Here are ten films that caused people to use their popcorn tub as a makeshift sick bucket.

Saw 3

Quite honestly, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the Saw franchise. You could choose the moment when Cary Elwes hacks off his own foot with a rusty saw (if only to be loyal to the first film). But close-ups of a drill going into Jigsaw’s skull in Saw 3, assisted by some horrific sound effects, is pretty hard to beat in the toe curling stakes. If this is your sort of thing, the director of Saw has a new scary treat out this Summer, called The Conjuring.

Team America: World Police

It’s only a puppet! Yet somehow it didn’t alleviate the waves of nausea that swept through the cinema audience when Broadway actor-cum-world saviour Gary Johnston fell to his knees in a dark alley and vomited for what seemed like a good third of the film.

American Pie 3: The Wedding

When cornered by inquisitive parents at your friend’s wedding, you may very well claim that the doggy do you hold in your hand is actually a luxurious chocolate truffle. This scene was only going one way, and so it probably came as little surprise when Stifler stuffed the mutt’s mess in his mouth.

Human Centipede (pictured)

“Feed her! FEED HER!” exclaimed the mad German surgeon. Sceptics may suggest that the film was built around this one moment when the lead man of the human centipede is forced to do his toilet business into the mouth of the woman behind him, whose lips were sewn onto his backside.

Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life

In one of the film’s most iconic sketches, Mr Creosote – the obese restaurant patron – eats a lot and vomits a lot, missing the sick bucket each time. The wafer thin mint, presented to him at the end of a meal that comprised of everything on the menu, causes Mr Creosote to explode and cover other restaurateurs with his innards.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Soup with eyeballs floating around in it; snakes that were cut open to release creepy crawlies; little black wriggly things; and frozen monkey brains. As an archaeologist, Indy had obviously eaten all of this stuff before and just took it in his stride, although it probably didn’t do anything to stop him from thinking that there was something latently evil about Pankot Palace.

Total Recall

It has come to be known simply as ‘the nose scene’. Arnie shows all his teeth when he opts to take the nostril route to remove a tracking device from his brain using a strange piece of surgical equipment.

Trainspotting

When drug addict Renton literally dumps his opium suppositories down ‘the worst toilet in Scotland’, he decides to go in after them. The producers and set designers didn’t disappoint, creating the ugliest, grimiest and most menacing looking pot in cinematic history.

American History X

If you’ve ever thought about stealing cars, one scene in this film will make sure you never entertain the idea again. It’s amazing what messages you can create when you combine a concrete curb, a young man’s jaw and Derek Vinyward’s boot. Oh – and the sound. The sound is horrific.

The Fly

Jeff Goldblum challenges a burly boxer bloke in a dingy bar to an arm-wrestling match, just so he can impress a woman. The arm wrestle turns out to be an arm-breaking competition and Jeff wins by harnessing his Brundlefly powers. The fracture makes even the hardy flinch.

Related sites:

www.showcasecinemas.co.uk

The relationship between women and shoes is well documented, and to parodied to death. Men and shoes, however, is a different ball game. Whilst it may not be as widely recognized, we think that men place just as much thought and love into their shoe collections as the fairer sex. One only needs to look at the sneaker collectors of America (and, increasingly, of here in the UK) – obsessed with them. (We’re currently obsessed with Nike Janoski, pictured). The fandom was even subject to it’s own documentary in 2005, with a more recent short dedicated to it last year:

It’s not just casual footwear that men get hot under the collar for. Smart shoes – brogues, Chelsea’s and loafers have seen a recent resurgence of late, with guys taking more interest in what they walk around in. It’s partly, we think, down to how much easier it is to get access to great shoes and to great advice on them – brands investing more in editorial and content, and fashion communities popping up on Google+ and Pinterest allow men to get a better grip on what they should wear. And it starts with shoes – an easy entry into caring about fashion, something you can take pride in, and effectively, something that’s pretty cool.

In a recent video, MR PORTER’s Editor-In-Chief Jeremy Langmead said that when packing for LC:M, his focus is on shoes, stating that when waiting for a show to start, everyone observes each other’s shoes, making them an incredibly important part of a man’s wardrobe. Whilst you might not be gracing the f-row, we can guarantee you’ve done this on the train or at the bus stop. So why not start investing in some ace footwear? After all – shoes, they ain’t nothing but a guy thing.

Shoes by Freeze Pro Shop. Photos by Chloe.

Trolls will get ‘treated’ at V-Hab.com to breed positive energy through the online space.

To promote the campaign, V-Energy have made the following video where online trolls are out in force in the real world though the V-Energy shush kitten manages to silence them. Using references from real online situations, on platforms such as Twitter, YouTube and online gaming to shine a torch on the absurdity of trolling.

Trolls, it’s time to check in to V-Hab

Sponsored by V-Energy Drink

This year I’m turning the tide for you out-of-ideas terrible sons and daughters. I’ve asked all the right questions in all the right places to hunt down the gifts guaranteed to find favour with even the fussiest of dads (but yeah, don’t tell your siblings).

Jetsetting Dad

Molton Brown Men’s Jetsetter Stowaway

Blended in London but inspired by exotic destinations around the world, this bag of goodies (including my dad’s favourite, the award-winning Re-charge Black Pepper Bodywash) will raise a big grin and is a must-have for all his jaunts away. The whole Molton Brown Men’s Grooming range is worth a gander for your Father‘s Day inspiration.

Tired Dad

De’Longhi ECO310 Icona Espresso Coffee Machine

For a superb short black ready in a flash, the only way to go is Italian and De’Longhi really is the godfather of espresso makers.

With a sleek stainless steel finish and simple three button control system, this little red roaster is the perfect way to get his sophisticated caffeine fix just as he’s rushing out the door.

Badly Dressed Dad

Reiss 1971 Piccolo Light Blue Linen Shirt

Deck him out for a summer barbecue or a relaxed family holiday meal. Made from 100% linen (no polyester imposters here) with a classic cut, it’s his understated summer wardrobe staple.

This is a safe bet for dads who like to roll out the smart-casual look.

Mid Life Crisis Dad

Nike+ FuelBand

Meet the ultimate futuristic organiser for all your dad’s sporting activities. If, like my dad, he’s never off his bike nor too far from the golfing green, then this is just the ticket.

He can track his speed, set daily targets and compete with his buddies.

 Foodie Dad

‘Jerusalem’ - Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi

With beautiful photography by Jonathan Lovekin and Adam Hinton, this Middle Eastern-inspired cookbook is not only a chaperon to great cuisine but a feast for the eyes too.

Give to dad if he’s an adventurous weekend chef who loves nothing more than pottering around in the kitchen, trying (and testing) out tasty new dishes.

What to see

From the Spice Girls to indie Irish folk, the Four Seasons to the French Revolution, London has a plethora of shows for all tastes and moods. So much so, it can often be hard to choose which one to plump for. We’ve seen them all and here are the top 5 shows we recommend (in no particular order):

1. Matilda

Based on the Roald Dahl novel and with music & lyrics by Australian musical marvel Tim Minchin, Matilda is a magical new addition to the West End and is currently enjoying rave reviews from critics and the public alike. Top tip: The Cambridge Theatre release 16 tickets at a bargain price of £5 for 16-25 year olds for every performance. These must be collected in person (and only 1 per person) from the Theatre at 10am. Get there early!

2. The Book of Mormon

The Broadway smash written by South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker was being advertised on the tube and around London months before it even landed on stage. As a result, tickets can be hard to come by with them being snapped up months in advance. If you are lucky enough to get hold of some though, you’re in for a treat with one of the most hilarious (and not very politically correct) shows ever to grace the West End.

3. We Will Rock You

Ok, so We Will Rock You isn’t exactly a complex affair which will move you with its well-crafted narrative and nuance but it is 2 hours of Queen songs and really, what more could you want?

4. Once

Remember that indie Irish folk we mentioned in the introduction? Once, based on a film of the same name, isn’t as big (or brash) as a lot of other productions on the West End stage right now but what it lacks in glitter and key changes it makes up for in beautiful storytelling and wonderful performances.

5. Les Miserables

Les Mis is one of the staples of the West End for a reason. A weighty story (based on the novel by Victor Hugo) coupled with fantastic music makes it a pretty safe bet. And no Russel Crowe in sight.

Getting here

Let’s face it, West End tickets aren’t exactly cheap so saving money wherever possible will mean you can splurge on the seats to make sure you’re not sitting behind a pillar come curtains up (trust us, it’s awful). Whilst it may not be glamorous (in fact, it’s quite the opposite) we recommended getting the coach – BEAR WITH US – a return to London from almost anywhere in the country costs around £20-£30 if booked in advance. Now you’re listening.

Staying here

Like shows, London offers accommodation for everyone’s taste. Whether you’re booking a theatre break with Hotel Direct or splashing out on a stay at one of the capital’s flagships such as The Four Seasons or The Oriental you’re sure to find something to meet your needs (and wallet). Travelling into London can easily be done by train, bus or plane. Skyscanner is an easy way to check when the cheapest  flights are into London.

We hope you’ve find this guide useful, please let us know any of your top tips for the perfect theatre break in the comments below.

The Kindle Paperwhite has been praised by critics for its appealing design, substantial battery life and beautiful high resolution screen. These facts, along with its light weight and durability, contribute to its reputation as the best dedicated e-reader on the market.

With space for 1,100 books, you will never be short of something to read ever again, and features such as the integrated dictionary will make understanding unfamiliar words a cinch.

To enter, simply comment below letting us know which book you’d download first and we’ll pick our favourite literary selection as the winner. Be sure to leave your email address so we can get in touch!

Good luck!

Competition terms and conditions:

- UK entrants only

- Our decision is final

- Closing date is Tuesday 18th June 2013

- No cash value or alternative prize available

- Winner will be contacted by email, should they fail to respond in 48 hours an alternative winner will be chosen

- Winner will received their prize 14 working days from supplying their address

This special collaboration will see some of the most talented and innovative illustrators from the UK & USA design and produce 17 new and original prints inspired by each of the films screened this year. Illustrators include, Kate Gibb, Anthony Burill, James Joyce, Michael Gillette, Hattie Stewart and Serge Seidlitz. All the prints will be produced in limited editions of 200, and available to buy at £40 each.

Take a look at some of beautifully originally artwork below (Mean Girls, Hattie Stewart & Kes, Michael Gillette). So fetch.

Little did I know, at the time, of the trailblaze the work had already left across theatreland, with successful runs from 1993 to 1996, before Channel 4 picked it up and made ‘peppermint foot lotion’ a hilarious new term in gay scene vernacular. The fondness felt for this work is embedded in it’s story – two boys on a council estate, coming of age and falling in love. It’s textbook gay drama, but Jonathan Harvey’s script makes it so much more than that, sprawling across the entire emotional spectrum  touching single motherhood, lost hope, strained relationships, abuse, unfulfilled dreams, and, most importantly deep, unbreakable love.

Suranne Jones shines, unsurprisingly  as she does in everything. She straddles the lines between the formidable and vulnerable sides of her character (one of the boy’s mother) beautifully, dishing out cutting quips alongside heartfelt moments which catch you unaware. The rest of the intimate cast (of just five) are perfect – Jake Davies and Danny-Boy Hatchard play the teenagers Jamie and Ste with ease, and you’d never guess this was Hatchard’s first role (so to speak). Support from the hilarious Zaraah Abrahams and the endlessly beautiful Oliver Farnworth (seriously, arms. ARMS) add value, depth and humour.

What struck me (re)watching Beautiful Thing was the normality of it all – that the insecurities, troubles and indeed hopes we have and face in life, are shared. There may be a difference in who we love, by why we love is the same, and perhaps, beautifully ordinary. Of all the pieces of theatre I’ve seen, I felt the deepest connection to this, but I think that’s not, as it was ten years ago, because I needed to identify with someone who had an identical sexual preference as me, rather, this time, I relish in the comfort of knowing that, as humans, we’re all in the same boat.

With discussion around gay marriage at the forefront of the political agenda here in the UK, and LGBT rights creating headlines around the world, Beautiful Thing and it’s 20th Anniversary comes at the perfect time. Ste, scared, frightened and beaten by the unseen force behind his flat door (his father), couldn’t be more of an apt metaphor for the times we live in, and what could be. As Ste leaves his pain behinds him, faces his fear and dances with the one he loves in the street, we see a a glimpse of the world we could live in – one that’s perfectly ordinary, and just a beautiful thing.

Beautiful Thing plays WY Playhouse until 8th June.

Martin Carter

In a refreshing shake up to the genre Clara and Eleanor seem to lack the all consuming desire for blood which defines their predecessors, and instead of fangs these modern vampires kill through the use of a extendable ‘claw’ on their thumb. These changes are a welcome reboot to what has become an almost cheesy genre; it is a vampire film so we can’t escape the spectre of Twilight. Gone are the Mormon values, replaced with good old-fashioned seductive vampires who use their sex appeal to lure and kill.

However, in contrast to the old Hammer Horror ‘vampy’ vamps, we see two different types of vampire at play here – Arterton playing the more traditionally seductive vamp, while Ronan’s character, strongly influenced by her upbringing in a Christian orphanage, has more ‘moral’ out look on her way of life. Shown not in the form of the so-called vegetarian vampires of Twilight but in a kind of Gothic euthanasia, only taking the old who consent and are ready to die. This moral aspect to her personality gives the film a depth and morality that differentiates it from its more gory counterparts.

Visually Byzantium is brilliant, playing the mundane against the gothic; the humdrum background to the story only serves to emphasise the sporadic gore – giving it much more potency than blood-fests such as Saw. When we do witness violence, which Jordan in no way shies away from, it is much more affecting for the audience and shakes the sympathetic view we have built up of the characters.

The story that plays out around the fact that they are vampires is more than engaging, the slow build up and reveal of plot points is enthralling. In the end the fact that they are vampires is almost incidental – certainly giving a darker edge to the story, but the characters and performances are more than deep enough to carry the film. Ronan is brilliant, as usual; playing a child with the weight of a lifetime on her shoulders is almost second nature to her at this point but she does it so well and with such innocence and grace that you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with her. Arterton gives the performance of her career as she struggles to maintain her relationship with her daughter in the darkest of situations.

Byzantium is a fantastic character study quite apart from the horror aspects, something that cannot always be said of films of this type. It does have a few of the traditional plot holes we can expect from a horror, but the strength of performance and depth of character is good enough to allow you to forgive a few holes. The slow build up of the plot is particularly British, and marks Byzantium out as something fairly special in the vampire genre.

If your looking for fangs and scares, this isn’t for you; but if your content to watch as a tragic yet endearing human story unfold in front of you, then the story of Clara and Eleanor Webb will entertain you from start to finish.

By Charlotte Keeys, Jackanory Reviews follow her on Twitter: @jackanoryreview.