An Enjoyable Cartoon For Dahl Fans

I got to watch a film that I stumbled across late last year.

My nephew was over for half-term and I knew he would like it.

It's a cartoon starring Tom and Jerry, but it has a great twist.

I'm a Roald Dahl fan. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is my favourite children's book of his, so - even though Dahl himself disliked the movie himself - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is one of my guilty pleasures.

Well, what happens when you mix Tom and Jerry and the 1971 musical?

You get this:

I am in my late-thirties, but I found it enjoyable because the cartoon was able to replicate some of the most memorable scenes in the original movie.

The voices were kind of spot on as well. Most sounded similar to the real actors who starred in the original.

A majority of the songs from the movie are in it as well.

If you're a fan of the Willy Wonka film, I recommend giving a view just to see for yourself.

Buy From Amazon UK

Fake News

There must have been a fake story circulating the Internet today because I was told that Henry Winkler had passed away.

I sort of took the person's word who told me, but did go onto reliable news sites to read the news only to see...

Nothing.

Mr Winkler is still with us.

Crooks

One of the gambling affiliate programs that I have been a member of has done me dirty.

I don't want to get too much into it right now, but the program got in touch with me today with a lame excuse to try and end our agreement.

They gave me twenty-four hours to change something on my website that was not okay with me at all. They had no right to tell me what to do with my content.

I'll run things how I, and I alone, wants it to be run.

They're not getting to sever ties with me tomorrow. I jumped first.

Yes, it's probably something they knew I'd do, but - like I said - I run things MY way.

If that's going to burn a bridge or two along the way, so be it.

Today's Appropriate T-Shirt

There was only one t-shirt to choose from this morning before I went for my shower and shave.

The reason - today is the 70th birthday of Ric Flair, one of my favourite wrestlers EVER.

PETA Patter

The animal activist group, PETA, has irked me this week.

It started off when Google did a Google Doodle to celebrate what would have been Steve Irwin's 57th birthday on Friday.

Irwin, if you recall, was the famous zookeeper from Australia who had shows called The Crocodile Hunter among other titles. He was killed in 2006 after he was stung by a stingray while filming one of his shows at sea.

PETA took exception to Google honouring Irwin with the following tweets:

'Steve Irwin was killed while harassing a ray; he dangled his baby while feeding a crocodile and wrestled wild animals who were minding their own business. Today's Google Doodle sends a dangerous, fawning message. Wild animals are entitled to be left alone in their natural habitats.'

And:

'Steve Irwin's actions were not on target with his supposed message of protecting wildlife. A real wildlife expert and someone who respects animals for the individuals they are leaves them to their own business in their natural homes'

The group then added:

'It is harassment to drag exotic animals, including babies taken from their mothers, around from TV talk shows to conferences and force them to perform as Steve Irwin did. Animals deserve to live as they want to, not as humans demand - the Google Doodle should represent that.'

If PETA's actions were to make me think, the only thought I have is to believe whoever sent those tweets is lacking some awareness.

For a group that wants as much support as it needs, it's going about it the wrong way in my opinion. Taking shots at a dead man is not going to win my support.

And this isn't the first rodeo this week. On Tuesday, PETA's condolences to the family of fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, went like this:

'Karl Lagerfeld has gone, and his passing marks the end of an era when fur and exotic skins were seem as covetable. PETA sends condolences to our old nemesis's loved ones.'

There's something totally unclassy about this group in my opinion.

Even if it sends a good message in other ways, it loses any respect from me when its PR doubles down on dead people.

One Eight

It was eighteen years ago this morning since I was woken up by my father to tell me that my sister had given birth to a baby boy.

I always write that time has flown since then.

And it sure feels like it once again as my nephew is now the big ONE EIGHT.

In A Name

I couldn't help but laugh at the news coming out of Nintendo of America yesterday.

The company revealed its new CEO. Fair enough, bosses of big companies come and go and I don't usually bother two write about them, but you've got to check out this man's name.

Doug Bowser.

Fans of Nintendo's Super Mario games will laugh at the coincidence that the new head's surname is the same as Mario's greatest foe - Bowser.

The real Bowser hasn't shied away from being the namesake of Mario and Luigi's nemesis. He even joked with everyone yesterday when he thanked Nintendo - and its fans - for the welcome.

I'm not going to point out the in-joke, you have to find it yourself!

Hogan Film In Early Stages Of Production

There's a Netflix film currently in the early stages of production that I am looking forward to seeing.

Celebrity news websites revealed yesterday that the film and TV company is working on a film about Hulk Hogan.

Chris Hemsworth is apparently set to play the part of Hogan.

I didn't read too much about the project, but - going by some of the things I have seen - it'll be set just before Hogan became popular.

This might be one for the BS Meter, though...

I Want Tetris 99

I've been reading - and watching! - a lot about Tetris 99 this week.

Nintendo has released the game to Switch customers of its membership package and it's like a regular Tetris game only you play against 98 other members.

I've been contemplating all week whether to buy the subscription just to play it.

I'm sure I'll have my butt whooped by better players than myself if - or rather when - I have a go at it!

Punisher And Jessica Jones Canned By Netflix

File this one under 'I'm Not Surprised'.

Netflix announced yesterday that it has cancelled both The Punisher and Jessica Jones.

The streaming company had previously canned other Marvel titles like Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist, so it shouldn't really be that much of a shock to see the remaining two series' end.

Netflix has confirmed that the third season of Jessica Jones will still air.

Disney, which owns Marvel, has its own streaming service. It's unlikely that the programmes will find a way to that platform as Disney Plus is - according to reports - only going to have G-Rated content on it.

In similar news, I am STILL on the Netflix Marvel Marathon. This past weekend, I watched the first episode of Jessica Jones' second season. 

A Phone Call

Here's how a telephone call from this morning went.

Me: Hello?

Them: Hello, we are calling you about nuisance phone calls.

Me: Oh, you're the people that are going to stop me getting nuisance phone calls?

Them: Yes.

Me: I know how to deal with them. I do this

(I hang up on him)

A Brave Display

Newport County put on a brave display against the mighty Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup yesterday evening.

The final score was 4-1 to City.

On paper, it looks like  a mauling. However, Newport managed to keep a clean sheet against their opponents for the first half.

It was the first time in eighteen games that City hadn't scored in the first half.

Well done, Newport!

American Football Withdrawals 2019

I'm suffering from American football withdrawals.

You know how I am aware of this?

I've been checking out how to watch the new AAF league!

Battle Of The Z-Listers

Look at the crap headline story that met me when I visited the Mirror newspaper's website this morning.

Some no names got into an argument on social media after one of them called the other one's child 'vile'.

You can't write this rubbish.

Strike that. The paper evidently proves you can.

Top story of the day? What a world we now live in.

Flacco The Bronco

Yesterday's big NFL story for yesterday was the news that Joe Flacco will be traded from the Baltimore Ravens to the Denver Broncos once the new league year begins next month.

Flacco, who won a Super Bowl with the team in February of 2013, will move for a fourth round pick.

I read a lot of criticism of the move. They were pointing out that the Broncos' General Manager - John Elway - has, barring the signing of Peyton Manning in free agency, a bad track record in picking quarterbacks for the team.

In a way, I kind of agree. 

Flacco has been eclipsed by many quarterbacks in the league and was even eclipsed by Lamar Jackson in his own team. The latter is a reason why the Ravens have decided to move on from him.

Getting Ready To Rampage

It has been a tradition to dedicate the 13th of February blog posts to remember the day my uncle passed away and - for the past two posts - I've written about Rampage.

Not mainly about the movie. Well, not yet anyway.

In 2017, I noted that a movie based on the computer game - Rampage - was in production. I pointed out that this was one of the first two games my uncle and aunt bought for my Commodore 64 when I had it one Christmas.

I followed that up in 2018 with a post where I wrote about Rampage once again. That time, I mentioned the second game that was part of the two-punch present that Christmas - Firetrap. In the game, you had to play a firefighter with a waterpack on your back as you ascended the outside of a skyscraper to put out the fire and save the residents and their pets.

The reason why I mentioned Firetrap is because Dwayne Johnson had started to film a movie about a skyscraper on fire. It wasn't tied to the Firetrap game. I did find the coincidence amusing, though.

As for today's post - I haven't watched either of these movies so feel that I might give Rampage a try sometime today.

And when I do, I'll leave my thoughts below:

Well, it's just after 5PM and I did in fact manage to watch the film this afternoon.

Thinking at all of the Dwayne Johnson movies that I've seen before today (and to be truthful, I haven't seen as many as I should have considering I'm a wrestling fan!), this is right up there as one of the best.

In the video game, you have the choice to control three giant monsters - a gorilla, wolf or a lizard and have to do as much damage to skyscrapers as you can. You also have to avoid being hit by army tanks and helicopters. 

In the movie, the main 'monster' is George the Gorilla who is a gorilla that is an attraction of the San Diego Zoo - where Johnson works. The animal comes across a substance that genetically modifies him and he becomes a giant with anger issues.

As the stories continues, another two genetically-modified animals show up (yes, one is a wolf and the other is a lizard).

Oh, and there is a scene where the wolf is referred to as what he's called in the computer game - Ralph. I don't know if the lizard was named in the film, but - in the game - it's a she and her name is 'Lizzie'.

Anyway, the three animals are summoned to Chicago by a sound wave and all three cause damage to the buildings. I cannot recall if they fight one another in the game, but - by the end - George has been saved by an antidote resulting in him helping Johnson to rid the Windy City of the other two nasties.

It was a fun movie to watch today and reminded me about how much fun I had playing the game. There were times when I thought about how a younger me would have enjoyed the movie way back when the game first came out!

Another Eerie Coincidence

Yet another eerie coincidence has found its way to me.

Just the other day, I was watching a programme called The Pizza Show where the host visits pizzerias across America and Italy. Every time I watch this programme, I find myself craving a proper pizza. It happened again back then. All I wanted was a proper pizza.

And when I write 'Proper Pizza', I mean a proper pizza cooked in a proper pizza oven and possibly done by a proper Italian chef.

I had a look through the listings for a local pizzeria and saw one not too far from me. It's on the road of an old lady I used to know from when I used to do a paper round back in the early 1990's. 

The lady was really old back then, so I would have to guess she's no longer with us. Anyway, as I briefly reminisced about my chats with her, the one that is the most prominent is her telling me that her favourite football player was Gordon Banks.

This was only a few days ago. As I sit here now, I've just found out that Banks has just passed away.

It's funny how that sort of thing happens, isn't it?

The English goalkeeper, who was on the World Cup winning team of 1966, was 81.

Mint Daim

Okay, so I tried one of these things last week.

It's a limited edition Daim Bar.

Made from mint chocolate!

I like original Daims, so had to give this a go. It wasn't too bad.

Plane Stupid

I knew it was going to happen, so maybe I shouldn't have been irked as I was yesterday when I read that Southampton fans were mocking the death of Emiliano Sala during yesterday's game against Cardiff City.

There's a video online of at least one guy with his arms stretched out wide making a plane gesture to Cardiff fans. The people recording him are rightfully calling him a c**t.

I read that the police removed some fans and that the club is looking to ban them from entering future games.

Good.

A 2-1 away win doesn't make up for it, but it sure was a welcome result for yours truly.

UltraViolet On Its Way Out

I found out a few days ago that UltraViolet is on its way out.

The digital locker allowed movie fans to watch their movies online via download or by streaming and I amassed a collection of titles in the few years that I've been a member. Thankfully, I only used the codes from the DVDs or Blu-Ray movies that I bought.

I received an email from the company a few days ago and was told to ensure that my UltraViolet account is linked to other services where I can retain the movies that I've added to the account. The problem, however, is that - as I am in the UK - I can only attach my account to one service (Flixster) while users in other countries like the USA have more options available.

The HUUUUUUUUGE takeaway here is something that I've written about many times in the past. Physical media wins. This is why I have been stuck in my ways for years by purchasing CDS, DVDs, Blu-Rays, books (not e-books).

What has happened to UltraViolet has made my point.

Physcial media all the way.

Sala's Body Found

It was confirmed a few hours ago that the body that was pulled from the wreckage of a plane in the English Channel was indeed Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala.

I don't want to come across as harsh, but I am kind of relieved that it was his body that was found for now. 

I've been following the story ever since the plane was first reported missing and one of the things that has been heartbreaking was seeing Sala's family arrive over here in the UK seeking answers and not giving up hope.

I wish they can now be at peace and are able to mourn their loss properly.

Unfortunately, the family of the pilot - David Ibbotson - won't get this kind of closure for now. Hopefully, they'll get some news that will allow for them to get some sort of closure.

Bad Timing, Nantes

This could be a case of sticking by my local club, but I thought it was quite crass of Nantes to try and begin legal proceedings against Cardiff City to force the club to pay its first installment for Emiliano Sala.

The player, who signed for Cardiff City forty-eight hours before vanishing whilst travelling in a plane over the English Channel, was bought for fifteen million pounds.

Following the tragedy, Cardiff City said it would halt paying its first installment to Nantes until things became more clear. However, the club did state that it would pay up in the long-run.

The timing is dreadful. Nantes did this right around the time when a body was being pulled up from the seabed. 

I knew it would get messy eventually. I didn't think it would be this soon, though.

As I write this, the vessel carrying the body of either Sala or the pilot - David Ibbotson - has arrived back from its mission and will pass whoever it is over to a coroner. 

Back For Round 2 Of Tin Star

My plan for today is to watch a couple of episodes from the new season of Tin Star.

The series first came out in 2017 and stars Tim Roth as an ex-pat who has taken up the role as a sheriff in a Canadian town.

There's a heck of a lot more to it than that.

Something I wrote about the series back when it initially aired is how much I loved the visuals of it. It has some of the best scenery I've seen in any television series or movie.

Stunning. Especially in HD.

As for the story.. well - I didn't hate it. That isn't to say I liked it. I've started so I'll finish...

Body Found In Plane Search

It has been a little over two weeks since the news that Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala was missing on a lost plane over the English Channel broke.

The latest is that an independent team who have been tasked with searching for the lost plane, Sala and the pilot - David Ibbotson - have found the aircraft on the seabed and they've noticed that one body is on board.

I really hope they end up finding the other body because it would be closure for both families affected by this tragic event.

Super Bowl 53

I have just watched the worst Super Bowl ever.

That's all I can write for now.

Dreadful, dreadful...

Tonight's Team

This time tomorrow, I'll be laying back watching the Super Bowl.

Yet another New England Super Bowl, might I add.

A New England Super Bowl means one thing - I am rooting for the other team. Therefore, I shall be a Los Angeles Rams fan for tonight.

And for tonight only.

It's always fun to root against the Patriots. I have the self-awareness to know that they're a very good team with the best coach in the league and one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

Honours

Today is the day when I'll find out if two NFL bets that I placed over the summer will win.

Or rather it'll be the early hours of tomorrow morning, but work with me here.

Over in the US tonight, the NFL will host its ceremony to honour the most recent season with awards being dished out to the league's MVP (Most Valuable Player) amongst others.

The awards I am the most interested in are the Comeback Player and Coach of the Year.

I have Indianapolis' Andrew Luck to be the comeback player. If he doesn't win, after the season he has had after spending the entire 2017 season injured, then I would be very surprised.

Frank Reich - Indianapolis' head coach - was my bet to win the coach of the year. The Colts started off at 1-5, but managed to turn things around and make the playoffs.

That's good.

But to add more to the 'story', that the Associated Press might look for when voting, Reich was not the Colts' first choice to become head coach. He was only given the job after Josh McDaniels ditched the club at the altar hours after it was announced that he would take up the role.

As mentioned, the Associated Press are the voters here, I think the story of Reich being at best a second choice to take up the head coaching gig at Indy is something writers would salivate over. However, looming in the background of the Reich/Colts fairytale is an ogre in the form of Chicago's Matt Nagy who turned an abysmal team into NFC North division champions in his first year as a head coach.

It's definitely out of Nagy and Reich. And it's in that order, if I have to be realistic. As for the comeback player - I am confident that one will be Luck.

Snow 2019

It's here.

The first snowfall of 2019.

I bloody hate the stuff. I'm sure I've written about it man times in the past, but us here in Great Britain seem to be unable to cope when we get the slightest of falls when compared to the huge amounts other countries get.

It's quite embarrassing really.

Says the guy who couldn't be bothered to shave because it's too cold.....