According to Carl

FYI: New blog

2010-12-12T04:59:00.006+01:00

Spittin' in my native tongue a since a while back.

http://oxwall.se

26th of November - ..and a star was born!

2008-11-26T17:58:00.004+01:00

8:59 AM was the magic moment when my beautiful little daughter Klara Månstråle was — literally — lifted out to see this world as we know it. It was marvelous. I got to cut the umbilical cord, an old Swedish tradition. My daughter was now real, the sound of her baby scream made it clear to me. She weighted 1765 grams, and reached 42 centimeters from top to toe. Just incredible.

Now, there's just so much more to this. But due to some unclarity circulating around us, I'm still too anxious to spell my heart. Time will tell what the next move will be.

However..

Since we'll be stuck at the NICU for at least another week, I haven't had a chance on dragging the DSC photos we've taken over to my laptop (I forgot the darn cable). This snapshot (taken with a [VGA/640x480] phone lens) will definitely pass though.

Isn't she just wonderful?

Loveshots!

2008-11-24T14:40:00.004+01:00

I'm happy to announce these images of my unborn baby.

29th of May

The summer hadn't even started yet.

28th of July

In the middle of the summer.
Baby has grown a lot since the last time.

31th of October

You can see the babyfoot clearly now, with toes and everything.

14th of November

An astonishing profile image.

21th of November

Another profile image, a so called close-up.

Lunch

2008-11-19T16:14:00.002+01:00

Soup and a piece of bread with sausage.

Busy days!

2008-11-17T12:10:00.011+01:00

It's been a lot lately. Helping my fiancé moving in to her new apartment. Lots of furniture to be assembled. Also, I've made my first masonry drill work (incl. wall plugging) ever. I feel like such a hardware expert. Even bought myself a cordless drill. Brrrrrrrrmmm... I'm also pleased to announce a few snapshots.

The great - full tower - fridge, holding its first item.

Assembling the kitchen furniture (table w. chairs).

Kitchen set complete.

Assembling the television bench.

Preliminary living room setup.

Form One isn't to be forgotten!

2008-11-15T15:42:00.003+01:00

As I wrote earlier, Timbuktu released his new album ten days ago. Anyhow, also thge Swedish emcee Form One (previously known as Formula One) dropped a new full length album - Behind Blue Eyes - on the very same day.

I will definitely buy my own copy, very soon. Anyways, already this autumn Form One decided to make a pre-release available for free through Kingsize Magazine. I've made the image below a direct hotlink to the .zip archive. So, grab it and listen.

The show must go on

2008-11-13T15:44:00.006+01:00

It's been two days since I went to my grandmother's funeral. The ceremony was being held flawless. It's the first time that I actually sit on the front row during a funeral. Felt kind of strange. However, my beloved grandmother reached a remarkable age, and will always be remembered.

Actually, I did videotape big parts of the ceremony. I had thought about doing this for quite some time, but I wasn't really sure. I asked my fiancé for guidance regarding standard ethics and suchlike. At first, she was like: "Say what?? Filming a funeral? It's really not something people want to look back at."

Made sense when I thought closer about it. Really wicked idea. But still, I couldn't drop it entirely. So, I brought the DV camera with me when I made the over-day trip up north. Then I asked my closest relatives for their opinion. No one was really sure about anything such as "standard ethics" on this. However, we very shortly came to the conclusion that it really didn't matter what people thought. We did it because we wanted to. Besides, the decision about right or wrong regarding this is really up to us. So, I did shoot it on tape, for the archive of history to come. Today, I feel that I would probably never have forgiven myself if I hadn't been filming. The result turned out great. Now, I will make the final cut out of the footage, and then screen DVD/VHS copies for relatives. Marvelous!

Today, Thursday, me and my fiancé laid our signatures on the piece of paper closing the issue of paternity. A day worth remembering.

New album with Timbkutu!

2008-11-05T16:45:00.004+01:00

Swedish rapper Jason Diaktee a.k.a. Timbuktu new album had its release today. In stores now, in other words. Go buy it!

www.jujurecords.com/

Tic tac whooh!

2008-11-05T16:12:00.006+01:00

First of all, I have to say I'm pleased to see that Barack Obama was elected to be the 44th American president. Some people believe that it's just a vision, but I honestly do believe that this is man we all have been waiting for. It's my honest belief that this is what you could call the savior of USA. Change isn't made over night, but eventually the nation will move against a more humane society. We'll just have to wait and see.

I'm also relieved that the other candidate was pushed out, because to be he was nothing but an old man out for war, and a steady flow of gasoline. To me, it's real logical that this is not the way of making a great difference in the 21th century. A war strategic with good chances on winning a game of Risk? Definitely. The answer on today's big issues? I very much doubt it.

So, first thing I had to do when I woke up this morning was to check the status. When it stood clear that Barack Obama was the champion, I was truly relieved. I had a silent breakfast and enjoyed every piece of it.

Yesterday? We bought icecream with cloudberry preserve, and snacks and fruit. Then we kept track on a group of adventurers who were climbing Mount Everest. It seemed rough on the lungs, but with an amazing view. I wonder if I will ever climb mountains. Maybe, who knows.

Autumn photos

2008-11-04T12:01:00.002+01:00

Finally, I've managed to upload my photos to some sort of gallery.

Kingsize Magazine No. 5 / 2008.

2008-11-03T15:34:00.003+01:00

In stores now!

Sorry, I haven't got much else to say. Things are moving, slowly. Next week my fiancé will be moving in to her new wonderful apartment. Also my grandmother's funeral is scheduled next week. This Friday the first snow fell, and a big cloud of misery hit me. I really hate snow. There's nothing cool about it. I'm to much of a coward to ride snowboard, or even snowmobile, so it's really nothing in it for me. Of course, the following day (Saturday) the degrees fell rapidly. Saturday evening the thermometer showed about -8° C. We had pizza, which actually did cheer us up! :-)

Rocky No. 7 / 2008

2008-10-31T18:40:00.003+01:00

Out now!

More baby clothes!

2008-10-30T12:46:00.004+01:00

Today we went downtown for some shopping. Found a nice little store that seemed to have just about everything.

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This is what we ended up with.

Clip frames and a nice chicken dinner

2008-10-29T20:06:00.002+01:00

A couple of days ago me and my beloved fiancé took a stroll down to a 2nd hand boutique not far away from me. The purpose was to find some decent furniture for my computer, but there wasn't any. Instead, I got interested in the art section. In my hallway, there has been two small hooks (for paintings and such) ever since I moved in. It's about time I hang something there. So, finally we agreed on two 21x29,3cm (A4 size) clip frames, which is really just a piece of glass on top of a wood board, making it really easy to change the content.

The current motif was Christian images. They were cheap, so it was a bargain without further hesitation. I hung them up as soon as we got home. It turned out nice, except that my fiancé thought they were a bit up high. I'm quite tall, so I didn't mind. However, after some reconsideration I found that the clip board was in fact hanging a bit up high. Besides, it felt like the distance between those two hooks was ..too much! I needed another clip frame. Where could I get it? So, today I found one. They're really cheap, and looks nice. A practical way of decorating walls, really.

I spent the evening on fixing the align on the wool string that the frames would hang on. It was easier said than done, really. I think I spent more than half an hour on this project. Anyways, turned out marvelous.

Later on this evening, my fiancé made a nice dinner with chicken, rice and vegetables.

How I fixed my first bicycle flat

2008-10-28T15:54:00.004+01:00

It's been about a week since she left, and she still hasn't come back. I guess its about time to let go and move on. So, what's been up lately? Yesterday bad luck hit me. I was on my way to make the fresh bicycle trip (approx. 10 kilometers back and forth) to Willy's supermarket up at Ersboda. However, I decided to start by visiting the ATM machine up at Ålidhem C, just to assure myself of a decent account status. So, I did. Then, just when I got up on the long bicycle path leading me, I felt that nasty repeated sound under my two-wheel vehicle. A flat, of course. What tire? The rear tire. Oh my god, didn't I change it just this summer? When I get this feeling, I always dream about a miracle where it's just the valve. It never is. Gash.

The thing is, when it comes to fixing flats - I never pass. I've tried pulling this stunt about 10-15 times over the years. First time I couldn't have been more than twelve years old. Fixing a bike flat seemed like a piece of cake, especially when you were into the subculture of dirty BMX bikes. Anyways, it didn't ever work nicely. Those little patches always slipped - and so did the air. I got mad every time I failed on this. Then it went around two years, and I tried again. Every time I made the attempt - I failed. Last time now was around 2006, it was during the winter, I was heading to a friend when the sudden flat hit me. Stupid sharp pieces of ice, can you belive it? Anyways. I walked a couple of kilometers, and then that evening was ruined just 'cuz of a stupid flat. I couldn't get the fixing project out of my head. One thing lead to another, and twelve hours later a DUI made another friend of mine loose his drivers license. How? He gave me a lift to the gas station, just so that I could buy the third(?!) package of tube patches. Oh my gosh, how incredibly mindless, every piece of it.

Anyways,
I thought it was about time I gave it a try. I'm so sick of always leavinog the simple project of swapping tube to the local bike store, paying hundreds of crowns just for labor. It should be easy, really. So, this time I felt it was just about time I showed my best. I walked downtown and entered the bike store where I've done most of my business last year. I told them about how I used to take the backside of a spoon/knife/fork to get the last stretched piece of tire in place, always ending up with a [re]punctured new (or patched) tube inside. So, I asked them if there was any certain tools for this? The man threw a zip-lock bag of plastic sticks on the desk, and asked for 95 SEK for the tools and a brand new tube. So, now I was heading home, filled with excitement. Presuppose I would actually pull this one off, then I would have saved at least 100 SEK.

I removed the whole rear wheel and took it up. I made a workshop out of my toilette shower. About twenty minutes later, voila! The new tube, inside the old tire, pumped up, without any further mishaps. Incredible! I was so happy. I must say those plastic pieces made it real simple. I will never leave my bicycle to the shop for easy fixes like this one, not ever again. My next step now will be to use those tube patches. Hopefully, I will be able to fix the punctured tube, having a spare one just out of the blue. I'm the ruler! :-)

Everything comes to an end.

2008-10-23T15:53:00.006+02:00

I'd planned my next blog post to be a collage with autumn photos which I've snapped lately. However, things doesn't always work out as they are planned. It was 2.33 PM yesterday I received a phone call from my mother. I must say, she was excellent in the way she delivered the announcement. A short greeting. Then, without further notice, "Your grandmother passed away at almost exactly 1.10 PM". About one hour and twenty minutes ago, in other words. This was it. I can not say I haven't seen it coming. I've been preparing myself for this day for a long time. The last year has been very rough on her, to say the least. The COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) that she has suffered from has de facto only one possible exit road. My grandmother reached the honorable age of 92. May she rest in peace, as she will always be remembered with grace.

It's getting colder.

2008-10-20T10:33:00.003+02:00

Yep, it's definitely not those hot summertimes anymore. Today when I got out I [for the first time this season] saw frost on my bike saddle and handlebars. When I went on the road, I also saw frost lying on the grass fields around me. I better be careful, I told myself. I still remember the experience i had like five years ago, being really(!) close to a possible lethal accident. It was the first real icy day of fall, and I was going down a hill, where at it's bottom I was about to cross a busy road. The lights were red, but the only car in the visible(!) lane was blinking to make a left, so I thought it was safe to cross. Then, only meters before the crossroads, I see this other car, sneaking up from the inner lane, not(!) preparing to turn left. I hit the foot brakes, but I (of course) only slide. He sees me, and makes a sudden left right into the lamppost. Pang! By this time, I've stopped. I'm in the middle of the driving lane, stunned, even paralyzed. His car front is mashed in by the form of a "V". I just stand there, unable to move. Then the driver throws up his door, I hear him taking of his seatbelt. He comes out. "Hey, are you ok?", he asks me. I just stand there, first unable to speak a word.

However, this is a moment that I will never forget. When come thinking about it, this man may well have saved my life by making the impulse decision he made. He could have just ran on over me, and it still wouldn't have been his fault. It was me, being foolish, not paying proper attention to neither the road conditions nor the red light. Gosh. Things like this really makes you wonder.

However, back to today. Like I said, it's cold. Now (a little past 11 AM) it's probably a bit warmer. I'm planing on taking a walk down to Microshop to look on some hardware accessories, later on of course. So, a brand new Monday. A clean shave and a happy smile. Well, as you may have noticed if you've compared my last two posts, it's a lot of up and downs. Mood swings, you may call it. Understandable though, when you look at it rational. It's a lot(!) right now. I mean, really, a lot. All the pieces will fall in place, eventually.

So, I've been watching some TV series. Like I may have said, I've watched 'Kyle XY' since they first aired it on Swedish television, around spring last year. However, now I've watched all aired episodes. To the end of Season 2, this is. However, I must say I start feeling a bit ridiculous about the whole show. It feels like a real teenager thing, with a possible target group at the age of 13-15, something like that. However, since I've started watching it, I just can not seem to make a sudden stop.

Anyways, I've also finished the second season of British TV series 'Skins', which is really great, definitely a series that everyone should watch. To make a clean cut, I paste the plot summary from IMDb.

The Dawson Bros claim the series represents the everyday lives of adolescents: Skins revolves around the lives of a group of 16–19 year-old friends who live in Bristol and attend the fictional Roundview Sixth Form College. Each episode has a self-contained theme and focuses on a different character, although several story arcs span different episodes. Accompanying the episode title at the beginning of each episode is a short montage of that episode's central character. The show's co-creator Bryan Elsley said that as Series 2 ends with the cast going off to university, it will not be possible to keep on following them in the future, and the show will operate in two year arcs with new casts.

http://www.e4.com/skins/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skins_tv

Wee, soon time for another moving in..

2008-10-18T16:51:00.006+02:00

My beloved fiancé is moving. Up until just now she's had a four-waller in a real central location (approx. 100 meters to Vasaplan; the crosspoint for all inner-city buses). It's been fine, with a smooth 100/100mbit connection, a minute of walking to reach city square. Well, the only thing is the size. 25 square meters, tops! I don't have the exact measurements in numbers, but it definitely feels cramped. Now, it's only a matter of weeks till she's moving in to her new apartment, which is definitely more of family-size. A two room w. kitchen apartment on 70 square meters. Where at? Check this out, only about 100 footsteps from my flat. Yeah, after rough consideration we've decided that it's best that we continue having two places - at least for now. However, we have a minute between our apartments, leaving us with over 100 square meters of space, when you add it up. It couldn't get any better. I take the liberty of posting the blueprint over her new apartment, on which she of course have scribbled down a possible way of placing furniture.

A shoutout!

2008-10-15T10:15:00.005+02:00

Hiya.

Now I'm just hoping for this message to reach out to the target group. As friends may have noticed, I'm not taking any phone calls at the time being. I'm having a lot on my mind right now, the reason is simple as that. So, no hard feelings, it's absolutely nothing personal about it, just me; choosing the opportunity of having some "downtime", reflecting over those great things lying ahead.

So, absolutely no hard feelings guys. I'll hook up to you when the moment's right. Oh, in the meantime, why don't you follow Christoffer's nice example, leaving your commission (or a simple "Hiya!") on my voice mail. My recorded message may give real rubbish vibes, but I'm actually going through my messages every day. So, I hope y'all are having the best of time.

Caio now!

OpenOffice 3.0 - finally!

2008-10-14T10:33:00.005+02:00

Gosh. First the launch date was set to 31th of September. I usually forget these sort of things. But this time I actually held myself up to date. At the given date, the date following the message "Preliminary release date for OpenOffice3 is currently..." had changed. Now it was the 7th of October. Aaah. Anyways, nothing more to do, but to wait. So, the 7th was the day of our flight, so I hadn't time to check it out then. However, the following day I of course see that the date is once again pushed forward. 13th of October. Aaawergh! So, yesterday I missed out on checking, being pretty sure about another postpone, anyways. Today, however, I thought I'd do best in checking the site out. Strangely, I cannot get through. Page errors. It then struck me. This is it. Page overload, of course. The release is a fact. Now, around half an hour later, I finally get in to their international site; to receive this message:

Apologies - our website is struggling to cope with the unprecedented
demand for the new release 3.0 of OpenOffice.org. The technical teams are
trying to come up with a solution.

Thank you for your patience.

However, they provide me with fully functional download links to the Win32 installer. Just great. So, I'm currently downloading it. Can't wait to see if there's any major updates in the appearance.

Movie: "Batman & Robin" (1997)

2008-10-12T10:34:00.005+02:00

Once again we connect with Gotham City, the fictional city where the citizens are protected by the man of leather disguise - Batman. Now, it looks like he's found himself comfortable in running the show with a sidekick. The former circus artist, young Dick Grayson, is now - under the simple alias "Robin" - his faithful right wing whenever the heat is on. Chris O'Donnell still plays the role of this character, which we got to know in the last motion picture.

However, this must - truly said - be the worst Batman attempt ever. Now, the main character is suddenly played by George Clooney, and it feels really lame all the way through. I remember watching this movie in the cinema back in 1997. It did certainly impress me back then, but now it just doesn't cut it.

The story is about a deformed science researcher, Dr. Victor Fries, who spent all his time trying to find a cure to the rare disease which his wife carries. She's under cryo-sleep since years back, while he works on finding a cure. However, a terrible accident has Dr. Fries fall into a minus 50 degrees cold liquid. However, it doesn't kill him, but turns him into Mr. Freeze.

"In an other side of Gotham", an evil scientist is working with a toxic substance that will turn human beings into giants with enormous capacity and a rat's brain. In the greenhouse where his research assistant X (Uma Thurman) is eagerly working on finding a [chemical] way of make plants stand up against the evil vegetarians eating them. You see, Dr. X is obsessed by green. However, she's so curious about what her boss is up to behind that always locked door. So, one day she busts in on him. Of course, he will have no stupid witness to his hazardous way of dealing with nature, so he kills him. Of course, Dr. X doesn't die. She gets toxicated - yet alive - by the plants and venom snakes she's tossed into; and is from here on called... Poison Ivy!

The movie is filled with special effects and blows. Oh, regarding the characters, here's also where Master Alfred's niece (Alicia Silverstone) is being introduced. Of course, she gets a kick from speed and is eager to transform into Batgirl. Also, it'd be damned, but they have actually repeated the scene in which Batman pulls the zipper on his rubber suit, with full lens focus on Clooney's tight little ass. This doesn't feel like Batman anymore. Fortunately, the former director/producer's name wasn't to be seen anywhere in the credit roll. I guess Tim Burton had dropped out by the time they figured they would try to bring this forth chapter into motion print. God damn it, please stop it.

However, now I'm through with the "old" Batman films. Next thing is to repeat the first film with Christian Bale - 'Batman Begins' (2005). This will be the main project for this coming week. After that, it will hopefully just be a matter of time (hopefully not too many months) till 'The Dark Knight' is finally on Swedish DVD. I can hardly wait.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118688/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_&_Robin_(film)

Movie: "Batman Forever" (1995)

2008-10-10T12:29:00.005+02:00

I must say this wasn't as perfect as the first two movies. I'm not sure if it's the fact that Joel Schumacher has taken over the director's wheel (even if he's still around somehow, name mentioned in the credit roll), or just the wheel of time. The mid-90's, with [to date] special effects impressing most teenagers around. This was not as amusing as the first movies. It's sort of the same layup as before, one Batman, one "batgirl", and one or more crooks to be caught. However, Michael Keaton isn't to be seen anywhere. Val Kilmer is Batman, and it's not quite the same to me. I remember when me and my fiancé watched 'The Salton Sea', and she told me about Val Kilmer being a man of almost mid-age, whose had plastic surgery up to his nose throughout the years. I must say, I started getting the creeps from there.

Here, in one scene where Batman is suiting up, a noticeable close-up on his rear behind, a tight little ass is what you get as he pulls up the rubber zipper. Gash, felt like the whole thing had somehow turned rubbish. Not sure whether it's just my imagination, but it doesn't feel right anymore.

Also, this time Nicole Kidman plays the psychiatric doctor who secretly fancies the mysterious night-bat. The first evil crook is Harvey Dent (Tommy Lee Jones), formerly side-kick of a crime boss; but now having his face deformed since the boss thought he'd been bad somehow. Acid attack, yeah. Half Harvey's face is mutilated, giving him the wicked nickname "Two-Face".

The second crook is science researcher Edward Nygma, played by Jim Carrey. Nygma has been working on an invention, connecting one's mind to a television box, which would enable "live" television in form of 3D things - literally - jumping out of the screen. However, his invention lacks support from multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne, who thinks playing with the human mind is too risky. I must say, Carrey's character is the most entertaining. Here, he freaks out, since he had once looked up to Bruce Wayne, thinking that the major head of the firm he's been working with is the one who would finally make his dreams come true. Here, when he gets rejected, he loses it and turns to someone else. The Riddler is born.

Also, here is where Batman's traditional sidekick - Robin - comes into play. Young Dick Grayson is running a freaky circus show with his brothers. When he loses them, suddenly being all alone, without anyone to rely on, he's saved by the arms of Bruce Wayne, or should I say Batman.

Too freaky effects, the melodramatic noir feeling of the first two films are not to be seen, plus some Bat stunts (like jumping from roof tops without even using the cape) seems a little bit far out the edge. However, it's Batman, hr..

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112462/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_Forever

Movie: "Batman Returns" (1992)

2008-10-10T09:48:00.003+02:00

Wow. Seen [from what I consider to be] the first two Batman movies now. I must say, the sequel holds the same quality as the first one. Still Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne, with his alter ego, the flying bat. This time, we will get acquaintance with The Penguin, played by Danny De Vito. It's a dull story about a deformed baby, whose parents chose to leave him in the city canal to die. However, he doesn't die, little Cobblepot stays down the city sewer during his whole childhood, getting raised by the penguins living down under. So, around thirty years later, he's back for revenge. Also, in this picture the mysterious Catwoman will enter the picture.

Of course, from the beginning she's nothing more but a scatterbrained secretary assistant. However. The movie is really beautiful. The same dystopian picture painted by Tim Burton as you saw in the first movie. It's brilliant. Now, I see over at IMDb that this is the last Batman flick that Burton directed. From here on, the story takes a shift. No more Michael Keaton. In the next movie we will have Val Kilmer as Batman/Bruce, and in the forth film he will be played by E.R star George Clooney. I have to say I laughted when I read it. Damn it, how come I don't remember. I've seen all these movies - like ten years ago. Strange indeed. However. I can guarantee the masterpiece status of the first two movies. Well see what I have to say about the others.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103776/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_Returns

Movie: "Batman" (1989)

2008-10-09T11:19:00.008+02:00

This is a real classic. I remember watching is as a kid, I was amazed by every scene. I must say the scenes from this movie is really nailed deep into my mind. I know it's something sspecial, 'cuz with lots of movies I've seen over the years, it's like I'm having real difficulties recalling scenes/plot when I rerun them after only a couple of years. This is different. Take [for instance] when Jack is being treated by the quack plastic surgeon. Only here is a little Burton mystery. Where did the quack find the mangled Jack? While he was taking his daily evening walk down dumpster lane? This is the parts I loved, already as a kid. A while ago, I was talking to a friend over the phone about the new Batman movie. I told him I was preparing myself for running a Batman marathon. "Oh, but are you really going to beet through those old films with Michael Keaton?", he asked me, almost sounding surprised. I simply told him the task was not at all unbearable to me. Anyways. So, now I've started this little marathon on my own. Too bad my beloved fiancé doesn't approve the Gotham style. You can't have it all, right? Anyways, she tells me that I'm her little Batman. Sounds bearable! :) Anyways, this isn't really the first Batman movie. Back in the 60's, there was this "The Movie" with Adam West and Burt Ward casting as Batman and Robin. Anyways, these two films are not to be compared. Say what you want about neat nostalgic films, but "The Movie" was way too much inplanted comic-style bubbles with "WHOOOM!" "BOOOM!" sounds, almost making it ridicilus. Anyways, this is not just a sweet script, dealing with topics [not the least of current interest] such as greed and vanity over looks. Everything wrapped in a neat shell with beatiful photography. I mean outstanding(!) photography. The bat-mobile, the bat-aeroglider, the dystopian industrial scenery. It's brilliant, all the way through.

The plot on this one? Well, Gotham City is in a state of chaos. The mobster affiliations has dug a black hole of corruption in the city. Multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne is of course the savior of the city. Since he was just a little kid, watching his parents get mercilessly executed after a robbery, he swore that he will get his revenge. Now, his dark alter ego is the scary crime-fighting bat of the night. Carl Grissom is the crime boss of the city. Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) is only one of his puppets, even though Napier has always thought about himself as something more. When Napier becomes a casualty of a bust, his(!) dark alter ego will take form - The Joker.

Batman of course has to have a lady. Here this is Kim Bassinger, playing Vicky Vale, a journalist on the hunt for more. Of course, with Bruce Wayne alias Batman, things will develop a bit personal. It's going to be real interesting to watch the sequel.

PS. Click the poster image for the mind-blowing trailer!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(1989_film)

A pleasent yesterday and a cold day today!

2008-10-08T11:18:00.004+02:00

Yep, that's about it. Yesterday, we stood ready at the airport at a quarter past six in the morning. At 7 AM, the flight that was about to take us to UME->ARN took off. I must say, it was probably the longest flight I've ever been on. It took like 1h15m, instead of the usual approx. 50m. We even missed the scheduled airport bus. Anyways. Back to the flight experience. You know sometimes when you're just at the same level as the clouds, it's all blurry, to suddenly get that "clear tree view" when the plane has gone below. Well, it was the same this time. Except, before we entered "cloud level", I thought that the sea of clouds was really beautiful. I can't recall ever having seen such an amazing view of clouds. It was like a huge white ocean. Wild. Really wild. So, slowly we went down. Into the clouds, covering all plane windows with blur, we were not able to see anything(!). Then, suddenly, BUMP, BUMP. The sound of the aircraft hitting the runway under us. We had landed. Oh my gosh. The fog was bizarre. Cabin crew sent out the message that we (for some [not explained; yet explicable] reason) had landed on the international flights runway of Arlanda Airport. They would sent buses to come pick us up, dropping us of at the domestic terminal. Is it necessary for me to mention that we missed the airport bus that we had scheduled? Anyways, no big deal. We had a great time in Uppsala, as our destination for today wasn't the capital. Oh no. Gosh, I have not been in Uppsala since the Reggae Festival a bit more than a year ago. The city is really beautiful, when you look at it through the right dimensions. Later on, we had lunch on Burger King, a pleasent meal. Yummy. The afternoon flight back home was better. We even arrived five minutes ahead of schedule. In the evening, we celebrated a successful day with order pizza. One traditional kebab pizza, and one with fresh tomatoes, Bearnaise, and fillet of beef. We cut them to halves and enjoyed.. Yum!

Today, Wednesday, I woke up looking at the thermometer, slightly shocked. At a quarter past eight and it showed minus degrees. This is the first time I actually see the minus sign in a half-year or so. This was truly going to be one of these really cold days. Brrr. I had breakfast with a cup of strong coffee, and left for the daily routines. I must add, half an hour later the temperature had raised to like +1°.

Laters!

The exquisite ice cream drink

2008-10-06T17:39:00.002+02:00

Preparations.

Blending it.

Ready to drink.

This is a must-try, that much I can guarantee you.

The construction of a new railroad platform

2008-10-06T11:54:00.003+02:00

The downside of living in the north of Sweden is bad traffic communications. From Sundsvall (around 170 miles to the south) it gets much better. The daily train traffic from there is a lot more frequent. From Umeå, only like 2 trains a day stop for travelers, with Gothenburg (via Stockholm) as only destination.

However, the plans on the Botnia railway has been around since the late 90's. Now, around ten years later, it has finally started to happen things. I must say this really amazes me. The new "Botnia" line will evidently have at least one additional stop (compared with today's trains, stopping only at Umeå C). The construction work of a whole new platform is fascinating. It's called "Umeå Östra" (Umea East) and will be located just beside the University Hospital. In other words, really not that far away from where I live. As I pass by this spot more or less by daily routine, I can't have escaped the progress of the construction work. I'm so impressed, I've actually started taking photographs of it. Here, I post some of the pictures.

It's truly amazing how they're going to blow up a new tunnel, really not sure where it's going to lead. The preparations seems to lead under the car roundabout which lies between the becoming platform and the hospital. Well, I won't say too much, since I really don't know. Anyways, it's exciting.

Movie: "Mio In The Land Of Faraway" (1987)

2008-10-05T12:22:00.003+02:00

Amazing adventure film. I can't remember ever having seen this one as a kid. A real shame, 'cuz I know I would have been really impressed. The first thing that struck me was when "Christian Bale" turned up at the credit roll in the beginning of the film. How funny, another Christian Bale, appearing in a piece of film created after a novel by Astrid Lindgren. It was first when I recognized the [at this time] around ten year old Christian Bale I was truly stunned. Wow. Funny indeed. In the beginning of the film there were a bounce of scenes with skylight view over Stockholm city. I wonder if they actually filmed the "saga stuff" in Sweden, or if the Stockholm from above view was only cut in, whereas the rest of the film was filmed in America, or someplace else. Oh, that's right, Christian Bale is actually not American, but Brittish. He was born in the UK, I read at the IMDb mini-biography. Perhaps not such a big effort getting him across Europe after all. Anyways, the film is great. I will definitely show this film to my children, and I know they will sit there, filled with exitement. So, what was it all about? It's about little Bosse, a young boy who has been placed into a fosterhome since his mother died giving birth to him. His father? He's not around. Life's hard on Bosse. The kids from the block bully him a lot, probably 'cuz his status isn't exactly top ten, being orphan and all. Anyways, suddenly, some sort of magic wind (metaphoricly speaking, see the details for yourself) sweeps over him, taking him to the magic Land of Beyond, where his father holds the kingdom. The only enemy is Kano, the evil ruler over the adjacent kingdom. Kano is [litterarly] a man with a heart of stone. Now, it turns out that Bosse's real name is Mio. His father will (giving the movie it's title) repeatedly call out "Oh, Mio min Mio..", embracing his son. Remarkable. Wonderful.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093543/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mio_min_Mio_(film)

A long walk incl. baby wear shopping

2008-10-04T09:41:00.006+02:00

A dull Friday afternoon. The weather wasn't something to count on, and the radio wasn't playing anything interesting in particular. So, what was we to do? Well, we decided to go for a walk downtown. With bicycle, this trip is 10-15 minutes. Walking, however, makes it more about half an hour. Heavy winds as an extra spice, gosh. Well, we made it without any trees falling over us. So, we went to Åhléns and bought some clothes for our unborn baby. It's the second time we do this, it feels really awsome. Here's what we got on yesterday's trip.

A nice brown sweaater.

I personally loved this sweater.

White soft pants to feel comfortable in.

So, I will probably post snapshots on other baby wear later on, as I hadn't really made anything official (other than by burying a post-stamp blog like half a year back in time*) that last time. Anyways. There will be more!

As we got home again, sausage stroganof came as a blessing. Unfortunately, while everything was in the stew, she noticed we were out of mashed tomatoes. Damn, I had to jump on the bike and go back into the cold outdoors. Supermarket ahead. Weeha! However, as the stroganof melted inside my mouth, I felt that it most definitely hadn't been for nothing! ;)

Smile of today! :-)

2008-10-03T13:15:00.001+02:00

Movie: "Rain Man" (1988)

2008-10-02T21:48:00.001+02:00

Haven't had the great opportunity of watching this classic until now. Strange, really. However, it was beautiful. It's about Charles (played by a young Tom Cruise), a car salesman who runs his own company, but is obviously on his way down the drain. Deals knocking down on him, the DPA failing his imported cars, loan givers being ready to pull back. Everything looks bad.

So, suddenly Charles receives notice that his father has passed away. His first reaction is, well of course a bit chocked, yet it doesn't seem to bother him that much. As his fiancé [riding in the car with him as he receives the news over the 80's-styled car phone] reacts on that he doesn't seem to show the usual emotions, he explains how come the father-son relationship hasn't exactly been all that idyllic.

Anyways, they go for the funeral. It shall be revealed that Charles is more concerned about any possible heritage than the act of mourning. So, he goes there, really just to find out that his father had written a special will leaving him with less than he had thought. Let's say he'd been thrifty with the liquid assets. However, another not yet known factor also comes to Charles knowledge - he has a brother. Not just any brother, but an autistic brother which his/their father had not ever spoken about. So, what's an autistic person like? Well, there are several types of autism. Raymond here is dealing with the savant syndrome, which I personally find really amazing. Savant persons are somewhat a computer system. They do advanced math problems like 2+2. They also have the capacity to store huge amounts of informations in their "hard drive". Like, phone books, history, whatever. However, human emotions and social behavior just doesn't click right. Therefor, savant persons have great difficulties living in a normal society.

However, it will get obvious that Charles isn't the most caring brother at first. His company is on the edge of falling, and he needs to think of a way to get his hands on the three million dollars of liquid assets that his father had left behind. However, a interesting journey begins from here. Towards the end, things will look somewhat different.

A great movie, that everyone should go see. Dustin Hoffman makes a great role as Raymond, the autistic brother. Like I've said before, it has to be a real struggle to fit into a role as mentally otherwise. This is the second time I see this (the first one I mentioned was Sigourney Weaver in 'Snow Cake'). However, really great film. Go see this one, if you haven't already.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095953/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_Man

The Ecologist

2008-10-02T09:30:00.004+02:00

Yesterday took a warm turn in environmental movement.

When me and my fiancé were at the hypermarket, I noticed they had sales on Low-Energy light bulbs. I've considered changing my light bulbs for a long time, it just hasn't happened. This was a good time. So, I picked the 11 watt lamp, which is equivalent to a 60 watt environment-hazardous bulb, and my excitement began to rise within me.

I [of course] changed the light bulb first thing as we stepped inside. Then hitting the switch, and tada, the warm light increasing by degrees. Amazing. After less than a minute, the light felt just as usual; consuming only ~1/6 the power resources. You really start doubting why this change isn't enforced by the government. The next generation will think of us as real madmen, gaining light from these [obviously over-devouring] pieces of vacuum content. Feels great to be on the track. Today, I will go buy more LE light bulbs; I would not be able to sleep with myself if I left a E27 light bulb socket with a environmental risk. Not a chance!

I must also [like I marked out like half a year ago already] point out that I'm recycling all garbage since I moved in here. Hard plastic, glass, pasteboard, sheet metal. Everything in it's assigned container. Gosh, I get the creeps when I think a couple of years ago, living in my first apartment. I mashed everything(!) down in the garbage can, and threw the bags directly into the container for inflammable stuff. Not a very smart way of taking care of ones waste disposal, now is it? One thing is for certain, I will never let my kids hear about that. How could I have lived with myself, acting like I had no respect at all for our next-coming generations?

Hail the environment.
Together we can make things happen!

Dear old workstation.

2008-10-01T09:53:00.006+02:00

Gash, yesterday was a real hassle. I can tell you that much. It started early in the morning when I turned on my computer. Due to some minor inconveniences I decided to enter the BIOS. So, I made my adjustments and saved for reboot. Ka-blaam! I got stuck at the POST phase. The last line I read was the CPU identification, no quick memory testing, no possibility for hitting DEL. Stuck! This wasn't what I was expecting. After a couple of minutes I realized the seriousness of this matter. I was stuck. I had to fetch some ancient computer at some 2nd hand store, just to fetch the floppy drive and re-flash the BIOS, 'cuz I couldn't get into the operating system. Then it hit me, I would not even be able to re-write BIOS data through a floppy drive, since I was stuck at nowhere land. Oh no!

I hoped for a minor circuit flaw that a JP1 reset would correct. So, I popped the hood and flipped the jumper back and forth. Reboot. Same old lock-down screen. I started feeling blue. This was not fun. Fortunately, my photos and other precious data wouldn't be harmed, since they were on the hard drive. Anyways, it is not fun being all shutdown like this. We went to my fiancé's apartment where I hooked up with Google. After some reading, I began to suspect that my PLCC chip (chief over the BIOS program) had been physically injured. These things could evidently happen. Damn. Of course, what had I expected? My workstation is a couple of years old, not exactly a shining new Lamborghini, and it's been through a lot. Of course it was time for memorial service. This was only a matter of acceptance right now. Anyways, I couldn't go there, not just yet. I ran into a computer shop downtown, and explained my issue, and asked them how much it would cost me to have them finding a new (fitting) PLCC chip, plus mounting it (a solder task). They told me I could count on ending up on around 700 SEK (72.12€ / 103.36$).

"Oh. That doesn't sound all that bad. Let me think it over, then I'll get back to you"

As I left the store, I thought to my self, "Not a chance on earth, not with today's budget". Besides, for only like twice that amount, I would probably get a brand new (modern) ShuttleX chassis, no longer being bound to an old motherboard running Socket 478 CPU's, which are no longer manufactured. I'd just let it be for now. So I went home again. Made a final attempt to reset the CMOS through that pin jumper. Guess if I gave a happy smile when the good old lad booted up..? You bet!

You see, I don't need a top of the line computer. I'm happy with this machinery. Just look at it, the front is like a bathroom mirror, fully equipped with a 6-in-1 card reader, plus audio as well as USB(2.0) ports. It's a knight in shining armor. Wow, I was so happy. Later on the day, I celebrated this victory by eating lunch on McDonald's. I also went into a electronics shop and bought a PCI card providing 4+1 additional USB(2.0) ports. Up until now, I had used my (only) PCI slot for a dumb ass WAN adapter, an old 54MBit model that is. So, I figured that with additional USB ports, I could plug a WAN dongle in whenever I felt like it. Anyways, right now there's no need, since I've desist from being connected at home. Anyways, these ports were good for just about anything. I mean, everything goes through USB nowadays. We're foremost the USB nation, aren't we?

Just thought I'd share this happy story with y'all!

OpenOffice 3 - soon to come..

2008-09-29T09:33:00.004+02:00

A long waiting filled with expectations. Hopefully, the launch is just a couple of days away. However, seems like it's been postponed at least once. I reckon, like a week ago, the Swedish OpenOffice site claimed the preliminary release date to be at 29th of September. As of today, it's set to 7th of October. Anyways, guess you can wait just a little bit longer for something as fabulous as this release.

Running out of Ketaprofen gel

2008-09-26T11:59:00.001+02:00

Heh. Still unsure of whether this NSAID stuff is really helping at all. However, it must be placebo or something, 'cuz when I'm in the loop of lubricating it into my forearm, I just can't seem to get enough. A big shout-out to that muscle-caring nurse who gave me the tip about NSAID á gel. I mean, how come nurses up at boot camp land didn't tell me about this back in 2004 when the first symptoms occurred. Strange indeed. Feels like a big waste to spread this [known to cause gastric ulcer as main side effect] substance out more than necessary.

However, the gel is as you can see not everlasting.

My first tube - 13th of August 2008

My first tube - 26th of September 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketoprofen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSAID

A.M.F.A.B - A Major Food Ambient Blog v0.1

2008-09-24T10:35:00.007+02:00

Just catching the vibes, trying to figure out the appropriate interface for this one. However, there's no time to argue with myself about little things. Time to hit the haystack.

28th of August

One meaty day!

24th of August

The Salmon was calling us!

23th of August

Chicken Race on the highway, hombre!

21th of August

Meat is what the doctor referred to!

18th of August

Farmer beef w. vegetables means happiness!

17th of August

The delicious mixture of sausage, vegetables 'N' hocus!

16th of August

I'm no chicken, I just eat lots of white meat!!

15th of August

Hamburgers 'R' us right now.
We do not refer to traditional fastfood corners.

14th of August

Meat? How could I eat so much? It must be a miracle!

13th of August

Back to the world-famous Sausage Stroganof.
This here is to die for!

9th of August

My sweet lady preparing the onion.

Lucid dreams in wonderland

2008-09-23T10:31:00.004+02:00

Wow.

When I woke up this morning, I could recall the strangest dream. It was so clear. I was sort of drawing a Rocky strip, but not as a comic, but more of motion. I mean like, my focus wasn't on the illustrations, but on the storyline of the strip. And how I made it connect, truly amazing. I recall two pieces of the story. On the first one, Rocky was having a conversation with a friend of his, regarding childhood memories. This side-characters explains that back when he was a kid, he was always so anxious to get on the train so that he was always standing nasty close to the edge of the platforms. I mean like, where did I get this idea from? I know I read in the news a couple of days ago about some guy who had been hit by a S-train due to an unfortunate tripping (whereas [of course] he must have stood close to the platform). Wow, could this be a blast from the sky. The Almighty Creator (for no particular reason) trying to tell me how that man was hit by that train 'cuz of stress. So, if I dig deeper into it. Where does this leave me? Hmm.. Wicked indeed. However, in the other half of this Rocky strip I was ..err.. shooting.. Rocky was having a daydream about how he would lay his hands on some real rare concert tickets. Then, Rocky is suddenly standing on the platform, waiting for a friend to arrive by train. When he does, he hands Rocky a couple of concert tickets. However, it was some lame shit, not that cool concert that Rocky was hoping for. Names of the artists? Well, you have to keep in mind that lucid dreams blocks away all unessential stuff. So, here is the part where Rocky is giving his "jerked-off" smile directly to the strip-viewer, this is sort of the bottom end score for this strip. I'm telling you, it was incredible.

Back to being bald!

2008-09-22T18:08:00.003+02:00

Yeah. I know we're reaching in upon autumn, even winter, but I just felt like doing it. It's such a nice feeling, a clean shaved head. So fresh, even when it's cold outside.

Movie: "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007)

2008-09-22T11:15:00.004+02:00

So, yesterday me and my beloved fiancé watched this film. Nice photography all the way through the movie, is oughtta be my first comment on this one. What more is there to say. It's a pretty nice story, yet from what I understand told a couple of times before throughout the years. However, Tim Burton really laid a smooth hand over on this one. It just has to be said. The film is made like a musical, with lots of singing. Some which I almost thought felt a bit out of chorus, a little feature that I (after going through it) think could be inplanted in purpose. Sort of the same thing that some noisemaker I read an interview explained it, but then of course the main issue was that you should pop made up rhymes into your lyrics to make them more alive. "The listeners will go 'Wtf?!' and eventually catch on to the vibe", he explained. Hehe, well, guess I ran off topic there. Anyways, this was definitely a film worth watching. Damn, still havn't ran that Batman marathon, and it feels like that DVD release for The Dark Knight is getting pretty near now.

Movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408236/
http://www.sweeneytoddmovie.com/

About the fictional main character:

GIMP 2.4.7

2008-09-21T09:55:00.003+02:00

It's been nearly a month since it's release, but I'm a little bit slow on catching those crucial updates. Besides, I've had lots of other stuff to think about. Anyways. For all those who are totally new to GIMP, it's a form of [GNU / Open / Free] image manipulation software. Think Adobe Photoshop, but free of charge, developed by volonteers from all around the world. Then there are those who have heard about GIMP, but has thought that it was only available for Linux/UNIX environment. This is wrong, 'cuz the GIMP was Windoze-ported a long time ago.

Check it out!

http://gimp.org/

Rocky #6 / 2008 out now!

2008-09-18T11:50:00.001+02:00

It's worth a shout-out!

What's up?!

2008-09-11T18:35:00.006+02:00

I've seen a couple of films, but I've also been going through lots of things lately. Therefor, I'm written more stuff in my own personal notebook than online. I'll eventually scrap it up anyways. Hope everyone's doing well.

However, I couldn't focus very well during neither one of these movies. All I could think of was how incredible beautiful the business central area of South-Korean capital Seoul looks through skylight.

However, regarding the films, I must say I had higher expectations on Blue Velvet. I thought it would be some sick shit with lots of freaky stuff on a mental level. I mean, isn't that somewhat of David Lynch's speciality? I thought Blue Velvet was almost concidered a classic? Watching it was boring anyways.

Still, I feel closer to Seoul than to Gotham City, nor Lumberton for that matter. Seoul, I bet they never suffer winter over there.

Movie: "Bucket List" (2007)

2008-09-09T09:41:00.003+02:00

Interesting film. Really not the usual crap, so to say ;D The rich millionarie Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) is put in hospital 'cuz of severe cancer. He's on the list of "important people" who usually support the hospital economicly (from what I see a PR thingie), you could almost say he's a co-owner of the hospital. Anyways, here he is, lying in the bed with lethal internal injuries, slowly ripping him into pieces.

So, here's where Carter (Morgan Freeman) enters the picture. He's a [low-working class] car mechanic, who also seem to have met this unpleasent destiny that cancer means. So, they have beds in the same room, giving them lots of time for conversation. In the beginning, you could say both of them are almost hostile, probably partly 'cuz of this sudden newsflash of life that they have been given.

Anyways, friendship grows slowly. So, as they eventually come to accept their destiny, they get the idea of writing a list on every dream that they would have liked to pursuit before the end of time. Here's where the adventure starts. Really wonderful. Brilliant story, even though death is not to fool around. It shall come to visit all of us, eventually..

7/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825232/
http://thebucketlist.warnerbros.com/

Movie: "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004)

2008-09-08T19:51:00.001+02:00

Brilliant.

I saw this one shortly after its premiere, this was about four years ago. However, [thanks to my halfway screwed sequencing memory] I had forgotten a huge part of the story, so it was a really nice refreshening.

Napoleon is a highschool kid with something that looks like lightweight authism, but it's really hard to say exactly what it is. However, you may get the impression that he is a bit strange. He's a nice boy though, especially noticable when he meets a new friend, Pedro. Things will get wild.

7/10

"He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374900/
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/napoleondynamite/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Dynamite

Ice cream w. chocolate powder - underestimated!

2008-09-07T19:21:00.000+02:00

Most people have probably not even tried it. I can tell you one thing for sure, you've missed out on something incredible. You cannot make the simple comparison with simply buying chocolate ice cream, 'cuz it's just not the same thing. Try this one. I hope everyone gets that by chocolate powder I mean the stuff that usually go with milk to make chocolate drinks. OBOY is the most common Swedish brand, whereas I suppose Nestle's product "Nesquik" runs the market in other parts of Europe.

Yummy!

Movie: "Vantage Point" (2008)

2008-09-07T11:41:00.002+02:00

Not as faschinating as I thought it would be. When I read the plot "..president assassination.. but when everyone sync their watches.." I had expectations on some really high-turn twist towards the end, gasp-crawling, you know what I'm saying. This was actually just an ordinary action film about a bounce of terrorists who's after the US president. No newsflash, not like we havn't seen it before.

Not fly!

4/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443274/
http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/vantagepoint/

Movie: "Stir Of Echoes" (1999)

2008-09-06T23:57:00.000+02:00

Really great film. Me and my fiancé was looking forward on seeing something more of a horror flick than the drama/thrillers we've seen lately. So, this is where we landed. I had no expectations at all, not knowing what this would be, not even sure if it was just a thriller, or a spaced out boogey man production.

So, it turned out to be awsome. Kevin Bacon plays Tommy, an ordinary all-American suburbian man. Together with Maggie (Kathryn Erbe, whom you may have seen as the death-sentenced Sherley in 'Oz') he has a son, Jake. This whole story starts with a houseparty with the family a couple of blocks away. Tom is cynical-minded about para-normal stuff, so he laughts at the bare thought about hypnosis. However, Maggies sister Lisa talks him into giving it a try, even though he's being slightly drunk. So, the hypnotizing is a success. But hey, are you supposed to get cold turkey by a hypnosis session? Tom starts seeing things. Nasty things.

I get influence vibes from aswell 'The Shining' as 'The Sixth Sense'. However, this film was really great. Brought something, and leaves you in that pleasent state of mind that you wish to be living in when you leave the theatre.

7/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164181/

Movie: "Million Dollar Baby" (2004)

2008-09-06T16:46:00.000+02:00

Now - this - was a great movie, written by Paul Haggis; directed by Clint Eastwood himself. Strangely enough I havn't seen it until now. Probably 'cuz I'm usually not so much into sports movies. However, this one was more of a tragic saga. Sort of like you couldn't say Forrest Gump is a sports movie neither, right?!

Here's Maggie (Hilary Swank), a woman in her early 30's, dreaming about becoming great in boxing. She's from the dirty south, so she has nothing but shit in her backpack anyways. So, she comes to the boxing gym where Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) trains young boxers. At first, he won't even look at her. First of all, because the bare fact that she's a girl. "Girl - being touch ain't enough" he tells her. However, due to circumstances (most of all her strong will) he eventually takes her in for practise. She becomes really great, and is just longing for that one title match that will take her to the stars...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405159/
http://milliondollarbabymovie.warnerbros.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Dollar_Baby

Movie: "Sublime" (2007)

2008-09-05T23:21:00.000+02:00

The worst piece of shit I've seen in years(!). Didn't even know it was one of those straight-to-DVD productions at first, 'cuz then I'd probably never have watched it. A routine procedure at a hospital ends up in mystic horror by some African witchdoctor who blames white man for everything, this while chopping his fingers bit by bitgar with a garden tool. Not entertaining at all. Especially lame when this african witchdoctor first holds this "mystic voodoo attitude", and from this shift over to something more of a Harlem thug attitude. So lame. So incredible lame.

Do not watch this film!

2/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822858/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublime_(film)

Movie: "Hell Ride" (2008)

2008-09-05T19:28:00.000+02:00

Written and directed by "the legendary" Larry Bishop, produced by Tarantino, I had expectations on at least something watchable - not this mess. This really didn't reach out at all. Just nonsense. I guess Tarantino's contribution is the naked hooter girls and the few throat-slice-cuts, but it still wasn't enough. The story is about a motorcycle gang that has is looking to find a treasure that a - once young boy - got to key to from his mother, who got slaughtered right after. Of course, by a competing gang. So, on-the-road slaughters, using wicked arrow guns as weapons. Not even this was faschinating. The [least said wicked] carbon dioxide relay that the bad man in 'No Country For Old Men' strikes with. Now that's(!) a weapon, not these little sissy crossbows. Nah, this didn't fly well at all.

Like I said, it didn't fly well.

4/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411475/
http://www.hellridemovie.com/

Movie: "Reign Over Me" (2007)

2008-09-04T00:19:00.001+02:00

This film has had great reviews over at IMDb, 7.8 to be accurate. Still - it doesn't recieve the big clap from me. It's about a tendist, Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) who rans into his old college room mate, Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler), who he has heard rumours about getting all isolated from the real wo rld since he lost his entire family in the 9/11 catastrophe. So, this appears to be true. Charlie Fineman is so totally into his music, always wearing thick headphones, when he's not in the record store of ocurse. Now, at first, Fineman doesn't even seem to recognize Alan. But Alan is a stubborn dentist, he just isn't willing to give up. So, yes, the relationship between Alan and his old room mate Charlie Fineman begins to grow (again). In the meanwhile, Charlie's mother-in-law is trying to get him institutionalized, since he just isn't willing to speak to them anymore.

I think this was a pretty messy film. Sure, it has it's moment, but I can't see it standing up to the 7.8 that IMDb voters has given it. A sad drama in it's whole, not sure if it's the Sandler appearance that gives me a tweaky feeling about it, but it not one of the better/more original films I've seen.

However, a funny fact was how I could recall the face of Cheadle from 'E.R.', despite the fact that my face recogition skill is usually someplace below point zero, PLUS the fact that I now also see that he only appeared in four(!) episodes of the television series. Funny, I really nailed him there.

5/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490204/
http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/reignoverme/

Movie: "The Thirteenth Floor" (1999)

2008-09-03T17:08:00.004+02:00

Wow!

Really liked this sci/fi flick. Actually I do remember when it had it's premiere around nine years ago. However, by some strange reason I seem to have missed out on it. Guess I was fully occupied with being a savage teenage boy then, hehe.

Anyways, I remember back in the early days of year 2000, me and a friend had this "what if everything is just planted.." discussion, concluding that if that was the case we would probably be memory-wiped before we woke up the next morning, to prevent us from spreading this fact. Heh, the idea was then mostly my own (perhaps with a bit of inspiration from 'The Matrix' though ^^), but I'm not sure about him. When come thinking about it, out discussion was more like the scenario of this film, than Matrix. Had my friend seen this film already? ..'cuz I sure as hell hadn't! :|

Anyways..

A game company has worked six years with a VR-alike sort of thing which enables you to visit a fully similated world, with electric circuits as human beings, behaving exactly(!) like us human beings, even living with the awareness of being human beings, just like us. The bad things starts when the company's boss, Hannon Fuller, suddenly is found murdered in a dark alley. Who has had the reason to do such thing? Damn, hope I havn't spoiled too much of the plot by those inner thoughts I described above. The film is really awsome though. The "30's similation" is well-made indeed, really smooth all the way. Go see this film, if you havn't already..

7/10 (a strong one, that is!)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139809/

Movie: "The Lookout" (2007)

2008-09-02T22:51:00.000+02:00

Not that bad, really not that bad. Here's the sweet kid Joseph Gordon-Levitt ('Mysterious Skin') as Chris Pratt, a brat kid taken away from all the glory of his life after a serious car accident. When you first get the "Four years later" insight, you don't really see that anything has happened. He doesn't need a wheelchair to get up, and he speaks. It's a while later you begin to understand that something actually did happen to him. His functions is severely impaired, which has affected nevertheleast his social network. From being a top player in the local ice hockey team, with bimbos all around him, he's now stuck(?!) in a co-habitee with a blind man (Jeff Daniels). He doesn't do much else. His memory is messed up so he has this notebook he writes down everything of importance. He has managed to get a job as a cleaner at the local bank in the hole where they live. Now, the badness starts vailing in. Some creepy guys sees an opportunity in Chris condition. If they just manage to get connected..

6/10

http://video.movies.go.com/thelookout/

Movie: "Homegrown" (1998)

2008-09-02T13:35:00.001+02:00

Heh. I've been looking for this one for years. Now I finally had the opportunity of watching it. It was.. okey! Definitely okey. Dunno if it's to be considered a comedy or a thriller. The excitement concerning "the spooky part" is a bit too high to just draw a straight line and throw this in the pile of ordinary pothead comedies. It was actually really enjoyable.

Jack (Billy Bob Thornton), Carter and the youthful Harlan (Ryan Phillippe) is growing marijuana on the outdoor fields. I didn't catch the location, but it seems to be some Californian village. Anyways, the whole community seems to be more or less into the thing with growing dope. So, the trio makes a fair profit on their little business, and their so called manager Malcolm is keeping the authorities down with settled bribes. So, everything is ok up in at chillout county. Until, all of a sudden Malcolm gets wacked by someone(?!). What to do? First the trio is certain that the authorities is involved in Malcolm's death. But then, why is the plant fields still untouched several days later? Strange.

Maybe, just maybe, the three of them could keep on with business as usual, like as nothing ever happened. So, Jack is harvesting weed on one half of his time, whereas he's paying off the sheriff, hiring cheap harvesting labour, etc (under the name of Malcolm) on the other. How long will this last before shit hits the fan? And who Did murder Malcolm?

It's a wicked story with the romantic spice needed to hold it up for approx. one and a half hour. This movie works for a lazy Sunday.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119305/

Movie: "Manic" (2001)

2008-09-02T12:09:00.001+02:00

Beyond expectations, really. This film was really knocking me in the right place. It's about Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a kid with this aggressive part that he has having great difficulties controlling. So, the film begins when he has just bashed another kid's head in(!) with a baseball bat. When he's sitting at the principle's office, he suddenly recieves the news that this time he's not getting away. He's to go from here, to the Northwood Mental Institution, for a validation. "This transport can go more or less smooth, it's up to you", sort of. It's pretty cool, 'cuz the whole movie is filmed in this documentary footage style, if you know what I mean. It occasionally sort of feels like one whole Bumfights episode. Anyways.

He ends up at this institution, meeting lots of other kids with different sorts of disorders. Girls hurting themselves with razor blades, sexually abused boys, etc. The whole shaboom kaboodle, so to speak. The story is sort of a telling from within the institutional walls. Lyle has firmly decided that he's on his way out. He's leaving the States for Europe/Amsterdam ("Freedom land"), where all his problems will just disapear. So, well, I found this film great. Watch it, if you havn't already.

7/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252684/

Historical war movies - an epic withdraw..

2008-09-02T11:53:00.007+02:00

Havn't seen much war movies in my days. So, to wrap it up I thought I'd watch somewhat of the cream of the genre. Not really sure if this is what I did, or if I just slammed through the usual mainstream crap of the genre. Nah, strike that. These are known masterpieces, and they earn respect even though I'm not really a fan of war dramas.

Gladiator (2000)

Started with this one. Marcus Aurelius is the king, and his throne shall be enherited by ..someone.. Of course, his deceitful son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) thinks that it's going to be him, mostly because the fact that he's the only son. What he hadn't expected is that Marcus Aurelius last words is that that the throne shall be inherited by the brave leader of the royal army - Maximus (Russel Crowe). Commodus gets really upset and actually gives his father a conclusive death blow. Hey, I ain't spoiling shit, everyone (except me, hehe) has seen this film already. Anyways. Commodus forces the throne and sentences Maximus to be executed in the woods. What he doesn't except is that Maximus has more lives than a cat. Anyhow, this movie wasn't really great.

Braveheart (1995)

Directed by Mel Gibson, wow. I know he's made a real box office success with Apocalypto so this may be where he started into this. This is about Scotland. It's in the 13:th century, and the heathens and the nobility and the church havn't reach any firm boundries just yet. The only thing that the reign knows how to decide, is a new law that gives all noblemen the right to subdue virgins before they are lawfully wed with their respectively farmers. Mel Gibson isn't too happy with this, especially since them savages has wraped and slaughtered the woman who he has loved ever since they were kids. Now he's out for personal revenge. Also, he will give freedom to all of Scotland. Whoa. This film actually had its moments, but it wasn't all that..

Troy (2004)

The final film. Hadn't seen it, yet I've read the Greek and Roman mythology (at least a couple of times) so I recalled the characters names and suchlike, nevertheleast the Akilles heel scene in the movie. I guess the best part with this movie was when I recognized lots of the things that were going on. However, I'm still no fan of epic war dramas. I guess this was just something that had to be done, sooner or later. Of course, with Brad Pitt as the brave warrior Akilles, it was definitely worth watching.

Movie: "Next" (2007)

2008-09-01T23:15:00.000+02:00

a fo
Really not that bad, even though I wouldn't call it a class A movie. It's based upon a story by famous sci/fi writer Philip K. Dick (whose novels has become big movies such as Blade Runner, Total Recall, Paycheck). However, After Total Recall I havn't seen much of clean cuts on his novels. I do not blaspheme his work, nah, I think it's brilliant, all I say is I think the movie productions could be so much more.

Here we meet Chris Johnson (Nicholas Cage), a man with the incredible ability to foreseeing. Well, at least he can see twop minutes into the future. That's just about his limit. The thing is that you can't take a glance on the future without changing a bit, so you'd have to be careful. Everything has been quite calm in Chris life. He has this little on-the-road show under the artist name Frank Cadillac. On his sparetime he sometimes visits the casino to collect, not a fortune, but just so that he gets by.

Everything changes the day he sees Liz (Jessica Biel). He notices that the bare thought upon her pushes him to foresee more than his usual two minutes. Very strange. He needs to get in touch with her again.

In the meantime, a group of terrorists has laid their hands on a deadly nuclear weapon that will destroy entire L.A. The FBI are powerless. Their last hope is .. of course .. the man with a force that they cannot seem to find in their rational mind to understand .. but what they saw on that casino surveillance tapes was real. So, they need to get Chris Johnson willing to help them, and time's running out.

The mad "chain reactions" up at canyons where pretty impressive. Some of the "Daybreak stuff" got to be a little bit exaggerated, but I didn't loose interest entirely. At least I considered this film better than Paycheck.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435705/
http://www.nextmovie.com/

Movie: "The Contract" (2006)

2008-08-31T18:11:00.003+02:00

This is a real shit movie.

Perhaps 'cuz I've already seen it once. Now you may wonder "Why watch it again if it sucked?" Well, it's a story of it's own. A mistake, really. My past seems to contain some sort of hidden chart, hehe. Hope you understand. Anyways, this is not a good movie.

Morgan Freeman is Frank Carden, a former military merchant who is now running his own little merchant service agency. "In the other side of town" former police officer now gym teacher Ray (John Cusack) is on his way to go camping with his son Chris. When Carden by an accident is busted (after being declared M.I.A for over thirty years), everyone seems to want his ass. Now, the "task force of greed" is on to him, aswell as the local authorities. They're in the woods. Oh, that's right, Frank Carden's ways are crossed with the father and son. Nasty, huh?

The script didn't hold enough surprises. Everything felt flat line, close to boring. Watch something better, this movie just isn't worth it.

3/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445946/

So, what's up?

2008-08-31T12:02:00.003+02:00

I think we're through with the summer, righteo?

Cold days, gash, the winter will soon be here. Today I wore my winter jacket for the first time in like, well, actually it wasn't more than like four months since I dropped it. Damn, this summer has been really messed up. I won't spit out any wishes about the ozone layers to shrink or something like that, 'cuz I know it will eventually harm us all.

Anyways, the weekend's passed. We've seen a couple of movies, taken a couple of long walks, had some good late night dinners. Oh, btw, havn't uploaded any dinner photos lately, I know. I'll soon make it all up by throwing a major food blog. Yeah that's right, it's gonna be funky, I know that much! :)

I've also chosen to skip phone enterily during the weekends. The only calls I seem to get is from intoxicated bastards mumbling about s-h-i-t and nothing. So, earlier, I used to call these folks back up the next day, asking what was up. Nut now, I've chosen also to skip that move. They'll be worn-out rag pieces anyways, not even able to recall what was on their mind in the first place. Many of them probably even afraid of their own shadow, being in their detox state of mind and all. Stupid folks.

So, today's Sunday. Oh wee, time really passes by fast. I'm starting to feel really hungry, guess I'll be having lunch. Laters aligators!

Movie: "Legends of the Fall" (1994)

2008-08-30T23:49:00.002+02:00

Wow.

I'll spit it out right away. Probably the best romantic drama I've ever seen. Really beautiful. Even though I'm heterosexual, I must say it was hard to resist Brad Pitt as he stood there in his what.. 20's? Now I finally understand why chicks were so into him back in the 90's. Really astonishing.

So..

Collonel William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins) has thrown in the towel when it comes to war. He never liked the way the government treated the indians. Their brutal extermination, pitiful. So, he has lived in a cottage on the wild countryside for a couple of years now. Here he lives with his lady Isabel, nd his three sons: Alfred, Tristan, and Samuel. His lady Isabel has left for urban life though. The contact between father, wife, and sons goes through letters, in the movie often read afterwards by One Stab, the friendly indian who lives with the family in the cottage.

Also, the youngest of the three sons, Samuel, has found himself a fiancé. Susannah (Julia Ormond) then comes to live with them in the cottage. My own lady claimed that it was obvious already from the beginning that there would be passion between Tristan (Brad Pitt) and Susannah. The dazzling glances between them at first sight. May be so, hehe. Anyways. The First World War is present around them, so the sons decide to step out like brave warriors, and (hopefully) come back with glory. Then, Samuel will marry his beloved Susannah.

Of course, things doesn't work out the way they are planned. With risk of spoiling important parts, I won't say anything more, but this is definitely a film that everyone should have seen. It's the sweetest thing.

However, One Stab thought Tristan was the shattering rock, me myself, I consider Susannah to be the real bandit queen. Of course, there is no such things as a bandit queen in this. It's just beautiful! ;)

8/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110322/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legends_of_the_Fall

Movie: "Good Will Hunting" (1997)

2008-08-30T16:44:00.001+02:00

Always thought to myself that I should see this movie. So, tonight we did. It was fairly amusing. A kid who has been through all the usual cast-away phases: orphanage, foster homes, of course with all the outrage that comes along. So, here he is now, in his twenty's, cleaning hallways on the local university as main occupation; assigned to him by his parole officer.

The thing with Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is that he has this bizarre way of learning. He's considered a street punk by the masses, but really a genious. So, when a MIT professor at the school busts him for what he believes is graffiti on school property, what he really sees is the solution for a really complicated math problem. Prof. Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård) just can't let go on this one. When Will finally loses touch and doesn't slip a jail sentence, Lambeau manages to offer him a Get out of jail card, if he just plays along. The conditions for release involves seeing a therapist, this will be Sean (Robin Williams), Skylar (Minnie Driver), who Will doesn't seem to get off his mind.

How will this end? All these forces dragging Will in different directions and all. Will it come to a happy ending? Well. See for yourself. I had slight flashbacks during the film, so I guess it could be that I've seen it looong ago. However, my memory's flat-line, just as usual.

This movie reminds me about 'Finding Forrester', but this one didn't go all the way. I guess you find sympathy in the way of thinking "Wtf, stupid jerk, with that gift, you waste it?? Aaaaawergh", almost like you wanna kick him in his ass. On the other hand, you get sort of pissed 'cuz your own reading sensation isn't all that good, hehe.

An average film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Will_Hunting

Robin - 21!

2008-08-30T12:23:00.011+02:00

An old friend of mine turns twenty-one today. Congratulations, for what it's worth. I dislike birthdays in general. Why making this huge celebration about moving towards the end of one human being's life cycle? I just don't get it. However, guess you could turn it around the other way.

"C'mon, please.. We're just celebrating the fact that he has managed to stay alive through all these years. Of course, in life there will be tears too.."

Pitiful way of thinking, if you ask me. I prefer to keep a more solid perspective on life. If I wouldn't, I guess things would be more of a hassle for me then. Riding the fast lane through life, is that perhaps the best way? Is that where I'm at right now? I'm not sure. I'm only twenty-four, I don't have all the answers.

However, this one's for Robin.

Salute, my dear friend.

Movie: "Paycheck" (2003)

2008-08-30T00:48:00.000+02:00

This was worse than I'd excepted. It's about Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck), a talented engineer in computer science. Michael's working for different top-of-the-line corporations in the trade. The thing is, he's really making tons of money on his hidden savings account, by acting as a mole for competing corporations. How does he do it? Well, it's through advanced neuro-technology. To make a long story short, he get's put into a sleep-walking (best term I could think of) state of mind, where he does his part of the deal. When he wakes up, he's been gone for.. say.. months.. working undercover. Yet it feels like he's only been asleep for a couple of hours.

Now, Michael has a huge job coming up. He's going to "stay under" for three whole years. Wow, think about it. Three whole years of his life will be smashed away - in exchange for a pile of money. This is what I consider the beauty-part of the script. The whole idea about putting a value on time in the life cycle of a human being. Pretty frightening, when you think more about it.

Anyways, the deeper you dig in the film, the more shootout scenes and explosions. Of course, there's a heroine involved. Uma Thurman is Rachel, a biologist who appreciate s love more than glory.

A real weak film compared to the more original ideas such as 'Total Recall', just to take an example. Also this film is based on Philip. K. Dick novel, but it feels like it could have been so much better.

4/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338337/
http://www.paycheckmovie.com/

Movie: "Gummo" (1997)

2008-08-29T22:14:00.000+02:00

Written and directed by Harmony Korine, who also collaborated with Larry Clark on writing of the notorious film 'Kids' (1995). Anyways. This is a really dark story. So, what's happening? City of Xenia, Ohio. A tornado has struck the place, leaving the ones who didn't get killed with despair and sadness. Most from the parents' generations is dead, so lots of kids are running around wild. Anarchy among them? Well, watch for yourself. This is wicked pictures incorporated indeed, I'd say.

I remember first time I watched it, around five years ago or something like that. I knew from watching just a few scenes that this was some rugged stuff. And it was about to get worse. Blah. Kids shooting down stray cats with bebe guns, dirt, mud, despair. Repulsive, all the way through.

I'm not really sure what to say about this. The portrait is just fine. Just hoping that Harmony Korine's intention with this isn't antichrist. Not really sure where I got that idea from. Just sad hearing the mentally challenged girl singing about glory
towards the end. I mean, is it like - there is no one..? Whatever, I've seen this movie two or three times throughout the years, and I believe this will be the last time. Am I recommending it? Well, it will definitely get caught in your mind. It's one of those films, I can promise you that much..

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119237/
http://finelinefeatures.com/gummo/
http://www.harmony-korine.com/

Movie: "Trailer Park Boys - The Movie" (2006)

2008-08-29T16:09:00.001+02:00

Finally.

Around three years ago, I managed to sit and watch like all 4-5 seasons that had been hitherto aired upon US television. Havn't seen the guys until now, and it was a warm re-welcoming. It's a really awsome tv series, so I just had to watch the movie.

This is about Ricky and Julian, living in the trailer park. Ricky doesn't even have a trailer anymore, he's stuck in a really messed up car, not even with four intact doors, lmao. Anyways, here's where Ricky eats, shits, and sleeps. He's pretty comfortable with it too. He doesn't have to bother with lot fees and stuff like that.

"It's awesome.
And basically my attitude is,
I don't cause problems in this park.
You don't fuck with me,
I'm not gonna fuck with you.

But don't fuck with me,
'cause I'm gonna start
fuckin' with you big-time."

Ricky and Julian are always into business. Since Ricky stopped growing dope, they've been mostly into robbing ticket machines for change. Here's a thing Bubbles is good at, so he's always welcome to join in. Yes, Bubbles is the man with the big glasses.

Also, two blockheads called Trevor and Cory hangs out around the park. Watch out if you see their snowmobile. It usually means trouble. This is these guys life. Everything's pretty smooth, except for jerk ass park supervisor Jim Lahey (who's also an alcoholic), always trying to find reasons to interfere in these guys' life. He's cheechburger-eating assistant Randy is always there to back him up, a fool that Ricky loves slapping around slow.

Anyways, this is the big motion picture. Only screened in Canada, if I get it right. However, it's pretty damn good. Funny, indeed. I'm usually not so much for comedies, but this one managed to hit me right. So, after a stupid mishap, Ricky and Julian are sent to jail. When they get out, all the can think about is the big dirty one; that one job. When it's done, you don't need to bother anymore. Just this job, then they're out.

Of course, Ricky has some trouble of his own. His nine-year-old daughter needs nicotine patches to stop smoking, his ex has gotten a boob job and has also started working. Gash, Ricky needs to get the pieces together, quick!

Funny film.
Watch it!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425601/
http://www.trailerparkboys.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailer_Park_Boys

Movie: "THX 1138" (1971)

2008-08-29T13:03:00.000+02:00

Remarkable sci/fi flick written by Georce Lucas as long ago as in the early 70's. I must say I was fairly impressed by the filming environment. Felt futuristic. The Nascar-looking cars was also awsome. So, what's the deal here? It's in the future alright, and decisions has been made to keep all human being constantly under medication. Yep, people are being buzzed out to prevent them from thinking about "filthy" stuff such as sex. The system's having problem with one human being in particular? No big deal - just increase the dosage.

To keep control over this fragile house of cards, the government used mechanic law- and order officers, which works well, except for a few bugs here and there. It's really messy, everything is.

So, when human being THX 1138 (his serial number) starts having sexual thoughts of human nature (due to not yet mentioned circumstances), people in the control room panel has him put in solitary. What happened to his beloved LUH? Don't bother asking.

So, in solitary THX (Robert Duvall, for that matter) hooks up with a bounce of other outlaws. The atmosphere is filled with despair, but THX hasn't stopped believing, in spite of all neuro-treatment and suchlike. He's out for answers, and he's going to get them.

This was a really great movie. Just about 1h25m, and just enough to describe a dystopian future, messed up by a constant owerwhelm in the awareness of global economy. I guess this is what George Lucas was trying to portrait here. Beautiful. First time I can relate to the song (by Looptroop) with the same title.

Strong 7/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066434/
http://www.thx1138movie.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THX_1138

Movie: "Snow Cake" (2006)

2008-08-27T22:49:00.002+02:00

Wow!

Here's a really great drama. Truly amazing. Some would probably call the film old-maidish or even something more condescending, but I won't swallow that sort of criticism. Now, first you meet with Alex (Alan Rickman) when he stops at a diner to take a break from his constant driving.

Here he meets with Vivienne (Emily Hampshire), a youthful girl who's looking for a lift. So, after first being hesitant, he finds himself unable to deny helping her. So, the two are soon back on the road. Unfortunately, an accident strikes upon them. So, very soon Alex will be alone, first he even feels guilt. However, he can't carry on without talking to the girl's parents. So, he pokes around till he has got her adress, and then he knocks on the door. What he doesn't know, is that Vivienne only has her mother, and that she is autistic.

However, a strange form of relationship will bound Alex and Linda (Sigourney Weaver) together, and they will develope an understanding for eachother. Well, at least in one way. You see, autism is absolute. It's something beyond, something you cannot change. You just have to accept every part of the autistic person, or you're lost.

"What is the moment worth?
The past is only a memory, the future a fantasy.
It's only in the present that we truly live."

Amazing film. Anyone who's looking for a great drama movie, the next time you should pick this one. It's outstanding. Sigourney Weaver does a great work on playing the autistic part, a task which cannot be very easy, not for anyone.

7/10 (a strong one)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448124/
http://www.snowcakemovie.co.uk/

Movie: "eXiztenZ" (1999)

2008-08-27T14:51:00.001+02:00

Really twisted sci/fi flick directed by David Cronenberg. This came out 1999. Now, if I don't remember this wrong it was around that time the discussion about how video gaming affects human [real life] behaviour got huge. Interest organisations gave their opionion, the media was ripping all the juice out of this carrot, and the wheel was spinning. Guess Cronenberg took the oportunity of making a wicked film out of it.

Not bad at all, not bad at all. A bit dazing but also groovy indeed. In the beginning of the film, you meet with a group of beta-testers for a video game that is soon to be released on the market. It's just that the consoles doesn't seem to be of the ordinary plastic/circuit box type, but, made out of organic tissue(!), and the gaming experience is far beyond the Virtual Reality technology that we know of today. Of course, to even be able to play on these consoles, you need a tiny surgery procedure..

Wow, this must be the space age, you must think. Well, my thought is that these "pods" are just awakening elements for the viewer, 'cuz it really had me thinking. Actually, some of the fx with organic tissue was quite repulsive. Yack. However, it was an entertaining film. All sci/fi enthusiasts (and gaming freaks) should watch it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120907/

Movie: "The Untouchables" (1987)

2008-08-26T23:51:00.000+02:00

Really beautiful gangster movie. Here's the story about how Al Capone (Robert De Niro) rised an empire of booze bootleging, and the ones who put a stop to him. In the 30's of Chicago, every inch of society is corrupted, and the one and only hope comes through a few good men. Michael Douglas, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, and Andy Garcia. These are the brave men who stands up to all the corruption, without letting anyone stop them. There will be blood, but also justice. A must see.

8/10

When you watch this film, pay attention to the incredible decors made on the city of Chicago. Amazing. Really beautiful.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094226/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Untouchables_(1987_film)

Movie: "Screamers" (1995)

2008-08-26T16:49:00.004+02:00

Wow!

I've really taken this whole sci/fi genre to my heart. I seem to have missed out on so many good movies. Like this one for example. Can't even recall ever having seen it. It was really exciting all the way through.

Due to fossil fuels running out on Earth, the big corporations has started digging out a new substance. Of course, we're talking high grade nuclear. So, what neither the scientists nor the harvesting companies had thought about, was the leakage of radioactive substances, causing great suffer to man kind.

So, when the major mining company (N.E.B) doesn't take the deadly leakage as enough argument to stop mining, a war brakes out between the allied parties (The Alliance) and the N.E.B. Each part has it's own base camp, where they're hiding in bunkers. On the Alliance behalf, we have lieutenant Joseph Hendrickssen (Peter Weller) in command.

So, after not having heard a word over the radio for weeks, when all of a sudden a N.E.B. soldier is seen strolling through the desert, apparently with good intentions, carrying a strange message beholder, liet. Joe is getting curious. When suddenly a bounce of screamers chop the same stranger up into pieces just a hundred yards from the Alliance bunker, it gets even weirder. Joe decides to travel over to the N.E.B. base, just to see if they really realking cease-fire for reals.

Like this wasn't enough, a little side-project that was created to help the Alliance in the war seems to have blown out of their hands. The small machines are called "screamers". They are basically just a CPU which runs on renewable fuels such as tissue from dead animals.

These little naggers seems to have come up with self-preservation instincts. So, now they've come up with a way to reproduce themselves independently. And beware - these little rackets strike from below ground level, each one armed with a lethal blade of destruction.

Awsome sci/fi action all the way through. The end was also superb. Rumors has it that a sequel is planned till 2009, it will be a blessing. Oh gosh, I can barely wait! This is a must see sci/fi movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114367/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screamers_(film)

Movie: "Eastern Promises" (2007)

2008-08-26T12:45:00.004+02:00

Wow!

A friend of mine asked me to see this like half a year ago, even offered me to to borrow the DVD from him. I watched a few scenes but something just didn't make me want to see it. I guess I'm quite intimidated by the whole Russian mobster style. So watching it on film wouldn't make me more humble.

Anyways, I should have seen it already back then. It's a great [multi-category] movie, actually the best mobster film made after year 2000, I believe so. Everyone should watch it, click the cover image to watch the trailer, and you will hopefully get more curious.

7/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765443/
http://www.focusfeatures.com/easternpromises/

Movie: "Awake" (2007)

2008-08-25T23:29:00.000+02:00

Really great film, actually. The synapsis on the cover tells me that it's a story told by one of the little group of people who doesn't fall into REM sleep during anaesthetic (for surgery). This is true, but it's more to it than just this. It's a shocking story, shocking indeed.

Clay Beresford (Hayden Christensen) is only twenty-two years old, but still one of the richest persons in city. The only thing he suffers is from heart failure. He has got to find a donor since time's running out his current ticker.

Earlier, Dr. Jack Harper (Terrence Howard) managed to rescue Clay's life, when he had his first major heart attack. So, some sort of relationship has devolved between Clay and Harper. So, even though his mother (played by Swedish actor Lena Olin) think they should grab the best surgeon available, Clay persists in that Dr. Harper shall perform this life decisive surgery when it's time.

So..
Funny anecdote by the way. My fiancé almost seemed disturbed by how I repeatedly bad-mouthed Sam (Jessica Alba) for being a gold digger. I mean, Clay had a bad heart, even staying outside in the rain was a real strain to him. So, how could he ever satisfy her sexual needs? It's so obvious that she's like "Oh what the hell, he's rich, so whenever he dies I'm homesafe for that matter". Funny anecdote indeed. Guess who laughed the most in the end?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211933/
http://www.awakethemovie.com/

Movie: "Shadowboxer" (2005)

2008-08-25T18:39:00.004+02:00

WARNING!

I can't lie. This is the worst film I've seen in a long time. It just wouldn't get it right anywhere at all. The story is about a couple, who are also hitmen. Then during one assignment, everything gets twisted. As Rose (Helen Mirren) is about to shoot, the victim (Vanessa Ferlito)'s amniotic fluids goes. She's about to give birth to a children. Then Rose just cannot find it in her heart to proceed. So, the stage with is supposed to be blood splashed on the wall, instead gets to be a improvised maternity ward. Voila - a star is born! But what about the mission assigner? And what about the child's father? And how will the other part of the hitmen couple (Cuba Gooding Jr.) react on this sudden situation? It's dramatic here and there, but it won't hold up. The acting smells phony, the story seems unreal, everything is just messed up. Even the finish line seemed messed up. Quite surprising appearance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as quack doctor though, whom you may remember as the [sexual abused] main character in 'Mysterious Skin'. However.. Spare yourself one and a half hour by not seeing this movie.

3/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396857/
http://www.shadowboxerthefilm.com/

Movie: "Big Trouble in Little China" (1986)

2008-08-25T15:07:00.008+02:00

Hehe, this is a real classic, I know. Can't recall ever having seen it though. So, now I have. Well, not 'cuz it's my genre of choice, but it had it's moments. It falls under the same category as the 'From Dusk Till Dawn' movies, with the same blach humour.

Here are "The Three Storms" (Lightning, Thunder and Rain). Also, now I know where Midway took inspiration for the characters in their popular fighting video game Mortal Kombat. Yes, I especially think of Raiden. It should be said that the film offers a funny feeling, so don't despair in the loss of significance.

The story?

Jack (Kurt Russel) is a truck driver. It all starts with him sitting down with his Chinese friend Wang for the usual friendly manner hazard game while Jack is having his break. Jack wins some money. However, Wong doesn't have it on him, so he cannot collect. So, Jack decides to follow Wong to get the money. He is just going to get a female friend slash crush at the air port. What neither Jack or Wang had expected is that some Chinese tribe members will show up at the airport, taking Wang's new crush as hostage. So, as Jack is a true American gentleman, he's more than happy to assist Wang in his attempt to rescue this girl. Also, he himself has laid eyes on another beautiful girl (Kim Cattrall). So they went on their big mission, not really knowing what's expecting them.

- Down. Lo Pan is down there.
- Down where?

- Where is the universe?

As you may understand this is going to get really wicked. Chinese black sorcery and other stuff will make Dirty Harry with his .44 Magnum stand helpless. This is something beyond reason, something that requires help from the outside. Here is where the local tour bus driver Egg Chen (Victor Wong) comes into play. It's all a force between the good and the bad forces of nature. I could drop some more details on the forces involved in the synopsis, but it would be a waste of time. There's an ancient god who is cursed with immortal life. The only way this spell could be broken is through the blood of a green-eyed woman. Of course, both Gracie Law and Miao Yin has green eyes. Life's a bitch, huh?!

- Time for the medicine!
- Cheers!
- This does what again, exactly?

- Huge buzz.

Guess this is one of these movies you have to see before you're history, so I'd rather do it now than at the age of forty. But again, not suitable for all people. Some people (who doesn't count the cult factor in at all) will probably think this is just 1h 40m of drivel. Anyways, give it a try the next time you're on the mood for a goodie!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090728/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Trouble_in_Little_China
http://www.wingkong.net/

Movie: "Imaginary Heroes" (2004)

2008-08-24T21:41:00.000+02:00

One of the better family/relationship dramas I've seen in quite a while now. The set of families reminded me about the ones in 'The Ice Storm'. Anyways, it's about the Travis family, containing the father Ben (Jeff Daniels), the mother Sandy (Sigourney Weaver), and their children Matt, Tim and Penny.

Matt is (and have apparently always been) given preferential treatment. He's the promising swimming talent, his father's big hope on family pride. What his father don't know, is that Matt actually hates swimming, the attraction, everything. One day he's simply not there when the family gather for breakfast. He's left this world.

From this moment (really in the beginning) you get to follow the family through the bumpy road that follows on a suicide within the family. Rumors been spread, intrigues over ancient matters, the momentary escape from reality, and more.

After that Matt is out the of the picture, Ben doesn't really know how to take charge over situation. In fact, he doesn't seem sure about anything. For example, he won't allow one less tray over dinner. All seats shall be served. Freaky, huh? Even Matt's [alive] siblings seems to think so.

Another sad part is that when Ben gets furious of depression, he won't hold back his inner thoughts about who he considered the family hope. I mean, like Tim doesn't havn't got a hard time enough? Since Penny is half-way through of leaving the nest, she's not to be seen much. The film is centered on Tim (Emile Hirsh), and the way he has to put up with a real heavy burden. Great acting on his part, I must say.

The film is really well-made all the way. You just sit there all quiet and absorb the motion pictures, swollowed by the emptiness in this family's life. It's a sad, well-made story that everyone should watch.

I give this one..
7/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373024/
http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/imaginary/

Movie: "Blade Runner" (1982)

2008-08-24T18:48:00.004+02:00

Gash, another film that I should have seen a long time ago. Actually, I did recall some of the scenes, particularly when Roy and Pris descends upon J.F. Sebastian at his apartment. Oops, I guess I'm on my way of spoiling important act now. I'll give it a rest.

This is one of the best science fiction movies I've seen. The photography is brilliant. The movie is made 1982 and it feels so damn beautiful. I didn't watch it in HD, and still, amazing setup. I'm principally talking about the L.A. skky view. Rock steady. Is the shit. Really!

So, scientists has come up with those replicants, which is an artificial lifeform, but it looks and feels like just any other human being. Truly amazing. These "human robots" are mainly used for dangerous operations in space and suchlike, due to the fact that no one will miss them if they go black. However, these replicants gets self-aware in a way their developers didn't think they ever would, so shit is soon about to hit the fan. A robot takeover in massive scale? Well, perhaps, perhaps not. Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a retired blade runner, which is a force whose main assignment is to track down and shut off (the old traditional PANG way*) any stray replicants they find. You see, due to an earlier mishap, all replicatans are banned from Earth limits; giving any officer the right to shoot them at sight.

Now, confirmed rumours has it that four replicants is loose on earth. Four dangerous(!) replicants. So dangerous that the first blade runner of choice had failed to eliminate them. Therefore, Rick Deckard is convinced that he has got to go back in duty. Outstanding sci/fi flick!

8/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/
http://bladerunnerthemovie.warnerbros.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner

The pain is gone

2008-08-24T13:03:00.005+02:00

That horrifyng day is finally over. Gash, I really think I'm getting the creeps about getting older, 'cuz yesterday night I had this really awkward feeling running through my spine. I just couldn't help it. Couldn't even point my finger on what triggered it, so I assume it's the age factor.

Anyways. Today's the 24:th, and things move on. Hope everyone's had a great summer, it's closing in to an end now. Soon we'll have snowing winter, same ol' garbage. Shitty Scandinavia, at least south of Europe would be nice for a change.

Funny thing by the way, I havn't been sick for like a year or so. I think I've had one cold in a whole year. Heh, my immune defence must be up at it's top. Or maybe it's all the garlic I eat, hehe..

Laters..

Movie: "Miller's Crossing" (1990)

2008-08-23T23:56:00.000+02:00

Brilliant!

Another film I just can't figure out how I could have missed out in these years, written and directed by the Coen brothers. However, I must say I had that feeling of recognition somewhere out at Miller's Cross. In particular that scene between Tom and Bernie out there felt familiar. However, I didn't either reckon nor recall anything more of the story, so it was amazing.

So, what's this all about? It's a true gangster story, that's what it is. The Irish affiliations back in the 20's. The film radiates genuineness all the way through, with Thompson machine guns and everything. Lots of fun. The Wiki article on the movie tells how certain reviewers has refered to the film as noir.

Me myself isn't too familiar with the whole noir genre, so I just can't add such tribute from the bottom of my heart. However, the film is in every aspect glacious. The photography is amazing. Take a close look at it while watching the movie, and you'll see it's just hilarious. Also a few remarkable quotes to be added.

"I'll track down all of you whores."

So? What's the tale? Well, it's a story of several(!) double-crossing cases. At first it may seem like a big mess, but things will clear out pretty soon. Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) is sidekick of local boss Leo (Albert Finney). Pretty early in the story there will be a case of distrust coming from Tom. Not directly, but he thinks that Leo is making a terrible decision, so he's thinking about changing side. So, what's on the other side? Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito), who works hard to gain control over the city district. The local police authorities are of course bound by restrain under all these fellows, so the whole set of domination could easily appear as Armageddon. A couple of rattle-throats, Bernie (John Turturro) and Mink (Steve Buscemi), is filling their part of being tools to mislead information, something that [in this game of honour] easily cause bullets to fly under the edge. Also, a wonder woman is involved, Verna (Marcia Gay Harden) is sister of Bernie, and also Leo's mistress. Funny how things work out, isn't it?!

High grade gangster film!
8/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100150/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller's_Crossing

Movie: "Finding Neverland" (2004)

2008-08-23T19:28:00.003+02:00

Nice film. Honestly, at first I had this nagging feeling that I would see a movie for the second time, but I was wrong. This is the first time i watch Finding Neverland, and it was truly a remarkable and amazing story. Evidently, it's also the true story about how the author of the well-known fairytales about Peter Pan got the ideas.

Here you meet with James Barrie (Johnny Depp), a man who set up theatre play's for a living. James hasn't exactly been drowning in success lately. Actually, everything looks kind of dark, with the media giving him bad reviews and all. Now, by a coincidence, he meets Sylvia Davies (Kate Winslet), and nonetheless her four children: Michael, Peter, Jack and George.

The kids father passed away recently, so their mother Sylvia is the only one these kids got left. Here is where James Barrie comes into play. We're not talking the usual seduction moves no, but another form of relationship. The boys are in the centre of attraction, all the time. Not only because they work as a cure against the director's cramp that he has been suffering, but also 'cuz that as he seize the ember in these young boys, he slowly begin to get a whole new perspective on life.

"Young boys should never be sent to bed... they always wake up a day older."

So, meanwhile helping Sylvia out with practical things, he's also writing his coming masterpiece: Peter Pan. This film is also a masterpiece. However, it's funny how I chose to see it at my 24:th birthday. Perhaps on some subconscious level, I'm starting to get real creeps about getting older. Shit, Life's a big scourge, right? Hrhr, guess a bit of sarcasm won't hurt! :)

7/10

Lost a tiny scrap by giving a somewhat slow feed somewhere in the middle of the film. Anyways, not sure if it was just me being in the mood for fast rising action, so I won't in any way disregard this marvelous masterpiece for movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308644/
http://www.miramax.com/findingneverland/

24? Qué Pasa¿

2008-08-23T10:42:00.005+02:00

I couldn't help noticing that today is my public birthday. Gash, it's really the annual day filled with anguish. One step closer to the point where my body mass is considered whacked slash emptied up on it's resources. Then what? Nervousness is part of life, I suppose..

Movie: "Carlito's Way" (1993)

2008-08-23T00:22:00.001+02:00

Finally!
A friend of mine has always talked about this film. "What, you havn't seen it.. yet?!?". So, now I finally have. It was really good too. A romantic mob story, to sum it up.

It's about Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino), who due to technicalities is released from prison after serving only five years, when the sentence read thirty years. Not even the judge seems happy about the descision he's forced to take - of letting Brigante go. However, "Charlie" has no plans of going back on the wild side. He's got a plan. He's going to hook up with another hasbeen, who is now [successfully] renting out cars over at Paradise (The Bahamas). This is Carlito's new dream. He only needs to raise 75 big ones, then he's off. He has the fortunate luck to be offered a job, to run a local club, since the real owner is up to his shoulders in debt to guys you don't wanna get busy with. So, pure layback, right?

Also, Carlito hooks up with the lady [whom he unfortunately had gone back on his word to; by getting put behind bars] of his past, Gail. All he wants is to raise the money so he can take Gail and get the hell out of New York. Another messy ingredient is his laywer, David "Dave" Kleinfeld (Sean Penn), who has more and more wondered over to the wild side, from only being legal expert for all these wiseguys, he's now up to his ears in coke and bullshit. So, by some soft reason Carlito finds himself sort of in debt to Dave, so he runs a sideline in which he tries to help Dave out of trouble. No good, no good.

The film was truly amazing, really good in all aspects. I read in some paper about that "you can never be Mr. Romance if you havn't seen Legends of the Fall". Well, I doubt that. My belief is that you can never be Mr. Romance if you havn't partaken in the scene where Al Pacino rumbles the door out of lust. That's(!) really something.

8/10 (the 7 to 8 stars jump comes from Pacino's brilliant story-telling from behind the curtains)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106519/
http://www.martin-scorsese.net/henancius/carlito/

Movie: "Mad Max 3 - Beyond Thunderdome" (1985)

2008-08-22T20:26:00.003+02:00

Finally, I've seen all three Mad Max movies. This one doesn't differ so much from the other two, except the fact that Tina Turner's appearance as dictatorial head of state in a small shithole(!!!) called Barder.

This is also the place where a big part of the story takes place. All out of nowhere you almost meet Mel Gibson at the city gates right in the beginning of the movie, to then follow him into the mad world that waits within these gates.

Some of the photography from walking the sand desert (I'm talking during desert sundown) was pretty amazing. Well, beside this, I don't really know what to say. I was entertained all the way through. The Mad Max movies are really something. I still can't understand how I can have missed them as a kid.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089530/
http://www.madmaxmovies.com/

Movie: "Lost in Space" (1998)

2008-08-21T22:40:00.000+02:00

Wow! I can't believe how I've missed out on this film. I mean, it's been around for ten years. I remember when I was around seven years old, they aired the television show from the 60's daily over the cable network. We had just gotten ourselves cable so all these shows where new to me, and I found them very exciting. If I look at myself then, I would be almost sure that I would end up as one of these Trekkies. Anyways, it's fun, back then I did not see any "tech diff" between Star Trek and Lost in Space, even though the Trek episodes they showed back then were probably at least from the 80's.

Well, now I've also seen the film. It wasn't bad at all, actually one of the better Sci/Fi films I've seen over the last couple of years. It was more of a space adventure, with some more serious intigues, than just blam boom blow (like in Sunshine, for example). Also, I guess when I was a little kid I missed out on basics of the story, like the fact that Mr. Smith wasn't really ment to be with the family on the ship, but just a wastrel who has failed on his mission sabotaging the family's mission. However, in some strange way Dr. Smith is actually the one character that I remember the most from the television series. My image of him is the poor fellow who always managed to get fooled by some alien lifeforms/beings in the woods on some foreign planet that the ship was currently stranded on; falling in the temptation of drinking some wicked mixture, which then made his mind go coo-coo. Well, here's the real Dr. Smith, a self-interested good-for-nothing.

Anyhow..
This story is about the Robinson family. The Earth's ozon layer is down on 40%, which implies that in only two decades no human being will be able to live there. So, it's time for some space colonizing. The Robinson family includes the father family John, who is also a very famous professor in space science (therefore his family is chosen for this pioneer mission). His wife, two daughters, and one son, is also comprised in his family. Also, a war pilot (Matt LeBlanc) is chosen to go with them, in case they should encounter hostile lifeforms.

So, the target planet is set. Now it's only ten years(!) of cryosleep till they get there. Then, wake up on a new [uninhabited] planet, and just start fresh. It should also be mentioned that the "pioneer purpose" is found by some mark that needs to be placed on the target planet, thus making it much faster for forthcoming travellers to get there. Setting the cordinates, or something like that.

However, this isn't so important. The film is fairly enjoyable. I must say I also liked the end, even though some people may find it.. well.. meaningless? ;)

Watch this one, especially if you have memories from the old television series.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120738/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Space
http://www.lostinspacetv.com/

Movie: "Idiocracy" (2006)

2008-08-21T15:22:00.000+02:00

Sci/fi enthuists often refer to the future as a place where the human mind has developed over generations, with more advanced technology and a more reasonable outlook on all the bigger question in life, leading to lasting politics, world peace, etc.

This movie is a portrait of the opposite scenario. Whereas years have passed by, human being has become dumber, and dumber, and dumber. In the beginning of the film, director Mike Judge seem to drag a little moral over the fact that cultivated folks are more interested in career than breeding, while trailer park trash is reproducing
excessively, and the sum total isn't too hard to calculate, right?

Anyways. In our present time, the military are concerned about how the skills on i.e. fighter pilots are so spread, and the fact that their really talented soldiers often walk in civil clothes for a lifetime, never seeing the war they were trained for. So, the scientists has come up with the answer. A freezing tank, keeping the cream of army in an "intact state" until really needed. The only thing left is a test subject. This is where - average joe / never to be missed - military librarian Joe Bauers (Luke Wilson) comes into play. Test subject no. 2? A prostitue from the street, obviously only to be missed by her pimp.

So, due to pitiable circumstances, the project is forgotten about. So, these freezing tubes are opened around year 2500-something. So, Joe and Rita wakes up in a ..really dumb.. world! Well, here's where you have to see for yourself. At least some parts where entertaining.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/
http://www.idiocracydvd.com/

Movie: "Serenity" (2005)

2008-08-21T10:49:00.000+02:00

Hehe, I must be out of my mind who starts watching a Sci/Fi flick around Eight O'Clock in the morning. However, I didn't find myself busy with other things, so why the heck not? I'm sorry to say that this movie didn't really cut it all the way through. It fits into the Aeon Flux category, which means something you will have no problems watching, but it will slip your mind without leaving permanent marks of any kind.

So, what's this all about?

Sometime in a not too far away future Earth has become to overpopulated so that man kind has [equal to the traditional futurisquatic theme] expanded it's territory to other planet. It can all be compared with today's industrialized- versus development contries. This is the same deal, but we're talking planets here. All civilized planets has joined "The Alliance" (i.e. EU), which has it's common control organ. Of course, there are some planets not being a part of The Alliance. Take "The Reavers" for example, which is a barbarous nation of cannibalistic maniacs.

So, there is this foreseeing girl, River, who - due to her abilities - has been targetted by The Alliance. Yes, of course she knows about something that the government wants to hide. So, after being miraculous saved by her brother Simon, River and her brother is hiding on a rebellious spacecraft occupied by professional robberers and theifs.

By an accident, the crew discovers the truth about some things. Now, their great mission is to go "sky-wide" with this colossal discovery. Of course, fleet of The Alliance are constantly behind them.

Like I said, I didn't get bored.
Presumably a great deal of excitement for the younger generation.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379786/
http://www.serenitymovie.com/

Movie: "The Ice Storm" (1997)

2008-08-20T23:31:00.000+02:00

Honestly, when getting to the "key party scenes", I recalled having seen it somewhere before, maybe on television or something. However, a cute family drama. The shooting environment (the 70's) was pretty good. It was also fun to see [today older; plus widely known for other characters] actors like Tobey Maguire, Elijah Wood, and Christina Ricci being not older than in their younger teenage years. Also, I'm the worst case when it comes to not recognizing famous actors from other parts. However, I did(!) catch on to Sigourney Weaver's face, although she had much shorter hair in Alien.

The movie? Well, it's like a long episode of Desperate Housewives, to be critical. However, it's entertaining all the way. The story circles around two families living the usual 70's suburbian life. Well, not that I know what's really typical, but at least it felt pretty modern and accurate all the way through.

So, Pauly (Tobey Maguire) is on a boarding school where he lives sort of the usual teenage life, besides slipping away from reality into comic books, and such. He's longing for his first sexual experience, something that his best friend Francis keeps withholding him (by always being one step ahead on every chick that Pauly lay eyes on).

Pauly's younger sister Wendy (Ricci) is also longing for her first sexual experience. She's been making out with Mikey (Wood) a few times, but the final step seems far away, with them taking turns on being the one filled with hesitation. Mikeys younger brother Sandy is a real messy kid. He has a thing for dynamite, so he likes the smell of blown of model airplanes and suchlike.

The thing is, that Pauly/Wendy's and Mikey/Sandy's parents havn't really got their hands clean. Let's say that unfaithfulness is playing a huge part in this film. The final moral point is a bit vague, but I think what it's trying to say is that one should be happy with what he holds, 'cuz he never knows when he'll loose it all.

Really not such a bad film.
Nice relationship drama.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119349/
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/theicestorm/

Movie: "Waking Life" (2001)

2008-08-20T14:51:00.001+02:00

Amazing film, really amazing. If you like the wickedness of 'A Scanner Darkly', you will love this. Both these films are directed by Richard Linklater. The picture is also here (five years before A Scanner Darkly though) ani-fiction style.

The message behind this film is abstract, to say the least. To be honest, the whole film is abstract. It touches a really interesting subject though - the human mind. The [for science unreachable] things about cue and perception.

The main character of the film is described as a dreamer, not to say it could have a metaphorical meaning, 'cuz [to me] it seems like the main focus is the perceptive parts of a human being; whereas the time we spend sleeping is a very good symbolic gesture for all this, since this is the closest we seem to get to those "Matrix phenomenons" without being considered being way out in the blue.

Interesting film indeed. Woke more than just a few thoughts inside of me, questions that needs conviction rather than clear answers. Everyone should see this film.

8/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243017/
http://www.foxhome.com/wakinglife/

Two lucky strikes!

2008-08-20T12:17:00.002+02:00

Lucky strike #1)
Wow, I can hardly believe it. I didn't(!) have a flat yesterday, after running over that brooch spike. At first I thought that it had to be a slow leak, but now, twenty-four hours later, it's inevitable - the tube got by, some how, some way. Don't even ask me, I find it very strange, since the spike was nailed in the tire, and like you saw at the image I posted, it held considerable lenght.

Lucky strike #2)
The old SonyEricsson T100 is back in the chest of drawers, and I'm back to using my old Samsung SGH-X480. A few days of drying on the window-ledge was obviously all it needed to heal. I celebrated this by purchasing a brand new headset! :)

Movie: "I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry" (2007)

2008-08-19T18:03:00.002+02:00

An ordinary comedy. Feels like none of these really succeed in even making an impression nowadays, they just slip by. Not really sure why I even bothered renting it, probably 'cuz I was a friend's place like a half-year ago, watching around half of the movie, so I guess I just wanted a clean closure to the story.

It's the usual everyone walks out happy deal, no secret into that. The story is about Chuck and Larry, firemen, and also best friends. Larry is concerned about his heir, mostly thinking about the possibility of dropping dead in line of duty, and his occupational pension going where it shouldn't. Of course, he wants his children to be heiress in this matter. The paperwork for this seems to be more difficult than he'd expected, finally leaving him only one option - remarriage. It has to be someone he can trust. Hmmm, of course, Chuck!

Here goes nothing.

The story about a former stage wedding (which resulted in prison for all involved parties) is constantly frightening both Chuck and Larry, especially since they have got a nosey investigator (Steve Buscemi) up their arses. Also, Chuck is a real ladies man, with his most recent bite on their partnership lawyer (Jessica Biel). So, how will these fellows manage to hold their faces straight..? Well, it's a comedy.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762107/
http://www.chuckandlarry.com/

Damn, damn, damn..

2008-08-19T10:23:00.003+02:00

So, my bicycle has been working fine - just until now.

I was making my fiancé company on her way to work, just to get some fresh air. We were almost there, when I heard a clicking sound coming from my front tire. So, as I looked down, I saw something spinning around with the wheel. Wicked. Must be a cap from a bottle or something, better get it off before it causes a serious injury, I thought. As I stopped, I saw that this was not a bottle cap, but a flag. A friggin' flag. First I thought (yeah, my all-round education sucks) I was an Italian flag. Now, after doing some research, I see that it's the official Iranian flag that wounded my beloved bicycle.

Can you understand. Well, The spike is close to ten millimetres, so the flat fact is inevitable. So, this means I have to get a new tube. I won't pay the LBS for the work, I'll do it myself this time, just hope I won't mess up the tire, or even pucture the new tube, while putting it in it's place.

Gash, busy Thuesday.

Movie: "The Shining" (1980)

2008-08-18T23:39:00.000+02:00

Ranked at Top. #250 over at IMDb. A friend once said that he considered 'A Clockwork Orange' as being fairly overrated, probably 'cuz of the Kubrick direction. Well, I must say I disagree on that one. This(!) is probably one of Kubrick's most overrated films. I must have seen it as a child, remember a few scenes, but it was years ago.

So..
Jack Torrance's (played by Jack Nicholson) new job is to attend the Overlook hotel over the five months that it's closed due to winter climate. No biggie, right? Besides, Jack's side profession is to write, so he could use this isolation for inspiration. Of course, his wife and son shall also come to stay. Warm and cosy, five months of winter, just the three of them, all by themselves. Nice, right? Nah, Jack is going to freak out way before deadline. The hotel has a little sad story over itself, but I don't think this is the case here. In fact, I'm not pretty sure what's the case here. It could be that Jack is one of those sober alcoholics, who finally cannot avoid a relapse. Bang, shit hits the fan. Is that it? Not sure.

However, the impression of panic which Shelley Duvall gives when Jack goes nuts is not very remarkable. However, enough said about the acting. The one scene/dialog that caught my interest was the one between Jack and Lloyd, the bartender. Lloyd has this really creepy attitude which I liked. Unsure of whether it had been wrecked if they would have played it further.

The sum of all this? Guess this is one of these films you need to have seen. So, now I have, probably not for the first time. The real pro with this flick was that the 2h20m didn't feel like straits. Nah, almost like it felt that I'd only been watching for like 1 hour and 30 minutes when the end credits started to roll. So. End of story.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/
http://www.drummerman.net/shining/

Movie: "The Bone Collector" (1999)

2008-08-18T18:44:00.008+02:00

An old classic. Till was actually one of the first great movies I saw. I can recall how Swedish cable networks used to air it occasionally over the years, so it's not the first time I watch it. However, it's a really great film. Especially if you like Se7en or C.S.I, I find it doubtless that you will come to love this movie.

Det. Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) is considered to be one of the best forensic detective around the NYC precinct. However, since a serious accident, he's bound to a wheelchair, paralyzed from the neck down. Meanwhile (not yet acquainted with him), detective Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) finds a dead body on the railway track. The given conclusion will soon be that they're dealing with a serial killer; one who apparently knows one or two things about police work / forensic technology. It almost seems like the perpetrator is putting out clues. Weird.

However, after the "bagging and tagging" which Amelia does on her own (as the first officer on scene), the legend himself gets impressed. This is where he meets her. Their relationship (what's to think) starts abit lumpy. However, this isn't a sidewalk story of romance, but more of Sherlock Holmes business. Really an exciting film.

7/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145681/
http://www.universalpictures.com/bonecollector/

Movie: "Brooklyn Rules" (2007)

2008-08-17T23:13:00.001+02:00

Sort of a sweet story about kids growing up. It's all about these three fellows, first seen as kids in the mid-70's of Brooklyn. Around ten years later - 1985 - they are all in their 20's, and still best of friends. However, they have chosen different paths in life. Mikey (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is aiming for higher learning. He's really anxious to get into law school, which is sort of his big dream. Then we have Bobby, a robust young fellow who's had the pleasure of meeting the girl of his dream at an early age. Then there's the third fellow, Carmine, whose hang-around acquaintance with the local mobster force is starting to worry Mike and Bobby. Anyways, they are all up in their own barriers in life, so they have to let it slip.

So, this isn't really a mafia flick or something like it. It's more a story about three boys growing up under the same conditions, but with a slightly different perspective on things. Most of the human feelings are given form to in this movie. My fiancé didn't really approve on this one, but I thought it was just... somewhat sweet! :)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283503/
http://www.brooklynrulesmovie.com/

Movie: "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998)

2008-08-17T16:29:00.003+02:00

Hahah, gosh. Actually the first time I watch the whole movie. Last time I fell asleep or something, this was a couple of years ago. Anyways. I big laughter. The story takes place in Vegas, where Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his laywer Dr. Gonza (Benicio Del Toro) is, in purpose of writing a piece on a sports event that is taking place there. You see, Daoul Duke has a doctoral degree in journalism (something he upholds for a couple of times). So, going to Las Vegas in press purposes isn't all that simple. To make things less complicated, Raoul and Dr. Gonza has "prepared" themselves for the trip by getting a shitload(!) of drugs, and renting nice convertable. So, they're on the road. Once they get to Vegas, one (hysterical funny) mishap crosses another. Mescaline, acid, ether, you name it. It's gonna get wild, really out of control, for everyone involved.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120669/
http://www.fear-loathing.com/

Movie: "Constantine" (2005)

2008-08-16T23:14:00.004+02:00

Way below my expectations. I remember when this one had it's release a couple of years ago, a friend of mine was talking about it, even refering to the main character's moves at hot moments, etc. So, I've been anxious to watch it ever since. Now I did, wack! Okey, I knew the basic plot, but perhaps I should have done a bit more reading before giving it close to two hours of my time. I had some strange idea about that it would be more of a Heroes thing, with one man with supernatural powers, helping the ordinary law enforcement to catch ordinary bad guys. This was way out of sight, in a bad way. Too much hocus pocus in angles us human beings shouldn't be dealing with at all.

So, John Constantine is a excorsist. He's famous around town, even the cops know of him. He's blessed(?) with this gift of seeing energies, bad and good. In the story, the earth is penetrated by good and bad forces. "Angels and devils", which are really "halfbreed", because they get to stay on earth instead of being way down under or in heaven. Their purpose is to provide that one push to form a human being to become either good or bad.

Also, suicide is considered the greatest of all sins. One who has commited/tried commiting suicide will never be granted entrance to heaven, but cursed to hell. John Constantine is one of these poor fellows. When he was a young boy his surroundings wacko-stamped him 'cuz of his sights (none would of course believe him). So, finally he couldn't take it anymore, so he tries to escape this world. He fails, but was officially dead for two minutes (which feels like a lifetime in hell), so he got to meet with the sulphur and heat down there; now knowing where he's heading when it's finally time. Like this wasn't enough, he's a chain smoker. He will get his lung cancer diagnosis, in other words the full printed message that he will soon meet Lucifer.

Det. Angela Dodson is the female part of this story. She loses a next to kin in a tragic way, but feels that something isn't right. She comes to John for help. Before they know it, they're on an unheard-of witchcraft hunt..

Nah, this wasn't my thing.
3/10.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360486/
http://constantinemovie.warnerbros.com/

Footnote: Now I know that Roadshow Village Productions isn't all good pictures.

Lying in bed..

2008-08-16T14:43:00.004+02:00

Thinkin' about stuff. Hard stuff.

Epilogue:
I was actually in my bed while posting this blog. You see, I was trying this funny little feature with posting blogs through E-mail / SMS, so I just texted it. Technology is awsome!

Movie: "The Final Cut" (2004)

2008-08-16T11:03:00.003+02:00

Best sci/fi flick I've seen in quite a while. I must say I (a bit prejudiced, I know) first had a little troublespot due to the main character, whom I only associate with the family father in R.V. Well, I was so wrong. This is a really great film.

In a not so distant future, most people prefer to "tag" their little babies with an implant ("Zoe inplant") whose purpose is simple, to record their lives. People who has this Zoe implants (literally!) becomes walking, talking camcorders. They live their lives as usuual, only when they pass on, their memorial services will contain sort of a "trailer" over the diseased person's life. As you may understand, this has created a brand new occupation. The "cutters" are the "directors" of these memorial sequences. As you may find logical, this work means going through lots of unpleasent "raw material", so good nerves is demanded.

Alan. W. Hakman (Robin Williams) is one of these cutters, a very successfull such, must be said. The reason why Alan chose to become a cutter, dealing with the shameful parts of people's lives, is a history for itself. Anyhow, I can tell you this much: it's goes way back.

However, I considered this as one of the best films I've seen in this genre, so I won't give up anything more on the plot, with the risk of spoiling. Go rent this one immediately!

8/10

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364343/
http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/the_final_cut/

Movie: "Mr. Brooks" (2007)

2008-08-16T00:26:00.001+02:00

It's about Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner), respected corporate director in a successful company. The thing with Mr. Brooks is that he suffers from a severe multiple personality disorder, whereon his other part ("Marshall" / William Hurt) has a thing for blood. So, Mr. Brooks come to live a double life, killing at night time. Anyways, Mr. Brooks has been "clean" (succeeded in restraining himself from killing) for two years, then one night he suddenly has a relapse. The thing is, someone saw him this time. Someone who has evidence, photos don't lie. So, will Mr. Brooks be blackmailed? Nah, he's held by a young man who just wants to be Mr. Brooks apprentice. Sick, huh? So, the intrigue is crossed by Det. Tracy Atwood, of course with a story of her own (being in the middle of a divorce, including lawsuits, claims, etc). All those typical ingredients. I think this movie is fairly overrated (7.5 at IMDb), it just didn't cut it all the way. Anyways, I managed to stay awake.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780571/
http://www.theressomethingaboutmrbrooks.com/

Speeding through two movies over the day.

2008-08-15T21:52:00.007+02:00

Big Nothing (2006)

Funny movie starring Simon Pegg ('Shaun of the Dead'), David Schwimmer ('Friends'), among others. Charlie (Schwimmer) is unemployed, while his lady works within the local law enforcement. He's trying to get his book published but hasn't had any luck with publishing houses. He grabs hold of a shitty job on a phone support office. He gets fired the first day, but not until he has gotten acquaintanced with Gus (Pegg). Gus has a mastermind plan on a scam that will make them rich. Here we go. I was at first surprised, this is not a British movie. Simon Pegg knows how to kick it with American accent. Farily entertaining till the end.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488085/
http://www.bignothing.co.uk/

Hoodwinked (2005)

Outstanding work on the animation, I must say. I was fairly impressed. The story held on pretty well too, just that I must say that my personal joy over the comical adventures. However, a must-see for all kids out there. From what I can read over at IMDb there will be a sequel this year. Interesting. Oh, you all know this story about little Red, carrying goods to her granny. Well, this is a modified story, but it's very entertaining so I don't mind.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443536/
http://www.hoodwinkedthemovie.co.uk/

This just in..

Had a call from Eric. He was intoxicated, like just about every Friday. He wasn't all spaced out though, I managed to change a few words with him. He was concerned about a mutual friend of ours. Well, aren't we all. I didn't say much though, it felt that this was about Eric, and his need to have someone listening. So, even if I did reflect on anything, or even added personal opinions, he would probably not register those. The changeover from him lecturing about serious matters to him suddenly going "Can I call you back in about twenty minutes?" went very fast. "Of course!". I doubt that I will recieve another call from him tonight. If I will, it will be past midnight, and his voice will be slurred, to say the least.

Rising premium

2008-08-15T11:17:00.004+02:00

Aawegh. Frustrating, really.

I'm used of having this bill land in my mailbox once a year. The one thing I couldn't recall was the sum of the invoice. From as long as I can remember, it's been something around 400-500 (SEK). Now, I'm billed eight hundred and forty-seven crowns (SEK). Wtf?! I called my insurance company just to have a little chat. They looked in the computer and explained how my premium rates will increase as I get older. He read the history. 2006 and 2007 I had payed around 450, and he continued: "Back in 2005, you payed only 340.."

Wow, I was stunned, not to say a bit frightened. Would these rates continue to raise like this? It would give me a premium fee on thousands of crowns. Well, eventually it will raise, he explained. However, he assured me that the premium would not exceed SEK 847 any earlier than 2010.

I'm relieved, sort of..