Film: Back to the Future, Exhibition: Frankenstein - Crafting the Eternal, & Film: Shelby Oaks

Yesterday, went with Movie Roadhouse London (MRL) to the 40th anniversary screening of Back to the Future in the Cineworld Imax - finally got a ticket booked, after some internet trouble. As usual, booked to eat in Bella Italia, met the group in Victory House.

Also as usual, TFL had problems.. with no buses scheduled, I had to take the Tube, and there wasn't even a bus to take me to the station - well, one did pass when I was nearly there. I had to take the Jubilee - which was packed - and the Northern - which was practically empty! Not all lines are created equal, I guess. I was so late for my booking, the restaurant had cancelled it - but they found me a table. I surprised my waiter by having the carbonara! As I told him, it's not the best I ever had, but the other place has closed, so..

And so to Victory House, where a good group gathered - and isn't it funny how, regardless of the film, the conversation always seems to wheel around to horror?! Anyway, when it was time, we moseyed on over to the cinema.

As we agreed when we came out at the other end, it's just so darn feelgood! The music (including The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & The News), the hopeful story, Michael J. Fox.. Christopher Lloyd plays the local mad scientist, who enlists him in his time-travel experiment. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, with Steven Spielberg as an executive producer, who mentored him, it has his trademark style all over it. It's all good fun, you're pretty sure nothing really bad is going to happen - and even if it does, it's not going to be harrowing to watch. The single most disturbing scene in it is a sexual assault scene, where we hardly see anything and it's over in seconds. And it's always good to watch, no matter how many times you've seen it - it was even the highest grossing film in the year of its release! Ah, we agreed - they just don't make 'em like that any more.

A few of us headed off for a drink afterwards, in the nearby All Bar One, sitting outside because it was so noisy inside, and it wasn't too cold. We found seats under an umbrella, choosing ones that hadn't been wet by the recent rain, and had a good chat, the others being new to the group and wanting to know more. Anyway, I crashed afterwards, and left the blog.

Today, I was back with The Hideout for a new horror, Shelby Oaks, in the same cinema, but not the IMAX. Now, someone recently reminded me of the Selfridge's exhibition around the new film, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein - tickets are free, but going fast! It's only running to next Sunday, and the best option I could find was early this afternoon.. when the group announced the time for the film, I actually had to change my exhibition time - no problem, as I say, tickets are free (with Eventbrite) and were still available - I booked for an hour earlier.

Again, it pretty much had to be Tube, because of the distance - again, no buses had come by the time I'd walked to the station. Do they take weekends off..? Jubilee Line all the way this time - and again, it was packed. A short walk got me to Selfridge's.. and of course, inside, there was no signage for the exhibition.. I wasn't the only one asking staff! The first staff member directed me to the Information Desk - they suggested I head for the Foodhall, then exit the Foodhall. I got to the Foodhall, which is signposted.. and had no idea what to do next, unsurprisingly. Asked a security guard, who was obviously used to the question - he told me to walk out onto the street and turn right - I'd come to it by the corner.

Sure enough.. entrance is from the outside, and for reference, it's on Orchard Street as you approach Edwards Mews. And no, I couldn't see any signage, even there - just people scanning tickets and letting people in what looks like a fire exit, albeit a fancy one, with a rope barrier. I apologised for being late for my slot, which was just fine, and mentioned about the difficulty in finding the place - he apologised, said they got that a lot..

Inside, a slightly ratty staircase leads up to the exhibition.. now, that is good. It's all about the design of the film, the look - mainly about costume, a bit about the ship and the special effects. They could do with some better signage inside the exhibit, mind - but you can't get too lost; there's a lot, but it's not enormous. It starts with a bit about Mary Shelley, including first editions of the book!

There's a very rare copy, inscribed to Byron:

And to round it off, a first edition of Paradise Lost, which apparently inspired it:

Shortly, you come upon a video interview with the director - some of which is reproduced on adjacent boards:

But as I say, this exhibition is mostly about the look and feel:

One black velvet cloak reminded me of my own - albeit mine is longer, without the embellishments or collar, and with a hood. Still, I loved the quantity of velvet in what can only be described as a sumptuous film wardrobe!

There's a lot of description of how they chose the colours to fit the scenes - so much design went into every outfit!

And then there's the jewellery:

Looking at that piece close up, it looks specially made. But they went to Tiffany for some unique pieces:

There's a model of the tower:

And I swear, so many exhibits made me feel as though I was back in the Dark Secrets exhibition!

For balance, here's the monster's outfit:

They have a quick guide to the cast:

For all that it reminded me of Dark Secrets, it didn't hold my attention a fraction as long - I spent three hours in that and it wasn't enough, but this exhibit only occupied me for half an hour or so. Still, the costumes are memorable, and I do recommend it - besides, it's free! Booking required though - as I exited, there was a queue outside because there were simply too many people inside! There is a gift shop opposite the stairs at the entry/exit - well, I guessed as much, they don't have a sign! (naturally), but do have some things on display that you can presumably buy in there.

Caught a bus to Leicester Square or thereabouts - traffic was dire, but I wasn't in a hurry. As usual, it was finishing early, but dropped me off first. Peckish, but without time to eat properly before meeting the group, I thought to head to the Christmas Market!

They opened the ice rink yesterday:

I grabbed a hot chocolate.. which was topped with cream and had mini marshmallows in the bottom. How handy though - it also came with a straw, so I could get under the cream, and a little wooden spoon for the marshmallows!

And then I took myself straight to Victory House, figuring I could get there before the organiser.. which I did! There were few enough of us there though - for all that had signed up, four of us kept each other company, the rest arriving just in time to come to the cinema with us. I guess it was quite early in the day..

I loved the film. As tends to happen whenever I take an extreme position on a film, I found myself at odds with most of the group afterwards - doesn't bother me, I know what I like. I have to be careful in what I say next, not wanting to give too much away.. Certainly, I can say that it starts with echoes of The Blair Witch Project; found footage of a group of young people who have gone missing in the woods, signs of witchcraft, strange shapes made with branches. They do drop the found footage after a bit. In fact, one criticism was that there's sort of a mishmash of lots of different bits in it.

Oh, but they do all the bits really well. There are long periods of silence, as the protagonist of the film (played by Camille Sullivan), sister of one of the missing people, goes exploring.. no need for scary music or unnecessary conversation, but we're not bored.. and by the way, she plays a blinder, a wonderfully sustained attitude of constant tension punctuated by some beautifully subtle escalation into terror. The demonic elements to the film are maybe not frequent enough for my liking, but they're very effective when they are shown. It's not going in my top 10, but it's rare that I see so much that I like in a horror film.

The group broke up afterwards - I needed to eat, hadn't booked because I wasn't sure when I'd be free, but went along to Bella Italia on spec (we were passing anyway) - and of course, they found me a table. I reverted to my usual menu choices. And meantime, a hoo-hah developed when the organiser, who always asks for scores for the films, posted a list of scores for it that patently didn't include mine! After some back and forth, the error was resolved - the wrong list had gone up. Hmph, all's well that ends well.. And thus ended three days in a row with these two groups..

Finally, tomorrow, eighth Meetup in a row, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Fatherland at Hampstead Theatre. Set in Mayo ("God help us", as the saying goes, due to its poor land..)

For Tuesday, thinking film again, and thinking of The Mastermind (which MRL saw on Wednesday), a 70s art crime heist drama starring Josh O' Connor, closest showing in Rich Mix. Funnily enough, after my terrible review of Flat Iron Denmark Street, the management offered me a free meal for two at a Flat Iron of my choice! Closest to the cinema is Flat Iron Spitalfields - so I'm headed there with my companion who so loves them, before the film. Given their miniscule steaks, management advised me to order several sides. Huh, at £4 a pop! So much for "reasonable prices". I actually think I'm going to order two steaks, that night.. they don't publish the weight on their menus, but I looked it up online and management confirmed it - their steaks weigh just over 7oz.. that's the smallest steak I've ever seen in a restaurant.. I'll easily manage two!

On Wednesday, I'm back with Over 40 Living the Life, for the first time in a few months, to see a musical called The Coven, about a famous English witchcraft trial! Showing in The Kiln - and it's nearly two years since I've been there!

On Thursday, thinking of getting to Urchin - only reasonable showing time that day seems to be in the Picturehouse Hackney.

Then I'm heading back to Ireland for the weekend, on my last trip this year, my weekends are looking so busy! On the 10th, a Meetup group called London Loves Jazz is advertising a concert by Kim Cypher in Pizza Express Soho. I liked the music I heard online, and bought a ticket - but baulked at joining the group, what with the joining fee, and the intensive questionnaire, including whether I was prepared to be "an active member".. so I'm just going alone. I didn't have a great experience with my last jazz group.

On the 11th, back with UITCS for Kindling in the Park Theatre. It's a comedy about a group of perimenopausal women who go on a camping trip to scatter their friend's ashes.

On the 12th, back with storytelling - Winter's Night Wonder Tales, with Alys Torrance, is back at The Palmerston. Tickets through Eventbrite.

On the 13th, I'm with yet another new Meetup walking group - Walks and Tours - for a Xmas Lights walk around Mayfair. Meeting in the Mercato Mayfair. And as it's a Thursday, I'll be lugging my laptop, ouch!

On the 14th, back with The Hideout for Keeper, directed by Osgood Perkins - details TBA, but it'll be somewhere around Leicester Square.

The 15th is another ex-colleagues meeting - or probably just another meeting with James! We haven't seen Ivan since June, and Martin since last Christmas.. Probably in The Phoenix again.

And on the 16th, back with Mandy and London Herstory Walks for Rebel Women of the South Bank.