Life as a series of films

Well, I mentioned the weather in my earlier post today, so now it's time to mention some of the films I've seen recently (nearly all of which were excellent).

Collateral (Cinema) - Tom Cruise is a hitman who must go round and assassinate several criminals. He hires a taxi to take him round L.A. and the driver unwittingly gets heavily involved.
Unfortunately I saw this on Monday when I was still recovering from the weekend(!), hence I felt a bit tired and couldn't fully concentrate on the film. This resulted in me missing crucial bits of dialogue, and some of the plot also in the middle part of the film. However I got the general gist of it and the film looked very stylish and atmospheric. I'd need to see it again to give a proper rating!
Rating: 7/10

Supersize Me (Cinema) - Morgan Spurlock is a fit and healthy young man who embarks on a month-long McDonalds binge, with disastrous consequences for his health! The scenes of him eating McDonald's are interspersed with numerous interviews with doctors, nutritionists, fast food executives etc, and the film provides a good insight into the ill effects of eating junk food and the reasoning behind the serious growing (pardon the pun) obesity problem in America and the world at large (pardon the other pun).
Rating: 7.5/10

Shaun of the Dead (DVD) - Shaun is a TV salesman who tries to sort out his life and relationship with his girlfriend while still staying close to his fat, lazy best mate. This is made more difficult when the streets become infested with zombies!
I found this downright hilarious from start to gory finish. Original, brilliantly-made romantic comedy with zombies.
Rating: 8.5/10

Kill Bill Vol. 2 (DVD) - Uma Thurman, as The Bride, continues her quest for revenge against her former boss and lover, Bill.
I've heard a lot of people say this isn't as good as the first one, but I found it a lot better. I wasn't too keen on the first one, and found it too over-the-top and comic-book like - and I don't think the blood-soaked anime sequence did it any justice. For me it was too patchy and inconsistent.
Vol. 2, however, had all the good aspects of Vol. 1, but without the ridiculous bits - this for me made it more believable. I prefer the fact that the pace is slower and there's more dialogue. I think Tarantino is at his best with more "serious" filmmaking and plenty dialogue.
Top-class entertainment. Great soundtrack too!
Rating: 8/10

The Passion of the Christ (DVD) - Two words I've heard most commonly used to describe this film are "brutal" and "harrowing" - After seeing it, I realise why.
The film starts with Jesus being betrayed by Judas and he is then put on trial for being a heretic and blasphemer (i.e. claiming to be the Son of God), and to cut a long story short, he is eventually crucified (with plenty suffering thrown in). Throughout, there are several flashbacks of his life, teachings etc.
The focus is most definitely on the suffering he was put through, and director Mel Gibson pulls no punches here. First there is the scene where he is flogged, and this must last at least 10 minutes - you can almost feel his pain. Then, he is made to walk all the way to the place of crucifixion, carrying the cross. The scene where he is actually crucified doesn't exactly make for pleasant viewing either.
Although I'm not religious in any way, I did get a lot from this film. I think if it wasn't so brutal, and if they still teach the bible etc in schools, then they should show the kids this film. I'm sure it would have far more effect than all those hymns and assorted shit we were force-fed at school! It really does convey the pain and suffering this poor guy may or may not have endured - all because he preached about peace and love!
I've never seen such a harrowing film, but there's no doubt in my mind this is beautifully-crafted, where it's easy to forget you're watching a film and become totally absorbed. Mel Gibson can act, and sure as hell can direct!
Rating: 8/10

Anyway, on a lighter note, I should be going to Ibiza on Saturday night with my friend Suzi - can't wait!
It'll also be nice to get away from the film-watching, tea-drinking charade that my life has become :)

The weather as modelled by the Sine function

My life being as it currently is (i.e. like I'm on a permanent (uneventful) holiday), I can only find 2 things to post about at the moment - Films and the weather (well technically there's a lot more that can be discussed but I'll focus on the weather just now).

What I've found strange is that for at least 2 weeks, the weather (at least here in Ayrshire) has been steadily alternating each day between overcast/rainy and sunny with barely any clouds. Now living in Scotland, this uncertainty in the climate is to be expected, but to be alternating steadily as it is, surely must be quite unusual. An effect of global warming? I don't know. However, in a way it's the perfect climate, as we get the best of both worlds - a wee bit of variety. The only snag is that temperatures are becoming more autumnal and there seems to be a lot of wind blowing.

Anyway I wonder how long this trend will last.

Le Bin du Bargáine (The Bargain Bin)

Over the past few weeks, I've accumulated several films going cheap from the Blockbuster bargain bin. At 50p per film (video) it was hard to refuse purchasing some of these. The following is a roundup of these films.

The Man Who Wasn't There (VHS) - A clever film noir from the Coen Brothers, about an unassuming barber who gets involved in all kinds of trouble. Shot in black and white for dramatic effect.
Rating: 7.5/10

Solaris (VHS) - Eerie sci-fi film where George Clooney is sent to a space station above the planet Solaris to investigate strange goings-on. Good music and atmospherics, interesting story - May not be to everyones taste largely due to the slow pace.
Actually a remake of a Russian film from the 70s.
Rating: 7/10

Erin Brockovich (VHS) - Based on a true story, Julia Roberts plays Erin B., who fights a legal battle against a huge corporate company. I wasn't expecting to like this, but found it very well-acted and uplifting.
Rating: 7/10

Spun (DVD) - Film about the escapades of some druggies (taking crystal meths, I think) over about 3 days. With a fresh and unusual directorial style, and plenty humour, I found this highly entertaining.
Rating: 7/10

Jerry MacGuire (VHS) - Tom Cruise is a sports agent who finds himself against all odds after he is sacked and has to go it alone, with the help of Renee Zellweger and a faithful client of his. All in all, a good film, but I found this film a bit "too American", almost to a sickening degree. However, in my eyes. Cruise can do no wrong.
Rating: 6.5/10

Confidence (DVD) - Crime "thriller" about a conman (played by Edward Burns) who cons a gangster, and much "mayhem" ensues. Hmmm, given the subject matter, this was very light-hearted, and not exactly thrilling enough to be called a "thriller" - Maybe it isn't but people like to label things, so I'll label this a thriller.
On the plus side, it was enjoyable enough, in a "nice-guy-gangster" sort of way and there was plenty eye-candy in the form of Rachael Weisz (for me the highlight of the film).
Rating: 6.5/10

Bright Young Things (VHS) - Set in the 1930s, and based on a novel by Evelyn Waugh (Vile Bodies), this film chronicles the escapades - (sorry, I love that word) - of an aspiring novelist and his hedonistic pals. I think Stephen Fry's script and direction is original and has a fresh feel to it, but it wasn't really my kind of story. As my uncle said, you'd probably have to have read the book to appreciate it.
Rating: 6/10

Heaven (VHS) - Set in Italy, Cate Blanchett plays a schoolteacher who plants a bomb in an office, hoping to kill a corrupt businessman who has been supplying drugs to kids (evil bastard!), but ends up killing 4 innocent civilians. She is taken into police custody, and (bizarrely) becomes the object of desire of a young man working in police HQ who acts as a translator for her (she's English, you see). He then helps her to escape and they both go on the run.
I found this very average and was irritated by the clumsy pace of the film and the fact that it was not always clear what was going on.
Worth watching if you've absolutely no choice in the matter.
Rating: 4.5/10

Eye of the Beholder (VHS) - Oh deary me - Where do I begin? Stars Ewan MacGregor as "The Eye", a private eye who is tailing a murderess (Ashley Judd), and then inexplicably falls in love with her - Well, she is hot, I suppose!
I didn't see the point in the story and couldn't connect with the characters in any sort of way.
The acting wasn't to blame; Ewan and Ashley's valiant efforts couldn't save this film from a rubbish story, poor directing, poor soundtrack etc etc etc.... i.e. just about everything was poor. Throughout this film, two words were echoing in my mind: "piss" and "poor".
It's based on a novel, and I think it's just another example of how not to adapt a book, although some people may like it (seems to have almost a cult following on IMDB).
The best thing about this film is that it has an ending.
Rating: 3.5/10

Please excuse the poor and uninformative standards of my film reviews - It's late and I can't be bothered!

Bonny banks, drink, drugs...

I was up at the Marina Hotel in Ardlui, on the banks of Loch Lomond last night. A large part of the hotel had been hired out for a private function - a 12-hour party! There was a DJ accompanied by a live percussionist, and a lot of drugged-up revellers. Being not much of a drug-taker myself, I just had a bit to drink, but watching some of the other people there was hilarious in itself.

I went with Suzi, Martin Lyall and co., on the free bus from Glasgow's George Square. At £14 a ticket it was well worth it and was a generally entertaining night.

Temp paradise

I've been up at my uncle's for a while recently, adding the finishing touches to the website. Since Tuesday, I think, the weather here has been absolutely stunning. Not a cloud in the sky. It's funny how Summer should arrive just at the beginning of Autumn, and last 3-4 days.



Nevertheless it seems too good to last and as expected, it's raining again! Over the past few nights I've seen some of the most spectacular starry skies so far in my life, and this being Scotland, the sky is now filled with clouds again.

It's nice to see Loch Morar looking more like the Mediterranean.

Prestwick blues

To quote a man at Prestwick train station chatting to a young student girl:

"There's not a lot going on in Prestwick, it's not got much to offer young people. It's a retirement place. Once most of them get a taste of the big city, with all it's bright lights and nightlife, they don't want to come back. Nothing happens here."

- He took the words right out of my mouth!

Let me start at the beginning...

Founded in the 10th century, Prestwick (meaning "place of priests") was....
- Oh never mind all that shite! Prestwick is not a bad place, by any standards - In fact I believe it has become a desirable place to live. It's by the sea, has a golf course, swimming pool, cricket club, tennis club etc. In fact, it's got a lot going for it. However that doesn't alter the fact that I'm living there with my parents and I'm fast becoming BORED OUT OF MY MIND!!

My parents have lived there for nearly 20 years. When I started 3rd year of uni, I moved up to Glasgow. I was nervous at first but soon wondered what all the fuss was about. I realised that I loved living in the city, and was annoyed at myself for not leaving home sooner.

In fact, my whole perspective of life was altered for the better. Among many other things, I enjoyed the independence. I enjoyed shopping, washing and cooking (pierce film lid, open microwave door, place food inside, close door) for myself, and felt more content than when I was at home.

However, come the end of uni, I moved back home to Prestwick, and will live there for at least another few weeks.
I can't really complain though, as my parents aren't putting any pressure on me whatsoever (putting trust in me that I'll sort my life out soon) and the size of the house means that we don't get in the way of each other. My sister also is living there at the moment.
In fact, I should consider myself very lucky.

However, despite these privileges and home comforts, there is only so many films I can watch and so many lengths of Prestwick pool I can do. Also, I don't play golf or cricket, so that narrows down the options somewhat. Therefore there will come a time soon when I have no choice but to get a job of some description. However, I recently got the complete "Father Ted" on DVD so not just yet!

Glasgow, I miss you; I miss the bright lights, the vibrant atmosphere, the multicultural feel - and even the neds!

Your guide to survival in Glasgow

http://www.glasgowsurvival.co.uk

- Hilarious! Although not if you get a Buckfast bottle over your head.