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[godhasforsnakenme]

BOOK REVIEW 📖

This is the one for February – I was reminded of this book half way through the month and decided to reread it again because I couldn't remember how it ended; plus a short mystery is always nice to read (side note: this ended up as an ebook read bc I couldn't remember where in my storage boxes I have my copy – it's in storage because it's a paperback edition and old and I don't want it to die on me yet lol)

[agentnico]

Clue (1985) Review

With all this talk of a Clue remake in the works with Ryan Reynolds attached to star, I decided to give the original one a look and see what all the fuss was about...

Plot: Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up.

Oh I love a good whodunnit, don’t you? Whether it’s adaptations of the classics like Agatha Christie’s Poirot or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, or Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954) with it’s unique cinematic gimmick of never leaving the one room, or the recent Knives Out which was easily one of the best films of last year and gave us the gift of Daniel Craig’s Southern accent, murder mysteries are delectably entertaining if done right. Heck, even Netflix’s Murder Mystery with Adam Sandler last year provided some mindless fun, though, honestly, I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch that movie, it’s okay at best. You know what, forget I even mentioned it as an example, I wasted my time, I wasted your time, I wasted everyone’s time. Screw you, Adam Sandler!!

So with the film Clue, many people through the years recommended it to me but for some reason I never got around to watching it until now, and boy was I missing out! The film’s a laughing riot from start to finish. There’s so much slapstick humour and a lot of the jokes do hit their mark. But not only that, the central mystery, though not without its plot holes, is well thought out and fairly original. The best treat is that this movie has three completely different and hilarious endings, all of which make sense in context of the story. This very much is a reflection on the classic board game Cluedo, where you had to guess the murderer, the weapon and the location. The film takes full advantage of the game’s simple premise and throws it around like a dodge-ball to create a chaotic row of disarray. The film actually starts quite slow, with a couple of jokes here and there but overall keeps true to the murder mystery set-up stereotype, however then it begins to get sillier and sillier by the moment as the murders start to pile up until it erupts into this bonkers charade of zany craziness!

Like in any murder mystery movie, you need a good cast to play the suspects. Well Clue excels in this. This is easily Tim Curry’s best role (as The Butler). He is dry and quick to a level that I have never seen topped, bringing so much energy to an already hectic load of performances from the rest of the cast. Whether it’s Christopher Lloyd eyeing everything with total disbelief whilst sucking on a pipe, or Leslie Ann Warren’s swift sass towards anything that goes her way, all of the cast members are in on the tomfoolery and it’s wonderful to witness. The script may be weak in places, so its a credit to the performances in how much fun and farce they can spill out from all the purposeful cliches. For this movie is obviously a parody of its genre, and so at times what we see on screen feels so over-the-top that one wonders how well this movie would have done on stage as a play with the cast members bickering at one another to the applause and cheer from the audience. 

Honestly, Clue is a joyous watch. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but its a masterclass in over-acting and for anyone who’s a fan of the genre of the original board game this is a must-see! Or simply to take your mind-set of the harsh realities of the world we currently live in, this might be the perfect piece of escapism you need!

Overall score: 7/10

[its-locked-dossier]

Nancy Drew #21: Warnings At Waverly Academy

So, we’re gonna start off this shindig with the first Nancy Drew game I ever completed - Warnings at Waverly Academy. Warnings at Waverly Academy begins with Nancy Drew being called to the prestigious Waverly Academy for girls when the valedictorian candidates are victimzed with mysterious notes and even frightening attacks by someone calling themselves ‘The Black Cat’. Nancy goes as a French transfer student under the name Becca Sawyer.

Right off the bat, I was intrigued. The whole idea of something mysterious at a school does entice me - although, I have to admit I’m kind of a sucker for the whole high school drama trope. (Yes, I was a glee fan. Do not judge me.) Gameplay and Graphics Waverly is one of the more modern games compared to the other few I’ve sampled so it has the default black background and mobile phone and updated icons without the stationary blue border. The scenes were very in detail via graphics wise and were very appeasing to look at - what I did also like was the weather change outside. The summer and then the snow fall was just gorgeous. The lay out of the Academy was almost too easy to navigate and it isn’t one where you can get lost. The puzzles were pretty fun - although the DNA model for Izzy was a little frustrating after a while for a simpleton like me. Regardless, they were very enjoyable. The game is, also, very lightly chore mandated. (You have to go and do the snackbar every morning or else you’ll suffer demerits - not too much of an issue, but there is an achievement for getting a certain amount of detmerits and merits.) The whole snackbar thing to me other than the little trinket at the beginning -  no spoilers so you’ll have to find out what that is very soon - felt very useless. Other than the little thing at the beginning, there was nothing else that meant for the need of the snackbar really or none that were memorable enough to stick out as I write this. I wish there was just a little more to this that gave it a bit more of a reason for it’s existence and it’s need to be completed other than to keep up a fake character that doesn’t matter anyway. Another annoying thing I couldn’t help but note - the constant need to play games with Leela. You ask for something, you win a game to get it, you come back to pick it up, you need to win something again. It’s repetitve and irritating. I do appreciate that they provided two games - one less difficult than the other - but it’s very annoying and made me dread going to see Leela whenever I needed to. It sucked part of the fun out of the game for me and that was genuinely a shame. The gameplay and the look of the game itself wasn’t what let the game down though - unfortunately, it was this... Storyline and Characters As I mentioned before, the storyline was the main thing that pulled me in about this game. It’s very much the typical high school trope you see everywhere and I just love how rubbish it is. It’s a guilty pleasure on steroids. The idea of having a mysterious saboture was just fabulous and I love it - it reminded me so much of a Nancy Drew-Cluedo almost idea. Only less lethal. The characters were very well done on their own, but collectively? There was a lot of repetition in their personalities. Mel was too much like Corine, Leela was too much like Izzy, Rachel is essentially what little I saw of Megan and so on. That’s why some of their responses between their interactions just didn’t make sense - particularly Leela and Izzy. Realistically, they’re too alike and to me have to be really either of two extremes; best friends or worst enemies. Instead, they tolerate each other and to me that feels forced and kind of weak not to mention a missed opportunity for some great sub-plot drama that just would have added a bit more of a realistic depth to the game. As average as the characters were, the ending of the game and the ‘who-dun-it’ to me was an absolute let down. I could guess it from the beginning. It was too much of a weak outcome and even the twist is guessable which - if you’re going to put a twist in a game - you do not want. Although the motive of the perpetrator was understandable, realistic and - hell - even relateable; the fact they were so easy to guess just made it painful to play through if you were here for a quality game and not something just bought because you’re a fan of the name. While I understand this could be a bit more of a controversial opinion, it would have been much more entertaining to me if the person who did it was hidden just that little bit better which I know Her Interactive can manage because they’ve done it in other games. It also would have been very much more interesting to me if I had a bit more of a variety of characters. Rather than all students, I would have loved to get a perspective from a teacher, or a grounds keeper, or Paige who was often mentioned and we heard the voice of a few times. It just would have added a bit more intricacy to the plot as a whole. Overall Overall, did I enjoy the game? Well, yes and no. I enjoyed the premise, idea, settings and the look of things too much to say that I hated or even disliked the game but - because of the set backs detailed above - I just can’t like it enough for it to be above a mediocre game for me. There just wasn’t enough to it and it was too blatant. For £5.99, the game fit the price - you’re getting what you’re paying for but I wouldn’t say this is a ‘must-have’ on your Nancy Drew game list unless you’re attempting to become a collector of the games like me. Because of that, I’m rating it a Leela’s Boyfriend/Utterly Rude. Doesn’t quite earn the golden stamp of the ‘It’s-Locked-Dossier’ approval.

[supershanzykhan]

18 Business Event Ideas That Are Not Sleep-inducing

Most people don't get excited about the word “business”.

You may see the color gray when you hear it. You may think of men and women in office wear. And what about those boring staff areas?

So corporate events are sad affairs with everyone sitting, with lots of yellows and cheap coffee, right?

Not true! When it comes to corporate event ideas, the more exciting the better. Work is the right place for boosting morale, and team-building fun with something of a theme.

 Let’s take a look at some of the biggest events of 2021. As an event planner, it's important to learn from the best. These big events taking place in 2021 might inspire you.

Read on to learn more about...

Music festivals

Food festivals

Comedy events

Sporting events

Conferences

Collections

Wellness events

… And everything in between.

Let's talk about some of the best options from the vast world of corporate event ideas.

Get active

This category of business event ideas is all about getting out of the office chair and getting active.

Treasure hunt

 Nice old-fashioned treasure hunt - you hide it, they find it. Pretty simple. Find a good location and work from a theme like a pirate treasure or search for items like Indiana Jones.

Treasure hunting is hard work.

2. Mud Walking

During this event you should not be afraid of dirty feet. That cannot be avoided. A lot of physical effort is also required for this event. This is best for small offices with many athletic people.

3. Picking Berries

We used to have to hike all the way up the hill to the berry fields. But for an office this can be a very useful activity. A fun way to collect healthy, fresh food in the open air.

4. Laser Quest

Secretary as a sci-fi soldier? Oh yes. If you've never done a Laser Quest, do yourself a favor and have your office pretend they're in the Terminator. When will employees get another chance to shoot their boss with impunity?

Don't answer that.

5. Skyfall

That's right, we're talking skydiving. This one is very intense, and not for people who are scared. But the office will be talking about this for a long time. There can be no doubt about that!

Entertainment

Let the brains of the employees rest for a while. Coming together for fun and games can improve the work experience for everyone .Colleagues also interact in fun new ways.

Movie night

Simple, fun and social. This involves minimal pressure, and for certain offices that is exactly what is needed. Movie night is also something you can organize quite often.

You can do it in the office with bean bags, go to the cinema, or even outside. Drive-in movies, does that sound good? Have your office vote ahead of time and provide popcorn.

2. Quiz

Everyone loves a quiz! Okay, that's not true. But quizzes can be seriously fun. Try a night of trivia at the local cafe. You can also use a handy online tool for a job-related quiz with great prizes.

3. Now you see it...

Do you think magicians belong at children's parties? Some maybe, but there are also many examples of magicians who can entertain adults too.

Sometimes you can also use magic as a more open to talking about workplace improvement. Be creative.Magic in the workplace! Wait, this wasn't your card…?

4. Amusement park

Fun right away. Take the office to an amusement park, with roller coasters and other attractions. You can even compete to see who can ride the roller coaster most often.

5. Bingo

Now something for the young!

Bingo is of course a very cheap, low-key activity. You can do it often, but the price has to be right.

Try to make it a little more fun. Players can scrape boxes with texts such as, "I've eaten fast food more than once from the restaurant across from my house, and I feel quite guilty."

Recognizable and funny is a good choice here.

6. Murder Mystery Night

Solve a fake murder like with Cluedo. Depending on your audience, you can do it with more or less acting. Create your own mystery or use an already existing option .

7. Boat trip

This can be anything from a luxury cruise to an enjoyable afternoon on a riverboat. Mark Twain cigars and clothes from the 1800s are only necessary if you want them to.

8. Game night

Board games are certainly more creative than they used to be. From The Resistance to King of Tokyo, there are many great options available. Weekly lunches with board games are a great way to unwind from the workday..

 To work

Here are a few options that emphasize creativity and problem solving. Employees are busy with their routine every day of the week, but these events also allow them to work together in a different way.

Creative workshop

You have a lot of space here. Your workshop can be about almost anything, but arts and crafts events are always a favorite. For offices with shared kitchens you can organize a workshop where everyone has their own coffee cup.

2. Escape rooms

These are kind of a recent trend. Participants are stuck in a themed space and they have a set period of time to plan their relaxation. Puzzle, but very exciting!

Feeding the people

If you really don't remember, there is still food. Whether you focus on food or cooking (or both), everyone loves food events.

Gala dinner

A good old-fashioned gala is a timeless choice. Dinner and music? Yes please.Ethnic cuisine is the most delicious way to celebrate diversity at work.

2. Cooking

Cooking classes are instructive and delicious. There are also office cooking competitions, for a bit of rivalry. Hiring a television chef is probably too expensive.

3. Cultural food event

This is a recurring foray into diversity. Mexican, Ethiopian, Thai, Italian… If there is one thing the people have mastered, it is the art of cooking.  Let your office vote on the next cultural dinner and stuff yourself with ethnic treats.

Companies can also party

Match the ideas for your event to the workplace. If you plan an activity that does not suit the employees, it can be disastrous. Build good relationships in the workplace and make everyone feel comfortable.

What can you learn from major events?

As an event organizer, you may not have the budget, human resources, connections or experience to compete with the biggest events taking place worldwide.

So you may be wondering why you should even pay attention to them. Is there anything a retailer or a boutique event agency can learn from these massive events?

Yes.

You may not match their format, but you can learn how they handle logistics, planning, promotion, and setup for specific types of events.

 When it comes to major events, a lot of money is at stake. By observing what the organizers are doing well (and not so well), you can draw on their successes and failures to fuel your own projects.

Biggest music events of 2020

There is no doubt that music festivals are among the most popular events worldwide. There will be no shortage of them in 2020, so let's take a look at the biggest.

1. Burning Man

Every year, Burning Man organizers build a new village in the Nevada desert. More than 70,000 people from all over the world come together to lead an alternative lifestyle for a week.

2. Glastonbury

Glastonbury is the largest music and performing arts festival in the UK and has gained worldwide acclaim. More than 175,000 people visit it every year and 2020 will be no different.

 3. Fuji Rock

Skiing, wellness and rock'n'roll… doesn't sound like something rock band would promote. But that's exactly what happens every year at Japan's biggest rock festival, Fuji Rock.

4. Coachella

Coachella has steadily grown into a cultural phenomenon i. Here you can enjoy all genres of music and impressive art installations. 

5. SXSW

South by Southwest, commonly referred to as SXSW, is one of the largest festivals in the US. It's not all music, either. There will be fashionistas, filmmakers and comedians. You may even run into a celebrity or ten. More than 50 venues with 2,000 artists attract visitors from all creative industries.

Courtesy: best corporate event planners

[jelloandclaws]

One word, two syllables…is it Murder?

So, for my 16th birthday I decided to have a Murder Mystery Party. It seemed like a good idea at the time, 7 of my friends would come over, dressed to the nines as their set character and a lavish dinner party would commence. But as we all knew…someone was about to die. Not literally of course, it was all part of the game. We each had cards with instructions on them, detailing our backgrounds and possible alibis once the murder went down. And, of course, on one person’s card, the words “YOU ARE THE MURDERER”. With this information stored in their minds, the night began. We had three courses, pastry entrees, roasted lamb shanks for the main course and for dessert, meringue with cream and fresh fruit. We dined on these delights under the stars, outside on the front patio with lights in the trees and a relaxing tableau of chairs and blankets spread on the grass beside us. Naturally we had time in between the meals, for the night would be over far too quickly if there was not, and those gaps were filled with guessing activities. Putting the Mystery in the Murder. We took part in what was essentially an extended, entertaining, overly glorified game of Cluedo. Asking questions, ticking boxes, trying to find the wolf amongst the sheep. Everyone was enjoying themselves, engaging in amusing banter, laughing and drinking unhealthy amounts of soft drink. I think it was safe to say was were all a bit “sugar high” that night. Included in the particular pack we bought for the party were, I suppose you would call them ‘mini games’. Fun activities to help fill in time. And one of those games was aptly called “Murder Charades”. The concept was the same as regular charades except they all had to be murder themed. Naturally. It was about 9pm when we decided to partake in some mini games, to have fun passing the time. And of course, they chose to play the Murder Charades. So here we were, sitting on the chairs and mats spread out on the damp grass, playing the dramatically amusing game. And, because the theme was Murder, the guesses and answers would have seemed more than slightly questionable to any passers-by that happened to over hear us. And because we were a group of excited 15 and 16-year old’s hyped up on copious amounts of sugar, we were LOUD. Some of the things we were shouting, quite loudly, included but is not limited to; “MURDERER!” “SERIAL KILLER!” “CHAINSAW MASSACRE!” “911!” “DEAD BODY!” Looking back on it now…well as they say, hind sight is 20/20. And it was in the middle of one of these rounds of murder charades when we were suddenly interrupted. The first thing we saw was a bright light, shining over the backyard fence. Then we heard the voice and we all froze. “What’s going on here?” And one thing and one thing only was going through my head.

“Oh Shit, it’s the cops”.

Looking back, it wasn’t the most eloquent thing I have ever said, though to be fair, it was a tad shocking. We all squinted against the bright torch beam, like deer in headlights, struck paralysed by the sheer unexpectedness of the situation. In the few seconds of stunned silence that followed had us glancing at each other in desperation, begging someone to say something, anything, that could defuse the situation. And then luckily, luckily, the awkward silence was broken. My friend, ever logical and apparently the only one of us with a head on their shoulders, came out with the incredible statement;

“we, uh, we’re playing charades…”

I don’t think any of us were feeling very eloquent at that moment I had to mentally fight tooth and nail to not break out laughing at the utter absurdity of the situation right then and there. I think the police were perhaps a bit flabbergasted by that declaration too as it was a few seconds before they answered. “well then just…keep it down” And with that, they turned and left. After they were gone, there was no point fighting anymore. We all burst out laughing, all the pent-up tension from the encounter released in loud peals of humour. To this day I do not know whether the police had simply heard us when patrolling our slightly dodgy street, or if they were called by some neighbour concerned with our antics. I guess we will never know.

[starstruckcloudgalaxy]

I hope you’re keeping well and safe at home, dear friends; I know, the Easter weekend is coming up and the weather is nice, but we’ll have to sit this one out and stay in if we don’t want to risk our own lives and those of many others. So, I’ve been thinking of more tips to give you on what to do at home in order to keep happy and healthy; and the term ‘wellness’, which has been very popular in recent years, came to my mind. So what exactly is ‘wellness’?

The term has actually been around since the late 1940s, meaning feeling well all around – physically, mentally and socially. No need to say that some big parts of this concept are out of order right now: you can’t go out and meet your friends or even your family, you can’t go to the gym or the swimming pool, and let’s be honest, we’re all a bit on edge psychologically both with all those changes to our everyday lives and with the dreadful news we keep hearing all day about deaths and shortage of doctors and hospital beds and more deaths to come.

Still, there are lots of things we can do to make us feel better in all three sectors, even in these strange days – so let’s start with a combination of the physical and the psychological aspect of wellness: activities involving both your body and your mind.

  Dance!

As I’ve told you, dear friends, I’m not exactly the sporty type, so I can’t give you too many tips on how to keep fit indoors; the obvious things are stretching and aerobics (there are lots of videos for that which you can follow on YouTube), running up and down the stairs in your house or apartment building, and – dancing! And it’s got a double function: it gives you the necessary exercise, and the music will cheer you up as well.

So put on a CD, or have a look on YouTube for some hot music with a great rhythm to dance to – be it some good old rock n roll, or disco, or even an old-fashioned Charleston! Just move any way you like, or try to remember some exercises from your PE days at school… Here’s my all-time favourite ‘exercise song’ – doesn’t that just make your feet and body itch?!

  Relax in a hot bath

At the core of many of today’s interpretations of ‘wellness’ is spoiling your body – and there are few better ways of relaxing that having a bath. Just get a bottle of foam bath from the supermarket which will give amazing satisfaction not only to your skin but also your nose – aromatherapy is an important part of a good bath, it’s not only about cleaning yourself up!

While you’re there feeling wonderfully light in the warm water, you’ll have time to collect your thoughts; but do avoid thinking about the latest Coronavirus news, please… There are so many beautiful things to think about; your last summer holiday, or the romantic movie you watched last night – or simply absorb the feeling of your body relaxing and the lovely smell of lavender or rosemary. You’ll feel like new when you’ll get out of the tub!

Unfortunately, not everybody’s got the luxury of a bathtub at home; but you can still enjoy a long hot shower, spoiling yourselves with a delicious shower cream, and you can also boost your blood circulation with a little Kneipp cure. What’s that, you ask? Well, it’s one of the best things my upbringing in Germany taught me, a water treatment method named after the 19th century pioneer of alternative medicine, Sebastian Kneipp: alternating hot and cold showers, starting with your legs and arms and then moving on to the rest of your body. It’ll make you fit as a flea in no time!

  Having a massage

Another popular feature of ‘wellness holidays’ on fitness farms and of spas and water parks is providing a massage service for customers; and it’s another thing you can do perfectly well at home. The ideal situation is, of course, to have someone with you who can massage you and vice versa; all you’ve got to do is look up the basics of a massage online, there’s no need to become a professional masseur or masseuse… Here’s one I find very helpful and informative:

https://www.wikihow.com/Give-a-Full-Body-Massage

Again, there are many people who are currently all on their own, with no one to massage them – but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your body massage as well! You can do it yourself, and here’s how:

https://www.wikihow.com/Massage-Yourself

  Meditation – just think positive!

I must confess I’ve never really been into yoga and all those other popular ways of meditation; if you want to learn some yoga techniques, there are plenty of videos on YouTube for you. My own way of gathering my thoughts is based more on the psychological principle of directed thinking and positive thinking. How to do that? It’s really quite simple: you can STEER your thoughts, there’s no need to be a slave to them; and especially in difficult times, when your brain is being bombarded by bad news, you can force yourself by sheer willpower to think of something positive.

Get hold of a negative thought that keeps going around in your mind; like, for example ‘I can’t even go on an Easter trip because of this lockdown’. Then, start a positive counterattack: think of your last holiday and the great time you had – picture the green hills of Ireland, or the beaches of Greece, or the casinos of Las Vegas you saw, or even look through your photos and at the souvenirs on the bookshelf. Then, concentrate on your next holiday, whenever that may be – where are you planning to go? Look it up on the internet, look at the photos and videos and other people’s travel reports – and reassure yourselves that you ARE going to go there, too, some day. Now that’s a goal, isn’t it?

Cooking

Since deliveries aren’t really an everyday option for most of us, we’ve all got to cook at home these days, anyway, so we might just as well enjoy it… Like my daughter Marianna, who until recently hardly knew how to do a pancake or a pot of spaghetti – now that she’s all on her own in our flat in Piraeus, she’s learning new recipes every day, and she loves it! No matter whether you hardly did any cooking until now, or just the necessary, or whether you’re a hobby cook anyway – this is a great time for trying out new things in the kitchen.

Simple things like sandwiches or pasta sauces can bring endless fun with new variations (I’ve already put together some recipes for those two categories, you can look them up on my blog; and there’s more to come soon), and there are lots of cookery programmes on TV every day where you can learn even more – some of them combine cooking and travelling, too, so you can explore Italy with the Hairy Bikers or France with Rick Stein without having to leave the safety of your flat – and without paying a penny for the journey!

  Play games

I’ve pointed out before on my blog how important it is to play a game once in a while, but this goes double, of course, in our present days of lockdown. The good old board games, like Scrabble, Cluedo, Trivial Pursuit, Draughts or Snakes and Ladders bring everybody in your household together in neverending hours of fun! And if you don’t happen to have any of those at home, you’ll at least be able to obtain a deck of cards from the newsagent to play some Poker or Canasta – and if you’ve never played any card games before, you can always look up the rules of one online! Here’s a very simple one I used to play with my family back in Germany when I was a kid:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mau-Mau_(card_game)

If you’re alone, of course, the only pal you’ve got to play with is your laptop, tablet or smartphone – but even that can provide hours and hours of fun and entertainment! There are countless free games you can play online or download for free – want to build a farm or a town, or even an empire? Want to combat dragons or zombies? Want to solve puzzles or mysteries? You’ll find literally EVERYTHING on the Web. And you can even play with other players online and get to know new people that way!

  Have a drink!

Let’s face it: this is NOT the right time to quit drinking. Unless you’ve always been a teetotaller or haven’t had a drink in years, you’ll probably all feel an enhanced need for a drink in these trying days – especially after the evening news. So, let’s not develop a guilty conscience about it: it’s not our fault, and we’ll all go back to normal once this crisis is over, because we’ll have the willpower to do it.

Try to keep a lid on it, though, because too much drink can lead to depressions, or to rows with your partner or flatmates. And don’t just knock it back like a bitter medicine – enjoy it, and experiment with it, try out new cocktails and mixtures, make it a part of your effort to cheer yourselves and others up during these dark days! And another tip: diluting alcoholic drinks with soft drinks like lemonade, cola or soda water makes them last longer and less dangerous.

Watch a funny programme

Comedy isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but this isn’t the time for gloomy melodrama either. No matter whether – like me – you’re perfectly satisfied with any sort of nonsense from “Carry On” to “Father Ted” (both of which are regularly shown on British Freeview TV), or whether you expect something at least as sophisticated as an Oscar Wilde play, it’s important these days that you choose something for your evening entertainment that’s at least in some way uplifting. There’s nothing wrong with a good laugh and a happy ending, and we all need it more than ever!

Especially over Easter, British TV channels are making a real effort to entertain us all day long, so we won’t miss our trips and walks too much; you can check the programme here any time:

https://www.tvguide.co.uk/

And here’s an online guide for my American friends:

https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/

So, look out for those comedy programmes, dear friends!

  Talk!

This is the social aspect of wellbeing, and the maybe MOST important thing to take us through this pandemic: talking to people. Talk with your loved ones about how you feel, ask them how they feel, cheer them up, laugh with them, until you and they forget about the grimness of the situation. Keeping your thoughts and feelings to yourself is the worst thing you can do; your brain will start going around in circles, and depression will set in. Share your hopes and fears, your worries and dreams, your inner self with someone, and you’ll immediately feel better.

Being in lockdown with your partner and/or children or a good friend is, of course, the ideal thing – I find it unbelievable how many couples are fighting these days because they’re cooped up together, instead of being happy and thankful that they’ve got someone to hold on to! While there’s lots of less fortunate people who are all on their own right now – but even for them it’s perfectly possible to talk, even in lockdown��

Thanks to our modern technology, we’ve now not only got the phone to talk to our loved ones who are far away from us, but also video calls, messaging, emails and so on – so nobody really is alone! And even if you can’t think of anybody to ring up or send an email to – why don’t you sign up to a social media site if you aren’t on one already? You’ll get to know lots of nice people in no time, you’ll find other lonely people who are looking for someone to talk to, you’ll find people with similar interests – and you won’t feel lonely anymore!

Those are my tips for you, dear friends, for achieving this marvellous thing called ‘wellness’; there are so many different ways of feeling happy, you’ve only got to find the ones that work for you. And if you find a new one, I’d love to hear about it in the comments – we can learn so much from each other!

Discover wellness: Spoil yourselves during lockdown! I hope you’re keeping well and safe at home, dear friends; I know, the Easter weekend is coming up and the weather is nice, but we’ll have to sit this one out and stay in if we don’t want to risk our own lives and those of many others.

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WEEKEND TV HOT FILM PICKS!

Check out my guide to the top films on TV this weekend and the best of the rest. Enjoy!

LATE FRIDAY 7th JULY

HOT PICK!

Film4 @ 2315    The Babadook (2014) ****

With comments plastered on the film poster and reviews along the lines of “Truly Terrifying” and “You won’t sleep after watching” and an equally scare riddled trailer I was drawn into this film pre-release and could not wait. Watching this film is a COMPLETELY different experience and I was left almost confused about what I thought about it. It didn’t live up to my expectations - purely on a content and perception perspective. This film is a psychological drama about a single mother’s trouble adapting to a world without her partner, raising a child on her own and struggling with grief, addiction and motherhood. It just happens to be all wrapped up in the clothes of a horror film. The second time I watched this film was so much more rewarding as my perceptions were not there to scupper my enjoyment and I could take the film for what it is - which is a very effective and wonderfully designed film carrying it’s messages both on its sleeve and under it’s dark horror cloak.

It’s a very clever way of telling a story and quite an original horror concept. Essie Davis as the mother is fantastic and I cannot fault. Her performance and transition throughout the film is worthy of merit. On the other hand - and this is purely through my own failings - I found it very difficult to deal with the horribly annoying child in the film. The very noise each word he spoke just downright pissed me off to the point of distraction, I appreciate in part there was a desire to do that to a degree - but I struggle on re-watch because of “that damn kid!”

If you like horror - then this is an interesting twist on the genre, but if all you are after is scares along the standard horror sub-genres you may be disappointed.

Best of the rest:

Sony @ 1820        Last Action Hero (1993) ***

TCM @ 1825        The Manchurian Candidate (1962) ****

Film4 @ 1910       Airplane! (1980) *****

Sony @ 2100       Cruel Intentions (1999) ***

Horror @ 2255    Chernobyl Diaries (2012) ***

Dave @ 2300       Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) ***

SATURDAY 8th JULY

HOT PICKS!

TCM @ 1305     What's Up, Doc? (1972) ****

Why it took me so many years to see this gem of a comedy I simply do not know. It’s also responsible for a serious crush on Barbara Streisand. This is a crazy comedy caper that really doesn’t take itself seriously. It almost verges on slapstick at some points. Its main strength lies in the interactions between the 2 leads - the situations they get themselves into and the carnage that ensues - it is a pleasure to watch. You’ll have a laugh on your lips and a smile on your face throughout. Classic screwball comedy.

ITV1 @ 2100    Skyfall (2012) ****

Skyfall succeeded as it did not feel the need to carry on the story of its previous films - as it kicks off with an amazing car chase we know we are in for a treat. This film does not disappoint and it’s a darker more realistic Bond film that has kept up nicely with current times. After we all witnessed the fantastic Bourne Trilogy our tastes for this style of film got a bit more grown up. Mendes does a sterling job with Skyfall and has reassured me the franchise still has a lot of life left in it. Admittedly it does go a bit “Home Alone” towards the final act but I love the fact Bond films have almost no CGI. A great entry to the Bond franchise.

BBC2 @ 2315     2001: a Space Odyssey (1968) *****

The last time I watched this film I had the amazing experience of watching it at the Birmingham Symphony Hall with the full Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. Absolutely amazing! No such luck this time - so I better catch it on TV. This is Science Fiction at its very best. Kubrick became one of my favourite Directors after I watched The Shining, and every subsequent viewing of his films reinforces this. His films are successful as they provoke thought and participation. 2001 is beautiful to watch and for a film made in 1968 it has some incredible effects that still look very good today. Seeing it on the big screen was all the more breath-taking. One thing I am always astounded with is how well Kubrick captures the vast and consuming silence of space. The music, sounds and choir create a perfect mood and are a vitally important part in the experience of this film. In a world where we have come to expect Hollywood to spoon feed its audiences - it is a pleasure to see such success for a film that leaves the audience in charge to draw their own conclusions. This is a perfect example of quality and visionary filmmaking.

Best of the rest:

ITV1 @ 1020      Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) ***

E4 @ 1500          Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) *****

Film4 @ 1640     Men in Black (1997) *****

TCM @ 1830       Clue (1985) ****

Film4 @ 1835     The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) ****

C4 @ 1900         Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) ***

C4 @ 2100         Bridesmaids (2011) ***

W @ 2100          Jackie Brown (1997) ***

Syfy @ 2100      Soylent Green (1973) ****

E4 @ 2100         Die Hard 2 (1990) ****

5* @ 2100         The Equalizer (2014) ***

TCM @ 2100     The Hunt for Red October (1990) ****

Sky1 @ 2200    Underworld (2003) ***

Dave @ 2300   Training Day (2001) ****

Syfy @ 2300     Twelve Monkeys (1995) *****

TCM @ 2340     The Day of the Jackal (1973) ****

BBC1 @ 2345   Tropic Thunder (2008) ***

SUNDAY 9th JULY

HOT PICKS!

TCM @ 1225     Clue (1985) ****

Based on the game Cluedo this comedy whodunit sees six people invited to a remote house for dinner. They meet Wadsworth the butler played by the amazing Tim Curry. A great light hearted mystery-comedy that’s plenty of fun to watch. Interestingly, this film has three endings and different theatres showed different versions of the film on its original release.

ITV2 @ 1910    Gravity (2013) *****

Back in 2013 our senses were overloaded with this new level of cinematic experience. It restored my faith in IMAX 3D proving it still had a place in cinemas and it also became one of my favourite films of the year. It felt like I had seen this many times but in fact all I have always done is watched the opening 20 mins over and again, showing its spectacle to friends and family as the destruction of Explorer booms through the surround sound. So surprisingly, this was my first full re-watch.

One thing is certain - this is still an amazing spectacle and the unbelievable amounts of tension remain very much alive on re-watch. I was still left holding my breath at many points during the film. I was still completely gripped throughout, I had actually forgotten how exciting some of the scenes were, my memory almost always just focuses on the opening scene. Admittedly this time I did roll my eyes at some of the script but instantly forgot and forgave them as the tension once again ratcheted up and the next explosive sequence battered my senses into submission.

I called this film a "cinematic success" and this still holds true. It still works wonders on a big & loud home cinema set ups but I doubt it would have the same impact on small screens and portable devices. This film needs to be accompanied by the large cinematic set ups it was obviously created for. A solid, visually ground-breaking film that still carries the tension and adrenalin on repeat viewing. Love it.

Film4 @ 2100    Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) ****

For some reason I STILL have a big hang up with "of the" appearing twice in the title. This repetition of non-capitalised title words just looks odd and for some reasons sends me into ridiculous rants... Like this! This is not the only absurd reason why it has taken me this long to see DOTPOFA. (I refuse to get repetitive strain injury typing the name of the film more than once!) Here's the deal... I have a slight phobia of apes, monkeys, and all things primate, especially talking ones who ride on bloody horses and are all Cleopatra-comin-atcha" with spears and guns, intent on ripping out your goddam spine... *shudder*. It’s another film that is actually to blame for this irrational fear. Watching the first part of 2001: Space Odyssey when I was far too young... Those scary shouting men in ape suits looked pretty real to me... But now "real" just got a whole more REAL! The CGI is utterly flawless. I will say no more about it, they have done it. There is no longer a divide between real and animation. The art of performance capture is splendidly utilised here. There's so much emotion pouring out of the screen every single second. Gone are the days of dead eyed emotionless animated characters.

When it came to Rise of the Planet of the Apes I think I must have missed the boat and thought it was a little lacklustre with a simplistic story. A series of unmemorable events culminating in a decent fight on a bridge. It seemed too long. I gave it a solid 3 stars. "Dawn" has upped its game in all areas. A real interesting story, well explored on the apes side, I do wish there would have been more time to develop the back story of our human characters but hey... It's all about the internal conflicts within these two groups, and I for one loved watching those pan out.

This film is a great improvement on Rise. A great hulking slab of blockbuster entertainment with real heart, it more importantly has reassured me that not all remakes, reimaginings, prequels or reboots are all destined for disaster, they just need to be in the right hands. Well done to the writers and also Matt Reeves.

Best of the rest:

TCM @ 0705       What's Up, Doc? (1972) ****

BBC2 @ 2100     Foxcatcher (2014) ****

ITV4 @ 2100       Jaws (1975) *****

Syfy @ 2100       V for Vendetta (2005) ***

TCM @ 2310      The Wrestler (2008) *****

Horror @ 0225  Lovely Molly (2011) ***