Archive for April, 2010
THE GRUDGE
Posted April 26th, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in DIGS Student, Digs Reviews.
In the crowd of j-horror remakes, for me The Grudge is one that really stands out. In short, it’s actually scary. Unlike The Ring it doesn’t drag on and just concentrates on actually giving you shivers and scaring you. The Grudge is one film that can genuinely still creep me out and I really don’t know why.
The theatrical film was cut by around five minutes to achieve a lower rating for the American release, removing several scenes of extreme gore and violence. The Director’s Cut version in the UK, however, has the same rating. The new cut vastly improves the viewing quality though.
Although the story is a little shaky and sometimes difficult to follow, the scares more than make up for that though. With the cuts, it’s a pretty average horror, but without the cuts it’s an absolutely brilliant horror movie. It has a perfect balance of suspense, scares and gore. Oh, and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
It’s pointless explaining the plot of The Grudge because even I’m not sure of it. All I know is that it’s about a curse, and a few scary, pasty spirits. The story doesn’t follow a chronological time scale which can get puzzling and difficult to follow, but you start to piece together the story as it progresses.
It really is no classic, but it’s a great movie to watch when you want to be scared silly with a few friends.
Rating: ★★★½ | Trailer | Official Site
This review was brought to you by Ryan one of our Storthes Hall Park residents and film review extraordinaire. You can check out his page here.
2Weeks 2Make It!
In The Pinnacles Digs The Magi article we told you about the 2Weeks 2Make It competition- and it has finally arrived!
The competition is South Yorkshire Filmmakers Network’s (SYFN) brainchild and is now in its 4th year. It was set up with the hope to unite local musicians and filmmakers and gather support from people in South Yorkshire who love music and film.
Each band is randomly paired with a filmmaker and has two weeks to produce an exciting video for one of their songs. Last year was the competition’s most successful year yet which saw band YO YO Static and the Shockettes take the winning crown as a result of collaboration with Richard Bolam and filmmaking team Electric Chaos.
Since winning the competition both have tasted success which is undoubtedly due to the attention 2Weeks 2Make It encouraged:
“It was an incredibly productive experience – what we learned in two weeks you would take two years to learn otherwise. We think the experience is the sort of thing that sorts out the men from the boys – the team we started with was not the team we finished with… it has certainly raised our profile, and it was interesting how, once we had entered, we very badly wanted to win. When our names were read out at the competition screening, it was completely exhilarating” Richard Bolam, Electric Chaos
This year’s competition is heating up with all the bands and filmmakers busy putting the finishing touches to their entries, ahead of the screening and awards ceremony at The Showroom on Wednesday 28th April at 18.00. Tickets are £3 and can be bought at the showroom box office or by clicking here. At the event, you will be able to meet the competitors and vote for your favourite video for the “Audience Award”.
The Pinnacles are backing band The Magi to scoop first prize this year but need your help. To show your support, get yourselves down to the Showroom next week to meet the lads and to place your vote…
Helen Sutherland
Senior Administrator and Marketing Coordinator, The Pinnacles Student Accommodation
Ashenhurst in the sunshine: 2010
Posted April 22nd, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in Ashenhurst, DIGS Student.
Our very talented Ashenhurst resident, Jakub, took some great shots of Ashenhurst Houses in the snow… What do you think?
Ashenhurst in the snow: 2010
Posted April 22nd, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in Ashenhurst, DIGS Student.
Our very talented Ashenhurst resident, Jakub, took some great shots of Ashenhurst Houses in the snow… What do you think?
Cyril the Pheasant
Posted April 21st, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in DIGS Student.
I love living at Storthes Hall. I get to pheasant around and sunbathe and do all sorts of pheasant like things. But it seems you have discovered me. My days as an MI6 spy are over. Oh well. The pay was terrible anyway. As Storthes Hall is my home, I’m going to stay and keep an eye on what you crazy kids get up to. I have had my eyes opened to all sorts since I’ve been here… I’ve got dirt on you all!
Life is good. The sun is shining, the bbq’s have started (mmmm delicious crumbs!) and our summer holiday is fast approaching. Who’s that hotty I can hear you asking? That’s me! In my holiday shorts! I’m one finger licking good pheasant (this does not mean you can bbq me though. I’ve got my eye on you carnivores!).
Luckily for us we don’t have to use planes. No volcano is going to stop us! We have wings. Actual wings, not redbull wings. We’re off to skeggy for the weekend. Score.
There is one thing I’d like to straighten up however. There have been reports that I’m stalking a man at Storthes Hall. This is a massive lie. See first paragraph. I am not a stalker, I am (sorry was) a spy. Although I have to say your movie reviews are pretty good Mr P, so there might have been a stalker-ish element to my spying. Purely for your words of wisdom of course.
Anyways. I have some pheasanting to do. Over and out!
The Sheffield Half Marathon: 4 days to go…
Posted April 21st, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in DIGS Student, Pinnacles.
The marathon is definitely upon us and the team’s training is hotting up!
Members of the team can often be seen leaving The Pinnacles in their running gear and returning an hour later red faced and tired… much to the amusement of the office staff! Unfortunately Elisee and Matt have had to pull out due to injuries but we want to thank both of them for their commitment to the race and hope they can make it on Sunday to watch.
Last Saturday the team went to Boot Camp to see how fit they really were and judging by the stories from Richard and Steve in the office, I think they were certainly put through their paces! Although Steve has sworn to keep going and is convinced he will soon be an Olympic champion…
“The boot camp is great, you go at your own pace but push your self and you’ll see results. I’ve been three times now and improved loads. The great thing is it has increased my fitness when doing cardio as well.”
One of the runners Ellice has really taken to the training and has even begun her own blog about her experiences. Read all about her stories here.
If you haven’t already sponsored the guys please do as it will help some great charities in the city and might encourage them to run it again next year (which will mean more laughs and entertainment for the rest of the site!)
You can make a donation here.
The race begins at Don Valley Stadium at 9.30am this Sunday and will last approximately 3.5 hours (depending on the contenders!). Details of the route can be found on the main website, by clicking here.
See you all on Sunday!!!
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Posted April 20th, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in DIGS Student, Digs Reviews.
The Devil Wears Prada is a loose adaption of the book of the same name. It follows Anne Hathaway as Andy who moves to New York city aspiring to be a journalist. She ends up getting a job as an assistant to fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).
This is a review coming from a blind-viewer; someone who has never even leafed through the book on which the movie is based. But from the opening lines of KT Tunstall’s ‘Suddenly I See’ it’s clear what kind of movie this is. But chick flick or no chick flick, The Devil Wears Prada is something different. It’s a feelgood movie that really anyone can enjoy.
Meryl Streep is brilliant as Miranda Priestly, the ‘bitch’ of the movie, who never raises her voice above usual speaking level throughout the entire movie, leading you to think there’s something more to her character. Anne Hathaway, as usual, plays the charismatic and ’sweet’ role and does it perfectly. It’s odd how funny it is when Hathaway swears. Emily Blunt, appearing in one of her first major supporting roles here,
There is a bit of a story twist during the second half of the film which makes the story a little more three dimensional than how it was previously running. You get to see different sides of the central characters too.
You can pretty much guess the ending, but that doesn’t stop you from getting a warm feeling inside and a sense of satisfaction that everything worked out okay in the end. The Devil Wears Prada doesn’t ask much of you, it’s a very funny and heartwarming tale.
Rating: ★★★½ | Trailer
This review was brought to you by Ryan one of our Storthes Hall Park residents and film review extraordinaire. You can check out his page here.
Storthes Hall Fire Alarm: Which day would you prefer?
Posted April 16th, 2010 by DIGS Admin. Filed in DIGS Student, Storthes Hall. 6 comments.
Which day suits you guys best? We can get this changed as early as next week, so make sure your vote is in by Tuesday 20th April!