Dan Morgan's Blog

Conan the Barbarian

Dan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:44:23 +0000

Or Slownan the Borebarian which I feel would have been a more apt title for this film. I can’t begin to describe how really bad I think this film is. From the cringeworthy opening shot of Conan’s dad (played by Ron Perlman) holding his newborn CGI baby son aloft, after cutting it from his wife’s womb in the middle of a battle no less, to the drab ending sequence and all the confusing, story less points inbetween the two, Conan is a total waste of time. The film looks good and that’s about the best thing I can say about it. I felt as though it was trying to copy, very unsuccesfully, TV’s ‘Game of Thrones’ (the adult Conan is played by Game of Thrones’ Jason Momoa who plays Khal Drogo in the series) having grand sets and scenes but failing to provide any story or structure or anything even remotely gripping to go along with it. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Conan twice in the 1980s gave the definitive portrayal of the character so watch either of those films to see how it should be done ( though ‘Barbarian’ is superior to ‘Destroyer’). Had I not paid £6 ($9.71) for a ticket I would have left early. I feel sorry for the cast (especially Ron Perlman who’s excellent as Hellboy) who try their hardest but cannot make such a dire mess work. So in short, if you’re thinking of going to see this film, go see something else instead. Thanks for reading.

Beast of Morbach

Dan — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:37:52 +0000

Has anyone else heard the story of a man called Thomas Johannes Baptist Schwytzer who was a deserter from Napoleon’s army after the battle for Moscow? The story goes that he deserted after the battle and started trying to make his way back to his hometown of Alsace with a small band of Russian deserters. Supposedly when he, and the small band tried to rob a farm and killed the farmer and his son, the poor man’s widow placed a curse on Schwytzer that he would become a savage wolf at every full moon. The story goes that from this point on Schwytzer, as though he wasn’t bad enough already, became worse, losing his inhibitions and going on an orgy of rape, bloodletting, robbery and murder. The legend spread throughout the land tht a werewolf was in the midst of the people and Scwytzer was finally hunted down and killed near the town of Morbach in Germany. His body was buried at a crossroads and a shrine was erected with a lit candle which is supposed to remain lit to keep the werewolf from returning. All returned to peace in the countryside for the next century or so, until one night in 1988 when air force men were returning to their base and saw that the candle had gone out. Laughing and joking with each other about the legend they returned to the base and went to bed. Later on that night the automatic sirens went off. It soon became apparent that someone, or something, had tripped the sensors. A security guard who was sent out to search apparently saw a large, wolf like, animal standing on its hind legs staring at him before it vaulted over a fence and disappeared into the night. Dogs that were brought in to continue the search picked up the animal’s scent but refused to go any further than the perimeter fence. The next morning the candle was relit and the creature, whatever it was, has never been seen since. Thanks for reading.

Charla Nash Face Transplant

Dan — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:53:57 +0000

Good news for one brave lady, Charla Nash, has had a face transplant following the attack in 2009 by a friend’s chimpanzee which left her horrifically injured. Miss Nash had been asked by her then employer and friend, the late Sandra Herrold to come and help Mrs Herrold get her chimp, Travis, back into his cage after he’d escaped from her house. Miss Nash travelled to Mrs Herrold’s home but was savagely attacked by Travis the moment she exited her car. Police were called to the scene where Travis was shot dead and Charla Nash has been recovering from the incident ever since in which she lost her face, eyes and hands. The pictures of Charla’s new face are remarkable and clearly the transplant has been done by some very skilled surgeons. Very best wishes to a lady who has gone through an unbelievable amount of pain and suffering in the last two years. Thanks for reading.

The Inbetweeners Movie

Dan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:21:09 +0000

On Thursday night I went to my local cinema to watch the new Inbetweeners Movie. I have to say overall I was very impressed with the film, having been waiting patiently for its release since I first read online (where else?) that it was happening. The film delivers what it promises, a big screen version of the hit E4 sitcom about four lads at sixth-form. With their sixth-form studies now at an end the friends, Will (Simon Bird), Simon (Joe Thomas), Jay (James Buckley) and Neil (Blake Harrison) head off for a lads holiday to the Greek island of Malia after Simon gets dumped by long-term love interest Carli (Emily Head) and Jay’s grandad dies, and all the usual comedy ensues. The only gripe I have with the film, and it’s a tiny one, is with the fact that they meet four girls Alison (Laura Haddock), Lucy (Tamla Kari), Lisa (Jessica Knappett) and Jane (Lydia Rose Bewley) Each one of them likes one of the four guys. There’s no jealousy because Will gets the most attractive one or Jay doesn’t worry about what his dad will say because he gets the slightly heavier one. It just feels a bit too simple and formulaic but as I say it’s just a small gripe. The film is well worth seeing, as I’ve read in other reviews it does feel like an extended episode but that’s no bad thing. Definitely one of the better big screen adaptions of a small screen series (Rising Damp the movie being another one). Thanks for reading.

Rising Damp The Movie

Dan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:45:05 +0000

Is anyone else a fan of Rising Damp the movie? It’s a film version of the successful 1970s television series released in 1980. Starring Leonard Rossiter as landlord Rigsby with Frances de la Tour as Miss Ruth Jones the woman he desires along with lodgers Philip (Don Warrington) and John (Christopher Strauli-whose character replaced that of the late Richard Beckinsale). It’s a classic of British film and has many decent lines, one of which is where Rigsby attempts to convince John that he is descended from royalty: “It’s not generally known this so keep it to yourself, but my grandfather was a bastard.” “You mean he was cruel to you?” But there are also many other instances of comedy too numerous to mention. Highly recommended. Thanks for reading.

Occult Museum

Dan — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:00:09 +0000

I’m still not sure to what extent I believe in the occult and all that goes with it, but I do find the whole subject very interesting. With that in mind I very recently watched on YouTube (where else) a short film about the occult museum started by Lorraine and the late Ed Warren. Lorraine, as was her husband, is a demonologists and is famed for investigating the Amityville Haunting as well as several other high profile cases. In the basement of their house Ed and Lorraine started a museum where several ‘possessed’ and ‘haunted’ objects now reside including dolls and items of furniture. As I say I’m not totally sure of the extent to which I believe but nevertheless all the items in the museum look very creepy and I would certainly never want be in there after dark. Thanks for reading.

Raggedy Ann doll in museum

The Apprentice

Dan — Fri, 13 May 2011 21:08:22 +0000

I see a new series of the Apprentice has hit the airwaves. Cue the usual amount of smug, smarmy backstabbers who say things like ‘I’m the best business person ever’ and ‘I didn’t come here to make friends, I’m here to win’ etc. The show started in 2005 as a UK spin-off of the succesful US version hosted by Donald Trump and sees British self-made multi-millionaire Alan Sugar whittle down the candidates by setting them various tasks week by week until he finds the guy/lady for him. Along for the ride are his trusted aides Nick Hewer and Karen Brady. The eventual winner is ’hired’ to work at Sugar’s company Amstrad on a £100,000 ($161,964.55) contract . This time though there’s a twist as the winner will not become Lord Sugar’s employee but his business partner as he will make a £250,00 ($404,912.28) investment into a business venture of the winner’s choice. So perhaps the show should be retitled ‘The Partner’? I’ve seen the first two episodes and, as always, I’m finding it to be very addictive viewing. Thanks for reading.

65,000 Views

Dan — Sat, 07 May 2011 23:06:23 +0000

I’ve now had, just over, 65,000 views on this blog, so I’d once again like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read and/or comment on it. It’s much appreciated, please keep doing so. Thanks for reading.

Home Alone house for sale

Dan — Sat, 07 May 2011 09:30:05 +0000

Apparently the house used in the hit early 90s comedy ‘Home Alone’ has been put up for sale. The film featured then child star Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McAllister being left home alone by his family when they headed off for a Christmas vacation in France. Unbenknownst to Kevin the house is being watched by two burglars (played by Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci) who plan to break in and rob the place.

The home, which covers an enormous 4,250 square feet of space, features four bedrooms, each with their own en-suite as well as a dining room, breakfast room and two living rooms along with a host of others. It’s on the market for £1.5m ($2,455,192.73). I guess I’d better start saving up. Thanks for reading.

Osama Bin Laden Conspiracy Theories

Dan — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:43:45 +0000

Not long dead and already a slew of conspiracy theories are cropping up all over the web regarding recently deceased Al Qaeda terror chief Osama Bin Laden. Most are saying that he was not killed in the raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan by US Navy Seals, but was in fact dead already and had been since as early as 2002. The conspiracy theorists say his death was covered up in order to keep the ‘war on terror’ going longer. They say the evidence for this is the lack of proof regarding Osama’s death and quick burial in the ocean, pointing to the fact that he was already dead and therefore couldn’t possibly have been in the compound which was raided. Personally I don’t believe a word of it, but clearly there are those who do. Thanks for reading.