January 12, 2007
Records going all over..
Snow this year (so far, in January note): 865cm
Snowiest *season* previously: 845cm
*giggles*
Posted by Mark at 8:40 AM | TrackBack
January 10, 2007
Don't Believe the (Lack of) Hype
Despite a nonexistent marketing campaign, Cuaron's latest is not to be missed by J. Hoberman, Village Voice, December 19th, 2006History repeats itself: 11 Decembers ago, Universal had the season's strongest movie: a downbeat sci-fi flick freely adapted from a well-known source by a name director. With a bare minimum of advance screenings and a total absence of hype, the studio dumped it. This year, they've done it again.
The 1995 castoff was 12 Monkeys, this year's victim is Children of Men, Alfonso Cuaron's dank, hallucinated, shockingly immediate version of P.D. James's novel. Never mind that Cuaron saved the Harry Potter franchise and, with Y Tu Mama Tambien, directed the highest-grossing Spanish-language movie ever released in America (or that Children of Men was respectfully received at the Venice Film Festival and topped the British box office the week that it opened), this superbly crafted action thriller is being treated like a communicable disease.
Ever sensitive to buzz, critics have gotten the message and are steering clear. When the New York Film Critics Circle met last week, Children of Men got only a handful of votes, mainly for Emmanuel Lubezki's sensational cinematography. Earlier this month, The New York Times imagined Academy members in surgical scrubs, with a "news analysis" noting the unusual goriness of the year's Oscar contenders: The Departed, Flags of Our Fathers, Blood Diamond, Apocalypto, and The Last King of Scotland. A more resonant and gripping movie than any of these, Children of Men wasn't even mentioned.
It's really really good. Go watch it.
Posted by Mark at 5:54 PM | TrackBack
January 8, 2007
Happy New Year!
Ooph, welcome to 2007!
Here's the fancy monthly update. Actually, I have a valid excuse because of course, I have been in England yay!
My immigration medical seemed to go without any hitches. Except perhaps the fact that I spent $250 on a guy prodding my stomach, an x-ray and a urine test. In all honesty I can think of better ways.
The flight to England was as horrendous as ever, actually, since I've never flown back from Canada I am simply comparing it to any flight ever. I hate flying, not for the traditional "oh god the wings are going to fall off" reasons either. Here's why:
1. It costs a fortune, there is no way of saving money.
2. You are invariably stuck for any number of hours in an uncomfortable cramped position next to a fat stinky dude.
3. THEY BLOODY CHARGE FOR EXTRA LEG ROOM! Bear with me and try to consider any other situation where that sort of charge is accepted. Answer: NEVER. "Hi welcome to The Bear Pub, would you like to sit by the window?", "Yes please!", "Okay that will be an extra $50", "...".
4. The food is generally appalling.
5. The entertainment is appalling.
6. They fully expect you to check in approximately a month before you flight. "Oh great! I can spend some quality time in the fascinating departure lounge and go into WHSmiths!"
7. I really could go on but I'll not.
So anyway, the lesson learnt here is don't fly budget. Ever.
After getting over the jetlag we made a trip to Oxford to see Joel, a few drinks and a bout of unpleasant toilet trips later and we went home ready for Christmas via Woodstock and Blenheim Palace, which is as beautiful as ever.
Christmas Day and its following activities blew by as quick as one might expect, over-consumption of chocolate, mince pies, jigsaw puzzles and all the usual festivities. Most notable moment was Dad consuming an entire block of butter that he believed to be a piece of soft cheese.
After all the fun and eating was over we went to London to stay in my sisters new apartment in Richmond which an only be described using obscenities so I'll refrain and tell you that it's beautiful and I am jealous. Usual quick-fire tourist stuff, Tate Modern (we didn't get to do the slides, boo), walk along the South Bank, Covent Garden, a brief and upsetting visit to Oxford St and then the much more pleasant Carnaby Street then back home for New Years.
New Years was spent at home, I cooked a rather rushed and odd Moroccan meal and we lazed about.
The last few days of the trip were spent at home being lazy and it was thoroughly enjoyable after what felt like an entire trip of rushing about. The flight home was memorable as a kick in the teeth, 25 hours door to door, bliss.
That's about it. Whistler is blanketed under feet of snow, Sarah arrives on Wednesday and I guess I have to go back to work at some point because they will be undoubtedly missing me.
Buy my stuff: Ebay
Oh I added a bunch of photos to Flickr in the link above.