I thought it could be.
Media Intake
Books
I received my advance review copy of Combat Camera by Christian Hill. I shall be reading it this week, just as soon as I’ve finished my current tome…
Deadhouse Gates
Steven Erikson’s second book in the Malazan Book Of The Fallen, Deadhouse Gates is just impossibly, audaciously epic. It’s also an astonishing 960 pages. It burns slow and hot throughout, with staggering battle scenes, action and deep detailed mythology, races and history. It’s just the second in a series at least 11 books in length… I’m utterly gripped and can scarcely turn away from it. The main story line in this one is the heart-rending retreat of an army attempting to protect up to 50,000 refugees over hundreds of miles of desert, constantly harried and vastly outnumbered by a brutal enemy. It’s brought tears to my eyes on a number of occasions. There are numerous other story strands, each of which high enough in stakes, motive, character and action to stick your heart deep in your throat. If you’re looking for a fantasy series to read, this is it.
Films
We’ve watched some terrible cack this week, and a couple of good ‘uns. I re-watched Hellboy II: The Golden Army on DVD and am pleased by how well it stands up. Like all of Guillermo Del Toro‘s work it is immaculately designed, especially notable in the Troll Market and the fabulous beasties throughout. It’s also a good sense of humour and monster smash after smash throughout.
Of less quality note… The Legend Of Hercules is absymal and Noah is just a shoddy, boring mess. Even as the science fiction film it’s trying to be it still comes across as absurd with a big dose of ham and stupid.
However… there have been good ones: Divergent turned out to be a pretty faithful adaptation of the Veronica Roth‘s novel. It’s that rare thing, a Hollywood movie with strong female characters who aren’t there solely to be punished for being female. The overall theme is that of choice, and your choices being valid. I enjoyed it.
Even better – Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It deserves a proper review at some point, but for now I’ll just say that it leaped out of the slightly disappointing shadow of the first film and turned out to be as much fun as Avengers Assemble.
Events and Excitement
Thursday 10th April 2014
Gorilla Burger – Improv Comedy Carnage
Jam show – a chance for anyone to get on stage and have a go at improv games and scenes for the first time, or the fiftieth!
The Corner
8 Stoney Street
(off Broad Street)
Nottingham
7.30pm – £4
Bring Your Own Drinks
https://www.facebook.com/events/219306464925221/
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