Film: The Toxic Avenger

Yesterday completed a weekend of activities with The Hideout, as I was back with them for The Toxic Avenger, at the Prince Charles again - well, the organiser plumped for a free ticket for me, so.. and I loved the casual timing this weekend, with plenty of time before events started. What a luxury!

Just made the bus in perfect time - and it absolutely flew in! Pity it can't be so fast all the time.. anyway, the organiser was already there when I arrived, a bit early, at Victory House, where we were meeting, and although they didn't have Sauvignon Blanc, they are getting better at serving wine - she didn't even ask me about ice after the first glass. A lot of newcomers, this time.. and we had a lovely chat before heading to the cinema, where it was in the upstairs screen.

Have to admit, I wasn't expecting much from this - also have to admit, I was completely proved wrong. It stars Peter Dinklage as the avenger himself, Kevin Bacon as the Villain, the CEO of a polluting mega-corporation, and a barely recognisable Elijah Wood as his Creepy Brother and sidekick. And.. it's clever. Throwing itself enthusiastically into the story, it finds time for so many topical gags that you can easily miss them. There was a teensy bit much gratuitous gore for my taste - but any film that can squeeze in a snatch of Mozart's Requiem is headed in the right direction. I scored it 7/10 - nearly made 7.5, but the gore scuppered its chances. Still, I was delighted to be proved wrong.

Back to Victory House then for an extra while, which was nice - it wasn't that late - and I got to plug that scary play again.. and afterwards, of course, I schlepped around the corner to Bella Italia, where I took a seat at the back, and was very well-fed. Completely crashed when I got home though, so blogging was not an option.

Tonight, I'm headed to Every Brilliant Thing, a play about depression at Soho Place. Four different actors are taking the part in succession - I'm getting Jonny Donahoe. Eating at The Royal George, Soho beforehand.

Tomorrow, thinking film again - and top of the list, again, is the Palestinian documentary, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk - the photojournalist interviewed in the film was apparently killed the day after the film was released. This is the one I didn't get to last Monday. Tomorrow, it's in the Curzon Bloomsbury - not selling out yet, mind.

And on Wednesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Good Night, Oscar, at the Barbican. Stars Sean Hayes. Eating beforehand in Cote Barbican.

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