The Fourth Protocol (1987)
Sometimes a perfectly competent film simply misses the boat. The Fourth Protocol is a prime example of this. Based upon the novel by Frederick Forsythe this well made, somewhat clinical thriller arrived in cinemas at a time when the cold war was coming to an end due to “glasnost” and the “red menace” was becoming a somewhat tired plot device. It didn’t help that a similar story about a rogue Russian mission to detonate a nuclear device on a US base had already featured four years earlier in the Bond film, Octopussy. Michael Caine spent several years trying to get the project off the ground, after initially reading the author’s draft manuscript of the novel. Veteran screenwriter George Axelrod was hired and John Frankenheimer was sought to direct the film. However, difficulties in financing the project led to changes in the production and Forsythe ended writing the screenplay himself, while John Mackenzie (The Long Good Friday) took on the direction.
Is the Gaming Community to Blame?
The ongoing debacle about Blizzard Entertainment naturally raises the question as to what part the gaming community has contributed to this sorry state of affairs. There is a school of thought that gamers who blithely accept the status quo and never speak out about sexism, racism and casual misogyny within the games they play, the companies that create them and the wider community are part of the problem. They are effectively "facilitators" and are "complicit" with the perpetuation of these problems. Logically speaking, such observations are correct in a notional capacity. However, the reality of the situation is far more complex and nuanced. For example there are vast swathes of gamers who do not follow any associated news and therefore will be oblivious to the iniquities of Blizzard Entertainment. The same way as they are ignorant of the business practises of their car manufacturer or telecoms provider.
Unfinished Tales by J. R. R. Tolkien - Read by Timothy and Samuel West (2021)
First published in 1980, Unfinished Tales is a collection of stories by J. R. R. Tolkien, that spans from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring. For those who have read both The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings, this book provides additional insights and more detailed accounts of many key events of the First, Second and Third age. Such as Gandalf’s informative tale of how he came to send the Dwarves to Bag-End in search of a burglar, the appearance of the sea deity Ulmo before Tuor on the coast of Beleriand and an in depth description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan. This collection of stories and essays by J. R. R. Tolkien were never fully completed during the author’s lifetime but were posthumously edited by his son Christopher Tolkien and present with notes, annotations and were required a detailed commentary.
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Film Noir often reflects the numerous things that influenced it. German expressionism, French poetic realism and American hardboiled fiction. Hence many films from this genre have a tendency to be stylised both visually and narratively speaking, with a fatalistic tone. Kiss Me Deadly, directed by Robert Aldrich in 1955, takes all these attributes as well as others and amplifies them in one of the bleakest and most uncompromising movies of the fifties. It features a brutal protagonist who isn’t even a decent detective and a plot that seems at first glance to come straight out of Greek mythology. Yet Kiss Me Deadly is compelling and lean without any superfluous scenes or narrative baggage. There’s also what appears to be the mother of all cinematic "MacGuffins" but once the film is over and the viewer reflects upon what they have seen, it can be argued that maybe the characters and the inevitability of their actions are actually the driving plot device instead.
The Blight of “Bro Culture” and “Boys Club” Mentality
During the summer of 2007 I was working as part of a team of IT contractors undertaking a major hardware rollout for a large smartphone software developer in London. I could spend a substantial amount of time setting up the backstory to this anecdote but upon mature reflection, I don’t think it is actually necessary. Let it suffice to say that the company was mainly staffed by men between the age of 25 and 50. The team of contractors that I was working with had a similar demographic. This is hardly surprising, as IT is still a male dominated field. Both the company that I was directly working for and the one we were providing support services to were very similar in their corporate culture. It was informal with a “work hard, play hard” ethic. Disputes and major decisions were often resolved by public arguments and there was a very clear hierarchy that sadly wasn’t based on intellect or decorum.
Death Line (1972)
Late one night at the Russell Square station, university students Patricia (Sharon Gurney) and her American boyfriend Alex (David Ladd) find an unconscious man on the stairwell. Fearing that he may be ill, Patricia checks his wallet and finds a card that identifies him as James Manfred, OBE (James Cossins). They inform a police officer but when they return find that Manfred has vanished. Inspector Calhoun (Donald Pleasance) is assigned to look into the disappearance. He soon discovers that there are several similar “missing persons” cases. Calhoun's colleague tells him about the history of the London Underground, particularly how numerous Victorian construction workers were buried alive after a tunnel collapsed in 1892. Due to the construction company going bankrupt the rescue mission was abandoned. Is there a group of descendants who survived the cave-in, still alive and living below ground?
Lesnes Abbey Woods
For the last week the UK has been enjoying some exceptionally warm weather with temperatures reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) and above, here in the South East. For our latest day trip Mrs P and I decided to go somewhere local to reduce driving time and allow us to make an early start. Both of us wanted to achieve our daily step count (10,000 steps which is approximately 5 miles) but be done by mid afternoon before the heat made such activities uncomfortable. So we decided to go to Lesnes Abbey Woods which has a well tended park, gardens and the remains of a 12th century Abbey. It also connects to the Green Chain Walk. We drove there as it is only about twenty minutes away by car. However, we subsequently discovered that a local bus stops right outside the main entrance, so will bear this in mind for future visits.
Keeping a Popular Franchise Relevant
I’ve written in the past about “how long should a TV show run for” and it remains a very interesting talking point. An ageing cast and a played out formula are not uncommon problems that can lead to a popular show being cancelled. But some long standing TV dramas have different issues that can blight them. Such as overly complicated lore, a vocal fanbase and a need to stay relevant in a way that some other shows don’t have to worry about. Martin Belam has recently written a very good article about this subject. He cites Doctor Who as a show that is extremely fatigued at present and suggests that maybe taking it off air and having some time out may well be the solution to its “problems”. I agree with him. Not only with regard to Doctor Who but basically any TV or movie franchise that has become ubiquitous and therefore tired as a result.
The Sea Wolves (1980)
I have always had a soft spot for the action movies that Euan Lloyd produced in the late seventies and early eighties. The Wild Geese (1978), The Sea Wolves (1980), Who Dares Wins (1982) and Wild Geese II (1985). They were quite gritty and all had a strong cast of British character actors. Sadly some of them strayed into political issues with their stories and often got out of their depths. The Wild Geese ham-fistedly explores the political landscape of post colonial Africa and Who Dares Wins clumsily deals with terrorism and the concept of unilateral nuclear disarmament. Yet despite the somewhat school boy approach to geopolitics, the action scenes are well crafted (often by legendary Bond stunt arranger Bob Simmons) and the cast more than make up for any narrative failings. All four films also have charismatic soundtracks by Roy Budd. However The Sea Wolves differs from the other three movies in so far that it is set during World War II and is loosely based on real events.
Thoughts on Bereavement
Yesterday, Saturday 17th July, was my late Father’s birthday. He would have been 92. As my granddaughters were staying over the day was upbeat, boisterous and fun due to their exuberance. Today as the bungalow returns to its normal levels of noise and excitement, I have spent some time quietly reflecting upon the nature of bereavement. When my father died last September I was focused upon the practicalities of arranging a funeral during a pandemic, ensuring that his estate was processed and that all possible provisions were made for my disabled 90 year old Mother. These things have now been done and it is only recently that I have had the time to process my own grief. The first Father’s Day (20th June in the UK) without him was naturally a milestone and his birthday has proven similarly so. However, today’s introspection has been beneficial and hence I felt the desire to write about him and share some thoughts on the nature of bereavement.
Incidental Emergent Gameplay
According to Wikipedia, emergent gameplay refers to “complex situations in video games, board games, or table top role-playing games that emerge from the interaction of relatively simple game mechanics”. Emergent gameplay often can stem from the relatively simple decisions a player makes, the sum of which lead to more complex outcomes. It also can be created by adding multiple players to the same game environment or situation and having their individual actions impact upon the overall evolving situation. Or to put it another way, it is the human factor that comes with undertaking a task. For example, a story driven video game may offer the player a quest to travel to the valley of Constant Drizzle, vanquish the foul Myrmidons and reclaim the Heretical Grimoire of Colin. It is a very specific task with a binary outcome. But in an open world game without a pre-written story, the player has to find the aforementioned valley and their actions while exploring determine the fate of both the grimoire and the Myrmidons.
Policing Our Online Communities
It would appear that Discord has a toxicity problem. No, I’m not at all surprised either. Online social platforms attract such issues by their very nature. Discord is far from unique in this respect and is simply the latest online service to join an ever growing list of social platforms to become a hotbed of iniquity. However, I do applaud them for their transparency. They regularly publish reports on the “state” of their service and they don’t try to hide the problem. In fact to combat the problem Discord have recently acquired Sentropy Technologies, who have developed an AI designed to combat toxic behaviour with its “data-driven moderation tools”. Naturally all parties have high hopes that they can tackle the issue. I, on the other hand, do not. Because technology alone is not the solution to the problem. It never is. Has facial recognition software, CCTV and biometric passports solved all the problems that they were supposed to? No they have not.
Thoughts on Blogging Part 14
By the time that August rolls around this year, I will have been actively blogging and generally sharing my writing online for 14 years. Prior to that, back in the eighties, I was involved in the production of several fanzines. That was indeed a labour of love and although I was happy to write the content, the work involved in physically creating the actual pages was tough. The printing costs were also an early lesson in how writing is not an immediate path to fame and fortune. All things considered, writing has been a major aspect of my life for as long as I can remember. I used to enjoy writing stories as a child and then as I got older I discovered the pleasure of a well constructed essay. I was fortunate to have three very good English teachers during my time at school, who were passionate about their job and very encouraging.
Playing Older Games on Modern Monitors
When I initially think of the late 90s or early 2000s, I don’t immediately realise they’re that long ago. That’s probably due to my age and being born in 1967. However, when I do the mental arithmetic, the march of time becomes quite apparent. Technology can change quickly and often does. Prior to the mid-2000s, most video games utilised relatively low-resolutions and the default aspect ratio was usually 4:3 due to the CRT monitors that were in common use at the time. If you try to play such vintage games on a modern HD, UHD or Ultra Wide monitor you’re going to end up with an image that is either stretched or with black bars on the sides of the screen. There are also going to be issues resulting from low-resolution graphics and textures as well. However both of these problems can be addressed by freely available internet resources.
Assassin’s Creed (2016)
On paper, a video games franchise such as Assassin’s Creed lends itself perfectly to a cinematic adaptation. The parkour action scenes, the historical settings and the contemporary conspiracy theory themes are all elements that should play well with a modern youth audience. Hence with the backing of a major studio such as Twentieth Century Fox and a budget of $125 million, the 2016 movie should have been a guaranteed box office hit. The casting of Michael Fassbender, an actor who is comfortable with serious roles and big Hollywood franchises, should have carried this film comfortably over the finishing line. Director Justin Kurzel, who had found critical success with his adaptation of MacBeth a year previously, must have looked like a safe pair of hands to handle such a project. Sadly, that was not the case. Assassin’s Creed is not the sum of its parts, in fact many elements appear to be pulling in opposite directions. The resulting feature film is staggeringly dull, soulless and a chore to watch. A testament to how modern big budget franchise movies have become a production line, with all the art stripped from them.
Diaries
There has been a great tradition of keeping diaries and journals for many centuries. Though they may seem at first glance, mundane, unimportant and even self indulgent they are extremely valuable historical documents. Compared to other source material, diaries are often unambiguous and can indirectly reference a wealth of important detail, providing a useful overview of the world at the time of writing. They reflect the perspective of ordinary people and everyday life, unencumbered by wider considerations faced by historians. For example, consider the diaries of Samuel Pepys or Anne Frank. There are also a lot of personal benefits to keeping a diary. They can help improve self-awareness, your memory and metacognition. They also provide stress management, reduce procrastination and have a positive effect upon one’s mental wellbeing.
Euro 2020 and Political Bandwagons
We live in unique and unparalleled times in which public figures can make a clear and unambiguous critical statement on Monday and then completely contradict themselves by the end of the week. Perhaps the saddest aspect of this recent shift in political discourse is the way we the UK public blithely accept it. It’s become so commonplace that we no longer treat it as a “WTF?” moment. The politically savvy shrug it off with a sigh as the latest tactic in the ongoing culture wars, while the credulous willingly go along with this premeditated reshaping of reality because their side is “owning the liberals”. It makes me cringe as I type these words but this is what political and social discourse has come to in the UK. It is no longer about competing political ideologies or strongly held principles but just trite, tribal loyalties. Many political commentators refer to this process as the “footballfication” of politics.
The Sparks Brothers (2021)
The music business is a strange, interesting and broad church. A spectrum of musical styles and personalities all fulfilling the needs of different markets. There are pop stars who are buoyant but ephemeral. Then there are singer/songwriters who take their work seriously as they express their critique of the human condition via their music. There are also style icons, novelty acts, indie bands, lounge crooners and a myriad of other niche acts, all doing their own thing. And occasionally there are enigmas. Artists and bands that fly in the face of prevailing trends and commercial interest, who do consider their work to be an artistic endeavour and an expression of themselves and as such, do not see the virtue of personal compromise or corporate interests. Esoteric musicians who reinvent themselves continuously as they grow and age. Constantly defying the expectations of both their own fans and naysayers. Sparks are such a musical entity and the subject of a fascinating documentary by director Edgar Wright.
Aargh, Game Controllers
According to a famous old adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. I wholeheartedly refute this as that has not been my personal experience in life. Over the last decade or so I have learned several new technical skills. As a carer to disabled parents, I’ve also learned to be more patient in recent years. And having grandchildren teaches you a thing or two. So I don’t buy into the concept that once people have reached a certain age, they become fixed and immutable by nature. Life presents a continuous opportunity for self improvement. Or to render all this philosophical musing down to a point relevant to this blog post, despite being a PC gamer since the late nineties and habitually using a keyboard and mouse, I have in recent years managed to adapt to using a game controller. To a degree. And that caveat is the point of contention.
Explaining Your Passion
I had “the conversation'' the other day. Not the one about where babies come from, the other one. You know, the one where another adult realises that you play video games and is utterly flummoxed by such a thing. Yes, this tedious shit still happens. However, as someone who tries to be civil to others, I feel it incumbent upon me to try and give a concise response when faced with such questions. In some respects being confronted with a situation like this actually offers an opportunity to educate someone who is culturally ignorant about the popularity and significance of video games. Hence, there is a sense of obligation, as an unofficial ambassador for video games, to try and be coherent, plausible and not come off as a nut job. So, with all this in mind, how exactly do you explain your passion for something to someone who finds it utterly alien and probably has some inherent prejudice against it?