Month: January 2006

Narnia

Movie info from IMDB
Movie reviews from Metacritic

Bugger all on the TV last night so we headed to the cinema to catch The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Before I go any further I’ll point out that I’m pretty sure I read the books when I was younger but can’t recall much about them, snippets here and there is about the limit of my knowledge and even then I’m not sure how much of that is by cultural osmosis rather than directing read of the text.

All in it wasn’t a bad movie, but it wasn’t a great one either lacking any real kind of depth and falling short of other recent remakes (Kong, LOTR etc etc). Acting wise the kids in the movie to a good enough job but stumble over into “precocious” mode a little too often for my liking although that may be the fault of the dialog which has an upper-class Englishness about it that seems more dated than it should. It’s all a bit of a wheeze though so it’s easy enough to put these limitations to one side.

Graphical this was always going to be a tricky movie to pull off, with such a wide mixture of animal, beast and creature, not to mention the fantastical setting, but on the whole it’s not too bad. Some moments are let down by some crude CGI – if they can make thousands of animals charging one another during a battle look realistic, why can’t they get a simple shot with the heroes in front of a backdrop to look natural? – but overall it’s stunning. Aslan in particular.

Anyway, I seem to be apologising for this movie and I guess that sums my opinion nicely. It’s an OK film that you feel could have tried a little harder, been a little better, so … you know.. sorry and all that.

Lovers of the books may enjoy it more but I’d file this as a “wait until it appears on TV” kinda movie.

UPDATE: Two things I forgot to mention. 1. Tilda Swinton is WONDERFUL, it’s worth watching just for her. 2. Louise loved the movie.

Football*

“At the end of the day, to be honest, I think I can safely say that I take each post as it comes. Although I’ve always got on eye on the next game post, it’s usually end to end stuff.”

Despite watching and (occasionally) playing football I rarely post about it mainly because I’m aware that most my readership doesn’t give a flying galactic toss monkey about it, and also because I’m what I consider a ‘neutral’ fan. This means my views lack the objectivenessless of the diehard, lifelong supporter, lack any real degree of passion or involvement and soon dissolve into an exercise in trying not to offend. The latter is only because I’m a nice guy though.

My Dad was/is a P.E. teacher so sport was always a topic of conversation and knowledge in our household with the possible exception of football, mainly because my Dad prefers other sports. I know a lot about the techniques and tactics behind a large variety of sports, having read a lot of the books my Dad was using/reading on various sporting topics, even if I don’t play them all.

Another reason I rarely post about football is that I don’t really have a team that I support. I truly a neutral fan. At the moment I’m loving Chelsea in the English Premiership, AC Milan and Real Madrid have long been continental favourites of mine, honed through the early years of Champions League and European Cups in the 80s, but I’ll watch pretty much any game if it’s good. Man Utd in the mid 90s were awesome to watch, and Arsenal of a couple of years ago were breath-taking with their pace and passing game.

I do play football, although a lot more of my time is spent on the PlayStation (Pro Evolution Soccer) than on the 5-a-side pitch these days, and I’m waiting for Christmas to get Football Manager 2006 for the PC. I’m currently second in the fantasy football league at work, and as I live in the West of Scotland and hugely aware of what is happening with Rangers and Celtic. As to which of THOSE teams I support, well that depends on who I’m talking to or, more accurately, who I’m trying to wind up. I don’t really support either but it IS fun pretending.

I think video techology can and should be used, I think stiffer fines should be imposed on players who cheat, and I would love to see more discipline on the pitch.

So, there you go. For the three of you that have read this, I hope that answers some questions.

* Soccer, for my American friends.

Ohh shush

Louise and I don’t argue much. Not because we don’t fall out or have disagreements but because we realise, now, that arguing achieves nothing and sometimes we just have to agree to disagree. There is still the occasional spot of friction but that’s just the outcoming of being in a healthy relationship.

I’m tending to extend this approach to my online ‘persona’ more and more frequently and I find myself biting my tongue, not posting a scathing comment, and generally thinking “well this isn’t going to achieve anything” with alarming frequency. Yes, very enlightened of me I’m sure.

However, sometimes, I do have to wonder if I’m a bit of an easy touch. There were a few instances in 2005 where I backed down from arguments, not because I thought I was wrong but because I’d rather spend my energies on more positive things. Oddly, at the same time, I’ve also developed a healthy, if somewhat opposing, view of “well someone has to say it” and I’ve left a few biting comments here and there. As Ang Lee is quoted in today’s Metro (talking about not bullshitting his actors):

They can take it; people pamper themselves too much. A direct line is the quickest way to get there.

I don’t like people who play games, who are relentlessly political and I refuse to be drawn into such discussions. Everyone has their own reasons, everyone is different… tolerance.. respect… blah blah blah. You know what, fuck it. I’m not apologising for the way I am. But stop trying to score points of me, stop trying to pull me into YOUR agenda. I’ve had enough. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

Except for the majority of the time when, you know, I am a pretty nice guy.

Too early

As the light slowly creeps across the buildings I find myself sitting at my desk, somewhat dazed and bemused. Surely it can’t be time to go back to work already, time to haul my body out of bed whilst it’s still dark, time to force cheap instant coffee down my throat in a valiant (if doomed) attempt to waken myself, just in time to go home.

Yet I sit here, looking at my calendar and my task list, pondering where to start, how to start. I’m sure I used to be able to do this, in a time long forgotten before the days of eating, drinking and sleeping (rinse, repeat). I used to be productive, I used to be busy!

You’ve got to be busy of course, you can’t be anything but these days. If you’re not busy you are as good as dead, forgotten, left behind. Gordon McLean? Ohhh I heard he wasn’t busy these days… Yes I know, awful isn’t it…

So much to do, so little inclination to start it, instead I find myself hoping to hold onto these last few moments of normality. The last remnants of a time just passed. Maybe it’s fear of the future, that gaping chronological chasm waiting to be bridged, that keeps me looking back, holding on to the quiet days. Maybe it’s my inherent laziness, my desire to spend my days doing nothing but follow my whim, or maybe it’s fear of being found wanting, not able, a failure.

New Year is supposed to be a time of hope, of resolve, of promises and excitement. Yet I find myself hoping for easier things, resolving less, promising nothing and praying for a quiet life.

Of course life will deal me the hand it decides and nothing I do will influence that, so I’ll mind myself, take care of those that I care for, and keep myself busy. You’ve got to be busy, if you’re not you can pause to look ahead and you’re never really sure what it is you are seeing in the distance. Must keep busy.

[a pause]

Gosh, that’s all a bit melodramatic and melancholy, isn’t it? Yet it just came tumbling out like that. Most odd. Maybe it’s just lack of sleep or the shock at being up this early. Not sure. Maybe I’d better make a start on this coffee.

King Kong

Movie info from IMDB
Movie reviews from Metacritic

“A beast of a movie” screams the poster although not as well as Naomi Watts screams later on… best movie scream ever? Maybe but it still doesn’t quite match the one in Home Alone (the bit with the spider).

Back from a noisy cinema and initial reaction to this movie is good, a few niggles as ever, and still the CGI falls short occasionally but on the whole it’s a cracking movie. You know the plot so I can skip that bit and head straight for the script which does it’s job but felt a little on heavy on the ham. It’s also guilty of pandering to the viewer a little too often for my liking, with plenty of “just to make sure you understood” moments which left a bitter taste in the mouth.

As for the cast, Naomi Watts is brilliant as the screaming heroine (love interest?) of the movie. Considering it’s not exactly the deepest of parts and that for the large majority of the movie she would have been acting into thin air I thought she portrayed the confused and enamoured young woman very well. Adrian Brody was more than capable of running around the jungle but Jack Black was a little disappointing. He did manage to tone things down though so thank heavens for small mercies.

The movie zips along and it certainly didn’t feel like it was three hours long, credit to Peter Jackson for ensuring we weren’t too bothered with superfluous scenes, after all we all know the story.

Animation wise some of the scenes are jaw-dropping, but only when you think back because, largely, it seems CGI has progressed far enough to be believable. The fight scenes on the island between Kong and the dinosaurs are wonderfully staged, completely engrossing and damn exciting to boot!

I’m at a loss as to what to say next, there is obviously the underlying story, the moral of the tale but when it’s scripted into the movie it’s kinda hard to miss. The action scenes crackle along, the plot doesn’t feel too contrived, and overall it was a great way to spend a few hours. Definitely one to catch at the cinema though, as you need the sense of scale, particularly for the vertigo-inducing last scenes atop the Empire State Building.

As far as remakes of classic movies go this one hits the mark nicely. It tips a knowing hat to the original, but delivers a modern interpretation that is well worth your money. Here’s hoping that Peter Jackson gets to make The Hobbit next!