West of Memphis... aka Arkansas

*Spoiler alert*

I was in one of those moods, my brain was overcome with the desire to be enraged, horrified and then overloaded with facts that, even though I had no prior knowledge of the case/ conspiracy/ law etc etc, would lead me to make a definite decision that I would share with anyone who would listen. You are now the person who is listening and this week's documentary, West of Memphis.

So I should probably clear my prior statement up a bit first - No, I do not believe every documentary I see... I've seen films about the holocaust and films made by holocaust denialists so if I did indeed believe every documentary I saw I would be, simultaneously, a holocaust-denier and a holocaust-believer. Fortunately I do not, because that  sort of paradox would leave you crazy. I do, however, find some documentaries so hell-bent on forcing an opinion upon the viewer and so little time presenting their facts that you, as a viewer, just kind of get lost in a surreal world of marginal fact and bias fairy-tales... sort of like The Sun, or Piers Morgan. Whichever makes you less nauseous I guess.

I have been wanting to see West of Memphis for a while, I never saw the Paradise Lost saga but I read the Milton book so I think I have that pretty much covered. West of Memphis, for those of you who haven't heard of Johnny Depp or Eddie Vedder, is the harrowing case of the West Memphis Three (not to be confused with the West Memphis Free, which they later became known as - it saved a lot of PR work, re-branding etc...) who at the ages of 16, 17 & 18 were convicted of the murder of three 8 year old boys in Arkansas. The case against them... being a Goth, Hillbilly and "Just plain stupid" - outsiders, "AHHHH SCARY". There's no evidence, no motive, no nothing... except Forrest Gump rats on them because he a) is manipulated by the Police or b) forgot that it was supposed to be a secret and accidentally told everyone (ahhh shit - it happens!)

So Johnny Depp and Eddie Vedder and that Nazi guy from Sons of Anarchy decide to put on a concert to promote the case and raise money to get those three young roustabouts out of prison. I trivialise their efforts even though they literally saved three people's lives - kudos! However Henry Rollins' frequent reference to his own similarities to the West Memphis Three left me confused and concerned that he was actually just confessing that he was one of the West Memphis Three but had maybe got a double to stand in for him, you know so he could carry on with his movie career and stuff... sort of like when they changed the actress who played Mrs Banks from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Like we weren't going to notice that!

Stop! Back to the film....

Although the film does speculate significantly, and I did find myself walking away from it determined that I knew who the killer was, it was still a excellent compilation of fact, celebrity, dramatic sound scoring and powerful portrait shots. Joking aside, it was an extremely powerful film, one that left me feeling genuinely concerned about the judicial system not just in the US but all over the world... no one is safe from the LAW! 

An additional plus for this film is that it ends on a sort-of happy note which, compared to most documentaries I find myself watching, is a pleasant rarity. 

Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour: All Muggles welcome

So it finally happened.... I returned to my true home, the magical world of Harry Potter!!!

If you haven't been, WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN DOING? Get there now!! Stop reading this... go go GO!

Ok, so now you have at least booked your tickets lets talk Harry Potter!

I wont go into too finer detail as I don''t want to spoil the magic for any other wanna-be magicians and witches but I will tell you how amazing and enchanting it is!

The Studio Tour is incredible, it captures all of the magic of the films but in a way that makes it accessible to all - Wizard or Muggle. My amazing friend, who took me to the Studios was not a Harry Potter fan (not through my lack of trying) but a fan of movies and production design which was perfect, as the studios are full of original sets, models and masks and offers a unique insight the somewhat mysterious world of production design and cinema.

I was amazed to learn that CGI played a very small part in the films, and that instead a vast crew of designers, artists, builders and many others were employed to create a physical world rather than a virtual one and really the studios are more a celebration of those who made Harry's world rather than the actors.

The studios are clearly a labor of love, and created by a team of Potter enthusiasts. Part of the tour was guided by some extremely enthusiastic folks, however, I found myself completely distracted by the sets, props etc that I have no idea what they said/did! Sorry guys - but I am sure you were great! However, when  you are in the Great Hall with Dumbledore stood ready to address an audience, its almost impossible to acknowledge anything else!

The tour is full of some fantastic surprises, and fantastic photo opportunities... and an opportunity to spend your months wages on a mimic wizarding cloak, wand and chocolate frog. Something I would normally be enraged by, but after you have been thrust through the awe-inspiring street, perved inside the dorm rooms of Harry and Ron, and knocked on the door of the Dursley's on Private Drive - it is hard to be mad about plastic wands that cost... **spoiler alert**... £25

As friend described my visit to the Studios, as like dealing with a hyperactive child on Ecstasy... and I don't think she was wrong!