Wellington Paranormal, Episode 1

Following the hit comedy and mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) and Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok) have teamed up again to create the hotly anticipated TV spinoff: Wellington Paranormal.

We first meet the Officers Minogue (Mike Minogue) and O’Leary (Karen O’Leary) in the mocumentary, who are responding to a noise complaint to the vampire household. In a tense scene, the police officers enter to inspect the house. However, due to hypnotism, the police become entirely unobservant of both the dead body in the basement and a levitating vampire, focusing instead on fire hazards and missing smoke detectors.

In Wellington Paranormal, Minogue and O’Leary are enlisted by their captain, Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), to solve the Kiwi capital’s supernatural and paranormal cases. Together, they form the Wellington Police Paranormal Unit. In the first episode of the series, they are taking care of a young woman who claims to be Bazu’aal of the Unholy Realm. This time, however, the officers are marginally more observant. While the young woman is projectile vomiting green sulphuric acid in the background, Officer O’Leary narrates matter-of-factly to the camera, that yes, the girl ‘is clearly quite unwell’. The demonic spirit possesses a number of different people in Wellington, and the rest of the episode follows Minogue and O’Leary as they attempt to apprehend the spirit.

Following the tradition of the deadpan humour in Flight of the Conchords and What We Do in the Shadows, this is a cop comedy in the vein of The Office and reality show parodies. Filming with a hand-held camera, the show revels in understated jokes and puns, and the plot becomes increasingly absurd. The episode works as a stand-alone from the film, and the characters are quickly and easily introduced. O’Leary is the leader and a level-headed rationalist, and Minogue is her slightly dim, but well-meaning, partner. The actors give good performances, and it clear that they have good chemistry.

The first part of the six-part series sets the show up to a good start, and sets a promising precedent for the episodes to come. If the show manages to keep up the pace and avoids having its jokes becoming too repetitive, this can certainly become a comedy classic.

Addams Family Musical UK Tour

I recently reviewed The Addams Family Musical for Weekend Notes, which premiered in Edinburgh and is currently touring the UK. It deserves a five star rating, and received a standing ovation. Read my full review here:

http://www.weekendnotes.com/the-addams-family-musical-comedy-uk-tour/

Image: http://www.theaddamsfamily.co.uk

 

CHiPs

Image: indiewire.com

2 Stars

CHiPs is a revival of a TV series from the late 70s and early 80s, and this action comedy follows the pill-popping, former motorbike rider and rookie cop Jon Baker (Dax Shepard), and hardened undercover FBI agent Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Michael Peña) as they try to bring down some dirty cops in their California Highway Patrol (CHP) office. The film forgoes high stakes in order to focus on the private lives of the two officers, particularly Jon who is trying to save his marriage with Karen (played by Kristen Bell).

The reboot is written and directed by Dax Shepard, and a lot of the comedy elements in the film stems from issues of fragile masculinity and sexual moments, with Ponch accusing Jon (who has attended couples counselling for the past year) of being “three beers too intimate”. The camera work in the film is especially good, with many interesting shots and dynamic camera work. The music is used effectively too, and a particular highlight is when Whitney Huston’s “I Will Always Love You” is playing as Jon takes a lounge across the road to save Ponch from an oncoming truck. Peña and Shephard play off each other effortlessly, and they’re a joy to watch together. However, it feels as if they enjoyed working together more than the audience enjoys watching them on screen together.

Unfortunately, the film fails at rendering the characters sympathetically and engaging the audience. The plot is too generic and the impressive stunts on the motorbikes hardly make up for it. With decapitations and cut off fingers, the violence seems excessive in such an easy-going movie. It is also unclear whether CHiPs is paying homage to the original TV series, is satirising the genre or genuinely being serious. There are also some sexist undertones and tropes of gay panic and internalised homophobia in the film (particularly from Michael Peña’s character), and seeing as it is Dax Shepard who wrote it, it is surprising and very disappointing. If you want to watch CHiPs, I recommend watching the trailer: it gives you a highlight reel of all the best moments anyway.

 

 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Cinemaposter with Hec and Ricky, Image: Cineworld.com

4 stars

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a ‘majestical’ movie. Based on the novel Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump, the movie is written and directed by Taika Waititi, known for films such as What We Do in the Shadows (2014) and the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Like the novel itself, the film is divided into eleven chapters, and this New Zealand comedy is full of heart, laughs and beautiful landscapes.

Telling the story of how foster child Ricky (Julian Dennison) gets a rude awakening when he finds himself with a new foster family in the middle of the New Zealand bush, his wannabe gangster attitude is gradually broken down by the affectionate Aunt Bella (Rima Te Wiata), his new foster mum. However, Bella’s husband, Hec (Sam Neill), does not warm to Ricky, and remains distant and gruff. After a tragedy befalls them, an accident leaves Hec and Ricky stranded in the forest for weeks (accompanied with their dogs Tupac and Zag), and a misunderstanding, the two form a sort of friendship as they try to avoid the authorities which are hunting them.

Ricky with mud on his face, Image: cubecinema.com

The film has a great soundtrack, and plenty of pop culture references. Its dialogue is quite quotable, as each character has their own repeated catchphrase which they repeat as they both conform to and defy their own stereotype. In particular, the child welfare worker Paula (Rachel House) repeats the phrase ‘no child left behind’, which alternately makes her look concerned and unhinged. Rhys Darby (famous for his role as band manager Murray in Flight of the Conchords) also makes an appearance as Psycho Sam, a government conspiracy theorist. Although more screen time could have been given to these characters, Waititi’s decision to focus on the relationship Hec and Ricky makes their appearance all the more surprising in the narrative. They also form a red thread which runs throughout the film and provide some comic relief to break up the narrative of Hec and Ricky in the forest.

Rhys Darby as Psycho Sam, Image: standbyformindcontrol.com

The camera work in the film is interesting, with many helicopter- and panoramic shots. At times Waititi’s visual storytelling is reminiscent of Wes Anderson’s style, particularly when he shows montages of equipment or the passing of time. Hunt for the Wilderpeople also draws a lot of inspiration from American action movies, but transposes it, satirises it and places it in a comedy drama. The film even comes equipped with a car chase and a Lord of the Rings reference. 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople’s laughs are clever, the plot has some unexpected twists, and its emotions are genuine. This film is, fundamentally, a story about family, belonging, perceived masculinity, and how different individuals can come together to form deep personal connections.

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Reykjavik

The capital of Iceland has many things to offer, and is the natural starting point for many visitors to the country. From cultural institutions to vintage shops, here is my list the top of 5 things to see and do in the Icelandic capital:

Hallgrímskirkja
This church is the tallest building in Iceland, with a tower that stands 73 meters tall. It’s pretty impressive, and almost impossible to photograph. We tried several times, but we eventually managed to capture both myself and the top of the tower by standing by the Leif Erikson statue (which predates the church). For 900 ISK you can access the top of the tower by lift, which gives spectacular panoramic views of Reykjavik.

Hallgrimskirkja and statue of Leif Erikson. Image: Michelle Mackie

Harpa Concert Hall

Harpa Concert Hall opened its doors in 2011, and is placed right on the waterfront. It has won awards for its architecture, and it is worth seeing, if only for the windows. While we didn’t see any performances while we were there, the “How to Become Icelandic in 60 Minutes” comedy show looked delightful, and is a staple act at the Harpa.  

Harpa Concert Hall viewed from the side. Image: Michelle Mackie

Sólfarið – The Sun Voyager

While you’re down by the Harpa, why not walk along to the The Sun Voyager, a sculptured dreamboat whose position offers a great view of the harbour area and Mount Esja. Designed by Jón Gunnar Árnason, it is an impressive sculpture which resembles a viking boat, but is, infact, an ode to the sun. It is said to represent hope, discovery, freedom, dreams and forward progress.

The Sun Voyager. Image: Michelle Mackie

Lucky Records and 12 Tónar

105, Rauðarárstígur 10, Reykjavík, Iceland; Skólavörðustígur 15, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Reykjavik has a great scene for music and record shops. Lucky Records and 12 Tónar are perhaps the best in the city, each with their individual vibe and speciality. While Lucky Records is the largest record shop in Iceland, 12 Tónar has been featured on The Guardian, and has its own independent record label. Icelandic musicians like Björk and Sigur Rós are, apparently, fans of the shop. Both shops sometimes host small concerts, and 12 Tónar will offer you a free espresso to accompany you while you peruse their two floors.

12 Tonar (top, Tripadvisor), and two interior shots of Lucky Records (Michelle Mackie)

Spúútnik Fatamarkadur – Vintage Clothes Shopping
Laugavegur 118, Reykjavík, Iceland.

We came across this shop almost by accident, and it was a great find. Go down the stairs, and you enter a room full of colourful clothes, hats, shoes, and various accessories. There is a wide range of different styles, and you can spend ages sifting through their various
racks and shelves. There is even a room at the back of the shop dedicated to men’s vintage clothes, and an excellent selection of pre-owned Icelandic jumpers. It is right next to a Red Cross second hand shop, which will give you even better prices than Fatamarkaðurinn.  It is also right down the road from The Icelandic Phallological Museum, if a visit to that should take your fancy.

View going into the vintage shop. Image: The Reykjavik Grapevine

 

Inspiring Dracula: Varney the Vampire

I wrote a piece for Inciting Sparks earlier this month about Varney the Vampire, the Victorian penny-dreadful which inspired  later depictions of the vampire in popular fiction and culture.

Inciting Sparks also has a host of other great articles, please check it out!

Click the link below to read the piece:
The Vampire before the Vampire: Varney and the Feast of Blood

Image: Original title cover, Public Domain

Scandi Queens – three Scandinavian pop sensations you need to know about

In the constant search for study music, and the (sometimes) amusing happenstance of YouTube auto-play, I have discovered a few new artists this past week. In particular, Scandinavian women seem to have come up quite a bit. Perhaps it is because I miss my little home town in Norway, or because Scandinavia seems to be producing great pop music right now, either way, here is a short introduction to my favourite scandi queens of contemporary pop.

Tove Styrke

Image: Time.com

Featured both in Time Magazine and the New York Post, this Swedish babe is someone to take notice of. Not to be confused with Tove Lo, I first discovered Tove Styrke through her cover of Britney Spears’s ‘… One More Time’. As a singer songwriter, her album Kiddo (2015) feature lyrics that are unapologetically feminist, cheeky and emotional, and her tunes are catchy and fun. I’ve listened to ‘Borderline’ countless times, but ‘Even If I’m Loud It Doesn’t Mean I’m Talking to You’ hits the nail on the head when she sings: ‘I think you’re stuck in that me myself and I romance / But that’s too wild for you man to understand [. . .] I know you feel that pop doesn’t really have a clue / But even if I’m loud it doesn’t mean I’m talking to you’. Her recent collaboration with Big Wild on the song ‘Aftergold’ is also worth giving giving a listen.

 

Aurora

Image: aurora-aksnes.tumblr.com

This blonde Norwegian first caught my eye when she appeared on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon in April. To my discredit, I forgot I saw it until I recently re-watched the clip on YouTube. Her performance reminds me simultaneously of Lorde and Björk, with a dash of Susanne Sundfør thrown in. Her most watched music video on YouTube (not counting the ‘Half a World Away’ John Lewis Christmas advert) is ‘Runaway’, but personally I prefer ‘Running With the Wolves’ and her latest single, ‘I Went to Far’. Her debut album ‘All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend’ (2016) has a plethora of tones and moods, from melancholic to joyous and everything in-between.

 

MØ

Image: unrecorded.mu

Mø’s debut album, ‘No Mythologies to Follow’ (2015), is an album that I keep returning to. Perhaps the most high-profile artist on this list, this Danish girl is fun, fierce and ever so hypnotic. Recently, her most commercially successful songs have been collaborations with the likes of Major Lazer (‘Lean On’) and Iggy Azalea (‘Beg For It’), however, her ‘Final Song’ and ‘Kamikaze’ have both been very successful in their own right. For my part, ‘Pilgrim’ will always be a favourite, if in part due to its clever music video.

 

Here is a playlist featuring all the songs mentioned in this post!

Superb Second-Hand – The best second-hand bookshops in Edinburgh

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As a literature student, I read a lot of books. Each new semester brings new courses and new required reading, and purchasing brand new books each time is dear. While Amazon and World of Books is cheap and easy, buying second-hand is fun and supports local business. Plus, shops allow you to peruse, to smell and to discover new titles – all experiences lacking online. Each bookshop has its own atmosphere and history, and these Edinburgh bookshops often appear like mazes with wall-to-ceiling books. Edinburgh has many independent bookshops, and if you like books even half as much as I do, then you will love these seven establishments.

Armchair Books

Located right off the Grassmarket on West Port, Armchair Books is the first port of call for second-hand books. The entrance is also the fantasy section, and this bookshop is made from the stuff of dreams. Shelves are suspended over the isles and a ladder is tucked away in the only free corner, there is also an entire room dedicated to antique books.

Edinburgh Books 

Further up the road from Armchair Books you will find Edinburgh Books, which has a stuffed water buffalo head named Clarence. Dealing in used books and antiques, Edinburgh Books has four rooms and a basement – and plenty of stepladders to help you read and reach the titles on the books on the top shelf.

Tills Bookshop

Located close to both The University of Edinburgh and the Meadows, Tills is perfect for picking up course-books or for some light reading in the park. Impeccably organised and with knowledgeable staff, Tills is small but has plenty of charm to make up for it. There is a particularly good section of fantasy and science fiction books, and the shop will occasionally sell vintage posters.

Oxfam Bookshop

The Oxfam Bookshop on Nicholson Street is great – it is worth walking by just to look at their window display. This charity book shop has a little bit of every genre along with a good selection of LP records and DVD’s – you are almost guaranteed to find something you will like!

Old Town Bookshop 

You will find Old Town Bookshop on the picturesque Victoria Street between Grassmarket and George IV bridge. This small shop has an eclectic collection, and specialised in antiquarian books as well as old maps and prints. It is one-of-a-kind, and well worth a visit.

Old Children’s Bookshelf 

This second-hand bookshop specialises in children’s literature, and you will find some unique hardbacks alongside more modern second-hand novels. There are also plenty of collectables, as well as picture-books for the youngest reader. Keep an eye out for it as you walk down the Royal Mile, as this gem is hidden away on 175 Canongate.

McNaughtan’s
As the oldest second-hand and antiquarian bookshop in Scotland, McNaughtan’s is not to be missed – which you might easily do, seeing as it is located below street level! Specialising in antiquarian books, you can also view the art they have on display as the shop also has a gallery of contemporary art.

Bad Moms

3 Stars

In the continuation of Hollywood comedies starting with ‘bad’ this or ‘bad’ that, Bad Moms is an entertaining filler which demands that you disengage your brain for an hour and a half.

Following Amy (Mila Kunis) as she rebels against the PTA queen Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate) and her impossible and perfectionist standards for motherhood and maternal responsibility, Amy joins forces with two other overworked and under-appreciated mothers (Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn) to take her down.

It is refreshing that, in a Hollywood movie, women unapologetically take take the centre stage without the need of a male supporter or a focus on a romantic interest, and Bad Moms is a film which desperately tries to scream ‘girl power’. However, Bad Moms plays on stereotypes to the extreme and these actresses do not play a character as much as a type. Kunis is the career-focused mother stuck in a loveless marriage and who does absolutely everything for her children, Kristen Bell is the friendless and lonely stay-at-home mum with a controlling husband, and Applegate is the wealthy super-mum who controls both parents and teachers through fear and bullying. The male characters are also subject to stereotypes, existing in the movie either to be objectified or to be viewed as oppressors.  

The comedic timing is often spot on, and it consistently gained chuckles from the audience. Music was used to heighten comic effect, but the excessive combined use of slow motion and club music throughout the film weakened its effect as the film wore on. Some variation of cinematic devices would not have gone amiss in this film.

A message that kept being repeated in the film is that no-one truly knows what they are doing, and perhaps this also applied to its makers. More could have been done to attempt to create a comedy classic, but it is a promising start towards a more gender balanced future in film. With figures such as Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, as well as Amy Schumer, Kirsten Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, one would hope that such a future is not too far away.

Written for The Student newspaper.

“Inexpensive Oslo”

 

Is it possible? It’s no secret that Norway is an expensive country, and it’s capital more so. While other destinations will save you a pretty penny, several things can be done to cut down on expenses while visiting Oslo, and here are some of my favourite free and low cost activities to do in Oslo.

First though, a little tip: download the transportation app ‘Ruter’ from Ruter.no . Norwegian public transport is state run, so with this app you can board just about any train, tram, underground (T-bane) and bus. A single zone ticket costs 32NOK and is valid for one hour, so you won’t have to buy a new ticket every time you board. The app also lets you buy 24 hour and period tickets, so do some research before you leave to calculate what the best option is for you. Beware of buying tickets directly from the conductor, as they will charge you 40NOK more than the ticket price.

Vigeland Sculpture Park – Frognerparken

Frognerparken is a sculpture park just outside the centre of Oslo, and probably the best free activity available in the city. Consisting of more than 200 sculptures, the park is open all year round. The artist Gustav Vigeland (1889-1943) is behind both the architecture of the park as well as its sculptures, making it the largest park in the world created by a single artist. The most famous sculptures are Angry Boy (Sinnataggen, bronze), the Monolith (Monolitten, granite) and the Wheel of Life (Livshjulet, bronze).

 

The National Gallery – Nationalgalleriet 

Located close to Nasjonaltheateret station and with Aker Brygge a stone’s throw away, the National Gallery houses the most famous norwegian paintings, as well as some from the European masters. The artist Christian Krogh is particularly well represented, politically inclined, he is known for his depiction of social realism in the Norwegian capital. Albertine i Politilægens Venteværelse (Albertine at the Police Doctor’s Waiting Room)  in particular is worth noting.

Entrance is free on Thursdays, otherwise it is 100NOK per adult or 50NOK for students.

Pro tip: the National Gallery also houses the most famous Edvard Munch paintings, including  Scream and Madonna. Entrance is slightly cheaper here than at the Munch Museum at Tøyen (100/60NOK) and is slightly more accessible here since it is in the city centre.

 

 

Oslo Opera House – Den Norske Opera & Ballett 

This relatively new attraction lies in the harbour area of Oslo, close to Oslo Central Station. Designed to look like a glacier rising out of the sea, the building has won several prestigious design prizes. It’s most fun feature though, is that it is designed for the public to walk on. Climb to the top and it offers panoramic views of Oslo, the likes of which you would otherwise have to climb up Holmenkollen ski-jump for. Mind your step though – like a glacier, its surface is uneven!

 

Walk Along Akerselva-river

Walk along the Akerselva-river through the middle of the city for some inner city peace and quiet on a sunny day. Running from Maridalselva to the Oslo Fjord, it is a popular trail for locals, tourists, walkers and runners alike. The trail takes you past the old industrial parts of the city which makes for an interesting trip, as well as several Oslo neighbourhoods. The trendy borough Grünerløkka is worth stopping by, with its art galleries, vintage and secondhand shops, restaurants, cafés and bars.

 

Holmenkollen and Frognerseteren

A steep climb from the T-bane stop ‘Holmenkollen’ to the ski-jump, the elevated position of Holmenkollen and Frognerseteren mean that these locations have excellent views of Oslo. 130/110NOK will give you entrance to the ski museum and the top of the Holmenkollen ski-jump, and in autumn a zip-line  is open for drop-in bookings (600NOK).

After visiting the ski-museum, a visit to the Frognerseteren restaurant and café may be in order. Architecturally designed to resemble the wooden Stave Churches, it is a beautiful building with traditional Norwegian interiors. Large fireplaces keeps it warm in winter, and there are tables outside to make use of during summer. The apple-cake is recommended, and many other tasty and traditional Scandinavian dishes are on offer.