Jurassic World Review [rwrant.co.za]

Jurassic Park is one of those franchises that started off with a huge, groundbreaking and critically acclaimed blockbuster, and went kinda hit-and-miss after that. While never quite reaching the high standards set by the original classic, Jurassic Park II: The Lost World did so many things right. It was a fun, fuzzy, exciting action-adventure film that hit just below the mark. Which made the third film so much of a disappointment. Steven Spielberg didn’t return to direct the third outing, the story didn’t offer anything new or exciting, and the effects were lackluster. So understandably, I was a bit apprehensive about the sequel/reboot, Jurassic World.

Read more at rwrant.co.za.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review [rwrant.co.za]

You know the drill. All of our favourite Marvel superheroes team up as The Avengers, an all-star, alien-fighting, earth-defending troupe of macho misfits. That’s Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and The Hulk. But haven’t we seen this movie before? Yes, we have. Twice.

First in 2012’s The Avengers, and then again last year with (practically the same movie, just dressed up in alien clothing) Guardians of the Galaxy. So is there any more story left to tell? Especially after we’ve already seen Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man star in four movies previously?

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Album review: Kabaal klankbaan – Baptism

Hi. My name is Floris Groenewald. I lead/own/run/am a “band” (mostly a solo music project) called Kabaal klankbaan. I decided to break the rules and review my own album, since the current music, blogging, and marketing landscape turned getting your album reviewed into a sisyphean task, and repeatedly pushing rocks up hills is extremely tiring. Plus I’m running out of Red Bull. So remember to disregard any legitimacy in the following review, since the reviewer in question is (obviously) extremely biased and prejudiced.

Kabaal klankbaan – Baptism

“Kabaal klankbaan,” the name of the folk-rock singer-songwriter-but-sometimes-a-band project from the ruggedly handsome Pretoria-based beard owner Floris Groenewald, can be roughly translated as “Cacophony soundtrack.” I don’t know if that says something about the kind of music they produce, but I’m sure such an assumption is expected. After a rarely-heard-of and media-invisible Afrikaans debut album, and an in-between follow-up single/EP, they recently released a second full-length album called Baptism.

I watched Mallrats

When you look past the so-so, unschooled filmmaking and excessive masturbation and sex jokes, Mallrats is a pretty cool film about the modern (90s) culture of dating and mall-cruising. Despite being nothing alike and a completely unfair comarison, this reminds me slightly of American Graffiti.

[04 Oct 2014]

I watched Four Rooms

Just like (the joke in) the final segment of this anthology film, the whole movie is a mediocre buildup to an hilarious finale. Worth a watch.

[25 Oct 2014]

I watched Taken

It’s a silly, obvious, action-driven film. But at least it’s far less cliched than so many similar films.

[27 Dec 2014]

I watched Rip van Wyk

Aag oulik! Back to the Future voor Back to the Future daar was. En Afrikaans, nogal!

[28 Dec 2014]

I watched Kill Bill vol 1

Quentin Tarantino CAN do action. Wow. He keeps impressing, and he keeps proving he can do all sorts of films expertly.

[?14-23 Aug 2014?]

I watched Galaxy Quest

The best Star Trek film ever. Until JJ Abrams’ reboot in 2009. Or so I guess, anyway, since I haven’t seen the earlier ones yet. An awesome tribute/satire.

PS. I love these kind of deconstructive and/or reconstructive films.

[10 Jan 2014]