We Weren't Born To Follow

Is the title of the new single from my favourite band Bon Jovi. And it rocks. The new CD/LP is called The Circle and is out in November. Me excited!!

As for Avatar. I love James Cameron. Not literally, but his films. When I downloaded the teaser trailer for Avatar my initial response was... 'Is that it?'

James Cameron has talked about how this film will revolutionise film-making and viewing. Immersive 3D. Photorealistic characters and environments. However, he also spoke about how these service the storyline and supplement it. The trailer looks like it will be an imaginative film. It also looks like FMV footage from a video game. The trailer for the Avatar game looks remarkably similar to the film footage. My problem is that the film may be a fantastic experience in the cinema with the 3D footage working brilliantly. It also needs to work on 2D screens; either in non-3D equipped cinemas or at home. At this moment the film appears to be all singing and dancing in an appropriately equipped cinema. Comic Con reviews and those from people who saw the 16 minute preview in cinemas attest to this. The trailer is disappointing.

I will hold off on a verdict, because it is only a teaser trailer.

As a sign of my good taste watch the video for The Guild and 'Do You want to Date my Avatar?' For quality avatar themed stuff. http://feliciaday.com/blog

Last five...

Last five books read:
God of Clocks by Alan Campbell
The Secret History by Donna Tartt (Re-read)
The Dying Animal by Philip Roth (Re-read)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Re-read)
In Search of Shakespeare by Michael Wood. In preparation for a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon this week.

Last five films watched:
Let the Right One In
The Shape of Things
A Streetcar Named Desire
Eastern Promises
The Kid (Chaplin)

John Hughes

This site occasionally seems to become a place for obituaries. Mainly because I want to celebrate the lives of influential people who have died. Very sad news today about John Hughes. The film director/ writer/ producer died of a heart attack at the age of 59. He had been retired for a number of years. Why was he so important? Simply-Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Breakfast Club. Two classic movies that I grew up with and still love to this day and rewatch regularly. He also scripted Pretty in Pink and Home Alone amongst others. But, the two movies I have highlighted are outstanding comedies. His legacy remains on film forever. If you haven't seen these films then all I can say is, 'what are you doing reading this?' Go. Go and watch. NOW.

Bobby Robson

A true gentleman. A great manager. An advocate for raising money for his cancer charity. A football man through and through. A man who was respected by pretty much everyone, regardless of footballing loyalties. He lived a good life and achieved great things with great dignity. And he retained that dignity and grace through his struggles with illness. A great man. What more can be said?

Watchmen

I finally got round to watching Watchmen. I have read the graphic novel and can appreciate why it is regarded as being one of the most important comic books in existence. Although as a comic it engages more on an intellectual level than on an emotional one. So, when it was announced that a film adaptation was in the works for definite I was intrigued. Zack Snyder did a good job of adapting 300, so I was reasonably confident he could do a solid job on this.

I wont recite the storyline, as that can be found anywhere. As an adaptation of a supposedly unfilmable piece of work, it works well. I think it will require more viewings to appreciate just how much has gone into the film.

The story works effectively and follows the original very closely. It is obvious the director has a real affinity for and passion about the project. Some shots are direct lifts from panels in the comic. It feels like the comic has come to life. The acting is very good across the board and we get reasonably well rounded characters. I say reasonably only because in a work with a complex narrative some character beats are going to be lost and subservient to the story. The ending has infuriated some, but I would argue that it better serves a modern audience than the original ending and posits a more interesting moral message that the comic. Is that sacrilege?!

All in all Watchmen is an effective film and the best adaptation of an Alan Moore story to date. It is well worth seeing. Although one does have to be a little pissed off that once again the US get the director's cut and the UK the theatrical edition. Anyone want to bet that the director's cut will be out in time for Christmas?