*Warning: Long!*
It was a long walk to the park that day for Maple. It was the same distance she had walked countless times in her life, but on this particular day it just felt longer. Maybe she had had a rough sleep. Maybe it was the warming summer heat - each summer seemed hotter than the last. Or maybe it was just that; Summers ketp coming and going and she had seen 75 of them - well 74 if you count her European winter escape when she graduated from high school – and they were taking their toll.
Maple spent most of her mornings on the same park bench. She knew the regular visitors of the park better than she knew her 14 grandchildren (and two great-grandchildren). But then the family, her son and both daughters along with their spouses, had moved up north so many years ago. All she had were disks and chips and gadgets filled with photos she could rarely figure out how to work.
‘Could you please just send me real photos?’
‘But Mum there are hundreds of photos on just one CD.’
‘Why don’t you just come down and show me how it works?’
‘Mum, you know how hard it is…’
Maple had never been one for gadgets (or ungrateful children). Technology had left her behind when microwaves and remote controls started making everything instant and on-demand. She had always preferred watching the timeless breeze shape a cascading sun shower over the fresh spring grass. She could entertain herself musing over the natural beauty all around her. Each morning she spent hours thinking up poetic descriptions of Tunxton Park, only to forget how they started before she could finish. It was a fitting practice, she thought; the park needed all the linguistic attention it could get, having to live with such an ugly name.
Its namesake, Jeffrey Tunxton had been the original proprietor of Tunxton Motors, a humble local factory that spawned the mass migration of job seeking men to Talismount Hills. Talismount Tunxton, a fellow namesaked Tunxton and Jeffrey’s father, had immigrated to the country from a wealthy European heritage. He died in 1930. He committed suicide after the markets crashed, leaving Jeffrey with a small inheritance and little guidance. But Jeffrey managed it well and, against the odds, he was able to open the factory in 1934 in a remote, hilly area. The next year the park was inaugurated, coincidentally the same day that Phillip and Caroline Corwell gave birth to their only child Maple.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
UFC Eulogy – 121: Lesnar v Cain
But then we should remember that big hype and big expectation can usually lead to big disappointed and though I wouldn’t go so far as to say I was let down by the PPV, I would prefer a higher finish/decision ration. This one being 4-1 (with the best saved to last!). So let’s get into it.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Helly's Video View
Firstly, I must sincerely apologise for the tardiness of this post and to make up for it I'm going to do a video view extravaganza! The following is going to be mini reviews of the four films I have watched in the last two weeks, so I hope you enjoy.
Swingers
Written by John Favreau, it is a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences from when he was first starting out in LA, but this becomes more of a backdrop of the film and we soon discover that the film's larger theme is about relationships and dealing with break ups.
It stars Vince Vaughn in the performance that defined his career and he doesn't miss a beat as the suave,slightly obnoxious, swingin' bachelor. John Favreau also does a great job and in many ways his poignant performance is what gives the film heart.
This film has some truly great moments including the scene with John Favreau leaving the multiple answering machine messages, it's so painfully desperate that you're heart just goes out to the poor guy. The pep talk that Vince Vaughn gives Favreau when he's trying to help him pick up women is truly hilarious, so hilarious in fact that you just have to watch it- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODjE-_OB3JI. I also love the swing dance number with Heather Graham towards to the end, they have a sizzling chemistry which is quite unexpected.
The film has a very raw quality and you can definitely tell that it has influenced other films and possibly even TV shows such as Entourage. The film is insanely quotable, the two most famous quotes probably being 'You're so money' and 'Vegas baby Vegas!'. It's a very enjoyable, rough little gem of a movie.
The Village
This film from M. Night Shymalan seems to divide audiences, people either love it or hate it, no one seems to sit in the middle which is why I was very keen to see it. In the interest of full disclosure I should say that I had somehow already heard what the 'twist' was but I only had a vague idea and I tried to just watch the movie unfold and not think too far ahead.
I think that some of the contempt that people feel towards this film comes from the fact that it was marketed entirely the wrong way. People thought they were in store for a spine tingling thriller and hence were disappointed when this didn't turn out to be the case. The film is still quite suspenseful but for me I would classify this film as more of an un-conventional love story over anything else.
Bryce Dallas Howard gives an incredible performance as the heroine Ivy Walker. Her blindness may seem like just a gimmick at first but Howard's charm and commitment to the role make for a fully realised and unique character. Joaquin Phoenix has surprisingly little screen time but really manages to establish his character in the time he has been given and the film really needs that as the love story is what everything hinges on.
I appreciated this film's truly original concept and it's enthralling performances and think that it gets far too much negative criticism.
A Fish Called Wanda
This is another one pulled from my vault of all time favourite movies and I had the pleasure of re-visiting it last week. As you may have worked out it seems that most of my 'all time favourite movies' tend to be fairly light hearted comedies and I guess the reason for this is that they tend to be the most re-watchable as they're just so much fun! This film echoes that sentiment exactly as I've watched it countless times ever since I was a youngster (which I realise now might not have been entirely appropriate!) and it still manages to make me laugh every time.
Written by and starring John Cleese, this film retains that Monty Python brand of silly, British humour. The comedy is quite big and may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think what I like most about this film is that it doesn't take itself seriously and acknowledges it's own ridiculousness (the text at the end on the future of all the characters is the perfect example of this.)
In terms of characters you have John Cleese as the uptight barrister, Jamie Lee Curtis as the scheming seductress, Michael Palin as the stuttering animal rights activist and Kevin Kline as the Nietzche spouting former CIA agent. They're all thrown in the pot to simmer together and the end result is a wonderful comedic stew! Kevin Kline is the real stand out and his hilarious performance as the buffoon-ish Otto won him an academy award. My favourite scene in the entire movie has to be when Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) finally snaps and unleashes a tirade upon Otto (Kevin Kline) about what an absolute idiot he is.
So if you're a fan of British comedy and you haven't seen this movie than it's about time you gave it a look! Just don't call me stupid...
Remember Me
Okay, so I know at this point you're probably wondering why I bothered with what looks like a C grade teen movie designed for 'Twi-hards' but me and this Cat I know had been informed that it was actually fairly decent so I thought I would at least give it a shot.
We had to stop the movie half way through and watched the rest another day. At the half way point I found that the movie was far from perfect but still quite a promising drama with a great soundtrack. I'm kind of wishing that I'd just left it there as the second part of the film is where things take an overly dramatic turn and there is quite a bizarre plot twist . The problem is that up until this point the film had just been an intimate little drama and the plot twist that happens is so epic that it hasn't earned it and it feels completely out of place. There is a Ghandi quote which is repeated in the film which is 'Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it' so I think that's clearly what they were going for in regards to the plot twist and I understand the sentiment but think it could have been done is a much more subtle way.
The two leads (Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin) far surpassed my expectations and have fantastic chemistry, without which the film would have been much less successful. Robert Pattinson was actually fairly believable as the confused yet endearing Tyler, but at points he became overly dramatic (which I think was more a fault of the writing but he could have easily reigned it in a little.) Emilie de Ravin is enchanting as the impetuous Ally and has an understated sexiness. I liked the character quirk of her eating her dessert before her main course to show that she wants to live life to the fullest and not deprive herself of anything but I thought there could have been more examples of this in her character. Pierce Brosnan is laughably bad as the cold, work-a-holic father and I can't fathom why anyone would cast someone so identifiably British (he was James Bond for cripes sake) in a role that requires them to do a Brooklyn accent!
This film still has more merit than I judged it would from the outset and if nothing else I've learnt from this film to not be such an elitist and to give anything a go.
Swingers
Written by John Favreau, it is a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences from when he was first starting out in LA, but this becomes more of a backdrop of the film and we soon discover that the film's larger theme is about relationships and dealing with break ups.
It stars Vince Vaughn in the performance that defined his career and he doesn't miss a beat as the suave,slightly obnoxious, swingin' bachelor. John Favreau also does a great job and in many ways his poignant performance is what gives the film heart.
This film has some truly great moments including the scene with John Favreau leaving the multiple answering machine messages, it's so painfully desperate that you're heart just goes out to the poor guy. The pep talk that Vince Vaughn gives Favreau when he's trying to help him pick up women is truly hilarious, so hilarious in fact that you just have to watch it- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODjE-_OB3JI. I also love the swing dance number with Heather Graham towards to the end, they have a sizzling chemistry which is quite unexpected.
The film has a very raw quality and you can definitely tell that it has influenced other films and possibly even TV shows such as Entourage. The film is insanely quotable, the two most famous quotes probably being 'You're so money' and 'Vegas baby Vegas!'. It's a very enjoyable, rough little gem of a movie.
The Village
This film from M. Night Shymalan seems to divide audiences, people either love it or hate it, no one seems to sit in the middle which is why I was very keen to see it. In the interest of full disclosure I should say that I had somehow already heard what the 'twist' was but I only had a vague idea and I tried to just watch the movie unfold and not think too far ahead.
I think that some of the contempt that people feel towards this film comes from the fact that it was marketed entirely the wrong way. People thought they were in store for a spine tingling thriller and hence were disappointed when this didn't turn out to be the case. The film is still quite suspenseful but for me I would classify this film as more of an un-conventional love story over anything else.
Bryce Dallas Howard gives an incredible performance as the heroine Ivy Walker. Her blindness may seem like just a gimmick at first but Howard's charm and commitment to the role make for a fully realised and unique character. Joaquin Phoenix has surprisingly little screen time but really manages to establish his character in the time he has been given and the film really needs that as the love story is what everything hinges on.
I appreciated this film's truly original concept and it's enthralling performances and think that it gets far too much negative criticism.
A Fish Called Wanda
This is another one pulled from my vault of all time favourite movies and I had the pleasure of re-visiting it last week. As you may have worked out it seems that most of my 'all time favourite movies' tend to be fairly light hearted comedies and I guess the reason for this is that they tend to be the most re-watchable as they're just so much fun! This film echoes that sentiment exactly as I've watched it countless times ever since I was a youngster (which I realise now might not have been entirely appropriate!) and it still manages to make me laugh every time.
Written by and starring John Cleese, this film retains that Monty Python brand of silly, British humour. The comedy is quite big and may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think what I like most about this film is that it doesn't take itself seriously and acknowledges it's own ridiculousness (the text at the end on the future of all the characters is the perfect example of this.)
In terms of characters you have John Cleese as the uptight barrister, Jamie Lee Curtis as the scheming seductress, Michael Palin as the stuttering animal rights activist and Kevin Kline as the Nietzche spouting former CIA agent. They're all thrown in the pot to simmer together and the end result is a wonderful comedic stew! Kevin Kline is the real stand out and his hilarious performance as the buffoon-ish Otto won him an academy award. My favourite scene in the entire movie has to be when Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) finally snaps and unleashes a tirade upon Otto (Kevin Kline) about what an absolute idiot he is.
So if you're a fan of British comedy and you haven't seen this movie than it's about time you gave it a look! Just don't call me stupid...
Remember Me
Okay, so I know at this point you're probably wondering why I bothered with what looks like a C grade teen movie designed for 'Twi-hards' but me and this Cat I know had been informed that it was actually fairly decent so I thought I would at least give it a shot.
We had to stop the movie half way through and watched the rest another day. At the half way point I found that the movie was far from perfect but still quite a promising drama with a great soundtrack. I'm kind of wishing that I'd just left it there as the second part of the film is where things take an overly dramatic turn and there is quite a bizarre plot twist . The problem is that up until this point the film had just been an intimate little drama and the plot twist that happens is so epic that it hasn't earned it and it feels completely out of place. There is a Ghandi quote which is repeated in the film which is 'Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it' so I think that's clearly what they were going for in regards to the plot twist and I understand the sentiment but think it could have been done is a much more subtle way.
The two leads (Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin) far surpassed my expectations and have fantastic chemistry, without which the film would have been much less successful. Robert Pattinson was actually fairly believable as the confused yet endearing Tyler, but at points he became overly dramatic (which I think was more a fault of the writing but he could have easily reigned it in a little.) Emilie de Ravin is enchanting as the impetuous Ally and has an understated sexiness. I liked the character quirk of her eating her dessert before her main course to show that she wants to live life to the fullest and not deprive herself of anything but I thought there could have been more examples of this in her character. Pierce Brosnan is laughably bad as the cold, work-a-holic father and I can't fathom why anyone would cast someone so identifiably British (he was James Bond for cripes sake) in a role that requires them to do a Brooklyn accent!
This film still has more merit than I judged it would from the outset and if nothing else I've learnt from this film to not be such an elitist and to give anything a go.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Passing By
Some more holiday footage to some more nice music
Music, Editing, Filming by Jay Bovino. Uncompressed mp3 free if you ask nicely
Music, Editing, Filming by Jay Bovino. Uncompressed mp3 free if you ask nicely
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Suburbs – Suburban Skies; Suburban Highs
The boys stood out the front of Kent’s house. They were clad in shorts and t-shirts and while Jeremy wore thongs the others were barefoot. Summer was finally coming. A soft night breeze came from the west, all the way from the mountains, it brought a slight chill but not enough to raise the skin. The streetlamps spotlighted the street in a scattered fashion while the crescent moon filled the gaps with a soft ambience.
“Man, I love summer! How good is this weather?” Kent said enthusiastically. Jeremy agreed verbally; Michael smiled his response and took a deep breath of the night air. The boys were feeling great that day and had every right to. Only three weeks ago they had finished high school and it was the anticipation of their lives stretching out in front of them that brought out the goose bumps.
After taking another deep breath of fresh air, Michael produced a little white stick from his pocket. It was more than just ‘no more school’ and ‘the oncoming summer’ that made this night special. He smoothed out the stick and passed it under his nose, closing his eyes to enhance his nasal appreciation. He felt a green wash engulf the darkness beneath his eyelids.
“Man, I love summer! How good is this weather?” Kent said enthusiastically. Jeremy agreed verbally; Michael smiled his response and took a deep breath of the night air. The boys were feeling great that day and had every right to. Only three weeks ago they had finished high school and it was the anticipation of their lives stretching out in front of them that brought out the goose bumps.
After taking another deep breath of fresh air, Michael produced a little white stick from his pocket. It was more than just ‘no more school’ and ‘the oncoming summer’ that made this night special. He smoothed out the stick and passed it under his nose, closing his eyes to enhance his nasal appreciation. He felt a green wash engulf the darkness beneath his eyelids.
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