The day in reviews!

As I said in my previous post, today is all about checking out some new stuff, and reporting back on whether it's the dog's danglies, or Parappa the Crapper.

First up: The new, new Mini!


Now, when I first saw pictures of the new, new Mini (erm... let's just cut one of the 'new's huh?) a couple of months back my reaction was something like "hmmm..."

Which is the distinct sound of the underwhelmed.

I may have even mentioned to Marcosy (a fellow Mini owner - we're car buddies!) that I thought it looked like a six year-old's interpretation of the current model, what with the slightly bulbous arse, bigger headlights - generally an all-round exaggeration of the existing styling cues. But, being the whore that I am there was no way I was going to say no to driving one.

Arriving at my dealer (sorted for eeeez and whizz) I wandered in to confront a new Mini. Once again I said "hmmm..." But this time there was something different about the "hmmm..."

Because the new Mini looks... kind of awesome in the metal.

There seems to be a clarity of purpose to the changes that have been made. It looks chunker, funkier, and no less huggable. The interior, which I feared would be a mountain of bare plastic, is warm and inviting, friendly, functional, and freakin' neat (the boot is still the size of a shoebox though!).

And then I was plonked in a gold/silvery Cooper S for a test drive, which I have rendered here with the aid of some hasty photoshopping.


WHAT STRUC- oh, sorry, caps lock was on. What struck me first was that it felt much like the 5-Series I drove the other week. The keyless start was the same, the parking sensors and navigational screen were the same. Hell, even the indicators were the same!

And then we were off. Into a traffic jam. Although seeing as I spend a fair bit of time in traffic each day, this was quite a nice way to see how the new Mini compared to my Mini. And it meant that my 15 minute test drive stretched out into about 35 minutes. Bo. Nus.

There's been a lot of comments in the motoring press about how this Mini has grown up a bit. Matured, like a fine wiiiine, I suppose. And that's true. The lovely lady who sat in on my test drive compared my generation of Mini as being like a teenager, while the new one is a twentysomething - a bit like me then! Y'know, basically it's got responsibilities, but it still likes a bit of fun and wants to watch Star Trek every now and then. Maybe even sit around in its pants on a warm day. Yes? No? Um, OK.

It's all very refined, but hit the twisties and new Mini is up for a laugh.

I liked it. A lot, in fact.

And when I'm in the market for a new motor, I will definitely be buying one (I'm particularly interested in the Clubman estate that is due around 2008, just to have something a little different).

Fingers crossed I win the lottery soon.

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To the movies!

First, let me say that I absolutely loved Casino Royale - without doubt the best spy movie ever made. If you replace the words 'Casino Royale' with the words 'The Prestige,' and the word 'spy' with the words 'dueling magicians,' that is.

Casino Royale was, you see, completely, totally, and massively sold out. "Are you here to see Casino Royale or Borat?" said the tuxedo'd man outside the cinema. "Yes!" I replied. "Sold out till 10:30," he fired back.

So, Sweatband and I decided to see The Prestige instead, which I wanted to see anyway, but I think it was a little disappointing for Sweatband who seemed to be quite eager to see Daniel Craig in his little blue trunks.

"Are you here to Casino Royale or Borat?" said the tuxedo'd man outside the cinema once again.

"Not now," I replied.

For those who don't know, The Prestige is all about two magician friends who ultimately become rivals as they try to steal each other's tricks and generally out-do each other on stage.

And like the new, new Mini, I absolutely loved it. It was extremely well plotted, engrossing to follow, beautifully directed, and very well acted (even if Christian Bale's English accent sounded really dodgy - which came as something of a surprise considering he's... well, er, English). It also had David Bowie in it, and as a big fan of his music and acting (Labyrinth anyone?) this was a particular treat; he's very well cast as a mysterious and eccentric scientist.

You know how sometimes you realise the twist in a movie before the big reveal - which often spoils the denoument? Well I realised the twist - it's not so much a twist, more a particularly important plot point - here, and it didn't spoil it at all. In fact it merely added to the sense of foreboding as the movie came to a close. I genuinely think that this is one of the best movies I've seen this year.

Brilliant, brilliant film - go see.

Unless you want to see Daniel Craig smuggling a banana.