SOV Recommends

Hi folks it's time for part two of our weekly recommendations blog. As always please add your own reviews or recommendations in the comments section below (otherwise I'll be tempted to start anonymously commenting on my own blogs..and that would be sad...talking to yourself is one of the first signs of madness...)

Anyway onto this week's picks!

Movie Of The Week: Come And See

I came across this absolutely mental Russian World War II film by chance last week and it has certainly left a lasting impression. Released in 1985 and directed by Elem Klimov the story follows a young soviet boy who witnesses the atrocities of war during the Nazi occupation of Belarus. The oppressive atmosphere, haunting soundtrack and amazing camera work gives the film a brutal realism that I have not experienced in a war film before. This is a far cry from your typical Hollywood/US Army recruitment movie. There are no action hero's to be found here, just a lasting understanding of the true horrors of war. This is now in my top 5 war movies so would highly recommend a watch. Be warned though it's disturbing imagery is not for the faint hearted. Check out the trailer below or for more info see the IMDB page here.

Album Of The Week: Plan B - ill Manors

Ben Drew aka Plan B  released the soundtrack to his directorial debut feature film 'ill Manors' last week. I've not had a chance to catch the film yet but if the album is anything to go by it will definitely be worth a watch. An explosive mixture of hip-hop, dance and soul the album is a series of character portraits which focus on the struggle to survive in an East London world of poverty, drugs and crime. Drew's exceptional lyricism and dramatic narratives combined with his impeccable music results in a masterpiece of British urban storytelling. Definitely worth a listen. Check out the trailer for the film and the brilliant 'Playing With Fire' below:

Or visit Plan B's official YouTube channel here

Tech Of The Week: Windows 8 Release Preview

I know that the developer and release previews for Windows 8 have been around for a while now but I finally decided to take the plunge this week and I've got to say I'm very impressed so far. It takes a while to get used to the new 'Metro' style start screen and the lack of a windows button is frustrating, however the overall experience has been a rewarding one. A giant leap from previous Windows iterations, the operating system has been overhauled to work seamlessly across both PC and tablet platforms and it is easy to see how this will be a success. Having owned a Windows Phone for a while now I'm used to the concept of 'Live Tiles' but they seem to be far more effective on the PC platform than the mobile one. There are far too many new features for me to discuss in this short review but having also upgraded to Mac OSX Mountain Lion this week I can honestly say that the new windows platform is winning hands down for me so far.

See the full feature set of Windows 8 here:

Adiós for now.

Image and info courtesy of the web

www.sovibrant.co.uk

GATTACA - Architecture, Film and Design

Number 3 on our list of films with a designer edge is Gattaca, a stylish science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol.

The film is about a genetically inferior man who assumes the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.

The storyline has an interesting ethical issue about reproductive technologies which facilitate eugenics and manipulating DNA.

The title of the film is based on the initial letters of the four DNA nitrogenous bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine).

During the opening and closing credits, the letters G, A, T, and C are all highlighted.

For me the main strength of Gattaca is its calming atmospheric quality where the architecture was carefully selected in order to fit the director’s image of the future.

Locations include the Marin County Civic Centre by Frank Lloyd Wright and the CLA Building by Antoine Predock.

Definitely another film on my list of favourites, and not just because it stars a sultry Uma Thurman.

Images courtesy of Google images

www.sovibrant.co.uk 

Architecture Film Design Gattaca

iPhone 5

Like many hundreds of thousands in the world, I am desperately awaiting the launch of the new iPhone5 (which will supposedly just be known as “iPhone”).  My iPhone 3GS was due for an upgrade months ago and I have been tempted by an iPhone 4S, but, I am holding out for the must have iPhone 5.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, whichever way you look at it) there isn’t anything definitive that shows us what this new model will look like or when it’ll be coming to our high street stores.  This morning I stumbled across an article (Mail online) which mentioned the release of the “Mini iPad” on 12^th September, with the release of the iPhone following on 9 days later.... but still nothing set in stone.

The new iPhone is due for its first radical refresh since it launched in 2007, and it is expected to be bigger than ever - at least in terms of the screen-size.  There are many rumours that suggest what the potential changes to its looks and its enhanced features might be. These are some of the most talked about.

-       A new 4” screen (16:9)

-       A metallic plate that covers the back of the iPhone from antenna break to antenna break, leaving only the top and bottom clear, glass, and presumably radio-friendly.

-       The Home button, Sleep/Wake button, and volume controls all look the same, though the front mounted FaceTime camera has presumably  been centred.

Take a look at the images below and see what you think.  If the new model is anything like the above description and images, I’ll be glad I’ve waitied!

Images courtesy of Google Images, IMore, Mail Online

Iphone 5

www.sovibrant.co.uk

 

Making of Paracete

Hi everyone,


The image below is the latest in the series of 3D visuals to be broken down into a step-by-step guide of how they were created.

Click here for the Making of Paracete article

I particularly love the ground surfaces and the intricate use of reflection maps. Also, the artist has been very clever with light mapped planes in the scene, hidden from the camera so they only appear in the reflections on the road. A fairly original idea which really adds to the realism of the scene.


Overall I really like the mood and atmosphere they have achieved and hope you find the article as insightful as I have.

3D & Media
www.sovibrant.co.uk

Artist of the Week : Scott Robertson

Good morning readers.

Today we bring you a true legend in the industrial design industry. Being a lecturer at the Art Center in Los Angeles, as well as creating numerous training DVDs and books. Scott Robertson is the antithesis of the phrase "those who cant, teach"

Please find below a few pages from his latest book "DRIVE" which shows some of his best vehicle designs from the past year or so.

Enjoy.

Sovibrant / Artist of the Week

Microsoft Briefing Centre

Microsoft's new Briefing Centre in Wallisellen, Switzerland, integrates the company's various technologies in to a visually stunning design.

Quite simple in plan, the interior is mainly black and white with glass media walls transmitting demonstrations throughout the space.

Hats off to Stuttgart-based practice Coast Office Architecture for their design. We Like!

Design at SoVibrant www.SoVibrant.co.uk

Images by david franck photographie

SOV Recommends

This is the start of a new weekly review feature, this is not a Fifty Shades Of Grey style media hype blog but a genuine summary of what we have been watching, listening to, and reading at SOV HQ over the past week and what we intend to catch over the weekend. We get to tell you what we think is cool  and you get to feel cool by reading our blog.  Please feel free to add your own comments, recommendations or reviews in the comments section below. So let's get the ball rolling with this weeks picks.

Movie Of The Week:

With the release of the third and final chapter of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy; 'The Dark Knight Rises' this weeks recommendation is a no-brainer. After the disaster that was Batman Forever, Nolan has revolutionised the franchise and given us two of the best comic book adaptations to date. I'm really excited about seeing this film and hope I don't suffer the crushing disappointment I felt after seeing Prometheus - another massively hyped movie. Most of us here at SOV Towers are hoping to catch this over the weekend so expect a review on the blog sometime next week. Check out the new trailer below:

Or catch it a this link

What we definitely wont be watching is LOL the new Miley Cyrus movie. Any film which includes the description: "In a world connected by YouTube, iTunes and Facebook, Lola and her friends navigate the peer pressures of high school romance and friendship..." makes me want to die inside.

Album Of The Week

I'm a bit of a fan of Elton John's early music (before he stopped taking drugs and got a bit crap) and really liked this remixed collaboration with Pnau; 'Good  Morning To The Night'. In a similar concept to the Beatles Love album (but not as good) Pnau had complete control over Elton's early 70's back catalogue and have spliced, sampled, and mashed-up the records to surprisingly good effect. Not a classic but a few of the tracks warranted a head jive during this mornings commute. Highlights for me were 'Karmatron' and 'Phoenix'.

Check out 'Welcome To The Night' below:

Or catch it here.

Book Of The Week:

I've not had a chance to read this personally yet but Yan Martel's 'Life Of Pi' has come highly recommended after the release of the theatrical trailer for the upcoming film adaptation. A story of a boy who ends up stranded on a boat with a Bengal Tiger seems a strange premise for a novel but after strong endorsements from the rest of team this is now top on my reading list for the next week. For those of you who prefer pictures to the written word check out the new movie website here.

So that's it for this week's selections please add your own views or picks in the comments section below.

www.sovibrant.co.uk

Sleeping on the job!

Got that Monday Morning feeling?  I certainly have!

After an absolutely draining weekend, I have to say, I’ve arrived at SOV HQ this morning feeling like I need forty winks!

Society now seems to be supporting the “sleeping on the job” slogan, and I for one think a good 15mins sleep is needed once in a while.

PodTime are becoming a best seller of “sleeping pods” for companies nationally and internationally for the very reason that employees need a “power nap” when working in a stressful environment.  Already established in the far east, I think it’s about time the UK cottoned on to this fabulous idea!

These versatile sleeping pods allow employees to take a little break at work, either for a lie down with chillout music, or a light read.  For the small sum of £1375 + VAT (reducing when quantity increases) you can start your own “sleeping zone”. 

The pods have open ventilation at each end means every pod has good air circulation and a fresh and roomy feel inside. The doors are available in tinted, frosted or solid finish, and are lockable to keep your things safe whilst you relax.

Additional options such as a secure luggage compartment, TV and DVD, leather covered mattress, digital radio and alarm clock are also available and the pod can even be branded!

With recent proven results from scientists, employers are starting to take note that 15-20 minutes sleep can accelerate the recovery process your body goes through during sleep.  Some of the benefits of “sleeping on the job” are:

o  Reduced stress levels

o  Increased energy and stamina

o  Reduced risk of heart disease

o  Improved cognitive and reflex performance

o  Better mood and emotional state

o  Improved alertness

o  Renewed motivation

o  Greater capacity to learn

Fingers crossed that SOV will soon have some pods of their own! I am exhausted.

 

 

 

www.sovibrant.co.uk

Images courtesy of Google images and Podtime - Podtime

Hungarian town stained red by toxic spill

On first glance, there is a beautiful artistry in the series of a new series of images entitled 'the line' captured by Spanish photographer Palíndromo Mészáros.   This is beauty out of tragedy.  A paradoxical beauty caused by human suffering. Palindromo's project chronicles the aftermath 
of a 2010 toxic waste spill in western hungary that killed nine people and forcing the evacuation of thousands, through a compendium of images demonstrating the material staining areas of the village red.

The portfolio of work sensitively refrains from capturing people and instead expresses the human impact of the disaster through documentation of the impact on  trees, homes and buildings 
stained with a scarlet hue reaching up to two meters high.

The effect is caused by alumina - waste from an aluminium plant that was released when the reservoir holding the material burst its banks. Another example of horrendous industrial processes leaving a long term impact on natural surroundings long after the factory that implemented them is gone.

It creates mixed emotions in me that's for sure. I love the compositional work and contrast within the photography but am sickened by the reasons it exists.

Thanks to DesignBoom for the pics...

  www.sovibrant.co.uk