The union jack... with a heart...

 Yep as the title says, the British Union flag with a heart...

Don't look up 2021 (movie review)

 

 " Two low-level astronomers must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth." IMDb

 The film stars, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchette, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Marke Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothee Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, and loads more, directed by Adam McKay.

 This is a bit of a tricky film to categorize, it's a drama, but also a comedy, yet it's not a black comeedy.  It's also a bit of a send up. 

 The plot is fairly simple, an astronomer finds an earth killing comet on a collision course with earth, it's mostly about the two astronomers trying to get people to take it seriously, theres a crazy Trump-ish lady president played by Streep, A large dodgy mobile phone ceo played by Rylance (send up of Apple?).   DiCaprio plays a nerdy astronomer, that seems based on Johnny Galeckis Big Bang Theory Leonard Hofstadter (based? he's an exact copy right down to the voice and mannerisms) Lawrence plays the woman astronomer who first finds the comet in the first place.

 The film gets off to a good start with lots of first class acting.  The sets are great and the special effects were done by someone who knows what the were doing.  This is not a low budget cheapy film, this cost a ton of money to make and will probably make a load more at the box office.

 As a watch it's good all rounder, you'll laugh, you'll have drama, you'll love some characters and want to punch others, and I think you'll enjoy the movie.   Biggest supprise for me wa DiCaprion
Leonard Hofstadter "impression"  it's just spot on, it's easy to think your watching Leonard from the big bang theory (I'm a fan) DiCaprio shows he really can act and become someone else... 

Waynes Rating 8.5/10   One not to miss

 

 

Some famous people we lost in 2021

 

 These are just some of the famous, well known and loved people who died in 2021.

 Larry King (tv host),  Albert Roux (chef),Gerry Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers), Cicely Tyson (actress), Tanya Roberts (bond girl), Phil Spector (music producer),Captain Sir Tom Moore (charity fund raiser),  Jonny Biggs (coronation street),  Christopher Plummer (actor), Murry Walker (the voice of F1),  Sabine Schmitz (racing driver), Trevor Peacock (actor),  Bunny Wailer (reggae star), George Segal (actor), Ian St John (footballer),. 

 Prince Philip,  Helen McCory (actress),  Paul Ritter (actor),  les McKeown (bay city rollers),  Shirley Williams (politician),  Michael Collins (astronaut),  Nick Kamen (model singer),  Olympia Dukakis (actress), Lisa Shaw (radio presenter),  Johnny Solinger (singer),  Tom O'Conner (comedian),  Dusty Hill (ZZ top),  Joey Jordisan (Slipknots drummer),  Sebastion Eubank,  Ben Robers (the bill tv series),  Sean Lock (comedian).

  Charlie Watts (rolling stones drummer),  Una Stubbs (actress),  Brian Travers (UB40),   Ed Asner (actor),  Sarah Harding (Girls Aloud),  Sir Clive Sinclair (inventor),  Jimmy Greaves (footballer), John Challis (fools and horses, green green grass),  Michael K Williams (actor),  James Michael Tyler (friends),  David Amess (politician),  Lionel Blair (dancer),  Stephen Sondheim (composer),  Wilbur Smith (author),  Terrance Wilson (UB40),  Sir Antony Sher (actor),  Desmond Tutu (archbishop),  Ray Illingworth (cricketer).

  Jethro (comedian),  Michael Nesmith (the Monkeys),  Janice Long (radio presenter),  Lisa Bains (actress),  Med Beatty (actor),  Frank Bonner (actor),  Leslie Bricusse (songwriter),  Sonny Chiba (actor martial artist),  Stuart Damon (actor),  Lois De Banzie (actress),  Dustin Diamond (saved by the bell),  DMX (rapper),  Bob Dole (senator),  Richard Donner (director lethal weapon),  Robert Downey Sr (actor),  Lee Elder (golfer).

  Don Everly (everly brothers),  Siegfried Fischbacher (siegfried and roy), Mira Furlan (actress),  Nicholas Georgiade (original untouchables tv series),  Charles Grodin (actor),  Marvin Hagler (boxer),  Robert Hogan (actor),  Yaphet Kotto (actor),  Art LaFleur (actor),  John Langley (creater Cops tv show),  Cloris Leachman (actress),  Norman Lloyd (actor),  Helen McCrory (actress),  Frank McRae (last action hero),  Art Metrano (police academy,  Mike Mitchell (gladiator),  Paddy Moloney (the chieftains), Marion Ramsey (police academy).

  Mick Rock (photographer),  Barbara Shelley (actress),  Leon Spinks (boxer),  Dean Stockwell (Al in quantium leap),  Cicely Tyson, (actress),  Al Unser (Indianapolis driver),  Hilton Valentine (the animals),  Carla Wallenda (the flying wallendas),  Mary Wilson (the Supremes),    

You will be remembered by many.  God Bless.

Who is Amso otis 2020

 

 " After assassinating the President, Amos Otis pleads self-defense and must convince the jury that America was not only under attack by its unhinged ruler - but that his actions saved the country and the world. The assassin's provocative testimony puts our country on trial and challenges the jury to side with a murderer out to save them. No one can tell if he's a mad man, a con man or savior of the world. Not even his attorney. This searing, mind-bending political thriller is in the spirit of the Twilight Zone and based on a Pulitzer Prize-nominated play." IMDb

 Staring  Josh Katawick, Rico Reed, and Michael Bath and directed by Greg Newberry.

 Ok this is a tricky one to review, it's part courtroom drama, part crazy man, with a hint of science fiction thrown into the mix.

 Now personally I'm not a fan of courtroom dramas, but I found this strangly gripping. With solid performances from the three main actors.

 The locations/sets are minimal, but that said it's based on a stage play, but in fairness the sets look like a real courtroom (probably is) and the other sets look real enough, and as mentioned the acting is very good.  All in all a good and gripping courtroom drama, with a few twists... no spoilers.

Wayne Rating 8/10  Well worth a watch IMHO. (I don't like courtroom dramas but I enjoyed this)

American Seige 2022

 

 " An ex-NYPD officer-turned-sheriff of a small rural Georgia town has to contend with a gang of thieves who have taken a wealthy doctor hostage." IMDb

 The film stars Bruce Willis, Rob Gough and Timothy V Murphy. (Directed by Edward Blake)

 The plot sounds symple enough, a gang of people take a local doctor hostage trying to find out about the sister of one of the gang who went missing 10 years ago.

 Willis plays the crusty old town sheriff and has to deal with the seige until the FBI arrive.... at least thats the simple version.  Throw in  a few murders, a drug lab, a town leader and corruption and it's actually a lot more comlicated.

 Sadly yet again not one of Willis best film, this is no Die Hard, in fact like most of Willis recent movies he plays a smallish roll.  That said it's one of his better recent films, even if he did do all his footage in one day (nov 7th 2021).  The whole film only took eight days to make.

 So whats it like, well to be fair it doesn't look low budget and it doesn't look like it's shot in a week.  It's a bit slow and while there is action more or less from the star I found the pace dragged a bit.  The baddies were a bit over the top but I've seen worse, and Willis give it a good go.

 Waynes rating 6/10  Well worth a watch if your a Willis fan, but I'd probably not pay to see it in an expensive movie theatre, I'd wait till it hits DVD or tv, not long I suspect.

More misty evening

 

 The last of my phone pics of a misty evening.

 

 

Misty evening.

 

 These are from the misty day just later after dark. Unlike the day shots taken with a camera, these are shot on my mobile phone.  There is a few more but I've honestly not had time to edit em.

Merry Christmas to you all.

 

 About this time of year I normally post a winter picture with my home made Christmas card on it for you.  Sadly this year I've just not had the time to dig out my winter pictures.

 I live in south Wales UK, we don't get that much snow here, even when we do it tends to be mostly miles away from me (I live on the coast and the salt air keeps the snow mostly light) that means I don't get that many pics of snow, in fact it's been I think a few years since I got any at all. As I take a lot of pictures this means a lot of storage, so loads of hard drives and dvd's.  Now searching through that takes up time even with my basic filing system (very basic) and I've been busy!

 In fact this is one of the buisest Christmas I've had for ages, not work wise just busy.  Yesterday Christmas eve for example, I had to deliver a turkey to one house, drop off presents and food shopping to another and set up the room ready, then it's deal with dramas on the phone and then recover a stranded friend and her shopping.  After that it was have tea, spend most of the evening on the phone, and finally a stiff drink.

 The day before I was food shopping at 7 in the morning to fit in all the crap I have to do, so as you see.  Sod all time to search through hard drives and play with photoshop making a crimbo card.

 So I'll take this chance to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!  May all your troubles be small, all your presents and drinks large, and I hope the new year brings you health wealth and happiness.  God bless and thanks for reading my blog.

Wayne Dec 25th 2021

Courious week avaition wise.

 

 This weeks been courious avaition wise, one fatal crash involving the loss of two lives was in an aircraft thats had two previous incidents/accidents.

 Another involved a helicopter thats suffered a serious crash before, that also led to the deaths of two people and two more spending the night at sea until rescued.

 A third accident involved a 33 year old aircraft thats had a lets say  a "chequered" history.  It's been shunted around the world and had at least one suspect registration leading to it ending up in the war in Iraq with the US army (CIA?), it's also had several periods of being laid up for a few years at a time.  Five died in that crash.

 The last one only involved the loss of one life, this poor woman died after being struck by an aircraft while she was crossing the runway.  Theres no expenation why she was doing this.

Alaskan killer bigfoot episodes 3 and 4.

 

 Ok I really don't know where to start with this.  Remember, I only watch this so you don't have to!

 Well our intrepid "heros" are joined by a fourth stooge who has brought his dogs with him as an early warning to bigfoot.  He keeps saying things like the dogs are nervous.... Yes they probably are.  Dogs are great at picking up their owners feeling, if the owner is shitting himself the dogs pick that up and get scared.

 As for our stooges and the bear guard, I've never seen a group like them.  These are NOT the group I'd have chosen to investigate a possible killer bigfoots playground.  Now I might pick them for say a childs tea party, or maybe walking the dog in the local park (if they had an adult with them and the dog wasn't important to me).  I'd definiely pick them for the special Olympics.  For finding a dangerous animal.... Hell no!

 In episode three they brought in a local medium (looked more like a large to me) to pick up on the spirits in the area, this fountian of knowledge came up with "I get the feeling someone died here", Wow! all that from being a local and the whole bloody area knowing the village was closed after mysterious deaths, hell I could have told them that and I've never even visited the country.

 OK Alaskan killer bigfoot producers, an real open callenge.  Pay my air fair and food, give me an SLR 7.62 and a Ruger .357 magnum and I'll investigate the area for you.  I mean this!  

 I'll map it alone for you, and if theres a bigfoot I'll try and get you proof.  But if you play silly bugger and have someone playing bigfoot in a suit or shit like that make sure he's insured. Because I don't take prisoners (technically you have to feed and provide medical care for prisoners of war) and I'm not doing that crap, bang  bang...  job done.

Thats a serious offer.

Misty walk part three (including black and white)

 

 Part three of the pics. These are the last of that walk.  I do have some night shots as well for next time I post, when I've done them.

 Really busy sorting out Christmas stuff, yesterday was most of my mothers food shopping and hoovering two houses (after scrounging a new hoover) the two I had have booth died so it looks like a new hoover after Christmas, I wouldn't mind but ones a Dyson and the others a wet and dry Vacs, both good hoovers.

 

 

Misty walk part two (including some black and white)

 

 A few more foom yesterday.

 

 

Misty walk part one ( Including a black and white)

 Got these today, I goofed and shot some at 3200 iso but it'll be hard to tell at these sizes.

New movie term description

 

 I came across a movie the other days with an interesting desctiption. It says " The style becomes part of the story in this ambitious debut with full-on suggestive imagery, elegant lighting and deep, reddish colors by accomplished color grader Norman Nisbet (‘Melancholia’ and ‘The Neon Demon’)."   Yeah right!

 Roughly traslated that means they couldn't get the colour ballance right so they went with weird coloured lighting to hide this and poor sets.  The only time you need to film it all in red is if your in a bloody submarine in attack mode, then theres an excuse!

Spider

 

 spotted this on my bathroom wall the other day , despite the pic he/she is actually fairly small.

The Grinch and Santa together...

 

 Not everyday you see Santa and the Grinch together.  This in someones garden, gave me a laugh anyway.

 

 

Luminate Margam park 2021 (last part)

 

 Well I've come to the end of the pics taken at the Luminate event at Margam park, need to get out shooting again this week. Luckly the weathers looking better for the next few days.

 I've left the "famous" dragon till last, the effect was good but it's moving and fairly quick so getting it hand held wasn't easy in very low light.