Fitting in with the new Literacy Outcomes, I think I have been to the movies more recently than in my entire life! (And staying in is meant to be the new going out, never was one for keeping up with trends!). Having said that, I’ve also been reading a lot more also. Finally managed to get to see Watchmen.

The old viewing companion had bartered that I had to read the book first before watching. Is this ever a good idea? It can only ever result in the immortal lines, it’s not as good as the book… Especially a comic, sorry, graphic novel. I didn’t really ever get into reading graphic novels (or grovels as per the website!). Roy of the Rovers was about as far I made it, or those little Commando booklets, guess they were some sort of hybrid inbetweeners. It does change how you read though, as you can’t just scan through the text, there is a lot more going on, with the images contributing much more to the story than you might expect.

There seemed to be a quite a few end points in the film, but instead of drawing to a close, it kicked on again. I guess they managed to make a somewhat easier ending for the mass market. Some great performances, notably Rorschach. Some great costumes, enough to rival a gig by The Darkness, or even Alice Cooper in his prime. Having no BIG names, was also beneficial, as first, they could never be the bad guy, or they usually don’t die. So you try to pay more attention to the setting, to the scene, to the character. It’s also nice in a way not to have a lovely happy ending. Perhaps the heroes did save the world, but by deceit and death… nice.

The Damned United. 44 days at Leeds. Mr Clough, famous for so much success at Forest, but the focus was failure here. I didn’t say his failure, the story alludes to the fact that the club, or more notably, the players, failed their new manager. They failed to move on, when their previous mnager, father figure, Don Reevie did. He ended up where by the way? The explosion of Cloughism on the tv and the bookshelves owes itself to what? To this film? Very interesting that this film ventures back to simplicity, to engaging performance and dialogue. To the viewers being gripped by the performances and on-going feud/relationship/obsession between the main characters. Michael Sheen, as Clough, compels, almost commands the viewer to watch, such is the strenght of his performance/presence.

Sport is obviously big business. Even back then Clough correctly forecast the importance of the money, of the big personalities. Leading me nicely to the legend that is Sir Jeff of Stelling. Soccer Saturday has transformed the weekend. No longer do we have to wait for teletext to refresh it’s bold, green, pages, we now can watch people on the tele, watching their own tele, talking about a match that we cannot see. It does sound ludicrous, but it is just the business. Although our good friends at the Beeb have desperately tried to replicate it, that red button just does not cut the mustard…

The one liners make it. The banter. The in jokes. The knowledge. I am so looking forward to Jelleyman’s Thrown a Wobbly. Surely it should have been released pre-Christmas, this is the gift for the man that has everything, and needs no more power tools or socks!