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 [...]
STK does a belter of a rib eye – if you can stand the club atmosphere February 6, 2013 Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie once said: “All vowels are fascist, man, everyone knows that”. It’s a sentiment that obviously chimed with the owners of US steakhouse chain STK, which has just arrived at the ME London hotel. This isn’t just any old steakhouse, though. Oh no, this is a “female friendly” steakhouse. Female friendly. [...]
The sustainable food argument is flawed – we just need more variety February 5, 2013 Head chef, Paternoster Chop House The recent news that the Marine Conservation Society has removed mackerel and gurnard from its list of “sustainable” fish is an ironic sign of the times. Responsible diners avoid some foods in a bid to protect a species, only to find that everyone else has done the same and now [...]
Celebrate Chinese new year in real style February 5, 2013 1. HKK HKK is the ultimate destination for Chinese aficionados. The restaurant, which is one of the most recent openings of the Hakkasan group, is already gaining a reputation for offering some of the best Chinese food in the City. Michelin-starred chef Tong Chee Hwee has created an impressive eight- and 15-course banqueting menu that’s [...]
Chablis is one of the toughest wines to get right – choose wisely February 5, 2013 Chablis is a pretty but inconsequential looking town just over 100km north of Burgundy. There are none of the great chateaux or domaines of Bordeaux or Burgundy here. Spend half an hour loitering in the town square and it is hard to believe this is the epicentre of one of the world’s most famous wine [...]
