Opinions - Bee Manc

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April

Name of event, Location - Date
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Do it for the love..., Chorlton Book Shop - 5th April 2009
Wow! They did it for the love alright... it's not just a cunning title. A mix of music and poetry to tickle your tastebuds as we huddled between covers of book lined walls. I'm a little too rusty for squating any length of time, but they've got the right idea you know! Very intimate setting, felt like it was something that happened in the sixties.. a group of cool young people just doing it for the love of music and poetry. Bring your own booze and relax... Ok, I liked the first guy's music, My Little Poet, especially as I'm a cheese freek (he does a song about cheese for anyone who doesn't know, I'm not mental). The next guy didn't do it for me as all his songs sounded the same and I couldn't distinguish his words, which would be great for some background music. I missed the poets, so I'll definately be going back next time. Honestly, it's a fantastic idea and I hope other people start entertaining for the love, making little querky venues feel loved too. More!!?

March

The Barber of Seville, Bridgewater Hall - 31st March 2009
oooooh, it was funny, until they started over doing the panto "oh no he isn't!!... oh yes he is!!!" bit. Ok, first off, a traditionally Italian sung opera, re-done in English is not a good idea! The first half was really enjoyable and I was actually laughing along as well as at it! But when the guitar lid closed on the performers for the end of the first half... they should have stopped while they were ahead. Over all, it was mostly funny, for the right or wrong reasons regardless. I'd like to see it done properly.

La Mujer del anarquista, Cornerhouse - 12th March 2009
Great! Loved it... pretty long though. The cinema was packed and a little uncomfortably 'cosy', plus the introduction was informative and I did appreciate it, but she seemed settled in for a lecture... Maybe better to have a short intro with a chat at the end! Beautiful story over one of those tragic times... you were made to feel the reality of the division happening around the characters lives and previous relationships. I thought it was a well told story.

Macbeth, Royal Exchange - 10th March 2009
...oh dear... Ok, I don't want to sound like some ultra-conservative traditionalist, but it's bleedin' Shakespeare! The words are kind of important, so when an intense scene of Mcduff's family being murdered was over-run by an ipod, pumping out the Ting Tings.. I struggled. The witches were little kids that were pretty funny in parts, but when one of the pretended to rape another I was a bit gutted, but it got even worse when they pulled out a dance routine to Girls Aloud! Naked Macbeth got a few whistles from the college girl crowd, making sure he did a full 360 so all got a glimpse.. Gratuitous nonsense. One great scene with Mcduff and Malcolm, rest of it would have suited some straight-to-t.v drama.

Blue Velvet, Whitworth Art Gallery - 6th March 2009
Classic film, part of three the Friends of Whitworth Art Gallery put on to run with the surrealist exhibition, Subversive Spaces. I hadn't seen this Lynch film before, although I actually thought I had. You know it sounds pompous as hell, but I actually liked walking around the art gallery after it had closed with a glass of wine and very few people there. It's a great gallery anyway, but it just added a bit more magic for me. It was shown in the lecture theatre. I've heard they'll possibly be putting on more films and I really can't wait to see what comes next. Oh, I'm still digesting the film... either that or just having flashbacks of Dennis Hopper...

Verbally Challenged, Contact - 4th March 2009 - 10 minute scripts written from a brief, played by the same 4 actors.
Phew... you know, the first half had me a little worried. It was like it was a school project or something of the like. I know the contact is all for encouraging the youth of Manchester to be involved and actively promoting their work, but it shouldn't be that obvious should it? First two shorts were over-kill on key words of 'oil', 'terrorism' and 'race'... little of Satan in their too. Third one stepped away from the obvious slightly and had a lovley layered approach. (I don't do technical terms). My friends play was after the break and it was amazing, just the difference in the actors! They could, really well. That must be what a good script-writer can do. I honestly had no idea! Last one was just as good, the actors were brilliant and the short play well scripted. Good night.

February

Prokofiev, BBC Philharmonic present Great Russians - Bridgewater Hall
Bloody brilliant! First half I thought was pretty dischordant (if that's even a word, but it jarred), but suitably impressioned on me it was a Russian composer! That guy sure loved his percussion. The second half was excerpts from his ballet of Romeo & Juliet... I say this like I know what it means, but all I really knew was the first piece which rocked my world! My god it was in every fibre of my body, I was even rocking back and forth on my chair. It was the music you may have heard on the Alan Sugar thing.. apprentice, it's been on some adverts too I think. Powerful stuff. Highly recommended.

The song you'll all recognise is 'The Montagues and Capulets'... check it out on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RFq7cOVDF0&feature=related

January

The Reader, Cornerhouse - 28th January 2009
Nice... would happily have that on DVD for watching again. Can't remember it that well, but it was a pretty gentle film that I remember to be quite endearing.

Slumdog Millionaire, General Release - 27th January 2009
Crap!

Rachel Getting Married, Cornerhouse - 24th January 2009
Wow, after seeing the much hyped Wrestler I was utterly satisfied to see a proper decent bit of film. I felt like crying at the end... Yeah, I don't care, it was touching. Suitably uncomfortable in the right places and tragically accurate in others, but often heart-felt. It showed the tension of such an emotional time superbly allowing the underlying story to unfold so slowly all the way to the end. More like a tantric action than the full thrust and tackle slapping of other films.

Burma Play: A Comedy of Terror, Contact Theatre - 23rd January 2009
Enjoyable and engaging, but it was more suited to a tour of schools and colleges. I missed the hard edge, potentially disturbing portrayal of comedy in the face of such terror, but it just didn't disturb me as I expected. Could have been so much better, but was certainly entertaining and educational.

Odder's Mini Cine Picture Show, Odder Bar - 18th January 2009
Monthly short film night, wonderful little venue, superb hostess and a perfectly weighted showing of the short stuff, some free popcorn and good drinks breaks. The collection for this opening night was a mixed bag in my humble opinion. Ranging from bizarre experimental, comical intentional, comic unintentional and eighties public safety infomercial style. Overall I thought it was a great evening and look forward to next time, 15th Feb.

The Wrestler, Cornerhouse 17th January 2009
Really enjoyed watching the film, would struggle to remember it afterwards, wouldn't buy it. Not sure about all this talk of Rourke for an oscar, I'd say the casting team did a great job, but surely that was just Rourke. I liked the documentary style, but the story was forgettable, still listened to the Boss playing out the credits til I was kicked out 'though.

Che: Part 1, Cornerhouse - Wednesday 14th January 2009
I wish I could spout one of those wonderfully flowery and intelligent reviews of the film, but unfortunately I just really enjoyed it. Had a drink with a friend in the bar and spent never a dull moment of the next two hours in front of a completely engrossing film. I thought it was visually stunning and slightly comical, which I find a little bit disturbing... I like being disturbed by a film though.

Briton's Protection - Thursday 8th January 2009
Drink and a chat (the first for the culture club) at the Briton's this Thursday gone. As the first meeting I expected a couple of people at the most to turn up.... and I wasn't disappointed. Both in the number and the people themselves. My very heartfelt thanks go out to Gus, Jonny and Fliss. I had a brilliant night, hope you did too. I know we set up this club with the same thoughts, we all knew about these places to go but never, or rarely, went. So to find even just three other people to talk to about this was amazing. I'm excited to think as this site develops how many other like minded people I'll meet, but more importantly how many cultural exploits I'll be able to take part in.