Author Archives: NaRocRoc

About NaRocRoc

Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Who likes a hangover?

  By NaRocRoc | June 15, 2009 - 7:15 pm | Comedy, Movies & TV
12 Comments

Certainly not I. The Hangover is not a particularly funny movie. It’s no American Pie. It’s no Porkies. It’s no Superbad. In fact it’s not really sure what it is. It doesn’t know whether to be a crude, juvenile buddy movie or a cleverer guy bonding, road movie. It tries to straddle both, and fails. The Hangover is a Las Vegas-set comedy centred around a bachelor party gone wrong. Three groomsmen lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him. The writing is often amateurish, and gives the cast and director very little to work with. It’s chockablock with scenarios that a 4 year old could’ve dreamt up. Lots of contrived situations and predictable stock characters. And I suppose it doesn’t help when you cast actors who wouldn’t know a punchline if it jumped up and bit them. The casting is … There’s more →

Stranger Than Fiction 2009…

  By NaRocRoc | May 27, 2009 - 12:09 pm | Events, Featured Post, Movies & TV, The Arts, The Culch
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Wannabe pop stars in Afghanistan, activist pranksters and a 101 year-old Sex Therapist – it can only be the Stranger Than Fiction documentary festival which takes place at the Irish Film Institute from 18th-21st June 2009. This year the festival aims to draw together an inspiring selection of the world’s finest documentary films. Films which connect imaginatively with the burning questions of our times. According to James Kelly, Artistic Director of the festival, “while documentary film may not have all the answers, the IFI Stranger Than Fiction festival is a great place to start looking.” And he’s not far wrong. I’m always amazed at the breadth and volume of fine documentaries on show, both Irish and international. I always try to attend a few screenings at the festival and have rarely been anything but satisfied. Your best bet is to not read the reviews or the releases and just stick … There’s more →

“A humbling honour”, says he…

  By NaRocRoc | May 11, 2009 - 9:56 pm | Celebs, Gossip, In The News, Random Whimsy, Site News, The Culch, TV
11 Comments

So the powers-that-be in RTÉ have decided, and announced this evening, that Ryan Tubridy is the man to replace Pat Kenny. The 35-year-old presenter’s first programme as host of ‘The Late Late Show’ will be broadcast in September. Commenting on taking over the programme from departing host Pat Kenny, new host Tubridy said: “I’m very taken aback by this announcement. ‘The Late Late Show’ casts a wide net across this island and it is a humbling honour to be asked to present such an iconic programme”. So that’s that. At least it’s not Gerry Ryan. Be thankful for small mercies. Pat Kenny’s last Late Late Show as host will be broadcast on Friday, 29th of May. ‘Tubridy Tonight’ will not return in the Autumn. Instead RTÉ bosses “want to look again at the Saturday night schedule”. Odds on our very own Darragh Doyle to get a gig? We’ll just have … There’s more →

Let there be white smoke…

  By NaRocRoc | May 8, 2009 - 1:15 am | Movies & TV, The Culch
6 Comments

In Angels and Demons it becomes apparent very quickly that all is not well in the state of the Vatican. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is presented with evidence which suggests the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati, the most powerful underground organisation in history. The Catholic Church, whose cardinals have gathered in conclave at the Sistine Chapel to elect the new Pope, faces a deadly threat to its very existence from its most despised enemy: the Illuminati. Langdon quickly realises that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable time bomb, and so he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, an enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican’s only … There’s more →

Is this what they mean when they say post-modern?

  By NaRocRoc | April 16, 2009 - 12:44 pm | Events, In The News, Music, The Arts, The Culch, The Internet
6 Comments

At least 90 musicians from more than 30 different countries have given their first performance in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra in New York. The video-sharing website held a contest that allowed anyone, anywhere to upload a clip of themselves playing. Over 3,000 posted audition videos, and 200 finalists were selected before YouTube viewers voted for the winners who were flown in to play at Carnegie Hall – one of the most prestigious venues in the world. Colombian trombonist John Wilson Gonzalez said it had been “marvellous”. “It was unimaginable that I could get to play in Carnegie Hall, a mythical theatre where only the great musicians play,” he told the news agency AFP. The musicians came from as far away as Australia and South Korea and were aged between 15 and 55. Some had never left their home countries before, let alone played in such a high-profile venue – and … There’s more →

Piracy or publicity? I’m not sure.

  By NaRocRoc | April 8, 2009 - 2:05 pm | Celebs, Gossip, In The News, Movies & TV, The Culch
14 Comments

An unfinished version of the new X-Men movie, Origins: Wolverine, was leaked just a few days ago and has already made its way to the computers of more than a million BitTorrent users. The leaking of an illegal copy of the film is being looked into by the FBI, which could result in criminal proceedings. In an attempt to keep the damage to a minimum, Fox has been sending out takedown notices to various torrent sites. Strangely enough, a journalist for Fox News was dismissed earlier this week for posting a review of X-Men Origins based on a viewing of the illegal download. Roger Friedman joked that he might watch other films using the same method. The network condemned Mr Friedman’s action as “reprehensible” before firing his ass. The leaked workprint was a rough cut which did not contain CGI special effects and frequently showed green screens and wires attached … There’s more →

So, Pat Kenny’s Gone…

  By NaRocRoc | March 28, 2009 - 12:05 am | Celebs, Gossip, In The News, Newspapers, Random Whimsy, The Culch, TV
15 Comments

Pat Kenny, knowing me, knowing you, AHAA!!! Some people will be delighted. Some will be quietly disappointed. But either way Pat Kenny has thrown in the towel. “All good things must come to an end”, said Pat. And with that, as announced on tonight’s show, his tenure of The Late Late Show comes to a close at the end of the current season.

A double act too far…

  By NaRocRoc | March 15, 2009 - 5:11 pm | Movies & TV, The Culch, TV
14 Comments

More breaking news… Gavin and Stacey stars James Corden and Matthew Horne fear “becoming over-exposed and getting on people’s nerves”. Sorry to break it to you lads but I’m afraid it’s too late. The BAFTA-winning duo, who shot to fame in the sitcom, voiced their fears during a press conference for their upcoming film, Lesbian Vampire Killers. Corden and Horne, who played best friends Gavin and Smithy in the TV show, recently hosted the Brit Awards with Kylie and have also released their own comedy sketch show, Horne and Corden, which coincides with the release of the movie. Flavour of the month? Just a tad. Is it deserved? I for one can’t see the appeal. Horne told reporters: “Their (the shows and the movie) timings are out of our hands. But we are mindful of it and it is a tricky area we promise we will disappear for a bit.” … There’s more →

Breaking News…

  By NaRocRoc | March 12, 2009 - 8:45 am | In The News, Music, Random Whimsy, The Culch, TV
1 Comment

George Lee. Crazy George Lee. Turns out he’s a fan of Welsh indie acts from the mid-90′s. Particularly the Manic Street Preachers and Catatonia. Seems he has a thing for Cerys Matthews. “Phwoaaarrr” says he, before describing her as “Blondie with bite”. Who’da thunk it eh? Says he’s not to blame for the “R” word but because of it he’s too busy to listen to the Killers. Poor old Georgey boy. But my question is this… Is he human or is he denser?