“I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf,” he said. “I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”

Bush said he made that decision after the August 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which killed Sergio Vieira de Mello, the top U.N. official in Iraq and the organization’s high commissioner for human rights.

“I remember when de Mello, who was at the U.N., got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man’s life,” he said. “I was playing golf — I think I was in central Texas — and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, ‘It’s just not worth it anymore to do.’“

Surreal is the only word I can find!

Along with Iron Man it could be said Speed Racer marks a trend of character actors being deployed to fill out roles in summer blockbusters this year. Any comparison between the two movies essentially ends here, though it’s fair to say Speed Racer does go some way to meeting the fun quotient required of silly season movies. Reading an article with Christina Ricci recently she corrected a misconception of her that she is interested in art, or the artistry in her movies, her primary concern is how much she is getting paid. And just as much as any of us perform our jobs with such objectives I choose to respect her for this and still see some talent in how she, and the rest of the cast ably lend some themselves to portraying cartoon characters in a movie so unapologetically aimed at creating a live action version of the cartoon and little else.

The first of a psychadelic image spiralling at us from the screen, my company turned to me and told me how he was worried he might suffer motion sickness during the movie. Aside from this side effect there are a number of health warnings that should come attached to this movie. First and foremost I don’t know when I was last so annoyed by a character as Speed’s younger brother. I don’t even care what his name was so let’s call him Scrappy, the hammy over acting, irritant made my skin peel and the 2 ¼ hour running time would have been well served by having his character cut or at the very least have the story see him and his stupid monkey mangled in a car wreck. Next up is a danger of some form of fit or seizure at how busy the film is. Only for a brief few minutes does the camera sit still, other wise every conversation, action, movement and furl of an eye brow is accompanied by panning rotating heads, split screens, flashes, stupid kids flying through the air and CSI type cross sections. One benefit does come to mind - if you feel you have become desensitised to colour in any respect, then go see this movie - the wardrobes, the animated backgrounds, and most of all the rollercoaster cataclysm of colour for each races overflows in rich colour. Insert here any relevant comparison with drugs or alcohol induced experiences you may have had. The combination of this crazy arcade museum of colour and action surely has some sinister motive of maybe trying to subliminally convince you to forgive the Wachowskis for the Matrix sequels, moreso the effect is to leave you so dazed and confused you will be unsure whether you like the film or not or in this writers case unsure he could find the words to describe it all coherently.

The start to the film is slow, helped along by a taster of the races to come, we get our exposition through an excessively cut flash back and forwards introducing the characters and back story. Next Speed, rising star that he is, is caught up between family loyalty and mega sponsor perks before events see him racing to defend his family and achieve self fulfilment. Now I was surprised at how much story there actually is, with there being as much as a 4 part structure to the film. The only thing is said plot is intensely boring and the overly verbose badly accented villains, and vanilla family life of Speed means all this story telling resembles scraping nails on a blackboard and takes us away from the race track and increases the possibility of that stupid kid being on screen. The movie comes to life when the starter pistol fires at the beginning of each race – the trailers may have had you recoiling at the synthetic look to the film but the action is wholeheartedly of another futuristic world. This allows you accept the boldness and flare of the racing and enjoy it, and the excellent thrill rides they are, especially the final Grand Prix race.

So against all my instincts I lasted the running time and will go as far as saying I enjoyed the movie. There are genuinely moments where you may question the price of the cinema ticket as some of the mania unfolds on screen and Speed Racer being second off the starting blocks this summer cannot stand up to the standard set by Iron Man, but it successfully underachieves and these are the terms under which I give it it’s rating. A fan of the series, certainly see it, a movie fan interested in the style and delivery of the movie then venture out, however if your cinema trips are anyway rare or you’re looking for a teaser to coming attractions this summer you will be left wanting.

So googling and based on watching too many cookery shows I set to whipping some cream. Meanwhile some chopped up rhubarb was cooking with orange juice and lots of sugar in the oven turning to mush. Strain juice from the cooked rhubarb, and mash up roughly. Stick the strained juice in a sauce pan, with some extra sugar and put on a relatively high heat to reduce to a sticky sweet sauce. So now with your rhubarb cooled combine this with the cream, to a relatively smooth consistency. Pour the reduced rhubarb sauce on top. I used wine glasses to serve it. As for measures just wing it - adding the extra sugar to the reduction gives it an extra quick of sweetness that cuts into the nicely tart cream combination.

5. Paying ‘tribute’ to Spielberg

4. Paying ‘tribute’ to Meryl Streep

3. Classic, laugh out loud stuff from ‘Ace Ventura’

2. A Night at the Roxbury

1. Making the most of the opportunity, considering how elusive the real Oscar statuette is proving.

NY Times Coverage

Washington Post Coverage

Today is traditionally a day of celebration of Mexican culture. In honour of this I want to give a plug to ‘Taco Taco’ a Mexican food stall in the Epicurean Food Hall near my work on Abbey Street in Dublin. The Food Hall has an excellent range of eclectic food types but no matter how often I circle the hall determined to try somewhere new I always find myself back at the Mexican, poring over their menu from which no bad choice can be made. The usual is a Chicken Torta, grilled chicken in a toasted bun with jalapenos and sour cream and tomatoes, or possibly fajitas served with salsa, chunks of lime and sour cream or a filling beef burrito. Consistently tasty, served promptly even at the peak of lunch by pleasant staff with the best prices I have come across in my time in Dublin the worst of soul sucking, working for the manitis can be allieved by some fine munch from ‘Taco, Taco.

Read the positive consensus here at menupages

6. Sandford (’Hot Fuzz’)

The inhabitants of the seemingly picture perfect surrounds of Sandford are highly protective of its manicured, crime free image and will organise an elaborate death for you should you in anyway tarnish said image.

5. Bodega Bay (’The Birds’)

Bodega Bay has been subject to an attack by birds, with a number of its inhabitants found with eyes gauged out, school children attacked en masse and Hitchcockian blondes trapped in phone boxes. This attack remains as of yet unexplained and the risk of a reoccurence means this otherwise sleepy town should be avoided.

4. Aidensfield (’Heartbeat’)

On a weekly basis for over 17 years now the police force of Aidensfield have been stretched in managing the high level of crime the village is subject to. Witness protection programmes, organised crime, people living with false identities and abusive families have each been numbered amongst the social malaise that has burdened the village. Doctors fare especially badly in Aidensfield and most often end up murdered, taken hostage or suffering from fatal diseases.

3. Kirrin (’The Famous Five’)

If looking for a safe place to send a group of children in the summer months when they return from various boarding schools, Kirrin village is best avoided. While your children may initially enjoy ginger beer and picnics events will eventually see your children, dismissed by the adult populaton, need to take on organised crime, with smuggling being particularly rampant. Also the children will spend substantial time in underground tunnels connecting to nearby Kirrin island, making poor use of summer months.

2. Cabot Cove (’Murder She Wrote’)

A buoyant fishing town, again appearances are deceptive with regard to this New England hamlet. The town harbours a dark past as between 1984 and 1996 over 800 murders were committed and their investigation was largely resolved by a middle aged amateur sleuth with the towns police force largely crap. Visitors need especially to be aware of any invitations to the town as one may find they are get mere minutes to offer details of your life and drop some clues before being murdered by someone wearing leather gloves.

1. Twin Peaks (’Twin Peaks’)

Twin Peaks continues the theme of quaint villages of inhabitants being far from what they seem. The murder of a teenage girl presumed to be wholesome and popular, sees the beginning of an investigation that unfurls the quirky, paranormal and paranoid characteristics of the suspects. Events will be so deeply rooted that only a detective fortunate enough to be guided by dreams and the ramblings of a log lady will direct him, evil spirits tend to inhabit the locals and teens work in brothels part time to feed their drug habits.

You need to make a decision while watching Iron Man, and I feel it should be made early in proceedings that you will from that point pay no regard to the science behind the movie. Whether you pride yourself on a basic ability to add or spend your evenings pondering infintesimal calculus, you will to varying degrees avert your eyes and cringe at some of the silliness on show. Gwyneth Paltrow played a key role in the disregard for science. On watching her perform sort form of open chest operation on Robert Downey Jnr’s Tony Starke I realised the people behind Iron Man might have gathered together a credible cast but are having them play parts in a movie not too concerned with, well, logic.

The movie follows the traditional emergence of the hero, leading onto a confontation with the villain structure. Littered within what is commonly described as the plot there are moments of greatness and the person singlularly responsible for these is Robert Downey Jnr. The fact is the motivations driving Starke, as well as his wealthy isolated genius character could be seen as insincere and unconvincing in other hands. Downey grounds the movie and this is essential as the villain, the love interest and the progression to the final show down resembles an attempt to get some excited chickens in an orderly queue.

I would gladly have watched the segment of Starke perfect the suit and spark off Paltrow’s Pepper Potts extended to fill the rest of the running time. The humour throughout the film is nicely placed, witty and well delivered. Pity then we find ourselves confronted with a villain less interesting than our protagonist recycle some sinister schemes, his intellect and grand purpose leading to nothing more than a smack down. The story is of so little impact, with the villains recruited from a division of the Austin Powers school for henchmen that I can’t muster enough energy to be mad that Jeff Bridges is wasted. Gwyneth Paltrow does a fine job, exhibiting loyalty and intelligence and as my company remarked the ability to run in some killer heels.

There should be at least 3 points in the first hour when you register that a point has been raised for no more purpose than some lazy plot progression later on. Again though if you identify these, you will also have spotted the science gafs and overall will have resigned yourself to enjoying what creative juices there are basting the screen. These come largely in the form of blockbuster sheen, explosions, flash cars, a metal suit loaded with gadgetry and a sense of fun that Bruce Wayne could never convince of, and justifiably earns Tony Starke the accolade of being such an engaging superhero. I wish the plotting and substance behind the movie amounted to more as there is great potential ahead, the comic book character having an alcohol dependency problem and continuing health problems. Neverheless the movie is entertaining and resoundedly a great beginning for Marvels first solo movie project.

A suitably brash kick off to the summer movie season, Iron Man is good fun. Just as Johnny Depp added much value to the ‘Pirates’ trilogy with his investment in character so too Downey Jnr adds great depth to the movie, in contrast to the black and white extremes of the characters and events going on around him.