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Locke & Key: Alpha & Omega. Graphic Novel Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The shadows are drawing in and the darkness has claimed yet more lives in the small American town of Lovecraft, the reckoning is yet to happen and it will take an strength that is far beyond the years of the two older Locke children in which to save humanity from a force that will destroy or enslave them forever. Such is the delicious darkness that lives within the final graphic novel by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez in the Locke and Key series that Alpha & Omega could well be the finest finish to a the finest set of graphic novels ever created.

Locke & Key: Alpha & Omega. Graphic Novel Review. full post

(605 words, estimated 2:25 mins reading time)

A Night Out With Metal On The Mind.

The multiple choice between Megadeth, Magnum, ‘Maiden or Metallica

T-shirts, crumpled to hell, beaten, seven shades of death

inside a second hand washing machine that dribbled

four star oil and council pop with regular ease

and threatened to catch fire whenever you weren’t looking,

locked horns with

the odd bit of your own valuable

spilled blood and redeemed soul,

imprinted forever, stained but unsullied and undefeated,

that always goes well with a great pair of jeans and trainers

that none of your well-meaning friends would be seen

dead in.

A Night Out With Metal On The Mind. full post

(1033 words, estimated 4:08 mins reading time)

A Very British Winter

 

Not so long ago but half a life time to me,

a single snowflake would bring joy

to my innocent, eight year old eyes.

A snowdrift would have me jumping

feet in first to feel the suspense filled cold

travel up my body till my hair went limp with dampness

and only a warm bath and heated towel

would suffice to keep me from sneezing.

 

I would love the time

it gave me time to stay at home,

or play down the rec with school friends.

A Very British Winter full post

(328 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

A Farewell To The Military Man.

The train left with military precision

at twelve minutes past the hour.

The driver, so used to punctuality,

waited impassively for the station master’s

whistle to set him free like an eager greyhound

from the traps that bound him.

 

My bag was packed, half empty

having left behind part of my childhood

that would no longer fit within a so called adult world.

A name and number etched forever onto the surface of my skin

And peered at with frustrated,

Damning blue eyes.

 

A Farewell To The Military Man. full post

(245 words, estimated 59 secs reading time)

Secret Sharer, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.CT. Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jack Laskey, Zhu Zhu, Ching-ting Hsia, Leon Dai, Si Qin Chao Ke Tu, Ying Wang, Aroon Wanasbodeewong, Sittinont Ananvorakhun, K.M. Lo, Guo Zhongyou, Song Bin Zhu, Bao Yin Ni Mu Hu.

Man is not an island, unless of course he decides to cocoon himself from danger and the questions of his mind and so called masters, even then he will still find a way to share his secrets with something, even if it’s the sea.

Secret Sharer, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.CT. Liverpool. full post

(500 words, estimated 2:00 mins reading time)

Cold In July, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.CT. Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Sheppard, Don Johnson, Vinessa Shaw, Wyatt Russell, Nick Damici, Brianda Agramonte, Lanny Flaherty, Ken Holmes, Kristin Griffith, Tim Lajcik, Rachel Zeiger-Haag, Joe Lanza, Laurent Rejto, Brogan Hall.

Cold In July, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.CT. Liverpool. full post

(586 words, estimated 2:21 mins reading time)

Eagles, The History Of The Eagles, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The Echo Arena in Liverpool was built for nights such as this, the Midsummer sun starting to wind its way back to the southern hemisphere, the evening glow of June racing its way across the Irish Sea and on its way America to the home of some finest rock bands you could ever hope to see play in the place where legends were born. A city that gave legends its British meaning to the country rock scene of the Eagles, legendary music that if written down in a book would be classed as fable, too fabulous for words but with a spirit that endured for over 40 years. You might never see the Eagles in Liverpool again, for those who took advantage of the summer sun giving its warmth to the city below; they were further warmed by the afterglow of some of the finest music to ever come out of America.

Eagles, The History Of The Eagles, Gig Review. Echo Arena, Liverpool. full post

(884 words, estimated 3:32 mins reading time)

F.I.F.A. World Cup, 2014: Greece V Ivory Coast, Match Report.

Originally published by Ace Magazine, June 2014.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is only the third time the country that gave democracy to the world has qualified for the final stages. There is though something very pleasing in that in their third tournament they upset the form book and make their way into the last 16 thanks to the man who has been a great servant to Celtic the last few seasons. As Georgios Samaras stepped up to take the penalty that would either send his team marching on or see them trip up in the group stages as they did in 1994 and 2010, what emotions must have been going through his head? What emotions must have been going through the mind of Didier Drogba and the Lion of African football, Yaya Touré?

F.I.F.A. World Cup, 2014: Greece V Ivory Coast, Match Report. full post

(1225 words, estimated 4:54 mins reading time)

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Japan V Columbia, Match Report.

First published by Ace Magazine online. June 2014.

If the world of football, and its many critics, were shocked by events in the match involving Uruguay and Italy in the afternoon then surely there would have been many a smile on the same faces a few minutes before the end of the near one sided game involving arguably the best team from South America so far in this tournament and the men from Japan.

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Japan V Columbia, Match Report. full post

(849 words, estimated 3:24 mins reading time)

Chef, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr, Amy Sedaris, EmJay Anthony, Russell Peters, Chase Grimm, Will Schutze, Gloria Sandoval, Jose C. Hernandez.

Chef, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T, Liverpool. full post

(517 words, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)