Film Review - Ad Astra

This film was so bad that I have made a new graphic for it.  

This is going to be reserved for the real clunkers. I have 61 film reviews to write up, including this one and only 3 of them deserve this figure, and one of those is an edge case. 

Ad Astra was terrible. 

Bad science, bad plot, bad logic. 

Although I will say it had good set design. 

What annoyed me about it so much? 

It was the laziness. 

I'm a bad sci-fi fan. I do not expect diamond-level hardness in my sci-fi films. I am happy to accept internally cohesive over scientifically accurate. But, if you're going to have one of your characters be a deep space explorer charting new planets out in the Kuiper belt don't have three pictures of "new space objects" be the same picture of Europa turned 90 degrees and coloured in differently. 

Particularly not if you say things like "what I’m trying to do is the most realistic depiction of space travel that’s been put in a movie and to basically say, ‘Space is awfully hostile to us.’ It’s kind of a Heart of Darkness story about traveling to the outer edge of our solar system." during the press tour. (https://collider.com/james-gray-brad-pitt-ad-astra-filming/) 

You really don't get to say that if you have scenes that only work if there is no convection of heat from rocket engines. 

It's not just Europa, and basic physics, it's every little detail of the film. For instance, the faked geography of the opening shot. "Whilst watching Ad Astra, instantly recognised two lakes as Brad Pitt was looking down to Earth. Qinghai Lake and Lake Urmia. Obviously they are no where close to each other, one is in China, the other in Iran." (quoted with permission from here - https://x.com/x4rius/status/1248252953074360320). 

In the director's defence, he does achieve the whole "Heart of Darkness" theme he was aiming for, although his is more the isolation of space drives you mad rather than colonialism will destroy us all.

The vibe I got was more Odysseus in the "everyone he meets dies" way but I think we have to accept my brain was warped at an early age. 

The problem is that it was sold as 'interesting sci-fi philosophical film', but it is in fact, "man-pain the movie: this time we're in space". Which would be hard to sit through anyway, but the lead character is deliberately emotionless as his major characteristic and he's the only character with any major screen time ... this film is dull and unengaging as well as having all those technical flaws. 

Gah!  The whole thing is a mess and is a waste of two hours of your life.

Euro 2025 - Quarterfinal network diagrams

The group stage diagrams and predictions based on them can be found here - https://fulltimesportsfan.wordpress.com/2025/06/29/euro-2025-group-stage-network-diagrams/

How did the group stage predictions go? 

From group A, I predicted Norway and Switzerland would qualify for the quarterfinals, and I was right, even if it involved extra time goals in the decider. 

Group B, I predicted Spain and AN other, which I am aware is a bit of a "the sky is blue" sort of prediction. 

Group C, I predicted Germany and Sweden 

Group D, I predicted Netherlands and one of England and France, which was oh so wrong. 

Out of 8, I am willing to call that about equivalent to 5/8. 

With that in mind, here are the quarterfinal network diagrams 

Unlabelled: Labelled:  

In the communities view, each nation is its own separate colour. Sweden are the national team closest to the centre (just, vs. Norway). 

Either Lyon or Bayern Munich are the club team closest to the centre. 

Barcelona are the team with the most representatives left in with 14, then comes Bayern Munich and Juventus with 13 then Chelsea with 12. 

Predictions for the quarterfinals: 

These are quite difficult because Italy and Spain are pulled out by how many of their players play for Juventus and Barcelona respectively, while Bayern Munich, and the players that play for them, are pulling together Sweden and Germany, and Arsenal and Chelsea are holding together England, Sweden and Norway. 

Sweden vs England - Diagram says Sweden 

Norway vs Italy - Diagram says Norway, plus every single women's football pundit keeps bewailing how often Italy somehow manage to screw up. On the other hand, Norway trip over their own feet also. 

France vs Germany - Diagram says Germany just. Football fan says "ooooh". 

Spain vs Switzerland - Remember how I said Barcelona pulled Spain out of the diagram. This really reflects that. Switzerland are far closer to the centre. On the other hand, there is no way I can see Switzerland beating this Spanish team.

Formula 1 2025 - British Grand Prix

Hulkenbooooooooomiest 

Finally. 

Etc 

It turns out that there are circumstances where I will cheer against a Ferrari. Because finishing 3rd and where the heck ever Leclerc finished is not actually all that much better than 4th and wherever (no really, why is there a Ferrari finishing outside the points?!!!), while Hülkenberg finally getting a podium ... that's something special. 

I'm not saying that it was a long time coming but Clare Williams was his press officer when he driving for Williams. (She was adorably happy for him.) 

I loved how loud the Sauber team were for him, and that the the teams with a champagne budget used some of it to pass champagne to Sauber so they would have some. 

Second most heart-warming moment had to be Mrs. Norris hugging her son. I am not Team Lando (L is. L has been since he started. He is presently impossible and hoping to reach new heights of impossible if Lando wins the title this year.) but I am entirely happy for him. 

BBC radio were wise and knowledgeable and got Damon Hill in. He's so lovely!!!! 

Channel 4 gave me Mika Hakinnen terrifying David Coulthard in a sportscar - racers never change - and Coulthard getting to drive not just *a* vintage Alfa Romeo but the Alfa Romeo that won the first ever British Grand Prix.

I am frequently mean about Coulthard but the sheer joy he radiated. 

Why am I going on about everything but the racing? Because it was a bit of a damp squib (chapeau to Gasly for that overtake though). The rain and associated chaos robbed us viewers of racing. There wasn't even any fun chaos moments, except possibly Lance Stroll's "that's not even a strategy" somehow getting him more points than Alonso, and Alonso's epic radio whinge. 

But overall, I do not care that there wasn't much racing because

Film Review - Time Bandits

D took me to the Mockingbird Cinema (https://mockingbirdcinema.com/MockingbirdCinema.dll/Home) because, as an indie cinema, they reshow older films sometimes.

I had seen Time Bandits before, but never in the right order. As you can imagine, it has a very different effect in the right order - it works better, despite it very much being Terry Gilliam doing the child hero's journey.

And ending it very Gilliamly. (Which I define as an ending that is sort of, if not unhappy, then lacking in comfort. I think that might be the hallmark of his films, they provide no direct comforting message.)

But at least things look interesting. (I will forgive a lot for interesting)

Writing this has made me realise how difficult I find it to describe Terry Gilliam's films and my responses to them. They're very much experiences rather than a solid thing that can be described, or certainly not by me, who, I admit, comes from the science and sense end of things rather than humanities and sensibilities. I am happier with things that are and aren't, rather than -ish, but Gilliam's films are full of -ish and questions, but I like that about them. They're full of that feeling, without trying to explain everything, as opposed to some films that aim for that and then try to explain, and that never works for me. (Spoiling my review in advance, I think that's why I did not jive with 'Everything, Everywhere, All At Once'.)

Euro 2025 Network Diagrams - An Update

Every time, I forget that the teams have up until their first game to make injury swaps. And because I try to get the figures ready in time for the first match that means I need to make an update now. 

The unlucky players this time are: 

Adelina Engman (Finland) withdrawing because of a thigh injury (https://yle.fi/a/7-10080591). Her replacement is Anni Hartikainen. 

Luana Bühler (Switzerland) might win unluckiest, because she had to withdraw from a home tournament with a knee injury (https://www.football.ch/sfv/nationalteams/a-team-frauen/UWNL/news/frauen-nationalteam-luana-buehler-faellt-fuer-das-heim-turnier-aus.aspx). Her replacement is Laia Ballesté. 

Chiara Beccari (Italy) is out with a thigh strain (https://total-italianfootball.com/womens-euro-2025-italy-beccari-out-injury-bergamaschi-in/). Her replacement is another Juventus player, Valentina Bergamaschi. 

Martyna Brodzik (Poland) is out ill (https://pzpn.pl/federacja/aktualnosci/2025-06-22/zmiana-w-liscie-zawodniczek-powolanych-na-uefa-euro-2025). She has been replaced by Małgorzata Mesjasz. Because Mesjasz plays for AC Milan, this caused a fair amount of movement in the diagram. 

The major changes to the diagram is that because of Poland moving up slightly, Germany and Norway have been split. The move has also pulled Italy in so they are directly above Denmark.  

In the community view, Switzerland and Germany are still together in one community but Sweden and England are now separate communities.  

The changes bring no clarity to any predictions.

Formula 1 2025 - Austrian Grand Prix

The most important thing first - there was actual racing! Up and down the grid. Actual racing!!!

That was a good race.

I feel so sorry for Williams. I have no idea what's causing everything to suddenly go wrong for them, but it's depressing. And slightly alarming when a car's brakes set on fire. I would suggest they borrow the exorcist Red Bull ought to hire for that second car. At this point, the reason for the poor performance of that second car being a curse makes as much sense as anything else, because both Tsunoda's performance when he was in the RB and Lawson's now he's in it, suggest that it isn't the driver (see also Albon in the Williams when it is not misbehaving).

On the happier side, well done Sauber! Hulkenbooooom happened again - 20th to 9th. Of course, it fits with the rest of his career that an 11 place rise up the grid doesn't get him driver of the day. But I can't be annoyed, because Bortoleto got his first ever points and F1 fans are as sentimental as the next group.

Ferrari!!! Have pace!!!

Repeat after me for the umpteenth time - I will not be optimistic about Ferrari's performance based on a single race.
I will not be optimistic about Ferrari's performance based on a single race.

(Now if only they could sort out the Hamilton and Leclerc to strategy team communication, because hilarious though it is to hear the drivers having mid-race strategy arguments, I don't think it's efficient.)

In the commentary, I managed to listen to this on BBC radio and then watch the Channel 4 highlights. Channel 4, occasionally home to Mark Webber in the comms box are mysteriously totally in Piastri's corner. Like serious, I'm wondering if they got a memo saying they ought not to make it obvious that as a British broadcaster they were going to cheer for the Brit and have gone too far the other way.

BBC meanwhile are trying to get rid of Tsunoda which makes me both sad and angry. You won't like me when I'm angry BBC comms team.

One thing I will give Channel 4 credit for - bonus Eric Bana who was being lovely and fannishly enthusiastic.

I do wish they'd put up the interview they had with Jonathan Wheatley afterwards. He's so lovely.