The Weekender

Separating the cultural wheat from the chaff...

Film
We're heaving a collective sigh of relief that the blockbuster summer is drawing to a close (Wall.E and Dark Knight excepted) and the quality is seeping back into the celluloid. The best way to celebrate this is by seeing Hellboy II, Guillermo del Toro's magical sequel to his 2004 film and his first since the unforgettable Pan's Labyrinth. This comic book adaptation, again starring Ron Perlman in the titular role, is devilishly good.
On general release

Music
A word of warning: don't get Connect and Retrofest mixed up or you could turn up to see Glasvegas in your ra ra skirt and leg warmers. Not a good look. Scotland is spoiled for festivals this weekend with the second year of Connect in the stunning grounds of Inverary Castle. The line-up has got better and better, even if it remains a tad too commercial for a boutique festival. Highlights include the Breeders, Paulo Nutini, Goldfrapp, Duffy, Gossip, Santogold, Sigur Ros and Franz Ferdinand. Over at Retrofest in Strathclyde Country Park, meanwhile, step back in time to the Bangles, Boy George, Kim Wilde and Boney M. 'Ra Ra Rasputin' in ra ra skirts? We likey a lot.
Connect - August 29-31, Inverary Castle
Retrofest, August 30-31, Strathclyde Park

Days out
And so we welcome in the finest finale to the Edinburgh Festivals 2008 - Edinburgh Festival Bank of Scotland Fireworks. Roll out the tartan blanket, pop the cork on the bubbly and settle down to watch the fireworks and reminisce over all that dodgy physical theatre you've consumed over the last month. This year Nicolae Moldoveanu conducts the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in an exuberant programme of Slavonic Dances by Dvorák and Hungarian Dances by Brahms. And then it really is all over.
Sunday August 31, 9pm