10 things that are awesome in Quantum of Solace

10. The titles for the locations. I thought it was jarring at first but it grew on me until I loved looking at them. Simple thing, bold and some how fitting.

9. The feeling that I am somehow watching a violent Tintin comic... and that is not a bad thing. Globe trotting adventures and escapades... it made me smile.

8. The return of the classic gun barrel shot.

7. The homage to Goldfinger. 

6. The clever way Mr White escapes from the opera.

5. The whole opera fight sequence.

4. Bond's relationship with Mathias. Touching and unexpected. 

3. The very dry and understated humour. 

2. The motivation for the villain being... scarily real.

1. Daniel Craig. The most soulful and damaged portrayal of Bond I've seen and all the more compelling because of it. 

Top Ten Perfect Songs Used in Film

A note about this top ten. This is the top ten perfect songs in film. I stayed away from musicals as I wanted to concentrate on music that complements a dramatic scene rather than a musical number. 

Honorable Mention

Watchmen Trailer - The Beginning is the End is the Beginning - The Smashing Pumpkins

Such a perfect song for a stunning trailer. It doesn't just set the dark tone and mood, the words perfectly match the themes of the story. All the more sweet as it was originally written for abomination that is Batman and Robin... the song is now redeemed and attached to what looks to be an excellent and faithful take on Watchmen.

The Wedding Singer - Somebody Kill Me - Adam Sandler

Not an established song that's chosen but as part of the narrative and thus too much of a "musical number" moment... it is nonetheless a perfect, funny and surprising song that shows Adam Sandler at his best.

10. Layer Cake - Ordinary World - Duran Duran

Violence, rage matched with an underlying melancholic tune, used for shocking effect. I could not imagine another song in it's place.

9. Great Expectations - Just Like A Friend - Pulp

I've talked about this song before and I will say it again: a perfect marriage of music and story, giving the sense of heart stopping, self torture that Finn goes through for Estella. 

8. The Breakfast Club - Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds

A perfect way to end the film. The punch up to the air, the music coming in perfectly, cooly, encapsulating the simple desire and fear of the teenagers in John Hughes' world.

 

7. Trainspotting - Lust for Life - Iggy Pop

Brilliant way of introducing the movie, the characters and the hedonistic, manic energy that the characters craved throughout the movie. I almost chose "Perfect Day" as well but am limiting one song from one movie and this introduction was flawless.

6. The Matrix - Spybreak - The Propellerheads

A completely over the top, ridiculous action scene that is grounded not just by the straight faced Keanu Reeves and Carrie Anne Moss, but the music. The song Spybreak is ESSENTIAL is grounding this scene, in making it cool to the point of sublime and hypnotic.

5. Shaun of the Dead - Don't Stop Me Now - Queen

Best Zombie Attack music ever. The unison of the music and the rhythmic beating of a zombie with cue sticks as well as the rave like lights that are turned on and off... a perfect choice for the best Rom Zom Com I have ever seen.

4. Almost Famous - Tiny Dancer - Elton John

The song is the sonic equivalent to a snug blanket - strange, as the lyrics seem less cosy but it's the perfect song sung by guys on the road and the type of life and women they meet. 

3. Face/Off - Somewhere Over The Rainbow - cover version

I don't know who sang the cover version but John Woo found the perfect, ironic song to play while a massive, violent shoot out occurs. Blood splattering, bodies dropping, a kid in the middle of it all in headphones listening to a sentimental song... it sounds preposterous but it all kind of works into one of the most memorable moments in Face/Off.

2.  Wayne's World - Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Ooh... I know... two Queen songs on the list. But I can't forget this moment. Dudes in a car... rocking out... pure joy.

1. Melody - Teach Your Children - Crosby Stills and Nash

Low key song and one that gives me such a nostalgia kick, even when I first watched it of school, of an unlikely rebellion of school kids versus adults. Immensely satisfying.

10 Reasons Why The Dark Knight is a Masterpiece

If you have not seen the movie GO SEE IT.

This movie knocked me out, it was fucking awesome.

10. Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel. She erases Katie Holmes from Batman Begins and the character of Rachel finally feels like she belongs in this adult world. 

9. A solid supporting cast - Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman... even in the smaller roles like the prisoner guy in the ferry, the cops, the weasely accountant, the kickass bank manager, the gangsters, the mayor and his freaky eyeliner eyes... they do enough that they stand out. It feels like an actor's movie.

8. The awesome script. A fantastically, tightly written script that brings all the elements, themes and threads in this film and bring them all together. The use of the dogs, the sonar, the new armour, the meaning behind the title... it all builds.

7. The fucking Bat Pod. I actually laughed out loud when I saw how it works. Where does he get those wonderful toys???

6. Batman in Hong Kong. How cool was that???

5. Despite all the talk about the realism in the movie, there are audacious moments that just reminds you that it is a comicbook movie. Not winking at the audience but so graphically audacious that it made the comicbook geek in me squeel.

4. The dilemma on the ferry and particularly the resolution. Unbelievably dark stuff to put in a summer blockbuster movie. 

3. I believe in Harvey Dent. Even as he falls and fails, you keep wishing he would snap out of it...

2. The crime saga feel to the whole movie. This is the Godfather 2 of Superhero movies. In scope and feel, this has that depth and sense of real consequences that you don't normally see in escapist superhero films.

1. Heath Ledger disappearing in the role of the joker. The film's ace. Everything about the Joker in this movie was disturbing, funny, twisted and awe-inspiring. The Joker's magic trick. His endless contingency plans. Knives and lint. You remind me of my father... Heath Ledger deserves every accolade and the fact that he is no longer alive makes his role as the Joker all the more powerful and disturbing on film.

There are so many awesome things in this film that I almost forgot to mention Batman in this review of his film. Christian Bale was a calm centre of a big brooding storm and it is still his movie but now his universe has expanded and we can see how one man with a mask and an ideal makes so much impact on the world around him.

10 Things I enjoyed about WANTED

The new movie staring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie.

10. The crazy, visceral, anarchic energy of the movie. There's just this boyish spirit of glee at all the pretty violence in this film and it's infectious.

9. That it is an adaptation of a comic book - Mark Millar and J.G. Jones' comicbook of the same name. There is more to comicbooks than Spiderman, Superman and the rest of the superheroes. 

8. Angelina Jolie. She does so much with so little - she suggests so much back story and history with her character and sells it.

7. Morgan Freeman. Love that he messes around with his image as the benevolent father figure and fucks up our expectations. "Shoot this motherfucker!"

6. The plot twist. I genuinely did not see that coming.

5. A totally gross and unexpected use of rats. HA!

4. The office meltdown/empowerment scene. Keyboards are mightier than the pen!

3. Terence Stamp! WTF? How did he get into this film??

2. The ending. Nice capper on the whole ridiculousness of this film and surprisingly rings true to the original ending of the comicbook. 

1. James McAvoy. Angelina may have been the draw for most audiences but James carried this film like a mutherfucker. He remains likeable even when blowing people up and the growth from nerd to hardass was completely believeable because this guy can actually ACT. Nice.

10 Things I love about Kung Fu Panda (spoilerific!) Go watch it!!!

Kung Fu Panda... the best non-Pixar CGI film since... well... The Best Non-Pixar CGI film ever! Possibly the most satisfying Kung Fu film I've seen in a long time. 

10. The glorious cel animation at the beginning of the film. Beautiful and perfect.

9. The magnificent cgi animation throughout the film. 

8. The copious use of slow-mo, capturing those kung fu moments in all its glory.

7. That despite the all star name cast, everybody was in character. No one stood out as "hey it's so and so."

6. The running joke of walking up the thousands of steps up to the temple. Po being breathless every time he walks up. I giggle.

5. Po being a complete fanboy, his unabashed enthusiasm and love for Kung Fu.

4. The way Po defeats Tai Lung at the end. So well set up you slap your head and go "ooohhh!!!" and still giggle like a school girl.

3. The fabulous character animation. The way characters such as a mantis, snake and turtle can all do Kung Fu believably in this crazy cartoon world.

2. Tai Lung's escape from the prison. Right up there with Magneto's escape in X-Men 2. Crazy yet it all makes sense.

1. The story of Shi Fu and Tai Lung. Surprisingly dramatic and meaty and gave this story it's gravitas and emotional weight and momentum all at once. THIS is the story that the Star Wars prequels should have told. This story is surprisingly heartbreaking and suddenly the villain's rage makes sense. Doesn't excuse him for the suffering he caused but you understand what drove him. And holy crap, I'm droning on and on about the fictional father/son dynamic between a squirrel and a snow lion who fight each other with kung fu! But it all makes sense! 

Go see it and have a good time!

One thing that inspires me today: Great Expectations (directed by Alfonso Cuaron)

This movie still give me chills. I can listen to the soundtrack 24/7. I HAVE listened to the soundtrack 24/7.

This movie is the ultimate unrequited love story in my opinion, about falling in love hard and trying to stand up despite the anguish in your bones, the love that you know is just wrong for you and you could go for someone more nice, more deserving, more ordinary and less in all the ways that are somehow important but inexplicable. Love that is unreasonable, malicious and hurtful but one that makes you feel and what drives you forward to her.

I was in a serious funk when I saw this film and it expressed everything I wanted to say that was beautiful, powerful and so full of yearning.

The story is a Charles Dickens classic tale about a boy who is given wealth by a generous benefactor. He falls in love with Estella who is taught never to give her heart to men by her guardian. The plot is a typical Charles Dicken drama, full of secrets, lies, and coincidences. 

In the movie, the screen writer and director strips the plot of extraneous characters. The novel lost the colourful characters but it found it's main narrative thread and imbued it with an aching melancholy that's beautiful and resonant. So many shots in this movie felt like it was from memories, intoxicating in the way the story of Finn and Estella builds and builds.

And the music. OH MY GOD. I already mentioned the soundtrack and I am not kidding when I said I listened to it 24/7. Especially this song.

Not just the song... the soundtrack score is one of the most beautiful and romantic pieces I have ever heard. The moment of that kiss in the rain... and I know it's cliche but it's genuinely exhilarating.

I love this film for these moments. I love the book that Finn carries with him of his sketches and illustrations and how it is used in the ending credits. 

This film inspired me to carry my own little sketch book, fill it with portraits and sketches and fill it with thoughts. I owe this film for crystalizing my emotional state at the time, where I was looking for love, feeling lost, wanting to express myself and art and to have it all, to be acknowledged and leave behind the past.

I love this film with all my aching heart.

10 things I love about Iron Man

10 Things I love about Iron Man

1) Robert Downey Jr. Acerbic, witty, damaged and so hot in a tank top sweating under the workshop lights. Ahem.

2) The Tech. I am so not a tech guy but the tech is so awesome, I feel like I'm 7 again playing with my robots.

3) Good use of characters. Every character was utilized properly. Hot damn, that foxy female reporter in the beginning? Not a disposable character but someone who appears again and is of use to the plot.

4) "Everybody sit down"... ha ha... fantastic news conference.

5) Pepper Potts. Ooh, the unrequited love just... oooh, I haven't felt this much for a Gwenyth Paltrow character since Estella in Great Expectations.

6) Jon Favreau. The man knocked it out of the ballpark. Where a lot of directors talk about characters and how important it is... this guy actually directed the actors and respected the characters. 

7) Marvel Studios. No longer another film studio handling a Marvel property. Marvel Studios protecting and creating their own franchises and characters.

8) The way Iron Man holds his hands out to the side like a little girl for lift off. A small detail but so, so funny, so fitting and all the more fun.

9) "Welcome to a bigger universe." I got chills.

10) "I am Iron Man." 

One thing that inspires me today: Doctor Who

My first recollection of Doctor Who was from this old second hand book titled "Heroes and Legends". It was a book with entries based on King Arthur, Robin Hood to Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and of course Doctor Who.

I remember reading it and thinking what the hell is this? A hero who "regenerated"? There was a picture of Tom Baker and he certainly didn't look like a hero. Wide, cheesy grin and ridiculously long scarf... I banished Doctor Who from my thoughts. 

Let's be clear - I've never seen the old tv show. I have no sense of nostalgia what so ever. However when my father in law bought me and my wife 2 box sets of the new Doctor Who series for Christmas, I found a series that is brimming with ideas, excitement, humanity and imagination.

The writers and creators of Doctor Who just unleash a fun and ferocious imagination. The core premise of the Doctor going on adventures in different places, planets and times gives so much room for them to explore.

However what gives the new series of Doctor Who the edge for me is the development of the emotional life of the Doctor, the unabashed humanity, both the inspirational side and the darker side and the compelling characters that drive the series. Rose Tyler is an ordinary shop girl but believably became saviour of the universe and Martha's unrequited love for the Doctor makes her so relatable. 

My favourite character is the Doctor though - especially the David Tennant incarnation. Here he is, a mad, lonely, off the wall, brilliant, joyous, powerful alien and while his emotions are always every so slightly larger than life, you always look up to him as the guy who will always try to do what is right and noble. 

I am not afraid to admit I cried several times while watching this series. Russell T. Davies the showrunner and producer responsible for resurrecting Doctor Who did a marvelous, daunting job in making Doctor Who more than a sci-fi curiousity. 

I love Doctor Who. 

What Inspires Me Today - Hedwig and The Angry Inch

You know how there's always some pieces of music, words, plays, films that just hit you in the gut, grabs hold of you and work their way in until it becomes part of you, the way you think, the way you feel, gives you who you are as a person and artist.

Hedwig and The Angry Inch is a film written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell about a Transsexual German Rock and Roll Singer fighting for her right to be acknowledged for her work but more importantly acknowledged for who she/he is. Plus the songs are awesome.

This film has this perfect chemistry, raw emotion, rock out rage and such beautiful, beautiful songs. 

Wicked Little Town is possibly my favourite with it's strong sense of melancholy yet there's this yearning for a connection in a strange and hostile world.

All other songs are great - love Wig in a Box, Midnight Radio, Tear Me Down but Wicked Little Town is the one I could hear over and over again.

Some critics say there's a bit of pretentiousness with the symbolism and gets heavy handed towards the end. Bollocks. Hedwig as a film deserved a cathartic ending and the whimsical, sharp direction was never not-entertaining.

And all those who say "nay" to this little rock musical film? 

"Fuck you, I'm going to Guam!"

Impromptu Script Reading

There was an impromptu script reading of my Commedia Script... its humbling to have your work read by other people. A zillion thoughts zip by in my head...

Do they like it?
Is it good enough?
Why didn't they laugh at that bit?
Why did they laugh at THAT bit? 
Huh, that was different
Huh, that was exactly spot on
Must check spelling next time!
Crap!!!
It's too quiet here...
No one's laughing anymore...
Do they understand English???
Oh crap, I've just wasted everybody's time!
ARGH!!!

At the end there were no awards given out or anything but they seem to enjoy it. Hey, it's something to do on a Saturday afternoon...

That and I learnt I misspelt Pantalone as Pantelone for most of my life...

Finishing A Script! Break out the bubbles!

I just finished one of my scripts for the Faust Festival performance and it's in good shape. Might need some tightening in a few lines but I was SO relieved it just bubbled out of me like a shaken champagne bottle. Boo yah!

So satisfying when you write something and it's in good shape. Now, just wait a couple more hours before the doubts kick in...

The script is called "Servants and Masters of Commedia dell'Arte. I knowing stole one joke from Jim Dale in an interview in Pottercast. Jim Dale is an actor and he narrated/voice recorded the American audio book versions of the Harry Potter books. Talk about random.

Taught at Parkview today. That estate is GORGEOUS. I've been there before years ago but can't quite place when or with whom. All I know is that they have an indoor rock climbing ROOM. Airconditioned rock climbing. Jeez.