Blonde bit took a picture of me yesterday which ended up on her flickr account, I can definitely recommend checking this one out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92329000@N00/361457341/
Love, b...
19 January 2007
18 January 2007
Apocalypto
The new Mel movie. We went along as it had one star from the DomPost reviewer and we like crap movies. And it was at the Embassy. Storyline: happy funny times in small village, bad guys come and smack them over, conflict between big city/small village requirements, mass murder, god appeasement, conquistadors. There thats about it. As to the movie itself, it's not that bad. The storyline is interesting, if laboured in places. Use of the disease ridden oracle seemed a bit OTT. The setting makes it a bit more interesting than your usual revenge movie, which this is. I think it could have been trimmed a bit or at least used a lighter hand in the directing. The violence didn't seem too excessive to me, although if headless torso's bumping down steps doesn't float your boat... Nicely set up for a sequel too :-)
One star is a bit harsh, I'd give it 2, possibly 2.5. Blair went for a 3. It wasn't a complete waste of our time, but sadly it wasn't as bad as we hoped.
B.
One star is a bit harsh, I'd give it 2, possibly 2.5. Blair went for a 3. It wasn't a complete waste of our time, but sadly it wasn't as bad as we hoped.
B.
16 January 2007
Bikes, indie retailers and Capote
Went for a nice long bike ride yesterday (she's a lovely girl...heh heh) and am feeling surprisingly good this morning. So blonde bit, no need to wheel me to the cafe this morning. Unless you want too of course. And it's summer, so except for the stupid twats in their cars reversing out of parks, it's all good. Lots of cute joggers. Mmmm.
I've just had some great service from a couple of retailers. There's a German music artist called Sylvan, and his album last year got rave reviews from everyone who heard it. So I ordered it along with the new one. Had some nice conversations with him as he didn't have NZ on his 'mailto' list. And the link from his website to Paypal went a German version of Paypal, which was a little confusing. The music sounds good from the samples I heard. It would have been cheaper to order from the CDUniverse or Amazon, but hey I'm all for supporting the artist. So go check him out here.
And the other example has been from the ever reliable Charles at Tonefloat records. Yeah I've even got the t-shirt... He presses lots of vinyl in small collectable numbers. And since he's done lots of Steve Wilson and Steve's various offshoots (Bass Communion, No-man, IEM etc) I've spent a fair amount there. The last vinyl I bought from him was damaged somehow in the post, so he's replacing it - and he's nice and friendly and helpful via email.
So go support the little guys. Sure the big boys are cheaper, but hey, personal service is so much nicer.
Am currently reading the complete short stories of Truman Capote thanks to the surreal JossieB. It's great. Nice and twisted stories which are a joy to read.
Well it's off to the lab to make up some SST now - having found out what SST is yesterday, thanks google. It's apparently SSC + tween20. There, you can all sleep better...
Word.
b.
I've just had some great service from a couple of retailers. There's a German music artist called Sylvan, and his album last year got rave reviews from everyone who heard it. So I ordered it along with the new one. Had some nice conversations with him as he didn't have NZ on his 'mailto' list. And the link from his website to Paypal went a German version of Paypal, which was a little confusing. The music sounds good from the samples I heard. It would have been cheaper to order from the CDUniverse or Amazon, but hey I'm all for supporting the artist. So go check him out here.
And the other example has been from the ever reliable Charles at Tonefloat records. Yeah I've even got the t-shirt... He presses lots of vinyl in small collectable numbers. And since he's done lots of Steve Wilson and Steve's various offshoots (Bass Communion, No-man, IEM etc) I've spent a fair amount there. The last vinyl I bought from him was damaged somehow in the post, so he's replacing it - and he's nice and friendly and helpful via email.
So go support the little guys. Sure the big boys are cheaper, but hey, personal service is so much nicer.
Am currently reading the complete short stories of Truman Capote thanks to the surreal JossieB. It's great. Nice and twisted stories which are a joy to read.
Well it's off to the lab to make up some SST now - having found out what SST is yesterday, thanks google. It's apparently SSC + tween20. There, you can all sleep better...
Word.
b.
15 January 2007
Happy Feet
Yeah I've got a soft spot for cartoon movies. I enjoyed it. Storyline, as expected, reasonably liberal leftie (live and let live, accept diversity, save planet). The animation was great, and the music selection good (why don't penguins dance to metal? why god, why?). Fun movie.
Oh our internet connection just fell over, neat. Guess that means I'm heading to the lab to do work.
Saw the first 11 episodes of Heroes last week which means its very watchable :-) Gets a thumbs up from me...
me x
Oh our internet connection just fell over, neat. Guess that means I'm heading to the lab to do work.
Saw the first 11 episodes of Heroes last week which means its very watchable :-) Gets a thumbs up from me...
me x
10 January 2007
Random link time: Crack spiders
With thanks to Adele for this one, well worth a peek.
http://www.glumbert.com/media/spiders
me.
http://www.glumbert.com/media/spiders
me.
8 January 2007
Death Penalty
It's in the news, I felt I needed an opinion. I'm against it, probably not a huge surprise there.
Rather than some moral or ethical issue, my problem stems from dinner. Imagine dinner parties when asked what did you do today and our hero says "i hung/electrocuted/lethally injected xxx" kinda makes the partners response of 'had coffee with steve, lunch with the CEO, and a beer afterwork' kinda lame.
So in the interests of dinner, I say no to the death penalty.
Rather than some moral or ethical issue, my problem stems from dinner. Imagine dinner parties when asked what did you do today and our hero says "i hung/electrocuted/lethally injected xxx" kinda makes the partners response of 'had coffee with steve, lunch with the CEO, and a beer afterwork' kinda lame.
So in the interests of dinner, I say no to the death penalty.
Top albums 2006
Yeah OK so it's a little bit late, but at least it's here.
1. Tom Waits - Orphans: bastards, brawlers and bawlers
A new Tom album, let alone a three disc Tom, is likely to go quite well in my top10 list, and this is great. I wasn't that hooked on Real Gone, but Tom back in form is great.
2. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
I'm not convinced this is as good as Absolution, but it's still great ...
3. Pure Reason Revolution - The dark third
And this is their debut LP, bloody hell. It's stunning. Beautiful melodies, harmonies, mildly proggish tunes. Just great. Go buy it.
4. Pineapple Thief - Little Man
5. Samuel Flynn Scott - the hunt brings us life
Yay NZ music!! Great stuff, kinda alt-country. Both the Phoenix Foundation lads released solo albums this year, and Luke's "Special Surprise" just missed my top10. But Sam's was the better, great tunes, music, quirky lyrics.
6. Snow Patrol - Eyes open
After the potential on the previous album, which was a bit patchy, SP came through with this one. I got to feel superior having had it long before Grays Anatomy...
7. Thom Yorke - The eraser
8. Dimmer - There my dear
Back after a 'fits tour which added a more rock, alternative vibe to the new Dimmer album.
9. Wolverine - Still
Combine mindcrime era queensryche and some other hair metal bands, and it shouldn't work. But this does. And I don't know why I like it so much, but it's great.
10. Bass Communion - Loss DVD 5.1 mix
Spooky, atmospheric, relaxing.
Notable mentions:
The Mountain Goats - Babylon Spings
Isobel Campbell/Mark Lanegan - ballad of the broken seas (think Tom Waits meets Belle and Sebastian)
Dredg - Live at the fillmore
Big disappointments:
Spocks Beard - Spocks beard (yawn)
David Gilmour - On an island (not even yawn worthy, but its good to send you to sleep)
Keane - under the iron sea (not really bad, just not nearly as good as the debut)
Me x
1. Tom Waits - Orphans: bastards, brawlers and bawlers
A new Tom album, let alone a three disc Tom, is likely to go quite well in my top10 list, and this is great. I wasn't that hooked on Real Gone, but Tom back in form is great.
2. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
I'm not convinced this is as good as Absolution, but it's still great ...
3. Pure Reason Revolution - The dark third
And this is their debut LP, bloody hell. It's stunning. Beautiful melodies, harmonies, mildly proggish tunes. Just great. Go buy it.
4. Pineapple Thief - Little Man
5. Samuel Flynn Scott - the hunt brings us life
Yay NZ music!! Great stuff, kinda alt-country. Both the Phoenix Foundation lads released solo albums this year, and Luke's "Special Surprise" just missed my top10. But Sam's was the better, great tunes, music, quirky lyrics.
6. Snow Patrol - Eyes open
After the potential on the previous album, which was a bit patchy, SP came through with this one. I got to feel superior having had it long before Grays Anatomy...
7. Thom Yorke - The eraser
8. Dimmer - There my dear
Back after a 'fits tour which added a more rock, alternative vibe to the new Dimmer album.
9. Wolverine - Still
Combine mindcrime era queensryche and some other hair metal bands, and it shouldn't work. But this does. And I don't know why I like it so much, but it's great.
10. Bass Communion - Loss DVD 5.1 mix
Spooky, atmospheric, relaxing.
Notable mentions:
The Mountain Goats - Babylon Spings
Isobel Campbell/Mark Lanegan - ballad of the broken seas (think Tom Waits meets Belle and Sebastian)
Dredg - Live at the fillmore
Big disappointments:
Spocks Beard - Spocks beard (yawn)
David Gilmour - On an island (not even yawn worthy, but its good to send you to sleep)
Keane - under the iron sea (not really bad, just not nearly as good as the debut)
Me x
5 January 2007
Almodavar
Last night the brunette bit (as she's yet to be called) and I watched Pedro Almodavar's Bad Education, or those of you who prefer the original, La mala educacion. Almodavar is one of my favourite directors/writers and this was one of the movies of his I hadn't seen. In keeping with his movies, it's a gentle meandering pace. But with so many twists and turns and slightly surreal tweaks that keep you giggling most of the way through. Admittedly some may find the subject matter not very giggle worthy (sexual molestation). But eh, I did. In the hands of a lesser director it could have turned kinda bad. The acting ability of Gael García Bernal (Motorcycle diaries) who ends up playing three characters - probably a few more actually given his changes in personality through the movie - really holds it together. It is a very slow 100 minute movie, but it is one to lie back with a glass of wine (sadly I didn't have this) and immerse yourself in. The story is wonderful, complex, confusing; the acting excellent; directing excellent. Definitely recommended.
me xx
me xx
4 January 2007
Low cal beer, Children of Men
Well that last post created much excitement. I was particularly touched with the reli nutters reply.
I've recently picked up some of Macs breweries new Low Carb beer, SpringTide. I like the new Macs packaging, it's cool. Anyway a quick beer review: for those of you looking to get tanked it's still 4.5% so thats a tick. Tastewise: very dry sharp lager taste on the first sip. The after taste seems quite nice too. The problem is that its missing the middle. The beer itself is quite quaffable, and definitely better than many of the 'lagers' that get inflicted on the NZ public. But it's not great. The good point is, I guess, the low carb rating. My recommendation: drink a few good quality brews then hit this if you are settling in for a decent drinking session.
Saw Children of Men the other night with my blonde bit (as she's been called). This is really really good movie. I thought the premise was cliched, and the shorts looked crap. Oh how wrong was I. Excellent story, very funny in places, interesting, thought provoking - all the good stuff that movies should be, but so often fail at. Clive Owen was his usual brilliant self. And special mention must be made of Michael Caine. I think he's crap as an actor, but he was good here. Very good in fact. So that makes a sum total of two movies I've liked him in (The Quiet American is the other). The story is basically the world is sterile and no babies have been conceived for 18 years, and then someone gets pregnant. Owen's gets sucked back into the resistance (the British government has become more totalitarian - nice crossovers with Nazi propaganda), and ends up trying to get the pregnant chick to her destination. That summary doesn't do justice to the movie. Watch the backgrounds and settings, very very good - in fact overload of subtle references. And even more impressive it had Deep Purple and King Crimson (21st C schizoid man) in it! Woohoo!
Do yourself a favour, go see it.
Research is rocking along at the moment, wrote a paper detailing human telomere hybridisation to reptiles last week, with some lovely sexy pictures in it.
me xx
I've recently picked up some of Macs breweries new Low Carb beer, SpringTide. I like the new Macs packaging, it's cool. Anyway a quick beer review: for those of you looking to get tanked it's still 4.5% so thats a tick. Tastewise: very dry sharp lager taste on the first sip. The after taste seems quite nice too. The problem is that its missing the middle. The beer itself is quite quaffable, and definitely better than many of the 'lagers' that get inflicted on the NZ public. But it's not great. The good point is, I guess, the low carb rating. My recommendation: drink a few good quality brews then hit this if you are settling in for a decent drinking session.
Saw Children of Men the other night with my blonde bit (as she's been called). This is really really good movie. I thought the premise was cliched, and the shorts looked crap. Oh how wrong was I. Excellent story, very funny in places, interesting, thought provoking - all the good stuff that movies should be, but so often fail at. Clive Owen was his usual brilliant self. And special mention must be made of Michael Caine. I think he's crap as an actor, but he was good here. Very good in fact. So that makes a sum total of two movies I've liked him in (The Quiet American is the other). The story is basically the world is sterile and no babies have been conceived for 18 years, and then someone gets pregnant. Owen's gets sucked back into the resistance (the British government has become more totalitarian - nice crossovers with Nazi propaganda), and ends up trying to get the pregnant chick to her destination. That summary doesn't do justice to the movie. Watch the backgrounds and settings, very very good - in fact overload of subtle references. And even more impressive it had Deep Purple and King Crimson (21st C schizoid man) in it! Woohoo!
Do yourself a favour, go see it.
Research is rocking along at the moment, wrote a paper detailing human telomere hybridisation to reptiles last week, with some lovely sexy pictures in it.
me xx
1 January 2007
Silent Hill
Watched this last night. Or at least half of it. It was so bad we couldn't sit through all of it and finished it this morning. Oh god it was appalling. I like bad movies (see many reviews in this blog for evidence), but this, this, this wasn't even B-grade - it was Z-grade. The scripting was shocking, the acting possibly worse. It has some star power in Sean Bean, and he's fine. Good even, although it appears he's sleepwalking through it. It's a crossover from a computer game (which I haven't played). Although the comments on IMDB suggest it's 'finally a good crossover game/movie' I would suggest that may have been written by a 13-15 yo male who thought Doom was a good movie. The movie is crap. It's farcical in ways movies with a good budget shouldn't be.
The scripting is bad, really bad. Which is a shame as the concept is good, and the writer has some good stuff to his credit (Res Dogs, pulp fiction, killing zoe etc).
Special effects are reasonable, but still more funny than scary. This creates a problem for a 'horror' movie.
The last 20 minutes, maybe even 30 minutes, are quite good. But sitting through 90 minutes before you get to the ok bit seems a bit masochistic to me. It even felt masochistic.
How to watch this movie: don't. Even with wine/cognac it sucked. I was in the mood for a bgrade horror. This disappointed on every level. I wonder if it's killed Sean's career...
B.
The scripting is bad, really bad. Which is a shame as the concept is good, and the writer has some good stuff to his credit (Res Dogs, pulp fiction, killing zoe etc).
Special effects are reasonable, but still more funny than scary. This creates a problem for a 'horror' movie.
The last 20 minutes, maybe even 30 minutes, are quite good. But sitting through 90 minutes before you get to the ok bit seems a bit masochistic to me. It even felt masochistic.
How to watch this movie: don't. Even with wine/cognac it sucked. I was in the mood for a bgrade horror. This disappointed on every level. I wonder if it's killed Sean's career...
B.
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