spandrels

Recent circumstance* have induced me to watch a ridiculous number of movies in the past week. Old Favorites, new jems and utter crap. I watched it all.

( Here’s what I could dredge from my memory: )

Whew. I particularly recommend Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Harakiri.


*1. I was sick as a dog over March break, and 2. work bores the hell out of me.

*******

I also made some additions to my music library. On one of my voyages to Torrent World I snagged the “Gothic-Industrial Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins” Not really sure what to make of it; these are not bad covers, by any means, but neither are they spectacular. It’s just so hard to add something to an original song. In my opinion, Pig does it best with 1979. The Rosetta Stone and Guenter Schulz offerings aren't bad, either. (Contemplating heading to Toronto to catch Les Pumpkins at the Virgin music fest along with Bjork…Maybe others are interested aussi? Ticket just went on sale.)
The newest Angelspit, Krankhaus (not bad), and a Dick Dale compilation (fantastic) rounded out the set. Angelspit is a little cheesy but I enjoy their energy and the female vocals. As for Dale, the undisputed “King of the Surf Guitar”, when we were in New York last year, we missed the chance of seeing him at CBGB and I have nothing but regret..

Full Pumpkins Tribute, some Angelspit and Dick Dale selections uploaded to Mp3Munday.

..see Pan's Labyrinth.

And long, as I did, for those extra few minutes of darkness that theatres used to allow you to compose yourself in.

It's a beautiful, dark, moving film...

Heeh. Does this count as a chick flick?
Missy and I have plans to see it sometime this week. Anyone else interested?

I found this article nestled in the pages of Neil Gaiman’s weblog. It’s from The Times (that’s UK, kids, not NY) and anyone interested in adapting comics to film or Gaiman’s recent oevrrrre, Mirrormask might enjoy reading it:
It’s not always who draws wins

As a teaser, this little quip from Alan Moore, eccentric literary genius:
“Before that I naively thought that you could have the films of my work on the one hand, and my actual work on the other, and for them both to exist but have nothing to do with each other. But I realised then that there was nothing to stop people making damaging claims, like I was getting ideas from American movie writers. I was cross-examined on a video-link for ten hours. Ten hours! “Besides, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was, by all accounts, a piece of s*** that cost $100 million, which is probably the budget of an emergent Third World nation. You are beginning to cross ethical lines there.”

I was going to write a bitter post entitled, "Things I hate about living with ***," but I decided I don't feel that negative today, so I'll submit a summary of "Things I loved about this past week."

Started off with a great second New Year's with dawnrosemaryx at Andrew's. Playing all the old doowop we could find on the jukebox and being more successfully creative than I have been in months.
An awesome trip to Eva B followed MUCH later the next day.

Watch out! I am heavily into the 50's right now...

I then went home from Mon. to Wed. and was reminded of how much (and why) I love my parents.

Actual conversation:

Me: There's this movie I borrowed from Jessie, I think I might watch. It's by Sam Raimi.
Dad: I saw a movie once, I think it was by Raimi, about a man who had a normal life and job, but then suddenly wakes up in the past...
Me: Was it Army of Darkness?
Dad: ...and has to battle monsters.
Me: That sounds like Army of Darkness.
Dad: I think it might have been called Army of Darkness.
Me:...
Me: (hesitantly) And did you like it?
Dad: Yes! I was surprised; I liked it a lot.

We then proceeded to watch Bruce Campbell kick dead-ite ass. I love my dad. This experience was second only to our Battlestar Galactica marathons.

We also watched, The Wrong Guy with Dave Foley and half the rest of Canada (and which I highly recommend).

Then mum and I spent the following day wandering around St. Annes, shopping and drinking tea. Many humorous, revealing stories were exchanged. She once dated the brother of The Pointer Sisters!! (In fact she was with him the night she met my dad...)

Happy moments used to evoke unbearable saddness in me. Someow this doesn't happen anymore and I'm just enjoying things as they are..

Even this beer that's almost too warm to drink...

.

ko Paikea, ko Paikea, hee!

Just finished watching “Whale Rider,” and am reminded that this is one of my very favorite films. Top five, definitely; along with Seven Samurai…

It deals so well with just about every important issue there is in life: love, rejection, purpose, history, identity…yeah, it’s good, powerful stuff.

I also saw (good on a much lesser scale) The Brothers Grimm last Friday. Entirely enjoyable, if you ask me and undeserving of the harsh criticism it’s been getting. It looks great and it’ll make you laugh. These days that’s a 10 on 10 as far as blockbusters are concerned. Would’ve been better with Johnny Depp, though, but then what wouldn’t be?

-Johnny: “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Yup, definitely an improvement.


I also found a suitable and more eloquent follow-up to my previous posting from the CL-er. It should soon follow.

In the meantime…

Top five, all time favorite films (in NPO)

-Seven Samurai
-The Thin Red Line
-Gladiator
-Ghost World
-Whale Rider

VERY close runners up: Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Harold and Maude

and A Clockwork Orange, Edward Scissorhands, Dong: The Hole, Bottle Rocket and, and…aww crap, who’m I kidding? This is the one list I don’t think I can make.

-fin-