RIP Shane Rimmer

Gutted to hear that Shane Rimmer, an actor who - if you grew up in the UK at any time in the 60s, 70s and 80s - has been such a part of all our lives, has passed away at the age of 89.

Canadian born Rimmer's most iconic role was one that only required his vocal talents, namely that of Scott Tracy in Thunderbirds, but he was instantly recognisable for several supporting roles in some of cinema's biggest franchises; Star Wars, Superman, Batman, and a total of three James Bond movies, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever, and The Spy Who Loved Me. Other film credits included Gandhi, Rollerball (pictured above), Doctor Strangelove, Reds, Out of Africa and Dark Shadows, whilst he appeared in TV dramas like Doctor Who, Coronation Street, Dockers, and the controversial 1977 April's Fools joke (which actually aired in June that year!) Alternative 3, a cod-science documentary about the 'brain drain' which revealed that the elite of society had actually left the soon-to-be-destroyed earth for a new life in space, that continues to resonate among conspiracy theorists to this day.

RIP

Theme Time: Billy Connolly & Phil Coulter - Super Gran

"Stand back Superman, Iceman, Spiderman, Batman Robin too. Don't wanna cause a ruckus but BA Baracus have I got a match for you"

Those opening lyrics alone should give you an instant rush of nostalgia, for it's the theme tune to the one and only Super Gran sung by the equally inimitable Billy Connolly!

Based on the books by Forrest Wilson about a grandmother with superpowers, this kids TV series was adapted by Jenny McDade for Tyne Tees Television and ran from 1985 to 1987. It starred Gudrun Ure in the titular role, with Iain Cuthbertson as her nemesis, Scunner Campbell. The show attracted several guest stars including George Best, Spike Milligan, Roy Kinnear, Patrick Troughton, Geoff Capes, Charles Hawtry and um, Gary Glitter. The least said about him appearing in a show for children, the better.

This was a firm favourite of mine as a kid but I'm surprised it ran for just two series and one Christmas special. Apparently there were plans for a third series and even a movie, but the kibosh was put on it all when Tyne Tees decided to focus their budget on daytime quiz shows such as Chain Letters instead. What a stupid decision!

In 2003, The Glasgow Herald conducted a poll to find The Most Scottish Person in the World, with Super Gran coming a respectable seventh. At around the same time the show was a huge ratings hit in Cuba, where it was dubbed into Spanish.

Theme Time: Corinne Bailey Rae - Stans Lee's Lucky Man

Tonight saw the return to Sky One of Stan Lee's (yes, he of Marvel Comics fame) Lucky Man

This is the second series of the action crime drama starring James Nesbitt as Harry Clayton, a Detective Inspector in London's Murder Squad with a serious gambling addiction whose luck changes when a mysterious and beautiful stranger (Sienna Guillory) gives him an ancient bracelet that bestows upon him the gift of profound luck. The show is created by Neil Biswas, based on an original idea by Stan Lee, who once answered fans that his most wished for super power would be luck. 

I'd love to say I'm a big fan of the show, but the truth is for all its Stan Lee credentials, I find it a bit old fashioned and reminiscent of '90s Saturday action drama Bugs (which is perhaps unsurprising when you consider both programmes share a production company in Carnival Films) and I mostly amuse myself by calling it 'Jammy Bastard' rather than Lucky Man; adopting a Monkfish style trailer narration (from The Fast Show) that goes along the lines of "James Nesbitt is tough, uncompromising DI Jammy Bastard..."

But I do love the title theme tune, Lucky One, provided by the mellifluous vocals of Corinne Bailey Rae. Unfortunately, you can't really find a full length official cut of the theme, but this fan made one is the closest we have to it so far.

Theme Time: Jay Gruska - Lois & Clark: New Adventures of Superman

With Doctor Who seemingly consigned to TV history, Saturday teatimes of the 1990s were all about a family friendly, fantasy action drama imported to the BBC from the US; The New Adventures of Superman

Entitled Lois & Clark in America, the series was devised for television by Deborah Joy LeVine as a modern, relationship-centric revision of the DC Comics legend, taking its cue from comic book writer and artist John Byrne who was charged with rejuvenating the superhero with a modern origins story that depicted Clark Kent as the true personality and Superman the disguise. The show starred Dean Cain as Clark and Superman, and Terri Hatcher as Lois Lane, making the previously unknown pair household names all over the world. And yes, I did crush on Hatcher - I was a teenage boy after all. The show ran from 1993 to 1997, spawning tie-in novels and a soundtrack CD from the composer Jay Gruska, including his stirring, wonderful theme tune...

Here in the UK, the series made its debut Saturday 8th January 1994 and became one of the regular building blocks of the Saturday night schedule alongside Noel's House Party, Casualty and later, the National Lottery. The BBC renamed the series The New Adventures of Superman and held the rights to the first three seasons, before Sky One stepped in to broadcast the fourth and final season first in the UK, with BBC1 playing catch up a few weeks later. Repeats were still being broadcast on the BBC as late as 2002 in the CBBC Saturday morning schedules and on BBC2 weekday teatimes.

Just hearing the theme gives me a huge nostalgia rush!

Out On Blue Six : Kate Rusby

As regulars to this blog will probably know, I have no time for the majority of super hero movies. However, if they chose to make this I'd be the first in the queue!

That's my kind of super hero; cutest thing ever - cheers Kate!

End Transmission

RIP Noel Neill

Noel Neill, the original Lois Lane, has passed away aged 95.

Neill played the Daily Planet reporter in the 1948 and 1950 movie serials alongside Kirk Alyn as Superman, and returned to the role in 1953 for the TV series The Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves, which ended five years later in 1958. Her connection to the adventures of Krypton's finest continued with an appearance as Lois Lane's mother Ella in the 1978 Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve, a role in the 1992 series Superboy, and the 2006 film Superman Returns starring Brandon Routh.

She made almost 100 films in her career, including several westerns, and appeared alongside the likes of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Gene Kelly. 

RIP 

RIP Yvonne Craig

Yet more sad news; Yvonne Craig has passed away at the age of 78.

The American actress was most famous for playing Barbara Gordon, Commissioner Gordon's librarian daughter whose secret identity was the crimefighter Batgirl in the 1967-'68 final season of the cult Batman TV series, opposite Adam West and Burt Ward.

But her career began as a ballet dancer with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1950s, which led to her break in the movies with roles in Gidget, In Like Flint and two Elvis movies; It Happened At The World's Fair and Kissin' Cousins as well as two Man From UNCLE movies; One Of Our Spies Is Missing and One Spy Too Many

Other roles included the green-skinned slave girl Marta in the 1968 Star Trek episode 'Whom Gods Destroy', as well as guest appearances in The Land of the Giants, The Mod Squad, Kojak, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Big Valley. In later life she moved into the real estate business, but continued to produce television and film and lent her voice to the Nickelodeon series Olivia. She died at her home on August 17th following a long battle with breast cancer.

RIP

Tank Girl

Girls With Guns

Love To Hate : Terence Stamp in Superman/Superman II

Stamp is just icily sublime in the two definitive Superman movies.

Kneel Before Zod!

Theme Time : John Williams - Superman March

Not TV themes today (though it was TV that spurred me to show some appreciation for it - blame the Seinfeld clip show!) but another absolute gem from John Williams; The theme from the 1978 film Superman; still the adaptation of the comic book legend. They don't make movies like that any more, and they don't do themes like this any more either.

Out On Blue Six : Blondie

End Transmission

Wonder Woman

Because I was watching the hilarious sketch from Frankie Boyle's Tramadol Nights about Wonder Woman wanking off criminals for information (!) I thought I'd share some pics of the lovely Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman

Piss Poor Popcorn

This weekend saw me tackle two bloated big budget and downright boring blockbusters, Wrath of The Titans (2012) and X Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), care of Sky Movies Premiere and Channel 4 respectively.

Both films reminded me that (adopts shaky old man voice now) popcorn epics were much better in my day.

I'm not alone as this article on the original Superman and the decline of modern day superhero films from my blog friend Ken proves. It seems these films now are all simply style over substance and poor excuses for merchandising masquerading as movies.

So let's start with Wrath of the Titans (2012) which arrived to Sky on Friday. This yawn fest is an everyday story of Greek God folk, billed as a sequel to the tepid 2010 Clash Of The Titans (which had previously been filmed way back in 1981, and was a favourite of mine as a child)

A sequel? Yeah right, a further bastardisation of Greek mythology more like.

So, let's look at the main faults; Sam Worthington returning as Perseus albeit now with his native Aussie accent still cannot act, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson don't even try as Zeus and Hades respectively, and Bill Nighy over-acts to the hilt in his brief cameo as Hephaestes, the smithing God, complete with stereotypical northern accent ('Ay oop lad, appen I'm a reet fallen God so I am') all he was missing was the whippet! Instead they gave him Bubo the owl (a tiresome injoke that was only briefly amusing in the previous film)

Then on top of that you've utterly blank as to make you wonder if they're actually there performances from the likes of Danny Huston an actor I've never cared for, as Poseidon, Edgar Ramirez as Ares (the anagram is rather apt here) and Rosamund Pike as Andromeda. Whilst Toby Kebbell is lumbered with the dreaded 'comic relief' role (yeah no pressure, mate) and tries - and fails - to inject some charisma within the now bog standard soulless snark that litters these big budget follies.

Families eh?

This sequel managed to follow the same folly as the previous Clash, which hardly set the world alight. It begs the question why did they do it? Let's face it, they're never going to top Jason and the Argonauts are they? But Hollywood continue to try, injecting dollars where charm should be. And whilst children may still find much to enjoy in this, a Greek mythology film that relies on CGI instead of Ray Harryhausen is always going to be on a loser to me. Harryhausen's stop motion animation was genuinely unsettling, and a thing of real wonder. CGI is just totally unengaging. Much like the film itself.

Throughout this film I found that my attention was on the locations and scenery far more...that is when I could see it between all the dirt flinging and explosions that littered the screen.

An utter snooze fest, devoid of likeability and talent (barring Nighy's take the money and run cameo) Give me the oldies over this any day, or indeed give me that overlooked 2007 film The Last Legion which may be no classic by any means but it managed to be a return to form for these kind of stories.

* * *

X Men Origins : Wolverine (2009) received a broadcast on Channel 4 last night. As I've said before I'm not a huge fan of the X Men but I have somehow managed to see *I think* all the films so far and can appreciate they're largely well made and with some merit.

Not this one.

I'm not sure exactly where this went wrong. It's not as godawful as many have claimed but its not in the same class as well, First Class (a film which utterly took me by surprise as being very enjoyable and was, I presume, a real shot in the arm for the franchise) and after a solid enough start it quickly descends into nonsense and a very weak climax.

Attempting to pilfer so many elements from the source instead of concentrating on the original Weapon X story certainly helped muddy the waters, and what we're ultimately left with is a good looking by the numbers, hop skip and jump through characters and story, generic super hero flick (and really, who needs another one of those?) There are some what I would call Richard Donner touches which are either flattering and paying tribute to the Superman director in accordance to his role as exec producer or crowbarred and downright lame, depending on what you're POV is.

Hugh Jackman is as reliable in the role he's most famous for as always, though his one liners are sorely missed here. Danny Huston, an actor I've never cared for (deja vu much?) gives another smarmy void of a performance here, proving he's no Brian Cox, whilst the rest of the supporting cast are equally underpowered and/or just have moments too brief to really work with (Max Cullen and Julia Blake as Clark Kent's Ma and Pa....I mean of course, Wolverine's brief maternal and paternal sanctuary, Dominic Monaghan, Ryan Reynolds and yes, even will.i.am, there I said it - though I do appreciate his prolific nature does alienate some, especially Charlie Brooker, who would rather he changed his name to the more apt will.u.leave) Much is made of Liev Schreiber here, but frankly I wasn't that impressed. He looked like he smelled of bad meat pies and BO all the way through.

Serviceable enough but a somewhat redundant issue to a franchise that had I believe suffered with the previous film too. The world wouldn't have lost out on much if this had never been made. Thank heavens, First Class was just around the corner. It remains to be seen if Wolverine, currently on cinematic release now, can improve upon this one.


Oh and lastly, who needs a CGI'd Patrick Stewart so awful that it looks like he's overdone the botox??

BBC1 however are currently showing all the Indiana Jones movies every Saturday night. And again, I can't help but think kids today are being short changed compared to how much quality family entertainment blockbusters were around when I was a kid in the 1980s.

Then again, maybe the generation before me where equally sniffy of Superman, Star Wars, Indy and indeed anything Spielberg rustled up - maybe they were lamenting the fact that the kids of the 1970s and 1980s weren't treated to Buster Crabbe or George Reeves?

No, somehow I don't think so.

The Bald Truth : Karen Gillan's New Look

Former Doctor Who beauty Karen Gillan has bagged herself a starring role in next year's Marvel movie Guardians Of The Galaxy... that much we knew.

She's set to play a character called Nebula (which probably means something to someone, but alas not I as I've never really got on board with Marvel) and revealed at San Diego's Comic Con this weekend the extraordinary lengths she's gone to for the part.

Or rather the lack of length. Hair length.

With movie co-star Lee Pace (no, me neither)

Karen had previously fooled everyone at the bash by wearing a long red wig resembling her natural hair

I can't say she doesn't look beautiful...there's just no way on earth (or the universe) that Karen could look ugly. But I prefer her with luscious red hair. Bald, she actually reminds me of an ex who used to shave her head like that and had a very similar figure too.

In Bed With Wonder Woman

Wasn't Wonder Woman great? Certainly the sexiest Super Heroine with the best outfit by far. I bet Superman etc all lusted after her.

Can you imagine being facesat by her?

One imagines you'd be put in mind of the 2001 quote; "My God, it's full of stars!"

;-)

Fourth Of July

A happy 4th July to any American readers!

As Will Ferrell said as Neil Diamond 'It's a song about my hatred of immigrants!'

And here's a real American icon, Wonder Woman! 

An off duty Lynda Carter with a very apt T Shirt.

Yeah those Wonder Woman/Carter pics were just an excuse to ogle really...even the cartoon one. What you gonna do? ;)