School’s Out February 10, 2013 WHETHER YOU crave sea air and sunshine, meadows and mountains or lush forests, now’s the perfect time to plan a spring break to blow away the winter cobwebs. Jump in the car and make tracks to a beautiful UK bolthole, lace up your walking boots and tackle some of Italy’s most scenic hill climbs, strap [...]
All hail the simple Ayurvedic massage February 8, 2013 My first experience of Ayurveda – a Hindu system of traditional medicine native to India – was just before Christmas, and one I’ll never forget. I was locked in a dark room in a spa (read: a shed) on a dodgy Keralan backstreet, while a mute youth covered my entire body, face and hair in [...]
Sher shines in The Captain of Köpenick February 7, 2013 THEATRE CAPTAIN OF KÖPENICK National Theatre *** Were it not based on real life events, The Captain of Köpenick would be criticised for implausibility. Written in 1931 but set just before the first world war, German writer Carl Zuckmayer’s play tells the story of a real historical figure by the name of Wilhelm Voigt (1849-1922), [...]
Wreck-It Ralph is nostalgic fun for lovers of video-games February 7, 2013 FILM WRECK IT RALPH Cert: PG *** Wreck-It Ralph was a project in good hands: executive produced by John Lasseter (Toy Story) and directed by Emmy-award winner Rich Moore (The Simpsons). True to Disney form, its a journey towards the realisation that “there’s no one I’d rather be than me”, this time set inside the [...]
Warm Bodies: a terrific teen romp February 7, 2013 FILM WARM BODIES Cert 12A **** The latest from writer-director Joseph Levine (50/50, The Wackness) is a typically off-beat teen movie set in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. A marauding, dull-eyed army of the undead has invaded the world, and an ever-dwindling population of human beings have barricaded themselves in a nameless city. Heavily [...]
Valentine’s Day drinking for the City singleton February 7, 2013 No better half? No need! If you aren’t coupled up for Valentine’s Day 2013, head to one of the following clubs to celebrate courtly love’s patron saint. The Old Vic Tunnels in Leake Street is holding an avian-themed shindig named the Love Nest Valentine’s Ball. From 14-16 February the venue will be transformed into the [...]
Hitchcock biopic looks good but enlightens little February 7, 2013 FILM HITCHCOCK Cert 12A ** Anthony Hopkins, by his own admission, doesn’t go in for all this fancy method acting. He turns up and he reads the script. The problem is, sometimes it really shows – beyond the rippling fat-suit and layers of impressive cosmetics, the only similarity between him and Alfred Hitchcock is their [...]
I Give it a Year is a tired stab at a Brit rom-com February 7, 2013 FILM I GIVE IT A YEAR Cert: 15 * What could be worse than sitting through the wedding of two selfish and incompatible people that you don’t know or like? I can tell you: sitting through the aftermath – having to watch as the marriage dies a slow death at the hands of petty, bin-related [...]
Hit the right note this Valentine’s weekend February 6, 2013 THE concept of Valentine’s Day as a time for lovers to express their romantic desires has, contrary to the cries of the cynics, been around since at least the Middle Ages. The tradition of sending flowers and hand-written letters has been around ever since, albeit with the intervention of the ubiquitous greetings card. These days [...]
House prices edge down in January February 6, 2013 UK house prices inched down 0.2 per cent in January following rises in November and December, according to the latest Halifax house price index. On an annual basis, house values rose by 1.3 per cent, marking the first rise in 27 months, according to the lender. “Market activity has also improved with sales in 2012 [...]