Opin Opas

Clock Mental

I don’t order everything online. Books and DVDs fine. But some things I need to touch and feel. One such thing is the humble alarm-clock. I can’t just order one without going to the shop, especially after what happened last time (not that I do it every week, but I do like me alarm-clock just so).

I had done a search for alarm-clocks which have a soothing waking-up sound. Following years of torment at the hands (ha!) of a Casio More

American History X: Brutal Learning Curve

The legacy left behind after the release of controversial Venice Beach skin-head drama American History X is almost as remarkable as that of the controversy surrounding the director of the film, Tony Kaye, and his stance concerning the way it was made and distributed. Appalled and enraged by the final cut of the film (allegedly not the vision he had been working towards), almost as soon as shooting had wrapped he mounted a massive no-holds-barred campaign against the film-makers, financiers More

The Feeling Is Gone

Our pub, The Haymaker, closed down six months ago; nothing unusual, of course—many pubs in England have vanished over the last couple of years. I guess I never really thought our little pub would, though. All those memories gone, as if they never really happened…

And then something happened which I had never dare think about–I heard on the grape vine that the pub had re-opened! Only this time it was called The Druids. At first this came More

Film Review: The Happening

The Happening is just not happening; did you like that? Good. Then we’re on the same page, I think; that suitably terrible pun is a fine way to kick start the review of a thoroughly atrocious shambles of film-making. Haters of M. Night Shayamalan rejoice! There’s enough fodder in this one film to last a full life-time–or two, if you actually dissect all the nightmarish problem, which I suggest you don’t risk–of perpetual mocking. If you found Signs not to More

Film review: District 9

With so many science fiction ideas already explored you can’t really blame directors for sticking to the tried and trusted concepts which are sure to work and coming up with nothing particularly ground-breaking, and nothing particularly offensive, either. Using this philosophy as a yard-stick, District 9 (2009, directed by Neill Blomkamp) shouldn’t be nearly as good a film as it is: it has brutal, hostile aliens—like dozens of other films, of course—and it has a very large space-ship not dissimilar More

Paranormal Activity (or supernatural failure?)

Raging Indy success Paranormal Activity first came to my attention in 2007, amidst a slew of debatable Saw movies and hashed Hollywood remakes; in horror-movie terms the concept—malevolent spirit terrorizes a couple in their own home and is caught committing devious acts on home-video while said couple are asleep—sounded like a winning formula that couldn’t go wrong if it tried. But: I knew better than to take such information at face value! As a horror film lover repeatedly let down More

Carluccio’s, Covent Garden’s Greatest Food!

Covent Garden is one of the jewels in London’s crown. Street entertainers of all types provide great free fun and for more structured entertainment there is of course the majesty of The Royal Opera House and the West End theatreland and Leicester Square just around a corner.

One thing that the Covent Garden area isn’t short of is eateries. The area is thronged with tourists, as well as culture hungry Londoners, from dawn until dusk and there are bars, diners and restaurants aplenty to ensure that everyone is well fed and watered. I have had the pleasure of dining in many of these establishments, and while the standard is universally high for me there is always one restaurant that I especially look forward to using: Carluccios of Covent Garden.

Antonio Carluccio is the world famous gastronome who has put his name and expertise behind a series of fine dining caffes aroung the UK. Nobody does Italian food as well as Carluccio and the Covent Garden eaterie is his flagship restaurant. Located on Garrick Street, this large and imposing restaurant is in my experience guaranteed to provide the perfect pre- or post-show meal.

The first thing that you see when you enter the two floor restaurant is the Carluccio’s shop where you can buy some of the authentic ingredients used in the stunning food. It is hard to resist purchasing some of the incredible extra virgin olive oil after sampling their wares.

The staff seem without exception to be friendly and knowledgeable (and beautiful) and are always ready with a useful recommendation. A particularly nice touch is that for every dish of Penne Giardiniera, a mouth watering pasta and spinach dish, sold 50p is donated to the Action Against Hunger charity. My own personal favourite dish is Branzino Con Salsa E Patate which is sea bass with a tomato salsa and sauteed potatoes - food heaven for those who, like me, love both sea food and Italian cuisine.It is one of the many reasons why I don’t believe in making reservations for ski chalet holidays in the winter, when you have everything you need right here!

The prices are very reasonable, especially for the West End, and the incredible desserts and gelati alone will have your stomach and your taste buds thanking you for life. One final tip: try to book in advance, especially if you are planning on going during the evening before the shows start, it can be very busy. I would recommend Carluccio’s in Covent Garden to anyone, I’ve already made a reservation for next week, I may see you there!

Bring Back The Classics!

This discussion about when ‘Knight Rider’ will be shown again got me thinking. Someone in the forum mentioned how TV channels have an obligation to fans of certain shows and I think that this is absolutely right. If it hadn’t been for the masses of people who had watched programmes the first time round then the channels would no longer be in business.

Zone Thriller recently showed every episode of ‘Starsky and Hutch’ in order. And from what I can More

Twin Peaks should they do a remake

Okay I’m not sure if this is true or what is going on but I have heard that they are going to do a remake of the old Twin Peaks.  I’m not 100% sure this is a good idea? Would they get David Lynch to do it?

Twin Peaks is a undisputed classic, it is sort of television history in a way, the point that it make no sense hasn’t held it back it’s like the new series "Lost" in that way just nonsensical and if they end up getting it to the point where it all make sense in the end, then it would be all the poorer for it.

Keep it crazy! Who needs a plot you can follow!