Movies 2009 - Seen at the cinema:

Slumdog Millionaire
Seven Pounds
Valkyrie
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Franklyn
Watchmen
The Boat That Rocked
The Damned United
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
Public Enemies
Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince
Moon
Inglorious Basterds

Trailer:



Enjoyed this :) Dark comedy at its best. The violence is there but it tells the story. Some great performances in it and Tarantino always chooses great soundtracks for his films. The repeated analogy to Jews 'being like rats' reminded me of the brilliant Maus by Art Speigelman. I think my favourite scene without giving spoilers has to be at the bar - great comedy and tension combined :) Without trivialising war Tarantino does make a great comedy thriller from its backdrop. Watch it :)

Favourite quote: You know, fightin' in a basement offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you're fightin' in a basement!

So Sunday I went to BBC to see filming of an episode of Miranda - new BBC sitcom comedy starring Miranda Hart. You may have seen her in Not Going Out or Hyperdrive, or the radio if your a radio listener. Really good fun. Sally Phillips is in the cast playing Miranda's annoying posh sister. :) Hope it does well when it airs as I like Hart a lot. The warm up audience guy on this was also hilarious.

crapguitarist thank you for reminding me that Inherit The Wind tickets for the Old Vic were already on sale. I am so slacking :( I decided to take my mum who has never seen Spacey perform on stage before and will be going in November. The closest I could get seats to the stage is row J :( Its not just shallow reasons I want this, the closer I am the more I can lip read. However I've a feeling this play will involve lots of shouting so I should be fine ;) *excited* Can't wait to see Spacey again on stage - seems ages. Also swankyfunk informs me that Jessica Hynes is back on stage in London - that is very tempting also.

Myself and missy_manic are nearly finished with watching Star Trek TOS Season 2. Just watched the episode Bread and Circuses (do I like those grey tshirts on Kirk, Spock and McCoy? Heck yes.) One more ep to go!

Comics - just finished reading part 1 of Superman For Tomorrow. Absolutely brilliant writing and story art. I will comment more on this another time, plus I need to buy part 2 and finish it.

And the other big news... Rachel's got a job in Glasgow! This is great for her - what she has been aiming to do for since Spring so I am thrilled for her. But it means I will lose a good friend as a great flatmate, so will be flatmate hunting come October. We shall be having a massive 30th birthday/send off for her early October - should be fun :D

And tomorrow I am going with missy_manic and Rach to Brighton for the weekend. Believe it or not. I have never been - this will be my first visit!

Back to work tomorrow. Boo! But have had a nice relaxing holiday. On Thursday after going to the cinema went to Forbidden Planet and had to restrain myself - there are some awesome Star Trek TOS action figures in stock. Instead I came out with graphic novels of Superman, The Boys, and Star Trek. Yesterday I met up with Lorraine for coffee and a chat. She is really annoyed that itv have lost the rights to the next season of Supernatural as she is a massive fan. She doesn't have internet access at home so is reliant on the TV networks to watch.

Holiday tick list update:

Lie in!
Gym x 3 (over 5 days people not per day!)
Cook Something New
Read - I Am Spock - Leonard Nimoy
DVD - Kid Monk Baroni
Cinema - Ice Age 3
Cinema - Moon
Cinema - Harry Potter
Museum visit?
LJ - Sort Memories
LJ - Sort Tags
LJ - New Layout
LJ - New Profile?
LJ - Sort Communities?

Other things may crop up...

KEY: Not started / Done / In Progress.

Leonard Nimoy's autobiography I am Spock is a great read. I'd recommend it for anyone who is a fan of the character or Nimoy himself. There's some nice insight into Nimoy's creative processes, and his love for the character of Spock is obvious. The memo's written between him and Desilu - Star Trek's production company regards expenses relating to replying to fan mail and fan clubs is one the funniest spats I've read. In the same way that I wish I'd been old enough to see Christopher Reeve perform on stage, the same is true for Nimoy. Having read both autobiographies they seem to have a similar approach to their creative work in acting and directing. Also thanks to majestic_shriek I managed to get a copy of Nimoy's Baffled to watch in all of its 1970s glory :)

Lie in!
Gym x 3 (over 5 days people not per day!)
Cook Something New
Read - I Am Spock - Leonard Nimoy
DVD - Kid Monk Baroni
Cinema - Ice Age 3
Cinema - Moon
Cinema - Harry Potter
Museum visit?
LJ - Sort Memories
LJ - Sort Tags
LJ - New Layout?
LJ - New Profile?
LJ - Sort Communities?

Other things may crop up...

KEY: Not started / Done / In Progress.

-------

Also on impulse I bought A3 sized black card thinking I could stick a collage together of my extra Superman Returns trading cards that I have to make a collage. Whether I get round to doing this I don't know. I'm not the most artistic of types but can't think what else to do with them.... In the same shop (WHSmith) I noticed that volume 4 The Boys graphic novel is out. Must get that. Not sure if WHSmith should be placing that comic next to the likes of G.I. Joe movie graphic novel. Do they even check the comic book content before placing on the shelf? I suspect not. It's not a comic to buy kids for Christmas people! Unless you want to give them an education on adult content...

Talking of which I was not offended but I was definitely shocked at just how close to the knuckle George Takei's comments are when watching William Shatner's Roast. It's the nature of the show to insult but o_0 ! NSFW at all. Shatner and Nimoy on the telephone though = love.

Also *waves* to all new friends from Star Trek friending meme.

( April 29th 2009 )

^ Borrowed this off someone @ work. Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko. Just started reading it.

( April 24th 2009 )

^ left my phone at home so couldn't take a photo whilst out. So here's one of part of my book/comics shelf.

Here's the rest of my photos taken on my camera phone.

( March 18th 2009 )

Mmmm, cheesecake from Roxy's Deli.

( March 20th 2009 )

^ The Live Bait bar & restaurant where I met swankyfunk.

( March 21st 2009 - the geeky tour contains Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, Doctor Who, Hot Fuzz, The Boys references )


( March 23rd 2009 )
^ Surely the inspiration for Superman Returns scene in which Superman holds the Daily Planet globe.

( April 4th 2009 )

^ More holiday swag. Comics :D

Seen at the cinema:

Slumdog Millionaire
Seven Pounds
Valkyrie
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Franklyn
Watchmen

Trailer:



What a nice surprise. A comic book movie that is very faithful to the comic itself. Visually impressive. Some bits were missing but I have no complaints over what director Zack Synder chose to leave out. The ending I think is a little different in the movie than the comic (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but heck I do believe Mr Snyder did a fantastic job out of choosing what to shoot from what is a complex comic. I absolutely love what he did with the beginning credits - establishing the alternative USA that the Watchmen exist in with imagery and music - superb. My favourite characters in the movie are still the same as those when I read the comic. (Jon/Doctor Manhattan in case anyone is wondering).

It is a different experience watching the movie though - you have to go at the directors pace, and that means you really do have to concentrate. It's not like you can go back and re-read Rosarch's journal etc which I did find myself doing when reading the comic itself. For example whilst I was reading the comic I was moved by 'Heard a joke once....' journal entry by Rosarch, and despite the imagery in the movie matching the panels - the dialogue even though its exactly the same - I found it less moving in the movie. But I can't put my finger on why. You can tell IMO that Snyder is a fan of the graphic novel given the visuals and camera angles lifted from panels. I loved it :) This movie has been trying to get made for years, and now its been done - thankfully IMO it was worth the wait. :) Cast were great I might add.

Favourite quote: The morality of my activities escapes me.

Bonus - Marvel vs DC from the brilliant it's just some random guy:

Action Comics #1.

Surely the most famous comic book cover? Anyone want to make a bid for me? Will be very interesting to see how much the final bid is.

If you get a chance to read this book do so. It normally takes me weeks to finish a book. I finished this in seven days. A great piece of fiction that feels totally real, heartbreaking, and heartwarming.

Favourite quotes:
Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors.
For you, a thousand times over.

And no I have not seen the movie. I would like to though.

Am now reading the graphic novel I picked up last week The Boys - Vol 3 - darkly hilarious so far. I like how its picking up some character arcs/stories from Vol 1.

Oh Catherine Tate on The Sunday Night Project last night on TV - fab :) I wonder what her next project[s] will be? I was pleased she said she would happily return to her comic character creations for Comic Relief :) And er last week - a new character on the last season of the show - wasn't expecting that. And if they make Morris depressed - that will be too upsetting. Please don't :(

Taken at Forbidden Planet store London. I can has this Incredible Hulk tshirt please? I like that its purple instead of the usual green designs that I've seen.

( January 13th 2009 )

I really took this for my own reference to look up the website address on the packaging. Why do they only ever stock large sizes? :( I want FEMALE sizes for comic book t-shirts please. I know I'm not the only one who would buy them *sigh*

(and the website address - pointless - takes you to the titan publishing magazine site. :( I hoped to at least find merchandise even if there were not female sized shirts. *grumble* )

On a good note they did have The Boys Vol 3. graphic novel in stock and at a small discount. I caved and bought it. That and some Doctor Who stickers to stick on my diary at work :)

So apparently it is Tintin's 80th birthday tomorrow. Whilst I'm obviously curious about the movie, I have to admit my memories of Tintin are more of annoyance than anything - this isn't Tintin's fault - it's just I remember as as kid it was hard for me to get hold of Superman comics in the village with a rubbish newsagent. I was hopefully the that library might stock them but no...... American comics were far too 'low brow' - they only stocked Tintin and Asterix. And I resented that. Like I said, not Tintin's fault but I guess i read them knowing I'd rather be reading Action Comics :P

Also Obama-man, Obama-man, does whatever Obama can.... Not the first US President to appear in a superhero comic. But it made me wonder how many have? The one's I know have appeared in Superman include JFK, Bill Clinton, and I remember reading a time-travel story that involved numerous historical figures including Abraham Lincoln.... What else is there?

Been offline for a few days? what have I missed?

Am just dumping photos from my weekend in Rome. Had a fab time. Hotel was a-mazing. And I didn't have to pay a thing - yay for competition wins! Only spanner in the works was on our last day the entire transport network in Rome - the metro, the trains, the buses all went on strike so we had to stay central. Annoyed us because we'd planned to take a visit to Cinecittà Studios where numerous Oscar nominated movies have been shot, and of course the 'spaghetti' westerns. Oh and Doctor Who ;) Never made it though thanks to the strike. Never mind. Still had a great time :)

( Random Rome - Me, The Doctor, Graffiti etc )


^ I has coffee. good coffee.

( The Vatican, The Collisieum, The Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Steps )

Stuff I bought - Italian comics:

Dylan Dog (to be made into a film Dead of Night next year by Hollywood, starring Brandon Routh)
Danger Diabolik! (Already made into film - saw a bit of it on my bfi course)

^ could be a fun way to get more familiar with the Italian language.

ok, so even if the film can't match the cleverness of the multiple narratives of the comic book that is Alan Moore's The Watchman. I gotta, admit the visuals in the latest trailer look stunning - love the last shots of The Comedian falling off the building :)

http://wbads-08.vo.llnwd.net/e1/wbmovies/watchmen/video/WatchmenScreamALT_480.mov

Manga Shakespeare - Hamlet. Yes, it is exactly what the title suggests :) I recently finished reading this in preparation for seeing the RSC production. I wish they'd had these when I was studying Shakespeare for my GCSE's. It's true to the text but seeing it drawn as manga makes it all the more fun for someone like me who likes visuals and reading comics.

These are notes I took during my bfi course on comics and comic book movies. Figured some people on my f-list might enjoy them also. Bare in mind they are not comprehensive so some of it may not make sense. And if anyone's got extra knowledge to add - please comment!

( Comics From Non-Hollywood Perspective. )

( Modesty Blaise )

( Barbarella )

( Diabolik )

( Female representation in comics and film. )

These are notes I took during my bfi course on comics and comic book movies. Figured some people on my f-list might enjoy them also. Bare in mind they are not comprehensive so some of it may not make sense. And if anyone's got extra knowledge to add - please comment!

( Introduction - Film theory and reading comics. )
( Comics and Film Synergy )
( Comics and Film Synergy - Batman Example. )

Stuff I've done since my last post:

• Watched The Matrix on the big screen. Still good :)  
• 'Hag Do' friday night for a friend at work.  A lot of fun, especially the kareoke. 
• Finished reading Superman: Red Son  Clever, thoughtful comic.  Worth reading again.
• Watched episodes of Takin' Over The Asylum on BBC4. Must buy the DVD. It's brilliant drama and writing.

Still to do:

• Catch up with f-list.
• Write up report on Superman movie screenings for Superman Homepage.
• Type up notes from bfi course.
• Watch Dean Learner Presents...

*goes off to the first task* ....

Batman is so right:



SOURCE: Apple Geeks Lite.

Ok so it made me laugh, but on a serious note - I don't want Superman in that house.