Forgiveness (The Runaway Found)

It's all about forgiveness.
Something we all can take heed of, that people are worthy of being forgiven because it is not up to us to condemn. That is for God to decide.
Yep I got that from The Runaway Found, episode 18 of One Tree Hill S4 (Thanks for pic), ain't it amazing what you can be reminded of out of a little television show.
I am guilty of letting hurts or anger get in the way of clearing the air when in dispute with someone, when a simple apology or discussion would solve the issue. Doesn't it suck how stubborn we (especially guys) are.
So while viewing this pivotal episode where Peyton offers forgiveness to the man who stalked and tried to harm her (as pictured) the message of letting go of anger or whatever you are holding onto and offering forgiveness is vital as it is the first step towards healing.
We are all human. We all make mistakes. We all let pride get in the way. We are all weak.
What makes us strong is knowing that there is forgiveness out there if you want to accept it.
Only three episodes of S4 to go until I get stuck into the new ones, set four years later.
Can't wait.

Australia Day

It's that day of the year where we remember how fortunate we are to be Australian. And by remember I mean celebrate, because that's what Aussies do pretty well.
So today there will be the obligatory fireworks display (getting a bit over them) and packed beaches. Fortunately it is a nice, warm day.

Congrats to Lee Kernaghan for being named Australian Of The Year. At least it wasn't a cricketer this year.

The best crap movie ever...maybe

And the award goes to.....Shoot 'Em Up.
Yes it's a straight to DVD action comedy (has to be rated a comedy) starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti. You read it right, two of the better actors of our present time. How they ended up in this film I don't know, hopefully they wanted to poke fun at the genre.
The acting is terrible, the script is terrible and unclear at times but the action. The action makes the acting and the script unimportant.
It's so over the top and ridiculous this film is one of the funniest I've seen in a while, right up there with Blades Of Glory and Good Luck Chuck which were actually meant to be comedies.
The good thing is that with the title, you know what you're in for.
Great exchange from Owen and Giamatti where Owen, holding a carrot I think, says `What's up doc?' and Giamatti replies `why you are a wascaly wabbit aren't you'. Crap, but gold.

A single cloud hanging

As far as permanency goes, I am for all purposes churchless at the moment.
I like it.
I am enjoying the freedom that comes from having no fixed abode. I have been going to church from time to time. Again I enjoy seeing what else is out there.
This is not to say that what had before wasn't significant. Six years is a long time but it was becoming clear, quite a while ago, that it was long enough.
I'm not going devote any time now to deep explanation as to why I have made the decision to move on. It wasn't quite `simply time' but that will do for now.
One problem I do have is that I am a loyal person so that makes it difficult to part ways with something that has been a large part of life. I have to say that I grew immensely, spiritually, from the six years.
Funnily enough my first experience there came on the September 11. Talk about red letter days, so it makes it easy to remember the first night.
However, my time there also coincided with some of the most difficult times in my life so far, not just the obvious one. Such is my nature, throughout the last six months or so I have done a few experiments to help me make this decision. Since every one of them failed it was a pretty easy call.
I have only one regret that is clear in my mind from the whole period and it relates to something that happened about a year ago that taught me a valuable lesson and cost me potentially a very good friendship. Well almost, as I haven't given up on it.
Church is a very important part of life, particularly for a Christian, but what is also important is the right one. Consider that the single cloud hanging over me at the moment.
That search has been going for a short time, and over the past six months or s I have been fortunate to meet and get to know some great people as a result, but it hasn't been serious yet, I haven't felt ready to try one out properly. That will come as the burnout wears off.

Juno

Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is not your average 16-year-old.

Not only does she have an odd name (after Zeus' wife so we are told but it is apparently Jupiter's wife) she has odd friends, odd parents, lives in an odd town and has a very odd best friend in Paul Bleeker (Michael Cera).

After a period of boredom Juno amuses herself and Michael comes along for the ride - the result is a somewhat surprising (to Juno) pregnancy.

She decides she doesn't want a baby at 16 and decides to terminate but can't go through with it.

Then she comes across a couple desperate to adopt, Mark and Vanessa (played by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), and decides to give them the baby when it is born.

Things aren't all they seem with the happy couple. But it's not what you think. And it's not what you're thinking now I've said that either.

That's your basic rundown.

Offbeat goes a long way to describe this film. It's very easy to watch, quite amusing and even a shade touching.

Juno is not for everyone but it is very enjoyable. While it won't feature in the top five for the year it gets a very odd 7.5 out of 10. I enjoyed it and that's all you can ask in most films.

Ellen Page is very good in the lead role and Michael Cera is at his awkward best. I do fear that he is in very grave danger of being typecast, much like say Jason Biggs, because he is the same awkward teen here as he was in Arrested Development.

Pictures of You

A thought provoking episode of One Tree viewed last night (picture is of Brooke (Sophia Bush) and the interesting new character Chase (Stephen Colletti)focusing on how you see yourself and how others see you.
Characters were paid off with a list of activities for their assignment before they take their `picture of you':
1. Share something personal with your partner.
2. Lighten up. Do an impression of a celebrity or a famous character.
3. Admit something that worries you, or something you are afraid of.
4. What do you want to be in ten years?
5. Tell your partner something secret.

So I thought I'd try that here.
1. I have a lot of trouble believing in myself, in my ability to achieve things.
2. I do a good Bill Lawry, a good Chandler Bing, bit hard to do that one in this space.
3. I worry/am afraid that there is nothing I can do to prevent a relapse and focus far too much on it. My mum says I've always been inclined to worry too much.
4. I'd love to think in 10 years I am married and have a child. You never know.
5. The thought of going to church at the moment is unpleasant.

Hmmm. Anyway One Tree is trucking along nicely, can't wait to get to the end of season 4 to get stuck into the next one. That's if the other guys don't hold things up too long!

Self fulfilling prophecies

I was just doing a bit of fishing around my room, checking what I had in storage (if you can call it that) and came across my old journals from university.
It't not that I didn't know they were there, just it's been a while since I looked through some things from that era.
Anyway, I noticed something I wrote dated October 4, 1995, that really struck me.
``In the end, the only thing I have to fall back on when all else fails is my work and I have to devote as much time to that as possible.''
Hmmm. Any wonder I am like I am now? I've always been that way, even before I had a job.
Speaking of jobs, a few weeks later (dated October 28, 1995) I wrote the following, so it isn't all bad.
``Hopefully, I'd like to be a racing journalist because I relly enoy the races and have been enjoying them for 10 years.''
So, some dreams do come true.
Here's one for those who like a laugh, from November 6, 1995.
``I have a reputation around here as being a TV addict....'', some things never change. I recall packing about half a dozen people into my dorm room (which wasn't really big enough for 6 people) to watch the first ever episode of Friends. I was the only one who laughed.
I hope you enjoyed this blast from the past.

I Am Legend

What would we do without Will Smith to save the world yet again?
This time, though, the result is not satisfying in I Am Legend.
The scene of New York deserted and decaying is unsettling, the animals that now roam the streets that have been overgrown with bushland prey on each other and the one man left trys to prey on them.
This is all well and good until we find out the creatures that come out at night are the remaining people who weren't killed off by the virus that took 90 per cent of the world's population.
Smith is one of the 1 per cent who were mysteriously immune and being hunted by the other nine per cent who mutated, for want of a better word, as a result of the virus.
Robert Neville (Smith) is desperately trying to cure the virus but he's also losing hope as a result of being the only person around. He even tries using mannequins as `friends' in a few slightly amusing yet saddening scenes.
The problem with I Am Legend, which is yet another Hollywood remake, is that it's a pretty ordinary film. There is little to no suspense, I didn't find it scary (not sure whether it was supposed to be scary either) and you weren't given enough insight into Smith's character. What we do know was told in flashbacks (which is getting very tired) and they spent very little time going into Neville's unravelling after his companion dog Sam succumbs to the virus.
Technically the film is quite good but it lacks substance. Maybe I had higher expectations than I should have but I can only go as high as a 5 out of 10. Pretty disappointing and makes Independence Day look like a masterpiece.

The Woodenelves

I know 2008 is only 11 days old but I think I might have stumbled upon the Aussie album of the year.
Perhaps it didn't come out this year but I came across it by chance today and haven't been able to put it down.
The band in question is The Woodenelves and their debut album called Trips Between Worlds.
How to describe it. Soft rock fits best and that's probably my favourite type of music (some would argue pop is my favourite but despite it being very well represented in the collection I assure you soft rock is the one).
This short review of them is on one and a bit listens (first impressions are always significant) but their songs are all original and that's a great recommendation. They don't need covers and I admire that.
On the first listen the tracks that hit me were A Little Bit Of Me, You've Only Got Yourself To Blame, What It Is and Everything.
If you see this band around the traps check them out. I think I'm going to enjoy this CD for quite a while because if I like it so much on one listen they tend to get even better.
Only negative, and it's a gripe I have quite a bit, is that there are no lyrics in the package.

Songs To Love And Die By

We don't realise how precious life is and how little things like telling the people you love that you care about them can make a difference.
We don't realise until something bad happens.
Since I saw the film It's A Wonderful Life in late 2006 it has struck me that you just don't realise the impact you can have on other people and the impact other people have on your life.
I'm here to say we should start realising.
Of all places I was reminded of this when I was getting back into One Tree Hill last night. Based on the aforementioned classic movie is the episode Songs To Love And Die By, where Lucas gets the opportunity to see what life would have been like in Tree Hill if he was a different type of person, that is, not the good guy he is.

In a voiceover Lucas (pictured) says: Have you ever wondered what marks our time here? If one life can really make an impact on the world? Or if the choices we make matter? I believe they do. And I believe that one man can change many lives... for better or worse!

There are a number of people who have had a profound impact on my life and were they not there I am certain I would be a different person myself and may well be in a different situation.
What a difference you could make to someone just by smiling at them or saying hello, asking how they are. You never know what is going on in someone's life and by acting kindly or doing something positive could change their life for the better.
You don't need to be a super hero to save someone. You just have to be there.

I try to make sure those I care about know that. Sometimes I might sound silly but at the end of the day I'd rather them know how I feel.
Life is too short. Take the risk, a leap of faith. Tell your friends. It can only do good.
And at times there seems there isn't enough good in the world. Even if there is, there is always room for more.
So what are you waiting for?

Furry Happy Monsters

Proving that REM has a sense of humour is this video, a rip off of their song Shiny Happy People.
It's pretty funny, though I must say I was hoping the yellow monster attacked the band member at the end. Still, you can't have everything.
Enjoy.

Chris and the magic bus

I've been thinking about what I've seen and read with Into The Wild, the story of Chris McCandless' ill-fated trip into the Alaskan wilderness.
Assessing Chris is a difficult task but it is helped by reading Jon Krakauer's account of his short life which ended in 1992 in tragic circumstances (you don't realise how tragic until you read the book).
I have got to say that I recommend seeing the movie first. Having read the book later I find that it fleshes out the movie very nicely, making me appreciate the movie more and understand Chris that little bit better.
Personally I don't understand the urge to abandon society and the trappings of the wealth we experience in western society. But that's just me.
From a young age it seems Chris disliked being priveliged and comes across as a shade self-centred. This is explained a bit by his relationship with his father who led a life of bigamy for a period before settling with Chris' mother.
He was a smart young man, there's no doubt.
He was also somewhat of a paradox. On one hand he comes across as righteous yet is emotionally detatched from most things. He's single minded yet clearly has a big heart. He leaves to be on his own but makes friends so easily and seemingly craves the company when he comes across it. He seeks advice yet disgregards any kind of warning about what he's getting himself into.
It's like he's having a midlife crisis at 24.
What struck me about Chris while reading the book, and this doesn't come across so much in the film, is that I found him to be a shade crazy. A nutcase almost.
But on closer inspection he isn't, though it is very disconcerting that much of the diary entries in the book are in the third person. Clearly he didn't want to be Chris while in the wilderness, he wanted to be Alex.
I could go on for ages. He was a fascinating person and it is a huge shame he didn't survive to be able to tell his tale in person. It's clear he was planning to return to the world not long before he succumbed to posioning and malnutrition in the magic bus. Perhaps the story wouldn't have been as poignant but there would be fewer questions about why he acted as he did.
If you haven't read the book or seen the film yet, it's riveting but do the film first.

P.S. I Love You

It's New Year's Day and the traditional light film to start the year, usually a romantic comedy and 2008 is no exception.
P.S. I Love You is a rom-com with a slight difference in that the leading man dies early on (no it's not Ghost) and his widow must learn how to move on with her life.
Gerry (Gerard Butler) has arranged for 10 letters written by him to be sent to Holly (Hilary Swank) over the course of several months to aid the healing process. Strangely enough it works.
I must admit it took a while to warm to Hilary Swank in the romantic lead as I'd only really seen her in tough girl roles. Maybe next time. Gerard Butler was a standout and I think he made up for where she lacked a bit.
The support cast was great including Lisa Kudrow, James Marsters (Spike from the Buffy TV show) and the always brilliant Kathy Bates.
This isn't the best film of its genre in recent years but it certainly is warm, funny at times, emotional at others, and easily watchable. It wasn't up there with recent classics like The Holiday and Love Actually but was a good two hours spent.
A 7.5 out of 10 and a solid start to the year.

Happy 2008!

Another year down, another year where I have to work on New Year's Day.
I wish everyone a better year in 2008 than 2007 was.

The 2007 Raymo awards

We've come to the end of a pretty decent year of film and I saw 32 movies at the cinema.
It's a tough one to pick but it has been made easier by having five films rate a 9/10, I had four 8.5s and nine 8/10s so that's 17 of the 32 rating an eight or better. A quality year.
Here are the top five films of 2007.....

1. Reign Over Me
An absolutely stunning film about Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler), a man who lost his way after his family was taken in the September 11 attacks. Sandler is amazing in this role. He's completely shut down and lives a life that revolves around entertaining himself without having to face reality. Until he meets an old friend who needs healing in his own way. A moving film about friendship and a deserved number one.
2. Into The Wild
The true story of 24-year-old Chris McCandless, who in 1992 donated all his money to charity and abandoned his life to discover America, and himself. Directed by Sean Penn, this film is breathtaking from the scenery, the brilliant performance by Emile Hirsch and the subtle messages about life it tells. In any other year this would be a clear number one but just misses out.
3. Breach
An acting tour de force with Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillippe facing off as a corrupt FBI agent and the junior brought in by the authorities to bring him down. The fantastic Laura Linney also shines here. Based on the true story of Robert Hanssen, they get the mystery of what happens at the end out of the way right at the start so you can get down to finding out how he came unstuck. Not a flashy film at all, very bleak in appearance but outstanding in every way.
4. The Simpsons Movie
A change of pace from the top three and this surprises nobody. Pretty much a really, really good 90 minute episode of the longest running animated TV show and it holds up. There are superhero pigs (well just one), dares, nude scenes and environmental distasters - just your standard Simpsons fare. Very fun, particularly if you're a fan like me.
5. Spider-Man 3
Some people thought there was too much stuffed in to this movie and it became a bit crowded. I see the point but maybe I am a bit biased because I love Spiderman in a favourite superhero kind of way. They handled Venom well and I thought Topher Grace was good in that role. I thought it was at least as good as Spider-Man 2.

So that's the top five and a pretty solid one at that. If you haven't seen the top three, as they weren't major blockbuster releases like the other two I wholly recommend them. If you like thought provoking films, excellent acting and a good drama they are well and truly must sees.

Honourable mentions go to: The Number 23, Transformers, Amazing Grace, Death At A Funeral and the hugely under rated Australian film Noise.
Surprise of the year: the infectious musical Hairspray.
Runner-up: the Australian league film The Final Winter.
Flop of the year: I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry - all the funny bits were in the preview. Sandler gets best and worst film of the year in a rare feat.

See you at the movies in 2008, a year which at the moment is looking a bit patchy with Prince Caspian looking a mid-year highlight.

Season 4!

Yesterday I picked up the long awaited box set of One Tree Hill season 4.
So I'm about to get back into the best show on the box (my box anyway, it's still not on normal TV and don't think it ever will be now) after what seems like quite a while away.
With season 5 starting soon in the States a lot of interest is in what happens in the second half of this season - the part I haven't seen yet.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

The 32nd and possibly last movie of the year for me is the family adventure National Treasure: Book Of Secrets starring Nicholas Cage as Ben Gates.
Now I didn't see the original, for reasons unknown at this time, but it wasn't tough to follow for a newbie.
Gates is searching for the Book Of Secrets, a presidential tome that holds the answers to all the big questions in the world but that the world need not know (apparently), to clear the name of an ancestor who was allegedly involved in the assassination of Lincoln.
Yeah it is far fetched. But you know it is also quite fun. The support cast is first class including Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, Jon Voigt and Helen Mirren. But it is Ben's sidekick Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) that really impressed me. He was the comic relief.
This isn't the greatest film by any means but it is enjoyable, light, and good fun. Sometimes that's all you need in a movie. A 7 out of 10.
Coming in a few days is the all important 2007 review so stay tuned....

End of an era

OK, so a while back I eluded to making a decision on something I have been doing for a while. It's not an earth-shattering, life-changing decision (actually it is rather trivial) but when you've been doing something for 16 years and you decide not to it is quite momentus.
As most people know I am a bit of a music nut and since 1991 I have been compiling my own music charts, both because when I started it was fun and as a way to keep up with what was happening with music.
I have a rather thick folder with every music chart I have done since then including a top 100 for the year (except the last 2 years when I didn't do the end of year one) and I have a list of every song that has been number 1 and how many weeks it was there.
But, disappointingly, the music scene these days is pretty ordinary. Maybe I am just getting old, but a lot of the music out there now really doesn't interest me and seems to be dominated by inane rap/R&B stuff.
So as of this week I will no longer be doing my music charts.
It started in 1991 and my top five songs of 5/1/1991 were as follows:
1. Let's Make It Last All Night-Jimmy Barnes
2. Unchained Melody-Righteous Brothers
3. Disapper-INXS
4. Always & Ever-Southern Sons
5. I Touch Myself-Divinyls

The final chart, for the week ending 5/1/2008 is as follows.
1. Believe Again-Delta Goodrem
2. In Pieces-Shannon Noll
3. Touched By Love-Eran James
4. Misery-Good Charlotte
5. Into The Night-Santana featuring Chad Kroeger

Make of those what you will. My music taste is pretty eclectic but has remained fairly constant over the years. Following are some statistics about my musical experience in the last 16 years.
Most weeks at number 1: How To Save A Life-The Fray (21), Lift-Shannon Noll (20), If You Could Only See-Tonic (19), Over My Head (Cable Car)-The Fray (17), One Sweet Day-Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (16), Spending My Time-Roxette (15).
Most number 1's: Mariah Carey (19), Roxette (14), Savage Garden/Darren Hayes (14), Shannon Noll (8), Kylie Minogue (8).
Interestingly, my three favourite songs I'll Be There For You (Rembrandts), Hero (Mariah Carey) and Crash And Burn (Savage Garden) spent five, one and 13 weeks at number one respectively.
In a way it is going to be strange not doing this anymore but I see no point. There's only really 10 or so songs I like at any one time on the radio/video shows so doing a chart seems redundant. Plus, as you would note from some of the artists that have dominated I am a creature of habit and still like their music. Yeah, I am a dag. But the 80s-90s were just awesome for music and the 00s have not been as significant, except for a few artists here and there.
So there you have it, the end of an era. I am glad I am going out with a number 1 that I really, really like, a positive uplifting song and, at the end of the day, that is what music should do for you. Now if only I listened to myself on that one.....

Merry Christmas

Having awoken from an afternoon nap (which I think I have needed all day) I offer somewhat belated Christmas greetings to everyone.
It has been a strange one today, quite cool (weather wise) by our standards and while that is not something to complain about it makes it an unusual Christmas. But, nevertheless, a good one.

No Festivus miracles

I think that's a good thing. As a general rule festivus miracles tend to be rather unfortunate or uncomfortable and involved chance situations that you'd rather not have to endure.
So, in honur of Festivus 2007 I announce my grievances....
1. The politicians who kept sending the same propaganda to me on a daily basis in the last couple of weeks of the election. They know who they are.
2. The guy responsible for taking EI out of the quarantine centre and destroying the spring carnival.
3. Kylie Minogue for releasing a mediocre album as her comeback from cancer. C'mon the electronica stuff didn't really work for Madonna a few years ago, why will it work now?
4. Channel 7 for now showing the last 2 episodes of the current season of Heroes (thank God for the internet or I'd have to wait until February to see them).
5. Yet again Channel 10 for not showing One Tree Hill and to whoever is responsible for releasing it on DVD and making us wait until goodness known when (again thanks to importing things on your own we don't have to wait so long).
6. Magpies
7. The canteen ladies at work who refuse to carry out the simple instructions you give on how you'd like your toast spread.

That's all I can think of right now. Happy Festivus everyone!