[My last film!]
Question: Who put the Bomp in the Bomp-she-bomp-she-bomp? Answer: Dunno, but I'd guess Dr Nakamats.
The Invention of Dr Nakamats is a wonderfully endearing movie about a wonderfully endearing man. Dr Nakamats claims to have invented all sorts of things, and while he holds over 3,000 patents, I'm not convinced that they are a) all useful or, b) entirely work.
But what the heck, he's a nice guy, doing well for himself, more than slightly eccentric, what more could you want? This movie is when he is encountering his 80th birthday (and he announced a new invention on that day!), and follows him about his daily activities. (And you'll get a slice of Japanese life as well as his own.)
Definitely a movie to be enjoyed.
[The City Gallery really needs wider seats.]
[END]
Friday, 30 July 2010
The Invention of Dr Nakamats
I've Been Watching...
This time: The War Machines. They hardly bothered with the DVD really. There are a couple of features on the Post Office Tower itself, and a bit about the restoration, and that was about it.
The story is quite tight, especially considering that many four parters can feel padded. We get the set up of WOTAN taking over, the first War Machine coming out, the second one breaking free, and then the final confrontation. Four solid beats that are played out well, as well as exiting Dodo and bringing in Polly and Ben.
And just how big are Polly's eyes? They seem huge on screen! And it seems clear that they brought in Ben for the action sequences, so not sure what that says when they felt the need to being in Jamie next season.
Nice decent story, like it a lot.
[END]
Thursday, 29 July 2010
How I Ended This Summer
How I Ended This Summer is described as a thriller... but I wouldn't say so. There an only be "thriller" if there is danger, and that requires parties to have knowledge, which only happens for around 1/4 of the movie. Now, "tense drama" on the other hand...
Two people are out recording readings (for something, doesn't matter a lot), when the more inexperienced one gets news the older one doesn't, and matters rapidly go downhill from there. While nearly qualifying for "slow cinema" itself, it paces itself slow to build up the sense of loneliness and isolation that really drives this movie.
It's a finely crafted tale, focusing on one "Pasha" Danilov, and we follow his slow descent into, while not madness, it does get very close to it.
Now, it is two hours, but well worth it.
[END]
The Case of Moffat and Gatiss
Woo. Not content with reinventing Jekyll, Steven Moffat has decided to take on Sherlock Holmes as well, and update it to the 21st Century. Co-creating it with Mark Gatiss, but we know who's going to get the credit in this partnership.
It's three episodes, hour and half each, and, as mentioned, has this in the modern day. John Watson is an ex-army medical soldier who saw action in Afghanistan, although the only real "updating" of Sherlock has been to make him into a texting fiend, and change his drug habits just a little.
The first story is amusingly called "A Study in Pink". I see what they did there. There are some familiar beats, with the ole 'scratched up' device indicating drunkenness. And when Sherlock asked the key question of "who", I immediately jumped to the correct conclusion, so it's a little disappointing when Sherlock didn't until it was forced in the audience's face. Also interesting they show some of how Sherlock does his induction, so the audience is, for some things, up there with him.
And Mark Gatiss also shows his mug. He tries for creepiness, but can't quite pull it off. And there's an interesting character moment when Watson (played by an immediately recognisable Martin Freeman) hits on Gatiss' assistant. He is a woman-player after all.
Definitely want to watch to the other two, but... just two? I already want more!
[END]
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
GasLand
Where can water catch fire? In GasLand. This is one scary movie, about the natural gas energy production in America. Unintentional film maker Josh Fox captures lots of personal stories about how people's lives have been ruined due to the process of natural gas extraction screwing up the local water supply. Leading to, amidst other problems, the ability to light water on fire.
Watching this, I have to ask: is there any industrial sector that isn't overwhelmed by corruption, greed, coverups and general all round ass-hatted-ness? Perhaps there's a story on forestry in New Zealand that needs exposing? Certainly, from this and other documentaries I've seen, I'm surprised America is still existing as a country...
And while Josh gets lots of personal stories, there is one aspect that's largely missing, that of the corporate response. Although it's very clear that this is due to none of the corporations wanting to be interviewed. The best we get is at the end of complete weaseling in hearings. There's an Act trying to get into place that will severely curtail this issue, but, of course, as that would hamper the amount of money that can be made, don't expect to see that get into law any time soon...
GasLand is a scary movie that will fire off alarms bells at how anything obvious could be so ignored for so long. Definitely see this.
[END]
Encountering Dark Sun
Since we didn't have enough players, we did something else last night. In our case, we got out the D&D Encounters Dark Sun characters and ran through a few scenarios. Two facts became evident:
Although I am no Dark Sun fanboy, what I experienced hasn't put me off it.
And I died. Both encounters. Man, that sucks.
The first game, we might have done better had we picked up on some subtle GM cues. Eh. Maybe next time. The second game, we won, although I didn't. (I rolled for the bad guys after I died, factor that in how you will.)
The pre-gens aren't in any way optimised either. Creating Dark Sun characters will bring about its own thread on min-maxing, but I haven't looked for them yet.
Still... I'm not against another Dark Sun game...
[END]
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
I've Been Watching...
And also perused The Twin Dilemma. Now, yes, I won't be listing this in my all time favourites, but this isn't that bad. This is yet another "story rewritten by Eric Saward", so not surprising it's a bit of a mess. That said, while I'm sure it's supposed to be character development, cut out most of "the Doctor and Peri in the TARDIS" scenes, and it would be improved dramatically.
And, since they spent time bitching about it, let's talk about the coat... Meh, I've seen worse. It is extremely distinctive, but I can't deny that a change of outfit to something more subdued wouldn't have gone amiss. Still, it says "eccentric" and "alien" which is what the Doctor is.
This DVD does mean the entire ouvre of the Sixth Doctor is around, although I haven't watched it all yet.
[END]
