Ok ... the Golden Compass dvd is out in stores ... so do I wait like the trully cheaparse self that I am for the prices to go down at JB's as they invariably will ... or do I pay the extra 4 or so dollars and purchase it today ... oh dillema dillema ... they were playing it on the screens in the store when I went in at lunchtime ... and I had to walk out because I didn't want to see any of it until I had it home under the doona with the surround sound on. I worry about myself sometimes!
Addendum 14 July 2008 - ok so the 2 disc edition finally went on sale ... and M finished reading the book a few days after I purchased the DVD ...
We watched it .... and went ... yeah and shrugged our shoulders .... if you're bored on a sunday arvo with nothing else to do and this happens to be on telly ... then watch it ... otherwise .... unless you have read the books and are curious as to how they have been realised visually .... I wouldn't really bother!!!
I still maintain that Nicole Kidman is the perfect Mrs Coulter .... but I wish they had made more out of the daemons ... the connection bewteen human and daemon was just skirted over ... and its so significant both thematically and symbolically in the books ....
Anyhoo ... here's a 5 min trailer ... perhaps it may pique your interest (I hope towards the books ... rather than towards the movie)
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
His Dark Materials
Ok so avid readers (what a joke!!) of this blog will know that I have been somewhat fascinated by young adult fantasy in recent times ... It all started with Catherine Webb and I'm now nearly at the end of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy.
But can I just say that Pullman's novels are simply unputdownable!!!
Cynical readers will say that we have tread this literary path countless times before ... all the stalwart mythological figures are here ... and everyone is on a quest towards their ultimate destiny ... and of course the allegories fall fast and thick with a heavy soupcion of religious dogma thrown in ... but the lines are blurred in this story as each and every character is flawed .... as we all are in real life ...
Regardless, Pullman has a way with plot and pace ... I was reading this on the train today ... the part where Mrs Coulter and Lord Roke are trying to destroy the bomb that the Magisterium want to ignite in order to decimate Lyra who they see as an Eve figure and symbolically the harbinger of evil in the world as her destiny is to be tempted and ultimately to succumb ... I was taking in audible panic breaths and letting out little yelps of excitement like a complete loser!!! Oh.My.God. You soooo have to read these books!
PS - where the HELL is my Portishead box set!!!!
But can I just say that Pullman's novels are simply unputdownable!!!
Cynical readers will say that we have tread this literary path countless times before ... all the stalwart mythological figures are here ... and everyone is on a quest towards their ultimate destiny ... and of course the allegories fall fast and thick with a heavy soupcion of religious dogma thrown in ... but the lines are blurred in this story as each and every character is flawed .... as we all are in real life ...
Regardless, Pullman has a way with plot and pace ... I was reading this on the train today ... the part where Mrs Coulter and Lord Roke are trying to destroy the bomb that the Magisterium want to ignite in order to decimate Lyra who they see as an Eve figure and symbolically the harbinger of evil in the world as her destiny is to be tempted and ultimately to succumb ... I was taking in audible panic breaths and letting out little yelps of excitement like a complete loser!!! Oh.My.God. You soooo have to read these books!
PS - where the HELL is my Portishead box set!!!!
How True ... nik naks in the garage!!
Ok .. so finally the BBC puts out the entire French and Saunders series in a box set.
BUT is it really complete? Apparently not.
The Christmas specials are not included, which means no Star wars/Lord of the Rings/kill bill spoofs (and of course it was too much to hope that the Amy Wino vs Britney farewell skit would be included), and rumour has it the Diana "got it all" skit is not present. Out of some kind of misguided monarchist deference?? If so, then dawn and jennifer I shake my head at you and cluck my tongue in dissappointment.
Having said all this, I will be at JB's on the day purchasing my copy ... looking forward to hours of laughing till it hurts with M looking on in wonderment. Might have to watch this with R for the full hilarity experience.
(ok so I'm doing this at work ... sue me for being bored!!)
BUT is it really complete? Apparently not.
The Christmas specials are not included, which means no Star wars/Lord of the Rings/kill bill spoofs (and of course it was too much to hope that the Amy Wino vs Britney farewell skit would be included), and rumour has it the Diana "got it all" skit is not present. Out of some kind of misguided monarchist deference?? If so, then dawn and jennifer I shake my head at you and cluck my tongue in dissappointment.
Having said all this, I will be at JB's on the day purchasing my copy ... looking forward to hours of laughing till it hurts with M looking on in wonderment. Might have to watch this with R for the full hilarity experience.
(ok so I'm doing this at work ... sue me for being bored!!)
Crying Poor
Ok ... so just found out that my loser bro earns more than me and still his finances are so fucked up ... whats up with that???
Depressed!!
Depressed!!
Monday, 28 April 2008
Vale Bobbys Cuts
Ok so I made my lunchtime pilgrimage to Flinders Lane, taking in Episode and DJ's en route only to find the door closed on an empty space where Bobby's Cuts used to be. What the?!? Where am I going to get my Hem and Haw from now?? Will I be forced to cast my men's couture net further afield?? Will I have to race down to Fitzroy on my lunchbreak, or give up a saturday to trundle off to Chapel Street and rub shoulders with bogan versace loving wannabes to find anything remotely decent that isn't draped over a knifepoint showroom dummy!! Oh the Horror .. the horror!
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Where da fuck r'chu??
Ok ... so I've been a little quiet (i.e. really slack!!) but with good reason.
I recently had 2 weeks of the house to myself ... and admittedly it hasn't been easy. Managed to catch up with a few friends and start on a few projects and basically just chilled with the house ... if u know what I mean. I might mention a few online chats ... but somethings should be kept amongst friends. What I realised out of all this is that it did feel somewhat like I had lost a limb with M not being around ... I was in some way imbalanced (sic??) ... not quite whole ... my sleep patterns were all whacked out for a start ... and I stumbled around like I had too many antihistamines washed down with the merest slip of alcohol ... but thats all over now. M's back and I think he's glad to be back .... and I'm glad to have him back ...
So whats been going down?. I made a half arsed attempt to jot down little notes of whats been happening in order to formulate these into coherent paragraphs at a later date ... but having been bamboozled by new conceptual ideas like blog-house, math-rock and nintendo core whilst attempting desperately to stave of the ravages of time by trying to appear top of the game in all things YOUTH!!, I have decided to slip on the comfy slippers and slurp quietly at my condensed milk infused cup of tea.
So to celebrate the slowing down of synapses between neurons that have taken a beating over time, I will encapsulate in point form as the most expedient method of diarising this life that is quickly running out of tarmac as it slides ever onwards to the big FOUR -Oh!!
Point 1:
Scored freebies to AIR - at the Palais - in the third row.
Highlight of the evening - well really just being able to spend time with R. We were our usual indefatigable (just wanted to use one of my favourit words) silly selves. It was the night when the gods above decided to rent melbourne asunder with gale force winds. And of course we had to traipse all the way to west melbourne to meet D for the tix ... and wouldn't you know it, it starts pouring just when I decide to leave the office ... gale force winds and rain - not a great combo. But we survived, and froze our asses in sea breezes coming off the St Kilda coast ... had to duck to avoid seeing AW from Connect and got busted by P from EMI ... she remembered me of all things and I pretended ... All i can say is that AIR rocked at a few points .. but tis not the best of venues for them ... as it is their music is generally pretty laid back ... so ironically it does require a bit more interaction than row upon row of middle-aged (you read that right) or closely skirting middle age peops .. all comfy in their old world gold gilt chairs ... happy to be out of the cold ... and it didn't help that it wasn't a full-house ... and the vocodered "thank you very much" ... dude thats good for a laugh for about a millisecond ... but not throughout the evening. To be honest, we were more interested in the backing band .. they seemde to be doing most of the work .. of course they were all in black, set back of the stage out of the light ... Anyhoo ... here are some pics, not very good, off the dtt dtt on my mobile phone ....
We rounded off the evening at Meyer Place ... and I was over at D and R's the next night to catch up on music goss, faves and raves.
Which leads me to my current listening pics Point 2:
Whatever you do, don't go to the Myspace page and try to ignore all promo pics and videos before you listen to this. They look like absolute tosspots ... but boy is this album da bomb!!! If you haven't heard this, do your homework and let me know how it all turns out. I cannot stop listening to the album ... its Todd Rundgren for the noughties ... but don't let that put you off ... I dare you to resist the opening synth riff for Time to Pretend ... and you will be singing "I'm the weekend warrior" without even realising it.
Punchy, camp, shouty, nervy postpunk new wave rock. Not the best tunes, but something about the attitude. Play The French Open and Cassius, and you will be strutting down the street in your skinnies .. daring anyone to get in your way ... natural if you're n your teens ... pathetic in your late 30s.
And on the dance tip, even though I left raves and drugs and mixmag behind with the retail jobs ... but you can actually listen to these intellectually, and if you want to bob your head like a loser, ironic t-shirt, sneaker wearing loser straightie ... more power to ya ... but check these out!!!
I'm with you D on this one ... can't wait for a bonafide Black Ghosts CD - if i was 21, this would be the CD I would recommend anyone who asks how I like my dance music ... as it is I'm still recommending FC Kahuna's Another Fine Mess.
This one is a tad on the YOUTH!! side for me. Their album is a little bit faux-Justice ... but this really is a buggin' mix!!
Which reminds me ... if you're one of the lucky few to have downloaded Justice's rejected Fabriclive mix .. how fantastic is it!!!!!
FINALLY, M83 Saturday=Youth
Ordinarily I maintain that an Artist's music should be able to stand in its own right unreliant on the concept that drives it either via the videos, the press hype, the promo shots and/or the album cover design .... HOWEVER ... (apart from the naff pics in Cinematic Orchestra's Ma Fleur) ... having a visual reminder of what it was like growing up as a child in the 80s does contribute so aptly to the listening pleasure this cd affords. Its not the best M83 album, but certainly for peops like me, its almost painfully nostalgic ... I just wanted to hunt down old John Huston movies and Thriller-lite b-grade horror dvds with shoulderpads and stone washed denims ... i know that mentioning Molly ringwald in a lyric and having a Molly-lookalike in the artwork is a little heavy handed ... but you don't know what films like Pretty in Pink and the Breakfast club ... and even Fright Night mean to a tragic 80s freak like me. But be warned ... this is NOT the high NRG footlosse flashdance end of the 80s ... this is more Tears for Fears, unknown Cure wannabes on 80s movie soundtracks circa 83 - 85.
If you haven't heard any M83, don't start with this one ... buy the album before with its stalker-serial killer on the loose vignettes ... Before the Dawn Heals us ...
And as a taster of how perfectly atmospheric their music can be .. here's a clip from the new Spike Jonze directed skater film soundtracked by M83:
Point 3:
On my final book of His dark Materials ... this better have a kickarse plot resolution or I will be very angry!! But Nicole Kidman is the perfect choice for Mrs Coulter ... and Kate Bush should never contribute to a soundtrack evah again ... what the fuck is up with taht Lyra song???!!!
On to Artemis Fowl after this ... and then I really need some good adult fiction ...
Point 4:
Friedrich Gray and Romance was Born have hit the shops ... but my wallet says No!! Yet Again!! Foiled by the fucking Reserve Bank of Australia
Point 5:
My dear friends ... I need some inspiration y'all ... work is quietly driving me insane
I recently had 2 weeks of the house to myself ... and admittedly it hasn't been easy. Managed to catch up with a few friends and start on a few projects and basically just chilled with the house ... if u know what I mean. I might mention a few online chats ... but somethings should be kept amongst friends. What I realised out of all this is that it did feel somewhat like I had lost a limb with M not being around ... I was in some way imbalanced (sic??) ... not quite whole ... my sleep patterns were all whacked out for a start ... and I stumbled around like I had too many antihistamines washed down with the merest slip of alcohol ... but thats all over now. M's back and I think he's glad to be back .... and I'm glad to have him back ...
So whats been going down?. I made a half arsed attempt to jot down little notes of whats been happening in order to formulate these into coherent paragraphs at a later date ... but having been bamboozled by new conceptual ideas like blog-house, math-rock and nintendo core whilst attempting desperately to stave of the ravages of time by trying to appear top of the game in all things YOUTH!!, I have decided to slip on the comfy slippers and slurp quietly at my condensed milk infused cup of tea.
So to celebrate the slowing down of synapses between neurons that have taken a beating over time, I will encapsulate in point form as the most expedient method of diarising this life that is quickly running out of tarmac as it slides ever onwards to the big FOUR -Oh!!
Point 1:
Scored freebies to AIR - at the Palais - in the third row.
Highlight of the evening - well really just being able to spend time with R. We were our usual indefatigable (just wanted to use one of my favourit words) silly selves. It was the night when the gods above decided to rent melbourne asunder with gale force winds. And of course we had to traipse all the way to west melbourne to meet D for the tix ... and wouldn't you know it, it starts pouring just when I decide to leave the office ... gale force winds and rain - not a great combo. But we survived, and froze our asses in sea breezes coming off the St Kilda coast ... had to duck to avoid seeing AW from Connect and got busted by P from EMI ... she remembered me of all things and I pretended ... All i can say is that AIR rocked at a few points .. but tis not the best of venues for them ... as it is their music is generally pretty laid back ... so ironically it does require a bit more interaction than row upon row of middle-aged (you read that right) or closely skirting middle age peops .. all comfy in their old world gold gilt chairs ... happy to be out of the cold ... and it didn't help that it wasn't a full-house ... and the vocodered "thank you very much" ... dude thats good for a laugh for about a millisecond ... but not throughout the evening. To be honest, we were more interested in the backing band .. they seemde to be doing most of the work .. of course they were all in black, set back of the stage out of the light ... Anyhoo ... here are some pics, not very good, off the dtt dtt on my mobile phone ....
We rounded off the evening at Meyer Place ... and I was over at D and R's the next night to catch up on music goss, faves and raves.
Which leads me to my current listening pics Point 2:
Whatever you do, don't go to the Myspace page and try to ignore all promo pics and videos before you listen to this. They look like absolute tosspots ... but boy is this album da bomb!!! If you haven't heard this, do your homework and let me know how it all turns out. I cannot stop listening to the album ... its Todd Rundgren for the noughties ... but don't let that put you off ... I dare you to resist the opening synth riff for Time to Pretend ... and you will be singing "I'm the weekend warrior" without even realising it.
Punchy, camp, shouty, nervy postpunk new wave rock. Not the best tunes, but something about the attitude. Play The French Open and Cassius, and you will be strutting down the street in your skinnies .. daring anyone to get in your way ... natural if you're n your teens ... pathetic in your late 30s.
And on the dance tip, even though I left raves and drugs and mixmag behind with the retail jobs ... but you can actually listen to these intellectually, and if you want to bob your head like a loser, ironic t-shirt, sneaker wearing loser straightie ... more power to ya ... but check these out!!!
I'm with you D on this one ... can't wait for a bonafide Black Ghosts CD - if i was 21, this would be the CD I would recommend anyone who asks how I like my dance music ... as it is I'm still recommending FC Kahuna's Another Fine Mess.
This one is a tad on the YOUTH!! side for me. Their album is a little bit faux-Justice ... but this really is a buggin' mix!!
Which reminds me ... if you're one of the lucky few to have downloaded Justice's rejected Fabriclive mix .. how fantastic is it!!!!!
FINALLY, M83 Saturday=Youth
Ordinarily I maintain that an Artist's music should be able to stand in its own right unreliant on the concept that drives it either via the videos, the press hype, the promo shots and/or the album cover design .... HOWEVER ... (apart from the naff pics in Cinematic Orchestra's Ma Fleur) ... having a visual reminder of what it was like growing up as a child in the 80s does contribute so aptly to the listening pleasure this cd affords. Its not the best M83 album, but certainly for peops like me, its almost painfully nostalgic ... I just wanted to hunt down old John Huston movies and Thriller-lite b-grade horror dvds with shoulderpads and stone washed denims ... i know that mentioning Molly ringwald in a lyric and having a Molly-lookalike in the artwork is a little heavy handed ... but you don't know what films like Pretty in Pink and the Breakfast club ... and even Fright Night mean to a tragic 80s freak like me. But be warned ... this is NOT the high NRG footlosse flashdance end of the 80s ... this is more Tears for Fears, unknown Cure wannabes on 80s movie soundtracks circa 83 - 85.
If you haven't heard any M83, don't start with this one ... buy the album before with its stalker-serial killer on the loose vignettes ... Before the Dawn Heals us ...
And as a taster of how perfectly atmospheric their music can be .. here's a clip from the new Spike Jonze directed skater film soundtracked by M83:
Point 3:
On my final book of His dark Materials ... this better have a kickarse plot resolution or I will be very angry!! But Nicole Kidman is the perfect choice for Mrs Coulter ... and Kate Bush should never contribute to a soundtrack evah again ... what the fuck is up with taht Lyra song???!!!
On to Artemis Fowl after this ... and then I really need some good adult fiction ...
Point 4:
Friedrich Gray and Romance was Born have hit the shops ... but my wallet says No!! Yet Again!! Foiled by the fucking Reserve Bank of Australia
Point 5:
My dear friends ... I need some inspiration y'all ... work is quietly driving me insane
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Flash in a Pan
Ok ... so I'm not exactly a techie nerd .. but these things amuse me ... and if I could, I would spend hours moving my mouse around the screen just to see the reaction.
I know it has something to do with Flash and that it takes multiple frames to do this ... but my only real question is whats with the conjunctivitis??
Click here for fuller appreciation: http://cubo.cc/
Just a few quick notes:
Seeing AIR tomorrow night - scored a freebie so am mighty pleased with myself
Also caught the VCE To Art exhibition and checked out Children's Illustrated Books Museum in Dromkeen - more of that later
Oh and finally made it to Deliciosa - details soon
Aaannd I actually bought something at Shag ... I know! Crazy As!!
I know it has something to do with Flash and that it takes multiple frames to do this ... but my only real question is whats with the conjunctivitis??
Click here for fuller appreciation: http://cubo.cc/
Just a few quick notes:
Seeing AIR tomorrow night - scored a freebie so am mighty pleased with myself
Also caught the VCE To Art exhibition and checked out Children's Illustrated Books Museum in Dromkeen - more of that later
Oh and finally made it to Deliciosa - details soon
Aaannd I actually bought something at Shag ... I know! Crazy As!!
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