Atonement; here was a movie that was going to pass me by. It had won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, was nominated for Oscars, but managed to stay well under my radar. Until the day a colleague tells me he was soon to see it as a birthday treat for his wife. He's not really looking forward it, "sounds a bit girly". I say that I think good things have been said about it and I'll have a look around the internets. Yes, sure enough there were good reviews all round, but for me the clincher was a 5 star (top) rating from my favourite critics; The Radio Times Film Guide. So, I send him away with a glowing recommendation, he'll be fine it'll definitely be worth watching.
Days pass. He has seen it, "Rubbish..." is the well considered review, "Slow, odd start. Poor ending." Well, I guessed that meant I needn't bother now. No, I am now being told that I must watch it to prove to myself that the critics were wrong. Fair enough, onto the DVD rental list it goes.
Days pass. I mention the movie to a friend, "Don't bother, poor middle, and an ending that pissed me off... a waste of two hours sleep on a long flight." Heck, what have I let myself in for?
Days pass. The movie arrives, I sit down and give it a fair trial. What did I think? Excellent movie! Well worth the 5 stars, loved it. I won't do spoilers so will have to be a bit vague in my descriptions. The setting and style of the first half was pretty good, very believable characters, and the cleverest flash-backs used in a movie I have ever seen. The second half was a huge change of scene and mood covering revelations and separation in a quite captivating way. The cinematography here was pretty special too. Nearing the end of the film I am left wondering how atonement can be made, I want it to happen but can't see how. Then the wow moment, a final switch, an explanation, and the end. Whoa, I was stunned. A movie that made me live the moment, 8.5 out of 10.
As for my colleague, well I didn't think he was the sort of chap to decry a movie that has a principle character deflowered in the library of a stately home, but he did. It takes all sorts I guess...
Thursday 28 February 2008
Tuesday 26 February 2008
Hug a Tree
The day was Wednesday 11 August 1999, the time approximately 11:15 BST. The occasion, the last solar eclipse visible from the United Kingdom. Well, the totality track was going to cover the bottom half of Cornwall and we were looking at having a 95% partiality in the East of England. It was good enough for us though, many gathered outside to experience this. With Summer school holidays under way and my shift rota giving me a day off I was free to share this with my family.
We trekked in and out of the garden in the hour leading up to the event noting the dimming sky, not darkening but dimming; slowly but surely night was drawing in. There were various safety devices in use by ourselves and neighbours; masks, goggles, filters, and my favourite the pinhole in a piece of paper projecting onto paper which gave the clearest idea of what was happening.
Cloud cover was slight, and what was moving about wasn't of blocking out size. Then wow, at the given time it was indeed very dim indeed. Not totally dark but a very eery dim, and quiet, a definite hushed moment for all watching.
I peer about in the gloom and see the medium sized tree that lives just outside of our garden. I remember reading somewhere that trees are frightened of eclipses and at that moment can sympathise a little. Nobody is watching me, I slip out of the garden gate, put my arms around the tree and whisper, "It'll be okay, it won't last long..."
We trekked in and out of the garden in the hour leading up to the event noting the dimming sky, not darkening but dimming; slowly but surely night was drawing in. There were various safety devices in use by ourselves and neighbours; masks, goggles, filters, and my favourite the pinhole in a piece of paper projecting onto paper which gave the clearest idea of what was happening.
Cloud cover was slight, and what was moving about wasn't of blocking out size. Then wow, at the given time it was indeed very dim indeed. Not totally dark but a very eery dim, and quiet, a definite hushed moment for all watching.
I peer about in the gloom and see the medium sized tree that lives just outside of our garden. I remember reading somewhere that trees are frightened of eclipses and at that moment can sympathise a little. Nobody is watching me, I slip out of the garden gate, put my arms around the tree and whisper, "It'll be okay, it won't last long..."
Sunday 24 February 2008
King of the Wiki World
I am a volunteer administrator at wikihow.com, something you may get invited into once you've spent some quality time there. It's a great site for many types of people; the create articles from scratch person, the make good from bad person, the fussy I can't bear bad grammar person. I fell into the fussy/pedantic category and my early days were spent spell checking and grammar correcting. All good fun, and the mission of creating the world's largest user created/edited how-to manual was a bonus too.
Administrating the site involves carrying a little extra responsibility and taking a little extra action such as temporarily blocking access to the site when users get a little too carried away with their right to vandalise. It's an ok extension to the hobby, it generally means that you are busier when on the site than before, but not in a bad way.
So, does this have any perks? Oh yes. Participating in recent edits monitoring, reversion of vandalism, and gentle warning of the errant ones, can bring some excellent personal attacks into your Talk Page. There are apologies too, but while they are welcome, they are a little less memorable. Here are a few of my favourite attacks; every one is a testament to the truly aggrieved...
Administrating the site involves carrying a little extra responsibility and taking a little extra action such as temporarily blocking access to the site when users get a little too carried away with their right to vandalise. It's an ok extension to the hobby, it generally means that you are busier when on the site than before, but not in a bad way.
So, does this have any perks? Oh yes. Participating in recent edits monitoring, reversion of vandalism, and gentle warning of the errant ones, can bring some excellent personal attacks into your Talk Page. There are apologies too, but while they are welcome, they are a little less memorable. Here are a few of my favourite attacks; every one is a testament to the truly aggrieved...
- why don't you just take those words and shove it up your ass you b-----d. And then ill sleep with you
- http:// www.wikihow.com/Tell Dave Crosby to F--k Off. - Here you go, buddy. :)
- DAVE CROSBY, YOU ARE A WOG!
- I agree with the person above. You bloody Wog.
- la la la la
- Soapy tit w--k ;)
- You're a f-----g dyke.
- You needd to suck more f----n d--k!
- SHUT THE F--K UP!
- you suck goats
- D--kcheese
- SUCK A D--K SUCK A D--K SUCK A D--K SUCK A D--K SUCK A D--K SUCK A D--K SUCK A D--K SUCK A D--K SUCK A D--K SUCK (and many hundreds more of these...)
- i only said f c k
- your mom
- dont be stupid its a good informative page!!! and i like it!!!!
- F--K YOU NERD F----R!!!
- loser.
- i am not bovered
- who do you think you are, king of the wiki world?
Thursday 21 February 2008
Dil Chahta Hai
Well, here's a thing. I am quite the movie lover, a fan of cult movies, but will watch anything. I believed I had covered all genres and styles of movie making, until now. A friend pointed out that I was missing an important element of modern film making, Bollywood. "Do you have a reason not to watch these?", I am asked. "Well... umm... no, none at all..." I guess it was the lack of this style of movie in national cinemas and non promotion by DVD rental companies that caused this gap in my viewing pleasure. No excuse really, it may just have been my belief that these were musical movies, which I lean away from.
So, I receive a recommendation. Dil Chahta Hai. A modern example of the style billed as a romantic comedy. Ok, overall I wasn't disappointed. It was a good coming-of-age, entering adulthood movie. The musical set pieces, a novelty for me, actually had a purpose. Cool, this was better than the occasionally cringe-worthy Hollywood musicals that I lean away from. The songs continued or added to the storyline, very clever. I think I missed some cultural references regarding family and growing up, but not to the detriment of the movie. Funny, sad and happy. It was all of these, which is just what I look for in romantic comedy. Would I recommend it? Well, only with reservations. I had a problem with the movie, it was very long, 3 hours. I tried very hard, but 3 hours of subtitles really took it out of me. This isn't the movies fault, I am giving it 7 out of 10.
Is this the start of a whole new era of movie viewing for me? Maybe, yes. I want another recommendation, half the length if possible. And then there's a good chance I'll be looking for a good Bollywood review site.
So, I receive a recommendation. Dil Chahta Hai. A modern example of the style billed as a romantic comedy. Ok, overall I wasn't disappointed. It was a good coming-of-age, entering adulthood movie. The musical set pieces, a novelty for me, actually had a purpose. Cool, this was better than the occasionally cringe-worthy Hollywood musicals that I lean away from. The songs continued or added to the storyline, very clever. I think I missed some cultural references regarding family and growing up, but not to the detriment of the movie. Funny, sad and happy. It was all of these, which is just what I look for in romantic comedy. Would I recommend it? Well, only with reservations. I had a problem with the movie, it was very long, 3 hours. I tried very hard, but 3 hours of subtitles really took it out of me. This isn't the movies fault, I am giving it 7 out of 10.
Is this the start of a whole new era of movie viewing for me? Maybe, yes. I want another recommendation, half the length if possible. And then there's a good chance I'll be looking for a good Bollywood review site.
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Wish You Were Here
Wish you were here.
A customary salutation adorning humorous or scenery filled postcards, maybe. A longing for the companionship of a remote special friend, maybe. Or the title of a track from the identically named Pink Floyd album, yes.
This is my all time favourite song; a guaranteed shivers down the backbone, close my eyes and live the music thing. Beautiful music, haunting lyrics and a treasured memory.
It was August 1988, Wembley Stadium, Pink Floyd's A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour. Sat on the (tarpaulin covered) hallowed turf, singing along with 80,000 fans. David Gilmour had, microphone held out, invited the audience to sing along to Wish You Were Here. After the first line was sung he starts to sing but finds 80,000 people have taken the lead, he shrugs and signals carry on...
A customary salutation adorning humorous or scenery filled postcards, maybe. A longing for the companionship of a remote special friend, maybe. Or the title of a track from the identically named Pink Floyd album, yes.
This is my all time favourite song; a guaranteed shivers down the backbone, close my eyes and live the music thing. Beautiful music, haunting lyrics and a treasured memory.
It was August 1988, Wembley Stadium, Pink Floyd's A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour. Sat on the (tarpaulin covered) hallowed turf, singing along with 80,000 fans. David Gilmour had, microphone held out, invited the audience to sing along to Wish You Were Here. After the first line was sung he starts to sing but finds 80,000 people have taken the lead, he shrugs and signals carry on...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
