This blog is moving …

Sheanne Mulholland is currently in the process of constructing an interactive website which will provide a much wider range of local and national news and comment, arts reviews, features and self generated audio and video content.

The address and a link will be available here once it is completed.

Sherlock Holmes

 

 

Staring: Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man, Black and White), Jude Law (Cold Mountain, Closer), Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls), Mark Strong (Body of Lies)
Director: Guy Ritchie (Rocknrolla, Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels)
Certificate: 12A

ABOUT:

Hot on the heels of a mass murderer with super natural powers, Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr) has to rethink his tactics to solve the latest string of deaths.

Backed by his trusty sidekick, Dr Watson (Law), he is forced to dabble in magic in order to stop Lord Blackwood (Strong).

The case is complicated further by the appearance of Holmes’s long lost lover, Irene Adler (McAdams) – a world class criminal herself.

A sleek and slightly mad edge to the character – one which practices experimental poisons on his dog – is brought to light in this 21st century reinvention of the detective.

VERDICT:

The brotherly love/hate relationship between Holmes and Watson is compelling and on-screen chemistry between Downey Jr and Law is unarguably what drives the film.

Hats off to both performances – especially Downey Jr who carries Holmes’s dark humour perfectly.

But it is just so hard to shake the feeling that both these roles should have been played by English actors.

Guy Ritchie’s unique stamp appears throughout his flawlessly created Victorian London, right from the stylistic opening scene to the climax on a half built Tower Bridge.

Although prominent in the set, Ritchie’s attention to detail has not been reflected in the simple, straight-forward storyline severely lacking a side-plot.

But it does produce an effective portrayal of the genuine fears and beliefs of the time and the powers of black magic.

Riddled with black humour and essential elements of the Holmes we all know and love, this movie really does do what it says on the tin.

Rating: 3/5

Avatar – in 3D

 

Staring: Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation, Macbeth), Sigourney Weaver (Aliens, Prayers for Bobby), Zoe Saldana (The Skeptic), Stephen Lang (The Men Who Stare at Goats), Michelle Rodriguez (The Fast and the Furious 1 & 2)
Director: James Cameron (Aliens, Terminator 1 & 2, Titanic)
Certificate: 12A

ABOUT:

Ex-marine Jake Sully (Worthington) becomes a scientific experiment on an alien planet labelled more dangerous than hell, when he is forced to take over his late brother’s work.

Sully has just three months to learn the unusual ways of life on Pandora and to befriend the indigenous people, with the help of Dr Grace Augustine (Weaver).

His mission: to convince them to leave their sacred home so that humans can turn the site into a quarry for the precious stone that lies below their village.

Using his multimillion pound avatar body – designed to match the DNA of his twin brother and imitate the aliens’ appearance – Sully is overwhelmed by the new world.

Their connection with the land and the sprit of the forest quickly reveals that these people will not leave their home without a fight.

VERDICT:

Pushing the boundaries of film-making, Avatar is easily one of the most exciting movies of the year.

Merging elements of SiFi, military, war, romance and beauty, it is a fresh take on traditional animation and has something to offer for everyone.

This is action like you have never seen if before — fast paced and breathtaking, as characters sore through a jungle of stunning colours and exotic landscapes.

The storyline is abstract, original and full of surprises which will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through.

With a real feel-good factor which lets your imagination run wild, Avatar is one not to be missed on the big screen.

Rating: 5/5

The end of an era

 

It used to be the thriving hub of the area but after years of neglect the Maryhill Shopping Center is starting to fall to pieces and has become nothing more than a hang out spot.

The “grand” entrance to the only surviving shop (Tesco) leaves much to be desired.

Shoppers dodge strategically placed buckets catching drips from the leaking roof – the same buckets that have proudly held their position for years – in a brave bid to buy their messages.

The global supermarket chain appear to have been pushing independent shops out of the center for years and finally we see why.

At the beginning of November contractors, working on behalf of Tesco, started to rip down part of the center to make way for a two-storey Tesco.

January 3 will see the building close its doors for the last time, and the rest of the center will be demolished.

In its place a flashy new-build will be double the size but Tesco will only take up the second floor — the ground level will be a sheltered car park.

The supermarket will feature a cafe, looking out over Maryhill through a glass front.

Although not altogether convinced of the necessity of a latte bathed in the view of the main road, local people are happy to see the run-down center get a revamp.

For local MSP Patricia Ferguson, it’s a long awaited project.

The company promised a new building in 2004 when Patricia was considering options for redeveloping the site.

“This is long overdue,” she said. “The people of Maryhill have kept faith with Tesco for 5 years whilst the local shopping centre was run down on the promise of a new store.”

But fear not, work is underway now and I have been taking photos along the way. The project is due to be competed in Sept 2010 and every week I will be updating this photostory (above) so that you too can watch the progress among with the rest of Maryhill.

Maryhill: It’s not what it seems

 

Since beginning my study of Maryhill I have quickly seen all my own prejudgments disappear.

The main thing I noticed is that the community spirit (which I had planned to be “searching” for) is still strong and extremely prominent throughout the area.

To an outsider passing through it might not seem that way, but that’s because they can’t see what is really going on inside the community.

They haven’t been into the Shakespeare Street Youth Center and talked to Stewart, who has been running the center for over 30 years and inspired many kids to achieve wonderful things; or to the Maryhill Parish Church and spoke with Jim who works day in, day out to make sure everyone has the best of what is available to them; or to Willy who single handedly holds the Community Central Halls together on a Sunday when everyone else is enjoying a day off; or to Ian who has given more back to the community that any other Jags manager in the past; or to Hunter who is striving to provide the local people with everything they need and more in the Burgh Halls redevelopment; or to Donna who runs the community council and addresses all their concerns; or to the Maryhill Integration Network that gives refugees in the area access to essential services and a social sanctuary; or to Patricia who fights for Maryhill’s every need; or to the dads who take part in the karate to keep their kids interested and healthy; or to anyone at all who lives in the area.

There are an awful lot of people working very, very hard the for the community and their work does not go unnoticed.

People love living here and are so proud to say they are from Maryhill.

The Lord Provost Bob Winter - who was born and bread in Maryhill – told me in an interview last month that Maryhill is the largest single district in Glasgow and “more people think they come from Maryhill that any other area in the city.”

The Lord Provost, like everyone else here, loves that the area is such a strong part of his identity and fact that the power of this community have shaped his life.

So I guess my grandparents were right and even though Mayhill looks very different now, the established community spirit remains unchanged.

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