Category: Review

FILM REVIEW | Deadpool 2

DEADPOOL 2 – The foul-mouthed superhero is back in an improvement on the very good first film upping the laughs and story twists – the fourth wall is not just broken as destroyed making the viewer part of the movie throughout.

Just how good is Deadpool?

Nutshell – Our hero fails to kill one villain on a mission resulting in tragic personal consequences. A successful suicide attempt follows but he forgets he is the superhero that cannot die which sets everything in motion. Introduced to the X-men he meets a boy with fiery powers who has a murderous future ahead of him triggering a Terminator time travelling super villain to come back in time to change things – that’s just for starters then it gets complicated, funnier and more exciting by the minute.

Running Time – 119inutes – Cert 15 – this superhero film is definitely not for your young nephew.

Tagline – ‘Prepare for the second coming’ and ‘ From the studio that killed Wolverine’ – underlining this is the superhero franchise with the comedy chops.

The Gay UK Factor – Really??? This movie stars Ryan Reynolds, the sexiest man on the planet not called David Gandy (He has been on top of the sexiest man alive polls). The trouble here is that a lot of the time he is covered face and all in his coverall superhero neoprene outfit and most of the rest of the time to fit with the storyline his face is disfigured. You do get some normal straight shots of Mr Reynolds but you do have that voice throughout so this is a movie to listen to as much as watch and let your imagination run riot…just imaging Ryan Reynolds sitting on our faces for two hours and you will get the picture.

Cast – Ryan ‘time to get off my face’ Reynolds and some other people… well you get Josh Brolin, TJ Miller and appearances from Brad Patt, Matt Damon, Nicholas Hoult and James McAvoy.

Key Player – Well, we would like to write more about Ryan Reynold’s ass, abs and bulging lycra but credit should also go to the superb writing team of Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and … Ryan Reynolds, is there no end to the man’s talent. Also, the director David Leitch who just gets everything right here in that rare thing a sequel that is a great improvement on the original. Leitch is new to directing after formally being Hollywood’s top stunt guy for such films as The Matrix, 300, Wolverine, XXX, Troy and the Jason Bourne films so you bet the action here is fierce.

Budget – $110 Million less than half that of Infinity War and this is a better film – Already it has made over $630 million in just a few days and that’s just from the gay members of the Ryan Reynolds fan club, so lockdown for Deadpool’s 3 through 10. It is the third biggest grossing movie of the year and climbing just edging out The Greatest Showman and that bird with the beard singing “This Is Me” repeatedly.

Best Bit – 0.47 mins; A prison convoy assault by our heroes and his buds and boy does it go spectacularly wrong in a fashion that only the Deadpool franchise can pull off.

Worst Bit – 0.41 mins Nothing very bad here at all but you do get the slight deja vu feeling when the Terminator back in time plot to change the future kicks in. Also with Josh Brolin playing the bad guy in Marvel’s Avenger’s Infinity War last month do we need him playing a different villain here… does the studio not have a release calendar?

Little Secret – Marvel main man Stan Lee rarely does not appear in this movie. The film was shut down for two days after the death of a stunt woman in the motorcycle chase. We are also promised a wonderful extended cut with an added hour that we cannot wait for but most of all throughout Deadpool makes many references to his pansexuality and the appeal of guys and with the characters of Warhead and Yukio we get the first LGBTQ couple in Marvel history. So this is the gayest superhero film yet.

Further Viewing – With 19 Marvel films to pick from as well as the DC Universe and many others also you may consider the best of Ryan Reynolds naked and topless go straight for Blade Trinity or his gayest roll is The Nines.

Any Good – Absolutely – this is better than Black Panther, Infinity War, Wonder Woman and Guardians 2 making it the best superhero movie of the last year. It is so on the money from the first minute to the incredibly funny mid credit scenes. There are countless great pop culture references, superb action sequences and a laugh every 30 seconds. Pure Friday night entertainment, this is what all cinema should be like, just don’t take the kids.

82/100

8th June 2018
THEATRE REVIEW | An Officer and a Gentleman – The Musical – National Tour

★★★☆☆ | An Officer and a Gentleman

Based on the classic film of the same name, An Officer and A Gentleman tells the story of Zack Mayo, a trainee fighter pilot who is from the wrong side of the tracks and is trying to make his way through the Naval Academy. Paula is a local girl working in a factory where she and her colleagues see the only way of escaping their humdrum lives is by being swept off their feet by a pilot and whisked away. But what starts off as a little bit of fun between the two of them becomes something more, but will either of them admit their true feelings?

The show, and the first act in particular, thunders across the stage with dizzying speed and a relentless energy, in a production which is noisy, loud, bold and incredibly unsubtle; where a collision of lighting, sound, projected images, live music and a barrage of costume changes combine to be the absolute antithesis of the “less is more” school of thought.

Jonny Fines makes for an appealing enough lead as Zack Mayo, with his ridiculously ripped form and a wry smile, nestling in nicely alongside his fellow recruits who appeared to have been hand-picked primarily for their pecs and ‘ceps appeal. But despite the testosterone-fuelled world depicted in the story, the stage belonged firmly to the female ensemble, bringing some decent vocal performances to lift the broadly functional performances of the cast.

Nikolai Foster’s direction takes the scattergun approach of throwing sufficient tricks, bells and whistles at the audience in the hope that some of them will stick, with a roughly even split of hits and misses. The show is set to an eclectic mix of 80’s classics, the musical numbers varied in terms of quality and performance, with a belting rendition of Alone by Emma Williams only serving to highlight the pub circuit stylings of some of the other musical numbers. There is a mix of soft rock classics (“I Want to Know what Love is”, “The Final Countdown”), some bubble-gum pop (“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, “Material Girl”) and some of the lesser celebrated 80’s staples (“Hearts on Fire”, “Working for the Weekend”) compounding the scattergun feel of the show, but not necessarily in a bad way.

But that is where the show really hits its stride. It never pretends to be anything other than what it is intended to be, namely a fun, cheesy and fairly corny slice of entertaining escapism. By the time the show draws to a conclusion with its iconic ending set to a sweeping rendition of Up Where We Belong, you can’t help but be suckered in by the feel-good factor of this slice of 80’s cheese.

An Officer and A Gentleman is currently at Sheffield Theatres until the 9th June 2018 before continuing on its national tour

BOOK TICKETS HERE

7th June 2018
FILM REVIEW | My Friend Dahmer

★★★★ | My Friend Dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer, the American who murdered 17 young men back in the 1980s and 1990s, was showing signs of strange behaviour at a young age, according to the new film My Friend Dahmer.

Based on the 2012 novel of the same name by cartoonist John Backderf, who had been friends with Dahmer in high school, the film shows how Dahmer came from a home where his parents constantly fought, and where he had an unnatural curiosity of the insides of animals. Dahmer, who grew up in Bath, Ohio, is brilliantly played by Ross Lynch, in a film that’s sharply edited and continually tense and spooky by the director, and writer, Marc Meyers. We see that Dahmer was awkward even to his own family, with a crazy and alcoholic mother (played by Anne Heche – in her best performance ever), and how Dahmer had a shed in the woods where he did certain experiments with animals.

Dahmer is eventually adopted by some of the cool kids in his class to perform certain acts that drew attention to himself, basically these acts were spasms set out to cause disruptions, but they also seemed to do something to Dahmer’s soul, for he became more and more intense and weird, turning some of his evil thoughts from animals to, eventually, humans. Dahmer even plotted to kill a local doctor whom he became attracted to, but it was not meant to be. But it’s in these early years that we see the beginnings of Dahmer’s sinister future – how he would end up becoming one of the world’s most cruel and crazy mass murderers.

Luckily for us, this film ends before the killings begin, but we know that this was the path that Dahmer’s life would take – the murder of many gay men in some of the most brutal and horrific ways.

My Friend Dahmer is an excellent film that preludes an adult life where Dahmer would turn into a complete monster.

My Friend Dahmer is released in the UK & Ireland on June 1st.

1st June 2018
HOTEL REVIEW | The Hotel, Brussels – perfect for a 24 hours in Gay Brussels

24 Hours in Gay Brussels

Obviously, you can’t hope to get to know any city via just a one day stay but, if you know how to organise your time, you can combine a relaxing and luxurious break with enough of a flavour of the place to make it a memorable experience and Brussels is perfect for such a trip. Without much time available to travel too far from your base, choosing the right hotel is essential, it being required to deliver all the necessary wining, dining and pampering needs and easy access to other amenities is also essential.

Located on the Boulavard de Waterloo in the Louise district of Brussels, the equivalent of Chelsea or Knightsbridge, but without the pretentious feeling that often is associated with those parts of London, The Hotel Brussels, is an ideal base of operations to explore and soak up the city’s vibes. Continuing the theme of concise titles, The Restaurant offers a weekly menu with the focus on local, fresh and seasonal produce that combines both the authenticity of Belgian cuisine and chef Pierre Balthazar’s own unique creativity. It should be noted that vegetarians may find their hot breakfast options to be a little on the limited side.

The rooms are an oasis of refinement and space, the decor is modern and light, though one drawback is that the bathrooms are not only open plan but the toilet door is hinged to serve also as the shower door. Fine if you are staying with someone who has seen it all before, not so ideal if you are just sharing with a friend.

The Hotel also offers a spa and fitness suite, located on the 23rd floor of The Hotel meaning that whilst you exercise you can take in the sumptuous views of the city. It’s a little on the small side but the views do make up for this. You can also indulge yourself in a visit to the sauna or steam room and spa treatments are also on offer.

What to do when in Brussels

You could use the combination of dining, relaxing and wellbeing as the extent of your visit, but step outside the hotel and a wealth of experiences opens up. If Belgium is known for one thing it is chocolate and Groovy Brussels offers a walking tour to help you appreciate this most exotic of foods. Over two and a half hours you will visit six of the most beautiful chocolate shops found in the heart of the medieval city passing along beautiful galleries, romantic city views and impressive monuments. The tour might not be your cheapest activity around but you will come away from this memorable experience with a much better understanding of the history and culinary art of chocolate.

If something more social is your goal then there are a cluster of gay bars nearby such as the iconic Le Belgica, with its wealth of drinks, including the world-famous Belgian beers, and top DJ’s pandering to all of your House and Techno needs. There is also a great selection of restaurants nearby especially if you want to find something away from the hustle and hassle of the tourist routes around the Grand Palace.

And as you want to get the most out of your brief time in the city, it is worth noting that the Eurostar terminal is an easy walk from The Hotel allowing you to maximise your time getting to know the city itself.

Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA

31st May 2018
CAR REVIEW | Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD

★★★★☆ | Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD – Big and Easy

What Have We Got?

There is a lot to like about the F-Pace S. For a start it is a car of creature comforts and quite honestly meets Jaguars ethos of Space, Grace and Pace. In that I mean it’s got space for five and a boot to accommodate luggage. Grace to carry you effortlessly along from A to B and Pace because when and where you can, it’ll hurtle itself down the road with a phenomenal howl from the superchargers.

Driving

Back to the howling. It’s very noticeable and I like that. A shove on the go pedal and the 380 horse of the 2999cc Ingenium will drop down several gears of the 8-speed auto gearbox and slingshot you down the road.

If this isn’t what you need then you’ll be surprised to discover that you can potter it along like a Honda Jazz on pension collection day. There are novices for this amount of power.

Ride and handling are also pleasant. The ride is more on the jiggly side and then even more so in Dynamic mode. It’s not however intrusive even with its 22” wheels and thin band Pirelli Zero rubber.

Climb Inside

Here lays my problem. The inside is a mixture of hits and misses. My main gripe is the dashboard layout. While some will like familiarity within their cars from the same brand, I for one do not. If I am to pay out more for a car that sits up the range then I want it to reflect that and be different. The dashboard is identical with that of its saloon sibling the XF.

This then includes the blue dashboard lighting. This again causes me some issues. The doors and dashboard have neon lighting set within them and on the S they were red. Thankfully someone at Jaguar has designed software that allows you to change the colours. Red with the blue wasn’t easy on my eyes. The white or blue seemed to work better.

What did work well for me was the driving position and visibility. It was incredibly easy to see out of and this helps with navigating you and the behemoth Jaguar. The SUV style body allowing for even easier parking thanks in part to its cut of the tail.

Living With It

Quality wise it isn’t up to the likes of Mercedes or Audi. That said they seem to be stepping down at times with their products so I won’t be losing any sleep over that. The tactility of the inside is ok. Door armrests lack some padding for bony prominences.

With a combined mpg of 31.7, you’ll also be able to stretch your legs more often than in a Nissan Micra. I say that because you won’t get that. You’ll be having too much fun driving it. At most during my week, I saw 16 – 18 mpg and the tank was empty in 248 miles.

Is It Any Good?

I liked the F-Pace. There are few SUV’s that I rave about because it’s a genre that I personally find stunted. They are high sided vehicles with altered dynamics and this results in fussy handling. The F-Pace S seems to have stopped me in my tracks on this.

The F-Pace is also incredibly easy to drive and for something so powerful, it’s nice to be able to relax if going hell-for-leather isn’t what you want after a day of mind-numbing meetings.

Now if only I could get more than 248 miles from a tank of fuel I’d be extra smitten with it alas fun comes at a price. A high price too but you can’t take it with you.

Love

Engine noise

Choice of ambient lighting

Easy to drive

Loathe

Trim tactility

Expensive options

You need the options

The Lowdown

Car – Jaguar F-Pace S 3.0 V6 AWD

Price – £71,505 (as tested)

MPG – 31.7 mpg (combined)

Power – 0-62mph – 5.1 seconds

Top Speed – 155 mph

Co2 – 209 (g/km)

31st May 2018
THEATRE REVIEW | Titanic, The Musical, King’s Theatre Glasgow

★★★☆☆ | Titanic – The Musical – King’s Theatre Glasgow

**This review was taken from the Sheffield production**

Despite it being over 100 years since Titanic slipped under the waves, the fascination with the ship and those on board hasn’t faded, as evidenced by the packed house of this revival of Moury Yeston’s musical. The story of the ships maiden voyage and, ultimately, its demise is told through a wealth of characters from all classes of passengers and from the crew on board.

The set, all sheet metal and rivets, towers above the audience instilling in them the impression of the sheer scale of the ship whilst a simple two-tier stage evoked an image of the decks and worked effectively. But from the off, the cast were on top form, as the magnificent ensemble belted out the opening numbers with such gusto that it reverberated in the chest, like the sounds of the engines of the great ship itself.

And therein lays the strength of this production. Its cast was outstanding, and whether singing alone, in small groups or as an ensemble, the whole thing was beautifully sung and more akin to an opera than a musical. The three leads Philip Rham, Simon Green and Greg Castiglioni bounced off each other nicely as the Captain, owner and designer of the ship, and Niall Sheeny impressed as the stoker Fred Barrett. Whilst the direction was fairly minimal, the cast switched between their multiple roles seamlessly, spilling out into the aisles on occasions to engage the audience; whilst on a technical level, the lighting and sound design, the costumes and the balance between actors voices and orchestra were all absolutely spot on.

Sadly, an overly long runtime, a handful of similar-sounding songs and a few too many story threads anchored down the first act to an extent, but the second act picked up the pace as the race to abandon ship took hold.

What comes out of the production is an underlying theme of love between the characters, from the newlyweds to the eloping couple to the elderly husband and wife, and it is this which packs the emotional punch and brings the human cost of the tragedy sharply into focus.

Book tickets to see Titanic, The Musical at King’s Theatre Glasgow until 2nd June 2018

29th May 2018
CAR REVIEW | Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake

★★★★☆ | Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake

Is the Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake any good?

In the summer THEGAYUK went to the unveiling of the new XF Sportbrake set in a Wimbledon style setting. Much was to be made of the new Jaguar XF with added room.

Sadly on the day, the cars were all kept locked so I was only able to look at the outside. It’s easy to say “yes it looks ok” when you haven’t got up close and personal. Thankfully two bridges have been crossed because THEGAYUK has enjoyed time with the XF saloon and now the Sportbrake.

Running wise the two cars were identical in having the 2-litre petrol turbo Ingenium engine making 250 horses. Oddly the official performance figures are somewhat chalk and cheese for both cars. The Sportbrake will do the 0-60 dash 0.5 seconds slower but will achieve 3 mph more.

These figures aside, it is the overall package that I was looking briefly at on a Jaguar play day. Now having been able to play with both I can say that I actually prefer the looks of the Sportbrake. There is often a little bit of style lost and extra length added to a saloon when it becomes an estate. However, Jaguar has been clever in keeping the 2 cars on the same platform equating to both being the same length of 4954mm.

As expected, around 70kg of extra weight has been added to a car capable of carrying extra cargo. This being made up of the hefty tailgate and extra metal required to retain rigidity around the opening. A small price to pay and yet for a car with an aluminium construction, it is anything but light with a kerb weight of 2260kg.

Load area with the seats up gains an extra 25 litres too. Increasing to a maximum of 1700 litres with the 40:20:40 split folding rear seats down.

What can become problematic for the estate style body is humming from the wheels reverberating around the cabin because the boot area is left fully exposed to the cabin. As you’d expect in the refinement of the Jaguar, there is no such noise. Being as the car glides effortlessly with little fuss, any noise would be amplified. I’m glad to say it wasn’t.

What is quite disconcerting is the sheer amount of openness you get when inside. Look over your shoulder and it does feel like the cabin goes on for miles. It’s big and yet no more than the saloon.

Here though is the big question. Is there room for another estate on the market when the rise of the SUV doesn’t seem to be stopping? It’s a tricky one to answer. As it is, Jaguar has 2 SUV’s in their range and those 2 are evenly matched by their Range Rover counterparts.

It will have buyers. Not everyone wants an SUV. For one thing, an SUV, no matter whose badge it wears, lacks visual prestige a saloon or in this case, an estate can offer. And with the handling credentials of the saloon being evenly matched to this Sportbrake l can’t see anyone who opts for the XF being remotely upset in having a car that sits lower down. In terms of style, the estate offerings of the XF really do make Jaguars slogan of Grace, Pace and Space come true.

The Lowdown
Car – Jaguar XF R-Sport 250ps Sportbrake
Price – (from) £42,435
MPG – 41.5 mpg (combined)
Power – 0-62mph – 6.7 seconds
Top Speed – 150 mph
Co2 – 155 (g/km)

26th May 2018
THEATRE REVIEW | Titanic, The Musical, Sheffield Lyceum

★★★☆☆ | Titanic – The Musical – Sheffield Lyceum

Titanic – The Musical – National Tour reviewDespite it being over 100 years since Titanic slipped under the waves, the fascination with the ship and those on board hasn’t faded, as evidenced by the packed house of this revival of Moury Yeston’s musical. The story of the ships maiden voyage and, ultimately, its demise is told through a wealth of characters from all classes of passengers and from the crew on board.

The set, all sheet metal and rivets, towers above the audience instilling in them the impression of the sheer scale of the ship whilst a simple two-tier stage evoked an image of the decks and worked effectively. But from the off, the cast were on top form, as the magnificent ensemble belted out the opening numbers with such gusto that it reverberated in the chest, like the sounds of the engines of the great ship itself.

And therein lays the strength of this production. Its cast was outstanding, and whether singing alone, in small groups or as an ensemble, the whole thing was beautifully sung and more akin to an opera than a musical. The three leads Philip Rham, Simon Green and Greg Castiglioni bounced off each other nicely as the Captain, owner and designer of the ship, and Niall Sheeny impressed as the stoker Fred Barrett. Whilst the direction was fairly minimal, the cast switched between their multiple roles seamlessly, spilling out into the aisles on occasions to engage the audience; whilst on a technical level, the lighting and sound design, the costumes and the balance between actors voices and orchestra were all absolutely spot on.

Sadly, an overly long runtime, a handful of similar-sounding songs and a few too many story threads anchored down the first act to an extent, but the second act picked up the pace as the race to abandon ship took hold.

What comes out of the production is an underlying theme of love between the characters, from the newlyweds to the eloping couple to the elderly husband and wife, and it is this which packs the emotional punch and brings the human cost of the tragedy sharply into focus.

Titanic – The Musical is at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield until Saturday 26^th May 2018 before continuing on its national tour

22nd May 2018
GAY TRAVEL: Gran Canaria

Travel expert, Ray Si checks out gay Gran Can…

There can’t be many tourist destinations which encompass so many different landscapes and diverse geographical features, cultural blends and range of exciting holiday activities in such a small area. Gran Canaria may have a diameter of only 50km, so it is safe to say that this island is compact and bijou, but that just makes it easily navigable. And with this “miniature continent” having everything from long golden beaches and dunes of rich sand to green ravines and picturesque villages, volcanic uplands and ports, you won’t have to travel too far for the next change of pace or scenery. It also blends the best of Spanish colonial architecture and ultra-modern hotels, all under the rays of an African sun.

Gran Canaria also has a very liberated attitude towards gay and lesbian tourism and there is a very vibrant scene to be found here especially with gay hotels such as Vista Bonita by MOW Hotels, catering specifically for rainbow flag flying tourists.

Vista Bonita sits at the heart of the Gay Resort community of Maspalomas, in the lively commercial region along the southern coast. Vista Bonita is an apartment hotel (with an upstairs and downstairs) with a very social scene going on around the heated pool and sauna, well worth catching happy hour at the pool bar and a world away from the tourist trap of Yumbo Centre (pretty much the outdoor shopping centre that the name suggests) and its bad drag shows and even worse the food.

Gay apartment hotels in Gran Canaria such as Vista Bonita can afford you the perfect combination of privacy and freedom to structure your break the way that you see fit and the convenience of having everything close to hand, the onsite supermarket being a useful touch especially for your fully equipped kitchen. If cooking on a break is not your thing then the pool bar caters to all of your breakfast, lunch and thirst quenching needs. One drawback in the area is car parking which can cause a bit of stress but this is easily avoided if you arrange your parking with the hotel €5 a day as of May’18.

Obviously the icing on the cake of any hotel stay is the staff and here the housekeeping team are always friendly, seemingly loving the environment that they work in, and it is almost worth staying to see there smiles as well as the extremely helpful and gorgeous Monica managing reception, not only brilliantly accommodating in her role and suggesting the best restaurants but I’m sure can be a lot of fun to share a few cocktails with on the hotels rooftop.

(C) KOPAZ / TWITTER

Away from the hotel, there is much to do and a walk along the seafront of the exclusive Meloneras area will reveal a range of bars, cafes and restaurants and also KopaZ, a hidden gem of what I would describe as the only gay outdoor tapas pub in Meloneras. KopaZ has fantastic views of the ocean from its elevated decks, the tapas prepared are humble and delicious with hints of South American and German influences and there is a great selection of drinks to be tried. Service is always friendly and unhurried and the location itself is discreet and away from all the tourist traps. It makes for the perfect place to lunch and wait to watch the sunset sipping on a glass of sangria.

Atelier. #rooftop #bar #cocktailbar #excellence #passion #bartending #grancanaria #island #bohemiasuites #5stars #hotelboutique #atelier

A post shared by Atelier Cocktail bar (@loungeatelier) on May 3, 2018 at 9:07am PDT

And if it is perfect views that you are looking for then the 360° Restaurant is a must for dinner. Situated on the 8th floor (but feeling much higher) at Bohemia Suites & Spa Hotel, as the restaurant name suggests, it offers all-round panoramic views of the ocean and dunes and offers an exquisite dining experience both via its tasting menu or a la carte options. With live music and the company of attentive restaurant ambassadors, this is a great and stylish way to end the day as the night draws in.

Maspalomas is a beacon for LGBT tourism, sitting both comfortably alongside mainstream venues and attractions but also catering specifically and brilliantly for the gay scene in Gran Canaria, there is even an annual gay pride event and a number of boat parties and other activities to explore. The perfect destination and the perfect time to hit the sun, grab yourself a twenty-five year old…scotch and bottoms up!

Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA

21st May 2018
FILM REVIEW | Avenger: Infinity War

AVENGERS : INFINITY WAR – 10 years in the making, the culmination of Marvels record-breaking decade. 22 superheroes, the worst baddie of all time in the second most expensive movie in history… and this is just part 1 with part 2 coming next April.

Nutshell – The ultimate bad guy Thanos has been positioning himself over the last 18 Marvel movies and now he is ready to strike. He needs 6 infinity stones in his glove like gauntlet to rule the entire universe and all that is between him and his dastardly plan is every superhero you can possibly think of. Surely this should be an easy job for our 22 finest lycra clad heroes but no way and they start to get killed off shockingly as this dude is truly unstoppable but which of your fave’s will survive…..you will be shocked and surprised

Running Time – 149 minutes – PG.

Tagline – ‘Where will you be when it all ends ?’ – probably in a cinema seat next April for the biggest money making movie in 100 years of cinema.

The Gay UK Factor – So many fit men in one movie. We are hot for Chris Hemsworth, horny for Chris Patt, want children with Chadwick Boseman, an all-night sex orgy with either Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper or Idris Elba or preferably altogether and as for that beautiful young ass of Tom Holland… BUT and it’s a big but nothing could prepare us for the arrival of the new masculine furry faced rugged Chris Evans as Captain America – in a movie of 10 out of 10 gay sex objects this guy gets an 11 plus easily… we have not stopped wanking since we saw it and repeat viewings are guaranteed with extra tissues.

Cast – Start with the list above and then add Robert Downey, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Dinklage, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hiddleston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, William Hurt and hundreds more in the most star-studded cast ever put in one movie this is big in every sense of the word.

Key Player – In a movie of a hundred stars its difficult to pick one but Chis Pratt gets it as he is so damn funny throughout. He gets the best lines and the best action bringing his Quill character from The Guardians Of The Galaxy films to the biggest league ever…hot as hell also. The directing duo of Anthony and Joe Russo deserve much praise as this could have so easily been an indulgent dog’s dinner and it is anything but.

Budget – $240 Million making it the second most expensive movie in history (Behind a Pirates of The Caribbean) but it made a profit in just 3 days of release with the record-breaking biggest opening ever. The film after one week is in the Top 50 grossing films of all time and the question is how high will it go? The most successful superhero movie ever? Will it topple Titanic and even beat Avatar? One thing’s for sure the second part will do even better – records are not being broken they are being totally destroyed.

Best Bit – 0.19 mins; The first time the anti-establishment Guardians of the Galaxy meet the cocky as fuck Thor we get very funny wordplay which they keep up throughout. The best action sequence is probably Doctor Strange, Spiderman, Iron Man and The Hulks first battle in downtown New York but basically, there is not a miss-step here…

Worst Bit – 1.02 mins … except Peter Dinklage’s giant dwarf which just does not work. The best thing from Game Of Thrones is the worst thing here but we forgive him.

Little Secret – Tom Holland was not allowed to ever see the full script as he revealed far too much about the plot of Spiderman Homecoming previously… naughty boy. This beat all cinema opening records set by the Star Wars films and Jurassic World the only one it did not get was best Worldwide opening which is still held by the Fast And Furious franchise. The end message is ‘Thanos Will Return’ you betcha.

Further Viewing – All 18 Marvel films including Black Panther, Antman, X-Men etc plus anything from the DC Universe such as Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman. Advance knowledge does help here.

Any Good – If you like these sort of films you will be in seventh heaven here it’s as great as you expected and hoped for in your wildest dreams. If you are not a Marvel Studio geek then you may struggle here a bit if you have not seen most of the previous movies but sit back and enjoy it anyway. It may to some seem a bit episodic and the action and fight scenes are continuous and unrelenting. It is obvious that this is part one of two but sod it all this is amazing stuff and is a movie that will be talked about for decades. Steal a ticket now for Chris Evan’s hot sexy new look alone

17th May 2018
TRAVEL | Belgium Balladry with Sam Smith

Travel expert, Ray Si takes to the roads to check out Sam Smith in Belgium in a gay travel special.

Sam Smith in concert

If music be the food of love, and travel broadens the mind, then it follows that undertaking a trip to watch a live music concert should make you lovelier and more broad-minded than you were to begin with. There seems to be logic to that, but you would probably have to ask someone with a more academic background. However, it’s a nice thought, so let’s go with it. But it takes more than nice thoughts to make all of the logistical pieces of a trip to an arena show fall into place these days, as was evident when I attempted to secure tickets for Sam Smith’s London O2 show.

Despite springing into action as soon as tickets were announced, I encountered what is becoming a regular stumbling block for gig-goers of late, in that as soon as they come up for sale, a quick scan through the box office website generally reveals that all of the best seats have been bought out by a sister site, and the prices inflated way beyond face value. This was indeed the case, and I did want to see Sam Smith live. What’s a boy to do? A scan through other available tour dates, a quick flex of the credit card to the tune of €66, and I was not only able to secure a 4th-row ticket at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp but give myself the perfect excuse for a short break in Belgium. Not that anyone really needs an excuse to head off to Belgium.

Eurostar waiting in London’s St Pancras

Okay, so in the grand scheme of things, I didn’t really save much money doing it this way, because of course, I now had to include the cost of a hotel and a Eurostar ticket, but what I did end up with was a mini holiday in another country for the price of the original London seat.

Inside the Eurostar

Any trip from the UK to Europe is best done on Eurostar, and believe me, the new trains add a whole extra level of convenience and comfort to your journey. Tickets and check-ins for the train are simplicity itself, and with spacious seats, power sockets, and entertainment (via WiFi) and a generous luggage allowance, the journey couldn’t be more enjoyable. Eurostar’s new Standard Premier is even more spacious, quiet, and has a cute meal and drinks service included.

An upgrade on your Eurostar journey

As a small celebration for getting such a good seat for the show at such a reasonable price, I thought that I’d splash out a little on accommodation and chose The Dominican hotel in central Brussels. Not only was its central location wonderfully convenient, but it is one of those hotels where you can’t help feeling a little bit special. Built on the site of a Dominican abbey, hence the name, this majestic hotel mixes utmost modernity with historical elegance and abounds with antiques and artwork from more classical times.

Inside the Dominican Lobby

Inside the Dominican Bedroom

There are plenty of options to eat in at The Dominican, but with such a short time to fit in as many new experiences as possible, I wasted no time in finding a great little restaurant in the guise of the wonderfully named Ricotta and Parmesan. Cheesy in name perhaps, but anything but cheesy in nature. It’s actually a wonderful Italian eatery, a blend of traditional flavours served in modern ways, although having mussels on the menu this far from the sea is odd, though it does allow diners to crack a Jean-Claude Van Damme joke or two.

Although Antwerp and Brussels are only an hour apart, to save having to fight through all the other gig goers jostling to get to the same station after the show, I thought it best to book something more convenient for apres-gig accommodation, and the B-aparthotel Moretus was the perfect combination of comfort and practicality. Not for me a fight through the madding crowds just to experience standing room only in a full to the brim train.

And of course, the reason for this trip was to take in the bruised balladry of Sam Smith, no longer the new kid on the block but musically seeming like an old soul, wise beyond his years, and walking a fine line between the melancholic and confessional, and more upbeat and soulful musical waters. And with this current tour spread out across the world right through to the end of the year, my little adventure just goes to show that you don’t have to play the ticket touts’ game, and with a bit of planning, you can use the live show as the jewel in the crown of a fantastic short break.

Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA

17th May 2018