Kick Off Your Sunday Shoes - Footloose

Year of release: 1984                                                       Year of release: 2011

Director: Herbert Ross                                                       Director: Craig Brewer

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow,                 Starring: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough,

Dianne West                                                                        Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell

I’ve recently booked to go and see Footloose at the theatre, so I’ve been recapturing my love of this story by re-watching the movies – yes, movies. As with any good film, there is usually a follow up or remake somewhere down the line and this one is no exception. This much loved story was brought back to the screens in a modern version released in 2011. I’m often wary of remakes as I always worry they will completely ruin the story, but since I loved the first one I figured I’d give it a chance. Thankfully, the plot stayed very much in line with the original so I didn’t have to shout at the screen while watching it – it drives me crazy when they start adding or changing bits! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it as they say.

     The film follows the story of city teenager, Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon, 1984/Kenny Wormald, 2011), who moves to the small town of Bomont. Life in the town comes as quite a culture shock for young Ren upon discovering that the local minister (John Lithgow, 1984/Dennis Quaid, 2011) has enforced a strict ban on dancing and rock music following the tragic death of a group of youths returning home from a dance. The ban is pitched as an effective way of “protecting” the youth of the town (dancing and music are considered a sin), but really it’s just a convenient way of keeping them in line. But rules are there to be broken, bans lifted and laws changed, and in the ban on dancing, rebellious and free spirited Ren finds a worthy cause to fight for – his chance to do something that can make a difference.

Ren and Ariel, 1984 (left) and 2011 (right)

Lori Singer (1984) and Julianne Hough (2011) both did a great job in their performance of the wild and unruly ministers daughter Ariel, capturing both her defiant spirit and vulnerability perfectly – although Hough’s version was by far the more promiscuous. I found the character of Ren a little more likeable in the 1984 version, as I thought that Kevin Bacon brought a lot more charm to the role. The performance by Kenny Wormald, whilst likeable, didn’t quite have as much appeal – Ren came across as a bit too cocky and arrogant, whilst Bacon’s effort made Ren hard not to like.

     The dancing – an integral part of this movie – was done well in both versions, but I do think the original is slightly better purely because of Bacon. Ren’s big solo dance scene in the warehouse is probably the most iconic and well-known scene from the film, but I don’t think Wormald pulled it off nearly as well. The guy can dance, sure, but he just didn’t seem to have as much slickness or natural rhythm that Bacon has. To me, his performance came off as a bit stiff and stilted – a little too wooden – unlike Bacon who delivered the dance with coolness and with ease. Whilst Ren was easily the standout character of the original, I thought Willard (Miles Teller) was the star of the remake – and was by far the better dancer, outshining his co-star by a mile in the final dance scene.

Kenny Wormald (left) and Miles Teller (left) cut loose

Kevin Bacon shows 'em how it's done

Also, I just have to comment on the first big dance scene in the remake – this scene never fails to irritate me every time I see it. Why why why do modern day dance movies insist on putting in street dancing scenes?! This is a film that is supposed to be set in the 80’s, the height of the disco craze, yet for some reason they had everyone dancing to hip hop. This scene completely ruined the feel of the movie. It just felt so out of context and out of synch with the time in which the film was meant to be based. The inclusion of this song was just bizarre and I can only guess that it was included in an attempt to modernise the film and appeal to a wider audience, but for me, it just didn’t fit.

    To give the remake some credit though, the dance numbers are a lot more energetic and are very well choreographed – the dance scene in the country and western bar scene in particular was fantastic. The line dance, performed to ‘Fake I.D’ by Big & Rich, was just brilliant and after watching it repeatedly I will unashamedly admit that I am desperate to learn it! I do also have to commend the remake for sticking very closely to the original story. The film is kept very much as a drama filled with dancing, as opposed to rehashing it as a full blown musical with singing, dancing, the lot.

The ultimate line dance scene

Both version of the film are enjoyable, with an interesting plot and likeable characters, but for me the original is the better of the two. Ren is much more appealing and charming in the original, –Wormald’s more cocky portrayal made the character a bit unlikable at times – the dance numbers are fun and are delivered with style and ease and they didn’t spoil it by throwing in a hip hop number! But the newer version isn’t bad at all and with the exception of a few performance misses, it is still a very well done remake of a classic movie. Whichever version you might decide to watch, I’m sure you will enjoy.

Favourite bit: In both I absolutely love the scene where Ren teaches his friend Willard to dance. It’s brilliant. The line dance scene in the remake is also a favourite of mine – the dance is fab. 

Overall rating for both: 8/10 

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Year of Release: 2013

Director: Thor Freudenthal

Starring: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson

Well, I finally got myself down to the cinema to see this after months of waiting. I’d previously ignored the Percy Jackson films as friends of mine had put me off with their claims that it was like a poorer version of Harry Potter, but I was intrigued by it and having watched the trailer I figured, well, how bad can it be? I’m glad that I decided to give it a chance because I actually really enjoyed it. So, having loved the first film I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

     Whilst the first movie was certainly full of adventure, I found this next instalment to be a little more action-packed, dangerous and exciting. After the magical border protecting their camp is broken, leaving them vulnerable and unprotected, Percy (Logan Lerman), along with his loyal friends Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), head out on a quest to the Sea of Monsters (aka The Bermuda Triangle) in search of The Golden Fleece in a desperate attempt to save their home.  

Needless to say, their quest is a dangerous and unpredictable one, with new and old faces joining them along the way. Percy acquires a long lost half-brother, Tyson (who turns out to be a Cyclops –mythical giant creature with one eye. Probably not quite the brother he was expecting), who is a lovable, charming character, but has a habit of landing them in hot water due to his clumsiness and inability to tread quietly. Luke returns and is still hell bent on revenge and seems more likely to succeed than ever. And then there is Clarisse, an egotistical and arrogant fellow resident at Camp Half-blood who loves nothing more than to win and beat Percy in everything he does.

     While the new characters do bring more depth to the story, it is still the trio of Percy, Annabeth and Grover that really make the film for me – these three actors are fabulous together and Lerman in particular never fails to impress me. So I was a bit disappointed that Brandon T. Jackson’s character didn’t feature in this one quite as much. There is a huge chunk of the film where his character is missing – granted this is a result of the script and can’t really be helped (I suppose I can’t really argue with the plot, can I?), but I do think it suffered a bit in his absence as I feel he brings the most comedic value to the film. His responses to sticky situations always manage to amuse me. The character of Tyson, who was featured more heavily, wasn’t quite as engaging to watch and he didn’t bring the same wit and charm as Grover.

Still, there were plenty of laughs and from start to finish and the plot remained interesting and entertaining. It wasn’t one of those films that take a good hour to really get going. To really enjoy the Percy Jackson movies though, I do think you need to have a good imagination. The film really does contain a lot of weird – strange, mythical creatures, peculiar legends and prophecies, magical powers and returns from the dead (to name just a few). If you didn’t have a good imagination you would just end up sat there chiming ‘yeah right’ or ‘as if’ the whole way through. But the special effects are brilliantly done so it’s easy to allow yourself to believe what you’re watching.

     It’s a rip-roaring adventure from start to finish, with engaging characters both new and old, and an ending that promises an epic follow up somewhere down the line. With its all-round great entertainment and enjoyment value that had me interested and engrossed the whole way through, I have to say that this follow up didn’t do bad. It didn’t do bad at all.

Favourite bit: It’s a toss-up between the scene where they take a ride in the taxi and Percy (Logan Lerman) almost comes a cropper when it splits in half, or the one where Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) is dressed as a female Cyclops. Both equally amusing.

Rating: 9/10

Let's Go On An Adventure

Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida

This summer I was lucky enough to spend a few glorious weeks in Florida. A particular highlight was the week I spent in Orlando running around some of the amazing parks like an over-excited twelve year old. I must say the parks in Florida make ours over here in the UK look absolutely pathetic by comparison – the US certainly doesn’t do anything by halves! Out of all of the parks I visited, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure was by far my favourite. I had been dying to visit here for a while, particularly because of the Harry Potter attractions, so I was a tad giddy when I finally got there. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed as the park surpassed all of my expectations. 

The park is divided into six different ‘islands’, namely The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent and Seuss Landing. Before visiting, we were told that the wait for attractions could be up to 2 hours or more, so with that in mind I headed straight for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (obviously). Needless to say it was amazing. If you are a fan of the books or the films then I think you will appreciate what an exceptional job has been done to create the Hogsmede Village and Hogwarts Castle – I was so impressed! 

Welcome to Hogwarts

Hogsmede Village

Everything from the shops, the Hogwarts train and station and the dining areas, including The Three Broomsticks and The Hog’s Head, were so well decorated that I did actually feel as if I was in a part of the movie. The rides in this section were equally impressive. If, like me, you are a big thrill seeker, then the Dragon Challenge coasters are for you. Take a ride on either the Chinese Fireball (the red track) or the Hungarian Horntail (the blue track), two very different but equally thrilling, dizzying, high speed coasters. 

Side by side: Dragon Challenge coasters

For those who prefer to remain a little closer to solid ground, there is the family friendly Flight of the Hippogriff coaster and the revolutionary flight simulator ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The Forbidden Journey did have quite a long queue time, but it really is a worth waiting for. Besides, half of the fun is in fact the wait on this ride, as you are taken inside the Hogwarts castle where you get to wander through various well-known and much loved sets, including Dumbledore’s Office, The Gryffindor Common Room and the Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. Obviously this section of the park is going to appeal more to fans of the books and films, but even if you’re not an avid potter fan it is still worth a visit, even if for nothing but the rides.

Along with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel Super Hero Island, Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon were also pretty exceptional. Personally, I didn’t feel there was that much to see in The Lost Continent, whilst Seuss Landing appealed more to younger children. Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon are the places to head if you love a good water ride. The Jurassic Park River Adventure is certainly the grandest of all the water rides in the park, but my favourite was definitely Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw falls, a wild log flume ride. The queue to get on this was by far the longest in the whole park, but it is a ride worth waiting for. 

Wet 'n Wild! Dudley Do-Rights Rip Saw Falls

Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, a river raft ride down the wild water rapids, is also a great ride providing you don’t mind getting really wet – and I do mean absolutely soaking. Back in the UK, you can go on river raft rides just like this one without getting wet at all – absolutely no fun whatsoever! 

If you’re looking for thrills then Marvel Superhero Island is the best place to head. Personally, I love nothing more than a giant rollercoaster – the bigger the ride, the better – so this area of the park was a lot of fun. This section featured my favourite ride in the park, The Incredible Hulk coaster, a high speed, twisting and looping rollercoaster that is sure to please any thrill seeker. 

It's a blast! The Incredible Hulk Rollercoaster

The Dragon Challenge coasters in The Wizarding World of Harry potter were pretty exceptional thrill rides, but for the sheer speed, The Hulk coaster clinches the top spot for me. But be warned, if you have never been on this ride before, you may get a bit of surprise when you’re in the tunnel waiting for the ride to begin! Doctor Doom’s Fear Fall was also a great ride that I think deserves a mention. The 150ft drop tower is certainly not the most extravagant ride in the park, but the suspense it builds whilst you are sat at the bottom of the tower waiting to be blasted into the air makes it more nerve-wracking than the biggest coasters in the park! 

Doctor Doom's Fear Fall. Mind the drop!

So whether you are looking for big thrills, a chance to meet and greet your favourite film characters and superheroes, or a chance to experience the magic of Harry Potter, Universal Islands of Adventure ensures a great day out for everyone. 

Elton John - Official Opening of First Direct Arena, Leeds

Last week I went to see Elton John on the opening night of the brand new First Direct Arena in Leeds. The wait for this arena has been a long time coming but the wait was certainly worth it. As a Leeds resident I’ve always had to travel down to either Sheffield or Manchester arena to see my favourite bands play which has always been a bit of a hassle and caused more expense. So I’m very excited that the new arena is now up and running! 

The arena itself is a very modern, state-of-the-art building, with a 13, 500 seating capacity. I must admit, at first glance the building is very peculiar – it looks almost futuristic, like a strange looking space ship. The front of the building features multi-coloured lights which are lit up at night and change colour – the colours that night were very vibrant and bright, possibly to reflect the flamboyant style of Elton John. Inside the arena, the seats are set out very much like an amphitheatre. They are arranged in a semicircle, as opposed to a circle like in most arenas, allowing everybody to face the stage directly. This arrangement is supposed to make everyone feel closer to the stage and provide good views from wherever you are sat. So the further away your seat, the steeper it got! 

     The show kicked off with a performance from support act 2Cellos, who played a few of their own numbers before being joined by members of Elton’s band followed by the man himself. Opening number ‘The Bitch Is Back’ got the night off to a swinging start, followed by the crowd pleasing ‘Benny and the Jets’ which managed to get a fair amount of people up on their feet. I must say, Elton and his band sounded brilliant and the sound system in the arena was fantastic – my ears were still buzzing a day later. For his first concert back after having his appendix removed, he put on an amazing show as ever. His recent illness certainly hadn’t hindered any of his showmanship and he most definitely proved he was a worthy choice for the official opening, powering through a massive 26 song set and playing for almost 3 hours. 

     He played a string of hits from his back catalogue, including 'Tiny Dancer', 'Candle in the Wind' and 'Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me', as well as two new songs from his upcoming album ‘The Diving Board.’ Needless to say, whatever he played went down a storm. He also played my personal favourite 'I’m Still Standing, during which fans were invited to stand right up next to the stage, followed by the equally lively 'Crocodile Rock' and 'Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting.' Before closing the show with Your Song, Elton returned to the stage to sign some autographs for fans standing at the front of the stage. I have never seen any musician do this at a concert before, but I thought it was exceptionally cool of him to take the time to stop and do that. The chance to get anything signed by someone as legendary as Elton John is pretty slim, so I commend him for giving people that opportunity. He is clearly an artist who appreciates his fans and that was so nice to see. If you ever get the chance to go and see him in concert I would urge you to go; you are guaranteed a great performance and a fantastic show.

Below is a short video from the show. Enjoy!