TRON: Ares

Posted on 14 October 2025 by pws

So, the latest TRON film has hit the world.

So many people have expressed their opinions, so our comments will be brief (no spoilers).

We saw it yesterday, IMAX and 3D. Monday is a cheap day so there was £8 off, otherwise it would have been expensive. Us and five others.

The good things: it looks great, all that red and black. The sound is good and the 3D worked well without any gimmicks, possibly the best we have seen. There are a couple of nostalgic nods, especially to the first film. And it’s less than two hours, just.

The bad things, well, some of them: lack of plot, terrible tuneless music, poor acting, no chemistry between the leads, unrelenting destruction, just bikes driving through Vancouver blowing up buildings, boring, a sequel hinted already. The female baddie, well, no, baddie’s hench person, provides the not quite sexy enough glamour. But it’s Disney.

We went because we have great affection for the first film, and enjoyed the second. The only link between this and the earlier films is a brief and token appearance by Jeff Bridges, who is there for no obvious reason other than to get the fans to go.

Is it the worst film of the year so far? No, even from the few we have seen, it isn’t, but it’s not good.

If you are a TRON fan, see it in IMAX and 3D and just let it wash over you. If not, forget it.

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Being dead

Posted on 13 October 2025 by pws

The only thing that bothers me about being dead is all the great things in the future I will miss out on. I am quite convinced that, the day after I die, someone (AI probably) will discover a cure for death and a serum that guarantees perfect health forever. Just my luck…

Posted in Rant | Leave a comment

John Lodge

Posted on 11 October 2025 by pws

The death was announced yesterday of John Lodge.

John was bassist, singer and composer for The Moody Blues for decades, recognisable for his thick, curly hair and leather jeans.

We are not going into a full history of the Moodies, you can find that elsewhere.

We have their big first hit Go Now on Decca 45. 1964. John, of course, was not in the band then. As time went on and success eluded them, John and Justin Hayward joined and there was a shift in musical style.

The recording of Days of Future Passed, heralded, many say, the start of prog rock.

There was a pattern set. Two new compositions from each member of the band, an occasional collaboration, some kind of vague concept, lots of falsetto harmonies (that’d be John) and fancy album covers.

Lodge wrote some of the band’s best loved songs, including Isn’t Life Strange and I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band), and also some of their worst (eg Tortoise and the Hare). But his songs always went down well in concerts.

John joined with Justin for Blue Jays, made some solo recordings and continued to play with the band until 2018. He was a firm favourite on the cruises.

A few years ago he had a stroke, but pulled through it. We were pleased to see him in concert at Union Chapel earlier this year. While he was a little unsteady on his feet, he was clearly happy to be there and gave a good show.

This now means that only Justin Hayward of any incarnation of the band is left.

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