By Roy Mathur, on 2021-12-17, at 01:08:25--02:02:45 GMT, for Captain Roy's Rocket Radio Show, Listen
I'm back after a sickness break.
I have an on-going problem with quitting an antacid medication, I have a general vitamin deficiency, I had a cold, and that was before the vaccine reaction (please do not let that stop you getting a booster!). All those things (and the black dog) hit me right in the mush.
It's an uphill struggle, but I'm trying to take care of myself.
Having recently rewatched the colourful, fun, and yet empty Kick-Ass and Kick-Ass 2 on BBC iPlayer, it's been something of a Chloe Grace Moretz renaissance at Castle Royenstein.
Thankfully, she isn't slicing and dicing in this 2018 film, also currently on iPlayer, but falling victim to a stalker. The monstrous mother figure is disturbingly well played by Isabelle Huppert in this movie with echoes of Misery.
Shang-Chi came out on disc about a week ago and Mum and me finally got to watch it.
It's a fun, pleasant Marvel martial arts film. I got pleasant nostalgic chills when Shang-Chi does his forms on the train, and there are echoes of house of Flying Daggers.
The story centres around an immortal warlord's (originally Fu Manchu in the Marvel comics) loser son, Shang-Chi. He's a 30-something valet parking attendant, spending his nights doing drunk karaoke with his best friend. He eventually returns home to attempt to prevent an incursion from a demon dimension. Amazingly, this promising sounding plot is a bit fogettable.That's a pity because I like the cast. Canadian accountant, turned stunt performer and actor (how does that even happen?) Simu Liu is a charismatic and cool protagonist. Rapper, Nora Lum AKA Akwafina, is his very funny best friend. Together, they are a great double act. There are dragons, actual Chinese dialogue, Michelle Yeoh, fake Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) returns, as does Wong, the Abomination, Captain Marvel, Dr. Bruce Banner; if somewhat briefly.
However, like I said, altogether it felt a little anaemic, more like an introduction of the character to the greater MCU. And, one really bum note, what was the point of the incredibly iconic chief henchman; Chinese opera make-up guy (apparently, Death Dealer)? He has this enormous build-up arc, only to be abruptly killed in a thoroughly ignominious manner; his soul swallowed whole by a hellish cthulhulian creature. What a waste.
On the other hand, my mum loved it, so opinions vary. Watching the film also gave us pangs for Tai Chi/ninja/Jedi training. Okay, just Tai Chi, but you know: nerd.
The whole of the series dedicated to one Chris Chibnall story. The Doctor gets her hands on a pocket watch containing most of her memories of her time with the Division, but then hides it from herself. Ultimately then, nothing results from the arc.
This is Jodie Whittaker's final season, excluding the three specials airing in 2022. That's right, no new Doctor and only three episodes next year. We can look forward to the first; Eve of the Daleks on New Years Day.
Did you think the Division was just a little too reminiscent of Iain M. Banks Culture's Special Circumstances or Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Section 31? Me too, but Doctor Who's frequently stole lock and stock from other media.
Regarding season 14, original New Who showrunner Russell T. Davies will return. As to who gets to play the Doctor... As usual, there are multiple rumours, but if past early predictions are any indication, no one (except possibly Chibnall and Davies) has any idea.
Light, funny, Christmassy, New York tale of the most useless Avenger passing the torch to a young protege.
I'm being terribly irreverent about a Marvel hero I slightly admire because I like archery and love DC's Green Arrow; another mere mortal with a Robin Hood fixation.
This, I believe, is a take on Matt Fraction's reboot of Hawkeye---I've only read one of the trades---and Marvel pull it off... again. It is amazing how good Marvel are at these adaptations.
There are other minor Marvel comic book characters present; Echo, which means somewhere up above the food chain of villainy is Kingpin. Though whether more than his chubby hand will make an appearance is debatable.
There's also the Swordsman, though this version don't seem to have the backstory of being Hawkeye's mentor.
This is a tale of a plane crashing; leaving a girl's high school soccer team's stranded in a remote forest. Think Lord of the Flies, with possible cannibalism thrown in.
What I've watched so far has completely cured me of my Christina Ricci crush.
The Expanse is back for season six.
I'm watching the final six episode season, but I don't know if it's recent sickness, but I'm bored of the Earth versus Belter maniac Marcos Innaros. I'm not abandoning it before the end, but I am a little tired with it.
Also, I just can't get over sound in space, and the show cost-cutting on the interior of zero-g ships by introducing gravity boots merely to make filming easier.
As a user of the venerable non-backlit Ducky Zero (Cherry MX Brown) for years, I have come to be accustomed to a certain standard.
Cherry MX Brown switches have an activation sound. It's a muted thock, rather than the shark click of the Cherry MX Blues. They are nicely weighted and are satisfying to depress. What I miss is backlighting for older eyes, PBT double-shot keycaps that won't get smooth and shiny with age, and a shorter length board, so I don't have to reach over the number pad for my mouse.
After a lot (but clearly not enough) research, I decided on the Keychron K2v2; RGB, SF-ish format, Mac compatibility, Bluetooth... bargain! Then it arrived. It took me minutes to realise I hated the SF-ish format with the extra column of keys on the right, the mushy Gateron Browns, the soft touch finish to the surface of the keycaps, the very slightly still too high keys towards the back, and where the hell was the Pause/Break key? That wasn't even an option on a function layer! I got an RMA the same day and sucked up the return tax.
Also---how can you tell before you try---I didn't like the backlighting. Turns out I prefer front lighting. I have a lamp, but even soft white light is harsh on the eyes for vampires, so, as in Red Dwarf and vintage Doctor Who red alert systems (CRRRaSh! 398 Doctor Who: The Invasion of Time), I'm changing the bulb for a red one.
Apart from the shine and length, the old Ducky Zero is fine for now.
Christmas Eve: Hammer House of Horror.
Christmas Day: Matrix 1, 2, 3, 4.