'The Hobbit' graphic novel

The Hobbit

graphic novel (revised edition)

2006

This new edition of The Hobbit graphic novels includes more drawings and expanded text. I've been reading it in bed before going to sleep and finding that it's the best thing for me. If you're too tired to read, you can always just look at a picture for a few minutes and imagine...

The Hobbit is such a fantastic little tale and the perfect intro to Tolkien's larger body of works. I remember reading it for the first time (the novel) and noting how he wrote almost flippantly about fantastical events/people, whether they were small or epic. It is less bulky than Lord of the Rings, written for a much younger target audience (namely, his children), yet somehow captures a simplicity without being moralistic or much like a fable. I appreciate children's stories written 'just because', not to get across some underlying message.

I'm really looking forward to The Hobbit movie, whenever it comes out. There has been rumour of it being produced in the near future and fans/actors are starting to wonder whether Peter Jackson will direct or not. To tell you the truth, I don't even care. I loved Star Wars and Empire/Jedi weren't directed by Lucas and the hold my attention even more than the first. Here's hoping though it still captures that essence of Middle-Earth that Jackson and WETA were able to give us a glimpse of.

'Who Killed the Electric Car?'

Who Killed the Electric Car?

dvd

2006

An interesting documentary. Didn't get me too fired up which was strange because usually after a 'change the world' documentary I come out of it feeling like I should do something. This left me with a sick sort of feeling, the kind when it's completely out of your control.

It was a well developed and thought through piece of film-making. I enjoyed the rise and then demise of the EV1 car and concluded that I don't see quite to eye to eye on the whole electric car thing any more. There seemed to be a strange sort of logic behind it all, loosening our (Western countries) grip on petrol/oil reliant personal transportation in the hope that it will bring peace to the Middle East, and stop pollution and global warming. Well, burning coal like a total maniac to create electricity is harming the planet just as much as war so I don't see the solution there. It featured a tiny segment on the alternatives for producing electricity (solar/wind) although I would have been sold on the whole idea if this was more developed as part of their argument.

Overall, it was a good look at another fuel alternative for private inner-suburban automobile use although I wanted it to go further and really tackle the bigger issues. How can we source better/cleaner electricity? If (as the doco reports) Americans travel only 29 miles in the day, is there an actual need for a personal car or should resources be put into better public transport? Or even, would the US even give a rats about the environment if they didn't have to pay and bleed for their oil? Ouch.

'Invincible'

'Invincible'

dvd

2006

This was a perfect, feel-good weekend movie. A Walt Disney pictures recount of an NFL football player who rose from the streets of Philadelphia to play as a professional after the team's coach puts out a general invitation to new players in the hope of breaking their losing streak. Mark Wahlberg is not the best actor by far but I think it's all good fun. Worth a look if you want a punch in the air, feel-good emotional rollercoaster with a linear plot.

All Pottered Out

Well I gave it my best shot. Trying to knock off the 6 Harry Potter books before the new one came out. I only made it up to Order of the Phoenix (halfway through) and things sort of ground to a halt. It's a very interesting series and I'd imagine it'd be a breathtaking series for anyone from 10-15. I just can't take another unedited chapter from JK Rowling or another temper tantrum from Harry.

So it's books down for a little bit and onto something different for a while. Will get back into them once I give myself a chance to see what else is on offer.

Looking forward to Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead.

War of the Ring board game

Today I went into Game Quest to get my hands on a copy of War of the Ring, a Lord of the Rings based board game I played a few weekends ago with my cousin. I ended up buying the new offering from the Axis & Allies people: Battle of the Bulge. Yeah baby! And as I was in there talking with the guys I was thinking, these are my people. These are the guys that part of me connects with where it's not taboo to talk about plastic figures or rolling a bunch of dice. I had a good chat about nothing.

War of the Ring was a great adaptation of the LotR plot. It played out similar to those games from Axis & Allies (previously Milton and Bradley, now Avalon Hill). You could break out different members from the fellowship, move them covertly across the map, the whole time trying to outrun roving Nazgul which might give away your position at any stage. There was a desperate battle for Minas Tirith (which I lost, and in which Aragorn lost his life, hehe oops) and I had Meriadoc leading a band of rangers across the plains of Eriador.

You can focus on a military victory or getting the ring to Mount Doom, or both. It plays out very much like the book although there's more scope than you think as you're deciding on who goes where, what to attack etc.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and have lined up another round soon.

'The Children of Húrin'

Review

The Children of Húrin

by JRR Tolkien

book

2007

I just love it how things are released after someone's death, in fact, a significant time after someone's death. It only goes to show how immortal their presence is, the long lasting imprint a person has made on society and culture. I'm sure there will be more Lennon tracks. Tolkien wrote so much, and in fact so many variations of his tales that I can't remember what's "official" and what's not. But when you're talking about The Children of Húrin, a tale taken from the First Age of Middle-Earth, it's kinda like trying to pick details out of Greek mythology.

This is my favourite tale taken from the Silmarillion. It nestles in amongst a few of the other grand tales, ones constantly referred to in Lord of the Rings as points of historical reference. In this version, Christopher Tolkien has published his father's piece as it was written, and flows like a more solid storyline rather than the Silmarillion's version which is a bit like the Old Testament. It's a tale of fate, destruction and the downfall of a family. It is epic in its scope and has the power of a Shakespeare/Bronte classic. Might be a gentler introduction into the Middle-Earth history rather than diving headfirst into the Silmarillion. I wasn't disappointed.

'Zodiac'

Review

Zodiac

2007

I went into this film not knowing anything about the story or whether it was based on a real case file or not. All that I knew was that it went for 2hrs and 37mins and I'd best plan my pre-movie toilet break wisely. This was a great film and I was captivated most of the time. Like most crime movies of the genre (you could really tell it was made by the same guy who did Se7en) you find things out slowly along the way, and the police act only as fast as our recognition skills can handle, so you feel like you're really solving it yourself. I'd pay $9 on tightarse Tuesday any week to feel like I'm an intelligent crime solver.

Packed with name actors and some memorable performances, I was really impressed with the overall feel of the movie. A bit gruesome in parts and they rely on tense scenes rather than people jumping out from behind doorways for cheap cinema thrills. The costumes/props of the period (60s and 70s mainly) was done really well, except for Jake Gyllenhaal's hairdo which didn't change over the course of 3 decades (kinda like mine!).

'28 Weeks Later'

Review

28 Weeks Later
aka 28 Panning Shots of an Empty London Later

2007

Zombie movies are fun. This wasn't exactly the follow-up film I was expecting but still had a bit of a laugh. It didn't have half the impact of 28 Days Later, and seemed to not be able to get past the empty London shots, scene after scene. Or replaying that successful track from the first film, 'Shrinking Universe' by Muse. It was cued in all the right spots and added the drama needed to let us know it was serious business going on, all this zombie killing.

An ok film but I doubt I'd ever watch it again.

Wordplay

Wordplay

dvd (2006)

I never thought I'd be on the edge of my seat watching a movie about crossword puzzles. And rocking on the edge of the couch scoffing into a jar of pickled onions I felt like my eccentricity paled in comparison to these fantastically minded wordsmiths. My goodness.

Wordplay is a film about about that aspect of our culture that sits somewhere in the Arts or TV section of the paper, that part of our lives that makes us want to fill in the blanks and nut something out. It's all about crossword puzzles and the interesting people who challenge themselves with them. And not only do they test their own minds but all compete in a championship, held the same time every year since the 70s.

I thought it was a brilliant film. It had me laughing and drawing closer to the endearing qualities of these full-minded individuals. It reminded me of Spellbound, the documentary about children who compete in spelling bees. I felt like the main focus of the film was that no matter who we are or what we do, when we're doing a crossword, we're all the same: bent over a piece of paper trying to fill in the boxes. Fantastic.

'Fidel'

Review

Fidel

DVD [2002]

This was so obviously a tele-movie and I just had to keep giving it my full attention. A 3 hour movie about the rise of the revolution in Cuba under Fidel Castro and the involvement of other factions such as the Communist party, Soviets and the legendary Che Guevara.

I was particularly drawn to this film when I saw Gael Garcia Bernal was involved. He seems to be such an intense actor and I'm coming to appreciate the way he portrays raw characters full of conviction. It was also good to see a bit of the follow on from Motorcycle Diaries (although made in 2004) where we saw him develop his ideals and then they are acted out through the eyes of someone else. I loved it. I'm a sucker for progression.

The fight and speech scenes were a little disappointing, of course being a movie made for TV they skipped on the special effects and relied on stock footage to fill in the gaps. I did like the way it only tried to really dwell on Fidel's life and emphasis was only placed on various moments in time as to how it affected him rather than the nation or the communist/democratic world.

Worth a watch for a snippet into a piece of modern iconography.

Getting into backpacking/hiking

As funny as it sounds, getting into the next part of hiking is like a cross between internet dating and high level instances in World of Warcraft. Haha. Believe me! It is! I feel like I'm at the point where I have to just get out there and meet people who are interested in it too, so I can get in some practice and learn some really great tips before heading out. And it's like an instance (dungeon which requires 10-20 players to complete) in World of Warcraft because I was either waiting for friends to get to that level or getting frustrated cos we couldn't make the numbers. Yes, I am weird.

So I'm gonna have to take the plunge I think and get involved with a club, or maybe there are some people at church who'd be keen? Could you imagine them making an announcement at the end of the service "oh, and if anyone's into hiking, please talk to Simon.. he'll be up the back". I'm sure there are groups out there. Might even get involved in some forums - a gold mine for information and sharing ideas. I've heard of a group in Adelaide who do bushwalks but have been warned that the majority of them are over 50. At least it might make me feel fitter than I am!?

Also been having a look at gear guides, reviews, articles, tips on foot care, and the problematic situation re: water. I also bought a compass and tomorrow will be practicing getting proper bearings to walk in a triangle. Should be handy if I ever need to navigate my way around any treacherous triangle shaped areas. Haha.

I did find this short video on Youtube which shows the smaller version of the tent I just bought. It shows how it sits when set up (pretty much the same) the outer and inner walls and that little bit of ventilation I was talking about - you can see a bit of the outside ground area at the end of the clip. Will be interesting to see how that performs when it's pissing down with rain.

Dylan Moran

The atmosphere was unmistakably Fringe. Employed troubadour singers engaging with the awaiting crowd. A packed foyer, an even more packed Thebby Theatre with seats so closely placed together I should have had a discount from sitting next to a fat bastard. I didn't actually realise how good the seats were which Wazza was able to obtain. Front row. I can't say I was excited when I suddenly realised we would be the prime targets for any form of audience participation, and being a zombie movie-goer I didn't think I'd be up for it. Luckily there were enough knobs in the audience to pique Moran's interest/disgust so we went under the radar. I did have a weird moment of direct eye contact, when I looked into those glazed eyes and had a connection. It was cool.

He didn't disappoint. His jokes were spot on, his descriptions as random as ever. It did strike me how truly, 100% pissed he was. I thought he was going to drop the bundle a couple of times, when he started to tell jokes he'd already done, or ramble over familiar territory then suddenly realise and say something obtuse. There was a distinct tone seeing him live, something very personal about his observations and social musings. It was almost derision, beyond humour. Then again, as the audience you're forced to not take it so seriously, if only it wasn't so thinly veiled. He had me laughing, but not as much as I thought he would. Maybe it's cos I don't drink anymore. Could be that I was exhausted. Overall, the giddy sensation I had when I walked back out onto Henley Beach Road was not from laughing too hard, more from the lack of oxygen in the place.

Happy to have been a part of it all. Long live Bernard.

'One Giant Leap'

Review

'One Giant Leap - 50 Years of Space Flight'

dvd


It felt so exciting to be watching the shuttle and space station crews floating around in zero gravity. Or being inside the cockpit when the shuttle's fuel ignited and it took off into the atmosphere. There's something about space flight and discovery that I really like and when I was little reading about the previous exploits of Chuck Yeager (speed testing) and the successful rocket missions I couldn't help but think what was out there, where does space fit in with our future?

The second disc of this series was the most enjoyable. There were several shuttle missions which were talked through by the crew as a sort of post-mission briefing, and every delicate technical issue came to light, as well as the endearing humour of these space adventurers. I loved some of the wild experiments they did after their main mission objectives were completed. Like spinning a globule of water in zero gravity and trying to cut it with dental floss. And then touching a tiny blob of orange juice and watch it cruise towards the larger blob of water only to collide and mix in a way that could only be described as psychedelic.

The bravery of these people, for whatever reasons space discovery is still being pursued, has to be admired. I really look forward to going through the Kennedy Space Center and spending as much time there as possible. To infinity, and beyond!

'C'est La Folie'

Review

C'est La Folie

by Michael Wright

2006

I haven't laughed out loud reading a book in a long time. I was so impressed with this piece of travel writing from Michael Wright, I have been telling everyone about, trying to relate the little adventures and funny anecdotes. They always fall short of reading the real thing though. As far as I'm concerned this should be a must-have on the bookshelf.

Michael moves from the UK to rural France to experience some "proper problems" and break away from feeling so "uncomfortably comfortable". If you're stuck in a rut or question your life in any given place, you'll totally understand where he's coming from. I was bursting to do the same!

So he introduces farm animals, run-down renovations to his eccentric new home, interacts with the community and comes head on with French life. He acts as my portal into a world I can only imagine, and his failings/concerns seem so close to my own I was cheering him on at every turn of the page. There are segments of conversation in French, often with no explanation as to what is taking place. In this way, a bit of guess work is necessary and it adds to the overall mystery of communicating in a language other than English, an adventure in itself full of funny mistakes and patchy (and often important!) details.

To laugh out loud on the bus is such a release. I can see this book being made into a movie, perhaps a more realistic (and less romantic) version of Under the Tuscan Sun. There were moments during C'est La Folie when I felt like crying, or felt utterly wretched on behalf of Michael and his predicament. To be that close to the highs and lows of life, not just the elaborate social trappings that we put around ourselves and call life.

Everyone should read this. It gave me a better appreciation for everything around me and reinvigorated my call to head off and see somewhere new.

'The First Casualty'

Review

The First Casualty
by Ben Elton

2005

I read this book in 3 days over the Christmas period and it was such a fast, easy read that I'd almost completely forgotten to write something about it. First off, what another brilliant literary offering from Elton. He really is one of my favourite authors and I've come to appreciate his intricate way of preparing a story.

Set during World War One, this book deals with the almost absurd notion of a murder investigation on the Western Front. There is death and carnage all around yet a London policeman, a conscious objector, is sent to unravel the mystery.

Ben Elton has a way of telling a story and involving every aspect of human interaction in amongst the drama and intrigue. There are no one fit stereotypes he likes to go with, they appear as believeable characters, with as much depth and human fault as in real life. His storytelling is aimed at everyone, not a select few, and for this you can see why his previous successes have been so well received (esp. the tv shows).

The twists and turns keep you reading on, ploughing through details which suddenly turn on their heel and happily lead you down the garden path before revealing their true outcome. I love being tricked when I'm reading, even in an age where we think we've seen it all before.

And the complex weave of human existence is ever present in his novels. Poor man alongside the rest, a seemingly insignificant character bumbling into the path of the main storyline. Even the actions and repercussions of a removed character, how they change the plot for better or worse. I love it.

Another great Elton book is High Society. Get into it!

'The Pilgrimage'

Review

The Pilgrimage
by Paulo Coelho

1995

It is with great discomfort that I report back poorly for the read that is The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho. Having read The Alchemist, I turned around and borrowed this with great excitement, awaiting the juicy details which lay within, especially those regarding the trail I will set out on next year.

Maybe it is because The Alchemist was written on the success of its predecessor and reading them out of sequence has left a gap. It could be that the spiritual searching found within its pages are not the random kind that I'm looking for, having already discovered spiritual truths for myself. Or it could be that it reminds me of the mystical writings of Carlos Castaneda, a hybrid-reality style of writing that moves between reality and mysticism with no pointed direction or conclusion. A mixture of all these perhaps had me sighing within the first few chapters and finally putting it down saying "get over it mate".

It is yet another work for spiritual over acceptance, the kind which agree with everything and infringe on nothing. Very suitable in these times where to agree in a blanket sort of way is the politically correct way of believing in something more. This sort of belief, like Bahá'í, reminds me of putting all your favourite things in a blender, whipping it, and finding that it was always be brown. The fence-sitting colour, the shade of non-existent conviction.

But for an explored review into spirituality this may be just your thing.

Female writer

So good to be actually enjoying a non-fiction book by a female author again. I am currently reading The Singular Pilgrim, by Rosemary Mahoney. It's all about the journeys a writer takes discovering belief in the essence of religion, and the pilgrimages around the world where people put this belief to the test. The chapters I am particularly focusing on are those on the Camino de Santiago and her trip to the holy land.

Her account of the Camino is of particular interest as I've been trying to find someone who's written on it who doesn't waffle on about the existential stuff and miss out on real details. Or the online writing (blogs, journals) where people seem to have justified the time spent on it and skip out parts which fall anything short of romantic or ideal.

I love her style of writing! The little caricatures she paints with each passing glimpse, and funny scenes played out in dark reality. Her observations on a morose Spanish pilgrim were the best. It had me laughing out loud, which looks kinda crazy on the bus. The description of how this woman's sneakers were hung on the outside of her pack, and how they swung crazily with each step.. and more, so many observations that had me smiling. :)

And it's a book by a woman who doesn't need to harp on all the time about the fact that she's a woman - that's why I like it. It's a story of a human traveller, not a triumph over gender bias. And for this my hat is off to you Mahoney.

'March of the Penguins'

Review

March of the Penguins
DVD (2005)

This documentary was so well done. I couldn't believe it wasn't CGI is so many bits, and the patience and endurance of even the cameramen should be applauded!

Nature is so harsh and the more it is the more strikingly beautiful it becomes also. It reminded me that the planet is still a place where we don't always dictate the terms, and I'm really very thankful that we don't need anything in those remote parts of Antarctica (not yet anyway) so we just let it be. Watching this reminded me that nature has no welfare system, the rules are dealt with uncompromising force, yet the rewards are monumental.

I was yelling at the screen telling the father penguin to keep their egg on his feet and under his belly fur while the mother was off getting fish. I laughed when I saw the new families playing after the ravages of yet another winter storm. I was relieved to see that us human Borgs hadn't yet overtaken the planet.

It reminded me to that we should weather the storm, rejoice in our triumphs and enjoy life while we have it. An excellent watch.

'Napoleon'

Review

Napoleon
DVD TV mini-series (2002)

"Charles Talleyrand, you're shit. You're shit in a silk stocking."

Napoleon is an epic tragedy, like Macbeth or The Untouchables. It's the downfall of a lovable tyrant, the little general who wanted to spread freedom and liberty to Europe.

The dramatic moments in the film are as deliberate and passionate as the orchestral score, swelling at precisely the right time, lending a humanity to the self-crowned emperor.

Christian Clavier plays a fantastic Napoleon, a surprise for me as I'd only even seen him in comic roles (Les Visiteurs and Asterix and Obelix). He captured the eccentricity and uncompromising attitude that comes with being a world leader, and his slightly crazed crooked smile gives him an endearing quality, in that Clavier way.

It doesn't dwell on the battle scenes yet isn't all court room/banquet scenes either. Portrayed in a favoured light, Napoleon is a great watch. I would highly recommend it. I just love some of the quotes and things he tells people. Nice to watch Malkovich as yet another conniving bastard too. Hehe.

'Hood'

Review

Hood
by Stephen R. Lawhead

2006

Robin Hood is no longer wearing tights. Set in Wales as opposed to the familiar Sherwood and Nottingham, Lawhead's approach to this re-working is as much a challenge to folklore tradition as it is a fresh, new take on this classic.

If you've never read any of Lawhead's work, think of Tolkien for this generation. As Tolkien did, so too does Lawhead base his works on pieces of oral tradition and early Western culture. In Lawhead's case this happens to Celtic history/myth. So here we see Robin Hood, known as Bran ap Brychan, a Welsh prince who finds himself in a position to lead the remains of his tattered kingdom from the oppression of the new Ffreinc (Norman) conquerors.

This part I find really exciting, the transition of conquest as the new rulers try to establish their authority and the locals try to work out how best to survive in their new circumstances. We see the language barriers, strange customs and ways of thinking, and the eternal spiritual question of each side thinking God is on their side during a struggle.

I thought it was like the historical rise of a superhero, and in this Bran ap Brychan rises from the ashes of his former life, complete with costume, darkness and an old world teacher who directs him to his path of destiny. I can't describe how excited I was to read him first rejecting the bow and then being forced to use it seeing as it was the last weapon remaining. And then finding the wood for each arrow, collecting feathers for the flights...

Check out the prologue and part of chapter 1 on Stephen R. Lawhead's official website.

If this is your first Lawhead experience, don't start with Hood. I only say this because it's the first in a series and the others haven't been published yet! Have a look at the Pendragon Cycle (Arthurian legend) and the Song of Albion trilogy.