Tone Blog

“This is the sign I’ve been waiting for.”

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:47:10 +1000

“This is the sign I’ve been waiting for.”

brain-food: Donald Glover talking about the comments he...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:42:44 +1000

Donald Glover talking about the comments he received during his campaign to be the next Spider-Man (x)

“I was talking about it with Dan Eckman, who directed my Bonfire video. Can you imagine that trailer? That would be dope. Like it makes sense… a poor black kid in Queens. Like it just fits.”

This just broke my fucking heart.

Wes Craven visits Bryan Singer's film school

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:35:00 +1000

“Content is king.” It’s a point that gets made time and time again, but I don’t think it’s ever been made as sharply or as elegantly as Wes Craven made it. Disclaimer: I’ve never actually heard Wes Craven speak but I heard Bryan Singer re-tell the story.

Further Disclaimer: I’ve never actually seen Bryan Singer speak either. I originally heard this story on the X-Men 2 commentary and it has stuck with me to this day.

Wes Craven was talking about the making of A Nightmare on Elm Street, a horror movie where a fantastical dream bogey-man - Freddy Krueger - terrorises and kills a whole heap of teenagers who may or may not deserve it.

Because of the nature of the dream universe, the film-makers were free to show the audience things they had never seen before. In one sequence a young man is eaten by his bed. The bed swallows him whole and, moments later, a large geyser of fresh crimson blood squirts out all over the bedroom.

Imagine how much effort and expense must have gone into a sequence like that. To hear Wes tell it however, this moment didn’t get much of a reaction from a cinema audience.

He then talks about a scene later in the movie. Freddy Krueger is harassing our heroine Nancy on the phone. Suddenly his tongue pokes out of the receiver and attempts to lick her.

By comparison it was a much cheaper gag - all the production team needed was a cheap $2 rubber tongue - but when it appeared on-screen, the audience leapt out of their seats.

Wes found it hilarious that he managed to upstage himself with a cheap rubber tongue, but he took it as a lesson, a lesson he passed on to a classroom full of up and coming filmmakers, that the most expensive ideas aren’t always the most effective.

Mr Glenn Ridge and I discuss the new zom-rom-com “Warm...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:54:03 +1000

Mr Glenn Ridge and I discuss the new zom-rom-com “Warm Bodies.” Originally aired on 1377am.

Mr Glenn Ridge and I review the new school holidays movie...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:51:32 +1000

Mr Glenn Ridge and I review the new school holidays movie “Escape from Planet Earth.” Originally aired on 1377am.

Photo

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 12:58:18 +1000

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Sat, 13 Apr 2013 12:53:21 +1000

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Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:22:15 +1000

This is my new gauge

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:15:59 +1000

This is my new gauge

Glenn Ridge and I briefly touch on a sore topic - my...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:32:00 +1100

Glenn Ridge and I briefly touch on a sore topic - my girlfriend’s view on my “31 Questions” sideburns. Originally aired on 1377am.

Glenn Ridge and I discuss several elephants in the room...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:26:00 +1100

Glenn Ridge and I discuss several elephants in the room including that game show we’ve both appeared on, and what terrible fashion sense I’ve been bringing into the studio for the past couple of weeks. Originally aired on 1377am.

nosdrinker: i’ve never been happier in my entire life

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 18:24:27 +1100

nosdrinker:

i’ve never been happier in my entire life

pittmomney: One of my favorite futurama lines, as a...

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 18:17:45 +1100

pittmomney:

One of my favorite futurama lines, as a screenwriter.

Glenn Ridge and I talk about “Hyde Park on...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:03:00 +1100

Glenn Ridge and I talk about “Hyde Park on Hudson.“ Originally aired on 1377am.

Glenn Ridge reads Anthony’s Twitter. Originally aired on...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:00:52 +1100

Glenn Ridge reads Anthony’s Twitter. Originally aired on 1377am.

Tone Reviews "Jack the Giant Slayer"

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:10:00 +1100

As printed in the mX Thursday March 21 2013. Click to make big or just read the text below.

Tale a steep climb

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ian McShane, Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci and Bill Nighy

Director: Bryan Singer

The lastest in a long line of fairytale revival movies is here - and it should come as no surprise that it’s full of CG monsters and The Lord of the Rings-style battle armour.

When magic beans accidental sent the king’s daughter express post to Giant-land, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men must go to rescue her - and commoner Jack (Nicholas Hoult) tags along for the ride.

It’s not long before Jack and company are hurling abusive language at the giant folk and slaying them left, right and centre.

But here’s an idea guys: have you tried talking to the giants?

Are you quite sure reasoning with them won’t work?

All the characters have to work with are old myths and legends, and unfortunately, none of them are tested.

Yes, there’s a lot of talent on show here, and there are moments of genuine inspiration.

Stanley Tucci shines as a deliciously evil royal adviser.

Ewan McGregor features as a battle-hardened captain and Ian McShane as a glamorously bejewelled king - two roles that could very easy have been switched.

But for all that goes right with Giant Slayer, there are very few surprises.

By the end there are no major revelations, no turns or reversals, and you’re treated to a war between giants and men that neither side deserves to win.

When you consider how much beanstalk there is to climb, there doesn’t seem nearly enough magic at the top to warrant the journey.

Glenn Ridge and I discuss the latest fairy tale movie...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:00:40 +1100

Glenn Ridge and I discuss the latest fairy tale movie “Jack the Giant Slayer” on 1377am.

Glenn Ridge and I discuss “The Incredible Burt...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:56:00 +1100

Glenn Ridge and I discuss “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” on MyMP 1377am.

Glenn Ridge and I discuss “Oz the Great and...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:53:47 +1100

Glenn Ridge and I discuss “Oz the Great and Powerful” on 1377am.

Glenn Ridge and I discuss “Rebelle (War Witch)” on...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:48:42 +1100

Glenn Ridge and I discuss “Rebelle (War Witch)” on 1377am.