Well That Took Longer Than Expected

A Review Of What I Can Remember Of The Last Half Of Super

A couple of months ago I had a ticket to see Super at the London Sci-Fi Film Festival, but on the day of the screening I had to work late for some tedious reason or other, which meant I was going to miss the beginning of the film. I debated for some time whether to go or not, because I HATE HATE HATE missing bits of films. I can't relax if I miss a bit of the opening titles, I go on murderous rampages if I've failed to record the last thirty seconds of something and if I were to watch a DVD with a hundred people I would insist it was paused while I went for a wee.

In the end I realised this debate, which I was essentially having with myself, was causing me to miss even more of the film, so I told myself to man up and get over it and made my way to the cinema hoping that nothing too important had happened in the first 45 minutes.

Fortunately it appeared I'd missed absolutely nowt, not least because mentally I just subsituted another film's first half for Super's, and I was immediately up to speed.

Once I'd grasped Super's justification for existing in a post-Kick-Ass world (it's more violent, has animated Batman '66-esque captions and, er... that's it) I struggled with its uneven tone, its failure to do anything good with Kevin Bacon and Ellen Page defaulting to annoying Juno mode, as well as an uncomfortable sex scene, initiated by a woman, that would almost certainly have raised a few eyebrows had it been the man doing the initiating.

That apart, I didn't hate The Second Half Of Super, and indeed my fellow audience found it quite funny, but then they must have been privy to the setups to which I was witnessing the apparently unfunny punchlines.

So while I am in no way passing judgement on Super as a whole, because I haven't seen it all, I can happily rate the second half "Probably Not Worth It". One day I hope to watch the first half and bring you the rest of my opinion.

Don't hold your breath.

A Festival Of Festivals

If you're stuck for something to do over the next couple of gloriously sunny, warm weeks, why not spend them stuck in a little room with a bunch of strangers at one of two quite excellent film festivals taking place in London? Apparently sunshine has been proven to make you fat so you're much better off in the cinema eating questionably-sourced hot dogs and drinking pop.

The Sci-Fi-London Film Festival and The East End Film Festival both celebrate ten years of festivility this year, and between them there's something for everyone, provided everyone likes science fiction and/or the east end.

The Sci-Fi-London Film Festival

(April 23rd - May 2nd)

The cumbersomely-subtitled London International Festival Of Science Fiction And Fantastic Film (glorious acronym: LIFOSFAFF) skulks about between the BFI Southbank and the Piccadilly Circus Apollo, showing off some of the world's mentalest independent films about cloning, robots, spaceships and that. It's definitely not full of geeks and you will definitely not bump into anyone dressed as a Klingon. Maybe.

Here are just some of the literally some things you might like to pop along and see:

Your Days Are Numbered

Not actually a film - or science fiction for that matter (GOOD START, "Sci Fi Film Festival") - but a comedy show, Your Days Are Numbered is a stand-up routine that uses maths LOLs to explore how likely you are to die in any given circumstances. It promises to explode every Daily Mail front page ever written about how sunshine makes you fat.

Recreator

Three people on a camping trip find themselves pitted against their evil clones in a BATTLE TO THE DEATH OR SOMETHING. Like the Red Dwarf episode 'Demons And Angels' but with sexy American teens instead of a Scouser and a robot with a Lancastrian spare head.

Lunopolis

A faux-documentary about the uncovering of a ludicrous moon-based conspiracy, Lunopolis promises to be the perfect film for everyone who believes there are whole cities of people up there controlling our every move. Warning: a proliferation of rustling foil hat-wearing punters may make it difficult to hear the film.

You Are Here

With a trailer that makes the absolute bare minimum of sense and a concept that would make Charlie Kaufman scratch his head very hard indeed, You Are Here is a surreal collection of vaguely interrelated stories about notions of identity, the nature of cognition and a crowd of people all called Alan. I've read loads about it and still have no idea what to expect, but I haven't been disappointed by any movie with a crowd full of Alans yet.

Super

SFLFF:LIFOSFAFF's closing film, about an idiot who decides to become a masked vigilante in order to get his missus back, stars Rainn Wilson (hooray!), Ellen Page (oh) and Kevin Bacon as an asshole called Jacques (SOLD). Total Film will be calling it "Kick-Ass meets Inception" before long so go and see it and tell them what numpties they are sometimes.

The East End Film Festival

(April 27th - May 2nd)

Taking place in various locations around East London, the EEFF is a charmingly rugged affair. It focuses in the main on British talent, but there are also small Romanian and World cinema strands, a varied programme of shorts and something called Movie Mayday, a day-long free event across 88 venues with more stuff than there's possibly room or time for. Get on it.

Films you might want to have a good think about seeing include:

The Libertines - There Are No Innocent Bystanders

Roger Sargent's rockumentary about the rise and fall of the inexplicably popular noiseniks is the EEFF's opening gala screening, and a world premiere to boot. If that's the kind of thing that gets you excited, then brace yourself: apparently the band will be there on the night. *joke about likelihood of Pete Doherty's attendance*

Outside The Court

Filmmaker Marc Isaacs spent months standing outside Highbury & Islington Magistrates' Court interviewing various misfits, petty crooks and troubled souls on their way in and out. Amazingly Isaacs doesn't get beaten up at any point; in fact many of his subjects are surprisingly candid. This hour-long documentary doesn't just put them on display but turns out to be a cathartic experience for those of them who just need someone to listen.

Donkeys

The second film from Lars Von Trier's Advance Party experiment (in which three different first-time directors each make a film about the same characters; the first was Andrea Arnold's Red Road, also showing at the EEFF) is a bittersweet comedy drama about an old codger trying to put his tattered family back together before he reaches the end of his puff. It's an easier watch than Red Road, and I hate to use the phrase "funny and touching", but, well... you know.

Manasse + Minima

The free outdoor screening of 1925 Romanian silent film Manasse, with live accompaniment by Minima, follows in the footsteps of last year's amazing showing of Hitchcock's The Lodger. I have no idea what Manasse is about - its IMDb page is practically blank - but with Minima providing the tuneage it'll be an atmospheric and memorable night for anyone with ears. And eyes.

The Devils

The as-yet unreleased Director's Cut of Ken Russell's 1971 debauched blasphemathon will be a popular choice for hysterical moral guardians everywhere, and if nuns masturbating with charred leg bones is your thing, you're in for a treat. Also, have a word with yourself.

If any of that's got your juices flowing (you weirdo), both festivals have tons more exciting gubbins cracking off, and The Incredible Suit recommends you check the programmes because that's what they're there for, innit?