S and I wandered along to this on Saturday night. I was keen to go as it seemed a bit odd, but wasn't in the Incredible section - so I could legitimately say I was branching out.
If I mentioned 'highlands' most people would think of: hills, cattle, heather, snow and possibly Bob Dylan. Not discos.
I'm thinking this movie may make end up being my favourite of the festival. You know when you wander along to something and then get blown away by how good it actually is? This movie did that for me, it's sweet, innocent, sad, funny and poignant. The plot concerns a dreamer who (post epiphany after nearly getting run over by a train) wants to bring the farflung community together. His plan? Organise a mobile disco as people are 'lonely'. The music was composed by the main actor (and writer) and resembles the more quirky Belle and Sebastian tracks (think Lord Anthony style), but possibly darker. It's a lovely wee quirky movie with a lot of very funny black humour in it. There is a significant number of shots of the lead riding his moped through the highlands either drunk, or sniffing petrol. I could see how some people would find that boring, but I felt it added to the impression of isolation and themes of loneliness. The hi-8 grainy shot could also have detracted from the movie, but somehow it worked - kinda impressionist meets cheap doco style.
It's a shame more people won't get to see this movie, and being stuck in the Film Archive it wasn't the best viewing anyway (damm those chairs are uncomfortable), but if you get the chance - go see it.
love, B
29 July 2007
What if ...
A kiwi had made Apocalypse Now?
"I love the smell of wet sheep in the morning."
Love, B xx
"I love the smell of wet sheep in the morning."
Love, B xx
28 July 2007
FilmFest#3: Head
No. Not that type. This was a surreal mind*bother* with the Monkey's - the heyhey we're the Monkey's - after their TV series was cancelled. Apparently they, and Jack Nicholson, took some substances. And then some more substances. And then decided that writing a movie was a good plan, and in a strange and odd way it was a good plan. This is certainly a strange movie with a very weak plot, it's more a series of sketches linked by the fact the Monkeys are meandering through the set. I liked it. The cameo by Frank Zappa (and his cow) was great, or at least refreshing. I'm not sure. It was truely wonderful weirdness, and quite watchable. In places its very very funny, and the pop culture references are great.
For those of you who missed it at the the 'fest, it is available at AroVideo.
Love, B x
For those of you who missed it at the the 'fest, it is available at AroVideo.
Love, B x
25 July 2007
FilmFest#2: The Lost
Sigh and already I'm behind.
The nice thing about just rocking along to stuff with only a vague idea what they are about is that you often strike gold. Ant had emailed around his 24hr MM kiddiwinks to say turn up for this one as the director would be there. So since it was in the Incredible section, used the word horror, and had the director I wandered along.
I loved it.
It was more of a thriller than a horror (the director described it as such too), although parts of it were graphic - it was nothing over the top. Sure there were some small continuity issues, and a couple of bits of rough dialogue, but all in all it was great. The lead actor was captivating as a kind of halfway elvis/emo kid. The movie starts off with a murder then quickly fastforwards to 4 years afterwards and explores the effect that action had on the characters. Really interesting movie, good use of graphic violence, some very funny scenes, and definitely recommended.
Sadly being an indie movie you might have trouble tracking it down.
B
The nice thing about just rocking along to stuff with only a vague idea what they are about is that you often strike gold. Ant had emailed around his 24hr MM kiddiwinks to say turn up for this one as the director would be there. So since it was in the Incredible section, used the word horror, and had the director I wandered along.
I loved it.
It was more of a thriller than a horror (the director described it as such too), although parts of it were graphic - it was nothing over the top. Sure there were some small continuity issues, and a couple of bits of rough dialogue, but all in all it was great. The lead actor was captivating as a kind of halfway elvis/emo kid. The movie starts off with a murder then quickly fastforwards to 4 years afterwards and explores the effect that action had on the characters. Really interesting movie, good use of graphic violence, some very funny scenes, and definitely recommended.
Sadly being an indie movie you might have trouble tracking it down.
B
We have the best crazed fan-boys in all the world!
From the Register (UK) concerning NZ fanboys...who run into church (with a car) and scream Steve Jobs.
Me x
Me x
24 July 2007
An excuse we all should remember
Lovemaking hedgehogs disturb the peace
German police called to investigate unusual noises in the garden of a Bremen house late on Monday were surprised to find that a pair of amorous hedgehogs were to blame.
After illuminating the garden with spotlights, officers discovered the animals making love beside the pond.
"The pair were loudly engaged in ensuring the continuity of their species," said Bremen police spokesman Ronald Walther.
"All those spectators did not worry them in the least, indeed they even intensified their activities, so the officers turned off the lights," he added.
The hedgehog breeding season runs from April to September and their lovemaking is typically accompanied by very loud puffing and snorting, usually by the female as she tries to ward off the male.
From Stuff
thanks to mrP for that one.
German police called to investigate unusual noises in the garden of a Bremen house late on Monday were surprised to find that a pair of amorous hedgehogs were to blame.
After illuminating the garden with spotlights, officers discovered the animals making love beside the pond.
"The pair were loudly engaged in ensuring the continuity of their species," said Bremen police spokesman Ronald Walther.
"All those spectators did not worry them in the least, indeed they even intensified their activities, so the officers turned off the lights," he added.
The hedgehog breeding season runs from April to September and their lovemaking is typically accompanied by very loud puffing and snorting, usually by the female as she tries to ward off the male.
From Stuff
thanks to mrP for that one.
22 July 2007
FilmFest #1: Tales from EarthSea
I'm not the biggest fan of anime. There are some great ones out there: Vampire hunter D; Ghost in the Shell; My neighbour tortoro; Howl's moving castle spring to mind.
However my problems with anime are:
* the faces are largely expressionless, there's no excuse for that, it's not kabuki...
* the large eyes and small mouths don't look right
* all of the characters whenever they see something always make a small 'ahhhoo' noise
* there is no moral ambiguity in the characters, they are either bad, good or kinda middling but ending up good.
If you've ever sat through an episode Japanese animation (DragonballZ is a good example) you'll understand. Those programs are doubly annoying as the voiceovers are shocking.
I think it's the lack of ambiguity that really gets to me, the examples I listed earlier have far more character development (except for MNT which is just cute and lovely) making them a story rather than George Lucus characiture.
Tales from EarthSea was an adaptation of a Ursula la Guin story. From my more knowledable movie mates, a very loose adaptation. Character development was poor, pacing was pretty dire (it could have lost 30-45mins), no moral ambiguity, plot holes aplenty.
As positives, the background paintings were gorgeous.
So, not the best start to my festival this year, but it did make Gary happy that he missed it. I wouldn't even recommend it to take kids to either, since it is 2 hours long and drags. And I'm still not entirely sure how the dragons fit into things.
Me. xx
However my problems with anime are:
* the faces are largely expressionless, there's no excuse for that, it's not kabuki...
* the large eyes and small mouths don't look right
* all of the characters whenever they see something always make a small 'ahhhoo' noise
* there is no moral ambiguity in the characters, they are either bad, good or kinda middling but ending up good.
If you've ever sat through an episode Japanese animation (DragonballZ is a good example) you'll understand. Those programs are doubly annoying as the voiceovers are shocking.
I think it's the lack of ambiguity that really gets to me, the examples I listed earlier have far more character development (except for MNT which is just cute and lovely) making them a story rather than George Lucus characiture.
Tales from EarthSea was an adaptation of a Ursula la Guin story. From my more knowledable movie mates, a very loose adaptation. Character development was poor, pacing was pretty dire (it could have lost 30-45mins), no moral ambiguity, plot holes aplenty.
As positives, the background paintings were gorgeous.
So, not the best start to my festival this year, but it did make Gary happy that he missed it. I wouldn't even recommend it to take kids to either, since it is 2 hours long and drags. And I'm still not entirely sure how the dragons fit into things.
Me. xx
Food Stuff - Blue Cheese Lasagne
I was feeling a bit creative on Friday night, and ended up being most impressed with myself. Here's a rough summary of what I cooked.
A chopped onion was caramelised (mostly), garlic and chilli added and let simmer for a bit. A large number of chopped mushrooms were added (quite chunky cuts) and slowly cooked with a bit of olive oil thrown in occasionally if it looked like things were drying. In the meantime a carbonara sauce (well kinda, since there was no bacon in it, but ya get the picture) was made and the lasagne cooked.
Once the mushrooms were cooked, finely chopped spinach was mixed through with the sauce, half a block of sundried tomato feta added, and a fair sprinkling of blue cheese. Smelt divine.
Pasta was mixed through and all dumped into a deep dish. Breadcrumbs, parmesan and tasty cheese topped the lasagne, which was slow cooked until the top went deliciously brown.
It also tasted great the next day. Mmmm.
Currently I should be writing other things.
But I have activeFMs jazz show on, so it could be worse.
B xxx
A chopped onion was caramelised (mostly), garlic and chilli added and let simmer for a bit. A large number of chopped mushrooms were added (quite chunky cuts) and slowly cooked with a bit of olive oil thrown in occasionally if it looked like things were drying. In the meantime a carbonara sauce (well kinda, since there was no bacon in it, but ya get the picture) was made and the lasagne cooked.
Once the mushrooms were cooked, finely chopped spinach was mixed through with the sauce, half a block of sundried tomato feta added, and a fair sprinkling of blue cheese. Smelt divine.
Pasta was mixed through and all dumped into a deep dish. Breadcrumbs, parmesan and tasty cheese topped the lasagne, which was slow cooked until the top went deliciously brown.
It also tasted great the next day. Mmmm.
Currently I should be writing other things.
But I have activeFMs jazz show on, so it could be worse.
B xxx
17 July 2007
Taser me baby!
With thanks to Scientific American for this one, using a 12 gauge shotgun you can now taser people! Apparently when it hits you it gives 20seconds of Pain! Also when it's sitting inside you and you grab it, it increases the pain!!! Woohoo!!! This from the non-lethal lethal ppl, Taser!
Info about it here, and even better the advertising video here! Watch the video, it's bloody marvellous.
I want one! I wanna be in law enforcement !!!
B
Info about it here, and even better the advertising video here! Watch the video, it's bloody marvellous.
I want one! I wanna be in law enforcement !!!
B
16 July 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)