Champagne, food and rolling countryside with Lexus Experiences December 16, 2012 IT TURNS out that weekend breaks don’t have to involve a 6am flight from Stansted to an airport that’s fifty miles from your destination. Nah, eschew the crowded plane for a roomy executive car and 36 hours out of London can involve a decadent journey across two countries that takes in good food, even better [...]
The Hobbit: A journey worth taking? December 13, 2012 FILM THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Cert 12A *** Afew months ago I went to a reading of The Hobbit by Andy Serkis, the actor most famous for providing the voice of Gollum in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He was reading the part where Bilbo Baggins first encounters the mysterious Gollum, [...]
An affectionate glimpse into the world of Neil Young December 13, 2012 FILM NEIL YOUNG: JOURNEYS Cert PG *** As a portrait of an artist at work, Neil Young: Journeys is as intimate as it gets. Director Jonathan Demme has created a concert movie interspersed with footage of the rocker guiding him around rural Ontario where he grew up. Journeys delves into Young’s formative years: we see [...]
Smashed isn’t your standard addiction flick December 13, 2012 FILM SMASHED Cert 12A **** Kate AND Charlie are a couple who drink together. A lot. And, for the most part, they have a pretty good time doing it, barring the sledge-hammer hangovers and wet mattresses. Except, in Kate’s words, things start to go from embarrassing to scary, not least when she goes to her [...]
This year buy tech gifts that will last December 12, 2012 Attacknid combat robot £49.99 This beast is sure to get more attention on Christmas morning than any other gift. With eight moving legs and an independently operated, foam disc-firing turret, it is as close to Robot Wars as most people are ever going to get. Realistically, it will probably end up in a cupboard by [...]
Channel your inner James Bond with help from Apsley December 12, 2012 For CHRISTMAS this year, I want to look like James Bond. And I don’t mean Timothy Dalton or Pierce Brosnan – I want to look like Daniel Craig. Can Santa make that happen? The answer is: yes, kind of. You can, at least, dress like him. The most memorable sartorial choice in the latest 007 [...]
Menus get the Christmas treatment December 11, 2012 WITH DECEMBER well and truly under way, it’s officially that time of year where your favourite eateries trade in their usual menus for something more festive. This season bars, restaurants and pubs are pulling out all the stops as far as their dishes are concerned so whether you’re after something traditional or want a modern, [...]
Forget the Great British Bake Off, we put a selection of mince pies to the test December 11, 2012 WE MAY have just under two weeks to go before Christmas but mince pie season is already well and truly upon us. As far as quality goes, they can be pretty hit and miss. Done well, the pastry is crumbly and the filling substantial and sweet but done badly, it’s enough to throw you off [...]
Eco and a worthwhile investment December 11, 2012 The LAST time I whizzed about in an EV here was in the scooter-like Renault Twizy, which, though great fun, only seats two. This Mia Electric car – a plug-in, zero emission car with a 80 mile range – from a new French manufacturer of the same name, has three seats or, in the longer [...]
Car talk December 11, 2012 Honda recognises the need for speed with its latest CR-Z Hybrid Honda’s latest CR-Z Hybrid will cost from £20,550 OTR when it goes on sale in January. Improvements to the car’s hybrid powertrain sees power go up to 135bhp. The 0-62mph sprint time is reduced from 10 seconds to 9.1 seconds and the top speed [...]