When I was a child, my parents where quite strict about obeying film ratings. Not like most of the parents today, my younger cousins have seen films which I felt where inappropriate to 16 year olds, and they were nowhere near that age. I'm wandering... So as a child, a lot of the scary movies I was not allowed to watch. So naturally as soon as I was old enough I watched all of the movies that I wanted to watch when I was still too young.
One of the films that really stuck with me was Stir of Echoes... This film had one of the most memorable shots. A girl gripping the floor so hard with her fingers that her picking nail breaks off on the floor. The problem was that for years i could only remember this scene, and one or two bits, but no name, no actor. Luckily, our post production coordinator is really sharp on his movies and actors and so on, that when i told him about this scene, he immediately knew which movie it was.
So I searched for this 90's film and found it this weekend. And boy did I enjoy this again. Th is film has an exceptionally creepy boy - who even freaked me out a little bit, which says a lot because it takes a lot to freak me out, and even though I am not a big fan of Kevin Bacon, I did enjoy his stunning performance is this film. What I liked most about this film is how everything fits together so perfect. There are no gaps with empty visual, empty story line, but at the same time it is not crammed with information. The storytelling is fluid and natural and everything is well planned and very well executed. Some of the effects are real give-aways of the time when it was made, but then at the same time there are visuals and effects expressing certain feelings and ideas, which was much better executed than. It would have been executed had it been made recently - good example of not having something makes you do something that was even better, if you had your first option.
My recommendation for everyone, especially if you like some suspense thrillers, get this movie a large box of butter-lovers popcorn and watch it. You won't be disappointed!
Wow! A long time has past since I've been active on my blog... I know the first rule to blogging is 'blog regularly', but unfortunately I was not in a place to write, or when I was in a that so-called 'place', I was too busy. I'll try and make an effort to make time and find a 'place' not just for the reader's sake (is anyone even out there?). but mostly (at least at this moment) for mine.
This might sound all doom and gloom, but it's actually not (or my sub-conscious is just suppressing it - whatever works for you). I am glad to inform those who do not already know, that I did in, in fact, win the iPhone 4s!! Jay!! If you read my previous post you will know what I'm talking about, there was some difference though: I did not go buy it in New York. Instead, when the iPhone 4S was released, Smokoo (the company who ran the competition), had a poll asking what we want. One person winning the chance to go to New York and getting the new iPhone, or thee people not going to New York, but each getting the new iPhone. I opted for the second option, and luckily so did 70% of the voters. Lucky, because my name was drawn second from the bag of names.
A couple of weeks later the directors from Smokoo came to my work to hand over my brand spanking super fast iPhone 4s. I had some difficulty with Vodacom with doing a SIM-swap, but that is a story I prefer not to relive.
So to all those haters out there, who kept on saying what a scam the whole competition is, thank you. Thank you for not entering, which just increased my chances of winning. I tried and won and guess what, you are still a loser! Hopefully you have learnt your lesson and will start being a winner soon. (And no, I don't work for Smokoo... unfortunately...)
Maybe soon I will be struck with a great idea and shoot it on my HD capable phone and upload it for all to see, then you can review those films and tell me all about it. Don't go anywhere, I'll be talking about a couple of shows and films soon! Why don't you get a large popcorn while you are waiting and don't be stingy on the butter! I know I won't be.
Now just to warn you in advance: this is not a movie or TV review. But it is my blog, and I did say I was going to rant and rave about what ever I want to - isn't that the whole point of a blog?
Recently I stumbled on a link as I was doing a Google Search. I got to another blogger's site, where he was saying something about removing a post about Smokoo. Smokoo is a pay-to-bid website. As the word clearly explains: you PAY to BID. Every bid you place costs R5, and if your bid is the last one when the timer runs out you win the bid. Because every bid increment is only 1c or 5c, the final price you pay for the item if you win it is most of the time less than 10% of the actual price of the item. So the blogger writes that he removed the specify post (but slyly gives a link to the original post as it appears in Google's Cached memory). So I read his post - and it was quite shocking to see someone blatantly attacking a company with unfounded accusations. The title alone labelled Smokoo as the biggest scam in South Africa, which I think is absolute rubbish and borderline libel. A scam means you are taking from people by tricking them or stealing from them, through whichever means. Smokoo does none of that.
I discovered the site while it was still in it's very early stages and I was intrigued by this whole concept. I was skeptical to begin with, because they were offering great items like iPhone's, PlayStation's and HD TV's for ridiculous prices and my logic said 'There had to be a catch'. However, after reading their How It Works section it all made sense, after reading the rest of the website it was clear that there was no catch, just a clever concept. I bought a couple of bids and tried bidding, unfortunately up to date I've not secured an auction, and it's not because they 'scammed' it away from me. As a non-winning participant I can say that the reason I have not won anything is because my bidding strategy was... well non-existing. However, I'm working on it.
I studied the website and the auctions for about three months, looking at what items sold at what prices and how many bids, and it is really true what they say on their blog. Some items they make HUGE profits, and I mean HUGE!!! Like +500%, but on other auctions they didn't even come close to breaking even, nowhere close, like selling an iPad 2 worth R10000, while only getting R50 from the whole action and bids. Or a PS3 Slim where they only made R200 on a R4000 item. And I also noticed that on average of the three months that I monitored the website I found that they had pretty much equal amount of items that made profit and items that had loss. However, in total they still made a profit, and a pretty good one (but come on, hellooooo, wakey wakey, it wouldn't be called a business if it didn't make any profit!?). So good profit that I think their company could grow leaps in a short time, and the items on auctions are a testimony to that. They started off auctioning smaller items like a iPod nano, and steadily grew to bigger and bigger items. Now some of their items are humongous: a car! A trip to space! Insane!
So basically my rant is about people like the blogger mentioned who are quick to jump on a box an yell 'Wolf!'. I understand that that is their opinion and everyone is entitled to one, but when you look at the cold facts, there is nothing that shows Smokoo as being a scam and if you talk nonsense, spreading lies, don't be offended when they ask you to retract your words. The instructions on the website are very clear, and they also give lots of tips and advice that tell newcomers to just observe the auctions and learn from them before they start bidding. And if people don't want to loose a bid, well then, don't bid! I think many of the people hating on Smokoo are people who are pissed off that they didn't think of the concept first or they didn't bid with a strategy and are sore losers. I know I'm very jealous that I didn't think of this concept, and I take my hat of for the guys at Smokoo for doing so. You deserve every bit that is coming to you and you all just continue growing and selling great items, ignore all the haters. My mom always said, the highest branches get's the most wind. But there's lots of fans who love your website and love following you on Facebook, especially with all the fun and regular competitions you've got going there, and I'm one of them!
I'm especially looking forward to the 'Fly to NY to buy the iPhone 5', I've got something funky planned for this week, to make sure I increase my chances to win! I'll update this post as what I'm doing is revealed, but watch this space and what Facebook and Smokoo's page. Go like them and you'll see what I reveal!
And a last message to all the haters, do us a favour: If you don't like something, don't do it. But then don't come moaning in my ear when I'm sitting in New York buying the iPhone 5 or enjoying the items I win on Smokoo and you're not!
[EDIT]
So I thought I'd have a little fun, play around in Photoshop and create a 'marketing campaign', I visualized winning the competition, and this was the result:
So check this out. Last week I was checking the movie theatre websites and was surprised to find that Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 will already be showing on the 13th of July and not the 15th as originally believed. But the problem with that is I work in the week. I devised a clever plan to try and twist my producers arm to let me go see the film the morning of the 13th. My plan, as hopeless as it was, was better than nothing. Maybe, just maybe it would be 'Yes'.
"You want me to be the best editor possible right?", I tried. A very suspicious "Yes?" reply. " So I was thinking if you can give me off on next Wednesday morning, then I can go and see Harry Potter Part 2 and learn SO much from editing.". She laughed.
And you will never guess the response! My producer didn't say yes... that's obvious...
But even better!!! She gave me tickets for the special screening premier in South Africa that happened this past Sunday. I went crazy! So all the people in the office laughed at me because they didn't know that I'm such a big Harry Potter fan, while they all pretend like they don't know why Harry Potter is so great. People, it's 2011 for goodness sake, it is save to come out of the Cupboard Under The Stairs, there are millions of us already out! It's okay to like Harry Potter in the open.
I'm not going to give away any spoilers. What I can definitely warm you about: you're going to need some tissues, especially if you are prone to tears in movies. The film was amazing, some of the fanatic book readers might have a problem at some of the bits, but I was particularly pleased that they captured the emotion and the essence of the book. That being said, most of the things are exactly the way they are in the book, and the things they changed is either better or it doesn't matter because the rest of the film is just so amazing. Also note, I don't think it is appropriate for children under the age of 13, even if the rating is only PG-13.
What I like about the films is their maturation (and I must admit their budget): the scenery and set's have such wonderful texture and life. It's absolutely remarkable. The trailer promised one big show down with massive special effects and use of magic, and it paid in full. For a while, at the start of the film, it's almost like they are teasing you by not showing too much showy dueling magic. But the first moment [Not Going To Spoil It For You Person] whips out a wand and starts duelling, throwing impressive flames at [Blah blah], all the hair on my body just shot up... I had Goosebumps so much in this film it was ridiculous (see how I worked in a spell there!). I don't want to say much, because it would be an injustice to try and explain it to anyone in words, the only thing that could explain it properly is the actual book itself.
What I can tell you is how much fun it was to go to a media premier, it was my first time, so if you think I'm being stupid, then well forgive me - hopefully I'll have many more. There was witches walking around handing out free candy, there was a magician doing pretty impressive tricks, a photo booth with props to capture the Harry fever, and it was all free! So was the popcorn and cold drinks at the door. And I've had someone else pay for popcorn and cold drinks before, but this is much better, because it feels like people are sharing their abundance. This is the way a movie should be viewed. It was the perfect way for me to see the last instalment of Harry Potter.
Did I also mention that Barry Ronge (website), the well known South Africa film critic was also in the cinema. I wanted to walk up to him and say what a big fan I am and that one day I'm going to do his job, but I just wanted to enjoy the Harry Potter moment so I just let him walk beside me as we were exiting the cinema.
My verdict: go and buy your ticket NOW! If you haven't watched any of the other Harry Potter films, go rent them, watch them and go see the last one in the cinemas, you won't regret it. I want to say don't take in a popcorn at all so nothing distracts you, but you are going to need a large one, because for a large part you're going to need something to chew away the nervousness, and that also gives you an excuse to go see the film again. "Oh, I looked down during that part because of my popcorn, so I have to see it again."
Not that you need an excuse, so get a large popcorn and enjoy the film. I can't wait for this weekend, because them I'm going to see it again, this time in 3D! Maybe I'll see you there... Finite Incantatum.
So it is official! Less than a week before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is released and it feels unreal! I can still remember the first time I saw the first Harry Potter film with my Aunt, and how convinced I was throughout the film of Snape's guilt! Feels like last week when I was standing in the cold, 11pm with a bunch of my friends to buy The Deathly Hallows book and not going to bed after reading at least the first chapter.
It truly has been a good companion for the past decade of my life, something that I'm sure a lot of other people have experienced as well. And now the final film is finally here, and I have my pick to go see it in every format available, unfortunately The IMAX South Africa closed last year, I would have loved to see the final showdown there, I saw Harry Potter 3 at the IMAX and it was breathtaking. But no worries, the Imax screen is 10 times bigger than a normal cinema, so I'll simply have to go see it 10 times in the cinema. 3D and normal 2D.
So a couple of weeks ago I was editing the one show, Frenzy on e.tv, and they regularly have a movie review, and I was so glad they did one on Harry Potter (how could they not!) and I was fortunate enough to edit that episode (Argh! Who am I kidding, I looked through the scripts of the shows available and when I saw the one had a Harry Potter review I pounced on it like a Gryffindor Lion!)
So I inter-cut the trailer with the review and it was amazing, but I was disappointed that the editing was finished and I had to do the rest of the episode's content! The next day a new and final trailer was released, so I had another chance to edit it some more. Luckily the content producer of Frenzy was very keen to put in the latest footage.
Needless to say it was better than the previous, amazing insert (we need to get a word that describe something better than amazing - I know - Dobby! It was completely Dobby!!!)
My favourite character of all time!
So when it was time for the content producer to view the episode, I went and got myself a small popcorn and enjoyed the Harry Potter the same way you would devote to a film - with popcorn. And let me tell you, it was really Dobby!
So my recommendation for all you fans: get yourself a small popcorn, download the HD version of both trailers (here and here) from HPANA, pop them in and enjoy. For the Hardwood-Phoenix-feather-core fans like me, make it a large popcorn and watch the trailers on loop! Ah, Bliss!
So now that most of the shows have stopped for the summer hiatus I was left with that empty feeling of having nothing to watch, except for a couple of shows that broadcast off season, and those that I'm still behind on (Gossip Girl, I'm talking about you).
With that, one of my favourite shows has also been cancelled! Brothers & Sisters has been one of my top 5 shows, the excellent script and interesting characters could have gone on forever! (I'm going to miss everyone except Tommy, what a weak and annoying character! ...any whoo...) That being said, I do think that the way it ended was perfect, it came full circle, finishing off the series as a whole but not ending all of the characters story (Six Feet Under I'm talking about you, even though it was the best way to end for your series), but the lives of my beloved character continue.
My point of the matter is that all that contributed to me desperately searching for a new show to fill the gap, I even reverted to watching Veronica Mars again. Probably the 5th time now, but it stays brilliant and always makes me happy, something about the underdog being smarter and more resourceful and more butt kicking than everyone else just sits well with me. Any case, so I saw the new shows starting in the Fall Season, about 3 or 4 I'm interested in. But I needed something now! So as I saw the list of all the new shows broadcasting, I wasn't very optimistic about a couple of the titles, just judging them on their titles. Seriously! How good does Franklin and Bash sound!?That’s the sarcasm font by the way, for future reference! So I've found the show The Block AU, which I've always been a huge fan of, and they started a new season after a couple of year hiatus, but now it's back and bigger than ever, but that’s a reality show and does not really fill that gap.
Becki Newton
For the past few weeks I've seen this show popping up in the list of shows, Love Bites. And I though uhm... Interesting title, but nah! And it kept on popping up, and so I decided, let’s watch one episode and see how it goes. Needless to say, 45minutes later I was grabbing the next three episodes available. Love Bites is charming, funny, witty, goofy, real and thought provoking. It is basically a couple of short bites about love related stories strung together by the different characters. But what is fascinating is that each episode feels like a whole movie, and when it's done you just want it to continue on and on. They look at the random things in a relationship, at the serious, the quirky, the gross and the real. And they are not shy about it, but also not disrespectful of anything or anyone. And it's cleverly funny while still having a much deeper meaning that makes you reflect on life and relationships.
The casting is also quite interesting, Becki Newton (Amanda from Ugly Betty - another one of my cancelled shows that I really miss!), that telepathic cop from Heroes (Another one), Greg Grunberg, and Constance Zimmer (from Entourage - never felt it - & Boston Legal - and another favourite, executives are really stoopid!) are regulars, but then every episode has guest appearances and cameos of well established stars and all of the characters interlink in some way, even if it is meaningless, it’s still fun to go 'Oh, it’s that guy!'.
Greg Grunberg & Constance Zimmer
I was also surprised to see that the writer for this show, Cindy Chupack, was also the writer of Sex and The City and Everybody Loves Raymond. (Incidentally two shows that I do not like at all. So grab your pitchforks folks!) However this show is produced by the same producers from Love Actually (Easily on my top 10 movie list), so now I get why I like is so much, the whole concept of love stories mixed into life and each other.
All that’s left to say is, that void has been filled, it makes me happy and I'm also learning a couple of new things which is great! My favourite line thus far is from episode 3 where the mother of a gay son, concerned about the reaction of her husband, explains to him the ‘lingo’:
"I'm setting the alarm for 7, so we can help with brunch. That's gay for lunch. They do brunch."
So do yourself a favour and pop some popcorn, pop in Love Bites and just relax and enjoy. Well deserving of a large popcorn thus far, and even better if you can share the popcorn.
I have been a fan of X-men since I was a child; I watched the episodes as a child and was captivated in fantasies of my own super human abilities. Invisibility, teleportation, telekinesis (this one was always a favourite) and the human torch (so was this one) to name a few.
However, Storm has always been my favourite X-men character, simply because I liked the feeling of strong wind blowing against me and could just imagine how it would feel if I could control that power.
But it’s interesting that we have such a liking towards stories of superhuman abilities: X-men, Heroes, The Fantastic Four and you know there are many more. But I think it is more than just our desire to be better than what we are and to be special. I think it about relating to the ostracising and discrimination that these characters face. On some level most of us can identify with this feeling of being shunned because of whatever reason.
But anyway, I don’t want to get too philosophical in my first post, I'll keep that for later. So X-men: First Class, directed by Matthew Vaughn; wow another great instalment in the X-men series. As could be expected from the same Director who brought us the magical Stardust and the kick-ass... well... Kick-Ass. I was afraid when I heard they used completely new cast for X-men: First Class, but that being said I don’t know what else I expected because Charles Xavier (my namesake) and Erik Lensherr where young back then and the actors need to reflect that. But what I thought was quite entertaining is the cameo appearance of some of the actors from the previous X-men films. I won’t say how or who in case you haven’t seen the movie, but go see it.
Michael Fassbender as Magneto
The actor who plays Magneto (Michael Fassbender) really does an excellent job, I also think he has the look and the skill to be a James Bond; he was truly exceptional in his delivery. What I'm glad about in this Origins story, is that I never found there was a shortage of visual effects and display of abilities. In the X-men Origins: Wolverene I craved for more visually satisfying effects that showcased the mutants abilities. I think the difference is that in X-men: First Class it was the origin of many main characters which gave them the opportunity to show more of every mutant’s ability. Personally I hope that the next X-men (there better be one!) should be the continuation from where this one ended. Because they have gone and shown most of the main characters' origins, the ones that are left now can be shown as Professor X gains students and Magneto... Well gains soldiers...
When talking to my friends about it and seeing the posts on Facebook, most people got the same feeling after watching this film. The desire to watch all the other X-men films again, which I think is a good thing. They left you wanting for more even after giving you a lot!
So if you haven’t watched it, go get yourself a large popcorn, and go see that film! It has to be seen on a big screen!
