The Lineup
A while back I had an entry listing my favourite movie/TV characters, and I mentioned then that I might make an entry similar, but with book characters instead. Not by popular demand, you understand, but just to make an interesting entry for an otherwise completely uninteresting week before I hit exam mode and by proxy mucho stress and ramblings.
The problem with book characters – as opposed to film ones – is that unless the book has been adapted (usually badly) or someone has made some rather amazing fanart to it, it’s hard to describe a character physically. And a lot of people – myself included, so not judging here – like to judge a character by their appearance as well as their qualities. So… I’ll attempt to describe them as I saw them as I read the books, using actors people either know or can easily look up, in hopes of enticing visually-stimulated readers to check out my list of amazing fictional characters.
Keep in mind that like the other entry, this is just a list of SOME OF THE CHARACTERS I like. By FAR not all of them. These are either the ones I always tell people about or the ones that came to mind first at this rather ungodly hour of the morning for most people. For me it’s still rather early, but I have an appointment with my linguistics tutor in a few hours to discuss the transitivity of verbs and the S structure of adverbials so… maybe sleep is a good idea at a decent hour.
ANYWAY before I go off on yet another tangent that will bore my readers to tears, here it be:
Including but not limited to novels, graphic novels and comic books
The Phouka
In My Mind: Tom Hiddleston-[with darker skin]-meets-Eames-in-an-alleyway
From: War for the Oaks
By: Emma Bull
This is probably one of the only characters on this list for whom finding a fanimage is damn near impossible. It’s beyond me why more people haven’t read this book, I adore it beyond words and recommend it to pretty much everyone I know. The Phouka is faerie, he’s a sprite, he’s a trickster, he’s a wonderful shapeshifting smartass who wins the heart of anyone and everyone who reads him on the page. Phouka is charismatic, he’s funny, he’s ridiculously sympathetic and he’s a character who makes me adopt his mannerisms and speech patterns every time I read the book (which is so often it’s potentially unhealthy). I’ve been meaning to write this book into a screenplay since I read it the first time, because I would love to see this made into a film. I’d only trust Tarsem Singh (The Fall, The Cell, Immortals) to helm it, but I would love to see it made.
Anyone who’s read the Hunger Games trilogy would assume that of all the characters to choose to represent the series on my list, Haymitch isn’t the first that comes to mind. But if I’m honest, the series astounded me with more than just its plot and absolutely stunning ideas, but with its minor characters. Arguably, Haymitch isn’t a minor character, but he’s not one of the first to come to mind when one asks for main characters. I love Haymitch because he’s real. He won the games 24 years ago, he’s been drinking himself slowly into the grave since, and hating life when every day he wakes up alive again after nightmares upon nightmares of the games he won and years and years of seeing young kids go to their death from their district. Haymitch takes no bullshit and gives none, his advice to Katniss and Peeta is “stay alive”. Nothing more nothing less. I can’t actually tell you why I love him so much, but he was battling Cinna and Finnick for this space so something about his humanity must’ve rung true. I’m well aware that the film has been cast, but I disagree with 98% of the casting so I cast him as I saw him in my mind.
This is technically an internet graphic novel, not a book, so finding images of Doc Worth are a lot easier than of any of the other characters so far. There are tons of fan communities for Hanna, and I have to agree with the casting by the majority of the fans… Paul Bettany would work the shit out of this character and have a ball doing it. I’ll actually use Tessa’s description of Doc to make it easier and more entertaining. Disclaiming right this very instant that the following passage is NOT MINE. “Doc Worth did the whole fancy going to medical school thing for a while, until he realized that dressing nicely and remembering a bunch of ‘useless crap’ wasn’t really his style. So he dropped out, fell out of touch with his family and started a practice in a dark alley somewhere while simultaneously deciding that all of his coats needed to have a line of fur on it for absolutely no reason except maybe that it made him look sorta dingier and skeezier.”
I read this book yonks ago and it’s another of my all time favourites to reread and recommend to people. Especially if they like reading, considering the plot. Guy is an interesting character for me because he’s easy to relate to. Yes, he goes through the typical hero growth-arc; first he follows along with orders, then starts to think for himself, then starts to understand the pull towards breaking the law and why he did it previously… it’s hard to explain. Something about Guy makes you like him and, for a while at least, pity him. I know that this has been adapted before, but if I’m honest I am too scared to watch it in case it ruins my beautiful imagery that I’ve built up in my mind for such a long time… I’d like to see Cillian act him, he’d work very well.
In My Mind: John Malkovich
From: Prisoners of Power (Inhabited Island)
By: Arkadi and Boris Strugatsky
I am positive that besides Q no one else will know this book. It was thanks to Q that I found it and read it, actually, so thank you. It’s difficult to describe the Strugatsky brothers’ work… this is the first book of a trilogy, but you can read all books standalone; it’s a melding of science fiction and dark satire of society; it’s actually not my favourite book in the trilogy but I happen to like Strannik in it the most. Also he loses his “title” in book 2 (Beetle on the Anthill). Strannik is a difficult character to explain because he is so shadowy and UNexplained. For most of the book you have no idea who he is, he’s probably considered a minor character even though he’s the key to the entire book in the end. He’s not a villain, he’s not a hero, he’s both. It’s damn near impossible to relate to him but he is so fascinating that I doubt it’s possible to outright hate him.
This is one of the few books which I loved just as much as the film adaptation, and it’s probably the only book where I will cast the character as he was cast in the film adaptation. Why? Because I saw the movie first. But believe me when I say that it is so beautifully and perfectly cast that I wouldn’t be able to recast the Narrator if I tried. The Narrator is never named in the book. It’s written in first person and whenever someone refers to him it’s either with use of a pronoun or as “Jack” which isn’t his name but rather a name taken from an article the Narrator reads in both the book and film that he adopts to describe himself. The Narrator is – scarily, for those who’ve read the book/seen the film – probably the only character I can relate to to the point of frightful accuracy. Insomnia has never been described so well. The Narrator comes close to being an “everyman” (to quote another book which I don’t plan to review/talk about on here) but in the most twisted and convoluted way… I won’t spoil the ending here.
In My Mind: Lee Pace and Michael Fassbender
From: Good Omens
By: Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Yes, yes, cheating post, I know, sue me. But if you’ve read the book you know that you can’t have Aziraphale without Crowley and vise versa. For those freaking out over slash, no, not in that way, though I know most of the female fandom of Good Omens sees them this way all the time. I don’t. I just love them as unlikely best friends and allies, being an angel and a demon as they are. These have to be two of the most beautifully crafted characters I’ve read in a long time; they’re fleshed out, they have enough history to fill books (and do, if you’re religious with a sense of humor) and they are FUN to read. Easy to relate to? Not unless you gave away your flaming sword to Adam and Eve as they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden or threaten your plants into growing. Highly entertaining duo nonetheless.
I know this was made into a film also and there are no words for just how much I HATED and despised that adaptation and its casting. Holy mother of Christ. If you even think about watching the film before reading the book you may potentially be dead to me forever after. Just saying. Urgh. Henry is one of the most stunning, powerful and complicated characters I’ve ever read. I haven’t been able to make it through the book a second time because I know that I’ll cry from about the midway mark again and I’m not sure I’m stable enough to handle that much pain at the moment. It’s the author’s skill that made Henry’s non-existent disease not only believable but believable to a point that you forget that it doesn’t exist. The way Henry handles Chrono-displacement, the way he explains it to others, how he goes about SURVIVING with such a thing… there are just no words for how amazing he is.
My God, can this be? A FEMALE character on the list? That’s right, there are few female characters I like in books and Wanderer makes the cut. If Haymitch hadn’t've made the list earlier, Katniss would have been first in the female line, but alas. I say this every time I recommend this book to people – which, like the rest on this list, is often – DO NOT JUDGE THE BOOK BY ITS AUTHOR. That sounds ridiculous but it’s true. Forget that Meyer ever wrote that shit called Twilight. This is a brilliant book, don’t let your Twihate cloud that. I did for far too long and I regret not reading it earlier. Wanderer is interesting in a number of ways, first and foremost in that she spends most of the book as not only herself but Melanie also. Wanderer is a soul. Technically she has no body unless she possesses one, but this is about CHARACTERS… as a character she’s incredible. She’s lived so many lives, on so many planets, and seen so many things that she didn’t understand before coming to earth and taking over this powerful, desperate human who teaches her things that her poor soul essence had never encountered. For those who know the book… yes, I cast her as her final vessel. I always cast Melanie as Sophia Bush.
Like Fight Club, I agree with the casting on this, so it’s staying. I read this book when I was quite young and reread it recently and I adore it. Q said she saw a stunning theatre performance of this and has been unable to forget it since, and I can only imagine how beautiful that must have been. Dorian is interesting to me because he grows so much as a character and because of just how LONG it takes him to do so. He’s arrogant, young, foolish and nothing he does will kill him. To a point, it’s easy to understand what he did and why, and even – for a time, at least – for length of time he did it for, but at the same time it doesn’t take long into the book before the reader is feeling uneasy with all the things Dorian does, takes for granted, and forgets. I love it because it’s a logical and frightening take on beauty, sexuality, irony and immortality, and it’s presented through a beautiful, young face.
Sweet. God. That took a while. I’ve been at this for about 3 hours now and I swear there will still be more typos in here than I’d rather see. Ah well, makes it genuinely and legitimately mine then. Like I said before, this is barely grazing the list of characters and books I love, but I can’t go over 10 before I hit a ridiculously huge word count and start to nit-pick to the point of nauseating boredom. The last few characters on any list are the ones you fight for and chew over for a long time. I’ve missed tons of characters I love, but that’s due to list restrictions.
If you made a list who would you include? If you know/like any of the characters I’ve listed… do you agree with my casting? Yes, I’m desperately trying to get my followers to talk to me again on here. One can hope right?
In Other News…
I’ve signed up for NaNoWriMo and you can find me right here if you’re keen to follow updates and get excerpts. Wish me luck!
My story with Jack is now at 377,465 words and we’re still going strong. Yes, it’s an obsession, yes, it’s ridiculously long, no, I’m not making the word count up, no, I have no idea if and when this will ever end, yes, I will keep updating the word count, no, you don’t have to care.
RAOC had a documentary made about it by a student from South Seas Film and TV School. That’s right, the same South Seas that I went to in 2009 and graduated from. The director was lovely and I can’t wait to see the finished product. Keep you posted on both here and the RAOC website so check in on the link once in a while.
I have no new reviews in The Midnight Screening this week. However I am going to watch a movie with Q tomorrow night that I’ve been waiting for a very long time so chances are I’ll review it upon my return.
“1000+1 Books” has a few more books. I add to it when I feel like it, since this isn’t a review page, but it’s always a good place to go if you can’t think of your next book to read. For much better (and very informative) reviews, check out Collecting a Library, she never lets me down.
Incidentally, don’t forget to check out the new entries from Jack (who has promised an entry, finally) and Lochinvar too. Show em the support and love they deserve, guys, these blogs are amazing.
This week’s songs are :
-+- Till I Collapse – Eminem
-+- Everything to Lose – Dido
-+- Sing It Out – Switchfoot
Stay classy guys, till the day after next Castiel day… (correction as requested by Mack)
Bandit, OUT.
May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor
This week has been interesting. My sleeping pattern has been screwed over beyond belief, Holmes flew over from Aussie for a fortnight and we have some wonderful things planned (for more info see “In Other News” this week), I got back 4/5 of the results I was awaiting and although I’m still (according to some) irrationally annoyed with one grade the others I’m quite happy with. Not bad going for someone who spent the last week of the previous term skirting the edge of a mental breakdown and following the sleeping patterns of the Narrator.
Over the last week I’ve also been getting many blog post ideas from Master Four while the man procrastinated from studying a subject I doubt he’s even interested in. And now I’m spoiled for choice when it comes to writing one this week! And I’m even starting early, knowing that by the time my brain becomes semi-conscious and my eyes blink all the metaphorical sand out of themselves and I return home after a coffee with a friend I might no longer be tempted to write or have a spare moment to.
The title this week comes from The Hunger Games but the book – or upcoming film adaptation – won’t feature in this blog. More it’s an allusion to what I plan to write about. One of the suggestions I got was to have a countdown or general listing of sorts, of either best characters or TV series or ships. Now, I know for a fact that a few readers don’t care much for shipping – even though they ship without even realizing it – be it het and canon or slash and fanfic, so I’ll leave that one sailing this week. That leaves characters or TV series. And tempted as all hell as I am to pimp out my favourite TV series on here, I might go with characters this week.
I’m going to limit the pool from which I pick to only films or series this time, might do a book one if this proves interesting to more than one person or if it’s requested. I’ll also do my utmost to avoid book-to-film adaptation characters here unless I’m completely unaware that a film was based on a book. But in the meantime…
In no particular order of indiscretion committed
—~+~—
Lenny Drake
From: The Escapist
Played by: Joseph Fiennes
Lenny is a thief serving time (7 years if I recall correctly) for a murder he and a partner committed while stealing something. His partner gets released before he does and he, for perfectly understandable reasons, is less than pleased about this. And that’s about as much as we know about him going into the film. There are few words to describe just how much I adore this character. The guy is rumoured to “walk through walls” and while the exaggeration is obvious, it’s also, in a roundabout way, quite justified. Anyone who can make a saw that cuts through metal in a jail out of pieces of bed, plaster and a diamond imbedded in a guy’s tooth is pretty much my hero. The fact that he’s played by Fiennes and that he says very little beyond finding out specific details and glaring at everyone is just a bonus, really.
Priestly is just your average guy in his early twenties, with crazy coloured hair and more fake holes in his head than real ones, who works in a funky little sandwich store with a bunch of girls. That… is pretty much all you can say about Priestly really. He’s full of infinite wisdom for everyone about anything and is – in my opinion – one of the most romantic characters I’ve seen on film for a while. Besides the fact that Jensen played him, the character is actually pretty fleshed out for someone who is, in essence, a stereotype of all things non-conformist. I love him, anyway.
From: Veronica Mars
Played by: Kristen Bell
Tempted as I was to have this entire list consist of guys, I can’t deny that there are a few female characters that kick so much ass that they deserve a mention. Veronica is one of them. I actually didn’t get into this show for a long time because the idea of a series based on a high school girl solving crimes with her PI dad just sounded, well, dumb. I can honestly eat my words with that one, it’s an incredibly clever show and well acted. Veronica made the list not only because of her brains, but because, as much as I am wont to say it, she’s easy to relate to. At least, for me as a girl, maybe guys like her for her Kristen Bell exterior, I’m not sure.
Like I say in all my reviews and recommendations of this movie to others: do not be put off by Jesse McCartney heading this thing if you’re not a fan of his. I’m not, never have been, but that doesn’t stop me thinking that this is one of those Oscar-worthy performances that never got the attention it deserved. Keith is a smartass. For a while his entire way of carrying himself makes no sense; he just appears to be a kid who likes to play with words and infuriate people by being clever and annoying as hell. It’s a cliche to say there’s more to him than that, but it’s true. And what that particular thing is, is not something I plan to spoil on here.
From: The Guard
Played by: Mark Strong
A brilliant example of a minor character stealing every scene he’s in. From memory, he doesn’t have more than a handful of lines in the entire movie, but from all the characters (sometimes including even the mains) he’s the most memorable for me. Maybe I just have a thing for sarcastic smart smooth-talking hitmen. Besides the script for the film being Oscar-level hilarious, Clive’s character isn’t fleshed out at all; everything you know about him you gather as the film goes on. Because of this, his paragraph isn’t quite as detailed as the others, but believe me when I say he’s one of my favourite characters ever.
From: Sin City
Played by: Jessica Alba
A few people might debate my choice of Nancy for this list, but I can justify myself. First off, she’s not from a book, she’s from a graphic novel. Radical difference. Next, of all the women in that particular graphic novel, she and Gail and Miho are the only girls who kick ass without even trying. Sure, the Old Town girls are fierce, but none of them are 19 and self sufficient from age 15 due to a huge legal and political misunderstanding. Nancy was saved from rape and a painful death by John Hartigan when she was 9, and not allowed to testify on his behalf when he was wrongfully accused and jailed. Since then she’d been in love with him and doing everything in her power to make sure she grew up strong for when he was released and she could see him again. Call me an oddity, but I adore their story, and I love how Nancy drives a shitty car only she can keep running and has a revolver that she keeps under the seat… I just love her and since this is my list she’s staying on it.
From: A Life Less Ordinary
Played by: Ewan McGregor
Ok Robert makes this list for one reason and one reason only: “Right you asshole, I’ve got your daughter here, and I’m gonna send her back in pieces if… OH! I’m sorry, madam. No, I haven’t got your daughter here, I’ve got someone else’s. No, we’re not married. Yes, I’ve read the same thing, it’s very hard to find suitable young men these days. Well, I’m sure your daughter’s very nice, in principle I’ve got no objection to meeting her…” This film isn’t one that a lot of people like, in fact most people think it’s stupid and refuse to watch it twice which is a shame. Robert Lewis is, in a nutshell, the worst kidnapper ever to kidnap. Maybe it’s McGregor’s acting that got me, or the script, I don’t even know anymore… but when making a list of favourite characters that aren’t from book adaptations, Robert Lewis has to make the cut.
From: Indiana Jones
Played by: Harrison Ford
This is probably the most recognizable face in film history and besides Sherlock Holmes (who can’t make the list due to his literary roots) was my hero as a kid. I think it was because of him that I wanted to be an archaeologist, not realizing that I would actually have to study for years and do a lot more boring paperwork and readings than I would shooting bad guys and flailing my whip around. Indy is childhood for me; he’s the ultimate badass. A professor who jumps out the window of his office when fangirls block his doorway, who was named after the dog and has the most annoying and coolest father ever. Ah, Indy… love of my life for so many years…
I am so proud of myself for holding out long enough on this list before Eames came up… it’s not exactly world’s best kept secret that I am not only head over heels in love with this man but also quite similar to him when the mood presents itself. Now that the hype has worn off, most people don’t remember the movie. Fair call. If it ever hits cult status it will take time, but it doesn’t stop me loving it. Another example, like Clive Cornell above, of a minor character – in this case more minor than the main three but still quite important – taking the spotlight away from the leading man. For me, at least, Eames was the most fascinating character with the most difficult and fascinating job. Also, he pretty much singlehandedly made up the process by which the inception had to be done so he should get a lot more kudos for that than he currently does.
I’m not sure which film, if any, will beat out The Fall for me for my favourite film of all time. There are just no words to describe how brilliant this movie is, and how much I loved Lee Pace in it. Roy is one of the most powerful performances I’ve seen on screen, and even though he’s the last character I plan to post about today he is by far not the only I wish I could mention. Roy is a stunt man lying in a Los Angeles hospital paralyzed from the hips down after a stunt went wrong. He’s upset, he’s in pain and he’s young. Every emotion portrayed by him in reality, as well as all that are projected on to the Bandit in his story, is so humanly genuine it’s painful to watch. He’s a completely unforgettable character; he owns my heart, my soul and I am honored to take his name on this blog weekly.
Sadly, as I just said, I have to stop at 10. There are so many more I want to write about, but I’ve already doubled my word count for the week and fear if I push for 15 I’ll find an excuse to push for 20 and so forth. Might keep this idea around for once-a-month entries when I run out of ideas for anything else. Besides, I still have book ones to do!
In Other News…
My collab with Jack now sits pretty at 249,480 words and counting as we speak (early morning writing sessions, bliss), kids are going to school next door and I’m cackling at them since I don’t have Russian today and can come in later for coffee with a friend and NOTHING ELSE. Love Fridays.
Holmes and I are taking a roadtrip this weekend up north and a little east to the Coromandel Peninsula to see an old car show. Here’s hoping the weather parts for us, it’s been pouring with rain here pretty regularly and we need it to stop. Or, put it this way, we would prefer if it did. We can work with anything, though, we’re just that awesome.
RAOC has some amazing things upcoming, so watch this space and the website for details on that as it happens!!~
I have no new reviews in The Midnight Screening this week. I really need to get my ass into gear with this again…
“1000+1 Books” has a few more books. I add to it when I feel like it, since this isn’t a review page, but it’s always a good place to go if you can’t think of your next book to read. For much better (and very informative) reviews, check out Collecting a Library, she never lets me down.
Incidentally, don’t forget to check out the new entries from Jack (who has promised an entry, finally) and Lochinvar too. Show em the support and love they deserve, guys, these blogs are amazing.
This week’s songs are :
-+- Super Psycho Love – Simon Curtis
-+- Set Fire to the Rain – Adele
-+- Lose Yourself – Eminem
Stay classy guys, till next Castiel day…
Bandit, OUT.
Just Don’t Tell The Bride…
For those who don’t know, Living Channel has a show called Don’t Tell The Bride. This highly amusing reality show gives a young couple £12000 for their wedding. Only catch? The groom must plan, arrange and organize the whole thing. This includes not only the venue and food, but also the bride’s dress and her hen’s night. Pretty much a recipe for disaster, right?
Absolutely.
Now, the reason I’m bringing this up and basing an entry around it is because I get great enjoyment out of watching the bride flail about every week. Don’t get me wrong, half the time I want to shoot the groom for being a complete bonehead but it’s the bride that provides my entertainment. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been a particularly feminine girl, maybe it’s because I haven’t been running around with a pillowcase on my head since I was 5 and planning my wedding, but watching the brides on this show cry buckets over the fact that their fiancé didn’t order then a spa treatment makes my freaking week.
It got me thinking, though, that if I was ever put in the position to have my wedding paid for if the only catch was that my partner had to organize it, then there would most likely be certain things that really pissed me off if he got wrong too.
First and foremost would be the dress.
I. Hate. Dresses. The fact that society expects a girl to not only GET married in a white gown but also enjoy the process somewhat sickens me. A good friend of mine told me that she and all her closest friends got married in “non-traditional” dresses, or even in formal pant-suits. Why can’t I have that? I would gladly walk down the aisle to my partner in a beautiful emerald green gown, or a deep chocolate brown dress, or even in a formal pant-suit with a pretty top underneath. But if I were to have the wedding paid for by the show, I would have to accept the fact that I would be married in white.
Put it this way, I know I’m not a stick or a coat hanger, I know I have curves, but if my husband-to-be chooses a froofy marshmallow dress that makes me look like the wrong end of a Disney Princess then I won’t marry him. Show be damned, I am not walking down the aisle in a fairytale gown, I’ll gag. Although if I’m engaged to the guy for a while, he should know that I hate dresses like that. We’ll make exceptions if his family is traditionalist and wants me to look more appetizing than the cake at the reception. I’m not marrying them. If I love the guy enough I can just grin and bear it, but he will certainly get a piece of my mind after and never live it down.
Next would be my hen’s night.
To be perfectly frank, the idea of most hen’s nights scare the shit out of me. Male strippers? Walking around the city in a stupid outfit doing ridiculous tasks? Drinking myself to oblivion in a series of barhops? Dear God, someone wake me up! Another good friend of mine had what I personally think is the most stunning hen’s party ever. She and her friends went horse riding and enjoyed their time together. Is that much to ask for? Really? What is wrong with having a low-key party with people you love and cherish? What is the point of penis-shaped balloons and trying out kinky sex toys for the whole night? In my opinion that’s a bad porno, not fun in the slightest.
Since I’m not religious, I wouldn’t be too fussed about where or how we got married. Civil union? Ok, sweet. Married in a church? I can dig it. Under a canopy? Bring it on. I would, of course, like the venue to be beautiful. If I were honest, I would love to be married in a castle and drive away on a motorcycle into the sunset, but as long as it’s not a rundown pub filled with passed-out drunks and homeless people I can roll with pretty much anything.
I can almost hear a few of my readers gasp and whine at me about how I’m not a real woman if I don’t wanna get married in a white gown in a church with little flower girls and pink bridesmaids. Tough, believe it. I don’t want flower girls, children annoy me and if I have flower girls it implies that I have a large enough congregation to warrant them. Yeuck. And pink brides maids? I pity my friends more than anything! If I’m ever a bridesmaid I am campaigning for optional suits.
In conclusion, I don’t think I would freak out as much as the brides on TV did. I don’t give a flying toss if my partner didn’t buy me a spa treatment or get me an appointment in the most prestigious nail salon on the planet. I won’t cry till I can’t breathe if he didn’t think to call a seamstress for my dress fitting. I don’t know why they DO freak out so much. It’s just one day, honestly. Sure, it’s an important day, and one you want to cherish, but isn’t being with the man/woman you love more important than a silly gown or hairstyle? If it’s not then… why are you getting married?
I suddenly have the most ridiculous urge to watch 27 Dresses again.
In Other News…
I got the story I wanted for the J2 Big_Bang!! I have an amazing author and a thoroughly disturbing and mindblowing story. I can’t wait to make art for it once I have the time! Just a warning, though, for those not aware the J2 Big_Bang is mostly a slash-pairing community. If this isn’t your cup of tea, then by all means, don’t read it. I won’t post anything about the story itself on here. Once the art is done I will post it as a separate page at the top of this website and you can feel free to browse (or not) at your own leisure.
Assignments are sticking to me like bees to a tire tread. I have 2 major assignments for sociology and psychology due on Monday next, as well as a linguistics assignment worth 25% of my grade on the 27th. I’m ignoring – because I can afford to – the Russian tests, both oral and written, because on top of everything else I have exams in 3 weeks. Life is going swell, truly. Despite the obvious annoyances, I still love and grin just thinking about uni.
The clip for The Host that I’ve been planning for months and MONTHS and have been labouring over for a few weeks has finally been finished!! I am insanely proud of the result and would love your opinions on it. Let me know what you think on here or on the video on my Youtube page.
I have no new reviews in The Midnight Screening this week. If you can’t tell, I’m somewhat tied up right now. Still in a full-on Western frenzy, though, so expect reviews of The Dollars Trilogy (and many more) eventually.
“1000+1 Books” has a few more books. I add to it when I feel like it, since this isn’t a review page, but it’s always a good place to go if you can’t think of your next book to read. For much better (and very informative) reviews, check out Collecting a Library, she never lets me down.
Incidentally, don’t forget to check out the new entries from Jack and Lochinvar too. Show em the support and love they deserve, guys, these blogs are amazing.
The Hope to Haiti project run by therandomact.org is still in full swing. We need all the support and love we can get, it’s a wonderful cause. Please visit us on the site, or check out this blog post for details on how you can help!
I’m still OBSESSED with VAST (Visual Audio Sensory Theatre), so this week’s songs are:
-+- “Dead Angels” – VAST
-+- “Kryptonite” – 3 Doors Down
-+- “Ease My Pain” – Declan Flynn
Stay classy guys, till next Castiel day…
Bandit, OUT.
With Sirens and Violins
It’s a comfort to know that in just under 4 months’ time I will have a somewhat regular schedule. I miss having that. Lately I’ve been riding cosine waves of busyness. I had work for 4 weeks straight, at two different places, as overnight shifts. Some ending earlier than others, but both promising my return home to be in the wee hours of the morning. My body got used to this. During this time I was accepted into Auckland University for my double major and my adrenaline glands went into overdrive at 3am when I got my acceptance email.
This week I have been back and forth between town and home, sorting out my classes and getting more confused than strictly necessary (one person in particular can vouch for this as I think I’m driving him crazy online right this very second with truly idiotic questions) with semesters and classes and labs and tutorials. By Wednesday, I had done everything in my power concerning uni, and now I have nothing to do again.
When my body hits a lag in the cosine graph, it does one of two things: it either goes into overdrive and releases as much adrenaline as it had to release on the days that I needed it, or it goes and gets sick. Since the transition from “very busy” to “I can sleep in again” was very abrupt, my body decided that it would employ both coping mechanisms at once. So now I’m sitting on my bed, literally vibrating with unspent energy, while I have a sore throat and a runny nose and the beginnings of a temperature. Neither things are helped by the fact that I just received my limited edition Inception vinyl and that I am running around the house in only Superman undies and a Levi’s teeshirt screaming at the top of my lungs about how excited by this I am.
So now I have the promise of excitement in February, and a slight chance of work until then. And I assure you, that by the time my cosine graph picks up again, my body will react badly to the change and this whole debacle will start up again. Yes, it is true and no denying, I cannot wait until I have a regular schedule.
In other news, for those who doubted that I would ever do it, I am still going to shave my head for charity this December. I would love it if you guys could support me, either financially or morally. You can check out my progress here, and if you want to donate but can’t do it online, then I can put it through as an offline donation. Everybody wins (especially the people who have the added joy of seeing me walk around bald in my first few months of uni)! Yaay!
I actually can’t believe how fast this year has gone. When I graduated last year, I had a job and dreams of being famous (as famous as an editor can get). I have worked for a year, honestly, and I’ve decided that it’s not for me. Yes, I will continue to work as a digitizer taking on small editing jobs when they arise while I study, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get further into the industry than where I am. Not because I’m not able, I don’t think, but because I don’t want to. It’s a scary feeling when the career you thought was perfect for you turns out to be not so perfect. I seriously thought I had my life planned out in January, and now I’m back to square one.
What scares me the most, though, is the possibility that after three years of study at uni, I won’t know what to do with my life then either. And I’m not well off enough to be able to afford (both financially and mentally) to study whatever I like whenever I like for as long as I like. I was telling a friend yesterday that I think I’m too far into the system to escape it. When I graduated the IB, I took a gap half-year and although I worked full time at Borders for that entire period, I was out of my mind with boredom. When I graduated South Seas and took this year as a gap to work and gain industry experience, I was (and still am) clawing at the walls. And although I complain and whine and pretty much hate my life when I’m studying, I hate it so much more when I’m not.
But that is thought for another entry, methinks.
–
The Midnight Screening has some new reviews on it and will continue to be updated as I devour films like most people devour caffeine. Again, I do take requests and I will watch requests.
Collecting a Library has a new review up. She posts semi-regularly too, so if you’re in need of a good book to read get on over there and scroll through the reviews and check out her rec lists.
The Very Literal Contest is now closed!! While we’re judging though, you can take a look at the totally awesome entries right here!!
Watched Supernatural with Anna on Skype on Saturday! (I swear this was the best episode all season to date) Planned the same meet for the rest of the season; if anyone’s keen to join give me a yell. This week’s episode is making me so excited…
Mood:
Content.
Jubilant.
Restless.
Movie: Treasure Planet
Show: Supernatural
Music: Inception soundtrack (while I have nothing to play my new vinyl on, I will listen to the soundtrack on my iPod in honor of receiving it)
Book: Thinking about starting The Hunger Games since I have it as a PDF; but until then I am reading select sections from Roadside Picnic
Yeah is under “Y”
I’ve fallen into a rather unhealthy sleeping pattern of late. I tend to stay up for close to 30 hours, then nap for half an hour, then stay up a few hours more, then nap for two. This gets me energized enough to pull another 30-hour day and so it goes on.
Funnily enough I’m not actually tired after my second, two-hour nap, so the next 30 hours after are easy to bear till the half-hour knockout. Somehow I think this will add up though and eventually the 30 hours will turn to days and I might find myself meandering in and out of reality while I calculate exactly how many days its been since I last slept.
Maybe I’ll meet Tyler at LAX.
Anyway this entry isn’t about me complaining about my sleeping patterns (since I don’t actually complain about them, other people do). It’s not about much actually, and not for lack of things to say. I have a lot going on in my life right now but I would like to save it for later, when it’ll make for a more entertaining and complete entry.
Now, I won’t lie. Even though I am doing things with my life, I am studying and I am trying to get work again and I am slowly but surely making something very amazing come to pass (more in this later, perchance it two weeks? ;)) I actually have no inspiration for this week’s entry so I took a very quick and somewhat generic request to do a movie review. Since the latest film that I watched was Brick, I shall review that while it’s fresh in my mind.
Be nice, this is my first film review ever. Ever.
I remember I was at Auckland International College when this movie first came out in Academy cinemas under the library, and I remember that without knowing anything about the film I as intrigued by the poster. I can’t find the exact one I saw in English now, but the general gist was this:
Within the month that it played (maybe less, I didn’t follow films closely then) a few of my friends saw it and told me that it was a film I couldn’t miss. So, I did the only thing that I could once the film had played out in theaters: I got my friend to download it for me.
Now, I have a strange taste in films. I flit like a butterfly on acid between mainstream and underground indie. And I knew form the moment that this film started that it would not be a film that my entire friend list would enjoy.
Forgetting for a moment that it has violence, bad language and rather in-your-face drug references, it also has dialogue that is delivered so quickly that sometimes I had to rewind and watch it again to get it. The cutting style is choppy and definitely not for certain people and the soundtrack isn’t continuous, unlike many films nowadays (and, well, at the time as well). No wonder this film did so well at Sundance. And no wonder I loved it.
First up, the story. The general idea, without giving much away, is that a girl is killed in strange circumstances, and her ex boyfriend makes it his goal to find out who put her into the situation and who killed her. From that general overview alone I wasn’t keen to see the film. Right there you already have the tearful moping of teenage heartbreak, the youth drug cartel and soppy get-togethers with the “other girl” at the end of the movie.
The good news is that there was very little moping. Most of the screen time the main character, Brendan (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), spent solving the mystery of his ex girlfriend’s death in the most amazingly complex way possible, yet it never became over the top. Everything that wasn’t explained was implied: past connections to many groups, certain people he had known, people he had worked with and his own previous history in the drug dealing world before he got out of it. He is the ultimate loner with all the right connections. There was teenage heartbreak, but it wasn’t overdone either. Brendan loved Emily. And he loved her so deeply that he was willing to go anywhere and to any lengths to solve her murder. The love was felt, it was pure and it was beautiful.
The youth drug cartel is pretty much the setting of this entire story. Yet you don’t have desperate junkies running around willing to sell life and soul for a hit. You have a carefully organized hierarchy (where it is actually very hard to get an audience with the main Kingpin, as it were; it’s not a bloody cakewalk like in some films) and a well-oiled machine of underlings and small-time dealers. The drugs are the focus of the film while at the same time not. The story revolves around a “bad brick” of drugs, yet you never see anyone use. It’s good in the way that it’s the backbone of the story and feels no need to suddenly become the skin.
Now, about the soppy get-togethers. There is “another girl”, she is more than a little interested, but there is not tearful get together at the end. He doesn’t love her, he barely sees her, and the movie doesn’t cheapen itself by trying for a happy ending. There isn’t one. A tragedy happens, a murder is solved and life goes on. Sundance, remember? Not Hollywood.
To back up the strong plot you have stunning acting and brilliant dialogue. The main cast are perfect for their roles. JGL plays Brendan Fry beautifully as a sarcastic, quiet loner who just wants justice for the woman he never stopped loving. He’s quick. The rules of the drug ring are as close and normal to him as the rules of schoolyard hierarchy, and although he never shows his emotions he is in agony over what happened. Nora Zehetner does a wonderful job as Laura, who is high enough in the drug ring to almost call herself the Pin’s right-hand man if she so chose, and who loves Brendan desperately but not pathetically. She’s a user, she’s a player and she is mean. But she plays everything so well that you don’t notice until the very end just how far her claws did reach. Lukas Haas is brilliant as The Pin, who isn’t as heartless and money-hungry as everyone thinks he is and Matt O’Leary probably takes second place only to Brendan in this movie as the best character. Brain is the ultimate sidekick and yet he is his own person. He has worked with Brendan before (it is implied that he was with him around Brendan’s own drug dealing career) and does so out of friendship and loyalty, not fear or want of attention.
The dialogue is gold. No other word for it. It is one of the most quotable movies I have seen and I adore it beyond belief. I could go into details and bring about my favourite examples (one of which is the title of this blog) but I’ll let you take a look for yourself this time.
All-in-all this film is in my top ten. And yes, for those who don’t know me that well that is a very exclusive place for a movie to be. I give it an 8/10 overall and watch it semi-frequently. I highly recommend it to people who love smart dialogue and good acting. The film is cut exquisitely and perfectly to fit the feel. No more, no less.
—
The Very Literal Contest is still in full swing, and will be in full swing till October 31st. So if you’re a vidder, or would like to try your hand at it, then go for it!! We already have over 15 entries, and if you want to have a look at some of them then click right here and go to it!
Watched Supernatural with Anna on Skype on Saturday! Planned the same meet for the rest of the season; if anyone’s keen to join give me a yell.
Mood:
Meh.
Calm.
Sleepy.
Movie: Brick (funny that…)
Show: Burn Notice
Music: Marchin’ On – OneRepublic
Book: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis de Bernieres; Crush – Richard Siken (yep, still. I reread his anthology pretty much daily)
Gun and a Pack of Sandwiches… And Nothing
This is the first week when I can honestly say that I have nothing to write about. This week, nothing has happened. Nothing. At all. I have literally spent the week at home looking for a job and trying to get programs on my computer to work properly.
That’s it.
Holy damn my life is boring.
Also, I just wrote a 400-word post after that last statement, reread it and found it to be so dull and pretentious that I deleted it.
I might update later today if I come up with ANYTHING to say, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up.
. . .
…Ok, I’ve had enough… I can’t have three dull entries in a row it’s making me mental. I will write about anything and everything until I make my wordcount no matter how dull or boring it may seem to me. Apparently people find that stuff interesting (not that I judge them, I find it awesome too, just always makes me feel like Cobb in Following*) Also, anything with a symbol next to it is a reference. To prove to myself, mostly, that I’m not completely incapable. All refs linked at the bottom of the post.
I was reading an article today that compared old school film critics to bloggers which I found incredibly fascinating. There was nothing in there about me personally — firstly because I’m not exactly typical blogger, and second because I have yet to review anything on here… maybe I should start?, and third because I’m not famous or infamous enough to be talked about in an article in Film Comment — but the generalizations that were made about my generation and film hit home every so often.
One of them was that my generation don’t read. Anything. At all. And spend all our time counting the seconds between one action sequence and the next. I can only speak for myself here, but that is rather crap. Sure, I’m in a rut at the moment and can’t get through anything longer than a magazine article or a very short novella, but that doesn’t mean that I’m always like that! People who know me know that I go pretty insane if I haven’t read for a while. It’s pretty much an Ugly Swans*1 situation, only thankfully I don’t actually starve from lack of literature. It actually really infuriates me that just because I am young, and because I like shows or books or films that may not interest people of the generation above mine, that I am instantly thought of as “one of those teenagers”.
By those I mean those who do spend their time only watching daft comedies and counting the seconds between explosions in action movies. And trust me, I’m not making myself out to be a saint here, I watch my fair share of dumb comedies, and I do love my action movies, but at the same time I know who Andrei Tarkovsky*2 is. And I know the difference between Star Wars and Solaris. And that when I mention Solaris, I am not referring to the utterly crap USA remake of the amazing Russian film based on Stanislaw Lem’s novel.
See? I know stuff! Granted, I am well versed in films made from 1990 onwards (ironically I know Russian films that are much older and barely know recent Russian movies…) and need a little more study to be able to reference you “classics”, but I can safely say that if a film I love was based on a book or short story, I have read it. I take the effort to read it and compare to it and even wrote a detailed 4,000 word essay outlining how bringing a character from a novel into a film made him lose his humanity*3.
For those interested in the article that made me ramble on here, you can find it by clicking this link right here.
Another thing that really annoys me — and this has annoyed me ever since English became my favourite subject at school at age 11 — are people who claim that they love English, and reading and writing, and are somewhat good at it, and yet talk to me leik dis wen wer online or summat. Holy mother of flesh-eating weasels that bugs me. And then they claim that they never actually talk like this in real life, and that when they go into creative writing, or English literature at university they will do fantastically on essays due to their impeccable wielding of the English language. It’s so irritating! If you respect the language, then write properly. End of story.
Sorry, that last bit I just had to get out. And if the person who does this is reading right now, yea, I am talking about you. And now everyone knows that I know someone like that even if they haven’t been named in A&WT.
Right, well, miraculously we’ve made it pretty damn close to the word count, which is something I have to say I’m proud of, considering. Before I wrap this up, though, I have a few more announcements.
1) I have posted my completed art post for the J2 Big Bang 2010. I have posted it as a page on A&WT and you can find it either at the top of this page under the header, or right here. I am warning you though, before you click, that although my art isn’t rated, the story is. And if you don’t like slash, then just don’t freaking read it. Why bother reading something you hate only to tell the author or artist that you hate it? Honestly… it’s like “make my day worse, shoot yourself in the head”.
2) The Very Literal Contest is still in full swing, and will be in full swing till October 31st. So if you’re a vidder, or would like to try your hand at it, then go for it!!
And that, methinks, is all.
—
* Following = Christopher Nolan’s first feature movie, filmed with friends over a year on weekends. You can find more info on it here.
*1 The Ugly Swans = a novel by Arkadi and Boris Strugatsky. Very good book, one of Q’s favourites. Check it out if you have time. More info found here.
*2 Andrei Tarkovsky = a brilliant Russian director. The genius behind Stalker, Solaris and Andrei Rublev. More info here.
*3 This was my Extended Essay at school… for those of you who have done IB you will know that that is pretty much hell on earth. I wrote about Alex deLarge from A Clockwork Orange and pretty much made myself ill watching the film over and over.
—
Mood:
Pleased.
Movie: As much as I really should watch more movies again, I did see Inception for the 4th time last night and it made me very very happy.
Show: Started watching “Arrested Development” but I don’t know if I like it.
Music: Young Heretics album “We Are The Lost Loves”
Book: Nothing yet, although thank you for the suggestions last entry!
Over and out, till next Cas day. 43/44 days till Supernatural!
Hollywood Blockbuster
———
DISCLAIMER: Not for profit. This was written by a film school graduate in a rather cynical mood at 4am on a Thursday. All films and music have been referenced to their respective owners. Any characters mentioned that may relate or appear to be modeled after real people are merely coincidental. Thanks so much, enjoy the show!
———
“I know why you’re here, Neo. I know what you’ve been doing. I know why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why night after night you sit at your computer. You’re looking for him. I know, because I was once looking for the same thing. And when he found me, he told me I wasn’t really looking for him. I was looking for an answer…”
See, in Neo’s case he at least knew the question. I just sit night after night at my computer because I can’t shut my brain down. But it got me thinking… love it or hate it, The Matrix is undeniably a Hollywood Blockbuster. And I, fresh out of film school, decided that screw this whole editing business, directing’s where the money’s at. So I’ll try my hand at it.
Right, so… what do directors do first? They make a plan. I like to be different, so instead of characters, a plot and themes, I will use a previously chosen soundtrack to dictate my
or
The Systematic Decapitation, Castration and Disembowelment of the Winning Hollywood Poker Hand
About to be written by one V of the A&WT Blog.
Soundtrack chosen carefully through the “shuffle” tool on iTunes.
Every great blockbuster has three things that make them great:
1) Shit blows up. All the time.
2) It’s a toss up between a hot-n-heavy scene or an epic fight. Let’s count both in point 2.
3) A killer opening track.
Opening Credits: Smackdown – TFK
What can go wrong? This instantly guarantees for the greedy audience the other two points on the list above…
Get ready for the smack down!
Get ready for the smack down!
How ya gonna react
When ya put on ya back now?
‘Cause there’s no turnin’ back
When you’re facin’ the smack down!
My, my, now that’s covering all points at once! Shit is bound to blow up to that soundtrack, plus, there is already an implication that there will be sex and violence! With such a fantastic opening, things can only get better. Right?
Waking Up: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
And instantly the main character is established as one with a difficult past whom we instantly gravitate towards and adore because we can relate to them. “Oh, that guy also has problems, just like me! This movie understands me!”
I rest my case. Once you’ve established a strong leading man (let’s go with man in this case) you need to bring in a supporting character that will play off the main character and be a foil for him (for those who don’t understand the film industry jargon, a foil is a shiny thing that reflects stuff. It’s not that hard to guess, honestly. And you thought we were so clever.) Which, of course, leads to…
Falling in Love: O Death – Jen Titus
Now things get interesting! Our leading lady (we’ll stay PC on this and not make the foil a man in shiny pants) now has a dark history to compliment our flawed and tortured leading man. “Why is she being referred to as Death? Did she kill someone? Will she kill our hero? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s our leading lady with a freaky intro song!” Intrigue, passion, danger! What more could one ask for!? Of course, with great characterization has to come some action. Our audiences demand it!! So now is the perfect time to throw in a fight scene, because our hero happened to walk into the coffee shop that morning and got his arch nemesis’ coffee instead of his own (double shot instead of decaf, for the detail-nerds). Of course he’d be angry. Cue the fight sequence!
Fight Scene #1: My Sweet Prince – Placebo
See, before you could throw in an epic gangster shoot out or a western horse chase. But nowadays that doesn’t satisfy audiences anymore. All gangsters in our time wear their pants around their knees and speak a language they call English that the rest of us call stupid. And all horse chases happen… …well… they don’t happen anymore. They really should though. All that aside, the fight scene that will get the best audience reaction will be a slow-mo fight scene. Complete with shit blowing up, naturally. Think: The Matrix meets Mean Girls. Classy.
Well after witnessing her hero’s ass get kicked by his arch nemesis in the name of caffeine, our heroine doesn’t like him anymore. I mean, who would? And so, sadly, they must part.
Breaking Up: Pure Morning – Placebo
“A friend in need’s a friend indeed,
A friend with weed is better,
A friend with breasts and all the rest,
A friend who’s dressed in leather,
Now see there, in one song we have established that
a) our arch nemesis is a woman (so our hero got his ass handed to him by a girl, no wonder our heroine left him) who likes her coffee
b) she may be into the drug or dom/sub rings. That makes her hateful but also alluring. See what we did there?
and c) we have officially appeased all fanboys by chucking in a girl-on-girl plot line.
Sorted.
Unfortunately while our hero is licking his wounds, our heroine decides that she really doesn’t like her new girlfriend’s coffee addiction and in a fit or dramatic tears calls our hero to get back together…
Making Up: Always – Erasure
“Aaaaaaalways I want to beeeee with you
And make belieeeeeeeve with you
And live in harmony HARMONY
OOOOOH LOOOOOOVE”
Perfect song for the perfect completely-normal-not-dysfunctional-at-all relationship, don’t you agree? Also, they adopt a unicorn and make all their dreams come true.
While our leading lovers are happily raising their unicorns on the farm of Dream-Come-True, everything seems fine. Everything’s ok… right?
Life’s OK: New Divide – Linkin Park
WRONG. If everything was fine this would be an indie film. Duh.
Since obviously things are not ok, our hero goes for a long drive (since horse chases are out and unicorns aren’t safe to ride when all they do is smack into stars or fall off big rocks) to think his life over.
Driving Scene: Photograph – Air
“I would like to own your photograph
The angels cry to have your photograph
As if you were awfully made for life
As fortune favor fools like candle light”
Enlightening. A deep scene in which our hero decides that he is destined for so much more than harmony, harmony and, oh, love. Since this is a Hollywood movie, why not make him an actor? “Oh, I see what they’re doing… they’re making the hero become an actor… just like the actor playing him became the hero! Wow, that’s symbolic and a metaphor for societal structure of the ancient Mayans in contrast to that of the ancient Greeks! Put this in the Oscar race!” Wonderful, now the intellectuals are happy. That just leaves the realists to please… Of course it must be said that while the hero is driving around thinking about anything but the non-existent plot line, shit blows up.
Regretting: Phoenix – Martina Topley Bird
“All moves so fast here
No one can last here
Lucky for us, dear
Round and round we go”
“Ah-ha! They made it realistic by having the hero NOT make it big in Hollywood like he wanted to!” And the realists are pleased. See how easy it is to make a movie? Piece of pie. Course, our hero is now depressed and drinking bottles of decaf-non-alcoholic liqueur and watching reruns of Santa Barbara and Days of Our Lives… so obviously that leads to a night alone thinking back to the good old days…
Long Night Alone: Snuff – Slipknot
With all that time to angst, our hero has no time to pay attention to the world around him. Because of this he doesn’t notice that his arch nemesis has found him in Hollywood (she looked him up on IMDB and found a few credits as “man two” and “donkey butt at costume party”) and is standing behind him with a knife. Lucky for him, his latest bottle of decaf-non-alcoholic liqueur just ran out so he gets up to get another one and avoids dying. For now.
Final Battle: The Bottom Line – Depeche Mode
For one, our hero is sluggish from his non-alcoholic binge, for another all fight scenes of this century must be in slow motion, remember? This battle lasts a while, a long while, with both the hero and the nemesis breaking into song every so often to show just how depressed the other is and to prove that they got the worse hand dealt by fate. This is the final chance for the nemesis to try win the audience sympathy, and the last time our hero can show his heroicness. Both fail. Eventually nature takes its course and they both die of boredom. Well, the nemesis goes first. Our hero is used to being bored to death and has a higher tolerance for it.
Death Scene: No Giving Up – Crossfade
Mercutio had nothing on our hero. Hamlet? Didn’t even register. The sheer length of the final soliloquy will bring all audience members to tears. Cue the best actor nomination! Eventually, though, as with Mercutio and Hamlet, our hero breathes his last (a few times, before it’s FINALLY his last) and dies, to the shock of our thoroughly tortured audience members.
Final Ending: Mad World – Adam Lambert
Although we wouldn’t be stealing the Donnie Darko version of this song, we will be stealing its final montage. As the hero’s life flashes before his eyes in a mix of American Beauty splendor and Donnie Darko timewarp, the audience realize that they’re not sad. They have been released. They feel free. Catharsis in its truest form. Our job is done.
——–
Now that my cynical side is fully used up, time for some brief news before I leave you for another week, dear readers.
In two days time Holmes and I fly out from Middle Earth and head Down Under for the All Hell Breaks Loose II Supernatural Convention. Next week promises to be an exciting entry, guaranteed. Till then… please don’t judge me for being bored, insomniac and cynical. If you look deep into your hearts (very deep, for some of you) you’ll find that you love me, really. You do.
Mood: 
Hyper
Music: How to Break A Heart – Nikki
Movie: American Beauty
Book: Banksy
