Ghost Adventures

During my month-long stay in Guildford in December, i was treated to a somewhat surreal albeit entertaining tv show. Titled Ghost Adventures, it follows Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin, three adults who travel the globe in the search of genuine footage and/or soundbites of ghosts or spirits.

Whilst many would scoff at the sheer idea that ghosts exist, the show does its best to make the whole sensation enthralling and entertaining. Sure, ghosts may not exist and we still don't seem to have any concrete evidence to suggest either way, but the very idea that spirits of those now dead walking among us is certainly an interesting and exciting prospect.

Being a cynic myself, i found it hard to take on board what Bagans and Co were trying to drill into my mind. They clearly feel that ghosts are a genuine phenomenon so who am i to take that away from them?

Using EMF detectors to trace spiritual evidence and EVP recorders (Electronic voice phenomenas), as well as other high-tech equipment such as UV and nightvision cameras, they are locked in some of the most haunted locations on the planet in the hope of provoking spirits to speak to them or even film their subtle movements. Their style of ghost hunting has been criticised for being disrespectful for they actively look to antagonise whatever it is they believe inhabits these locations, and they go out of their way to provoke whatever response they can garner.

As much as i am on the fence with regards to ghosts existing or not; for i would love to believe they are here among us but i'm also sceptical as to just how people can prove either way, this programme not only provides light-hearted entertainment but also often fascincating footage and soundbites. Of course, there are many occasions where crew members could easily be faking sounds and over acting to make it seem like ghosts are present, but trying to find flaws in this show would be to take away any fun it seems to want to concoct.

Recommended to cynics and believers alike, Ghost Adventures is certainly something else.

Adventureland

In the mould of Juno and 500 Days of Summer comes this 1980s slant on the rom-com genre.

Jessie Eisenberg stars as James - the nerd - who is lost in a mess of life opportunities but clueless on how to act on them. When he finds work at Adventureland, a lame small-town theme park, he meets Em (played by Kristen Stewart) who is in a whole world of confusion herself. As the two become close, it is clear that their backgrounds have impacted their lives more than they would care for and as outside factors do their best to ruin their relationship, it is up to the two of them to finally make something positive happen in their complicated lives.

Setting the film in 1987 seems odd for a style of film better suited to modern times, what with the Indie scene so thriving with films like Juno and 500 Days of Summer being such prominent examples of pop culture dictating relationships. Whilst the soundtrack certainly provides a familiar edge here, it doesn't exactly complement the story or any particular scenes as well as in the aforementioned titles.

The premise is yet another 'nerd falls in love with cute girl' piece and Stewart's brooding aura certainly helps create a barrier for her man to break down if he is to win her over, passed her dark and broken past but there rarely seems to be any doubt as to the film's outcome but that could be said for any in the same field.

No performances stand out, perhaps due to the goofy nature of the piece or because there is never any real depth to any of the characters, instead all that is presented is a set of archetypal teen figures, none of which would really benefit from an exhaustive back history. Whilst this is not necessarily a negative notch against the film as a whole there is a lack of depth to the characters and the audience rarely feels a bond with any of players on display.

For what it's worth, Adventureland is an enjoyable fare. The only real problem is that it never excels in any department and thus suffers as a result.

7/10

Whip It

Whip It

Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut provides a limp but inoffensive tale of triumph and love in back-alley America.

Stepping into the Indie film role once again, Ellen Page plays Bliss Cavendar, a small town girl whose banal life takes a turn for the better when she discovers the world of Roller Derby, a fast-paced and aggressive sport involving competing roller blading teams. Bliss finds that she is a rollerblading natural and soon becomes a first team star, though keeping it from her parents is harder than she realises and tensions arise. Meeting a young man along the way, Bliss is forced to juggle her relationship with him and that of her best friend, resulting in a breakdown of its own. It ultimately becomes apparent that Bliss' happiness is the most important thing, and her roller derbying provides her with a release she has never experienced before.

The only real criticism here is that the roller derby aspect provides little actual appeal or interest. Whilst providing the core story catalyst in the finale and through Bliss’s motivations for moving things on in her life, the sport is somewhat unorthodox and not as simple to appreciate or acknowledge as a story parallel as, say, football.

That aside, the film does little wrong but also fails to sparkle. Acting for the most part is solid – though Eve’s one liners are hard to take seriously – and the sentiments on display are standard to that of any slushy Indie film . There is nothing here of note and the film will undoubtedly be lost amongst the many similar better titles within the genre, as bigger and better films dominate the cinema landscape.

6/10