Notes from the sketch book

King of the Monsters “Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here tonight to tell you a very strange story — a story so strange that no one will believe it — but, ladies and gentlemen, seeing is believing. The 8th wonder of the world!!” In 1962 a Toho Kaiju film brought together two of the world's biggest movie stars Gojira (Godzilla) and the 8th wonder of the world (Kong). King of Skull Island, Kong was unleashed to the world in the 1933 movie. King Kong went on to appear in 12 movies and inspire a whole genre of monster movies including the recent...

"You have 15 seconds to comply...." The 1987 movie Robocop inspires this weeks set of T-shirts. In 1982 whilst working on the set of Blade Runner, Edward Neumeier had an idea for a story that eventually became the 1987 movie Robocop. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Peter Weller, the film is a classic lesson in satire and is more than just a gore fest it could have become. The violence and carnage is outlandish, bordering on the ridiculous which makes it all the more comical and extremely fun. Special effects in Robocop are all practical and were created by the...

David Mckee has passed away today at the age of 87, but his talent for storytelling will live on. Author and illustrator of the children’s books including Elmer, Mr Benn, King Rolo and Not Now Bernard has died following a short illness. In each story, Mr Benn visited a fancy dress store and tried on a different outfit, before leaving the shop through a magic door and going on a journey related to his costume. So my little tribute is Mr Benn as Robocop! As a kid I loved the Mr Benn TV series and King Rolo and it taught children...

Mamma Mia! On this day in 1974 the 19th Eurovision Song Contest was won by ABBA for Sweden singing "Waterloo" in Brighton, England. They went on to be one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, they became one of the best selling acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide from 1974 to 1983, and in 2021. After ABBA separated in December 1982 their music remained popular but in 1999 ABBA's music was adapted into Mamma Mia! a successful musical that toured worldwide and, as of November 2021, is still in the...

"The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club" Based on the Book of the same name, an iconic movie from 1999 but not without its controversy. It is a movie by David Fincher, one of the best directors of the past 25 years and Fight Club is probably the most divisive. Narratively it captures toxic masculinity, angry young men of non conformity in a deeply unsettling way especially looking at it with a 2022 viewpoint.  The argument whether the movie is...