Off Topic The Review Thread

[Steelmonkey]

I'm watching ' The Day Of The Jackal ' and it's excellent. Superbly acted, directed and produced. I've just finished episode six and have now got to wait until Thursday for episode seven, and subsequent episodes after. God knows why ? The cinematography is akin to that of a Bond film, the only thing I'm not sure about is The Jackal having a family, I'm not sure you can do that if that's your profession.

Enjoying this too...and a cracking soundtrack as well - Radiohead, The Smile, Alt-J.

Got to admit I also find the family side-story a bit of a stretch, just can't imagine a professional hitman juggling wife and kid with globetrotting around the world and killing people, especially at the level portrayed

 

[Stroller]

Enjoying this too...and a cracking soundtrack as well - Radiohead, The Smile, Alt-J.

Got to admit I also find the family side-story a bit of a stretch, just can't imagine a professional hitman juggling wife and kid with globetrotting around the world and killing people, especially at the level portrayed

The last episode I saw featured the entire 'Won't Get Fooled Again'. Magnificent.

 

[Stroller]

Went to the see the The Van Morrison Alumni Band again last night at the Cadogan Hall. These are a group of musicians who've played and toured with Van over the years put together by saxophonist Leo Green to play Morrison's songs and music. Every band member is top class and they were joined last night by guest singers Jo Harman and Kristen Hosein, who were both excellent, particularly Harman. This is just such a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Green himself, a superb saxophonist, acts as a kind of compere and narrator of Van-related stories in between songs, which really adds to the enjoyment. First time I'd been to the venue, a cosy 900-seater, which was perfect for the occasion. Here's Green playing with Van on Jools Holland.....

You must log in or register to see media

 

[Steelmonkey]

Went to the see the The Van Morrison Alumni Band again last night at the Cadogan Hall. These are a group of musicians who've played and toured with Van over the years put together by saxophonist Leo Green to play Morrison's songs and music. Every band member is top class and they were joined last night by guest singers Jo Harman and Kristen Hosein, who were both excellent, particularly Harman. This is just such a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Green himself, a superb saxophonist, acts as a kind of compere and narrator of Van-related stories in between songs, which really adds to the enjoyment. First time I'd been to the venue, a cosy 900-seater, which was perfect for the occasion. Here's Green playing with Van on Jools Holland.....

You must log in or register to see media

Must look out for this when it comes to Glasgow...we saw Van a few years back at a small outdoor venue

 

[Stroller]

Must look out for this when it comes to Glasgow...we saw Van a few years back at a small outdoor venue

I love Van's music, but I've only seen him once - or twice perhaps, if you include when he came on as a guest of Elvis Costello at the Albert Hall - and that was at the Roundhouse about four years ago. He was great of course, but he's such a miserable bugger and had no interaction with the audience at all. That's really what made last night much more enjoyable, Green really communicates and makes you feel part of the occasion.

 

[IwasanotherwatfordR]

Gail’s Bakery.

This chain is spreading like a hydra from its trendy London hipster zone roots to every market town with a Lib Dem MP. Never really fancied it, but was walking back from dropping the car off for a service and had promised to get croissants, so I looked in. The croissants were bloated, shiny things looking nothing like anything I’ve seen in France going by the same name. And they cost £2.65 to take out. With a derisive snort I walked 100 yards to M&S and bought a couple of still warm, tasty and normal looking croissants for £1.20 each.

Turns out the wife has been to Gail’s and she reckons both the croissants and the coffee are ****. I just hope that this corporate greed machine doesn’t squeeze out our local, independent, bakeries* and coffee shops (the ones that have survived the onslaught of Starbucks, Costa, Nero etc etc).

* none open at 8:30 this morning which is why I resorted to M&S. Though the little shops aren’t great value either.

There’s one of these formulaic offerings near my office. Aside from rather nice (accordingly to my work colleagues) large cinnamon buns, everything I have experienced in Gail’s was distinctly average at best and overpriced.

I may be an unsophisticated philistine, but for a glutton such as I, Greggs takes some beating, IMHO.

 

[Stroller]

There’s one of these formulaic offerings near my office. Aside from rather nice (accordingly to my work colleagues) large cinnamon buns, everything I have experienced in Gail’s was distinctly average at best and overpriced.

I may be an unsophisticated philistine, but for a glutton such as I, Greggs takes some beating, IMHO.

We have Wenzel's round here, another chain, which is a slightly upmarket version of Greggs. OK, but ridiculously overpriced.

 

[Steelmonkey]

Cannae beat a Greggs roll and bacon with a cup of tea in the morning - Tim Hortons seem to be the posh ones around up here...similar to what you've all said, ridiculously over priced

 

[sb_73]

Cannae beat a Greggs roll and bacon with a cup of tea in the morning - Tim Hortons seem to be the posh ones around up here...similar to what you've all said, ridiculously over priced

Tim Hortons is, I think, a Canadian chain which is all over the place there, and certainly not regarded as upmarket. Doughnuts are its specialty as far as I can remember, but it’s more like a McDonald’s than a coffee shop, at least over there. Never been tempted.

I think they are still around, but in ever reducing numbers, but I used to love the old fashioned caffs and sandwich shops, often in London run by Italians over multiple generations, specialising in proper fry ups for very small amounts of money.

 

[Steelmonkey]

Tim Hortons is, I think, a Canadian chain which is all over the place there, and certainly not regarded as upmarket. Doughnuts are its specialty as far as I can remember, but it’s more like a McDonald’s than a coffee shop, at least over there. Never been tempted.

I think they are still around, but in ever reducing numbers, but I used to love the old fashioned caffs and sandwich shops, often in London run by Italians over multiple generations, specialising in proper fry ups for very small amounts of money.

Whenever we work in London (not been down for a few years now, but used to be regular) always looked for a good greasy spoon cafe...a good fry up with a big helping of bubble, just don't get that anywhere else. Had a big AtoZ with them all marked on so we knew where the closest one was!

 

[Kilburn]

Tim Hortons is, I think, a Canadian chain which is all over the place there, and certainly not regarded as upmarket. Doughnuts are its specialty as far as I can remember, but it’s more like a McDonald’s than a coffee shop, at least over there. Never been tempted.

I think they are still around, but in ever reducing numbers, but I used to love the old fashioned caffs and sandwich shops, often in London run by Italians over multiple generations, specialising in proper fry ups for very small amounts of money.

FYI (Tims is a Canadian institution and often paired up with Wendy's with a single entrance that my five daughters loved to visit in their childhood as these combos provided different menu choices that suited everyone)

Donut industries
Tim Hortons

You must log in or register to see images

Statue of Horton outside the original Tim Hortons store in Hamilton
In 1964, Horton opened his first Tim Horton Donut Shop in Hamilton, Ontario on Ottawa Street. He added a few of his culinary creations to the initial menu. By 1968, Tim Horton had become a multi-million dollar franchise system. Horton's previous business ventures included both a hamburger restaurant and Studebaker auto dealership in Toronto.

Upon Horton's death in 1974, his business partner Ron Joyce bought out the Horton family's shares for $1 million and took over as sole owner of the existing chain, which had 40 stores at the time, and later expanded to nearly 4,600 stores in Canada alone by 2013. Today, Tim Hortons is a flagship of Restaurant Brands International, a conglomerate that includes Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Firehouse Subs.

Joyce's son, Ron Joyce Jr., is married to Horton's eldest daughter, Jeri-Lynn Horton-Joyce; until 2023, the couple used to own Tim Hortons franchises in Cobourg, Ontario.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Horton

 

[sb_73]

Durham Cathedral, my favourite building anywhere, is to admit dogs with visitors. As long as they are well behaved and on a short lead I think this is an excellent move. The dogs need to mind their manners as well.

 

[Steelmonkey]

Durham Cathedral, my favourite building anywhere, is to admit dogs with visitors. As long as they are well behaved and on a short lead I think this is an excellent move. The dogs need to mind their manners as well.

I owned a house in one of the villages on the outskirts of Durham back in the 90s...the ex-Mrs SM was from there (may she rot in hell)....used to enjoy a night out in the city centre, plenty of bars to keep you going for the night, all under the backdrop of the castle and cathedral. Been years since I was back there though, so no idea what it's like now

 

[sb_73]

I owned a house in one of the villages on the outskirts of Durham back in the 90s...the ex-Mrs SM was from there (may she rot in hell)....used to enjoy a night out in the city centre, plenty of bars to keep you going for the night, all under the backdrop of the castle and cathedral. Been years since I was back there though, so no idea what it's like now

I lived in a tiny house in Crook a village near Durham for a bit when I was at Uni there. The winter of 81/82 it was so cold you had to break the ice in the bog before having a piss. Durham was great in those days, we had loads of great bands playing (and even more in Newcastle even though it was a dump) and there were a dozen or more great pubs.

Been back recently a few times and am struck by how small it is, and how brilliant Newcastle has become. But Durham still has the Dun Cow, one of my favourite boozers, and the whole place immerses me in nostalgia.

 

[Steelmonkey]

I lived in a tiny house in Crook a village near Durham for a bit when I was at Uni there. The winter of 81/82 it was so cold you had to break the ice in the bog before having a piss. Durham was great in those days, we had loads of great bands playing (and even more in Newcastle even though it was a dump) and there were a dozen or more great pubs.

Been back recently a few times and am struck by how small it is, and how brilliant Newcastle has become. But Durham still has the Dun Cow, one of my favourite boozers, and the whole place immerses me in nostalgia.

My house was in Langley Moor, only a few minutes in a taxi to city centre.

Remember the Dun Cow, cracking bar

 

[sb_73]

Given the commendations on here, giving the Day of the Jackal a go.

Great production values. I wish they hadn’t called it The Day of the Jackal, because that means something very specific to me, and it’s something very different to this. Eddie isn’t an assassin, he’s a mass murderer and make up artist, killed more people pre credits than Edward Fox did in the entire film, during a ludicrously complex and bloodthirsty way to set up a political assassination. The woman who works in the MI6 building has already broken the rules - MI6 is only allowed to operate outside the U.K., but apparently she has an ‘asset’ in Belfast. Should be in MI5 but the building is less photogenic. Can live without her poor parenting back story as well, quite a bit of padding going on.

Acting ok, less convinced about the script, very stilted and cliche ridden so far.

I’ll let you know if I last into episode 2.

 

[kiwiqpr]

Given the commendations on here, giving the Day of the Jackal a go.

Great production values. I wish they hadn’t called it The Day of the Jackal, because that means something very specific to me, and it’s something very different to this. Eddie isn’t an assassin, he’s a mass murderer and make up artist, killed more people pre credits than Edward Fox did in the entire film, during a ludicrously complex and bloodthirsty way to set up a political assassination. The woman who works in the MI6 building has already broken the rules - MI6 is only allowed to operate outside the U.K., but apparently she has an ‘asset’ in Belfast. Should be in MI5 but the building is less photogenic. Can live without her poor parenting back story as well, quite a bit of padding going on.

Acting ok, less convinced about the script, very stilted and cliche ridden so far.

I’ll let you know if I last into episode 2.

ive seen episode 1
its on my list of first episodes watched that i might continue to watch at some period

 

[Stroller]

Given the commendations on here, giving the Day of the Jackal a go.

Great production values. I wish they hadn’t called it The Day of the Jackal, because that means something very specific to me, and it’s something very different to this. Eddie isn’t an assassin, he’s a mass murderer and make up artist, killed more people pre credits than Edward Fox did in the entire film, during a ludicrously complex and bloodthirsty way to set up a political assassination. The woman who works in the MI6 building has already broken the rules - MI6 is only allowed to operate outside the U.K., but apparently she has an ‘asset’ in Belfast. Should be in MI5 but the building is less photogenic. Can live without her poor parenting back story as well, quite a bit of padding going on.

Acting ok, less convinced about the script, very stilted and cliche ridden so far.

I’ll let you know if I last into episode 2.

Suspension of disbelief is vital.

 

[sb_73]

Saw episode two, that’ll do me thanks. Eddie has family issues too! Oh no! The MI6 woman is responsible for as many deaths as the assassin, or almost, and seems to care just as little about them. Fun to hear a few of the lines from the original film raising the tone occasionally.

“Speaking as a professional, getting away with it is an important consideration”.

Likely Lads Christmas Special on BBC4. No need to suspend disbelief.

 

[Steelmonkey]

Saw episode two, that’ll do me thanks. Eddie has family issues too! Oh no! The MI6 woman is responsible for as many deaths as the assassin, or almost, and seems to care just as little about them. Fun to hear a few of the lines from the original film raising the tone occasionally.

“Speaking as a professional, getting away with it is an important consideration”.

Likely Lads Christmas Special on BBC4. No need to suspend disbelief.

You need to free yourself of your reins - reality isn't the only option in art