July 2005 Archives

ORANGE WEDNESDAY:   Madagascar' ..
Runtime: 86m 8s - UK Rated: U
Tagline: Someone's got a zoo loose.

Plot Outline
Spoiled by their upbringing with no idea what wild life is really like, four animals from New York Central Zoo escape in search of their friend and find themselves on route to Madagascar.

In all fairness, none of the voice actors stuck out as exceptional (like Eddie Murphy did as Donkey in Shrek), however I can see they were trying to go with that kindof thing with Chris Rock as Marty (the zebra). Having said this nobody stood out as wrong for the role either. They all played their respective parts well. Neither the best of this genre nor the worst. It wouldn't have worked for me however if it wasn't for the Penguins!

Overall Impressions:
Manages to keep you interested all throughout whatever age you might be. Great to watch with family or just as a bunch of friends. Recommended.

ORANGE WEDNESDAY:   Fantastic Four' ..
Tagline: Prepare for the Fantasic
Runtime: 105m 26s - UK Rated: PG

Plot Outline:
A group of astronauts gain superpowers after a cosmic radiation exposure and must use them to oppose the plans of their enemy, Doctor Victor Von Doom

Jessica Alba stunning as ever playing the invisible woman. Micheal Chiklis (from TV program The Shield) as The Thing. Chris Evans (Jockey from 'Not Another Teen Movie') as Human Torch & Ioan Gruffudd (Lancelot from King Arthur) as Mr. Fantastic making a team of well thought out casting for the infamous Fantastic Four

Overall Impressions:
For a PG rated comic book adaptation, its pretty sweet, visually stunning & an entertaining plot too, (not so complex, but entertaining none-the-less).

Wedding Crashers' ..
Tagline: Life's a party. Crash it.
Runtime: 118m 52s - UK Rated: 15

Plot Outline
John Beckwith and Jeremy Klein, a pair of committed womanizers who sneak into weddings to take advantage of the romantic tinge in the air, find themselves at odds with one another when John meets and falls for Claire Clearly

In a nutshell, Owen Wilson & Vince Vaughn together again so we expect a film of the Starsky & Hutch genre, & provided you leave your thinking caps at home, you're to be entertained.

I'm not too sure you'd be able to watch them repeatedly like perhaps Dodgeball & Anchorman which have their totally surreal moments. However Wedding Crashers manages to tone down the surreal & even lean on the area of a romantic chick flick. (though I hate that term)

Overall Impressions:
Thumbs Up. Chin Up. Rock & Roll

For those showing concern (none), I am am not dead, just hybernating again. Watching vast amounts of Seinfeld & chinese films. Infernal Affairs {which soon is to be raped by the Hollywood folk} & Fulltime Killer are amongst them. Impressed truly.

Can you believe it? He gassed my carpet whilst yelling 'you son of a #@^£$@'A funeral will be held tomorrow at a Sainsbury's near you. Keep your eyes open!

Today will be the 4th (of 5) days where I am on this 1 to 10 shift. Day 1-3 have been a learning experience. Day 4 ruled. I finished everything required & was ready to leave by 10 .. as opposed to the 11:30, 10:37 & 10:28 prior. Tomorrow will tell whether or not chinese people actually like chinese food, perhaps. Today however sweet & sour victory is mine.

Coca-cola was invented by a Dr. John Stith Pemberton in 1886. It was the doctors second drink with coca leaves and the kola nut as a basis. The doctors first coca leaf drink , Pemberton's French Wine Coca, was actually an immitation of Vin Mariani, a coca-wine drink invented by Angelo Mariani in 1883. Although there were several immitators of the French Coca-Wine, Pemberton's formula was superior. He was actually quoted saying "I believe that I am now producing a better preparation than that of Mariani."

Pemberton grew very ill, but continued with his work. He was developing a new drink, a modified cola with celery extract. The drink was never finished. Pemberton died on August 16, 1888. Candler serveda as a pallbearer at Pemberton's funeral and spoke very highly of him. In later years he was quoted saying "Why, I suppose Dr. Pemberton felt I was one of his best friends in town."

With the exeception of the Walker, Candler & Company ownership, Asa Candler had legal rights to Coca-Cola. He was calling himself the drink's sole proprietor by May 1, 1889. By the turn of the century Candler would become one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta and Coca-Cola would become the most popular soft drink in America.

Happy Birthday Adi' :)

This week I am on super late shifts (not the 10 til 7, but the 1 til 10). During the 7 til 10 period, you're alone in a dark basement full of bats & some small red lights, you beat the red lights with sticks until they smash & the aim is to have them all resolved by 10. The nasty surprise for when you do this the 1st time is the 9:50 period when you are bombarded with them. Rumour is they are vampire bats & they tend to rise as the financial markets close as it time to catch its prey as traders stumble home to their wives, whatever the phuck that means but I know otherwise. It is red kryptonite in popsicle form, in Clark's world, green means stop & RED means GO!!

The Lia Parker has now officially got a boyfriend, a feller by the name of Jon. This called for celebration. I pulled out a bottle of chardonay from my wine cellar (fridge) & i soon realised i required & i didn't have that cork unscrewing thingie, so i stabbed the cork a bit with a knife which didn't help much. Trying then with a screwdriver for 10 minutes or so i then had a fantastic idea, i got a screw & screwdriver. screwed the screw 3/4 way into the cork & spent a further 5 minutes trying to pluck it out with a pair of pliers ~ Victory is mine. :) Congrats LiSPy x

A colleague at the workplace has a motor vehicle which he calls a 'car'. I went inside this car to Morrison's. A supermarket so big you could buy apples from it if you really wanted. I didn't, I did buy some Banana's & Biscuits & Ice Cream & Sugar & Pizza & well .. you get the idea. It was quite an adventure as next to the space that this 'car' was parked was a van with a dog inside it who barked & barked & barked some more. He was kool. I got some Kellogs Corn Flakes & Shreddies. The dog looked at me as though to shred my face until my skull were visible. I also got a quarter of a water melon which I have just consumed. Hmmm ... buuuurp!

That which has baffled me for far too long turned out to be of my own stupidity. I've wanted to edit video files captured from DVD & the .vob files (which are encrypted) can't be opened by any video editors, so over the past year or two or five; I've tried to convert these to MPEG2 which is what they are, except every codec I use was diminishing the quality; including the lossless AVI codec (which I can't explain). Today I've found out that a 'Demux' tool will break a .vob file into separate parts for subtitles, audio (.mp2) & video (.m2v). I've done this before & let it pass but all I needed to do was open these .m2v files in a video editor. I feel like an absolute muppet. Later I would have to Remux & make this 1 file again before burning to DVD after editing was complete. Satisfaction is found. Though I'm still kicking myself over & over. {Just like Fight Club but without the joy}.

Possibly due to my 'lone crusader' properties or my possible obsession for numbers & dates is why I remember that which I do, though it does give good mental exercise, & good practice (for what?? best you don't ask). Getting a bit rusty in my old age though (23). Demon mentioned some course he's attending in London. Whas that July or August? I've got a feeling its next week, or next month. m0stly'

Side News: Saw 'Narc' .. was pretty nifty. Ray Liotta carries a shotgun in every other scene. :) Also saw 'The Kid' .. A simple but honest film only 50 minutes long, about an orphan raised by a tramp, the tramp. Chaplin's films always impress me. They have a certain innocence that films lack these days. Instead we have shotguns. Not that I'm complaining, but its good to have both ends of the scale & less of the 'grey' stuff in the middle between the two. Obviously not in the same feature as that would just be plain stupid (& not in a good way).

So I've been living the single life for 3 years now. An eye opener in many ways. Though my 1 relationship was certainly a steep learning curve & wasn't bad while it lasted (2 years on & off) its ultimate fall was an absolute disaster making my life hell for a good year. That was all 3 years ago. Thats over 1000 days. Gone. When you look at the date on some days & see its familiarity, you just wonder where these days fly by. Today is one of those days.

No more stuck in Neutral ... Speeding by my head are the dreams like a caffiene buzz while I'm roasting like black burning toast. Hail to the King baby!! I love it when a plan comes together!!! So you're wondering what I'm yammering on about .. I'll never tell'

So I've been infprmed today that I sound more energetic than I have for the past 2 or 3 months. Sounds about right. I feel its time to do stuff as opposed to lament over how little I do .. Well I begin by ordering 'The Whole Bean' on DVD. Mr. Bean was kool. It just has to be admitted, barring the movie in which he 'talked'. It had a whole Chaplin for today going for it. ~ I shall twiddle my thumbs in the morning awaiting its arrival for the next week or so.

In other news, I hear half of Birmingam was evacuated. Ah well, happens to the best of cities. Also, I've watched a couple of Bollywood films this weekend (surprise'): Aitraaz & Gangaajal.

The latter was very very good. It was nothing new in content as such, another one of the good cop versus corrupt police force & politicians type flick, but Ajay Devgan's standup performance stood out a mile, you actually related to the character empathising as he slowly became a part of a more dark police force which (off the record) beat criminals to a pulp, popped their eyes out & then poured battery acid in the wound. Though he disagreed with it he became a part of this & though it served justice in its own way for the criminals were killers, rapists & suchlike you empathised with him. He was a hero to the village but not in a way he wanted to be. There were people that disagreed with this vigilantic behaviour & he was tried in court. Though he personally was never involved he admitted it was his fault because the officers worked under him. None of the officers admitted it. An eye opener {no pun intended} for people as to what people suffer & how even the police have its weaknesses & restraints. Though one man can make a difference, as always there is a cost for this.

'Yea lover boy you wanna piece off me?' ~ Usual Suspects, The

Well after a gloomy monday-type day yesterday, the release of the friday is a good thing, everybody receives it with pleasure. We had some pretty swanky cookies for treats. Ah cookies, its been a long time since I'v enjoyed a good cookie, back in guaremala we used to have Sainsbury's chocolate chip cookies by the packet - usually accompanies by a good ole dvd & probably a pizza or cheese & chips depending on the time of the day. Demon will remember those days best. I had chips yesterday, no cheese though'. I must remember to do that soon.

Back in college I was known for my big plate of chips covered with a layer of cheese. 2 packet of tomato ketchup & a can of Dr. Pepper. The staff were so used to it they even took the liberty of frying me some chips fresh so that my cheese would melt nicely. Lovely ladies they were. Ah nostalgic headrush.

I think this explosions incident is a good excuse to travel 1000 miles & go be trained by evil ninjas but my NEW wireless router holds me firmly as I could now make these entries from 'The Powerbook' .. while in my bed with only my pants on. 'Could' ~ more on this later ;)

For all the people that tex'd & tried calling, Yes I'm alive! .. you've all failed & I manage to walk the earth some more. Its good to see I've trained you well enough to double check your work though. Only joking, really though etc; etc; - when I got the text message of Aditi (Princess) over lunchtime I was so so tempted to reply "Help.. I can't feel my legs" ... but I don't think she'd see the humour in it so I sent it to somebody else instead.

I'm on London shifts Monday & Tuesday next week though which should be a good fun as always. In other news my neighbour has made me a copy of the key for the back door which he alone in the builiding had. The other 7 in the flat block have to use the front door which is slightly less convenient. Winner!

Also the parking space where Frank Castle (my car) used to once reside has now been layered with a new dose of tarmac to cover up the burn stains from The Farmer's earlier attack in April.

Some vague importance ..

A series of bomb attacks on London's transport network has killed more than 30 people and injured about 350 others. Three explosions on the Underground left 33 dead and an unknown number died in a blast on a double-decker bus.

The BBC's Frank Gardner said Arab sources said the blasts were probably the work of al-Qaeda. London's police chief said traces of explosive had been found at one site. Early reports had suggested a power surge could be to blame for explosions on the Underground but this was later discounted.

08:51 Seven people die in a blast on a train 100 yards from Liverpool Street station
08:56 21 people die in a blast on a train between Russell Square and King's Cross stations
09:17 Five people die in blast on a train at Edgware Road station
09:47 An unknown number die in a blast on a number 30 bus at Tavistock Place

Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes, near Kings Cross, told Five Live: "My only thought in the midst of all this confusion is that after the celebration of yesterday (for the Olympic 2012 London success) for people to be evil enough - if it is the intentional causing of death and injury - and think that they can justify this in any circumstances is completely unacceptable."

An Islamist website has posted a statement - purportedly from al-Qaeda - claiming it was behind the attacks. US President George Bush told reporters at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles that "the war on terror goes on."

All London Underground services & Bus services have resumed in central London (Zone One) with diversions in affected areas. Most mainline train stations are open. Hospitals have said they are no longer accepting non-emergency cases.

Source: BBC News

We Won .. Didn't even know this was today, or what it actually means ... but the whole hoo-hah in the office suggests it has some vague importance ..

I ate lots & lots today & I am proud of myself for doing so, I feel like a true American, whatever the phuck that means!! On a non-related subject I watched The Butterfly Effect with Lestat, Matt Daymon & Tequila from the workplace. Being the directors cut, it came as a surprise that the ending was not what I had seen when I watched it at the cinema which is when I saw this film last. Thank heavens for DVD and their magnificent special features. Flipping over the disc gave the theatrical version so watching the last chapter on the other side satisfied me. Quite varied unlike alternate endings on most DVD's I've seen in the past (especially 24 season 1) *shivers*. I'm glad they left that ending the way that they did.

With 'The Butterfly Effect' I'm not sure which ending I preferred. They both made sense, & though the theatrical cut could be seen as the Spielberg version of the two & has a dosage of cheese its still a viable solution. The director's cut more so a thought provoker. At this point in the film you're thinking plenty anyway so I can see why they cut it out but its an interesting alternative to see none-the-less.

As with my first viewing I thought this is Ashton Kutcher's best acted film yet. NOt saying his acting is great, even good, its just the best he's done yet. :) I think the true stars of this one are Amy Smart who shows a lot of versatility throughout the entire film & Jesse James The kid that played Tommy aged 13 (Psycho-Boy). You might remember him from Blow where he played the young version of Johnny Depp's character George.

I know I wasn't.

Well its been a fairly good day. A thunderstorm hanging out in the bronx & hailstones beating people with their specs of insanity pleads. I like it, rain that is, don't go thinking I like people that'd just be terrible :) So I've gone back into kickass mode where I've made up for my lack of esteem last week by getting plenty done today at work & at home over the weekend.

I watched: Napoleon Dynamite; Seinfeld (1disc); Lois & Clark (1disc); Scrubs (1 random episode); Smallville Season 4 (1ep); American Dad (1ep); West Wing (1ep); Knight Rider (1ep) & a hindi flick called 'Kuch Naa Kaho' translating 'Don't Say Anything'. Also War of the Worlds yesterday but y'all knew that already.

War of the Worlds' ..
Tagline: They're already here.
Runtime: 116m 21s - UK Rated: 12A

Plot Summary:
Ray Ferrier is a working class man living in New Jersey. His small town life is shaken violently by the arrival of destructive intruders: Aliens which have come to destroy Earth. As they plough through the country in a wave of mass destruction and violence, Ray must come to the defense of his children.

A film by Steven Spielberg & you know already that the money is there for effects & starring Tom Cruise you expect quite something. The film does deliver, having said this it is your typical American film in which you have the rest of the world disregarded, pretty much, but since the main characters are in US I suppose it makes sense to remain focussed there, having no scenes at all of other countries though?? ~ Nyeh'

As a sidenote, War of the Worlds is based on a book by H.G Wells written in 1898, quite ahead for his time he also wrote The Invisible Man & The Time Machine. He was a man of the little town I live in now: Woking.

Overall Impressions:
Dakota Fanning as freaky as she is was the true star of this one I thought. The films has all the cliche's you expect from such a film, & though it is exactly as expected I feel it could have been so much more. Its well worth a watch just for the visuals but don't expect wonders plotwise.

On the topic of strawberries & cream, I haven't had these in years except in frappucinos which is more syrup sugar. We were given this as our friday treats at work today. Hmmmm Tasty! :) Though nobody has sprayed the cream directly in their gob yet so I still remain to be truly impressed.