Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet

I thought I knew the story of Romeo and Juliet, and I thought there probably weren't many more interesting things adaptors could do with it. Boy, was I wrong!

I've liked and been impressed by all the Matthew Bourne ballets I've seen - they're always inventive, clever, surprising and emotive. My responses have been varied in intensity (Swan Lake is still one of my favourite shows ever, while Cinderella is good but not really special).

Romeo and Juliet took my by surprise in various ways - it was visceral and disturbing, an unexpectedly fresh take on the classic story, and very affecting. I don't think it will go down on my list of shows I love and will want to see many times, but it was very, very good. Well worth a visit if you're attracted to impressive and challenging modern ballet.

( Cut for spoilers... )

Time and Time and Time Over Again

I've been stuck in a time loop for the last three days. To be able to listen to more Ink To Film episodes, first I listened to the audiobook of All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakuazaka, then I read the manga version by Ryosuke Takeuchi and Takeshi Obata, and then I watched the movie adaptation, Edge of Tomorrow. It turned out to be the right order to do it in, not only chronologically but also experientially, since I thought the manga was better than the novel and the film was better than the manga.

All of them tell the story of a solider in a future war against invading aliens, who gets stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again, with the loop restarting when he dies.

( Strap in, folks - it's going to be a long and spoilery ride... )