You really need to have seen Ginger Snaps to know what’s going on in this film. The earlier tale is referenced regularly throughout but without enough explanation.

That said, Unleashed still functions well as a different take on the werewolf genre. Brigitte is hiding out in a small town, reading up on blood infections and injecting Monkshood to keep her lupine infection at bay. After overdosing she ends up in a rehab centre populated, and run, by a collection of freaks.

Brigitte has problems. Without, and eventually despite, the Monkshood she is beginning to turn. And she’s being tracked by an amorous male werewolf. Eventually, with the help of the scary little girl known as Ghost, she escapes. But that isn’t to be the end of her problems.

In the midst of selfish addicts and a porter who can supply anything for sexual favours, the increasingly lupine Brigitte remains the most human character. It’s impossible to avoid the conclusion that even if she can sescape the madhouse and her would be mate she’s still damned.

The prosthetic effects are very good, making the animatronic werewolf a disappointment when it turns up. There could have been a better explanation of what had gone before and the jump cuts to mauled bodies- real and imaginary- were overplayed.

Overall it’s nicely gruesome, but you should watch Ginger Snaps first to fully appreciate this.

Technorati tag: Film, Ginger Snaps

Not strictly modelling, but an interesting commentary. The Beyond Branding blog assesses the state of toy cars and laments the recent products of Matchbox.

When Matchbox became part of Mattel a few years ago, it had already been suffering. Through most of the 1990s, cheap Red Chinese production saw to ill-defined dies and cars that were barely recognizable. The features that were used to make it a leader—opening doors, suspension and detailing—were being deleted, model after model. But for most of this decade, Matchbox alienated kids further by designing cars that didn’t exist in real life—great for a few designers inside Mattel, those who were nostalgic for the fictional Superfast cars that the brand used to have in the 1970s, and the accounts’ department, which didn’t have to fork out a licensing fee.

Technorati tag: Toy Cars, Matchbox

Very silly short episode voodoo detective spoof series.

Technorati tag: Video, Comedy

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a city destroyed in a massive battle 5500 years ago.

The Mesopotamian settlement lies in Hamoukar, on the northernmost tip of Syria, 8 kilometres from the Iraqi border. In 3500 BC the 13-hectare development was subjected to a devastating attack, its edifices crumbling beneath a crushing hail of bullet-shaped projectiles.

The evidence of the destruction was uncovered in October and November 2005 by an expedition coordinated by the University of Chicago, US, and the Syrian Department of Antiquities.

During earlier excavations, archaeologists found buildings that had been destroyed or severely damaged by fire. The latest expedition revealed 1200 oval clay “bullets” measuring 2.5 centimetres in diameter and 4 centimetres in length. It also unearthed 120 heavier projectiles measuring 5 centimetres by 10 centimetres.

Technorati tag: Archaeology, Syria

If I lived on a busy through road I’d definitely want one of these outside my house. A metal ramp is moved by vehicles passing over it and generates electricity. Tests have shown that they can generate between 5 and 50kW depending on the weight of the vehicle passing over them.

We discussed this and, strictly, it’s reducing the efficiency of the cars by stealing kinetic energy generated by their engines. However the generation of that energy is producing pollution in the neighbourhood, so the drivers should pay a little back. The best locations would obviously be roads that are already due to have speed bumps installed, making the traffic calming pay for itself.

Technorati tag: Traffic, Speed bump

For home owning Spinneyhead readers- make a bit of money and get to see your house on screen.

North West Locations is the Premier online Film, TV, Commercials and Stills image library in the North of England. Our aim is to find the right location for your shoot and offer a tailor made service to ensure a smooth running process at each and every stage of production. The Library is designed to be user friendly and easy to search by location A – Z, region, town or city, location ID or by using our key word search for specific features you may require. Over the forthcoming months we are visiting potential locations across the region and working to ensure that the library has a diverse range of unique and interesting locations just waiting to be filmed.

North West Locations are actively seeking new locations for the library and would highly recommend those with a business or residential property interested in hiring it out to either contact us for more information or register your property now. We are interested in hearing from industrial, commercial or residential property agents, councils, hospital trusts, universities, churches, schools, historic houses and estates managers with locations to be included in the library.

Technorati tag: Film, Television

Computer game publisher Acclaim went bust last year. In an effort to claw back some money, the receivers are auctioning rights to the company’s games. There’s no explanation of just what you get with the rights to any of the licenced games.

via Guardian Gamesblog

Technorati tag: Games, Acclaim

A couple of Parkour, or Free Running, videos. I think there was a Free Running club at one of Manchester’s universities for a while. I remember seeing some guys practicing on the (former) bowling green in front of UMIST students union a while back.

Google video clip (8 mins+) Goes a little insane just before the guy starts his run.

via The Cedar Room

French Parkour documentary with English subtitles.

via Visible Pieces of my Soul

Parkour.com