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Siberia LFF Film Review

Siberia is a spiritual journey filled with metaphors and symbolism that even the most observant viewer may have trouble keeping pace with. The sixth collaboration between director Abel Ferrara and a for Willem Defoe, this dive into the abyss of the soul is a cold, harsh and biting ride.

There’s some fantastic landscape cinematography, with Defoe’s Clint sledding through bleak snow filled valleys, lit in a surreal green light that adds to the mystery. This, coupled with a minimal piano based score help craft an atmosphere you’ll not be able to shake.

In terms of narrative, the protagonist is seemingly thrown across several scenes in a non-linear fashion, with both him and the audience attempting to piece together the meaning of the strange, weird and often disturbing things he’s confronted with.

Definitely one for fans of the surreal, this is a journey not for the light hearted.

How to Watch 2020 London Film Festival Movies At Home

As we get into autumn, it’s movie festival time in London! However, things have changed up a bit at the 2020 London Film Festival (LFF) this time around. From October 7 – 18, you can enjoy a selection of the 2020 LFF programme all direct from the comfort of your own home.

How to Watch 2020 London Film Festival Movies Online Via BFI Player

The general public can now buy tickets to stream via BFI Play. Virtual premieres are £12 per movie or £10 for BFI Members. To stream, you must have internet access and a BFI Player compatible device. Remember that BFI Player screenings are available to view in the UK only and the movies are not available with Smart TVs and BFI Player’s Amazon Prime and Apple TV channels and you cannot download films.

Most films will require you to start watching within 30 minutes of the advertised start time. So you will need to hit play within this time frame or miss out on seeing the film – and throwing away your money. Once you click play, you have 3 or 72 hours to watch the movie – all depending on the film, so if you can’t watch immediately, click play and then pause til you’re ready to enjoy.

Given the restrictions, we definitely recommend you to schedule your viewing. You can find a full overview of the movies available here.

Now, that’s all out of the way, here’s the important part – the movies we’re most looking forward to!

The Best Movies to Stream From the London Film Festival

Another Round
Four friends, all high school teachers, test a theory that they will improve their lives by maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood.

Supernova
Sam and Tusker partners of 20 years, who are traveling across England in their old RV visiting friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with early-onset dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have.

Stray
The world of Zeytin, a stray dog living life on the streets of Istanbul.

Wolfwalkers
Follows a woman in her sixties who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

Mogul Mowgli
A British Pakistani rapper is on the cusp of his first world tour, but is struck down by an illness that threatens to derail his big break.

N.B. Festival favourites including Mangrove, Nomadland and Ammonite are not available to watch online

Tips to Prep Your Phone for Your Next Trip

To ensure stress-free travel on the road,  Ting Mobile, shares savvy smartphone tips to take before you hit the road.

  • Secure data and personal info: Enable your phone’s screen lock feature and use a strong password to protect your information on the go.
  • Plan your TV & movie binge: Not everyone wants to watch the same program, so be sure to download all your favorites movies and shows ahead of time. Platforms like Disney+, Netflix and Amazon Prime let you download movies and shows to your device.
  • Take your maps offline: Sometimes you’ll end up in an area without cell phone reception. Using Google Maps, download your maps in advance over Wi-Fi you don’t need to use your cellular network to navigate.
  • Monitor and limit app usage to avoid huge data charges: Apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Facebook all see upticks through extensive usage. Control your data in the app’s setting. You can set how much data the app can use, and you can prevent photos from loading in your feed until you’re on Wi-Fi.
  • Charge your phone faster on Airplane Mode: Although you’re not going to be on a plane, this hack can come in handy. If you’re low on battery life and in a crunch for time, put your smartphone on Airplane Mode to cut down the time needed to charge your phone.
  • Use your phone as a GPS tracker (for friends or children traveling with you): Google Maps lets you share locations in real-time, so you can see where your travel companions or kids are. This is an awesome safety tip for parents of slightly older kids who might want to do their own exploring.
  • Be more mindful: Put down your phone and unplug every once in a while. Take a mini digital detox during the drive and get some much-needed rest or enjoy the scenery. Your phone will thank you too.

8 Things To Do in Amsterdam

You can’t go to Amsterdam and miss these things

Van Gogh Museum is houses the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings. It is a museum in Amsterdam. It is the second most popular attraction in the city. So you shouldn’t miss the chance to travel the amazing works in this collection.

Rijksmuseum is located at the Muesumplein in Amsterdam. It is the national museum of Netherlands. Garden areas on each side of the Rijksmuseum and on sunny days are pleasant places to take a break and watch the world.

Anne Frank Huis is the most popular visiting attraction in Amsterdam. You can experience about Anne Frank’s Death Form typhoid shortly before her concentration camp was liberated near the end of World War II. As well as you will enjoy here natural sight around Anne frank Huis.

The Stedelijk Museum is located at museum Square. It is museum for modern art in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It have large collection of Dutch painters as well as it is important temporary exhibitions of modern art, design and photography.

NEMO is one the best attractions in Amsterdam. It is the largest science center in the Netherlands. It is architect by Renzo piano. It is located right next to the Amsterdam central station and the Maritime museum.

The Westerkerk is right next to Amsterdam’s Jordaan district at the bank of the Prinsengracht canal. It is as a Protiestant church in Amsterdam designed by Hendrick de Keyser. Near the Westerkerk is the Homomonument, a memorial for men and women persecuted for their homosexuality. You will charmful to see the canal here. Don’t miss it.

The Magere Brug is one the main attraction in Amsterdam. It is bridge over the river Amstel in the city centre of Amsterdam. The Megere Brug is a bascule bridge made of white-painted wood. It was built in 1934.

The Sint Nicolaaskerk is officially was called St. NicholasFind Article, the oldest part of the Amsterdam defence works. It is a Roman Catholic church in the centre of Amsterdam. So you spend your some time to enjoy it.

The Best Brothers on Film

The complexities of relationships between siblings is an endlessly fascinating topic for a film-maker to explore, and over the years cinema has given us countless portrayals of brother and sisters (whether completely fictional or based in fact) to mull over. Today we take a look back at some of the best brothers to grace the big screen… 

Rise of the Krays(2015) / Fall of the Krays (2016)

The early years of the most notorious criminals Britain has ever produced are portrayed in visceral brutality in this crime drama, which charts Ronnie and Reggie Kray’s reign of terror, that would endure and come to define London’s East End for years to come. From protection rackets to members clubs, from brutal street brawls and arson to blackmail extending to the Cabinet Office, the Krays rained red on anyone who crossed them. Simon Cotton and Kevin Leslie brilliantly bring the brothers toxic relationship to life, pulling no punches and portraying the complexities of their personalities and motives with aplomb. 

Out of the Furnace (2013)

Scott Cooper’s thriller stars Christian Bale as Russell Baze who must protect his brother Rodney (Casey Affleck) when he becomes embroiled in a murky underworld led by ruthless drug dealer, Harlan DeGroat – played by Woody Harrelson. Set in the borough of North Braddock, Baze works in the local steel mill with the mill’s furnace representing his attempts at living a life on the straight and narrow. However, in seeking justice, Baze is forced to embed himself into DeGroat’s murky underworld in such a way that revenge will hit them the hardest.

Lawless (2012)

Nick Cave penned this Depression-era crime drama, which recounts the lives of the three Bondurant brothers- Forrest (Tom Hardy), Jack (Shia LeBeouf) and Howard (Jason Clarke), who are forced to contend with the corrupt District Attorney Mason Wardell (Tim Tolin) and Special Deputy Charles Rakes (Guy Pearce), after refusing to pay the bribes required to maintain their bootlegging and distillery business. Chastain turns in a wonderful supporting performance as Maggie, a dancer from Chicago with a hidden past, who Forrest hires as a waitress for the distillery, and who he eventually falls in love with.

Thor (2011)

This Marvel superhero-based film was an instant hit in theatres, capturing audiences with its simplicity, non-stop action, and brilliant rapport between hero and villain- who happen to be brothers. The film follows Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who is set to inherit the throne from his aging father, king of the Norse gods, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Things are set to go as planned until Thor’s brutal and thoughtless actions against their enemies force his father to banish him to earth as punishment. Robbed of his powers, Thor falls in love with scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) – but all the while Thor’s brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) usurps the throne of Asgard for evil gain and begins to plot his revenge…

The Fighter (2010)

After a stint playing John Connor in Terminator Salvation (and the on-set outburst at a crew member which hit the headlines), Bale shed some more pounds yet again to play Dicky Eklund, older brother to boxing champion Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), in David O. Russell’s The Fighter. Stealing scenes with aplomb, this was the role in which Bale won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor- thanks in no small part to his excellent chemistry with his co-star.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

This remake of the 1960’s crime caper won over fans and critics alike, due in no small part to the outstanding chemistry between the cast, which included George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Bernie Mac and Elliot Gould. Focusing on the exploits of a group of rag tag con-men who plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously, this Soderbergh-directed crime comedy pays brilliant homage to old Hollywood, whilst keeping the humour distinctly modern. Providing constant comic relief are Casey Affleck and Scott Caan, who play Virgil and Turk Malloy; the brothers who happen to be brilliant at conning, but utterly hopeless at getting along for more than two minutes. 

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

This cult classic stars George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel and Ernest Liu, and follows the exploits of the sadistic Gecko brothers, Seth and Richard (Clooney and Tarantino respectively) and the family they’ve taken hostage (Keitel, Liu and Juliette Lewis). After a string of robberies the siblings head to Mexico and kidnap the Fuller family to cross the border. Arriving at a bar, they quickly realize they’ve inadvertently stumbled into a venue teeming with horrific, blood-sucking vampires. Engaged in a fight for their lives, the Fullers and Geckos are forced to band together to take on the supernatural beings.

The Godfather (1972)

Francis Ford Coppola’s unrivalled crime drama focuses on the fallout when ageing crime boss patriarch Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) decides to transfer his authority to one of his subordinates. The decision invariably leads to a series of unfortunate events which ultimately begin a war between the major crime families. Al Pacino and James Caan take the roles of Don’s sons, Michael and Sonny, who couldn’t be more different. Cool, reserved and level-headed Michael would rather put plans into motions behind the scenes, whereas Sonny prefers to settle all matters with his fists and street-wise nature. The polar differences between the brothers, and yet their bizarre dependency on each other, is played off brilliantly by Caan and Al Pacino, with fantastic support from a cast that includes Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and Richard S Castellano.

Top Games of 2020

 

I know, I know, the start of this new decade has barely begun and we’re already wishing away the months until the release dates of some incredibly sought-after titles finally arrive. Of course, with so many games on offer, which ones are truly worth your excitement as you count down the days? Well, we’ve done the research for you in the form of our certifiable top picks for 2020.

FF7 Remake (PS4)
Yes, it will have been well over two decades since Square’s seminal PlayStation RPG Final Fantasy VII was first released, but that hasn’t quelled the excitement over this remake. Unlike many re-releases, they’ve completely remade the game from the ground up, including the option to ditch the turn-based battle system for a real-time one similar to that found in Final Fantasy XV. Though various trailers have drip-fed information over the past years, we’ll still need to sit down with the real thing to see if they’re managed to recapture the magic of Cloud and co’s story. (April 2020)

Half-Life: Alyx (PC)
Valve don’t do things by half measures, and despite being hounded by gamers to release a sequel to Half Life 2, there was nothing but silence from the creators of Steam for what seems like an eternity. And then, completely out of the blue, they announced a new addition to the Freeman story – in the form of a new Virtual Reality (VR) game called Half-Life: Alyx. VR games are still in their infancy, and despite a few decent attempts, no one has really pulled of great use of VR, great graphics, great gameplay and great story all in one game. This may be Valve’s time to shine (again)! (March 2020)

Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4/Xbox One/PC)
When CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt became the break-out mega smash of 2015, fans were eagerly salivating over the next release from the Polish studio. And while it isn’t a fantasy adventure, the first person sci-fi game has been the talk of the town with its incredible graphics, expansive open world, and even the addition of Keanu Reeves as a main character. (April 2020)

Last of Us Part II (PS4)
It’s been quite some time since we last journeyed through a post-apocalyptic USA with Joel and Ellie, but the anticipation for this follow up hasn’t died down at all – unlike the monstrous fungal Infected you encounter! But it’s not just the same old story, there’s new mechanics and enemies, as well as finally some clarity on the original game’s ending. (May 2020)

Marvel’s Avengers (PS4/Xbox One/PC)
Ok ok, it may not have the original likeness and voices from the Marvel cinematic universe cast you’ve all grown to love and adore over the years, but don’t let that stop you enjoying getting to throw Mjolnir, zoom around in an Iron Man suit, or wield Captain America’s trademark shield. (September 2020)

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (PS4/Xbox One/PC)
The cult White Wolf RPG series returns over 15 years later with a sequel that aficionados had long since given up on. One of the geniuses behind the 2004 RPG, Brian Mitsoda, is back and we’re extremely excited to see what tricks he’s got up his sleeves. The original game had an incredibly witty and funny script, with inspired mechanics, but was a bit lacking in the battle/fighting system, so hopefully they’ll remedy that this time around. (Q2/3 2020)

Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
The maestros at PlatinumGames seem to be able to do no wrong recently, with hits like Nier:Automata and Astral Chain under their belt, so their latest entry in the Bayonetta series is definitely going to be one to beat in the slash ’em up genre. With more campy action fun than you can shake a high heeled shoe at, Bayonetta’s return is going to be something special. (TBC 2020)

Hollow Knight: Silksong (PC/Switch)
What was originally conceived as a DLC/add-on to the original Metroidvania gem Hollow Knight has now become a fully-fledged sequel in its own right. With its unique art style returning, the follow up takes Hornet on an expansive adventure with a story you’ll no doubt be hooked on from the start. (TBC 2020)

Ooblets (PC/Xbox One)
This charming indie game collects up all your favourites and chucks them in a digital blender that you won’t be able to put down. Ooblets takes Harvest Moon (yay!), Pokemon (woo!) and Animal Crossing (OMG!) with a sweet adventure that lets you farm, collect adorable creatures and mosey about socialising with your fellow villagers. And it’s all been created by just two people, yes, just two! (TBC 2020)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (Switch)
The sequel to undoubtedly one of the greatest ever launch titles for a console, Breath of the Wild 2 has some big shoes to fill, but we’re hopeful it’ll astound us just like the prior game did back in 2017. While information is sparse, it seems the game will re-use the original world, but with addition of lots of new areas, story and mechanics. The trailers suggest a darker tone than the original, with some definite nods to the 2006 Wii Classic of Twilight Princess – an underrated classic in our opinion (TBC late 2020)

five ways to reduce solo holiday costs

Reduce the cost of your solo trip with these five tips.

Keep an eye on the exchange rates. When you buy your travel money can make all the difference in the current tumultuous market. Being clued up on important political dates and when a currency is performing particularly well can mean the difference in hundreds of pounds worth of extra currency.

Choose your currency provider wisely. Prepaid currency cards are simpler and usually better value for money. However, be careful that the one you choose doesn’t come with any unfair additional fees, such as ATM fees, transfer fees or transaction fees.

Don’t be fussy with dates and times, if you can help it. The beauty of travelling alone is that there is no need to work to anyone else’s schedule. If you are fine with travelling on a cheaper day or at unsociable hours, make sure you take advantage of the savings on offer here.

Use comparison sites for everything. Many people use comparison sites for hotels and flights. However, you can find sites that compare the best deals for transfers, excursions and travel insurance, saving you money at every point.

Prioritise what’s important to you. Without the need to appease a travelling companion, you are free to choose what you spend your money on. Whether you prefer staying in luxury or eating the best food, allocate your spending according to your preferences.

Favourite Games of 2019


It’s that wonderful time of the year again when you finally can put your controller, mouse or joystick down, breathe a sigh of relief, and marvel at the past twelve glorious months of gaming. With an ever increasing catalogue of games on physical and digital shelves, we’ve waded through them all to give you the lowdown on our highlights (and what you might have missed) for 2019.

Death Stranding
Be blown away by one of the best A-list casts in gaming you’ve ever seen and get lost in the baffling near-future world from Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima. If you boil it down to its basics, it may well be a delivery quest game, but the stunning visuals, sublime soundtrack and decent mechanics all make it a worthwhile trek.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
While it may be getting praise for being the first single player Star Wars game in what feels like an eternity, this latest Lucasfilm entry is pretty impressive as a standalone game itself. It takes Dark-Souls/Sekiro-esque combat and campfire save spots coupled with Uncharted climbing and jumps and stirs in extra Star Wars to brilliant effect.

The Other Worlds
Finally, the dream team behind classic RPGs Fallout 1 and 2, Leonard Boyarsky and Tim Cain return to create a stunning sci-fi adventure game, which also draws from the Western-influenced Fallout: New Vegas. A compelling story, with great characters and with lots of choices and consequences is just the icing on the cake.

Disco Elysium
Playing a drunk, washed-up and rather bonkers detective in a murder mystery which philosophises about everything from gender to communism may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it sure as hell one us over. An incredibly written script, with so much freedom to role play and take different routes, may have topped this game to being our favourite of 2019.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
From Software (of Dark Souls and Bloodbourne fame) returns with a superb adventure game retaining the tactical complexity of its previous games, but adding a swift, more playful movement style with greater scope for exploration. Its difficulty may be a shock to the system at first, but learn the tactics and moves and you’ll be cutting through 16th century Japan’s soldiers and monsters in no time.

Untitled Goose Game
JUST BUY THIS GAME! Ok, that’s not a great description, but any words won’t be able to do justice to the great white-winged social menace that is the goose and star of this game. The simple premise is you play a happy-go-lucky goose who has to make the lives of a small English village a nightmare whether its stealing from markets, making kids cry or breaking everything in sight. The breakout indie hit of 2019.

Fire Emblem Three Houses
The long-awaited Fire Emblem series finally arrives on the Nintendo Switch, and boy, it does not disappoint. It’s new emphasis on exploring the school is a welcome addition, and the relationship building is better than ever, with you finding yourself really caring for your scrappy bunch of students as they progress from novices to experts. The tactical battles are compelling and challenging, while the ability to play essentially three different houses dramatically adds to the replayability.

Astral Chain
The studio who brought us the incredible NieR:Automata continues to impress with the sci-fi battle/adventure experience that is Astral Chain. The vivid character and environment art and pumping soundtrack perfectly complements the mind blowing action, which is no surprise considering the creators’ past work on NieR and Bayonetta.

Devil May Cry 5
After the controversial Devil May Cry (DmC) reboot, many had reservations about the future of Capcom’s slash em’ up, but never fear, all our worries were vanquished with the release of Devil May Cry 5. Taking place in a post apocalyptic London-esque setting, the ability to play as three different characters, each with markedly different styles, mixes up the fun and makes for rather enjoyable journey to hell and back.