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Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Not enough love for robots
Netflix recently dropped the fourth volume of acclaimed animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots,.created by David Fincher and Tim Miller. Since 2019, Fincher and Miller have crafted this sleek universe where opportunities for top-of-the-line animation and exciting, genre-bending stories are in abundance. However, after six years and four volumes, it seems that the series is running out of original ideas. Standouts While Volume 4 of Love, Death & Robots still delivers absolutely beautiful animation and keeps its diversity in terms of the different visual styles, it's the storytelling that suffers. The first three volumes were hugely successful because they always had a few standout episodes. The series has always been structured to offer a few episodes, usually 10 to 15 minutes, which have the strongest story concepts backed by the most stunning animation. These episodes offer a banger beginning, middle and end to each volume, which is sprinkled with shorter, usually comic experiments. The first volume – with its 18 episodes, the highest of any so far – offered the most gems. Episodes like Sonnie's Edge, Good Hunting, The Witness and Zima Blue blew away the audience. Sonnie's Edge was a revenge tale set in the underground 'beastie' fighting world while Good Hunting explored the bond between a shape-shifter and the son of a spirit hunter in a rapidly industrialising world. The Witness follows a woman fleeing through the city after she witnesses a murder while Zima Blue recounts the journey of the artist Zima and his true identity in a story that leaves your jaw on the floor. While the eight-episode second volume saw interesting ideas like genetic modification in Ice and themes of immortality and loneliness in Snow in the Desert, it was Jibaro in volume three which deserves a spot in the all-time great episodes of the series. Alberto Mielgo's masterpiece became a cultural phenomenon due to its hypnotic CGI work and brilliant characters and story, all told without words. You could see its influence as tons of fans recreated their own versions of the iconic 'dance of death' sequence with all the makeup, jewelry and costumes. The purpose of all this is to say that there are no episodes in the latest volume which achieved this level of emotional resonance. This volume consists mainly of filler episodes that are rehashed from filler ideas of previous seasons. Night of the Mini Dead (Vol. 3) became Close Encounters of the Mini Kind. The Other Large Thing serves as a prequel to Vol. 1's Three Robots. Micro experiments like Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners, while funny, are not strong enough to be complete episodes. They are test exercises at best and feel too short to have any substance. Even Can't Stop, a Red Hot Chilli Peppers concert with animated puppets, directed by Fincher himself, seems underwhelming. This is something that Neill Blomkamp's Oats Studios also did back in 2021. The District 9 director experimented with his own collection of strange, fascinating world building and concepts. Love, Death & Robots Vol. 4 faces similar issues as Oats Studios did: exciting concepts which are left half-baked almost as teasers to full-length films which never come about. In love with death and robots This is not to say that Vol. 4 offers nothing. It offers just enough to keep it going. There are some great ideas in episodes such as Spider Rose, The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur, How Zeke Got Religion and For He Can Creep. The first three of the aforementioned episodes come close to scratching the signature Love, Death & Robots itch. Spider Rose, set in the same universe as Swarm from Vol. 3, explores a grieving woman's pursuit of revenge with the help of a furry companion. The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur offers a race-slash-fight between genetically modified gladiators atop custom-bred dinosaurs on a space station above Jupiter. It follows the same tropes of dystopian sci-fi where the poor die for the entertainment of the elite until it backfires. Despite the rehashed narrative and a feeling that perhaps more could have been done with the story, the world-building and characters make this episode a worthy addition to the series. How Zeke Got Religion is absolute chaos, a loud, twisted feverish nightmare come to life. It works with a similar structure as Kill Team Kill (Vol. 3) where a team of US armed forces fight inhumane beasts they never expected. While that team was at least foul-mouthed and humorous, the new deployment of the forces forgo the humor. And considering the hellish monstrosity that awaits them mid-air, you can't blame them for not finding the situation funny. In the same vein, we find 400 Boys where a band of survivors fight giant baby monsters called 'Boys'. But beside the hilarious image of baby-faced giants causing destruction, it doesn't give you much to take home. Love, Death & Robots also offers a surprise this season with a live-action episode 'Golgotha' in which an aquatic alien race arrives on earth. It essentially warns us not to kill and torture aquatic life and maintain the balance of the ecosystem. But the episode itself isn't much of a standout. Despite having something important to say, it doesn't say so with impact and style. For He Can Creep had the potential to be an all-time great episode. Set in London in 1757, Satan is here to battle a poet's cat as he wishes to take the poet's soul. The soul is in the form of a new verse and taking it would allow Satan to rule over the earth. But his cat isn't a pushover and will fight at all costs to defend its master. An interesting twist on the deal-with-the-devil idea that has prevailed in myth, literature and film for so long, the episode still feels like it tries too hard to be fun. But there is a lot that could have been done with this 'selling the soul' trope, and the makers end up choosing a rather vanilla iteration and presentation of the idea. Regardless, while the latest volume does offer just enough dopamine to not be bored, it is not as engaging or innovative as the early volumes. On the animation front, it still delivers top-notch visuals and sound. The issue isn't with the production, but rather the quality of stories. It feels littered with vignettes and unfinished ideas, and often weak concepts to begin with. One does hope we get a Vol. 5 to rebound with some exceptional takes. If the makers have to follow old concepts and flesh them out, the worlds of Jibaro, Zima Blue and Good Hunting offer plenty of rich aspects and depth to go on for the next several seasons.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Treat dad to food and music festival in Poole
Dad's the way we like it! Why not treat the old man to a late treat for Father's Day – a big weekend out at Upton House Food & Music Festival? He'll love the laid-back mix of tasty treats and classic beats. For three days from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 June, the beautiful surroundings of Upton Country Park are home to a premium programme of top UK tribute acts and the very best local bands and artists, as well as a smorgasbord of amazing food and drink, much of it from local producers. It's the top-notch festival on your doorstep where the eats are as big as the beats! 'Taking the family to festivals like Glastonbury or even the Isle of Wight costs more than a lot of holidays, but Upton House Food & Music Festival has all the flavour of bigger events with none of the stress – it's all the fun of the fare – both gastronomic and musical!' says festival organiser Serena Wren. There can't be many food and music loving dads who wouldn't find the good stuff in Friday's line-up with tributes to Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian following local rocker Chris Payn and his new band. On Saturday, there are rockin' tributes to Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Kings of Leon and U2, with top local act Saints Of Sin, ballsy singer Jordan Watts, cover masters Wonky Donkey and the red hot All Funked Up. Sunday's lineup is topped by Police Academy's acclaimed tribute to The Police supported by banjo-wielding good time merchants Sixteen String Jack, Chris Payn and the Mother Ukers earlier in the day. 'Upton House Food & Music Festival is like having a party in your back garden,' adds Serena. 'People love the easy vibe, the chance to check out some amazing food and have a bit of drink with family and friends!' On the menu are big flavours from around the world including street food superstars Two Lads Kitchen with their famous Afghan street food, the super fresh flavoured chicken wings of Bournemouth-based Wings & Tings, and, for a sweeter tooth, check out Chock Shop's amazing artisan brownies. To drink there's a variety of local craft beers and ciders as well as the distinctive flavours of Shanty, Poole's very own seaside vodka distilled using five types of hand-foraged organic seaweed. And for a non-alcoholic refresh, how about the authentic Taiwanese tastes of Bubble World's bubble tea? First Release tickets start from just £18 for families, £7 for adults and only £3.50 for kids; with full three-day weekend tickets from £50 for families, £20 adults and £9 children. The site opens from 5pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday with pre-paid on-site parking available and well-behaved dogs on leads welcome. Full details and ticket booking at
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Three-day food and music festival coming to Dorset
A three-day food and music festival is set to return this summer. The Upton House Food & Music Festival promises a mix of "great tunes and top tastes" from Friday, June 20, to Sunday, June 22. The festival will take place at Upton Country Park, Poole, and will feature live music and food from around the world. READ: UB40 headline Poole Harbour Festival Handing over a fresh cocktail at the festival drinks stand. (Image: Upton Country Park) Festival organiser Serena Wren said: "Brilliant music, fantastic family company and great food, it's all the fun of the fare – both gastronomic and musical. Upton House Food & Music Festival has its own special atmosphere, laid back but never quiet, lively but not hectic. "The whole idea is to bring the flavour of much bigger events to what we see as Poole's communal back garden – so it feels like you're joining some mates for a nicely chilled party." The festival will feature tributes to Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Kings of Leon, U2 and The Police. There will also be performances from local bands and artists. Food on offer will range from fresh local seafood to Asian cuisine with a western twist. There will also be a variety of local craft beers and ciders. For more information, visit READ: Thousands flock to first sold out year for Teddy Rocks Soaking up the sunshine at Upton House Festival. (Image: Upton Country Park) First release tickets start from £18 for families, £7 for adults and £3.50 for children. Three-day weekend tickets are available from £50 for families, £20 for adults, and £9 for children. The site will open from 5pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday. Pre-paid on-site parking is available, and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Family fun to be had at Upton House Food & Music Festival
Families from near and far are gearing up for tasty weekend treat in June to get them in the mood for festival season just a few days before Glastonbury coverage explodes online and on air. The best food, drink and live music festival in the south, Upton House Food & Music Festival promises a more-ish mix of great tunes and top tastes in a three-day bonanza of live music and mouth-watering food that won't break the bank. From Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, 20-22 June, the gardens and grounds of the award-winning Upton Country Park will be alive with a bill of top UK tributes, the cream of our local bands and the finest fare from the region's food and drink producers. (Image: Upton House Food & Music Festival) 'What better way to spend a weekend than with brilliant music, fantastic family company and great food?' says festival organiser Serena Wren. 'Upton House Food & Music Festival was started to bring the flavour of much bigger events to the beautiful surroundings of Upton Country Park so that families can come and experience a fantastic summer festival atmosphere on their doorstep – it's the best of everything!' Friday's music bill features tributes to Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian with local rocker Chris Pyan opening. They're followed on Saturday by incredible tributes to Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Kings of Leon and U2, with ace rockers Saints Of Sin, powerhouse vocalist Jordan Watts, cover masters Wonky Donkey and red hot All Funked Up. (Image: Upton House Food & Music Festival) Sunday's line up is topped by Police Academy's acclaimed tribute to The Police with banjo-wielding good time merchants Sixteen String Jack, Chris Payn and the Mother Ukers earlier in the day. Taste buds will be tempted with flavours from around the world that range from fresh local seafood to The Bao Bao Beast's traditional Asian cuisine with a western twist and regular festival favourites from Bournemouth Ice Cream. To drink there's a variety of local craft beers and ciders and the distinctive flavours of Shanty, Poole's very own seaside vodka distilled using five types of hand-foraged organic seaweed. (Image: Upton House Food & Music Festival) Why not save some pennies and pick up 'Early Bird' tickets, which start from just £16 for families, £6 for adults and only £3 for kids; with full three-day weekend tickets from £45 for families, £18 adults and £8 children. The site opens from 5pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday with pre-paid on-site parking available and well-behaved dogs on leads welcome. Full details and to book your Early Bird tickets visit
Telegraph
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Elton John and Brandi Carlile's new album is a glorious return to his bombastic, melodious 1970s pomp
Before Elton John has even sung a note on his 37 th studio album, Who Believes in Angels?, his fans' spirits will be soaring. The slow building two-minute prelude to opening track, The Rose of Laura Nyro, is replete with warm analogue synth and organ sounds that explode into a flighty blast of lead guitar, elegantly spaced drums and thick harmonies, before pulling back for beautifully voiced piano chords. My first thought was, 'Hello Yellow Brick Road!', as I revelled in echoes of that classic 1973 double album's sensational opening Funeral for a Friend. The song gets better with each unfolding verse and chorus, a sprawling Elton epic with the tone of an emotional power ballad and the energetic drive of a bombastic mid-tempo rocker. Gloriously overloaded lyrics celebrating an unjustly forgotten queer singer-songwriter should probably come with footnotes. Who wants to hear Elton digging out melody and meaning from baroque refrains such as 'Like Virginian to the lighthouse / See the songbirds in their cages / The rose of Laura Nyro / Shed its petal on the pages'? This fan certainly does. And when you think it can't get any better, the song goes up another gear, with Elton's piano barrelling into a roaring gospel-tinged coda whilst he shares extemporised vocal interjections with his sensational duet partner Brandi Carlile. Although not well known in the UK, the 43-year-old Carlile is acclaimed as one of the finest American singer-songwriters of her generation, with a showstopping voice comparable to Emmylou Harris singing Roy Orbison. As a fellow outspoken gay artist, she has been a close friend of Elton's for decades, and the 78-year-old superstar seems to have approached this post-retirement collaborative project as a chance to push Carlile's talents out to the rest of the world. But the resulting album is very much Brandi paying homage to Elton, not vice versa. She is clearly a big fan (Carlile used to perform Elton songs in full costume at talent shows as a child), and the ambitious song structures, wonderfully convoluted lyrics and luxurious analogue arrangements all evoke Elton in his 1970's pomp. Producer Andrew Watt started out working with Justin Bieber but has become the go-to guy for putting modern sonic bite into vintage rockers, working with Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and the Rolling Stones. He has assembled a phenomenal band including two members of Red Hot Chilli Peppers (drummer Chad Smith and keyboardist / guitarist Josh Klinghoffer) with Pino Palladino on bass. Elton's wingman Bernie Taupin was in the studio to bring his distinctive poetic flavour to the John / Carlile / Watt songwriting partnership. Carlile's greatest contribution, I would respectfully suggest, was to put a rocket up the Rocket Man's posterior. Her voice in tight duet with Elton's restores that hot, high falsetto dimension to his still potent baritone. On the incredible title track, Carlile leads the way, yet it still sounds like an Elton song, partly due to the prominence of his flowery yet robust piano style, the tone of his underpinning voice, and the way his songs melodiously seduce you then suddenly blast off for the stars. This is a set of absolute bangers including a barrel-house Crocodile Rock romp through Little Richard's Bible, the twisty Americana flavoured fantasia of Riverman and a moving Elton solo finale on When This Old World Is Done Me. On such evidence, we're not done with him yet, nor he with us.
