Silver Screen Queens 183: Westworld (1973)

Published 16 November 2016 • 36 minutes, 24 seconds

With the new Westworld TV show blowing up, we decided to go back to the original film, written and directed by Michael Crichton in 1973. We were pleasantly surprised by a smart sci-fi that was way ahead of its time. It was the first film to use CGI technology, four years before STAR WARS, and it has a sensitive and thoughtful take on the rise of robots and artificial intelligence. Sure, it’s slow by today’s standards, but we’re glad we made the effort. You can rent it on YouTube for a few bucks.

Mobile Couch 96: Why Are Manhole Covers Round?

Published 14 November 2016 • 49 minutes, 38 seconds

Jelly recounts his experience with interviewing for a developer position within a big tech company. He and Ben reveal a little insight into what the process is like, what you should know going in, and what you can take from the process to apply to the interviews at your own company.

Silver Screen Queens 182: Hell or High Water

Published 9 November 2016 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds

We didn’t know much about this film, other than Chris Pine Western, so obviously we had to see it. While it’s got some good points (gorgeous cinematography, interesting score, adventurous direction and good acting), the film as a whole felt a bit too languid for a movie about two bank robbers being pursued by a Texas Ranger.

Silver Screen Queens 181: Doctor Strange

Published 2 November 2016 • 43 minutes, 9 seconds

We didn’t exactly go into Marvel’s latest effort with high expectations, but we were pleasantly surprised. Once you get past the whitewashing, the male-centric story and the bad accent, it’s well-made escapist fun with good actors and sterling special effects. Marvel sucks us in once again.

Mobile Couch 95: Quickly Close It Again

Published 31 October 2016 • 1 hour, 1 minute

Ben and Jelly run through a quick and dirty primary of Git, one of the most popular version control systems around today. Starting from the very basics, they run through all the things you need to know to use it in your day to day work, why you should be using some method of version control, and the clients they use to make things nice and easy to manage.

Silver Screen Queens 180: The Girl on the Train

Published 26 October 2016 • 45 minutes, 18 seconds

Another blockbuster novel turned film, The Girl on the Train has quite a bit in common with 2014’s Gone Girl, although executed with less finesse. It has some strong points, namely the prioritising of womens’ viewpoints, a serious discussion of domestic abuse, and a great lead performance from Emily Blunt, but the structure is messy and there are plot holes big enough to drive a train through.

Silver Screen Queens 179: Deepwater Horizon

Published 19 October 2016 • 44 minutes, 30 seconds

SSQ favourites Dylan O’Brien and Gina Rodriguez star in this dramatisation of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that led to the worst oil spill in US history, creating devastation in the Gulf of Mexico. We went in not expecting much, coming from the director of BATTLESHIP, but we were mistaken. The movie approaches its subject matter with compassion and humanity and largely avoids some of the more dire disaster movie clichés.

Mobile Couch 94: Smells Like a Duck

Published 17 October 2016 • 49 minutes, 8 seconds

Once again, the Apple developer community has been host to scandal! Not a pair to leave this opportunity behind, Ben and Jelly discuss how developers can learn from this, looking at the mistakes that were made, how to avoid them, and what you need to remember when things go bad.

Silver Screen Queens 178: Luke Cage Season 1

Published 12 October 2016 • 2 hours, 5 minutes

Another TV interlude as the first season of Netflix’s LUKE CAGE drops. We’re joined by our friend Jamie Butlin to talk being bulletproof, series storytelling and snake-based villains. Luke Cage’s Harlem is beautifully realised, the music is off the charts, and the acting is top notch, especially Mahershala Ali and Alfre Woodard. But while the show is extremely progressive in some aspects, it’s treatment of women isn’t great, and the pacing would have benefitted from allowing the story to breathe a little. WARNING: SPOILERS.

Silver Screen Queens 177: The Magnificent Seven

Published 5 October 2016 • 32 minutes, 41 seconds

Bereft of new ideas, Hollywood is re-making classic films, but with Antoine Fuqua helming, Denzel Washington in the lead and a Chris, we thought this one was worth a look. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stand up well against Seven Samurai or the 1960 Hollywood version, but it has some fun moments and a genuine commitment to re-examining some of the prejudices inherent in the myth of the wild west.