Harry POT-ter... And The Sorcerer's Stoned...

Just wanted to share this news story with you - mainly so I could make that terrible pun in the title of this post!

BBC: Potter Actor Admits Drug Charge

Burn After Reading

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

Last night, Viki & I watched "Burn After Reading", the latest offering from film writers & directors Joel & Ethan Coen, which had had fairly good reviews (I think), and which I had been looking forward to seeing... being a fan of some of their earlier work like "Fargo" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"...

I still can't decide if I liked it or not... there were bits that were glossed over (like the whole dumping of Brad Pitt's character's body, and how George Clooney's character cleaned up the evidence), and it seemed a bit "rushed" for me... like a 2-hour+ movie condensed down into 90 minutes...

But there was a scene... a particular scene... 51 minutes into the film (and if you've seen it, you'll know EXACTLY what bit I'm referring to)... that made both me and Viki's jaws hit the floor... then we burst out laughing... then we had to rewind the dvd... and watch it again in slow-mo!

Now, if you haven't seen the film, click here for the bit... but not if you have a sensitive disposition!

Scary Videos... The Update...

If you read my blog on Friday, you would have seen that I was trying to decide if I could cope with a weekend of scary movies...

Well, after "The Exorcist", on Saturday night we watched "The Orphanage", which was really good and scary in a mostly subtle, kind of mess-with-your-head way, but had a really sad ending, I thought... and then "Half Light", which wasn't that great, tbh - I didn't get what the kid's ghost really had to do with things, especially as it just kind of disappeared after a while.

And then last night we watched "One Missed Call" - and I just have one thing to say... oh. my. freaking. god! I'm glad my mobile was on silent... I think I would have crapped myself if it had rung when the film was on!

Er... and then we finished off with the first "Shrek" - coz Viki's not seen any of them, and coz we needed something light and fluffy to soothe our ravaged nerves!

So, I don't think I'll be becoming an out and out horror nut in the near future - I won't be rushing to rent anything like "Saw" or anything like that!

Scary Video...

No, not me first thing in the morning!

I've got a sudden urge to be scared silly this weekend, so tonight Viki & watched "The Exorcist".

She's not seen it at all, and it's 10 years since I saw it last, on it's 25th anniversary.

Now I've got to go to bed, and I'm scared in case a demon comes and gets me!

*Gulp*

The plan is that tomorrow and Sunday will feature "The Orphanage", maybe the new "Amityville Horror" (still can't watch the old one after watching it when I was too young), and "The Devil's Advocate" (if I can persuade Viki to put aside her "Al Pacino is old and wrinkly" preconceptions and if I promise not to spend the whole film sighing at how damn sexy he is as Lucifer). But the plan might change if I have nightmares tonight!

I really don't know why I'm in the mood for a bit of horror this weekend, as usually I avoid it like the plague!

My Weekend...

Has been pretty damn good, thank you very much!

It's amazing the difference just having 2 days off can make!

Yesterday morning I had a nice lie-in... getting up around about 11o'clock... and then kicked about the house for a bit. Blogged, pottered on the computer, listened to music... Bliss!

Then in the afternoon, I had a wander round the shops, not really buying anything. At 5o'clock, I went to get coffee for me and my brother (as I usually do on a Saturday, but it's normally after I've had a shit day at work) - Americano for him, and a nice latte for me. And I got chips for myself, since I hadn't really eaten yet. Stayed with him until he went out about 7pm, and I headed up to Broad Street for an open-air concert by Kirkwall City Pipe Band and Orkney-born musician, Ivan Drever - "Ivan On The Apron" (The Apron is the raised, paved area in front of the Cathedral, from which you go down the steps onto the Kirk Green).

Here is a photo of Ivan with a few members of the pipe band helping him out:

It lasted from 8pm til just after 10, and was fantastic... A lovely evening (with the exception of the midges hanging around), standing outside the majesty of the Cathedral, as the sun went down, with hundreds of people, from toddlers up to grannies and granddads in wheelchairs, and no trouble at all... no pushing, no drunken louts, no swearing or heckling... Just the best way to spend a Saturday evening.

Then home, via my brother's to pick up the bags I had left there, and a nuked chicken korma while I watched a DVD - "Stardust", which was brilliant, even if I'll never be able to take Robert De Niro seriously in a gangster film again (if you've seen "Stardust", you'll know what I'm getting at). Wandered off to bed, not at all shattered like I usually am on a Saturday, at about 2o'clock this morning, after the film was done.

Another nice long lie-in today. Got up, changed the dressing on my leg (which the nurses seem to think is slowly getting a peedie bit better) and did the same as yesterday... listened to music and pottered around on the computer.

But then came my first disappointment of the weekend (unless you count not winning the lottery last night)... I went a wander round the corner to the street, thinking I would get a coffee from Starbucks - only to find that they've decided it's "winter", and they aren't opening on a Sunday any more! Not til next summer! So I had to come home and make my own latte... and - let's face it - a spoon of Nescafé Gold Blend in a mug of milk just isn't the same!

So now, here I am, pottering on the computer again. In a sec I'm going to cook the spring rolls I've got for my tea, and then a bit later I'll have a chat with Viki on MSN, if she's around.

All in all, it's been a good weekend!

I See You Shiver...

But not in antici........................... pation... Not after reading this story:

BBC News: Rocky Horror Movie To Be Remade

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Sky, I beg you... reconsider! Leave this alone! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease!

(Yes, this is worthy of all those exclamation marks)!!

For a start, who are you going to get to play Frank 'n' Furter? There's no one can fill Tim Curry's fishnets! Tim WAS and IS Frank! Same with Eddie... Who can top Meat Loaf?

At least I hear that Richard O'Brien has washed his hands of this... Maybe Lou Adler needs the money more?

From what I read on the net, no one thinks this is a good idea!

There's a petition here that you can sign to try to get Sky and MTV to rethink this.

And I know I post this on a regular basis (hey! my blog, my rules), but here is the master at work... "Sweet Transvestite"...

and a few other gems:

Hot Patootie (Bless My Soul)
Floor Show
Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me
I Can Make You A Man
and, of course, The Time Warp

Born To Rock(y Horror Picture Show)...

Reading the birthdays for today on Wikipedia, there could only be one choice... regular blog readers will no doubt have read the title of this and will already be rolling their eyes and going "Oh, god... she's off again...", but I have to follow my heart...

Apr. 19th, 1946 - The one and only Tim Curry is born (sigh!)...

I know what you're going to say "But he's an actor, not a singer" - but nyah, boo, sucks to you! He's been a rock singer in his time too!

From "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", first we have "I Can Make You A Man" sung by Tim, and "Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul", by Meat Loaf...

And then shiver in antici.............. pation, because it's "Sweet Transvestite"...

Born To Rock...

Slight cheat today, because the birthday boy's not really a singer per se... He wrote the musical that my track features in - and he sings it, as well as vocals on other songs on the soundtrack...

Mar. 25th, 1942 - Richard O'Brien (born Richard Timothy Smith, but there was already an actor Richard Smith) and "Science Fiction/Double Feature" from the brilliant "Rocky Horror Picture Show"... although Richard doesn't actually appear in this clip - it's left to the red lips...

Born To Rock... Extra...

This one is because I went to bed last night about 2o'clock this morning (heh), just as ITV was showing "Jesus Christ Superstar" (because I think there might be some holiday or something this weekend to do with Him... somewhere amid all the chocolate eggs and bunnies)...

Mar. 22nd, 1948 - Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is born (except he wasn't a "Sir" then, of course)...

From the 1973 film (as was on last night), the simply beautiful "I Don't Know How To Love Him"...

And then a piece of utter camp, that I had forgotten all about - "King Herod's Song"...

Bloody Hell, Folks

I don't know what it's like where you are, but in bonny Orkney tonight it's cold enough to freeze the cassocks off a brass monk, and everywhere is covered in a layer of lovely, sparkly - and very, very slippery - frost!

Seriously, the roads and pavements are like a skating rink! It was slippy when I went to work this morning, it thawed a bit (where the sun shone) all day - and as soon as it got dark down came the ice again... meaning it was already slippy when I finished work at 5pm.

And, speaking of roads, I wish I could line our roads department up against the wall and shoot the whole bloody lot of them... Remember I told you on Monday that they road men were digging up outside the house again? Well, they've turned the bit outside my house, going up to a housing scheme, into a no-through road! There's a big square in front of the house, and they've put a kerb right across it - effectively cutting my house off from the rest of the street (I'm the top house). It means now that to get to the taxi in the morning, I have 3 choices:

1. Go down the road a bit.
2. Go along the road a bit.
3. Get the taxi to go down my road, along another road, up a road, round a corner, along a road, round another corner and down a bit to get to the parking space outside my house.

I'll take a photo once they've finished so you can see how bloody stupid the idea is. I'm actually glad Dad's not here anymore, because there's no way he'd have been able to walk the distance out or down the road to where the taxi would stop... and I'd bet that at least 90% of taxi drivers wouldn't go the longer route to get a 90 year old man to his gate!

And all this because somebody complained that the road is "dangerous" for kids playing - despite the fact I've not heard of any accidents in the 20+ years I've lived here... and despite the fact that there's a big sign on the wall a bit above my street that says "NO BALL GAMES" - so they're not MEANT to play there!

Grrrrrrrr.

Work was boring as hell today. In the office, catching up on what I can't do when I'm in the shop... and it's flipping cold in our main building (the shop's lovely and warm because the heating needs to be on to keep the paper dry - no such luxury in the electrical bit). Boss buggered off for a while at lunchtime, then mid-afternoon, then decided he'd go home 10 minutes before 5o'clock, and leave muggins to close up. So I didn't get past Starbucks for my usual XL gingerbread latte with cream - and I'd had no coffee all day, because every time the boss went out, he "forgot" to buy milk! So, no caffeine, and no warm liquid to warm me up... Is it any wonder I'm a little wound up?

Tomorrow I plan to do as little as possible. Not heard from my friend yet, but I suspect tomorrow's not going to be ideal for balloon-releasing either. I don't think it's going to be windy enough... and if it's still freezing, I'd rather not venture too far. I've no desire to start 2008 with any broken bones, thank you very much!

Right... I'm off to (possibly) treat myself to a Sky Box Office film. I kinda fancy seeing "Hairspray" - just for the absurdity of John Travolta in a fat-suit and frock. It might be funny... But, on the other hand, it might just be cringeworthy. Oh, what a dilemma...

Okay, see ya!

Great Moments In Cinema...

And TV - Part 39

I was sent this as part of my birthday present by Viki, and watched it on Saturday night... and instantly fell in love...

"Vuk", a Hungarian animation about a little fox cub (Vuk), and how he grows up and learns to hunt - all watched over by his uncle after his parents and siblings are taken by a hunter.

Unfortunately, I can't find the English language version (like I was sent) on YouTube, but I beg you, if you can find this in English, get your hands on it and watch... It's touching, funny, cute, and so much more...

This is the start, in Hungarian, but it'll show you the animation style...

Shallow Al

3 Neck Nibblers, inspired by my choice of viewing on Saturday night...

Down at my brother's, I started watching "Lara Croft: Cradle Of Life" (or whatever it was called... the second one, anyway) and the gorgeous (and Scottish again!) Gerard Butler was in it again. So that set me on the mind to dig out "Wes Craven Presents Dracula 2001" again, in which he plays Drac... so that's what I was watching (from behind a cushion) late on Saturday night!

Here he is... although in Dracula he had longer hair...

That reminded me of the fact that when "The Lost Boys" first came out, I did have a crush on Kiefer Sutherland (I even was prepared to overlook the dodgy blonde mullet he had for the role), inspiring the phrase that came from my lips - "He could bite my neck anytime he likes!". I have to admit, though, that infatuation faded a bit... until "24" and Jack Bauer was born!

But, back to "The Lost Boys", and I've got to admit, I preferred Jason Patric...

But, don't worry Kiefer, you're back to my number one now, coz I don't fancy Jason Patric anymore... well, number two - I'm afraid Dracula beats you by a neck (groan!)

Great Moments In Cinema...

And TV - Part 38...

Taking the place of the "Orkney" post, and coming out of semi-retirement for one night, to feature the film I watched last night.

"Memoirs Of A Geisha"

I bought the DVD ages ago, after I read the book by Arthur Golden - which I really enjoyed. But I didn't watch the film, because I never seemed to be in the right "mood" for what I imagined would be quite a sad and hard-going story.

It's not... it is 2 hours or so of possibly the most beautiful cinematography I have ever watched.

My favourite scene is her "Winter Dance", which is kind of her maiden appearance, set to instigate a bidding war for her virginity...

Sony Pictures official site for the movie is here: Sony Pictures: Memoirs Of A Geisha
Its IMDb page is here: IMDb: Memoirs Of A Geisha

Directed by Rob Marshall ("Chicago"), it tells the story of Sayuri, taken from her fishing village at the age of 9, and sold into servitude at a Geisha okiya - and her rise from servant girl to the most prominent, and much sought-after, Geisha of the time... and of the unspoken love she held onto for "The Chairman" who was kind to her when he met her on the street when she first entered the okiya.

Treated cruelly by her jealous rival Hatsumomo and her protege, Pumpkin, the young Sayuri is mentored by Mameha, the celebrated Geisha at that time, and is taught the artistry of Geisha.

I don't want to give too much away if you haven't seen the film, but it does have its happy ending.

Trust me, it's a triumph, and deserves every award it won.

Why Should You See This Film?: Because it's beautiful, captivating, and so much more.

Come Back Later...

And there will be a review of "Memoirs Of A Geisha" here.

YouTube is down (and has been for the last few hours... grr...) and I can't post any clips from the film.

Once I can, I will...

Since I'm Here Anyway...

I might as well fill you in on my Saturday...

I arrived at work on time (if the boss is reading this), but a little bit after 8am (if he doesn't), and worked really, really, really hard all day... didn't I, Viki & brother David? ;-D

Closed up at 5pm, did the till ready for Monday morning, and then down to Starbucks for my reward... one extra large caramel latte with cream - yum (but I bet not as good as you could make, Julie).

Spent a bit of time down at my brother's and watched a bit of "Top Gear" - I really like that now. This time they were making amphibious cars, and it was so funny watching them.

No real shopping tonight, coz we did it last night, but had a quick look round Lidl to see if anything caught my eye. Nothing except the afore-mentioned bottle of rum & lime which is now calling out to me from the fridge!

So, now I'm home... trying to decide whether to watch "Memoirs Of A Geisha" which I've not seen yet, and which is sure to be a weepie, or to find a comedy I've watched already, or to see if there's anything on any of the satellite channels... which there's probably not.

One last post to make, and then I'm offski!

Great Moments In Cinema...

And TV - Part 37

I've dragged this feature out of mothballs for one night, after watching the DVD that I treated myself to yesterday (I'd resisted buying it when it was full price, but I spotted it in Woolies about 25 past 5 for £7) - Clerks II.

Now, I loved the original, and cherished it on video for a good few years before it ever got a DVD release here... I was afraid to watch it too many times in case my VCR ate it... and was a bit wary about what the sequel would be like - would it be a stinker, a pale imitation of the first?

I needn't have worried - Kevin Smith really struck gold. The balance between juvenile humour (the Donkey Show... lol) and real grown-up emotion is spot on, and the love he has for those characters is clear to see.

So, on to the clips... and they do contain bad langauge, and some crude humour - so don't say I didn't warn you!

The Dance Number...

The Jail Scene... for me, the best scene in the film...

Oh, and special mention for the new character of Elias... LotR/Transformers Geek and God-Fearing Virgin - Pillow-Pants Scene...

IMDb Website Here: Clerks II

Why Should You Watch This Film?: Coz it's brilliant, and Kevin Smith is a foul-mouthed God!

Great Moments In Cinema...

And TV will return tomorrow, as it's later than this post would lead you to believe, and I can't be arsed to go and look for a film classic at the moment.

Great Moments In Cinema...

And TV - Part 33

Did you figure out my oh-so-subtle clues I gave you in "The Musical Interlude..." then?

Let's examine the evidence...

Liam Lynch? Amazingly, he directed this film...
Foo Fighters? Dave Grohl had a starring role (reprising a character he'd played before) in the film... although you maybe wouldn't have recognised him, since he looked a "hornier" than he usually does (impossible as it may seem)...

Yep, it is (of course) the mighty "Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny"... and here's the opening song - "Kickapoo", featuring Meat Loaf and Dio - and the little kid playing JB is amazing!

IMDb page here: www.imdb.com/title/tt0365830/
Tenacious D website here: www.tenaciousd.com/

Why should you watch this film?: Cause it's a bad-ass, laugh-a-minute, rocking riot! I just watched it today, and I about wet myself laughing!

Oh, and as a special treat (one that doesn't appear anywhere on the DVD... gutted)... Here is the mighty "Tribute" video, starring some of the familiar faces from the film...

And for those of you who aren't easily offended, and have a sense of humour, here's a link to the video for "Fuck Her Gently"... www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvNPKeJ4ZUo

The Weekend And Today...

Well, as you'll have read in the "Great Moments In Cinema..." post for today, my Saturday evening after shopping was spent curled up on the sofa with a glass of wine, a pizza and a DVD.

Sunday was a normal Sunday... too tired to do much, so I spent most of the morning sleeping/watching tv (I'm ashamed to admit this, but I know I'm among friends, and you'll be supportive and understanding... I'm addicted... to TRUE MOVIES and TRUE MOVIES 2 - 2 satellite channels of those "based on a true story" films... I feel so dirty...)

Pottered on the computer and chatted with Viki in Hungary on MSN for a while at night.

Got very pissed off about 2am this (Monday) morning - I'd hung out washing (including stuff to wear today) yesterday afternoon when the sun was shining, and it stayed bonny all evening, so the washing stayed out... and then I was playing spider solitaire at 2am when I was aware of the rain dancing off the window! Swore seven shades of blue, but there was no point taking in the washing at that point, because it was soaking again!

Got up this morning just after 8am (not all of us were lucky enough to get the day off coz of the holiday), and - to my relief - there was enough stuff "nearly" dry for me to wear, and the rest was dry by the time I came home tonight. It's really pissing off how often that happens to me though - it's a lovely day, so I do washing, and usually just as I'm about to hang it out, the heavens open!

Anyway, back to this morning... not long after I got up, I got a text from the boss - "Wur shopgirl's hurt her ankle and can't stand... can you dae the shop?" So guess where I spent the day? It's rapidly losing it's appeal being down there! And after a visit to the doctor, it turns out her foot is badly bruised, and she's got to rest it tomorrow too - so that's another day of shop, then office to do wages, then back to shop again... oh, joy(!)

On the upside, the music on Radio 1 was a damn sight better than usual today... it being Bank Holiday, they had "The 10 Hour Takeover", where you could request anything... all the brilliant stuff that isn't "within Radio 1's target demographic" any more. A bit of Meat Loaf, Dolly Parton... and I was well pissed off at the little dickheads who retuned the stereo in the shop to the football and made me miss half of "Jump" by Van Halen! Grrrr...

Okay, rant over... better finish this off before "Heroes" starts on Sci-Fi +1!

Great Moments In Cinema...

And TV - Part 29

My Saturday night viewing (after Casualty, of course) was the DVD of "Crash" (the Oscar winner, not the dodgy semi-porn one)... I bought it months ago, I think just before it won the Oscar, but wasn't really sure why I'd bought it - I didn't have particularly high hopes, because (for me, at least) if a film is nominated for an Oscar, that immediately makes it "worthy" or kind of "arty-farty"... Do you know what I mean?

So, I sat down with my glass of wine and pizza and watched it... not expecting too much... but, boy, was I wrong? I can't really say I enjoyed it, because enjoy is entirely the wrong word for this film... I was blown away, challenged, and left thinking "Woah!"...

Here's the trailer:

IMDb page here: www.imdb.com/title/tt0375679/

Why should you watch this film?: Because it'll take you on a journey, make you examine your own prejudices and preconceptions of race... any race, even your own... but at the same time, it can still make you laugh, cry, hold your breath...

Quote: It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.