Movie: Elysium

Set in 2154, all the wealthy folks live on a space station while the hoi polloi battle out their existence down below, and the main theme's about equalising things.
Some say Neill Blomkamp's follow-up to District 9 didnt quite make it, but I think it did, one of the better sci-fi's of late.
The slum theme was recognisably so, very realistic, in fact realistic real, those scenes filmed in Mexico.
Easy to follow plot, but again as getting more common in movies, some of the dialogue garble difficult to follow.
Matt Damon's one of my favourite action heros, and Jodie Foster looking gorgeous here.
As with District 9, Jackson/Weta Workshop had a hand in.
9 out of 10.

Movie: Pacific Rim

Contrary to Lone Ranger, the Dompost movie critic thought this movie was great.
I found it tedious, crash bang action start to finish, predictable plot, and rah, rah, America victory parade.
When the noble commander got up to make his climax battle pep-speech, I was waiting for him to say something like, "We will not go quietly into the night, we will not go without a fight". But no, it was something pretty lame and forgettable.
Del Toro did do a great job of the robot action, and I have to admit the camera work was awesome, but I've had enough of looking down the throats of scary monsters.
2 out of 5.

Movie: The Lone Ranger

Here we go again, the Dompost movie critic panned this movie, I thought it was great.
I think it helped having watched it as a kid on TV, the corn was brilliantly re-presented. The critic really stiffed Arnie Hammer, for doing what he was supposed to do.
The standouts were Silver (the horse), and Tonto Depp, what a great actor/entertainer he is.
The critic lamented no story and poor dialogue, but nothing about it bugged me, a full of surprise start to finish romp between serious and parody.
The William Tell overture for the final sequence topped it off for me.
10 out of 10.

Movie: Oblivion

Great expectation on this one despite mixed reviews.
Tom's a great actor, no disputing that. The tech and action was spec, and the story good.
I know how it finished, but gee, I lost the thread in the last tantalising quarter, so I dont quite know how it got there.
Wasnt helped by not being able to translate from gaming/texting gibberish, the plot critical bits the girl said.
S'pose thats what happens after 60 years in suspended animation.
Actually, I missed what Morgan Freeman said about that helmet the free people were wearing too, that enabled them to avoid detection by the Drones.
3 out of 5, top movie that never quite got there.
Maybe I should go see it again.
I mean what happened to Jack II in the 3 years after his scrap with Jack I.
When Jack I arrived back with the medi-pak to treat the girl, Jack II wasnt where he was left trussed up by Jack I.
Jees........???
Maybe I've just got too old, and pointlessness is the name of the game these days.

Movie: Django Unchained

Django passes the lasting impression days after test with flying colours, another glorious, gorious, Tarantino.
Superb acting by Samuel L Jackson, De Caprio, and Christoph Waltz, really made the movie, while Jamie Foxx completed his spoof role to perfection.
Its quite a long movie, and the reprieve granted Django with the escape from the mining co. slave train was an almost un-necessary add-on, I think us punters would have gone home happy with an earlier splatter wind-up back at the estate.
But never mind, top movie.
Morricone's objection to his treatment over the score is an interesting sideshow. After hearing so much about the Django theme, I was waiting for something that didnt quite happen for me, nothing instantly everlasting like the themes from the spaghetti's or the Kill Bills.
5 out of 5.

Masters Games Motorcycle Event

Racecourse start venue, Day 1

Big thanks to local Ulysses men Roger and Dave for organising this year's games 3 days eventing, the glorious weather helping show-case the top scenery and rides available in this lower west North Island.
Day 1 took us up the Parapara, now a much improved hill-country road loved by local riders, with the first stop at the Railway Cafe at National Park.
Gotta say at the outset that this event has a sort of 3 face value to it, part cafe crawl, part scenic tour, part set your own comfort pace burn-up.
National Park Railway Cafe, in the old station, does a good menu and has a nice cabinet if you're a bit shorter on time.
Then up to near Taumarunui turning right over Waituhi Saddle to Turangi. Have done this a couple of times on a push bike in the old Tour de Trout, 25 km grind up hill, and a 25km fly down the other side where you can give yourself the cramp in the braking hands, or the sphincter if you dont.
Lunch and refuel at Z/BK Turangi, then home via Waiouru and Karioi, across the Whangaehu to Fields Track/Parapara, then home, nice ride in late afternoon hues.

Rangitikei Valley, near Apiti

Day 2 out to Hunterville via Fordell and Turakina Valley, for morning coffee at the old BNZ, now sporting a bike museum, then up to Ohingaiti and a particularly pretty stretch of hill country curves to Apiti Hotel for a cooked lunch menu under umbrellas in the back court-yard. Another over the hill to Pohangina Valley, down to Ashhurst and up over the Saddle Road, with a quick stop at the Windfarm, before pm coffee at Cafe 88, Woodville. Through the Manawatu Gorge, now repaired of the massive slip, and home via Colyton and Makirikiri Rd.

The group at the Wind Farm, Saddle Rd

Day 3 had a few apprehensive after the rainstorm the 24 hours prior, but no problem with a fresh morning ride up to Stratford, quick fuel top-up, then onto the Forgotten World Highway 43 to Whangamomona, prefaced by a big take care sign, "High Motorcycle Accident Route". Not surprised, its as small and windy a road as you could ever find left in NZ these days, and a first for me on the bike. Fantastic scenery up and over 3 saddles, not particularly high, but as winding as anything you'd encounter in the French Alps.


Republic of Whangamomona

It was a proper little tourist industry going on at the Whangamomona Hotel lunch stop, aside from our 30 strong group there were several overseas tourists and local daytrippers enjoying the pea, pie and pud, or burger lunches.
A couple more saddles to crest before the Tangarakau Gorge, a river wending its way through a bushed gorge to join the Whanganui. This part of the road is unsealed, but has an excellent surface. If it was sealed it'd be the equal of any scenic road on the South Island's west coast, but would hardly be a Forgotten World anymore.

Closer to Taumarunui

On to Taumarunui for the next quick fuel stop, National Park Railway Cafe again for another coffee and cake, then home through the Parapara, which after the days bush enclosed highway 43, seemed like a super highway by comparison.
Each day's conclusion, Roger had arranged a group entry into the Games hospitality enclosure for the medal presentation ceremony, placings determined by poker run basis with a draw from a card deck at 5 check points each day, with somewhat hilarious result, but emphasising the social aspect of participation.
Roger concluded a successful round of events by saying it all went free of 'incident', we all got home safe and sound, but we did pass a prang in another group going the opposite direction, which was a timely sober.
Only got a few pics, as time didnt allow for the camera stops I would have liked through the winding and scenic bits.

Movie: Hansel and Gretel

Yet another case of one should never place too much value on press reviewer's comments, the Dompost bloke only gave this one a 2/5, but both AJ and I got a good enough buzz from this kiddult variation of the Grimm fairy tale. Kiddult it has to be too, the violence is a bit too graphic, if not comedic, but....., when you think about it, there is quite a violent thread in most fairy tales.
The movie featured Jeremy Renner, ex Hurt Locker and recently taken over as the next Jason Bourne, and Gemma Arterton as a credible Gretel. Famke Janssen, with some previous from Star Trek and Bond movie credit did the bad witch that AJ particularly enjoyed, ditto for the two blokes who did the ogre, Edward.
Not a long move at 88 mins so you'll be home early, and one of the better 3D productions you'll come across, 5/5.