@jafwords (On TWITTER)
The Art Work of Frank To
Frank To's art work shows just what talent there actually is in Scotland and he is a real rising star in the art community. Go to his facebook page, hit the "like" button and be part of his world!
Frank To on FACEBOOK
Me in some interesting art.
Well maybe it's not that interesting but its a nice way to relax a bit on what is #SciFiSunday.
Happy Art Loving my friends.
Jafwords
Star Wars - The Return of Something Special
Its something I have been wanting to see since the announcement that the saga would continue. The desert appears and then the head of John Boyega appears. I don't know exactly what part he is to play in this new trilogy, I don't need to know...because the instant his head appeared on screen, this young 22 year old actor just saved the future of Star Wars. In that few brief moments I was instantly hooked beyond all belief. I played the part of the doubting Thomas. I did not believe until I seen. Happy are those who believed who did not have to see.
Interstellar (or What?)
So the history of this film seems a bit all over the place, initially a Spielberg project I believe with Jonathan Nolan drafted in to write the script and learn some physics on the way. The film was eventually passed to the writer's brother and then we are presented with what I saw on the big screen.
First off there can be no denying what you get with a Nolan film - its Big! Its very big and its just shot perfectly on formats to meet the need of the IMAX cinema.
Let's hit the negatives then - the film does dart about here and there and the sequence of events and the passage of time becomes slightly hard to engage with. Time plays a key role in the story's development, after all travelling out into the final frontier (sorry couldn't resist a Star Trek reference) isn't just a regular walk in the park. It takes months to years to travel these vast distances. There was times though I just didn't now how much time had passed - sometimes that wee bit of text in the corner saying "3 months later" can actually be beneficial.
Okay, I class myself as a scientists, I am a Chemist so I'd like to think I was up to date on some aspects of physics...I enjoyed the science, but at times it goes into a depth that I can imagine a non-scientific audience would be put off by.
I've taken my time thinking about this film, trying decided if it is a cinematic masterpiece or just a flop. I know it sounds like the distinction between the two should be clear but at times I think it can be splitting hairs. No doubt there would be others far more intelligent than myself that can easily make the decision and I think this film will polarise an audience. I know there are those who love it and those who hate it. So where am I? Do I take the side of my electrons and hit a purely negativity in my thinking or am I going with my nucleus on this one and staying positive...
At the end of the day I make the decision based on my final thought - would I go back and see it or buy the DVD. The answer is YES. I am back to see it. The film ideas grow on me and I simply can't ignore that acting. The cast was truly brilliant and the plot, although wavy and distorted works for me. Its kind of like 2001, with a bit more explanation. That's not necessary a bad thing because let's be honest, we all watch 2001 and claim to find it a jaw dropping experience but at the back of our minds we are saying "What the hell is going on here?"
Then the soundtrack...it again is powerful and it also makes the film special. I've always liked Hans Zimmer. You can't watch Pirates of the Caribbean without humming that tune (da... da.... da da da da da) - yeah I know that is just text but I bet you were singing it to the Pirate's theme. You won't leave Interstellar humming a tune, but the score will have played with your emotions all the way through the film.
What I do find sad though is that I think Nolan will not get the recognition for this one which I think he deserves. People will just judge it on their first sitting, and sometimes true art has to be looked at, studied and absorbed not only through the eyes but through the heart as well. No one really likes Guinness on their first pint but suddenly it creeps up on you and with noticing it, your ordering it at the bar every time.
Yes Interstellar will be an acquired taste, but I promise it will grow on you.
Happy watching my friends,
***** (Awesome)
**** (Almost awesome but with some flaws)
*** (To be honest it could have been better)
** (Struggling to say good things)
* (Dear director give me my money back)
Genealogy - Learning about my family
There are various records of Duncan working as a ship painter and several census records shows his birth in the Govan area and eventually moving to Bridgeton then back to Govan. At some point, either through his job or some other reason, Duncan finds himself living in Belfast where he meets his future wife Catherine McKeown. Duncan and Catherine go on to have four children - Francis, John, James and Catherine.
I will add some more information on other family members if I find out anything interesting. Duncan interested me as he had been given a bit of a bad reputation, but as it turns out it seems he was just a straight forward honest working guy who sadly died too young.
Happy reading my friends,
Jafwords
House for Sale
Check out the artificial lawn in the garden - I helped lay that (your very own chance to own something that jafwords has worked on).
If you are looking for a house in that area then this one is a gem - Have a look here on "rightmove".
Happy house hunting my friends
Jafwords
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For - review
In 2005 I remember visiting the cinema and being completely blown away by this new style of film which was presented to me in the form of Sin City. Classed as "neo-noir", Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller had pretty much created a new breed of film. The still pages on Frank Miller's graphic novel suddenly found life with some truly brilliant performances from Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis. I am sure there must have been a leap of faith from those actors but it was one worth taking.
Happy watching my friends,
***** (Awesome)
**** (Almost awesome but with some flaws)
*** (To be honest it could have been better)
** (Struggling to say good things)
* (Dear director give me my money back)
Lucy - Review
When you examine Luc Besson writing credentials you throw up a CV which is impressive to say the least. Add to that his expertise behind the camera as a film director and you end up with the mix for what should be an incredible film.
So does Lucy hit the mark or is it off by a mile? (Potential spoiler alert...read on at your own risk)
For some reason I had expected our protagonist, Lucy, to be the type of Black Widow character Scarlet Johannson has played in the past. The character turns out to be far more interesting than I had anticipated. Faced with a life altering situation Scarlett Johansson gets under the ski, so to speak, of a woman evolving past the limitations of the human condition while trying desperately to retain her humanity as she seeks a purpose to her new existance. Johannson gives a brilliant performance in this one and its impossible to see where she can go wrong with her career turning out solid performances time and time again.
Lucy eventually finds an inspirational guide in the form of Morgan Freeman who sets up the conclusion for Lucy's story. All the while this goes on, Lucy is being chased by a drug lord and he is not happy.
The story is more than a little far fetched but what good science fiction story isn't? The set up of the story is very real and more than a little uncomfortable when you see how easily someone can become a drug mule.
I couldn't help but think that more could be made of the story and I did think the plot was rushed through. Don't get me wrong its a great story and a must see for cinema goers but there was potential here for something epic and we were simply left with just a decent film. Like me its easy to see Besson's Influence's shinning through in this one with some of the sequences reminiscent of Kubrick's work on 2001: A Space Odyssey.
I'm giving this one a **** rating. To be honest I am being a little hard on Luc Besson. I am not sure how he could have made it better but I was just left feeling that I wanted more.
Happy watching my friends,
Jafwords
The Jafwords rating system.
***** (Awesome)
**** (Almost awesome but with some flaws)
*** (To be honest it could have been better)
** (Struggling to say good things)
* (Dear director give me my money back)
Available on Authonomy
So I have added a selected few chapters from my most recent novel OUTRiDERS onto the authonomy website. Please feel free to have a look, read, review and add some comments.
Into The Storm - Review
The director clearly had his job cut out for him with a script that just felt a little tired and a bit contrived but from what I can see this was his first serious cinematic outing at the helm (apart from his bash at one of the final destination mvies). Visually, it's perfect in my book. Cracking cinematography and the epic scale of those tornadoes fill the screen with a mighty thud that even some major works of Hollywood are lacking at times. The slick combination of a disaster movie tied in with documentary and home move style footage really adds to the positive aspects of the film.
But...ultimately you are let down with the cast. Apart from a steady perforance from The Walking Dead's Sarah Wayne Callies the rest of the character portrayal left you feeling disappointed. I wouldn't GI as far as saying it was bad acting- I just think they were in a position of delivering lines from a script that ultimately didn't grab you as an audience and take you on a journey.
The film is average at best and gets *** from me.
Happy watching folks,
Jafwords
***** (Awesome)
**** (Almost awesome but with some flaws)
*** (To be honest it could have been better)
** (Struggling to say good things)
* (Dear director give me my money back)
Superman vs Digital Art
48hr film Challenge 2014
I am delighted to confirm that Rampant Film Production will once again participate in the Glasgow 48hr film challenge in October.
It always proves to be a hard and challenging weekend but such a worthwhile and creative venture. Now we must begin to build a team once again.
My cousin (John P. Boyle - Eromnim3) and I will once again tackle the writing part together. Then I will take over the helm as director while John leads the way as producer and musical director.
It's sure to be an incredible weekend in October. So stay tuned for further updates.
Happy reading.
Jafwords.
The City of Glagsow
Over and Over again - and will I write this again tomorrow.
Up a hill and down a mountain
In the cinema ... so just a few words
What on Eltheran?
Jafwords
The Sunday Update
Star Fantasy: The Finally Released Version!!!!!!
The book has also been released on Smashwords and as a result will be available on a number of other ebook readers in the coming month.
Happy Reading my friends.
Jafwords.
the new home of www.johnaferguson.co.uk
What he, that guy, I mean me is up to!
My creative detours make me, I hope, a more creative story teller and so I hope the distractions prove useful in my hopes and dreams.
I am still plodding my way through book number three. The working title is still Walsh Mackenzie, the name of my sort of messed up hero.
Book number one "Star Fantasy: The Voice of Darkness" still remains out there trying to get an agent and representation to find a way to inject life into it for others to read. Book two "Outriders" is still very much a first draft. I really do need to give that a proper going over to make it ready for submissions. Along the way I have also written a few short stories - I have currently submitted one to Tor.com for consideration for publication. We can only hope and keep the fingers crossed.
I am aware though that some more time needs to be spend completing draft one of Novel three. This will be my focus for next few months. Wish me luck and happy reading my friends.
Jafwords