Articles written by marandina

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About me - marandina

I'm a 40-something English man with a passion for writing. I love movies, watching sport and have a house full of pets. Aye Carumba!

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Arts & Humanities > 20th & 21st Century US History The facts about the Empire State Building: 1 of 6
*Introduction* It's always been there sitting in the corner of my subconscious. You know, the dream of going to America to see those iconic sights you'd seen a million times on TV. Well, OK, not America, but New York to be more specific. Having made up my mind to finally go, one of the first things I did was to book tickets ... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres What makes a scary movie scary: 21 of 57
Horror is a funny genre isn't it? Well, for the most part, it isn'tusually but then that's the rub: why do we like horror movies at all? I mean, there's usually an element of gore; there's often a dose of terror and the whole exercise is designed to frighten the bejesus out of us. But why? Well, it appears that we react in th... More..
Entertainment > TV Show Reviews TV show reviews: Ugly Betty: 2 of 5
These days, it's difficult to get to my TV, what with my teenage daughter dominating the viewing schedules. She's at an age where she has a string of television series on the go ("Lost", "The Lost Room", "The OC" etc.) and wobetide anyone that comes between her and her programmes. One of the beneficial side effects of her sma... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Mr Bean's Holiday: 3 of 7
I'm not sure that I've ever liked Mr. Bean. I like Richard Curtis and I like Rowan Atkinson and I loved their collaboration that gave birth to the Blackadder franchise. Mr. Bean though.....hmmmmm.....maybe the episodes featuring the teddy bear? Then again, I'll always love that sketch set on an airplane when Bean is trying to... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Literature Book reviews: The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova: 2 of 4
Bram Stoker's "Dracula" captured the Victorian Public's imagination on its publication in 1897. A gothic composition of love, death and destruction, Stoker weaved worlds of erotica and obsession together in a powder keg of controversial ritual and vampire lore. To attempt to build on such a seminal piece of literature would s... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Hellraiser: 1 of 2
The horror/fantasy genre has been a notoriously difficult one in which to be genuinely original in for some time so it's an event when something comes along that stands out as unusual. Most work is derivative for the most part, often exploitational to find an audience without the backing of a decent story. "Hellraiser" is a s... More..
Arts & Humanities > Horror, Mystery & Suspense Horror book reviews: Lisey's Story, by Stephen King: 1 of 2
"I have seen the future of horror and its name is Clive Barker" or it was something like that that the disingenuous Stephen King once complimented his fellow horror/fantasy writer. As I've traversed the years with my reading in the horror genre, one of the constants spanning those decades has been the phenomenon that is Steph... More..
Arts & Humanities > British Literature Book reviews: Thunder God, by Paul Watkins: 1 of 1
Ever since seeing Tony Curtis fighting with Kirk Douglas at the top of a tower turret, I've been enamoured with the idea of Vikings. That romantic backdrop to a violent, raiding culture makes for a great story and with historical novels all the rage at the moment, what with Conn Iggulden's Emperor series bringing Julius Caesa... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: Hellbound, Hellraiser 2: 1 of 1
Finding decent sequels can be a tricky business. Finding good horror sequels is even trickier so when they do come along it's something of an event. Having made its mark in 1987, Toney Randel took over the director's chair from Clive Barker for the second outing in the Hellraiser series - "Hellbound: Hellraiser II", released ... More..
Food & Drink > Liquors & Spirits Product reviews: Glenfiddich Special Reserve: 1 of 1
Whisky drinkers conjure up all kinds of images. From retired, bumbling drunken characters from the Paul Whitehouse school of comedy genius to Injuns drinkin' the ole fire water whilst the cowboys steal their guns. I'd like to think that I don't fit into either category but then you never know how metaphorically people may vie... More..