"Madame Sin" (1972) - From the Video Vault

Like campy spy thrillers? This one was made as Bond-mania was waning. Casting the grand dame was a fun idea. Robert Wagner was a popular leading man, having just finished "It Takes a Thief".

Sir Lew Grade was throwing buckets of cash into film and television in the 1970's. "Madame Sin" was intended to be a television series (each week - another fiendish plot??). At the end of this pilot, the Madame Sin (Bette Davis - on brand - chewing the scenery) is planning to steal the Russian Crown Jewels as she eyes off Windsor castle as a future HQ.

Pros:
Scottish locations (Isle of Mull)
Brian Eatwell (Dr Phibes films) set decoration - a nod to Bond's Ken Adam (Madame Sin's lair is very "Dr No", it even has an underground aquarium).
Excellent  British supporting cast (plus Roy Kinnear has a funny cameo)

Cons:
Annoying electronic soundtrack
Even though it is under 90 minutes, the pacing is slow.
The scene with a deaf Wagner trying to communicate the villain's plans is either embarrassing or comic.
Some scenes seem to have been trimmed.

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins - room renovations, at last

Finally, this 1980's five star hotel is getting major room renovations. Goodbye shower over the bath, faded, worn upholstery and dated television cabinets. Rooms facing north (not bay view rooms) seem to be the first to be getting the treatment. There have been 'soft' renovations over the years and the 50th (top floor suites) were renovated over 10 years ago. With St Regis and Shangri-La hotels coming to Melbourne soon, the renovations are crucial.

Prestige Suite

"Kingdom" 2019 Best series on Netflix at the moment?

Think an Oriental "Game of Thrones" meets "The Walking Dead".
With sumptuous production design, sweeping cinematography and suspenseful direction, this six part series is a winner. No wonder Season 2 is in the works. The show is adapted from the web-comic series "The Kingdom of the Gods".
The third episode's mass-zombie chase through the forest track was nail-bitingly good. The final episode in Season 1 was a mere 43 minutes, concluding with a cliff-hanger.

"Love Death and Robots" mini reviews

Alternate Histories - top episode, naughty but nice

Ice Age - delightful tone, nod to "Night at the Museum"

Zima Blue - high concept, shades of "Silent Running" (Hi, Dewey)

The Secret War - mini epic movie

Three Robots - jokey, black, written by a dog-person?

The Witness - pervy Hitchcock goes to Hong Kong, high art

Lucky 13 - sentimental, but gets away with it, looks like a computer game

Helping Hand - nod to "Gravity", incredibly suspenseful

Suits - enjoyable hokum "Starship Troopers" meets "The Real McCoys"

When the yogurt took over - high culture?

Good Hunting - steampunk porn

Fish Night - visually stunning

Shape Shifters - predictable but still impressive

The Dump - not rubbish, satisfyingly silly

Blindspot - for Speed Racer/Transformer fans

Sucker of Souls - Indian Jones meets Van Helsing 

Sonnie's Edge - grisly, for 13 year old boys?

Beyond the Aquila Rift - gorgeous to behold, but not much substance, welcome to Netflix.

"Love Death and Robots" episodes - ranked from best to worst (1 -18)

1. Alternate Histories
2. Ice Age
3. Zima Blue
4. The Secret War
5. Three Robots
6. The Witness
7. Lucky 13
8. Helping Hand
9. Suits
10. When the yogurt took over
11. Good Hunting
12. Fish Night
13. Shape Shifters
14. The Dump
15. Blindspot
16. Sucker of Souls
17. Sonnie's Edge
18. Beyond the Aquila Rift

The easiest way to tour Uluwatu Temple - Hiring a private driver

1. Go early. By 10 a.m. the tour buses are starting to arrive. If you like crowds wait for kecak dance/sunset hordes.
2. Drivers wait outside big hotels in Kuta and Nusa Dua. Bargain for a good price. We wanted three hours (100,000 rupiah per hour seemed fair - roughly one hour each way to get there and one hour to walk the cliffs and forest trails. The driver was happy with 300,000 rupiah. He waited in the car park until we returned. The van was comfortable and air conditioned.
3. Travel time (Nusa Dua - Uluwatu) varies from 35-55 minutes depending on route taken and traffic.
4. Clothing - even though the actual temple is out of bounds - you are provided with sarong and sash with your 30, 000 admission fee.
5. Watch the monkeys. Keep your distance. They have been known to grab food, sunglasses, hats, shiny jewellery.
6. A guide is unnecessary.

Five things I hate about Bali...

1. Dodgy street currency exchange. If the rate looks too good to be true... it is. Go to reputable money changers (e.g. PT Central Kuta, BMC) but avoid hotel exchange rates.

2. Plastics in the surf - disposable diapers are the worst

3. The taxi mafia/taxi counter prices at Ngurah Rai Airport
 Head outside the gates (5 minute walk) and grab a metered taxi (e.g. Blue Bird Group) or (if you are feeling cheeky and only have hand luggage), take the lift up to the Arrivals level and grab a taxi that's just dropped someone off.

4. The proliferation of tattoo parlours.
New trend - tattoo removal shops in Kuta/Legian.

5. Roadside rubbish dumping.
If there's a slope, chances are there's a mountain of trash down there.

5 reasons Bali is still a great destination

Legian sunset

Since the 1970's tourists have been flocking to the Indonesian island of Bali. Why do they return? Is Bali past its use-by-date? Here's why they keep on coming (a personal view):

• Ngurah Rai International Airport has finally got its act together. Passport control is a breeze. There is even an "Over 60 years booth". No Visa on Arrival (e.g. for Australian tourists) hassles.
• The morning swim/body surf at Legian Beach (before 7 a.m.). No surf schools, no glare, no hassle, just beach dogs, fishing boats on the horizon, great surf and misty Mount Agung to the north.
• Food. Cap cay or Gado-gado (around $A2 each) at the closest warung. Never quite the same, always delicious.
• Range of accommodation options (from $20 - $2000 a night)
• The people. Still friendly, great customer service with a cheeky sense of humour.