Coraline, Geisha, Extras, and a Big Fish

Coraline (Neil Gaiman)
Neil Gaiman's Coraline is a dark fantasy tale about a girl who, together with her inattentive and self-absorbed parents, moves into a new home. She discovers a secret portal of sorts that transports her to a twisted alternate reality where there are 'other' versions of all the people that she knows (who have buttons in place of eyes!), and where cats can talk. Naturally, it's not all fun and games and she soon realizes that she's in trouble. It's essentially a children's book and is a fairly quick read (like one sitting quick). Bizarre and creepy, just the way I like it.

The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway)
Another short book (or novella, as they like to call em). I remember reading this as a kid and not getting it. Having now read it as an adult, I'm not sure I get it any better! Alright, so it's basically about an old fisherman who's had an incredible run of bad luck but never gives up hope. He finally hooks a big one and ends up being dragged along by it for a couple of days; it becomes a case of his will overcoming the obstacles nature hurls at him (a metaphor for life itself, perhaps). Alright I liked it, but I have to confess it's not one of those books I can see myself dying to re-read a few years down the line.

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005, film)
I thought Arthur Golden's book was terrific - vibrant, full of detail, evocative of a particular time and place, and featuring a personable and compelling main character for a narrator. The film, directed by Rob Marshall of Chicago (I hated it!) fame, captures most of the events of the book and the atmosphere accurately enough, but loses something in translation. The story, which begins in the 1930s or thereabouts, is about a girl who's taken from her home and brought up to live the life of a geisha. Much drama ensues as she aspires to become a successful geisha. The film is certainly lush, well acted, and well made overall, but it just lacks something. Perhaps it's because it can't achieve the same level of detail concerning geisha lifestyle, and because it lacks the distinctive narrator element of the book. It's an enjoyable film that doesn't deserve the apathy it's received from the critics, but it isn't great either.

Useless fact: This movie features a strange, awkward looking kiss between two of the protagonists - maybe one of the actors had too much garlic bread for lunch or something.

Extras (TV Series)
From the minds of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, creators of The Office, comes Extras. It's about a man named Andy (Gervais, brilliant as ever) and his friend Maggy, both of whom work as extras - Andy believes himself to be a real actor, and each episode essentially involves him trying to get himself a line in whatever production he's in while interacting with various real-life actors like Ben Stiller, Patrick Stewart, and Kate Winslet. While it doesn't quite reach the greatness of The Office (it lacks the range of quirky characters), it is very funny and features the same awkward brand of humour.

Federer's Magic Numbers

Everyone knows Federer's brilliant, but the numbers are still awe inspiring. Assuming no major injuries, the guy will easily surpass Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slams, and probably a boatload of other records along the way. But will he be able to win the French Open, or will it remain as elusive for him as it was for Sampras?

Babylon 5 - Season 3

Point of No Return

I've finished Season 3 of Babylon 5, and it continues to impress mightily. This entire season was written by J Michael Straczynski, apparently because it was so arc-heavy. And for the most part, the quality is impeccable - there are admittedly a few standalone episodes that don't quite match the standard of the arc episodes.

The first episode is a sedate recap / resolution episode that sort of ties up a few loose ends before the season begins in earnest with a few standalone episodes. The Shadow War and Earth Government arcs always play along in the background though, and the latter arc comes to a conclusion (at least for the season) in three brilliant episodes - "Messages From Earth", "Point of No Return", and "Severed Dreams". Afterwards, things settle down a bit and start focusing more directly on the Shadow War before the amazing, jaw dropping two parter "War Without End", which sees the return of Commander Jeffrey Sinclair (I truly like this character but will be the first to admit Michael O'Hare can't act) and completes the story of Babylon 4 that was introduced way back in Season 1. A few quiet episodes go by before the excellent concluding episodes of the season.

A note on standalone vs arc episodes - they're all good, but the arc episodes really do rise above the standalone ones, some of which are relatively weak. What's most impressive about the writing is how layered it is - the storylines work on both an epic scale and at a more personal level, juggling multiple themes and characters and plot elements and bringing them together seamlessly.

Character development is consistently strong this season, with the only slow movers being Ivonova and Garibaldi, who are relegated to supporting roles. The introduction of the hilarious Marcus Cole brought some fantastic dry humor to the show; hopefully there'll be more of him. G'Kar undergoes a transformation in this season, while Londo continues to struggle with his dark destiny. The Doc goes through some hard times and has to do some soul searching, Vir gets a short lived career boost where he tries to do a little good, and Zack Allen is forced to decide where his loyalties lie. My favourite characters this season were Sheridan and Delenn, who not only (surprise!) end up together after a protracted courtship, but are forced to bear the responsibility of marshaling a shaky alliance against the Shadows. And finally of course, there's that bloody Vorlon...

The strongest performers are, predictably, Andreas Katsulas, Peter Jurasik, and Mira Furlan, but Bruce Boxleitner and Jason Carter are right up there with them. Another standout in a minor role was Jeff Conaway, who played the conflicted Zack Allen. The rest of the cast are reliable as always - there's honestly no real weak link (although it's hard to be objective about it when you're so invested in the characters). Walter Koening and Brad Dourif make for memorable guest stars, as does Michael York as 'King Arthur' in a somewhat hokey episode.

The production values continue to improve in my eyes, especially the effects which truly shine in some of the space battle sequences (of which I'm certain there's much more to come).

All in all, a fantastic season... I look forward to "No Surrender, No Retreat" with great anticipation.

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the rapids...

I went whitewater rafting recently. It's not exactly one of those things I have on my "things to do before I drop dead" list, mostly because I don't have such a list. But I should. Because I realize that I've been missing out on a lot of the really fun stuff. Sitting indoors in front of a computer is nice and all, but it pales in comparison to riding a few rapids.

Seriously, whitewater rafting is an absolute blast. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, and I can't even swim! It's exhilarating... and a little scary - especially if you tumble out! Admittedly I was on a beginner level stretch of river, but I found it to be thrilling nonetheless - and I imagine this level will be sufficient for the foreseeable future.

It all starts off innocuously enough - you push off from the shore and drift along a quiet stretch, admiring the scenery. And then you notice the frothing white water up ahead, and the roaring of the river, and you watch as the raft gets dragged inexorably towards the rapids. The next thing you know you're in the thick of it, the raft is getting chucked about and tilting at crazy angles, icy water's hitting you in giant waves and for several heart stopping moments you see everything through a watery haze. You stick your paddle out and try to row, but you might as well use a twig for all the effect it has. And just as quickly as it started, it's over, and you find yourself in calmer waters, awaiting the next set of rapids with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

There's something strangely relaxing about the whole thing - the burdens of your everyday mundane existence (well, mine is at any rate) are lifted for a while. Your only problems are the rapids, and making sure you stay on the boat. Pretty simple, eh? Yeah, I'm definitely doing it again.

And why stop there? I used to suffer from a complete lack of curiosity and desire to have new experiences... Now, I'm dying to do it all. OK, not ALL... I mean, I don't want to try things like skydiving - I figure flying in airplanes is enough of an act of defiance against gravity; to plummet towards the earth like that is a blatant affront and just asking for trouble. No, definitely not that... but simpler stuff, like trekking through the wilderness, exploring caves, climbing (very small) mountains, and making friends with undomesticated wild animals. Time to live a little...

Movies to look forward to...

I hate hyping myself up for movies too much, but there's nothing wrong with a little anticipation is there? This article by Devin Faraci at Chud has certainly got me psyched to see the three films he calls "stunning achievements, absolute masterworks". And those films are Guillermo del Toro's dark fantasy Pan's Labyrinth, Alfonso Cuaron's dystopian sci-fi tale Children of Men, and Darren Aronofsky's millenia spanning love story The Fountain.

I've been hearing about The Fountain for years - it's had quite a troubled production. Pan's Labyrinth has been on my radar for some time as well - at least a year, if not more. Children of Men caught me by surprise though - I knew nothing of it till I saw the trailer, and while my curiosity was piqued then, I didn't get too excited by it till the reviews started popping up.

I have no idea if I'll wind up loving these films or not (or even hating them - The Fountain has had its share of extreme negative reactions), but given the people involved and the positive reactions from credible sources, I'm certain that they are exceptional films that will be worth watching.

Besides those three, I'm also keenly anticipating Zack Snyder and Frank Miller's ultra stylized Battle of Thermopylae film 300, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3, and Hot Fuzz from Shaun of the Dead duo Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright.

Batman Forever Bad

I haven't seen Batman Forever in around 10 years. I remember not liking it much, but after seeing Batman and Robin my memory somehow reassessed it as being 'alright'. My memory is totally and utterly wrong. To call it a poor movie is to be too kind, but I'm feeling generous. It's a poor movie. It's only marginally better than Batman and Robin, but then again I haven't seen that cinematic abomination in some time either. Perhaps Batman and Robin is so much worse that Forever actually seems decent in comparison. Whatever the case may be, I'm certain that I'm not masochistic enough to inflict Batman and Robin upon myself to find out. Val Kilmer, Nicole Kidman, Tommy Lee Jones, all actors capable of so much better. Joel Schumacher and Akiva Goldsman really drove this franchise into the ground - watching this film just reminds me of how miraculous Christopher Nolan's resuscitation of the franchise was. To bring Batman back from such an embarrassing low to the high of Batman Begins was a bravura achievement.

One other false memory I vanquished while watching this relates to Jim Carrey. His "crazy zany" shtick was appalling. I remember being amused by his other movies at the time, but my taste has become discerning enough that I suspect I won't be revisiting them any time soon.

To finish this post, I present to you with what I found to be the most memorable ludicrous image from the film. Picking this was not easy, believe me... this was but a grain of sand from the unending sandy beach of ludicrous images that is Batman Forever!

Various things from the last few weeks...

Good god I want to delete that last post! Even a little alcohol can create moments of madness it seems... Anyway, back to normal from. . . . NOW!

FILMS

Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
This one surprised me, I have to confess... I expected to like it even less than I expected to like Corpse Bride, but it made a convert out of me. Aardman Animation's 'claymation' feature film marks the debut of the characters of Wallace and Gromit on the big screen - they've been in a bunch of short films before. Wallace is an inventor who runs a pest control business in a small English town that is obsessed with growing vegetables. Gromit is his dog and business partner / butler, and the more pragmatic half of the duo (Gromit doesn't speak, but communicates through expressions and body language). The plot revolves around a giant 'were-rabbit' that threatens the precious vegetables of the townspeople just days before a major vegetable growing contest. It's ostensibly a children's film but it features beautiful animation, boundless amounts of charm, many cinematic references and nods to Hollywood cliches, and a fair bit of innuendo, all of which should appeal to adults. It's great stuff, and you'd have to be downright curmudgeonly to not enjoy it.

Tristram Shandy - A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
This is a strange film to say the least. It's an adaptation of a book - "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" - well, sort of. It's actually an adaptation of a book that is apparently unfilmable, so the film itself is actually a fictional account of the making of an adaptation of the book. Got it? It's a film about the making of a film, but it also presents chunks of that film as parts of itself. It's a British comedy. Hopefully that mangled explanation provides some context. Most of the film is about the behind the scenes goings on as seen from the perspective of the star, Steve Coogan (played by Steve Coogan) - the filmmakers struggle to get funding for an 'action scene', discuss the script and it's lack of fidelity to the novel, and contend with historical accuracy (it's a period piece). Coogan himself must contend with not flirting with his attractive assistant while his girlfriend and child are on location with him, while also trying to ensure that his part isn't dwarfed by his 'co-star' Rob Brydon (played by Rob Brydon). The film's very dry humour is always chuckle worthy and on occasion laugh out loud funny - Coogan and Brydon work really well together. Worth a watch - although I can't honestly say that I'm fond of it or a fan, I did enjoy it and it is quite memorable.


TV

Arrested Development (Season 2)
Arrested Development is surely one of the funniest sitcoms ever made - no surprise then that it was canceled after the third season. I don't know how any explanation I give can do it justice - I recommend reading the introduction to the show from the Wikipedia article. Or from my own thoughts on the first season, which I just remembered I'd written! Freakily, I seem to have repeated myself with this entry- perhaps I'm merely parroting what I wrote the last time, or perhaps my sentiments on the show haven't changed. It is one of the funniest shows ever, it was unjustly cancelled, and my words cannot do it justice. Suffice it to say, the second season is at least as good as the first - hilarious and brilliant. Watch it. That is all.


BOOKS

Life of Pi (Yann Martel, 2001)
This book won the Booker Prize in 2002 and was very well received, so you expect something special when you read it. Colour me unimpressed though. It's a good book, and certainly well written, but I can't see what all the fuss was about. Yep, this probably confirms that I am indeed a philistine. Divided into three parts, the main part recounts the story of 'Pi' Patel, an Indian boy who survives a shipwreck and winds up stranded in the ocean on board a lifeboat with only a Bengal tiger for company. Interesting premise, and much of this part of the book is fascinating - Pi recounts in detail his experiences and what extremes measures he has to take to survive. The thing that drags the book down for me was the character of Pi himself, who comes across as smug far too often for my liking, particularly in the first part of the book. His mopiness doesn't help matters either - while I realize that he endures a hell of a lot, it gets a bit tiresome to keep reading about how much he suffers. The ruminations on religion, animal behaviour, and life in general are both interesting and heavy handed in equal measure. I guess at the end of the day the book rubbed me up the wrong way and I just don't much care for it. I can't honestly, objectively say whether I'd recommend it or not.

And there you have it. The end of the post. I know, I know - the post is too long. Sue me!

Fading Away

I'm fading away from the people around me... Or rather, I already have. I can't pinpoint exactly when it happened, but it did. And it's partly, perhaps mostly, my fault. I withdrew into myself, and being naturally introverted, it didn't seem like much of a change. The reasons - a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo, which only ever seemed to change for the worse; and a primal, irrational hatred which lives on even now.

As I said, it didn't seem like much of a change, but it does now. Recent events have made me realize this. To pull away from normal interaction meant I minimized all of the negative interaction... but the cost of this was the loss of positive interactions as well. I now watch these from the sidelines, as an outsider. I could probably join in, but it would feel like I didn't really belong anymore.

It's strange how you can feel alone even while living amid several people in a relatively confined space. I don't mind being alone, truth be told; I daresay I relish it. I can survive with little company, and have done so in the past. But to feel alone while being among other people, that can be difficult. Which is why, I suppose, I hate hanging around with people I don't much care for and becoming an outsider. It's a painful experience, and I refuse to be accommodating - forced cheerfulness requires a lot of effort, and even the consumption of large volumes of alcohol fails to make it any easier. Ooh, a digression... better get things back on track.

I try to think of how I could change things, make them better, but I'm at a loss really. My reasons for being this way are the same, and I don't think I can change myself to overcome them. Yeah, I can't better myself Picard, though I dearly want to! The old canard about starting things over and doing things right someplace else is always tempting, but even if it were possible, I suspect things would deteriorate eventually. But at least there would be a slim chance, and for a while, hope... and if it were not for hopes, the heart would break, as the old quote says.

I can't believe I've written an entry like this... I've succumbed to the temptations of anonymity at last. I'm tempted to delete this and close the browser. Maybe I should. Or maybe I should post it as a testament to my frazzled state of mind on this day. Yeah. I think I'll go with that. I know I'm going to regret it later though. heh heh...

If you're looking back on this post from the future, I hope you've got your act together, you wanker! May the Force be with you! How's the weather?