Well apparently Auckland had the worst cyclone in years hit in a bomb type formation but have to say me in my little apartment didn't notice a thing apart from the usual rainy windy winter day. On Monday though when I saw reports of the damage realised it was pretty severe as several roads were flooded, loads of areas were without power and so on - I guess one good thing about being up high is flooding isn't usually an issue.
Due to the weather I had another weekend in doors.
Friday saw Samuel Flynn Scott live at the Whammy bar which was fun his lyrics are so off the wall. Not sure what to call his style as sometimes he sounds like the pogues others like cats stevens and others almost country. I guess if I had to choose a word reflective as all his sounds make you think of something else from your memories.
Then Saturday had a chick flicks day with my sister can you believe 5 in a row. Blonde Ambition, The Bucket List, The Golden Compass, 27 Dresses and Suburban Girl. Quite exhausting.
Sunday more movies - Respect yourself the story of Stax records - very interesting as had heard the motown story but not stax. Then Get Smart which I loved so funny I even snorted I was laughing so hard. Finally The romance of Astrea and Celadon - worst pic of my fest movies and by a french master no less really struggled not to walk out.
Oh and saw mamma mia - for a plunkett fundraiser and not expecting anything as I'm not the biggest abba fan but loved it almost felt like getting up and dancing and singing along alot like I do with grease and sound of music.
Needless to say once I have seen Dark night I might chill on the movie front as even for me this was a bit of an overload. Time to pick up the books again.
Monday 28 July 2008
Sunday 20 July 2008
Auckland International Film Festival
Anyone who knows me well knows that no matter how many I see or how old I get there is something still inherently magical to me about being told a story on the big screen. This year I am the poorest I have ever been but I still managed to save and spoil myself with 6 films at the festival. So below are the first few I have seen and my thoughts.
1. The Savages
Was a bit let down on this one as with Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman two actors I rather admire I thought it had to be good but I felt it tried too hard to be the typical quiet overcome tragic childhood drama didn't really move me.
2. Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S. Thompson. I have loved this man since my early twenties when I first read his book fear and loathing in las vegas. He had such a different way of looking at the world around him. He made me feel like I wasn't alone in my way of imagining oddities. Sadly though like so many of us who deeply hold the pain of the worlds wrongs on our shoulders he eventually couldn't take it and I believe gave up or gave in. Another loss to the world of the different and another win for the banal and mainstream. check out this website for the amazing illustrations of hunter www.ralphsteadman.com
"For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled."
3. Mongol - Indulging my fascination with history and trying to figure out the massive legacy of people before me that have shaped the world I now live in I went to this film about the life of Ghengis Khan. It was a fantastic movie and so beautiful to see the ever changing landscape but in the theme of the movies I have been watching of late shows that humans haven't learnt much in thousands of years as we are still fighting over love, land and power and it seems for every great leader for the good of humanity there are many more bad ones waiting in line to ruin their hard work.
"Do not scorn a weak cub,He may become a brutal tiger."
4. Patti Smith - this was the last for this weekend and yet not the least it had a profound effect on me I laughed – I cried and I came away deep in thought and feeling part of a larger consciousness of people saddened by the pain in the world and trying to do their part to change it. It reminded me why I always try not to ignore the forgotten people the people outside our walls. She spent ten years making this auto biography and it was just simply superb.
"When time, blissfully awry, spreads milky arms across the black expanse, to sleep, of what does time dream. And, thus unraveled, of where does time long.
In the wake of such delicious oblivion who presides over the edges of our sleep and the parting star and the hour under glass... "
So highly recommend all bar one of the films I saw. Just hope the remaining two are as inspiring.
1. The Savages
Was a bit let down on this one as with Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman two actors I rather admire I thought it had to be good but I felt it tried too hard to be the typical quiet overcome tragic childhood drama didn't really move me.
2. Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S. Thompson. I have loved this man since my early twenties when I first read his book fear and loathing in las vegas. He had such a different way of looking at the world around him. He made me feel like I wasn't alone in my way of imagining oddities. Sadly though like so many of us who deeply hold the pain of the worlds wrongs on our shoulders he eventually couldn't take it and I believe gave up or gave in. Another loss to the world of the different and another win for the banal and mainstream. check out this website for the amazing illustrations of hunter www.ralphsteadman.com
"For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled."
3. Mongol - Indulging my fascination with history and trying to figure out the massive legacy of people before me that have shaped the world I now live in I went to this film about the life of Ghengis Khan. It was a fantastic movie and so beautiful to see the ever changing landscape but in the theme of the movies I have been watching of late shows that humans haven't learnt much in thousands of years as we are still fighting over love, land and power and it seems for every great leader for the good of humanity there are many more bad ones waiting in line to ruin their hard work.
"Do not scorn a weak cub,He may become a brutal tiger."
4. Patti Smith - this was the last for this weekend and yet not the least it had a profound effect on me I laughed – I cried and I came away deep in thought and feeling part of a larger consciousness of people saddened by the pain in the world and trying to do their part to change it. It reminded me why I always try not to ignore the forgotten people the people outside our walls. She spent ten years making this auto biography and it was just simply superb.
"When time, blissfully awry, spreads milky arms across the black expanse, to sleep, of what does time dream. And, thus unraveled, of where does time long.
In the wake of such delicious oblivion who presides over the edges of our sleep and the parting star and the hour under glass... "
So highly recommend all bar one of the films I saw. Just hope the remaining two are as inspiring.
Party in Bombay
Well considering the price of petrol at the moment a party in Pukekohe the last stop south on your way out of Auckland was a long way to go but I am glad I made the journey as was able to have some very intereste=ing conversations with a man who has lived all around the world but spent 12 years in Israel an area I am becoming more interested in as I get older. I also got to dance like a teenager to all my favourite songs from when I was that age too like madonna and Cindi Lauper. So thanks Steve for turning 45 and inviting me to help you celebrate.
Friday 4 July 2008
Burns and Horns
Well last night I managed to burn all the fingers on my right hand at 250 after catching a falling oven door - freak accident I know. It took a massive 5 hours at A&E to get the heat out, I had never known what an amazing insulator skin was once the heat is in there it doesn't want to come out. Anyway the nurses did an amazing job and you can barely tell I was burned (I think the fact that I melted all the frozen things in my fridge and applied loads of lavender oil helped.
This morning after a crap night I was woken to a symphony of horns as all the trucks began their protest on petrol taxes conveniently all round my block - sometimes being in the heart of it is not so fun. Lets hope they were successful.
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