Korn live at the CIA

Korn are back with their first UK tour in 7 years. Last night saw the band live at Cardiff International Arena.

They were welcomed onstage by a tide of black outfits and band t-shirts as fans of all ages chanted their name.

They kicked off the set-list with 'Right Now' the first track from their 2003 album Take a Look in the Mirror and performed in front of a backdrop of the cover of their latest album Untitled.

Lead vocalist Johnathan Davis was a hit in his kilt and connected with the crowd like a true professional. His solo on the bagpipes was an impressive break in the set-list although it must've perforated a few ear drums.

The laser style lights throughout the show were mesmerising and were a great accompaniment to the music. Davis' personalised silver mic stand in the shape of a naked woman was also pretty impressive.

Davis proved his vocal ability and the power of his voice in songs like 'Freak on a Leash', 'Throw Me Away' and 'Evolution' - which were all huge crown pleasers.

They finished their main set with 'Ass Itch' a song about how Davis hates writing lyrics from their '99 album Life is Peachy, before returning for the encore where they played 'Blind'- their debut single and first track from their self-titled debut album. They ended the show with 'Got the Life' - a track from their 2002 album Follow the Leader.

Korn definitely put on an excellent show, let's hope they don't wait another 7 years to return.

Heart throb Heath Ledger pronounced dead

Australian born actor Heath Ledger was found dead at his Manhatten residence today, his cause of death is currently unknown.

BBC online say that the 28-year-old Hollywood star "was found dead in the SoHo apartment at around 1530 (2030 GMT)."


It is believed that Ledger was waiting for a massage when his housekeeper found him dead.

Heath Ledger was an incredible actor, giving remarkable performances in films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight's Tale and Brokeback Mountain.

See the full story at BBC News.


Rest in Peace Heath Ledger.

A.V.P Requiem

Alien vs Predator Requiem brings the second instalment of the Alien and Predator battle to a small town and throws the lives of its unsuspecting residents into turmoil as they abandon the norm of their everyday lives to fight for their survival.

A.V.P.R by directors Colin Strause and Greg strause is a gripping horror/sci-fi with no shortage of brutal killings. The plot is simple and you don't need to have seen the first movie to understand what's going on.

Alien and Predator both bring their best characteristics to the movie as they attempt to finish each other off (and anyone else who gets in the way,) but this is balanced by the 'human' strands to the plot as characters try to deal with life issues they have before finding themselves lost in an other-worldly battle.

The cinematography is exciting and flawless although in some scenes it is difficult to tell which monster is which because of the dark lighting.

The one aspect that does disappoint in A.V.P.R is the gradual build up to the only major Alien and Predator fight. Sure they meet continuously throughout the film but, it is only near the end that we see a battle to justify the film title.

Nevertheless, A.V.P.R is an excellent box office hit that can appeal to an audience wider than just the fans of Alien or Predator movies.

Jack Sparrow and the children of Great Ormand Street

No this isn't a sequel to the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film, this was Johnny Depp spending four hours dressed as Jack Sparrow to entertain the patients of the Great Ormand Street Childrens Hospital.

The hospital took care of Depp's daughter, Lily Rose, when she fell ill while Depp was filming for Sweeney Todd (now in cinemas) and now Depp has donated a generous 1million pounds to the Childrens Hospital. This follows a donation from Disney as part of their fundraising campaign.

It's nice to see a star using their fame and riches for a good cause, a lovely story that made me smile.

Video game rumoured to hit the big screen

Rumour has is that the hit video game Tekken is preparing to hit our screens in movie form. Director Dwight Little is thought to be taking on the project.

The film, which is due to start production in February, will tell of Jin Kazama as he enters a secret martial arts tournament and discovers the great power he holds. Jon Foo, Andy Serkis, Susie Amy and Sienna Guillory are rumoured to be starring in the movie.

This follows in the footsteps of the recent release of Hitman, another game to movie adaptation, which didn't really make the grade.

A book to screen adaptation is one thing but, perhaps trying to do the same with a video game is a bridge too far. The interactive narrative in game play just doesn't translate as well onto the big screen.

Tekken should be ready for release in 2009 in the USA, we will have to wait and see whether it will be a success or whether fans of the original game and cinema-goers alike wish that it could have been left as it was in game format.

Read more at MovieWeb.

Official guidelines: how to live a longer life...

The Public Library of Science Medicine have this week revealed some simple steps to living a longer life:

- Regular excercise.
- Eating enough fruit and vegetables.
- Not smoking too much.
- Not drinking too much.

But let's be honest, what's new there? Isn't this the advice we're given to live healthier lives anyway? Aren't these the cause for debate every couple of months?
Is it me or is this just common sense? I mean it's not as if they were going to say: 'Go out and get drunk, take lots of drugs and order a take away'...

Come on people, lets get those brains into gear and research something we didn't already know!

A Golden adventure

Perhaps one of the best book to film adaptations I have seen in a long time, The Golden Compass definitely doesn't disappoint.

Phillip Pullmans Northern Lights, the first installment from His Dark Materials trilogy, has been transformed into an on screen adventure as exciting as the book, by director Chris Weitz.

Unlike most adaptions, The Golden Compass remains true to the book, with all the main characters being exactly as you would imagine them to be and none of the main aspects of the plot being missed out.

After my initial issues with the American-ized name, I couldn't help but get lost in the narrative. The film is a flurry of action that grips the audience from the first scene to the last as we follow the main character, Lyra Belacqua, on her voyage to the North.

Lyra travels with her Daemon Pantalaimon and a group of Gyptians to save her friend and other kidnapped children from the experimentation's of the General Oblation Board (or the Gobblers, as the kids call them). She makes some wonderful friends along the way including, Serafina Pekkala (a witch), Iorek Byrnison (an armoured bear) and Lee Scoresby (an aeronaught).

Dakota Blue Richards plays Lyra to perfection with her excellent portrayal of the characters sense of adventure, boldness and gift of the gab.

I was unsure about the casting of Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel and Nicole Kidman as Marisa Coulter but, both have taken well to the roles and bring something of themselves while remaining true to the characters.

Each scene is beautifully shot, from the sophistication of Jordan College in Oxford to the starkness of the scenes from the North but, perhaps the most gripping scene is that of the bear fight between Iorek and King Ragnar. The audience can't help but track every blow as they wonder which bear will prevail.

Despite the religious debates surrounding the release of The Golden Compass, it is definitely a hit and a family blockbuster that shouldn't be missed.