I’ve thought very hard about writing about this particular TV show. I thought, if I write about this then I will be thought less of because of my attraction to this melodramatic soap opera type. I will be ridiculed for believing and buying into something that is so blatantly made for a specific section of our community. Those who crave cheap romance and get off on the age old love story where friends fall in love can never seem to get it together, ever. Every episode you are tortured, with hope that they might just get it together but alas, it is not meant to be. Ohhh and they came so close this one time….
I kept thinking and thought, hey. Fuck it. This is a brilliant series and one should share what one thinks is brilliant, right? Right! And this is what this blog is about. What I love and want to share. With myself mostly but maybe somebody else out there in cyber ether will identify.
Queer as Folk, American Version, season one and two! Season three, four and five just get too serious and stale and clichéd and just plain boring!
In Queer as Folk I got introduced to Brian Kenny. Brian Kenny is a gay man, who is utterly gorgeous and can (and often does) have anyone he chooses. He is oozing sex and has no inclination towards monogamy. He is who we all would probably like to be and so, so much more. Enter Michael, his best friend since childhood. The only person he’s still not had except; for this one time that they jerked each other off as horny teenagers. Michael and Brian will never be together because that is just the way the writers chose to spin this tale, but I always had hope. Season three, four and five crushed that hope and I hate the writers for it!
There are a few more characters in the series that are really great and one or two that have been very poorly cast. One of whom is the high school kid who falls in love with Brian and turns out to be Brian’s Kryptonite. I think the only reason this guy (Justin was his name) made it into the show was his uncanny resemblance to Matt Damon. I know… Matt is cool and all but he does not make a believable gay man. Even in the Talented Mr Ripley you could feel him trying to cling to something that is just not there in him. The gay man that strives to be sexy and enticing. Just does not work.
The other characters are okay until, enter Zen Ben who would kill my hope that Brian and Michael would end up together.
If you have a weekend to kill or have called in sick at work and need something to keep you going for a good couple of days, get Queer as Folk, American Version Season One and Two. It is funny, it is not for children which is always a bonus as you can always get some nudity, man on man, girl on girl, action, what ever you are into. It is supper sexy without being obscene. Well at least I think so. Do not watch it with the folks though.
It is really what it is. A melodrama with a heck of a lot of nudity and you will fall in love with Michael and want to be Brian!
After watching all the seasons I tried to delve into the L Word. I could only stomach one season of it. It confirmed what I already knew. Girl on Girl is just not meant to be sexy. They tried to replicate Queer as Folk, it just did not work for me. Girls are just different. There is tenderness and loving and no space for being casual about it. We are intrinsically deep and form attachments. There is just nothing casual about us, and if we try, we fall on our asses and remember the embarrassment for eternity. This is a good thing.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Saturday, 5 July 2008
The last day
The ballet. Don Quixote. I think this was my first Ballet experience. I appreciate the technical working that goes into crossing a threshold on your toes and being able to hold your leg at a right angle to the other for any length of time. I appreciate the blood sweat and tears that goes into being a ballerina, after all I did see Fame and a few other movies on the subject. I appreciate the music that accompanies the performances and its ability to evoke passion and other kinds of emotion. I do. I do. I do. But, is there suppose to be a story to keep us interested in all of this? If there was on this one I am ashamed to say that I missed it. As much as I enjoyed my first ballet, I think it would be a long time before I return.
I remember as a child seeing the story of Don Quixote on television and I know it has something to do with a deranged man who thinks that he is larger than life and can pick fights with windmills. He fights against what he thinks is evil, windmills included. I saw nothing that took me back to that. It was about the dancing and that was it. Technique can hold me only for so long.
Oh, and can someone please set me straight, the song, ‘To Dream The Impossible Dream’ was in that Don Quixote movie was it not? That is how I remember it. Not as a Luther Van Ross song but as part of the music of a really great musical.
I think I should set my sights high for my next Ballet. I think Swan Lake (and they better have a little bit of what I saw in Billy Elliot in it!)
My last show of the Gtown fes (I just did not have the strength today to sit through a production that was raw or amateurish or just plain bad) was Stuart Taylor’s Techni-coloured. Apparently this show has been running for two years already. I could not find any other stand-up that I really wanted to see. I have seen Politically Incorrect on DVD and was less than amused, there was some other dudes as well, but thought hey why not see the 'Going No Where Slowly' guy. Should be fun. No it was not.
So all in all the Gtown festival was a bit of a disappointment and I blame it all on myself. Maybe I should not have come alone, although, the thought of having watched the shows that I did with someone else makes me tired. I should have planned better, although I thought the thing about Gtown is to pop in here and there and see where the festival takes you.
I think it is largely aimed at those people that have been coming for years and who know exactly what they are looking for. I met a couple who sold me the Ballet ticket (it was fully booked and just my luck, these to needed to get rid of a ticket), and they had been coming down for15 years. They had their whole itinerary right down to the last hour of the festival and I thought, maybe I should have planned a little better. They seemed to be enjoying the fes but I think they were also not impressed by the lack of a story line on the ballet.
It was good to be back in Gtown but it should have been for a much shorter time, like passing through and needing to kill 2 hours.
I remember as a child seeing the story of Don Quixote on television and I know it has something to do with a deranged man who thinks that he is larger than life and can pick fights with windmills. He fights against what he thinks is evil, windmills included. I saw nothing that took me back to that. It was about the dancing and that was it. Technique can hold me only for so long.
Oh, and can someone please set me straight, the song, ‘To Dream The Impossible Dream’ was in that Don Quixote movie was it not? That is how I remember it. Not as a Luther Van Ross song but as part of the music of a really great musical.
I think I should set my sights high for my next Ballet. I think Swan Lake (and they better have a little bit of what I saw in Billy Elliot in it!)
My last show of the Gtown fes (I just did not have the strength today to sit through a production that was raw or amateurish or just plain bad) was Stuart Taylor’s Techni-coloured. Apparently this show has been running for two years already. I could not find any other stand-up that I really wanted to see. I have seen Politically Incorrect on DVD and was less than amused, there was some other dudes as well, but thought hey why not see the 'Going No Where Slowly' guy. Should be fun. No it was not.
So all in all the Gtown festival was a bit of a disappointment and I blame it all on myself. Maybe I should not have come alone, although, the thought of having watched the shows that I did with someone else makes me tired. I should have planned better, although I thought the thing about Gtown is to pop in here and there and see where the festival takes you.
I think it is largely aimed at those people that have been coming for years and who know exactly what they are looking for. I met a couple who sold me the Ballet ticket (it was fully booked and just my luck, these to needed to get rid of a ticket), and they had been coming down for15 years. They had their whole itinerary right down to the last hour of the festival and I thought, maybe I should have planned a little better. They seemed to be enjoying the fes but I think they were also not impressed by the lack of a story line on the ballet.
It was good to be back in Gtown but it should have been for a much shorter time, like passing through and needing to kill 2 hours.
Friday, 4 July 2008
A Dance, a Tear, and a Laugh, what more could one ask for in a day?
So I have deciphered the Code that is the Grahamstown festival and what a relief! Got up this morning, had residence breakfast (awful, I am too use to staying in hotels where people actually care about what you think of the place), and set out to find the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. And boy did I find it.
I had this whole thing wrong. Stupid me thought if you are in Grahamstown for the festival everyone around town, especially the locals would be ready to serve the out-of-towners and point them in the right direction. Wrong, you are on your own and you need to have the programme to have an inkling of what the hell is going on.
Stupid me also thought that for the duration of my trip here I can leave by Volkswagen and walk around from venue to venue to enjoy the shows that I needed to see. Wrong again. If you do not have a car you are fucked. Okay maybe not because I did see a few signs that indicated that there were shuttles around town that could take you where you needed to be.
So, today was my first real festival experience and I have to say, I have been spoilt by our filtering system where some person, with a whole lot of patience decides what is worth taking to the masses (whether it be to ArtsScape or the Market Theatre or what ever), and what is not so cool. The value is also that you put a piece of art on show and with the audience feedback and some editing your show has more of a mass appeal. I do not have the patience and I am struggling to see that value.
So yes, Grahamstown is open to all, to any, to what ever. I do not know what the process is to get in as a performer but I felt it is a large testing ground for new untested material that can go either way.
My experience today taught me that. Before something gets to be a full blown success, it needs to be tested at the Gtown fes.
Three shows in one day and I did not even begin to scrape the surface of what is on show. For that I will be disappointed.
On the dance side I went for the Dance to the Rain Queen, production by Moses Molelekwa Arts Foundation. He was there in spirit on the percussion. The piece was two thirds jazz (my Jazz appreciation is still evolving), and one third dance. It is listed as ‘dance’. That was my one and only disappointment because I am still schooling myself in the very intellectual area of Jazz enjoyment. Although I do think experiencing live music is better than anything and can get you into any type of music. To see and feel the passion of the various musicians enjoying and doing their thing is a gift from musical mother earth (or Musical God, or mathematics, which ever you prefer). The show was even more amazing because the people that were performing could not have been older that 20. All I could do was imagine them at say thirty-something and doing their thing. The sky is the limit and with passion, talent and a focus, they could be great. I wish the kids there the best in the world and I hope to see some of them in the not so distant future. Maybe at the Cape Town Jazz?
On the Tear side I went to go see the adaptation to stage of the novel the Quite Violence of Dreams. I am too close to this and recognise that an objective view of it (when am I ever objective?) is impossible. Tiring, self indulgent and it makes me less understanding, less empathetic. Why can’t people just get over themselves. I was meant to read the book but did not finish it (this is true of many other great books that have been left unfinished with the book mark still protruding from where I left off, mocking me). Now that I have seen the play I am extremely guiltily glad that I did not finish the book. What a load of crap. I appreciate that others saw something else in this book, something great that needed to be transferred to another medium. All I am saying is…what is the fucking point? I do not get it, it did not get me and that is that. That is both on the book and the play. The performances on the other hand…We had Duke Motlanthe, Lebo Mashile and others who were really great! Really brave. I admire that. There were moments in the theater where there were scenes that made people uncomfortable (this was most palatable on the M2M kisses, which is really stupid. I did not get the same winces on the Black on White Kisses) and I suppose the cast knew how the audience would react but they did not cut short the kisses. The play ended off on a high note with an insignificant word invested in a very meaningful emotional note. I just did not get it, and that is my problem.
Then enter the lowlight of the evening. I was sitting at the drama department cafeteria pondering what to do next, could I finish my food in time to watch this one or that one or something else? 'Short Skirts and High Heels' caught my eye and off I went. This show has no redeeming qualities except for the promise of some nudity of which there is none. Go back to the drawing board.
Tomorrow is the last day of the Gtown festival. I am not sure how I feel about that. I miss Cape Town but I love being on holiday and hopping to see what South Africa is putting on the arts scene.
I had this whole thing wrong. Stupid me thought if you are in Grahamstown for the festival everyone around town, especially the locals would be ready to serve the out-of-towners and point them in the right direction. Wrong, you are on your own and you need to have the programme to have an inkling of what the hell is going on.
Stupid me also thought that for the duration of my trip here I can leave by Volkswagen and walk around from venue to venue to enjoy the shows that I needed to see. Wrong again. If you do not have a car you are fucked. Okay maybe not because I did see a few signs that indicated that there were shuttles around town that could take you where you needed to be.
So, today was my first real festival experience and I have to say, I have been spoilt by our filtering system where some person, with a whole lot of patience decides what is worth taking to the masses (whether it be to ArtsScape or the Market Theatre or what ever), and what is not so cool. The value is also that you put a piece of art on show and with the audience feedback and some editing your show has more of a mass appeal. I do not have the patience and I am struggling to see that value.
So yes, Grahamstown is open to all, to any, to what ever. I do not know what the process is to get in as a performer but I felt it is a large testing ground for new untested material that can go either way.
My experience today taught me that. Before something gets to be a full blown success, it needs to be tested at the Gtown fes.
Three shows in one day and I did not even begin to scrape the surface of what is on show. For that I will be disappointed.
On the dance side I went for the Dance to the Rain Queen, production by Moses Molelekwa Arts Foundation. He was there in spirit on the percussion. The piece was two thirds jazz (my Jazz appreciation is still evolving), and one third dance. It is listed as ‘dance’. That was my one and only disappointment because I am still schooling myself in the very intellectual area of Jazz enjoyment. Although I do think experiencing live music is better than anything and can get you into any type of music. To see and feel the passion of the various musicians enjoying and doing their thing is a gift from musical mother earth (or Musical God, or mathematics, which ever you prefer). The show was even more amazing because the people that were performing could not have been older that 20. All I could do was imagine them at say thirty-something and doing their thing. The sky is the limit and with passion, talent and a focus, they could be great. I wish the kids there the best in the world and I hope to see some of them in the not so distant future. Maybe at the Cape Town Jazz?
On the Tear side I went to go see the adaptation to stage of the novel the Quite Violence of Dreams. I am too close to this and recognise that an objective view of it (when am I ever objective?) is impossible. Tiring, self indulgent and it makes me less understanding, less empathetic. Why can’t people just get over themselves. I was meant to read the book but did not finish it (this is true of many other great books that have been left unfinished with the book mark still protruding from where I left off, mocking me). Now that I have seen the play I am extremely guiltily glad that I did not finish the book. What a load of crap. I appreciate that others saw something else in this book, something great that needed to be transferred to another medium. All I am saying is…what is the fucking point? I do not get it, it did not get me and that is that. That is both on the book and the play. The performances on the other hand…We had Duke Motlanthe, Lebo Mashile and others who were really great! Really brave. I admire that. There were moments in the theater where there were scenes that made people uncomfortable (this was most palatable on the M2M kisses, which is really stupid. I did not get the same winces on the Black on White Kisses) and I suppose the cast knew how the audience would react but they did not cut short the kisses. The play ended off on a high note with an insignificant word invested in a very meaningful emotional note. I just did not get it, and that is my problem.
Then enter the lowlight of the evening. I was sitting at the drama department cafeteria pondering what to do next, could I finish my food in time to watch this one or that one or something else? 'Short Skirts and High Heels' caught my eye and off I went. This show has no redeeming qualities except for the promise of some nudity of which there is none. Go back to the drawing board.
Tomorrow is the last day of the Gtown festival. I am not sure how I feel about that. I miss Cape Town but I love being on holiday and hopping to see what South Africa is putting on the arts scene.
HahahahahahahahhaHANCOCK!
You know I was standing in the queue for popcorn at the movies when I saw the trailer for Hancock.
I'd bought a ticket to see it after I'd seen a shorter trailer a couple of weeks back. This trailer, then one I was watching while waiting in line for popcorn, this one was much longer.
I laughed out loud when I saw Will Smith flying up and down like he was on steroids. Hahahahahaha.
WILL SMITH FLIES in the movie. Hahahahahahaha.
Its not so much that he flies actually, its more about how he flies. Heroes comes to mind. You remember how the Peter and Nathan Petrelli used to do it? Kinda like a rocket launch. I always thought that was funny because I'd become accustomed to the Superman way of flying which was at a much slower pace.
Superman flying wasn't ridiculous. But the Petrilli way, I just never got used to it.
So even in this movie, I just never got used to Will's flying.
Anyway the movie's awesome. The fact that its absolutely ridiculous makes it such a bloody good movie. Okay, bloody good is pushing it. It was fun. I had fun with it. It is sourt of like those Mr Bean skits. You know, he is so ridiculous, so silly, so obsurd that he's hilarious. Same here.
Hancock is a funny hero movie. Hahaha, imagine an alcoholic hero. Hahahhaha. The Hulk smoking cigarettes? Or Superman as a nympho? They have humanised the concept of a hero in Hancock and its funny.
For something light and well worth it - watch this movie.
's flyling br
I'd bought a ticket to see it after I'd seen a shorter trailer a couple of weeks back. This trailer, then one I was watching while waiting in line for popcorn, this one was much longer.
I laughed out loud when I saw Will Smith flying up and down like he was on steroids. Hahahahahaha.
WILL SMITH FLIES in the movie. Hahahahahahaha.
Its not so much that he flies actually, its more about how he flies. Heroes comes to mind. You remember how the Peter and Nathan Petrelli used to do it? Kinda like a rocket launch. I always thought that was funny because I'd become accustomed to the Superman way of flying which was at a much slower pace.
Superman flying wasn't ridiculous. But the Petrilli way, I just never got used to it.
So even in this movie, I just never got used to Will's flying.
Anyway the movie's awesome. The fact that its absolutely ridiculous makes it such a bloody good movie. Okay, bloody good is pushing it. It was fun. I had fun with it. It is sourt of like those Mr Bean skits. You know, he is so ridiculous, so silly, so obsurd that he's hilarious. Same here.
Hancock is a funny hero movie. Hahaha, imagine an alcoholic hero. Hahahhaha. The Hulk smoking cigarettes? Or Superman as a nympho? They have humanised the concept of a hero in Hancock and its funny.
For something light and well worth it - watch this movie.
's flyling br
Thursday, 3 July 2008
The more things stay the same…
Nine hundred kilometers I traveled, I looked forward to see my gracious host of two and half years. I wondered, would it be the same, would it have changed so much that I would not recognize it?
So I am for the first time attending the Grahamstown national arts festival. I got in a few hours ago and thus far, other than seeing it from afar I am mad, I am unhappy and I am bothered!
Where the fuck is the organisation? How the fuck am I suppose to immerse myself into this age ole festival when I can’t find anything? Where is the help, where are the friendly festival marshals to point me in the right direction? Oh lord. I want to go home.
There should be programmes everywhere and maps that show you where you are and where you need to be.
So far all I’ve seen, I could have seen at the Cape Town station flea market. I am not impressed, I am not happy. Maybe I am just tired from the long drive.
Fuck it, there at least should be something happening at the drama department, right? Right? Wrong! Even they do not know what the hell is showing or where I can get a hold of a programme.
So I’ll just have to find out about the various happenings of this little sleepy town from the web. How ridiculous is that? I am here, I am here for goodness sakes!
Anywho back to Gtown my host for 2.5 year of my life. The first thing I go and check out of course is where I spent most of my time not studying. The loner that I was, my time was largely spent at the movies or at the library where I got through trashy novels by Dean Koontz and Stephen King and Robin Cook!
This is what my one cinema looks like today! I shed a tear.
But somethings stay the same:
This has to be the vision that has stayed in my mind all these years.
Surprisingly, well not so much, the Rhodes residences have stayed the same. Same furniture, same mattresses (rock hard), same lamps. As nice as it is to be taken back, it is a little sad, where is that child today that spent so much time in this room wishing for…
So twelve years later, some things have changed in Res. Like, people probably get bugged by cell phones ringing in the middle of the night. Instead of hearing the tap tap tap of someone working hard at their type writer there is silence. I can not even start to image how technology has changed the way we learn and interact with one another.
Ja anyway. Hopefully tomorrow I will have some show to talk about. For now, it is bed time at 21h00 in Gtown. For me anyway.
So I am for the first time attending the Grahamstown national arts festival. I got in a few hours ago and thus far, other than seeing it from afar I am mad, I am unhappy and I am bothered!
Where the fuck is the organisation? How the fuck am I suppose to immerse myself into this age ole festival when I can’t find anything? Where is the help, where are the friendly festival marshals to point me in the right direction? Oh lord. I want to go home.
There should be programmes everywhere and maps that show you where you are and where you need to be.
So far all I’ve seen, I could have seen at the Cape Town station flea market. I am not impressed, I am not happy. Maybe I am just tired from the long drive.
Fuck it, there at least should be something happening at the drama department, right? Right? Wrong! Even they do not know what the hell is showing or where I can get a hold of a programme.
So I’ll just have to find out about the various happenings of this little sleepy town from the web. How ridiculous is that? I am here, I am here for goodness sakes!
Anywho back to Gtown my host for 2.5 year of my life. The first thing I go and check out of course is where I spent most of my time not studying. The loner that I was, my time was largely spent at the movies or at the library where I got through trashy novels by Dean Koontz and Stephen King and Robin Cook!
This is what my one cinema looks like today! I shed a tear.
But somethings stay the same:
This has to be the vision that has stayed in my mind all these years.
Surprisingly, well not so much, the Rhodes residences have stayed the same. Same furniture, same mattresses (rock hard), same lamps. As nice as it is to be taken back, it is a little sad, where is that child today that spent so much time in this room wishing for…
So twelve years later, some things have changed in Res. Like, people probably get bugged by cell phones ringing in the middle of the night. Instead of hearing the tap tap tap of someone working hard at their type writer there is silence. I can not even start to image how technology has changed the way we learn and interact with one another.
Ja anyway. Hopefully tomorrow I will have some show to talk about. For now, it is bed time at 21h00 in Gtown. For me anyway.
Saturday, 14 June 2008
The Odd Couple
So I was in an accumulative mood today. Gnarles Barkley's newest CD is out and I am in Heaven!
No other has affected me as much; and I can sooooo identify with this music without going out to buy the sound track to Good Morning Vietnam or the greatest hits of the Supremes.
Do not want to bring it down to that but that is what it is! Is it not?
I luuuuurrrvvvv Ggarls Barkley!!! I hope you do too! Even if it is for different reasons!
Get a taste and get addicted!
No other has affected me as much; and I can sooooo identify with this music without going out to buy the sound track to Good Morning Vietnam or the greatest hits of the Supremes.
Do not want to bring it down to that but that is what it is! Is it not?
I luuuuurrrvvvv Ggarls Barkley!!! I hope you do too! Even if it is for different reasons!
Get a taste and get addicted!
The Incredible Hulk
Less than 48 hours ago I did not know this movie existed, less than 48 ago I was content thinking there was nothing out there for me, for my craving for a big block buster special effect phenomenon, and just plain thrill type movie. All there was was the Chronicles of Narnia and Indiana Jones.
Do not get me wrong, I think George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg together is an event worth at least the R9 I pay for my movies, but, I am allowed to let one pas me by. I was never an Indiana Jones fan and I am fine with that. I do not feel that I am missing out on anything. Although every sci fi bone in my body tells me I need to go watch this next chapter of Harrison Ford Jumping and leaping through the jungle trying to solve the Holy Grail puzzle, I have made a conscious decision to give this one a miss. Catch you on your next collaboration Spielberg and Lucas!
So less than 48 hours ago, Ii did not know that Edward Norton was going to0o present his version of Sgantsontso! He would take on the role of Bruce Banner and make it his own, literally. He had some part in putting together the screenplay. That’s all I need. That was it. I am in and a whole lot of enthusiasm and expectation!
It my routine that on a Friday morning on my drive to work that I listen to Adam Swindler and Barry Ronge to if anything, catch up on what is on circuit and what the old white men think about it. Adam skipped it but I tuned on to 576 and Barry spoke the magic words, Edward Norton as the Hulk!!!!! I was sold.
So today I went off to watch the 12h15 show at Bay Side and this is what I personally think.
Great, Great, but, who the fuck, can do better than fucking Ang Lee and Eric Banner??? Mind you, this was the season that Ang Lee broke my heart with Broke Back Mountain so I will vote him over any other director there is.
So I suppose it comes down to this, Eric Banner vs Edward Norton. Who makes for a more torn, conflicted and hopelessly in love (which proves to be his weakness) Super Hero???
That is the ultimate question. I have been into Edward Norton since he played the retarded guy in The Score! He is the man and I was one with his Fight Club character who did not know that he was just as good looking as fucking Brad Pitt, the balls too.
But I am backed up against a corner because, I expected something new, something different, all I got from this new version of the incredible Hulk is the definition on the horizontal muscles across a man’s chest. Oh, I was always a fan of this part of a man body but…. The way Tim Roth’s abdomen (into pubic area) looked was just amazing!!!
I would take that on my ovulation day (over fantaties about some romantic NoteBook) any time!
All in all, cool special effects. It takes a while to see the full blown Hulk but it is worth it. The idea of his nemesis is a little boring. I do not know what could have worked better but that certainly did not! Too clichéd. I need to give Hollywood a call. We need more internal turmoil and schizophrenia. Because, ultimately, who do we want to defeat, ourselves, people!!!
At the end of the movie Iron Man walks in and says there is a collaboration coming up. He is not at all subtle about it but I suppose it would be interesting to see who would win between the Hulk and Iron Man. I just hope they keep the Predator and the Alien out of it.
I think I have asked this question before. But we go again. Who is your money on?
The Hulk vs Iron Man?
Spider Man vs Super Man?
The Fantastic 4 vs the Cosby Kids?
Hey, the Cosbys were one super hero family yall!
48 hours ago I had nothing cinematic to look forward to. 48 hours later the same remains.
I’m out.
Heartwarmer you better comment!!!!
Three spoons for the Hulk!
Do not get me wrong, I think George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg together is an event worth at least the R9 I pay for my movies, but, I am allowed to let one pas me by. I was never an Indiana Jones fan and I am fine with that. I do not feel that I am missing out on anything. Although every sci fi bone in my body tells me I need to go watch this next chapter of Harrison Ford Jumping and leaping through the jungle trying to solve the Holy Grail puzzle, I have made a conscious decision to give this one a miss. Catch you on your next collaboration Spielberg and Lucas!
So less than 48 hours ago, Ii did not know that Edward Norton was going to0o present his version of Sgantsontso! He would take on the role of Bruce Banner and make it his own, literally. He had some part in putting together the screenplay. That’s all I need. That was it. I am in and a whole lot of enthusiasm and expectation!
It my routine that on a Friday morning on my drive to work that I listen to Adam Swindler and Barry Ronge to if anything, catch up on what is on circuit and what the old white men think about it. Adam skipped it but I tuned on to 576 and Barry spoke the magic words, Edward Norton as the Hulk!!!!! I was sold.
So today I went off to watch the 12h15 show at Bay Side and this is what I personally think.
Great, Great, but, who the fuck, can do better than fucking Ang Lee and Eric Banner??? Mind you, this was the season that Ang Lee broke my heart with Broke Back Mountain so I will vote him over any other director there is.
So I suppose it comes down to this, Eric Banner vs Edward Norton. Who makes for a more torn, conflicted and hopelessly in love (which proves to be his weakness) Super Hero???
That is the ultimate question. I have been into Edward Norton since he played the retarded guy in The Score! He is the man and I was one with his Fight Club character who did not know that he was just as good looking as fucking Brad Pitt, the balls too.
But I am backed up against a corner because, I expected something new, something different, all I got from this new version of the incredible Hulk is the definition on the horizontal muscles across a man’s chest. Oh, I was always a fan of this part of a man body but…. The way Tim Roth’s abdomen (into pubic area) looked was just amazing!!!
I would take that on my ovulation day (over fantaties about some romantic NoteBook) any time!
All in all, cool special effects. It takes a while to see the full blown Hulk but it is worth it. The idea of his nemesis is a little boring. I do not know what could have worked better but that certainly did not! Too clichéd. I need to give Hollywood a call. We need more internal turmoil and schizophrenia. Because, ultimately, who do we want to defeat, ourselves, people!!!
At the end of the movie Iron Man walks in and says there is a collaboration coming up. He is not at all subtle about it but I suppose it would be interesting to see who would win between the Hulk and Iron Man. I just hope they keep the Predator and the Alien out of it.
I think I have asked this question before. But we go again. Who is your money on?
The Hulk vs Iron Man?
Spider Man vs Super Man?
The Fantastic 4 vs the Cosby Kids?
Hey, the Cosbys were one super hero family yall!
48 hours ago I had nothing cinematic to look forward to. 48 hours later the same remains.
I’m out.
Heartwarmer you better comment!!!!
Three spoons for the Hulk!
Monday, 9 June 2008
What is your favourite Chris Rock joke
So Chris Rocked SA recently and other than the obnoxious laughs from a few of the members of the audience, it was not a bad show.
My favourite bit was the story about how his next door neighbour was a dentist.
‘My only three black neighbors are Mary J. Blige, one of the greatest singers of all time, Denzel Washington, one of the greatest actors of all time, and Jay-Z, one of the greatest rappers of all time." His white neighbor? "A dentist. And he isn't like the greatest dentist in history either. I had to host the Oscars to get that house — a black dentist in my neighborhood would have to invent teeth.’
What was your favourite bit?
My favourite bit was the story about how his next door neighbour was a dentist.
‘My only three black neighbors are Mary J. Blige, one of the greatest singers of all time, Denzel Washington, one of the greatest actors of all time, and Jay-Z, one of the greatest rappers of all time." His white neighbor? "A dentist. And he isn't like the greatest dentist in history either. I had to host the Oscars to get that house — a black dentist in my neighborhood would have to invent teeth.’
What was your favourite bit?
Sunday, 25 May 2008
Be With Me
I think I may be in one of those watershed moments in one’s life that may determine the course of the rest of my life.
There has just been way too much weirdness this weekend that I can not even begin to explain, not even to myself.
But the thing that brought the events home to me these weird 48 hours is ‘Be With Me’.
So yes, I am at a point in my life where events seem to be unfolding and coming together to tell me something that I still need to confirm. I suppose it started with a conversation with my baby sister and my baby brother after an episode of good ole Oprah.
The episode was about The Secret and intention and putting out into the universe what you want. My siblings just did not believe me when I told them that I would actually rather be with someone, instead of alone. They told me that the energy I have been putting out there is that I am fine on my own and thus the single status I find myself in. I begged to differ and said that was the public personal and that secrectly, who the hell does not want to have someone to come home to at the end of the day.
Cut to Saturday morning and me and my friend, (who I met under normal circumstances if you can call it that except, I just do not meet people. So for me it was just weird that I met someone, a new friend.) decided to go to the market and then take a walk up Signal Hill where a conversation opened a door that I did not know existed.
But, this post this post is not about that, it is about the ‘Be With Me’.
The most heart wrenching story ever told. And I have heard a few.
Be With Me has a few stories tangled in it and when it starts, you think, oh lord it is one of those artsy fartsy movies where you feel cheated at the end of the movie because it did not turn out to be what you expected.
But little did I know that like any other thing in life (books, movies, experiences), they choose us, we do not choose them.
With my brain consumed with possibilities of the future and the doors that had been cracked open, I go into this movie looking for (after watching Gray Matters the previous night) something that would unconfirm what I was feeling and let me know: hey, you are reading way too much into this, you are actually A okay!
Be With Me, (tucked away in the male gay section of the video store), tore me apart. If you’re feeling just a little bit too sorry for yourself and need to come out for a little bit of air, this movie will give you the perspective you need, on love anyway.
I don’t know how to preview this movie, maybe it is meant not to be previewed. You need to just watch it and let it take you to where you need to be.
But of course, someone else did try:
“Although four stories, three fictional and one real, are folded together in Eric Khoo’s elliptical film “Be With Me,” the tale that gives this delicate, melancholic movie its backbone is the true one of its courageous central character, Theresa Chan. A deaf and blind Singaporean woman in her early 60’s who plays herself in the movie, Ms. Chan is an indomitable life force and charismatic screen presence. Even after she concludes her account of transcending the “silent, dark prison” of her disabilities with the help of gifted teachers, you are left wondering how she did it.” The New York Times
'Be with me, my beloved love, that my smile may not fade'.
There has just been way too much weirdness this weekend that I can not even begin to explain, not even to myself.
But the thing that brought the events home to me these weird 48 hours is ‘Be With Me’.
So yes, I am at a point in my life where events seem to be unfolding and coming together to tell me something that I still need to confirm. I suppose it started with a conversation with my baby sister and my baby brother after an episode of good ole Oprah.
The episode was about The Secret and intention and putting out into the universe what you want. My siblings just did not believe me when I told them that I would actually rather be with someone, instead of alone. They told me that the energy I have been putting out there is that I am fine on my own and thus the single status I find myself in. I begged to differ and said that was the public personal and that secrectly, who the hell does not want to have someone to come home to at the end of the day.
Cut to Saturday morning and me and my friend, (who I met under normal circumstances if you can call it that except, I just do not meet people. So for me it was just weird that I met someone, a new friend.) decided to go to the market and then take a walk up Signal Hill where a conversation opened a door that I did not know existed.
But, this post this post is not about that, it is about the ‘Be With Me’.
The most heart wrenching story ever told. And I have heard a few.
Be With Me has a few stories tangled in it and when it starts, you think, oh lord it is one of those artsy fartsy movies where you feel cheated at the end of the movie because it did not turn out to be what you expected.
But little did I know that like any other thing in life (books, movies, experiences), they choose us, we do not choose them.
With my brain consumed with possibilities of the future and the doors that had been cracked open, I go into this movie looking for (after watching Gray Matters the previous night) something that would unconfirm what I was feeling and let me know: hey, you are reading way too much into this, you are actually A okay!
Be With Me, (tucked away in the male gay section of the video store), tore me apart. If you’re feeling just a little bit too sorry for yourself and need to come out for a little bit of air, this movie will give you the perspective you need, on love anyway.
I don’t know how to preview this movie, maybe it is meant not to be previewed. You need to just watch it and let it take you to where you need to be.
But of course, someone else did try:
“Although four stories, three fictional and one real, are folded together in Eric Khoo’s elliptical film “Be With Me,” the tale that gives this delicate, melancholic movie its backbone is the true one of its courageous central character, Theresa Chan. A deaf and blind Singaporean woman in her early 60’s who plays herself in the movie, Ms. Chan is an indomitable life force and charismatic screen presence. Even after she concludes her account of transcending the “silent, dark prison” of her disabilities with the help of gifted teachers, you are left wondering how she did it.” The New York Times
'Be with me, my beloved love, that my smile may not fade'.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Oh skipper my skipper
So I went on a tour of some of the islands around Bali today. It promised to be an uneventful trip as I was stuck with the three stooges and a Russian couple, the girl did not speak or understand a word of English.
Being it, my fourth day in this foreign land, I am getting a little bit sick of the gentle people asking me where I am from and what my name is. It is almost like these two questions are an opener to all interactions with the gentle Balinese people. I was warned, it was actually a good thing that the boss gave me a travel book about Bali, it explained that they are prone to asking about your condition and making sure that you are well. It is making conversation really and it is much appreciated, for someone who is traveling alone. Although, I do sometimes misunderstand and think that I am being picked up. I almost very quickly and sadly come to realize that this is not a pick up line but just cutesy.
Anyway, the day did not start out so great as I had not yet moved the Mongolian dinner which was exceptionally spicy. My movement only came just as we are about to set off. They had to wait an extra 15 minutes for the food to reach its final destination.
That off my shoulders, the day was looking brighter. I got the front row seat on the boat and off we went.
It was beautiful and all and all and all. The thing I want to share is my adventure with the skipper under water. Was it a seduction, lost in translation or do I need to get over myself? Here are the facts:
1. I was the only person with a full time under water guide!
2. He held my hand and pointed to the really cool stuff I needed to see!
3. At one point he was on my back and I got a little panicked and re surfaced. Thinking about it now, a woman of my age should just leave nothing unanswered. I should have played back and determined whether the doggy style type thing was an underwater language or if he was really trying to get jiggy with me!
4. The current kept pushing me towards him, my hand may have brushed up against his thingamabob
5. He praised me. When I could only hold my breath for a measly 30 seconds or so and go under and do the cool stuff with him, HE PRAISED ME!
Now, you tell me, was he trying to get jiggy with me or have I become so out of touch with the world that if anyone brushes (not even touches) up against me I think wedding bells? Am I crazy? Or shall I go for another tour tomorrow and find out for sure?
And, and I think one of the waitresses is gay and also wants to get jiggy with me. I am going for a walk with her and her son tomorrow. So will find out soon enough.
Oh dear… To be me
Being it, my fourth day in this foreign land, I am getting a little bit sick of the gentle people asking me where I am from and what my name is. It is almost like these two questions are an opener to all interactions with the gentle Balinese people. I was warned, it was actually a good thing that the boss gave me a travel book about Bali, it explained that they are prone to asking about your condition and making sure that you are well. It is making conversation really and it is much appreciated, for someone who is traveling alone. Although, I do sometimes misunderstand and think that I am being picked up. I almost very quickly and sadly come to realize that this is not a pick up line but just cutesy.
Anyway, the day did not start out so great as I had not yet moved the Mongolian dinner which was exceptionally spicy. My movement only came just as we are about to set off. They had to wait an extra 15 minutes for the food to reach its final destination.
That off my shoulders, the day was looking brighter. I got the front row seat on the boat and off we went.
It was beautiful and all and all and all. The thing I want to share is my adventure with the skipper under water. Was it a seduction, lost in translation or do I need to get over myself? Here are the facts:
1. I was the only person with a full time under water guide!
2. He held my hand and pointed to the really cool stuff I needed to see!
3. At one point he was on my back and I got a little panicked and re surfaced. Thinking about it now, a woman of my age should just leave nothing unanswered. I should have played back and determined whether the doggy style type thing was an underwater language or if he was really trying to get jiggy with me!
4. The current kept pushing me towards him, my hand may have brushed up against his thingamabob
5. He praised me. When I could only hold my breath for a measly 30 seconds or so and go under and do the cool stuff with him, HE PRAISED ME!
Now, you tell me, was he trying to get jiggy with me or have I become so out of touch with the world that if anyone brushes (not even touches) up against me I think wedding bells? Am I crazy? Or shall I go for another tour tomorrow and find out for sure?
And, and I think one of the waitresses is gay and also wants to get jiggy with me. I am going for a walk with her and her son tomorrow. So will find out soon enough.
Oh dear… To be me
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