Tag: reviews

Review: How To Train Your Dragon 9 June 2025

~ anfieldgirl ~ Leave a comment

Another live action remake hot on the heels of Lilo & Stitch. I really wasn’t sure how this one was going to turn out. I was right to be apprehensive. It’s a good remake – the live action part is well done, the CGI of the dragons is amazing but something about the whole thing is just a little bit too dark. I mean this visually as well as metaphorically. I missed a lot of the dialogue in the opening scenes, it was all very loud and dark. I hadn’t read much about this remake and I don’t know how many of the other films are planned for this reimagining. I hope they inject a little more lightness into any future films.

Hiccup was as I remembered him and of course Toothless is a wonderful recreation, almost indistinguishable from the original, about which I am glad. I love Toothless and I would have hated for them to have lost anything about his character in this version, but it was all there. The flying scenes where they finally bond and just click together were lovely.

I feel like this was a little bit too grown up compared to the original, it felt like it had lost a little of the innocence and lightness but nevertheless I enjoyed it. The dragons were brilliant and the story was well told. It has made me want to go back and watch the animated versions again so I’m ready for any sequels.

7/10

Review: Lilo & Stitch 21 May 2025

~ anfieldgirl ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been trying to write this review for a couple of weeks. I keep coming back to it and deleting what I’ve written. I find it hard to explain how much a movie about a little blue alien means to me. I’ve always loved Stitch. From the very first time I saw the movie all those years ago, to the present day when I’ve seen the latest reincarnation twice now and can’t rule out going to see it again. This latest version is a mostly faithful retelling of the original story and a live action version was always going to have a couple of compromises. It was close enough not to have me wringing my hands at the screen. The ocean scenes are amazing and the CGI all the way through is beautiful.

I have more Stitch merchandise than any other franchised memorabilia I own. I have sweatshirts, bags, jewellery, dolls, Lego. Something about that little blue guy who tries so hard to be good, to find his place, to be loved just touches my heart. Yes, he makes me laugh. Yes, I love the songs from the movies and of course I love Elvis. I love Lilo and her own journey to find love and peace. But above all I love Stitch’s joy at being alive. When I carry my rucksack or wear my jewellery, when I carry my Stitch plushie with me to the cinema or when I look at the various incarnations of him around my house I remember that joy. This new film has all the joy I feel when I see Stitch – that laugh, that face.

All the joy is there.

10/10

Review: Blue Rose Code 10 May 2025

~ anfieldgirl ~ Leave a comment

Thornton Hough Village Club and Bar

Sometimes you miss going to a gig because life gets in the way, or you miss the announcement or you have other plans. Then you have to live with the hint of regret when you hear people talking about that gig that you missed. Happily because Neil Johnson seems to have a perfect handle on the kind of music I love and he nudged me in the right direction this week, I had the immense pleasure of being at the Blue Rose Code gig at Thornton Hough Village Club & Bar last night. I feel like it might be one of those gigs I talk about a lot – “….. remember that night…..”.

Normally my reviews are full of details and songs and band members and history. I have none of that for this gig. I went into the gig knowing almost nothing about the band/duo – I knew I’d heard the name but that was as far as it went. I was not prepared (even after a few listens on Spotify) for the sheer beauty and passion in the music. Ross and Ben took the small but perfectly formed audience on such an emotional journey last night. In places I was just mesmerised both by the intensity of feelings and also the amazing guitar skills of both musicians.

I had a chance to chat with Ross in the interval, what a lovely man – so appreciative of the audience (we’re pretty cool at THVC to be fair, we even sing along when we’re asked to 😆) and so approachable.

So now I go out on my Blue Rose Code journey, in an effort to catch up and fill my soul with these beautiful lyrics and glorious songs.

I’m off to find my “murmuration of starlings” ❤️

Review: Ian McNabb, 5th April 2025

~ anfieldgirl ~ 2 Comments

Thornton Hough Village Club and Bar

Another spectacular gig at Thornton Hough Village Club & Bar last night. It’s been a while since we were treated to an evening in the company of Mr Ian McNabb at THVC – which is the finest venue in the whole of the North West if you want to really experience live music in its purest form. 

Ian played two sets as he usually does here and the crowd were up for singing and joining in right from the off. With a beautiful collection of guitars and a back catalogue going back <mumbles> years you always know you are going to hear something you love, maybe with a slight twist, or a new story to introduce it. Liverpool Girl got an upgrade of mass sound effects from the audience (by Ian’s instruction) – I was in the fog horn section 😂. 

It’s hard to pick a favourite song from Ian. There are songs that devastate my heart – Evangeline and Before All Of This – both of which were in the setlist last night, but mercifully not one after the other – thanks Ian 🥰 Sorry for sobbing. But there are also songs that make me smile (aforementioned Liverpool Girl) and songs that evoke such strong images (Film Noir Star).

I don’t think I’ve heard Camaraderie for such a long time and it’s one of my favourites. All the other classic songs were in the setlist (which I shamelessly stole at the end of the night 😇). 

As always Hollow Horse touches me like few other songs do – it’s a call to arms, a rallying cry, something that makes me think of the many gigs I’ve been to, stood with my arms around one of my Icicle Works compadres belting out that song like it’s our last day on earth. 

In all a wonderful evening surrounded by good friends in the company of one of the finest musicians I’ve ever had the privilege to call my friend.

I’ve added links to all the songs I’ve mentioned but please consider going to Ian’s website and purchasing something direct from the artist. https://www.ianmcnabb.com. Ian’s latest album, If It Wasn’t For The Music has just been released this week.