Off Topic The Review Thread

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sb_73 said:
20 years ago I worked on the Grays Inn Road, and the name Quality Chop House is very familiar. However, I can remember nothing about it (I refer you to the turn the new kit thread has taken).

I can highly recommend the Chicago Chop House, in, err, Chicago. A carnivore's dream, very high quality meat, with prices to match. The Kobe beef steak is superb, and not an intimidating size, you can eat the whole thing and enjoy it. Not, of course, real Kobe beef though. Above all the service is truly outstanding, our waiter a proper grown up bloke who really knew his stuff, and judged tables instantly on their desire to have a laugh or be left alone, was brilliant. Even our American friends, who are used to high standards of service especially in high end restaurants, judged him the best ever. We reckoned he may have been making $1,500 - $2,000 a night in tips.

On Kobe beef (and there is no way that this can't sound poncey) I've had it in Kobe (it's where my company has its offices in Japan) and it is an experience to treasure. The meal is like a ceremony, the chef prepares everything in front of you, multiple courses starting with lobster and building through different grades of beef (all superb) to the Kobe, and all intended to demonstrate that it really is in a class of its own. It literally melts in your mouth. I'm off there again in August, but, naturally I can't remember the name or location of the restaurant. But seeing as it would require a new mortgage to eat there (fortunately the company paid last time, and we had someone senior enough with us to break all the expenses limits, and even then I think he topped up out of his own pocket. He can definitely afford it though), I doubt I would return, just keep this as a unique experience.
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We were probably working on Gray's Inn Road at the same time. I was working for Reuters, who had a couple of floors in the ITN building at number 200. The Quality Chop House dates back to the 19th century and is on Farringdon Road with its own butchers next door.
 
Stroller said:
We were probably working on Gray's Inn Road at the same time. I was working for Reuters, who had a couple of floors in the ITN building at number 200. The Quality Chop House dates back to the 19th century and is on Farringdon Road with its own butchers next door.
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I was in the old fever hospital next to a little cemetery/park working for a small consultancy, right next to the Calthorpe Arms. And 15 years before that I was a pond level writer (or clerk as we liked to call ourselves) at a start up online business news firm (in 1983 you had to have a wire, so it can't really have been online) near St. Paul's, which was (after I left) taken over by .....Reuters. Great eating on low budget around Smithfield in those days.
 
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sb_73 said:
I was in the old fever hospital next to a little cemetery/park working for a small consultancy, right next to the Calthorpe Arms. And 15 years before that I was a pond level writer (or clerk as we liked to call ourselves) at a start up online business news firm (in 1983 you had to have a wire, so it can't really have been online) near St. Paul's, which was (after I left) taken over by .....Reuters. Great eating on low budget around Smithfield in those days.
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I know the Calthorpe well. I ran a small finance team for Reuters Media, and used to take them there on the last Friday of each month in recognition of their 'hard work' in getting the monthly accounts out. We would go at lunchtime and not return - all acknowledged and paid for by the Company. One time a young woman in the team told me she didn't really want to go to the pub, so could she go home? Short shrift was given.
 
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It Happened One Night

Year : 1934

Director: Frank Capra

Stars: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns, Jameson Thomas

A rich, spoilt, but very sheltered socialite escapes her father’s yacht by diving overboard rather than face his wrath over her news that she married the first man she met on a previous day out. In doing so, she sets off a nationwide hunt, with her father trying to find her before she can reach New York and her new husband.

It Happened One Night is a timeless, curious thing. It’s definitely a chase movie, with Ellie (Colbert) striving to stay one step ahead of the law, her father’s hired detectives, and the press – for whom this story is a godsend.

It’s also a romance, building slowly as Ellie teams up with gruff New York reporter Peter Warne (Gable). Ellie needs help getting to her husband, whilst Peter – on his last chance with his editor and desperate for a story – negotiates an exclusive when they get there.

It’s very much a comedy as well, with the two leads in sparkling form and clearly enjoying the freedom that the – at the time – surprisingly risque plot and script allowed them. Against the backdrop of a host of vivid supporting actors, their relationship grows as they learn to trust and rely on each other’s abilities.

Frank Capra produced and directed this black and white masterpiece, which deservedly swept the board at the 1935 Oscars, winning in all five main categories (Actor, Actress, Director, Movie, and Screenplay), and generated $4,500,000 in revenue. Doesn’t sound much? It’s 138.5 times the amount it cost to make, which (for comparison) would be like Star Wars: The Force Awakens grossing over FORTY TWO BILLION DOLLARS. Not bad…
 
Just heard a band called Public Service Broadcasting on the wireless. No doubt some on here will know of them, but I hadn't heard of them before (I just don't get to listen to much 'new' music). Stunningly beautiful music, somewhat reminiscent of the magnificent Blue Nile.

You must log in or register to see media

Edit: Just sought out some more of their stuff and it seems what I heard today wasn't typical, sadly. Still interesting, though.
 
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Movie:

Lion (2016) with Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, Sunny Pawar.

A young Indian boy gets separated from his family, and after a few months surviving on the streets of Calcutta 1500km from his home, gets adopted by an australian couple. Twenty years later he starts obsessing about trying to find his real family again, using the new Google Earth software. As his memories are sketchy at best, it'll take a while and consume his entire existence...

Interesting movie based on a true story, this was a lot better than I was expecting, and was completely dominated by the acting of Sunny Pawar as the young Saroo in his first ever film. The child's performance is exceptional, and if for no other reason, I recommend you watch this.

8/10
 
Wherever said:
Dunkirk, 7/10 worth a watch, caught myself holding my breath so I could breath under water twice, Harry styles alright for a debut, ****in Gerry bastards and no Americans
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Going to see it tonight. Really looking forward to it.
 
Tried to book the IMAX at Waterloo for Dunkirk, but it was sold out, so went to see it in South Ruislip at one of those nasty soulless complexes comprising an Aldi, Nando's, Starbuck's, Chiquito's and all the other compulsory franchises. The cinema itself was quite pleasant, with comfortable seats and a very large screen, which was a prerequisite for viewing this stunning spectacle. Amazingly, we were amongst no more than about 20 people for the early showing, which turned out to be for the best really. Our seats were about 4 rows from the front, which seemed a little too close, putting us in the centre of the action and giving me a feeling that I was not getting a complete view, possibly missing whatever was happening at the fringes. This, accompanied by the fact that the two seats behind us were occupied by a couple who seemed to be having a picnic of foods wrapped in impossibly noisy packaging, caused us to move to the back of the cinema. This was much more satisfactory, but meant that we had effectively missed the first few minutes of the film.

The film itself was every bit as good as I had anticipated, spectacularly shot and totally immersive, and with a score by Hans Zimmer that builds the tension to almost unbearable heights at times. Christoper Nolan likes to play with time, and the story is told from three perspectives on three different timescales - on land over one week, at sea over one day, and in the air over one hour. This sounds like it could be difficult for the viewer, but really isn't, as action that you have already seen take place in the air, later plays out as viewed from the sea or land. A clever device, which adds to experience. A highly recommended film, draining and emotional, and which I already want to see again. Go and see it, but make sure you have the right seats with the least distractions.
 
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I took my 14 year old son to see Dunkirk tonight, who, to my horror asked if it was WW1 or WW2! Needless to say he will now be educated with a barrage of old style war films, The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far top of the list! He thoroughly enjoyed the film, as did I, and I think he took a lot from it as it's not the sort of WW2 event that makes it into Call of Duty or other XBox games (he's quite up to speed on D-Day!).

The film itself is fantastic - a definate cinema experience (don't wait to see this on your TV, it really won't do it justice). As Stroller said earlier, I thought the music score was brilliant, it really adds to the whole experience of the film, building to a crescendo at certain scenes. There are some terrifying scenes - for instance I couldn't imagine the terror of being in the belly of a ship as it's torpedoed, but the film conveys this in a fantastic, gripping manner.

Overall, a must see if this falls into a genre that you like - 8.5/10
 
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Finally finished American Gods (got distracted by Noah Yuval Harari's Homo Deus halfway through, which was very disappointing compared to his Sapiens). Superb, though obviously an acquired taste. Not sure how watching a TV version can add anything to it.

Out of desperation on a long flight on Monday watched Logan. The X men films are one of my guilty pleasures, partly because they are packed out with very good actors (though still fundamentally escapist drivel, despite the racism sub text). But Logan is in a different league entirely. Some of the usual sci-fi guff, and packed out with much more graphic violence than the other films, but to my surprise this is a film about ageing, dementia, fatherhood and, above all, personal loyalty. Brilliant, best film I have seen this year next to The Red Turtle.
 
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Steelmonkey said:
I took my 14 year old son to see Dunkirk tonight, who, to my horror asked if it was WW1 or WW2! Needless to say he will now be educated with a barrage of old style war films, The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far top of the list! He thoroughly enjoyed the film, as did I, and I think he took a lot from it as it's not the sort of WW2 event that makes it into Call of Duty or other XBox games (he's quite up to speed on D-Day!).

The film itself is fantastic - a definate cinema experience (don't wait to see this on your TV, it really won't do it justice). As Stroller said earlier, I thought the music score was brilliant, it really adds to the whole experience of the film, building to a crescendo at certain scenes. There are some terrifying scenes - for instance I couldn't imagine the terror of being in the belly of a ship as it's torpedoed, but the film conveys this in a fantastic, gripping manner.

Overall, a must see if this falls into a genre that you like - 8.5/10
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Saw it with my som on Imax, really great film. I also saw Atomic Blonde, she was fantastic the rest of the film not so great.
 
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