Franz Ferdinand rock Leeds O2 Academy for first time since 2009

You would be forgiven for not going weak at the knees at the news that Franz Ferdinand are rolling into Leeds to play the O2 Academy. The Scottish indie rockers have been off the scene for quite a while now, with their last visit to Leeds being a whopping four years ago. But with a crowd of more than 2,000 eager fans, it seems that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

They were greeted with a hero’s welcome as they took to the stage in a peculiar ensemble of mismatched black and white outfits and delivered a raucous set of their characteristically sharp, witty and undeniably catchy hits, spanning almost two hours. Opening song Bullet, from their new album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions, set the show off to a swinging start followed by toe-tapping favourite The Dark of the Matinee.

Whilst the crowd responded enthusiastically enough to new hits Evil Eye and Fresh Strawberries, it was the classic hits from the bands back catalogue that really lifted the roof. No You Girls, Do You Want To and Take Me Out were the obvious fan favourites, with fans eagerly snatching the chorus from frontman Alex Kapranos leaving him with little to do in the way of getting the crowd going.

Note-perfect singer and guitarist Alex was not the most flamboyant or talkative of frontmen, but he had an undeniable stage presence and commanded the show with ease. Alex and rhythm guitarist, Nick McCarthy, were undoubtedly the leaders of the show, with both giving an admirably energetic and spirited performance which led fans into a sweat-fuelled, po-going frenzy.

It was a shame their enthusiasm failed to be matched by bass player, Bob Hardy, who barely raised a smile through the entire set and looked decidedly unenthused by the whole event. Despite a rather reserved performance from Bob, the set did maintain its pace throughout and the band should be commended for their fantastic instrumental interludes.

The instrumental sections of the show, including a drum solo performed by all members of the band at the end of Outsiders, perfectly showcased their superb musical talents reminding fans exactly why they are a platinum-selling band.

The band delivered an impressive lengthy encore, with singer Alex taking a request from a fan at the front to play Jacqueline, before closing the show with This Fire and Goodbye Lovers & Friends.

After delivering an exciting live show with an impressive array of infectiously catchy hits, Franz Ferdinand have proved that time hasn’t taken away any of their charm or shine.

Betty’s Tea Room, Harrogate

Afternoon Tea At Betty's Tea Room

 

For us Yorkshire folk who are partial to a spot of Afternoon Tea, the chances are you will have heard of Betty’s Tea Room. There are six Betty’s Tea Rooms you can visit, namely Ilkley, Northallerton, York, Stonegate York and two branches in Harrogate. Now I can’t speak for the other branches, but the Betty’s located in the centre of Harrogate is always overflowing with visitors. Every time I have visited Harrogate there has been a stream of people lining the streets outside (even in the rain) eagerly waiting to get a table. Of course due to the tea room’s popularity, I had very high expectations and felt certain I was in for a treat.

Afternoon Tea was served in the Imperial Room, a charming and elegant room located upstairs away from the main dining area. To dine in this room you are required to book in advance, but it does enable you to bypass the long queues outside so it is worth doing. Although, it does cost £8 more than if you choose to wait and dine in the main café. But the Imperial Room does offer a unique dining experience. The room, due to its location upstairs, is much quieter than the busy main café, whilst the soothing live piano music and elegant décor, including stone fireplaces and crystal chandeliers, do create a rather enchanting setting to enjoy your afternoon tea.

On arrival, waiters come to greet you at the door and relieve you of your coat – at which point you realise that this is no ordinary, run-of-the-mill café. You are then shown to your table and asked by your waiter (who is smartly dressed in black and white – very fetching) if you would like some champagne with you meal. If you opt for some bubbly, this cost of your afternoon tea will shoot up to £33.95, as opposed to £26.95 if you choose to stick with tea. You are then given the tea menu which includes a variety of different options, including green teas, white teas or the more traditional black teas. I went for the rather unadventurous ‘Betty’s Tea Room Blend’, which is basically just your regular English breakfast tea, but it was delicious nonetheless.

                

The Afternoon Tea, which was served on a classic three-tier stand, was served shortly after the tea arrived. The sandwiches consisted of coronation chicken, roast ham and mustard, egg and cress and Wensleydale cheese and apple chutney, served on a variety of white and brown bread. I should point out that I requested the cheese and chutney in replacement of the prawn and salmon sandwich (awkward customer, I know), so they are more than happy to cater for what you would like if you are picky like me. The sandwiches were delightful, particularly the cheese and apple chutney, but it was just a shame you didn’t get a few more.

The cakes consisted of a shortbread biscuit topped with raspberries and whipped cream, a salted caramel macaroon and a rich chocolate and orange cake, accompanied by two freshly baked scones served with jam and clotted cream. I really can’t fault the cakes as they were all delicious, but I must say, the salted caramel macaroon was exceptionally good! The cakes, although bite-sized, are surprisingly filling, so if you have any leftovers they will happily box them up for you to take home to enjoy later. The waiter did ask if we wanted any more tea at the end of the meal, but since we declined I’m not sure if you have to pay for additional drinks – it’s unlikely that you do, but I could be wrong.

The price tag for Afternoon Tea at Betty’s may seem a little steep, but the impeccable service, high quality food and the beautiful setting do help to justify the amount. I doubt it is somewhere you would dine out frequently (unless you can afford it, of course), but as a special little treat it is a lovely place to visit and I would certainly dine here again. 

Top Film Picks of 2013

Well I have been rubbish at keeping up to date with posting lately haven’t I?! The festive period proved to be a lot busier than I had anticipated! I was planning to do a post on my favourite Christmassy films but alas I didn’t have time…there’s always this year though right?! Anyway, here is a post on my favourite films from the year. I saw so many good movies in 2013 that it was quite tough to pick a top few, but here is a run-down of the ones that really stood out.

10. Les Miserables

I was surprised by how much I loved this film as I wasn’t sure whether I would be into it – there is a hell of a lot of singing in it and the plot is a bit, well, depressing. Once it got going though, it completely won me over. The only reason I’ve put it at number 10 is that it’s not the sort of film you’d find yourself watching over and over again in a hurry – I think you have to be in the right mood to watch it!

9. Frozen

Since this film was made by the creators of ‘Tangled’ I had a feeling it would be good (‘Tangled’ is brilliant). It has all the Disney charm you could wish for – lovable characters, romance, magic, an evil, arrogant arse who’s out to have it all (there’s always one!) and a talking snowman (because why not?). Olaf the snowman really stole the movie for me. He’s fab. Wish he was mine.

8. Stuck in Love

Not your typical romance film. It’s a lot more realistic and relatable than most romantic films are. It has a great original plot and an all-star cast that are fantastic. I really enjoyed this one.

7. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

This second instalment is even better than the first. It really hits the ground running from the start and doesn’t lose pace the whole way through. I think you probably have to be a fantasy fan to really enjoy this though as it is a little odd at times. Being a big fan of fantasy films, it was obviously right up my alley.

6. Mud

This film is a real gem – it makes a refreshing change from the bog-standard comedies and such that are always about. It has action, drama, suspense romance…a bit of everything really. It’s a unique story that really pulls you in – it makes you really root for these characters. Matthew McCounaughey really comes into his own in this and it was nice to see him step away from the cheesy rom-coms. He was superb. It was just a shame the southern accents of the characters was a little hard to understand in places!

5. Iron Man 3

This film had everything that I hoped it would. Sometimes with big movie franchises the films seem to get worse with each instalment (Iron Man 2 was a bit hit and miss at times), but this one completely won me over. Obviously I think you have to be a fan of superhero type films to really get into it but it does have potential for wider appeal.

4. The Lone Ranger

I realise this might be an unpopular choice as it didn’t go down so well with the critics, but personally I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting – the way the story was told as a memory from an aged Tonto chatting to a little kid in a museum was a little odd at first, but as the film got going I actually quite enjoyed hearing the tale that way. It was quite unique. Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer made a great team and both portrayed their characters beautifully and their comradery throughout really brought a sense of fun to the story. If you love a good adventure movie then I would certainly recommend it!

3. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

I went to see the first of The Hobbit movies at the start of the year and I really enjoyed it. At the time I had never read the book or seen any of The Lord of the Rings movies either (I’m always behind with getting into huge franchises!) so I wasn’t sure what to expect. After seeing the first film I have since read The Hobbit and have recently begun to delve into The Lord of the Rings. Obviously having read the book first, this second instalment of The Hobbit was a lot easier to follow! I thought the ‘Desolation of Smaug’ was even better than the first – it’s a lot more action packed, exciting and thrilling. Bilbo really comes into his own in this one and the scenes with Smaug were superbly done (even though they strayed quite a lot from what happens in the book!).

2. The Great Gatsby

I absolutely adore this film. Like The Hobbit, I didn’t know much about the story of Gatsby before I went to see it. I enjoyed it so much that I went out and read the book straight after and I have to say I was surprised by how close the film had stayed to the original text. DiCaprio really did make the perfect Gatsby, capturing his charm, his mystery and his desperation perfectly and the rest of the cast were equally superb. I thought they all did justice to their characters. The settings in this movie are also incredible – the extravagance and glamour of it all (Gatsby’s parties in particular) makes it an irresistible watch. I have recently watched it again and it was still as thrilling as the first time I saw it. 

1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

There’s nothing better than when a book you adore is made into a movie and it is actually done well – I’m always a little worried that it’ll be ruined (like Twilight). I had been looking forward to the release of ‘Catching Fire’ for ages and when the time finally came to see it thankfully it didn’t disappoint.  In fact, it was even better than I thought it would be. The second instalment of this franchise is a lot more exciting and action packed than the first and even more dangerous (if that’s even possible in a film where they all have to fight to the death). After being thrown back into the arena for a second time around, the odds are definitely not in Katniss and Peeta’s favour. It does leave you thinking there is no way they can survive it all this time. It’s a thrilling ride from start to finish and with a film as gripping, amusing and as exciting as this one, I don’t see how they’re going to top it.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Year of release: 2013

Director: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Sam Clafin

  

I have been looking forward to the release of this film all year! I read the books over summer last year and fell completely in love with the story. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure whether I would like them as the story is a bit of an odd one isn’t it?! Each year the in the city of Panem 12 boys and 12 girls are selected by an annual lottery draw and then dumped in an arena where they are forced to fight to the death on live television? It doesn’t sound like the most cheerful story in the world does it?! But with so many people raving about how great The Hunger Games was, I figured I would give it a chance and I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved it! Now usually when you love a book and they make a film of it, it can be somewhat of a disappointment (Twilight being a perfect example here. Total. Let down.). I will admit to being that annoying person that sits there moaning that they’ve changed bits and start spouting “well, that didn’t happen in the book!” So when I watched the first Hunger Games movie I didn’t set my hopes too high, but it actually turned out to be brilliant. A few characters were a little different than I imagined (Haymitch and Peeta, for example), but all of the actors did such a fantastic job that I can’t help but picture those characters in any other way now. So with one great film already in the bag, could they do it again with the second? Simply put: yes.

       
      Catching Fire is even more thrilling and exciting than the first. The story is a lot more action-packed and there is a greater sense of threat and danger throughout this movie. President Snow is brought into the forefront in this one and the brutality towards the people living in the outer districts is severely increased (as poor Gale finds out). The film really hits the ground running from the off and it doesn’t lose pace from start to finish – there really is no time to be bored and there is certainly no lapse in the excitement. In this second instalment, we see Katniss and Peeta thrust back into the arena to battle it out once again. As punishment for the rebellion breaking out in some of the outer districts, President Snow (in a desperate attempt to restore order) decides to prove once and for all who is boss by sending 24 victors from previous years back into the arena for the 75^th annual Hunger, known as the “Quarter Quell.” New alliances are formed and we are introduced to new characters, Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason being two of the more prominent characters, and this time around the games are tougher, more brutal and the most challenging yet – but the tributes are ready to fight back.  I won’t spoil what the ending by revealing what happens in the games in case you haven’t read it, but I will say that it did the book justice. 

          Jennifer Lawrence is (again) fantastic as the brave and feisty Katniss, whilst Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson are equally superb in their roles as Peeta (Hutcherson) and Haymitch (Harrelson). The relationship between Katniss and Peeta starts to really blossom in this one, but of course, their partnership is never without its complications. I do also have to commend Jena Malone for her brilliant performance as Johanna Mason, a victor from District 7. The story can seem a bit doom and gloom but it does have its comical moments, brought particularly by Jena Malone – her scenes certainly brought in the most laughs! The only criticism I can think to offer about this film (and this is really nit-picking) is that occasionally the scenes in the jungle were a little too dark at times and it was often hard to distinguish what was going on and who was taking a swipe at who! But other than that, I can’t really fault it. It was as good, if not better than I hoped it would be.  

May the odds be ever in your favour...

Favourite bit: There are so many but the elevator scene with Johanna was very amusing!

Rating: 9.5/10

Sunshine On Leith

Year of release: 2013

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: George MacKay, Antonia Thomas, Freya Mavor, Kevin Guthrie, Peter Mullan, Jane Horrocks

I went to see this film a few weeks ago after my dad pointed it out to me. It’s a musical film which is based on the popular stage production (of the same name) and it features the music of the Scottish band The Proclaimers. From what I had heard about it, the film seemed to be quite a hit and it was being heralded as this year’s Mamma Mia. I must admit, I do love musical films (not all of them – (some are intolerable) and I really enjoyed Mamma Mia so this film seemed very much up my alley.

     The story follows the lives of Davy (George MacKay) and Ally (Kevin Guthrie), two young British Army soldiers, as they return home to Edinburgh after completing their service in Afghanistan. On return to Edinburgh, Ally is reunited with his girlfriend (and sister of Davy), Liz (Freya Mavor), whilst Davy is introduced to his sister’s English friend Yvonne (Antonia Thomas) during a celebratory night in the pub (where else?!) where they all get spectacularly drunk and sing riotously with their friends. The film certainly kicks off in high spirits and as friends reunite and romances blossom, the boys begin to look out onto a brighter future, one that is a world apart from their lives in Afghanistan. 

     Whilst the film does centre primarily around Davy and Ally, there is a second plotline which follows the relationship of Davy and Liz’s parents, Rab (Peter Mullan) and Jean (Jane Horrocks). In somewhat soap opera style, Rab receives a letter from his long lost daughter (that he didn’t know he had) just days before he is due to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss with his wife. Bad timing that, really. Yes, the relationships amongst the characters are not without drama and each couple faces some sort of dispute or upheaval that they must work to deal with at some point during the film. Whilst the drama does seem a little frivolous at times (like I said, it is something you would expect to see on a soap opera), it does add a bit of spice to the story. It isn’t all lovey-dovey, soppy, over-the-top romance like in a lot of musicals, so the drama does serve to add a little bit more realism and grit to the story – no couple is perfect which made the characters more relatable. I thought Ally and Liz made the best on screen couple – they were certainly the most believable pairing and they worked very well together. But the pairing of Davy and Yvonne didn’t really work for me. I felt they lacked chemistry in places and I found their romance a little hard to buy at times. It was also quite hard to understand what some of the actors were saying at times – the Scots talk very fast and they had pretty strong accents, so it was hard to catch what they said in places. But this was only on occasion, so don’t be put off watching because of the Scottish accent!

     Whilst the characters are likeable and the relationships are entertaining to watch unfold, it is the music that really sells this film and is what ultimately wins you over. There really isn’t a bad song on the soundtrack. Every single one is a hit and for the most part, the songs are lively, upbeat and extremely catchy. The Proclaimers certainly know how to deliver toe-tapping hits! ‘I’m On My Way’, ‘Over and Done With’, ‘Let’s Get Married’ and ‘Oh Jean’ were amongst my favourites, but of course you end up sitting there through the whole film waiting for that one song, that one big hit that everybody knows – which is typically left right until the end. Yes, ‘Gonna Be (500 miles)’ is the song that most people know and it is the one that we were all sat waiting for (right? Just me?). When it finally arrived, it provided the most jubilant and joyous ending (that we all expected really) and prompted a huge sing and dance along in the middle of Edinburgh. 

The song did feel very staged, as did a few other numbers, but they were all great fun to watch, and to be honest, it was everything you expected from a musical. So even if you aren’t that familiar with their music (I only knew a few songs), the film is still enjoyable to watch and it isn’t restricted to Proclaimers fans alone, so don’t be put off if you don’t know the music. The cast did an excellent job with the singing and the musical scenes were performed with real energy and gusto that really helped to bring the story to life.

It would have made the perfect summer hit, but this feel-good hit is sure to brighten up even the dreariest of winter days. 

Favourite bit: The bit in the pub when all the men sing’ Let’s Get Married’. It’s cheeky, boisterous and comical rendition of a fab song.  

Rating: 7.5/10

Ready for the Sofa and Popcorn

These last few weeks have been a little bit hectic so I haven’t had as much time to sit down and watch as many films as I normally would (boo!). But I do have a few that I’ve bought recently (there’s always time for shopping, right?!) and that I am eagerly awaiting to see, so I thought I would do a post about them instead.

1. The Brass Teapot (2013)

I bought this film after seeing it in the iTunes film chart. Honestly it was the name of the film that drew me to it – it’s a bit of an odd title isn’t it?! After watching the trailer and reading what it was about – a magical teapot that spews money whenever you hurt yourself – I decided it might be worth a watch (plus it was relatively cheap!). The plot does sound rather odd and unusual, which was the reason I was drawn to it as I love films which try and do something a bit different. It’s certainly original, although I suppose you could say it’s a peculiar take on the story of Aladdin. But I must admit I am a bit worried that the plot might turn out to be overly stupid, to the point where it becomes irritating rather than funny…hopefully that won’t be the case.

Watch the trailer.

2. Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

I bought this because I love all things Disney so this film is very much up my street. It is based on the Wizard of Oz, but instead of the story of Dorothy it follows the tale of the infamous Wizard and how he came to be. I love watching new adaptations and re-imaginations of classic tales so, for me, this film has a lot of appeal. The cast also looks great and I particularly like the casting of James Franco as Oz. Not so sure about Mila Kunis as the wicked witch though…it’s quite hard to picture.

Watch the trailer.

 3. Up (2009)

I’ve heard so many good things about this film that I am really intrigued to see what all the fuss is about. Everyone I know that has seen it didn’t have a bad word to say about it so I am expecting great things! The film is all about exploring, adventure and fulfilling dreams – it seems to have all of the qualities you would expect from a Disney film really. I have heard it is quite sad in places, but judging by the title, I expect this film will have more highs than lows.

Watch the trailer.

4. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

I absolutely love the Marvel films – Iron Man and Spiderman being my particular favourites. After recently watching The Avengers, it made me want to know more about the other characters so I’m starting with the great big green hulking man! The film has an interesting story and it looks action-packed. I’m just intrigued to see how Edward Norton does as Dr. Bruce Banner, as I thought Mark Ruffalo was excellent as the Hulk in The Avengers.

Watch the trailer.

Suit Up - Iron Man 3

Year of release: 2013

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyenth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

Like most other huge movie franchises, I’ve been a bit late with getting into the Iron Man craze. I seem to have quite a habit of completely missing the boat and then stumbling across them way after everyone else.  I didn’t really know much about the Iron Man movies until the third one was released earlier this year and after hearing so many people raving about it I decided to get watching. After seeing the first movie, my love of Iron Man was well and truly established. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, as unlike most superhero movies Tony Stark doesn’t actually have any crazy superhuman powers, he just happens to be a techy genius – his ‘super power’ is his brain which I thought was pretty cool. It also helped make the story more believable in my opinion. So after the first, I quickly went on to watch the second, followed by The Avengers and then finally the third.

         The film begins with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) recalling a New Years Eve party back in 1999 which he spent with scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), the inventor of a regenerative treatment known as Extremis which is used to help people recover from crippling injuries. Whilst they are leaving the party, they are approached by disabled scientists Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) who offers them a chance to work in his company Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM), an offer which Stark rather rudely rejects. The film then jumps back to the present to find an anxious and over-worked Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) struggling to cope with panic attacks following the events of the alien attack in New York (in The Avengers), whilst he attempts to discover the identity of a terrorist organisation, fronted by a chap known as the Mandarin. After his head of security, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), is hospitalized after a suspected terrorist attack outside the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, Stark makes it his mission to find the man responsible before anyone else gets hurt.

      This third instalment is certainly much darker and more sinister than the previous films and Stark is faced with a greater sense of threat and danger from his enemies than ever before. The villains in the film, led by disabled scientist Aldrich Killian, are able to regrow body parts and can withstand almost any form of attack following their treatment with Extremis, leaving them seemingly impossible to defeat – Stark certainly has his work cut out with this lot. You really do doubt whether the almighty Iron Man will be able to pull it all off this time or if he has finally met his match. And with his on-going battle to deal with his anxiety, Stark is presented with his greatest challenge yet.

Quiet Please. Genius at work.

     Whilst the plot is fast-paced, exciting and action-packed, it can be a little vague at times. The villain’s attacks often seemed a bit without reason and it was difficult to really grasp what their motivation was. But despite this minor ambiguity, the film is hard not to like – it has everything you would hope for in a superhero action movie. The special effects were spectacular. Everything from the explosions, to the creation of the villains, to the Iron Man suits was exceptionally well done. I particularly liked Tony’s new method of getting suited up, which was very comical as well as being incredibly cool! This third instalment definitely upped the ante with the superhero armour and techy gadgets, although there is less of a dependence on the suit in this film and more of a focus on the man who created it. Stark really has to prove his worth and is often forced to rely on his own genius and ingenuity rather than on the suits alone. But, of course, when the suits are used they are undeniably spectacular – a positive outcome of Stark’s obsessive workaholic behaviour at the start of the film.

     Stark, as always, retains his likeability as the charming and witty genius. Although this instalment shows Stark at his most vulnerable, allowing viewers to see a more caring side to his character, particularly through his relationship with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow). I liked the development of the romantic storyline between Tony and Pepper and it served as a refreshing inclusion amongst all of the chaos and violence and people blowing up all over the place. I also loved the introduction of 10 year old Harley Keener (Ty Simpkins) who helps Tony get back on his feet and inspires him to put his genius to good use when his suit is temporarily out of use. The duo made a very unusual but very lovable and comical pair.

     Packed with plenty of charm, humour and rip-roaring action, this third instalment is a thrilling superhero delight that you will want to watch again and again. So if you haven’t done so already, do yourself a favour and get watching!

Favourite bit: This was a hard one to pick but I did really enjoy the scene where Stark makes numerous attempts to “call” his suit when he’s held hostage. The threats he splutters while waiting for his armour did make me laugh.

Rating: 9/10