Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

FILM & MUSIC

Transformers Director Michael Bay Starring Shia LaBoeuf, Megan Fox

There’s a brilliant scene in 1979’s so-good-it’s-bad Bond film Moonraker; 007 is stuck in an astronaut training machine and, as it whirls round and round out of control, the massive G-forces pin Roger Moore against his seat and stretch his face like Plasticine.

That’s kind of what it’s like watching Transformers.

Based on a range of robot action figures, and directed by Michael Bay – the man with the ultimate fetish for grown up boys’ toys like aircraft carriers and fighter jets – Transformers is a high-octane rocket ride of deafening explosions, carnage and 80-foot transforming aliens.

The plot sees loveable nerd Shia LaBoeuf caught up in an intergalactic battle between two races of warring aliens desperate to gain control of an ancient artifact called ‘The Cube’. With that flimsiest of excuses, Bay serves up a spectacular feast of action-packed special effects. There hasn’t been a sci-fi film like it for a long, long time.

+ This month’s music releases

Super Furry Animals
Hey Venus!

Wales may have a rich musical heritage, but all-male voice choirs aren’t exactly rockin’ the ‘kidz’ these days. Thank St. David, then, for the Super Furry Animals – the best, well, the only psychedelic rock band from the land of the leek.

Originally planned as a concept album about the adventures of a young woman, Hey Venus! has one goal: mind-destroying sonic greatness.

Pats on the back all round because this is a triumphant comeback from the Furries – boldly experimental but solid and lyrical to boot.

Mario
Go

Silky-smooth crooner Mario shows no sign of having lost the magic on his latest album, Go. Sure, it’s full of squelchy songs and slushy lyrics, but with the likes of Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys and Timbaland on board, it’s also chock full of irresistible hooks and innovative tunes.

The lovey-dovey R’n’B market is pretty crowded right now, but with a voice reminiscent of early-era Michael Jackson, Mario is definitely the man to beat.

In the news

Cher-Ching

Bag yourself a mega pay day by becoming a Hollywood star. Tom Hanks hit the jackpot for Da Vinci Code follow-up Angels and Demons with a record pay cheque of $50 million. Borat star Sasha Baron Cohen was laughing all the way to the bank after he snapped up $42 million to write a film for his new character, Bruno. Not all stars are so greedy: Will Ferrel turned down $40 million after refusing to make a sequel to his 2003 hit, Elf.

Cher-Ching 3: Ching Harder

The summer of ‘threequels’ has had box office tills ringing. It started with Spider-Man 3’s record weekend haul of over $150 million in the US, on its way to nearly $900 million worldwide. Now Captain Jack Sparrow’s amassed a pirate booty of $850 million and counting in global ticket sales. And you don’t have to be handsome to get bums on seats – Shrek the Third made $121 million on its US debut – a record for an animation.

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