Paden R Vaughan looks at the latest movies, music and games released this
week in our regular round-up.
Only Human - Cheryl Cole
Cheryl (Formerly Cole) returns with her
latest album entitled ‘Only Human’, which
proves to be a rather ironic title considering that the modern
mainstream-artist’s best friend, the auto-tune, is the most proficient
contributor to this canon of songs.
The
music itself has a nice 80’s vibe and is certainly infectious, but Cheryl’s
vocals often distract rather than contribute, distancing the “personal nature”
of the songs because as a listener you soon come to realise that a machine is
doing most of the vocal work.
Several
compositions are well written, including a collaboration with former Girls
Aloud member Nicola Roberts but as a whole this album doesn’t deliver anything
new – and maybe that suits most of Cheryl’s fans who simply want more of the
same.
For
the rest of us, it can comfortably sit on the pile with all the other
uninspiring, mediocre mainstream offerings.
Only Human is available now on CD and
digital download.
Into Colour - Rumer
Pakistani/British
songwriter Sarah Joyce, better known by her stage-name Rumer, returns with a
new album that sees her revisit her soul-tinged pop to good effect on this her
third release.
Into Colour, like much of her earlier work,
features very dark lyrical themes and there is an honesty that resonates with
the listener, making you feel closer to the artist because you can believe in
what she is saying through her songs.
There’s
a strong 70’s feel to the recording, and Rumer
herself has a wonderful vocal style that has regularly been likened to that of
Karen Carpenter.
Overall,
Into Colour is a brilliantly written
album with a myriad of personal and almost cathartic themes present, all
demonstrating that she has lost none of her ability.
Into Colour is available now on CD and
digital download.
BBC Radio 2: Sounds of the 80s – Various
Artists
This
compilation of covers features a great selection of everything the 80’s had to
offer to music, with some guilty pleasures thrown in for good measure.
The
selection of stars is very impressive, with the likes of Olly Murs (peforming Let’s Groove by ‘Earth Wind and Fire’), The
Pierces (performing Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush) as well
as many more names.
The
covers offer alternative takes on classic songs and for those who grew up in
the 80’s, the nostalgia is through the roof.
It’s
a great way to revisit the era of yuppies and electro, BBC Radio 2: Sounds of the
80’s manages to be fresh as well as nostalgic.
BBC Radio 2: Sounds of the 80s is out now
on CD and digital download.
X-Men Days of Future Past (12)
The
year is 2023 and insidious robots have hunted the mutants of the Earth to the
brink of extinction, so in a move of sheer desperation Charles Xavier sends the
mind of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)
back into his body in 1973, in an attempt to change the horrors of the future.
Director Bryan Singer’s take on the X-Men
franchise is as thrilling as it is enjoyable – the movie kicks off with a
fantastic battle between the mutants and the malevolent antagonists of the
film; the Sentinels. We then go back in time to 1973 in order to stop the
Sentinels from ever being built.
When
Logan, aka Wolverine, arrives in the 70’s, there’s a hefty sense of nostalgia
present. It’s fantastic to see the young X-Men back again, with James McAvoy once more doing a
fantastic job as the now jaded Charles Xavier, who Logan must convince to use
his powers again to save the fate of all mutants.
The impressive
cast are excellent – with the likes of Jenifer
Lawrence, playing the cunning shape-shifter Mystique, and the addition of Peter Dinklage as Bolviar Trask, the
calculating weapons-maker who designed the Senitels all eminently watchable and
entertaining.
It’s
a rewarding and formidable addition to the franchise; X-Men: Days of Future Past is more solid proof that Marvel have a
pretty good thing going right now.
X-Men Days of Future Past is out now on Blu
Ray, DVD and digital download.
Tammy (15)
Things
haven’t been going great for Tammy (Melissa
McCarthy) – with her job gone as well as her car and husband, she is now
reliant on her erratic Grandma Pearl (Susan
Sarandon) as her only means of transportation.
It’s
a shame to see some great talent wasted in a movie like Tammy – Melissa McCarthy is engaging as the film’s title role, but a
dodgy script has left this movie in a state of disarray.
The
movement from sentimentality to sheer-gross comedy is extremely uncomfortable,
and it never seems to give the film any sense of direction. McCarthy appears to
know this and attempts to ad-lib some scenes, which sadly do nothing to improve
the quality.
Tammy is a disappointing movie that
wastes its cast and it is particularly sad to see a Hollywood legend such as
Susan Sarandon in such a crass and uninspired mess.
Tammy is out now on Blu Ray, DVD and
digital download.
Jersey Boys (15)
Based
on the hit stage-production, this musical tells the story of four young men
from a rough area of New Jersey who went on to form the 1960’s rock group The Four Seasons.
To
transfer a stage production to the big screen is never an easy task – it’s
difficult to replicate the energy and enthusiasm present in a live show and this
can often leave any cinematic representation feeling a little flat and 2
dimensional.
Director Clint Eastwood’s adaptation
does have some soaring moments and at times, replicates the electric atmosphere
of the musical but much of the movie feels laboured and stale.
The
real highlights are with the songs, which are wonderfully done and the major
flaw are the scenes in between, where the drama is not engaging enough. Christopher
Walken is a nice addition and the cast as a whole have good ideas but the film ultimately
drags too much.
All
in all you’d be far better off seeing the stage version.
Jersey Boys is available now on Blu Ray,
DVD and digital download.
Paden R Vaughan
Women Talking has a triple prize of Tammy and Jersey Boys on DVD and a copy of Sounds of the 80s on CD for three entrants.
To
win simply answer the following question:
Who is
the director of Jersey Boys?
Send
your answers to
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ensuring you place the words Movies and
Music in the subject header, also including your unique Women Talking username with the
submission. Any entry without a valid username will not be accepted.
The
competition closes on December 5th
and the winners will be contacted soon after.
The editor’s decision is final and there
are no cash alternatives.
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