jester

What an ending, and that isn't even the finale!

Irish Irish American German (by Croatian football fans while in Germany. I was wearing an Airdrie top at the time FFS) Canadian (In a pub in South Queensferry) I was wearing a Canada cycle shirt at the time though. Guy at the bar doing his crossword looks up and says "What's the capital of Canada?" No idea says I, a'm fae Airdrie... I always find that making it known that I am Schottisch always helps change peoples attitudes in Germany.

Fury Missed this at the cinema, saw it on Sky yesterday. A refreshing change from the usual formula, no overt flag waving which can be a real pain. Interesting to see the Americans not being painted as square jawed heroes with good intentions, but as characters every bit as dangerous and out of control as the Nazis themselves. Few films touch on this aspect, the campaign in Germany being viewed differently by the characters. While previous action in Europe was liberation, this film looks at the conquering and revenge phase of the war, and does it effectively. 8/10

Spy Finally got round to seeing this. There's enough chuckles to keep you happy and a few good belly laughs in there. I can see a sequel coming. 7/10

Cheers, that's worth noting. I've been leasing through Thrifty Flexifleet. I've found them good to deal with. You do need to provide your own insurance, and some companies won't insure leased vehicles. Computerquote are one of the companies who do.

Just started watching Season 3, I thought the first episode was bloody tedious, but apart from that it's excellent. Gutted that it's been cancelled. I get a bit psised off with companies who ask you to invest in their creation, then bail out with half a story told.

Terminator: Genysis Really enjoyed this, a great mixture of action and humour. I'm sure the pedants will have a field day with the whole wibbly-wobbly, timey wimey stuff. Saw it in 3D, but I don't think that it gains anything by it, so save yourself a few quid and see it in 2D. 8/10

Just read Philip Kerr's latest Bernie Gunther book The Lady From Prague. As usual Mr Kerr brings Nazi Germany to life through the eyes of the cynical detective. This one takes Bernie to Switzerland as well as somewhere which rivalled the Nazis for ethic cleansing: Croatia. 10/10

Recently got a new roadbike, a Cannondale Synapse 105. I'm managing to knock serious time off my route. Cycling from Airdrie to Bathgate used to take me around 50-55 minutes, wind dependent. I've managed to get that down to sub 40 minutes, best time so far 36 minutes.

Slow West (8/10) One of my favourite films of the year so far. Set in 1870, a young wet behind the ears Scottish guy heads off into the wild west looking for the girl he loves, who had to leave Scotland in a bit of a hurry, for reasons that will become apparent. Beatiful cinematography and a wonderful score, it's a joy to the eye and ear. A fine mix of quiet dialogue, intense action and at times slapstick comedy, along with a few moments of misdirection and surprise, this is a must see. It would have got a full 10/10 but for the fact that no matter how long the two main characters travel west, they always appear to be passing the same range of hills, like the endlessly repeating background of a Scooby-Doo chase sequence. Apart from this minor point, it's afantastic film.

I'm not getting the dislike that many seem to have for Tomorrowland. I didn't read any reviews beforehand, I took my daughter along and we both annoyed it. Visually stunning, some laugh out loud funny parts, a pretty enjoyable two hours. Certainly not the worst film I've ever seen, in this year or before.

Mad Max: Fury Road Bonkers and nonsensical, but spectacular to watch. 8/10 Tomorrowland Bonkers and nonsensical, but spectacular to watch. 8/10

I was surprised to learn that the quiet old guy 'The Deacon' was in fact one of Baltimore's biggest drug dealers and the inspiration for the series, as he was busted after his calls were intercepted.

Just finished watching this. Watched all 5 seasons over the last two months. The first two seasons are a bit technologically dated ( I didn't realise how old it was) but it's still a fantastic series. Some great characters in there, Prop Joe, Bub and Omar were my favourites.

Is season 6 on in the UK?

Exodus- Gods and Kings 7/10 I only saw this in 2D, I imagine it would have been even more stunning in 3D. This is epic on an EPIC scale, the representation of Memphis is absolutely amazing. No real surprises in the story, and Christian Bale is solid as usual. A few gripes, one is the use of white actors to play Egyptians. Some can get away with this. Ben Kingsley does, as usual. Ben Mendelsohn looks like a blacked up extra from It Ain't Half Hot Mum. The boy who represents God, and Moses son are all frightfully English... Having said that I enjoyed it but felt the ending was too rushed. I've heard that the original cut was around 4 hours and this would possibly explain how in the last minutes Moses goes up a mountain to receive the ten commandments, yet without explanation is an old man in the final scene.

You ain't seen me, right!

Bernie. I missed this when it came out at the cinema. Finally caught up with it the other day. Jack Black is on fantastic form as Bernie Tiede, the Mr Nice Guy funeral director who falls under the spell of Shirley MacLaines twisted old rich widow. Done in a semi documentary fashion, it is interspersed with comment from local people (some actors, some actual locals) who talk about the two main characters and events. Some great little comments from them, my favourite being the hick who spoke of Mrs Nugent tearing someone a new "three bedroom, two bathroom asshole." Black is also in great singing voice throughout the film, and it's well worth watching. 8/10.

In Order of Disappearance. The b*****d offspring of the Coen Brothers and Norwegian Noir, I thought this was a cracking revenge thriller cum black comedy. Some well kent Euro faces in this to keep you busy, Stellan Skarsgard is Nils, the Mr Nice Guy who has to crack heads when his son is found dead of a drug overdose. Bruno Ganz (Downfall) appears an an Armenian drug lord, Birgitte Hjort Sorensen (Borgen) is in it too, but the stand out is Pal Sverre Hagen as the vegetarian psychopath The Count. 8/10

Sausages is the boys! Lorne or square slice.

I was there on Friday night. It's a fantastic show, setlists are available online so I won't put up any spoilers.

Into The Storm A disaster movie by the numbers, kids separated from parents, romantic sub-plot, lots of shots of the US flag, etc. It's a hybrid mix of standard movie as well as characters filming the action on hand held cameras, which is probably one of my least favourite types of film. After a few minutes you do tend to find yourself saying "just drop the f@@@ing camera and run". Special effects are ok, but the plot holes aren't. It's full of them. If you go and see it switch off your brain. 5/10

I met a guy the other day who told me that he was a 'Scottish Sovereign of the land'. I had heard vaguely of this group, and was under the impression they were a kind of poor mans legal defence team who specialised in stopping bailiffs and the like. 15 long drawn minutes with this chap, followed by some internet research afterwards has convinced me that they are in fact tinfoil hat wearers of the highest order. In no particular order some of his wild claims were that: Every law is illegal. The police are constructs with no legal standing. The Queen is the head of an international peadophile ring, as well as a satanist. Pretty much every government department is made up and doesn't really exist, but exists only because we think it exists. Has anyone else had dealings with this mob?