Smoke and Mirrors has its roots in the Spiegletent, during the Sydney Festival. Having been one of its most popular shows, the producers rightly decided to push it on a national tour, with the Sydney run closing on the 14th of May. Headlined by the fabulous iOTA, the show features a variety of talents, from the usual gymnasts to... Well, let's not spoil that part.
To say that it is a musical extravaganza will not give it its due credit. It's quite more than that, and because I don't want to do spoilers, I would like to leave it at that. I went in not knowing what to expect, and they blew my socks off. I think people should leave that show with that kind of feeling too. I will tell you that they have loud music, strong strobe lights, smoke machines and attitude in spades.
This is an absolute gem of a show and no review can ever do it justice. Act I is the stronger of the two in terms of performance, but Act II has better songs with a very unconventional ending. If iOTA ever needed to prove his talent, this closing number is it, his winning ticket, the one everyone can take home so they can say "Wow". The production design is astonishing, from stage to costumes to makeup. It reminds me somewhat of Carnivale meets Madonna's The Girlie Show. This show is so polished you'd think it was made of glass - but really, it's just smoke and mirrors.
If you are in Sydney and can spare the time, go to the Seymour Centre before it's too late, and if you have any ounce of culture in you, this is the show you **deserve** to see.
Smoke and Mirrors: 4.5 slices
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
A Film of Nordic Proportions: Thor (3D)
I should have written this a week ago after I had watched it, but the 5-day weekend caught up with me and I just needed that little breather from everything, really.
Thor is based on Marvel's comic hero of the same title. Being a Marvel reader as a child, I was quite excited to see where they would go with this film. I felt that, as long as they didn't go down the Fantastic Four route, they should be alright.
I am happy to note that it was not just alright - it took the whole comic-movie genre up a notch. Kenneth Branagh made sure that the movie followed the comic's main concepts but discarded everything that didn't work on film. Hence it had a very contemporary feel and visual images in comics, like Asgard or Loki's ridiculous costume, looked quite believable on screen.
The acting was alright and my instinct tells me that the director managed to squeeze all acting potential from the lead actor whose arms are large enough to have their own post code. Under any other director, I reckon he would have gone down the Keanu Hall of Fame. Natalie Portman, who seems hellbent on getting every single acting assignment that didn't have a strand of acting challenge, after her gobsmackingly fantastic performance in the brilliant mind bomb that was Black Swan, was just ok. She didn't have much to work with and the development of her love affair with the hero seems raw at best.
But luvey-dovey stuff is not what Thor is all about. It's about raw muscle, swirling Mjolnirrs, fast action and eye candy in all shapes, sizes and orientations - and Thor brings those in spades. Add a well-handled classic story of redemption among Nordic gods, and you have a good two-hour escapist flick that deserves your time and money. We watched the 3-D version, but heaven knows the 2-D version should still be more than worthwhile.
Thor: 4 slices.
Thor is based on Marvel's comic hero of the same title. Being a Marvel reader as a child, I was quite excited to see where they would go with this film. I felt that, as long as they didn't go down the Fantastic Four route, they should be alright.
I am happy to note that it was not just alright - it took the whole comic-movie genre up a notch. Kenneth Branagh made sure that the movie followed the comic's main concepts but discarded everything that didn't work on film. Hence it had a very contemporary feel and visual images in comics, like Asgard or Loki's ridiculous costume, looked quite believable on screen.
The acting was alright and my instinct tells me that the director managed to squeeze all acting potential from the lead actor whose arms are large enough to have their own post code. Under any other director, I reckon he would have gone down the Keanu Hall of Fame. Natalie Portman, who seems hellbent on getting every single acting assignment that didn't have a strand of acting challenge, after her gobsmackingly fantastic performance in the brilliant mind bomb that was Black Swan, was just ok. She didn't have much to work with and the development of her love affair with the hero seems raw at best.
But luvey-dovey stuff is not what Thor is all about. It's about raw muscle, swirling Mjolnirrs, fast action and eye candy in all shapes, sizes and orientations - and Thor brings those in spades. Add a well-handled classic story of redemption among Nordic gods, and you have a good two-hour escapist flick that deserves your time and money. We watched the 3-D version, but heaven knows the 2-D version should still be more than worthwhile.
Thor: 4 slices.
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