Daybreakers

Carrying on the idea of me being a pussy, I went to see this vamp-horror flick last Monday.

It centres around a world filled predominantly by people that have submitted to the vampire's bite to become neck-biters themselves. The few humans that have resisted the change are hunted mercilessly and tirelessly for their blood; which is proving increasingly rare in a dying world.

This interesting-ish premise is laced with innumerous jumpy bits and buffered by gratuitous violence and gore. I'm not gonna lie. I shit myself. Several times.

From c. the 7th second of the film when a startled bat screaches into shot infront of a blood-red sunset, I knew mine would not be a comfortable experience. This was quickly succeeded by a pre-teen vamp, writing a suicide note and waiting in her garden for the sun to come up... which now I think about it, was never actually explained...

The main crux of the film is based on the efforts of the lead character, played consummately by Ethan Hawke, to find an artificial replacement to cater for the scarcity of human blood. After a test on one particular bloodsucker ends in his physical explosion, it seems increasingly likely that this synthetic substitute shall remain elusive.

His apparent sympathising with the plight of humanity leads to increased contact with them, and subsequently he looks for a cure to vampirism, rather than a new form of blood to sate the appetites of his contemporaries.

The cure presented was something I didn't really understand about controlled exposure to sunlight + water = confusion. This aspect grated on me as a bit of a cop-out; and afterwards the film just trailed off with just loads more jumpy bits and blood.

Sam Neill's antagonist is performed well within the limits of the actor's capabilities, and sent packing by similarly lame methods.

Although I liked the idea of this movie, I would have thought a film whose script had been kicking around for 15 years prior to production would have much more thought and scope around it.

For it's petering out and general meh-ness, it gets 2 stars from me.

Comfortable with my sexuality or just plain-out gay?!

Whilst travelling back and forth to see the missus in Portsmouth last week I finally found time to finish the novel I had been reading for the previous couple of months. To my great embarrassment, this is what it was:

Now, I know what you're thinking. Gay! I'd tend to agree with you, but I don't care anyway; I enjoyed it! It was, in all honesty, very entertaining. Fraught with emotion throughout, with generally good writing from the author in understanding and convincingly portraying the thoughts and feelings of both female and male lead characters; as the tale weaves uniquely through their relationship that sporadically spans decades.

Criticism I have read have commented that although it is an interesting and refreshing concept, the writing can sometimes feel laboured, with generic and cliched goings-on without nearly enough exciting and defining incidents within the story.

I'd tend to agree with all that; but it doesn't prevent it from being an emotive, thought-provoking and worthwhile read. I've therefore awarded it 4 stars, and would recommend it to all but the most die-hard, homophobic, roid-heads from Swansea.

Getting massive!!

As my fledgling rugby career continues I'm thinking it necessary to bulk up in order to progress as a player. I'm therefore committing myself to 4 gym sessions (2 intense, 2 light) a week + rugby training on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This programme is accompanied by the Protein supplement 'Body Fortress' (pictured); chosen due to it being half price at Holland & Barrett!! :p

My gym-monkey partner is Thomas Joyce-Brown (aka-Philly Nopoon-Unluckog;pictured), who is quite experienced and I'm taking a few tips on how to lift effectively off him. But he's shit at Fifa. And ginger.

I'm currently around 12.5 stone and am looking to just tone up + add about half a stone in muscle; my work-outs being influenced whenever I see the likes of Gavin Henson or Luke McAlister (pictured) play; because they are hoooooge!!

As I'm playing outside centre at the moment, I also really need to work on my speed. I'm no slow-coach, but also not the quickest in my squad; so it's either that or move to inside and concentrate on bulking up. The latter is probably preferable, as I'm not really sure the steps to take to gain speed!! :D

If all this fails, atleast I'll look good!