The Sapphires is a partial hit but The Alps has a mountain to climb November 8, 2012 FILM THE SAPPHIRES Cert 12A | By Alex Dymoke *** Soul music and Chris O’Dowd’s face must be two of the most inherently likeable things on the planet. Given that both feature prominently in Australian movie The Sapphires, it is perhaps unsurprising that the film has landed in the UK to an enthusiastic chorus of [...]
I spy with my Discerning Eye, some hot new talent November 8, 2012 ART ING DISCERNING EYE EXHIBITION The Mall Galleries, The Mall, SW1 This year’s ING Discerning Eye Exhibition is gearing up for its grand opening next week, when a wealth of fascinating works will go on display. The exhibition features exciting pieces from artists including Harry Pye, whose poignant block-colour paintings beautifully capture everyday hope and [...]
Where to drink November 8, 2012 The Parisian-born phenomenon Buddha-Bar launched last week, reincarnated in Knightsbridge following the closure of their Embankment-based venue two years ago. This very different proposition has a modern take on its Eastern influences and is poised to reclaim glory with delectable cuisine, incredible decor from renowned sculptor David Begbie, inspired mixology and the live DJ sets [...]
House repossessions fall to five-year low November 8, 2012 House repossessions fell to a five-year low in the third quarter, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said today. A total of 8,200 properties were taken into possession over the three months to September, down from 8,500 in the second quarter and 9,600 the year previously, the trade body said. Over the first nine months [...]
There is more to Belstaff than movie fodder November 7, 2012 Leather IS having quite a moment. You might be thinking: when did it ever disappear? But if you cast your mind back a couple of seasons, you’ll remember all the lightweight, colour-blocked fabrics that captured everyone’s imagination – jackets that looked like they should have come with a bike were nowhere to be seen. But [...]
Small but perfectly formed: we put the iPad Mini through its paces November 7, 2012 Apple’s great skill lies in creating products you didn’t know you needed. Nobody thought they wanted a little metal box with all their music on it, but when it arrived, the world went all doe-eyed and declared its undying love. Tablets had been around for years and made no impact on the public consciousness. “Fingerprints,” [...]
Halo 4: as much fun as you can have on an Xbox November 7, 2012 GAME HALO 4 Xbox 360 | ***** HALO ISN’T just a video game – it’s a gigantic, multimedia behemoth, crushing all in its path under its metal-plated boots. Since the original Halo launched on Microsoft’s first Xbox, the franchise has grown to fill an entire universe, with spin-offs including an animated web series, a graphic [...]
How the 4th gen iPad measures up November 7, 2012 The surprise package in the Apple announcements last month was the news there would be an update to the 3rd generation iPad. Apple says it will continue to sell the iPad 2 (starting price £329) but will replace the “new iPad” (which is now the old iPad – this naming business is getting rather complicated…) [...]
The new Jaguar estate. Yes…estate November 6, 2012 Why are we changing cars?” I ask, momentarily confused. Climbing out of Jaguar’s new XF Sportbrake and into exactly the same car – the top-end 271bhp 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel V6 version – makes no sense. And then it all becomes clear – the new car has a 50kg Smeg fridge in the back. This [...]
CAR TALK November 6, 2012 Jessica Ennis shows off the new Jaguar Olympian Jessica Ennis will be driving the new Jaguar F-Type at this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show on 10 November. Ennis has already driven the two-seater at Jaguar’s test track reaching a speed of 150mph. Ennis is a Jaguar Academy of Sport Ambassador and already drives an XKR. She [...]