dr_lager

One of my favorite cover versions that I first encountered when living in the UK. I liked that it was an ad for the BBC and that it featured so many great artists.

It's not very similar to Lou Reed's or really any other cover version. Part of the fun is trying to identify each singer in the video. Some were a little more ephemeral than others, but it is not an understatement to say that it is chock full of legends, a good number of whom are no longer with us.

Musically, it hangs together pretty well. The choice of artists for each line has been done super thoughtfully, even if it's just a few short words e.g. With Shane McGowan. A couple are repeated, and I especially love that the last words are by Lou.

The video just is a real treat - a proper feelgood concoction that makes you want the BBC to thrive and lets you really enjoy the contributions of all these mostly magnificent artists who clearly feel the same way about the Beeb!

I watched this without knowing anything about the videogame series except that the kids all love the concept of it, and played it somewhat. Those kids are teens now, and still mostly love the idea of FNAF, including all the cultural stuff outside the games.

So, I went to the movies on a Tuesday night with low expectations, except I'd seen the generally poor reviews.

It's true that the acting is pretty poor and mostly wooden. The dialogue is often ridiculously inane and the ending is beyond predictable. But, that all fits with this kind of movie. It's mild schlock horror, mostly safe for kids, the story drags you along despite yourself, and with a box of popcorn by your side it makes for a decent night out. I'm glad I saw it on the big screen - it made me stick through the whole thing, and I'm glad I did.

I was quite satisfied with this movie. I do wish I had seen it with my 12 year old son because I'm fairly sure he'd have enjoyed it too. Why? Because the whole story, plotline, characterization, basic concepts, love interest, action, bad guy - the whole shebang - is so clearly directed at "young adults" that anyone of my ancient age trying to judge it on the basis of those elements is going to be asking too much of it. But kids, and anyone who likes dystopian science fantasy action films will do too. And there's a good amount of humor in it too.

This was a hugely enjoyable piece of nonsense. I mean, the whole city of London on treadmills, eating up little German villages? With a hunt for a massive weapon of mass destruction? And imitation Twinkie bars that have lasted a thousand years?

Non-stop action, check. Tolerable dialogue, check. No uncomfortable love scenes that will make teens and preteens embarrassed, check. Obviously bad, bad guy, check. Great CGI, check. Did I mention the pretty much non-stop action?

The characters are pretty two dimensional, but sympathetic enough. The concept is fun to watch - steampunk does Star Wars. As dystopian visions of the world it goes pretty well, and I don't mind seeing my home town as the collective bad guys. I mean, come on, when isn't the bad guy from Britain?

It's not Blade Runner, but it's not Valerian either. I'll watch it again, but next time with my son.