Entertainment

George R. R. Martin, “that Game of Thrones guy” has recently been active writing on his blog. Which may not be exactly the type of writing many fans of the author were quite hoping for, but it is George R. R. Martin doing some writing nonetheless. With it has come Martin’s take on the recent Ant-Man (2015) movie, which he reviewed favourably, but he did also have the following more general point to make: “I am tired of this Marvel movie trope where the bad guy has the same powers as the hero. The Hulk fought the Abomination, who is just a bad Hulk. Spider-Man fights Venom, who is just a bad Spider-Man. Iron Man fights Ironmonger, a bad Iron Man. Yawn. I want more films where the hero and the villain have wildly different powers. That makes the action much more interesting.” Does it really improve the movie any, ...

Concerts and live music can be fantastic. The sense of not just listening to the music, but being there. Experiencing it. Feeling the music. Although the crowds and characters will vary with the style of music and concerts, there are bound to be the certain few which annoy. There could be more, but here are the six most annoying types of people at concerts: The Taller It’s not really this person’s fault. They were born that way. Quite simply, they’re tall. They’re also probably a male. And more to the point, not only are they tall – more specifically – they are taller than you. The Taller, somehow, also almost always manages to stand directly right in front of you. Like gravity, they’re almost always there, eclipsing the show. And somehow all you can do is futilely attempt to circle around them. The stage and band are the dark side ...

A sequel to Top Gun (1986) has been talked about for a very, very long time. It has only been in the past five years that the ideas for Top Gun 2 have really started to gain any lift. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has attempted the sequel in the past, but the ripcord was pulled in 2012 following the death of Tony Scott, the director of the original film. Now, however, with producer David Ellison, the film is cleared for take-off. More importantly, Tom Cruise will be back as Maverick. As Ellison stated: “There is an amazing role for Maverick in the movie and there is no Top Gun without Maverick, and it is going to be Maverick playing Maverick.” There’s some good news, like the expectation that both the film and star Tom Cruise will want to use practical effects, as opposed to it being laden with CGI. Which would ...

Like any good peddler of a potentially addictive substance, Apple wants people hooked on the products it’s pushing. And the number one rule of hustling is to create your own demand. In Apple’s case, it’s giving people three months of free samples, make that a three month free trial of the Apple Music streaming service. Normally this would cost $9.99 per month, but: “Come on. Try it. It’s free. Try it. Just once…” Problem was, since it’s giving this away, it didn’t want to pay the artists or record labels for streaming their music either. Naturally a hustler can’t annoy its own supplier. Enter Taylor Swift’s blog entry To Apple, Love Taylor and problem solved. Apple will now be forking out the cash to the owners of the music during the free trial period. Taylor Swift, is there anything she can’t do? Before such a question warrants a reply, here’s ...

“I didn’t do it.” Well, actually you did do it, Bart Simpson. But at least it’s better than saying “woozle wuzzle”. Unfortunately due to work commitments, like voicing Bart Simpson on that little show called The Simpsons, Nancy Cartwright has had to cancel her appearance this year at the Australian Supernova Pop Culture Expo in Sydney (19-21 June) and in Perth (27-28 June). As the Supernova website broke the news, citing an email from Nancy Cartwright in which she wrote: “Sadly, you should know I’ve received the below message from The Simpsons Producers and am unable to travel to Australia. As you may have heard we have been playing catch up on the show.” It’s likely the “playing catch up on the show” may well be a reference to the Harry Shearer incident a short while ago. Following Nancy Cartwright’s inability to attend, Supanova will be honouring refunds of tickets, ...

It seems 20th Century Fox has pulled its films the Fantastic Four (2005) and the Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) from digital platforms such as iTunes and Amazon, in the wake of the upcoming rebooted Fantastic Four (2015) film to be released this August. As reported by THR, a trade source said Fox has removed the digital distribution of the older films: “so as not to distract from promotion of the rebooted franchise, which is seeking to establish a different tone than the previous releases. The source says the older titles might cause confusion in the marketplace.” To the extent that Fox wishes to distance the new rebooted Fantastic Four film from the earlier versions, and potentially not cannibalise its sales, this does make sense. Further, THR also included: “The source also indicated the older films could once again be available digitally after this summer’s Fantastic Four ...

If the found Star Wars script was real, then Han Solo really did shoot first. Unfortunately it wasn’t real, and was the fourth draft. Yet was the scene with Han and Greedo unchanged from this version of the draft to what is seen in the 1977 version of the film? Within the University of New Brunswick, librarian Kristian Brown had been digitising old materials in the science fiction archives. Amongst the items, was a Star Wars script dated 15 March, 1976, complete with the Lucasfilm Industries stamp. The script is actually for Saga 1 instead of its later, and better known, re-retitled name of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. It also contains the original name of the character Luke Starkiller, instead of the later revision, Luke Skywalker. So far, so good. However, according to statements from Lucasfilm Publicity, they believed it appeared to be a replica of ...

Talk of spicy Moroccan lamb is fine. Spicing up Jennifer Lopez’s rump in Morocco is another matter entirely. Especially if it’s shaking on public television. J-Lo’s performance on Friday 29 May before a live audience of 160,000 at the Mawazine Festival Rhythms Of The World, in Rabat, sparked no shortage of commentary from Morocco’s conservative local media. Including calls of her performance being a “a breach of public decency” noting that she was “scantily” dressed and managed to strike more than a few “suggestive poses”. This may not have been such an issue, nor out of the norm for the Booty singer, but for the fact that the concert was also broadcast on the 2M TV network. There are unconfirmed reports of an unnamed educational group filing a lawsuit against the singer and the promoter, claiming that Jennifer Lopez’s performance “disturbed public order and tarnished women’s honour and respect”. How ...

Hollywood has increasingly of late, been under fire for its casting choices. Not necessarily the actors per se, but rather how the actor relates to the source material of the character in question. Particularly with respect to race and ethnicity. With this has come claims of Hollywood whitewashing characters. Taking the source material, and then converting it into the idealised and westernised archetypical characters of white males and females. So it’s not purely a case of apparent miscasting. Such as Jack Black in King Kong (2005). Or Matthew Perry as Friends character Chandler Bing in any and every other role. Or Michael Cera always playing awkward male tween. Just look at their acting range. Recent examples, include that of director Cameron Crowe issuing an apology over the casting choice of Emma Stone as Captain Allison Ng in the romantic comedy Aloha (2015). Notwithstanding the movie’s less than glowing reviews, that ...

The following has been fictionalised to protect the innocent. Because they could be watching. It began simply enough, with a trip to the local supermarket. “I’d like to buy some cheese.” “Aisle eight,” replied the employee with characteristic indifference. It was probably the umpteenth time they’d been asked and answered it. “Thanks.” Aisle eight, replete with refrigerated sections of cheese, but not much selection of cheese. “Excuse me, I’d like to buy some cheese…” The shop assistant barely looked up, and motioned to the nearby packets of cheese. “I’m looking for cheese that’s a bit more, interesting.” As though a tyre that had been punctured, the assistant sighed and slowly began to deflate. “Have you tried the deli.” Statement, not a question. Brilliant. Now at the deli, complete with numbered ticket sorted. “I’d like to buy some cheese.” “Sure, what type?” “I’m after a cheese I can roll down a ...