Star Trek (2009): review
Star Trek: The Movie in cinemas accross the world now | Image © Creative Commons, daughter of chaucer, 2009
Who would have thought that Gene Roddenberry’s brainchild of the 60s – Star Trek, would become a classic in the world of sci-fi, nevermind it turning into a religious movement. In the last 50 years Star Trek has brought a brighter and happier vision of the future and the latest blockbuster version of the epic has proven to continue to “boldly go where no one has gone before”.
Star Trek has become a cliché and captain James T Kirk (William Shatner) together with Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) have explored the final frontier inside out. However, the latest Star Trek motion picture does not leave its viewers disappointed. Committed followers as well as newborn Trekkies can enjoy the sound and video effects in the future where the ending is always happy.
Passionate Star Trek fans argue that throughout the series and previous films there have been a few inconsistencies, however the creators of this year’s Enterprise have managed to justify conflicts by ‘changing the history’. Thanks to Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Romulas ship Narada travelled from the future, the history is rewritten, and captain Kirk’s crew becomes open to all Roberto Orci’s and Alex Kurtzman’s fantasies.
The cast for the rebirth of Star Trek was selected perfectly. The sweet boy Chris Pine gives Kirk’s role a Kazanova’s vibe and the badass Zachary Quinto, known as Sylar from US TV series Heroes, plays the young, stubborn and all-so-logical Spock with real Vulcan dignity. Even Zoe Saldana, Britney’s friend from the film Crossroads, beats stereotypes and seduces heart-less Spock.
One of the film’s candies is the cross-reference with 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The Trekkies can finally observe the actions connected with the legend of James T Kirk cheating the unbeatable test.
Overall Star Trek still warms hearts and brings a more positive vision of the future, which in the current sad economic and environmental climate is a real treat. Happy Bunny is happy indeed, blinking 4 and a half out of five times. We are very looking forward to the next film, which undoubtedly will come out as soon as enough cash is gathered from this one.
The Glastonbury’s Mystery Revealed
A couple at the Glastonbury festival | Image © Creative Commons, Toady the Toad (2008)
Rain, mud, fabulous music, umbrellas, sold out tickets and your tent floating away in an unknown direction? Yes, you haven’t mistaken – we’re talking about the Glastonbury festival – the Christmas for melomaniacs! Pack your bags, because this year’s Glastonbury claims to be legendary – the headliners on the Pyramid Stage are Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and recently reformed Blur.
As you might have known, Glastonbury festival is the largest of its kind in the world. For instance, 177,500 people attended the Glastonbury Festival in 2007, creating a tent city with the same population as Norwich or Sunderland.
It certainly attracts adventure and good time seekers from around the world. One of the reasons is the line-up: Lily Allen, Jamie T, Lady Gaga, Regina Spektor, The Ting Tings, Franz Ferdinand, Peter Doherty and Pendulum just to name but a few. See the official line-up here.
Not only you’re offered an enjoyable musical experience, there is also going to be a Pilton Palais Cinema Tent with a veritable treasure trove of films for our viewing pleasure this year. They have even pushed the boundaries of current cinema technology to bring us 3D movies (courtesy of Dolby 3D). The 3D films to be showed are Bolt, Monsters Vs Aliens and Coralline with a fourth surprise title to be announced later on site.
However great the music, cinema and people are, this year’s Glastonbury is definitely going to be the healthiest ever! The Happy Bunny was thrilled to find out that STD experts are setting up a camp at the festival. Everyone aged between 15 and 24 are asked to visit a screening centre to curb the spread of Chlamydia, which has been increasing widely in the UK (and Happy Bunny is very concerned about the readers’ health). In between watching the films and shaking your ass to pop and rock stars, NHS Somerset hopes visitors will pick up and return a simple test kit. Anyone returning their test kit will receive a free glow-in-the-dark sperm key ring or glow-in-the-dark condom.
“The service is completely free, confidential and easy and so are the test results. Young people can choose how to receive their result (a discreet message by text or email, a letter or by phone). For those testing positive the treatment is simple and painless – just four antibiotic tablets taken at once,” Sara Dove, NHS Chlamydia screening service manager, said.
Health is not a big deal, if yours is good. Just make sure it is and keep hopping! And remember we’re talking about Glastonbury, so don’t forget your pink wellies!
For more information, see the official Glastonbury festival website.
Text: Austra Javalde
Happy Kings and Happy Queens: Jamie T
Jamie T rocks at Puregroove | Image © Creative Commons, neil365 (2006)
Happy Bunny loves music. He reads about it, listens to it and has now decided to share its wisdom and passion for the contemporary kings and queens of music.
Just so you know – Happy Bunny is a very well informed creature. He knows that Pete Doherty was arrested in Gloucester this morning; he knows that Pixies are set to appear at a party in London on June 15, he knows about Lily Allen and her journeys around the globe (by the way, Lily, how was the swim in that amazing pool?).
But forget the gossip! Happy Bunny is also aware of the most important music news.
Jamie T makes us stomp our feet and groove with the rhythm. He has just released a new single that makes us love him more and more. Sticks’N’Stones is, with no doubt, one of the best songs available on the British music scene. Little Jamie did it again just like he did it with ‘Sheila’, with ‘If You Got the Money‘ and with the whole Panic Prevention album.
Jamie T is only 23 (born 8 January 1986). Jamie Treays (that’s his full name, duh) is an English singer/songwriter from Wimbledon, South London. He is currently signed with Virgin Records, but released his ‘Betty’ and the Selfish Sons’ EP under his own Pacemaker Records label. He supported the Ordinary Boys during their 2006 tour, and went on to defeat Jarvis Cocker and Thom Yorke to win the Best Solo Artist at Shockwave NME Awards 2007. He has also been nicknamed ‘one man Arctic Monkey’. Canvas Magazine described him “like the bastard lovechild of Billy Bragg and Mike Skinner doing his best Joe Strummer impression”. On July 17 2007, Jamie T’s debut album Panic Prevention was shortlisted for one of the 12 nominees for the Mercury Prize. Significant enough, right?
Jamie’s singles have been parading UK charts since 2006. ‘Sheila’ (released July 3, 2006) got to number 22, ‘If You Got The Money’ (October 16, 2006) reached position 13, ‘Calm Down Dearest’ (January 15, 2007) got to 9th place and the re-issue of ‘Sheila’ (May 7, 2007) got to number 15.
Later the little Jamie teamed-up with Miss Lily Allen, and recorded ‘Rawhide’ (May 7, 2007)
The new single has it all – it’s melodic, dynamical, sticky and, what’s most important, it’s very Jamie T. Track it down on iTunes or Spotify and enjoy!
And if you’re lucky, buy a ticket to one of Jamie T’s shows in the UK. Psst, he has added an extra Brixton date to his sold-out tour…
For more information visit his website.
Jamie T at Puregroove Records instore, London | Image © Creative Commons, neil365 (2006)
Text: Austra Javalde
Fresh Faced and Wild Eyed
Himsagar Express by Nishant Shukla
The creative industries are constantly looking for new talents. The Photographer’s Gallery organizes its annual Graduate Photography Exhibition discovering UK’s brightest visual artists.
The second year in a row FreshFacedAndWildEyed09 will present the best of UK student photography by BA and MA students who have graduated in the past year.
A total of 23 photographers were selected by a panel of such experts – Joy Gregory, Magda Keany, Brett Rogers and Ossian Ward. Submissions were accepted from visual arts course graduates across the UK, whose graduation date fell between 1 May 08 and 31 May 09.
One of the selected photographers, Nishant Shukla, graduated Thames Valley University in 2008 and is currently in the middle of his master’s degree.
“I am delighted to have been selected for the show. It’s every photographer’s dream to be exhibited at such a prestigious gallery. I’m looking forward to seeing my work on the wall at The Photographers Gallery, get an opportunity to meet some people in the industry and hopefully some commissions would be a good result,” Nishant Shukla said.
His series of prints are portraits of travelers on the Himsagar Express – a three-day journey from the foothills of the Himalayas to Kanyakumari on the southern tip of India.
The Photographers’ Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting, educating and engaging people with photography. Events such as freshfacedandwildeyed09 reflect our dedication to recognising, nurturing and supporting photographic talent in the UK.
“The frontality of these images presents an honest exchange of views mediated by the camera. Nothing is hidden and there seems to be a mutual trust which dignifies the subject. There is in this work a studied avoidance of the sentimental or repressive gaze. Shukla modernises colonialist photography and invests it with a sympathetic and quiet restraint. The idea of a shared journey is what these pictures convey,” Peter Smith commented.
The exhibition runs 24 June – 5 July 2009.
For more information and a virtual gallery visit FreshFacedAndWildEyed09.
The Photographer’s Gallery
16 – 18 Ramillies Street
London
W1F 7LW
The list of all selected graduates:
Jonathan Baggaley, Benjamin Beker, Petros Chrisostomou, Eleanor Cleasby, Lucy Dawkins, Teresa Eng, Kathryn Faulkner, Leonora Hamill, Aileen Harvey, Hannah Hewett, Alexandra Hughes, Nae Bunthita Indhawong, Jessica Layton, Martina Lindqvist, Ellen Nolan, Tom Pope, Wendy Pye, Tomoko Sakanishi, Grace Schwindt, Nishant Shukla, Anthony Wallace, Michael Whelan and Dave Wyatt.
Fresh Faced and Wild Eyed 09 exhibition runs until 5th of July
Anything for Her – review
'Anything for Her' by Fred Cavaye - in cinemas accross the UK from 5th of June!
‘Anything for Her’ (running title in French – Pour Elle) revolves around the lives of a married couple Julien (Vincent Lindon) and Lisa (Diane Kruger). As Lisa is wrongly imprisoned for a murder, Julien goes against the system and comes up with an escape plan. He uses an escaped prisoner and bestselling author as a consultant and manages to keep the plan a secret even from his closest family. Lisa herself has no idea about the plan and is very surprised to see how far can a loving man go.
Fre Cavaye, director of the film, explained that idea belongs to Guillaume Lemans. ‘A man decides to help his wife, victim of miscarriage of justice, to escape from prison and to fight against this cruel blow of fate that has separated him from the woman he loves. He has the choice to give in or to fight back and attempt everything possible, even if that means breaking the law, to get back the relationship, the family life, the wife he loves,” he said.
The film talks about unconditional love and the crimes of passion. With constant moral dilemmas about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, ‘good’ and ‘bad’ the creators play with actors and manipulate viewers. It is a dark but very real loves story and any woman could only dream about such a strong man by her side. While Lisa gives up several times during her years in prison and even considers suicide, Julien stands by her no matter what and fights for both of them.
With some unexpected twists and considerably happy ending, I would describe ‘Anything for Her’ as ‘very French’. One might agree or disagree with the ethical side of the story, however, it definitely leaves one thinking about it. It is a film that forms an opinion and doesn’t make one ignorant.
The Happy Bunny was a little bit disappointed how stupidly Lisa got caught for a crime she did not commit. It seems the creators tried to make the film too real and but lost the spark somewhere half-way thorough. Blinking three out of five times but just because it was Vincent Lindon not Jean Reno (il est très sexy).
In cinemas across the UK from the 5th of June!
Special thanks to Emfoundation!
Text: Marina Scukina
When You’re a Boy
From Galliano’s Warriors, photographed by Nick Knight, styled by Simon Foxton. Published in Arena Homme Plus, Summer/Autumn 2007
The modern climate encourages creative industries to collaborate and more and more successful projects are born breaking the boundaries.
The Photographer’s Gallery is no exception and this summer will present an exhibition ‘When You’re a Boy’ that focuses on men’s fashion stylist Simon Foxton’s work.
The showcase will include work of such photographers as Nick Knight, Jason Evans and Alasdair McLellan and Foxton’s range of photographic prints, scrapbooks and image installation produced while working with John Balsom, Donald Christie and others. The stylist raises the questions of definitions of masculinity, national identity and taste while capturing menswear’s spirit and energy.
Foxton, known for his witty and often provocative approach, anticipated and defined key shifts in menswear design since the early 1980s. Historic portrait iconography and classic English men’s tailoring are combined with contemporary sportswear design, street fashion and references to gay subcultures to produce sophisticated and innovative fashion images for a range of brands and magazines.
The exhibition ‘When You’re a Boy’ runs 17 July – 4 October but while you wait visit the current exhibition ‘The Photographic Object’ that explores the ambiguous space between two and three dimensions by such international artists as Maurizio Anzeri, Walead Beshty, Annette Kelm, Gerhard Richter, Alina Szapocznikow, Wolfgang Tillmans, Andy Warhol and Catherine Yass.
The Photographer’s Gallery
16 – 18 Ramillies Street
London
W1F 7LW
Write-a-Tormented-review competition
If you are under 20 and enjoyed (or absolutely hated) Tormented movie and know a clever how to say it, enter the write-a-Tormented-review competition via their official blog.
Less than a week left! Deadline 31st of May!
(via Twitter @TormentedBlog)
Tormented in cinemas accross the UK now | Image from blog.tormentedthemovie.com
DIY – super glue me
The Happy Bunny, inspired by Alice Instone’s shoes, put on heels and went for a domestic walk around the town. Some may know that the Happy Bunny is the world’s clumsiest creature, so for no reason the bunny slipped and broke the heel.
The shoe is broken | Image © Marina Scukina
But Happy Bunny did not panic. As soon as the bunny got home, DIY begun and after a few magic strokes with a super-glue brush, the shoe was fixed! Magic!
George Morris: exhibition ends this Sunday
Hall of Mountains by George Morris
There’s less than a week left to see George Morris’s solo show at Schwartz Gallery.
‘The installation ‘Hall of Mountains’ was created specifically for the Schwartz Gallery space: the archetypal mountain as both form and concept, data coordinates and physical place, is collapsed, rationalized then reconstituted throughout the gallery space using a combination of 3D computer modelling, architectural print, sculpture, illumination and sound.’
Until 31st of May
Fri-Sun 12-5pm
Special late night opening: Thursday 7th May 6 – 9pm
Address:
White Post Quay
92 White Post Lane
London, E9 5EN
For more information visit Schwartz Gallery website.
A new class of terror
A New Class of Terror: Tormented
Even though Happy Bunny is not a big fan of horror movies or any visual material that includes violence (except for gangster films, of course), we braved ourselves and went to watch the latest teenage zombie horror comedy – Tormented.
The plotline is simple – a bullied school kid (the cool gang refers to him as Shrek) commits suicide then rises from the dead to kill his predators. Not quite From Dusk Till Dawn, not quite Dead Set but still enough blood and unexpected moments.
The story in Tormented is predictable but can still be enjoyable as long as one keeps the mind open. Happy Bunny spent most of the premier hiding behind a friend’s back but noticed a few very important details. For a teenage drama Tormented had very neatly presented sex scenes with an emphasis on the use of condoms (Durex could learn from them). Yes, sex sells, but safe sex sells even better. Also the film promotes ‘bullying is bad, mkey’ concept that is incorporated as anti-bullying week at school.
Overall Tormented was filled with swearing, nudity, blood and very English humour. Happy Bunny believes that ending is the most important part of the film and in Tormented all expectations regarding the grand finale were fulfilled. The film might not be an intelligent challenge but is a good way to celebrate the end of academic year.
Professional cast, imaginative deaths and beautiful camera work – Happy Bunny blinks his eyes 4 out of 5 times.
A new class of terror ‘Tormented’ by Jon Wright in cinemas across the UK now.
Special thanks to Emfoundation!
Text: Marina Scukina
