Review - Die Hard 4.0

Its been around 12 years since, John McClaine last hit our screens, running around New York, Samuel L Jackson in tow trying to save New York from Jeremy Irons. This time, Underworld director and Mr. Kate Beckinsale, Len Wiseman has shifted the territory to Washington but the blueprint remains familiar.

Willis has McClaine on badass, wise-cracking form. Check. Alongside him is a fish out of water type, usually rubbing McClaine up the wrong way. Check. Sophisticated bad guy. Check.

But all this familiarity is not a bad thing and actually works to the films advantage. It is refreshing to see an action movie stick to basic principles, with no twists, incomprehensible dialogue and slow-mo Bayesque rock video visuals. Wiseman's film is all wham bam thank you ma'am, with a pace that never really lets up and some jaw dropping (if unbelievable set pieces).

Willis, however makes this film work. McClaine is a world weary Jack Bauer but with a sense of humour. His old school believability works well in contrast with an underused Oliphant's tech-savvy bad guy. There is also good support from Justin Long as the witness, McClaine is forced to protect and Maggie Q seductively fills up the screen as Oliphants arse-kicking partner.

All in all, an excellent action film, that needs little brains, but loads of popcorn to produce the most fun movie you'll see all summer.

7.5 out of 10

Forces of (Nihon) Nature

The above picture is of damage done by an earthquake measuring 6.8 in magnitude that struck the Niigata area on Monday.

"Hundreds of people were injured when the 6.8-magnitude tremor struck the Niigata area.
Four women and three men - all in their 70s and 80s - died from injuries sustained in the earthquake, the National Police Agency said.
City official Takashi Otsuka said about 2,000 people had been evacuated from their homes, while tens of thousands are reported to have no power or running water." from http://www.bbc.com/

The quake also caused radioactive fluid to leak into the sea after the tremors caused havoc at a Nuclear power plant. The plant officials are claiming that there will be no effects on the enviroment.

On Sunday morning, the strongest typhoon of July also hit Japan.

"Typhoon Man-yi was later downgraded to a tropical storm with winds of 83km/h (51mph) as it passed south of Tokyo. Man-yi struck the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku on Saturday, killing three people and injuring about 70.
The storm's victims were an 11-year-old boy and a man in his 70s who drowned in separate incidents in Kyushu's Kagoshima prefecture on Saturday. On Sunday, rescuers found the body of a 79-year-old farmer who was swept into a river in the prefecture of Tokushima on Shikoku island.
More than 30,000 have been evacuated from homes along the path of the storm. "from http://www.bbc.com/

Thoughts

It just goes to show how random and aggressive nature can be. I was lucky as the typhoon turned out to be nothing more than a strong storm, and apart from a CD hitting me on the head last year I've been fairly fortunate with earthquakes. However many people have been injured, and my thoughts go out to them and their families.

The NOVA merry-go-round

So another person leaves. More arrive.

Thats one of the bittersweet aspects of this job. You make friends with people, build bonds of trust with them and then they are gone. Yet every 6 months or so there is an injection of new blood to keep things interesting and if your school is lucky you don't get a complete twat.

So this week saw Jen, my fellow Brit, transferred to Sakaide and the arrival of Joseph from St. Louis. Next week our school will also get Chris and Vanessa, another couple from the US.

Another week at McNova.

Musical Interlude

Here are some videos of the stuff I've been listening to lately..

Sakaide, Tadotsu and the Saturday from Hell

So, I had to work on my days off this week for the lovely, language school beast called NOVA. The reason being was that I had to work back my shift swaps, which I have done many times before, however this time it was at different schools...

On Thursday I had to travel to Sakaide (one of the many nearby towns) and seeing as the awful Japanese summer was already in full, sweat-inducing, swing I had to somehow get to work in my only clean shirt (a grey one, so plenty of chances for sweat marks!!). Sakaide is i)A 10 minute walk to the bus stop ii) a 30 minute bus ride iii) a 10 minute train ride. Luckily is right outside the station, and my day at the school went fairly quickly.

Friday was Tadotsu, however it was pissing it down, as I've said before, Japanese summer is also rainy season (especially in June/July). This meant taking my work clothes in a plastic bag to prevent them from getting soaked. i) a 10 minute walk ii) a 30 minute bus ride iii)a 10 minute train ride and iii)a 20 minute walk!!! Tadotsu is a REALLY quite school....I'd hate it there.

Anyway it was good to meet new students and fellow instructors, but I think I prefer my own branch!!!

Saturday. Yesterday. Nightmare. Jen was sick on our busiest day, and I spent the first 4 hours in a blur of paperwork, folders, kids lessons and frustration....

I hope today is better!!!