A little light relief

With thanks to @akasylvia


Address Is Approximate from The Theory on Vimeo.

"A lonely desk toy longs for escape from the dark confines of the office, so he takes a cross country road trip to the Pacific Coast in the only way he can – using a toy car and Google Maps Street View."

The original is here.

Favourite Films

What are your ten absolutely favourite films? I saw this meme over at Caroline Smaile's blog and I enjoyed reading about her choices and why she likes them. I'm not sure I can say I have ten favourites but there are some films I've watched and watched and others made a big impression on me.

Films I've watched more than once:

1. Avatar. I saw it twice and I'd have gone on seeing it every week if I could. I loved the eye-candy scenery and I felt swept away to another world. I think the 3D helped but for me it was just a wonderful film.

2. Robin Hood Men in Tights. When my sons were little we watched this so many times I lost count. It's fun and lighthearted and I enjoyed their enjoyment.

3. The Princess Bride. I liked the beginning more than the later parts but the humour was wonderful, especially the part where the hero is fighting left-handed and so is his opponent. I don't usually like sword-fighting scenes!

4. Saving Grace.  A woman saves her finances by growing weed. I love the scene in the village shop when the two shopkeepers have taken weed by mistake and are out of their minds on it. "She's a lovely, lovely woman, in a lovely, lovely house..."

5. Kinky Boots. The story of a shoe making company that turns to making transvestite shoes. I loved the discomfort of the guy who didn't like gays or transvestites when he was forced to face up to his prejudice. Plus it was funny.

6. Fifth Element. A bit sexist for my taste but I love the sci fi effects and Bruce Willis... well he's Bruce Willis. *fans myself*

7. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Pure escapism. Party on dudes!

Other films I enjoyed:

8. The King's Speech. Not one I'd normally choose but so well done and I loved the spiky relationship between the King and his therapist.

9. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I love Michael Caine when he's acting well as he was in this. Plus I loved the twists and turns.

10. Shrek. The first one was very funny. "Do you think he's compensating for something?"

I also enjoyed Monsters Inc, and The Incredibles. Do you notice a theme running through this?

I'd love to hear about your ten favourite films, either as a comment or a blog post!

Avatar again

My Beloved and I went to see Avatar again yesterday. We first saw it on Christmas Eve. It was even better this time round; I could pick up on bits of the story that foreshadowed what would happen later and I could be more relaxed about following the plot. I felt just as involved and my Beloved was surprised at how much I startled at the scary moments.

I was thinking about how this relates to books. A really good book will not only bear re-reading but will be enjoyable on a second read because I know what's coming. There are two distinct experiences of a book or a film: when you first come to the story with no expectations and and when you return to it with a knowledge of what happens. I like it when I can enjoy both.
 

Avatar

My Beloved and I celebrated Christmas Eve by going to see Avatar 3D.

It had the same effect on me as seeing the first Star Wars film when it came out: it took my breath away. I've not seen anything like it before.

The special effects are perfectly integrated with the real actors. The plot is only so-so in places and with a few real holes. I could see the ending coming from a long way off but that didn't seem to matter. What makes this film extraordinary is the beauty of the alien world and with the 3D effects you feel like you're there with them.

It's exciting and tender and sad.

A major theme is the transformation of the main character. It's also a love story but not just the love between a man and an alien: the man falls in love with the whole world. And so did I.

These pictures don't do it justice. You really must see it!

More About Endings

I was Stumbling around and came across a page on Endings - which is about endings in science fiction series. The author made a point about the emotion generated at the end of a series which I think also applies to any story: whether book, film or tv series.

Happy or sad is good. Disappointed, angry or indifferent is bad.

I must admit that I prefer happy to sad but the other feelings are in a different category. Anything that comes under the heading 'unsatisfied' can spoil the whole story for me.

Satisfying story endings that I have come across recently include Son of Rambow, which I saw last night. It was a very enjoyable film and the ending felt satisfying. If it hadn't, for me it would have spoilt the entire film.