Phil W. Bayles

Or: How I Learned Christopher Nolan Needs To Make A Horror Movie

If this edition of Stuff I’ve Been Enjoying has a theme, it’s probably something like “Going on Adventures”. Maybe I’m just desperate to go on holiday…

I’ve Been Reading…

I Hear A New World is the second book in Alan Moore’s Long London series, and it’s an absolute trip: both a fascinating time capsule of post-war Britain and a psychedelic voyage into a surreal reflection of the Big Smoke, where men with mushroom clouds for heads multiply with fears of the atom bomb, and psychotic monsters make friends with the Kray twins.

It’s also, surprisingly, hilarious. Moore’s work in comics isn’t exactly known for its levity, but I Hear A New World is full of both biting observations and full-on slapstick. The protagonist — the improbably-named Dennis Knuckleyard — is the constant straight man in a topsy-turvy world, and following his adventures is just a joy. Roll on Book Three!

I’ve Been Watching…

Ignore the right-wing chuds who try to use complaints of “historical accuracy” to launder their bigotry. To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is spectacular. It looks incredible on the big screen, Ludwig Göransson’s score is a belter, and at least four of the actors involved give the best performances of their entire careers.

What I didn’t expect was for it to be so creepy in parts. The cyclops Polyphemus feels like a Francisco Goya painting come to life, and the scene in which Circe turns Odysseus’ men into swine goes into full-on body horror with some disturbing practical effects.

I’ve Been Playing…

I have extremely fond memories of playing Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag as a student, sailing the high seas and pretending that it was somehow going to help me get a History degree. This week I’ve been revisiting those memories with Black Flag Resynced.

Because I’m not really revisiting it, am I? This is a remake, built from the ground up for modern consoles, and sailing on the ship of Edward Kenway inevitably makes me think of the Ship of Theseus. How much of a piece of art can you change before it’s something entirely different? Does sanding off the rough edges take away from the experience? I don’t know. But I do know sailing for the unknown horizon, with the spray in your hair and a shanty on your lips, is every bit as fun as it was thirteen years ago.

Thanks for reading! As always, be sure to subscribe and let me know if there’s anything you think I should read, play or watch.