Rush Review

I've heard a few good words about Rush, but I didn't really think it was my kind of film; it's based on the true story of the relations between two 1970's Formula 1 drivers. So, why did I go and see it? Because I spend too much time at home, Hannah suggested we see it as a last resort, and because Chris Hemsworth (aka Thor) was playing one of the lead roles. That sort of swung it for me.

Chris Hemsworth is actually Australian, but usually puts on an American accent or speaks like a Norse god, depending on the film. But for this film, he was, of course, playing James Hunt, a very British racing driver. So, it took me a little while to get my head around Thor suddenly being British, especially as he still had the long blonde hair going on. But, I got over it, so it's okay.

I didn't realise until I saw his name in the end credits, but Hans Zimmer was responsible for the music, which made me happy. I've always liked Hans Zimmer for some reason, even though I don't even know what he looks like. He's just good at being responsible for the music. Especially in Batman. Why do I keep talking about modern day superhero movies instead of 1970's Formula 1 movies? Sorry.

The film had a bit of everything, which I like to see in films; romance (if you consider promiscuity to be romance, although both drivers got married in the film), action, humour and a little gore. I've never really been one for gory movies; I can handle it, but if I don't have to, I prefer not to. The gore, being unexpected was not my favorite part, but I survived. Hannah did too, but only just. It really made me think about the consequences of race driving, and how every time the drivers get into their cars, "there's a 20% chance they won't survive the race".

On the whole, I thought the film was really well directed, so commendations to Mr Ron Howard. The shots filmed from inside the helmet, focussing on the eye movements of the respective driver were very simple, but really effective. I'm probably the only one who thought so, but I found the clips pretty unnerving. Also, I really liked how they would show the engine of the cars whilst they were racing as well; shots of the pistons moving overlaid with clips of fire from the exhaust looked fantastic on the big screen. Just little things like that really made the film.

The movie really made me think about winning and losing and how it means different things to different people. There’s a pretty moving scene in the final championship race when Niki Lauda gets out of the car and quits, because to him, risking your life to win, isn't winning. So whilst, Hunt carries on to win the race, risking his life in the dreadful conditions, Lauda is with his wife. That made me think; what would I risk to win something like that? A world championship? Different people go to different levels, and that’s something I've never really considered before.

Sometimes it's good to watch something you wouldn't normally watch, or read a book you wouldn't normally read; you might learn something new, or take up interest in something you've never really bothered with. I always change the channel when Formula 1 comes on TV; watching cars go round in circles at high speed isn’t something that routinely interests me. But now that I have a different outlook on the ‘sport’, I might just give it a second chance.



A/N: I wrote this Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon the Singapore Grand Prix was on BBC2. So I watched it. And to my intense surprise I actually quite enjoyed it. I didn't watch the whole race, I just caught the last 10 laps, although I think watching all 61 laps would have bored me. 

Lost Generation

“I said I'm living in a lost generation”

This article is inspired by two very different music videos; Lost Generation by Rizzle Kicks, and Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus. Despite being almost polar opposites, they both made me think about the same thing; what sort of world am I growing up into?

The world will never be perfect, I understand that, but it could be a damn sight better than it is right now.

The Rizzle Kicks song speculates about growing up in a generation where people’s lives are broadcast for anyone and everyone to see, with shows like Big Brother, Keeping up with the Kardashians and Jeremy Kyle becoming more and more popular, at other peoples expense. This is an issue in itself; we seem to be wasting our lives being obsessed with other peoples. It’s not a massive problem right now, but further down the line in 10, maybe 20 years’ time, will we be immersed 24/7 in everyone else’s daily qualms and  conflicts? I think it’s safe to say it’s a foregone conclusion.

And the Miley Cyrus thing? The video worries me deeply, for far too many reasons. I understand she is wanting to lose the Disney image, but she is setting seriously low standards for herself, and the realm of music videos. When someone else comes out with a video that is inappropriate and risqué, people will undoubtedly compare it to the Wrecking Ball video, and dismiss it as ‘okay’ because it’s ‘not as bad as that Wrecking Ball video’. I can really see that happening. For example, let’s say, someone like Rihanna releases a video featuring herself topless or something, that a few years ago would have be shocking and deemed deplorable, would be seen as tolerable, because there is a video prior to it that is far worse. See what I mean? It’s at this point that my mind turns to the innocent babies and toddlers that know oh so little about the increasingly disgraceful media. They will surely grow up believing flaunting themselves about is a done thing, and that there isn’t a problem with it?

I feel as though moral standards are dropping dangerously low with each passing day, and I wish there was something I could do about it. Whether it’s a crude music video, or a crass TV show, it’s almost like they’re brainwashing us into thinking they’re okay, they’re normal and they’re acceptable, when the majority of the time they are doing no good for ‘society’. I know times are changing, and we’re not going to sit around listening to BBC Radio 4 for the rest of eternity, but there must be better, more productive things to do with our time?

This was a rather rant-ish article, but I really couldn’t help it, as this has been bugging me for a while. I just think we should be more conscious of what we’re watching on a regular basis, and how it’s affecting us now, and how it will affect us later on in life, or in the next few generations.

Something to think/worry about, eh?

Canada!

The flight from Heathrow to Vancouver International was fantastic; no dreaded screaming babies, friendly flight attendants and delicious food. Vancouver it's self was amazing; I kept comparing the city to London, especially when we caught the Skytrain after getting the bus there from the B&B (which did incredible breakfast, by the way). The Skytrain is basically a partially overground, partially underground mini train, which had no driver. The whole thing felt like a roller coaster, being able to see out of the front. The views whilst overground were beautiful, unlike the overground parts of the London Underground trains. Even whilst underground, it was better than London's tube trains; the tunnel was lit and had a small platform to one side throughout the journey, with lit up exit signs every now and then. You don't get that on the London Underground. Besides that, everyone was super friendly, especially the tourist guide who approached us after spotting us looking at the map. The whole city was really modern looking and sparkling clean, there were hardly any old buildings, unlike the UK, where most of our building are older than us.

Vancouver (my photo)

 We also did the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which was great; there was a free shuttle bus from Central Vancouver to the attraction, driving up through Stanley Park. The trees were insanely tall, and there was a cliff walk, where you followed the boardwalk, which was held up by metal rods, round the edges of the cliff.

The main feature of the cliff walk, with the suspension bridge in the background.

After a day in Vancouver, we got a ferry over to Vancouver Island the next morning, to meet Ruth, my mum's cousin who we would be staying with for the rest of our holiday. She lives near Victoria, one of the bigger cities on Van Isle .Victoria is a really nice harbour city, where me and Dad went on a sea plane tour (Sarah and mum were too scared, and Ruth was working) which was really cool and interesting. We also went whale watching on a Zodiac, which are basically speedboats. It was an experience but not the one i was expecting! We saw some Harbour Seals, but no whales. I was sat up at the front, where you get jerked around the most, but still got pretty splashed. Mum, Dad and Sarah sat at the back and got absolutely soaked. 'And expensive way to get wet' as Dad put it.

A Zodiac Boat

During the holiday, we drove up island to Beach Acres Resort, near Parksville, where we stayed a few nights, visiting Tofino and Ucluelet (on the eastern side of the island) whilst we were there. There were lots of deer around, as forest surrounded the resort. We got back from Tofino to find 2 deer and a family of racoons behind the house in the woodland. I very proudly managed to record the raccoons coming through the fence!

On the way to Parksville

Tofino and Ucluelet are about an 1.5 hour drive from Parksville, but it was a beautiful drive up, with hills, lakes, trees and waterfalls galore. We didn't see much of Tofino itself, but we stayed in a motel in Ucluelet. We went to Long Beach and looked out at the Pacific. These were the two days when it rained, and the beach was really foggy and misty and part of Twilight was supposedly filmed there. We luckily managed to see the backs of some humpback whales from the shore, and could see them blowing from their blow holes as well.

We also visited Coombs whilst staying at Beach Acres, a small 'Western' town, made up to look very cowboy style. There was a big indoor market kind of shop called 'Goats on Roof'. Why? Because there were real goats on the roof.

So, overall, the trip to Canada was amazing, and I loved every minute of it, and being this jet lagged it completely worth it.

I even made a video I liked it so much, so you can watch that here :)