The Last Man

In somewhat of a departure for me I've been reading a graphic novel series called the Last Man.
It's not bad either. As the title suggests it's about one man who somehow survived a plague that killed all male life on Earth.
It's a DC Comic so it makes me wonder why a movie hasn't been mooted.
I'm only up to the fourth book of 10 and the story centres on Yorick Brown, an escape artist, and his not so helpful `helper' monkey Ampersand (who has a very cool name I must say).
We'll see what transpires...

Grrrrr!

So I went into a department store this afternoon looking for a pair of gloves as I had lost mine. Seems a fairly natural thing to do when it's the middle of winter and its freezing cold.
But no, apparently they don't have winter stock as the summer range has come in and the only winter items available are on clearance.
Yep, you can't buy a pair of gloves in a fairly prominent department store in the middle of winter. I couldn't believe it.
I was then told to try other stores, some of whom are in direct competition to this one. Anyway I bought my gloves at a nearby menswear store and in the end they were probably better quality than what I would have bought. Then when I went to pay at the first store for what I wanted to buy they didn't have any bags so had to cram my clothing into some very, very small bags.
Then I get home and phone a store where I had placed an order for some juice some two and a bit weeks earlier to inquire as to whether it had arrived, since I hadn't heard anything.
I was told that the product I required was discontinued. They could have called me to let me know so I could make alternative arrangements, couldn't they.
So I went on a wild goose chase starting with the manufacturer who told me the product was not discontinued, then was put onto a distributor who may or may not be able to get what I'm after.
I told the manufacturer's rep that there were a lot of similar products out there of much lesser quality that are easier to get and that my difficulty in securing what I wanted could illustrate that if their product was more easily accessible they would sell more.
So I am still in the dark, until at least tomorrow, as to whether I can get this product or not.
Didn't seem too professional to me from any of the three people I spoke with this afternoon.

A Canterbury tale

I have to admit I really like going to Canterbury for the races. The track is fairly small but that means from the stands you can get a good view of the entire course - the horses aren't as far away from you as they are at, say, Randwick.

After several days of very wintry and rainy weather it was a cracker of a day today, when the sun was out, and a great day to head to the races. It'd been several weeks since I had made it to the track and I managed to meet a few people I didn't know, get some legwork done on a couple of projects for work and catch up with a mate who I have a lot of time for. What can I say about Brent? He's quite a bit of fun and we had a great day hanging out, punting and catching up. A lot of his family, and his girlfriend, were there as well as they had a horse racing and they were all very good to talk to.
The week has been a busy one in one respect, a shade frustrating as usual, and saw many plans change. I was going to go for a swim but with the rain and stuff I didn't want to brave the outdoor (heated) pool.
Some more catching up with people tomorrow for a while in the afternoon, and by tomorrow evening I'm going to wonder where the weekend got to.
The photos on this page are obviously ones I took at the races at Canterbury today and gives an indication of the size of the track.

Do we need a Friends movie?

I guess it was going to happen sooner or later but as a massive fan of Friends I ask myself can they improve on what they've already completed?
The show ended very well and while there is an element of curiosity as to what might have happened with Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Phoebe and Joey I don't think it is essential.
Certainly with Sex And The City being successful and a new X Files movie there is a market for TV crossovers.
And there is no doubt should a film be made I will see it but the makers should take heed - it would want to be a cracking story to sustain a show that worked brilliantly as a 22 minute series into a 100-plus minute film. And make it as funny as have as much heart as the series did.
The Simpsons did it damn well but it took them four years to come up with a lasting storyline.
No doubt the cast will take the money and do it but given the choice I'd say, guys and gals, don't
do it!
But if you have to do it don't make a film, make a new series of the TV show. Do a season 11, it would be so much better.

Encouragement vs apathy

At work I try to be as encouraging as possible, particularly when it comes to people who are less experienced than I am.
Lately it has become apparent, I guess moreso than normal, that there is a large amount of apathy among some of the people I work with. And it frustrates the heck out of me.
For some people it seems as though it is easy to have a low care factor about what they are doing.
I physically can't do this. Unless I'm under the weather a bit I am really enagaged with what I'm doing, always thinking about things I can write about and keeping up with what's going on. Basically if anyone rings our office with a technical question it ends up with me to explain or help with the problem.
I have wondered a bit recently what would happen if I wasn't there.
Clearly my expectation of the people I work with, one or two in particular, is higher than everyone else's. What I can't understand is why they don't just love what they do - we don't have a high risk job, we're not responsible for saving lives and we essentially call our hobby our job. At least that's what it's like for me.
From the outside it appears that for some it's just a job and mediocracy is acceptable. Now I am not a high-flyer and never will be, I don't aspire to massive heights within my job (except for one particular step) but I love what I do. It just seems to me that I'm in the minority there and that's sad.
Sometimes it feels like you're swimming upstream, fighting against the current when everyone should be heading in the same direction.
It's hard to be encouraging in this scenario but I try, though I've got to admit I'm close to my last attempt with one of my coworkers, even though it's not my job to push him at all, who has all the talent in the world but is just not using it.
I know it's not really my business, other people's work ethics, but I just want what's best for the team and when I'm giving 110% and look around and see others giving 50% it's disheartening.

Something Beautiful

Eran James is one of the most under rated vocalists in Australia and I just love this song, Something Beautiful, from his Ten Songs About Love album.
Have a listen here and enjoy. You might also notice that the words at the top of this blog come from this particular song.

You’re lost and alone
Got no self esteem
You’re shy and you gave up on your dream
But some butterflies ake there own time
To see that their wings have grown wide

Let that blue sky over your head get into your heart
It melts the doubt, it helps to light the dark
To start that fire you only need one spark

There’s something beautiful about the way that you smile
It breaks my heart each day so baby just stay for a while
I could give you all the love you need
You don’t see what I see
You’re something beautiful to me

You stare at the glass distorted and hurt
You’re tryin’ but your vision is so blurred
The secrets you hide don’t help to deny
The sadness that’s livin’ in your eyes

Let that blue sky over your head get into your heart
It melts the fear, it helps to light the dark
To start that fire you only need one spark

Repeat Chorus.

To start that fire to reach up higher
I just believe you only need one spark

Repeat Chorus.

The Dark Knight

There are superhero movies or comic book movies and then there's The Dark Knight .

I'm not sure where to start.

Let's get it out of the way right at the beginning - this is Heath Ledger's film, he owns it, he drives it and he absolutely captivates you from the very beginning.

All the wraps were 100% correct and it makes his death earlier this year even more tragic than it already was.

You just can't help but be shaken and offended by Ledger's Joker and his complete lack of conscience and sheer evil yet be dazzled and wowed by his performance which, with all due respect, makes Jack Nicholson's 1989 Joker look like a sideshow clown.

The Joker, who left his calling card at the end of Batman Begins, has been created by Christopher Nolan as a man with no morals, a lot of impulse, and (as the character points out) no plan other than anarchy. And he gets almost all the best lines.

I really want to go on and on about Ledger's stunning turn as an iconic character, one that he will now always be remembered for and will almost certainly be posthumously rewarded for, but you get the point. Take a bow Heath, this truly was your finest hour.

What's changed in the Dark Knight is that Rachel Dawes (now Maggie Gyllenhaal) is dating the DA Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) much to Bruce Wayne's dislike. Wayne displays this dislike by always having a lot of arm candy when he goes out.

Dent's prophetic line `You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain' tells you where things are headed. Everyone knows Harvey Dent becomes Two Face and just how was an excellent secret. Just wait and see.

Christian Bale is a very good Batman but he also suffers the curse of being upstaged.

The Dark Knight is not perfect. It does have flaws but they are far outweighed by how simply brilliant the script, the casting and the performances are. It blurs the lines between good and evil and not everyone escapes unscathed.

Where to from here? There are three classic Batman villains yet to be given the Nolan treatment - Catwoman, The Riddler and The Penguin.

I'd love to see him have a go at Catwoman, I think it is a shame Jim Carrey was wasted in the earlier Batman series because I see no-one else as the Riddler and I'm not sure about Penguin.

Don't miss The Dark Knight, it's more than just a superhero film. A 9 out of 10.

World Youth Day

The influx of people for the World Youth Day events haven't really affected me since I get to work pretty early. Apparently the crowds are bigger by mid-morning.
But today I walked down George Street in the city and was confronted by heck of a lot of people who seemed to be wandering aimlessly.
I guess that's why they call them pilgrims.
I have no problem with them being here it was just a strange sight to see these groups of people with flags and their WYD backpacks walking around the city.
My only hope for the week's events is that Randwick racecourse comes away unscathed from the crowd that will be there on Sunday for the final mass.
Just don't get me started on them using NSW's best racecourse for this event and placing the industry in jeopardy again. There were more suitable venues but it's done now, we're just hoping for the best result.

Question of the week...

Later this week the highly anticipated film The Dark Knight opens and I'm seeing it with the biggest Batman Begins fan I know so that will enhance the experience.
I've read a couple of reviews, all spectacular, and they increase the expectation that this will be the film of the year. Heath Ledger's performance will be interesting - I have no doubt he'll be good - and already they are saying move over Jack Nicholson.
So the question is....will it live up to the hype?
Only four days to wait (I could go Wednesday but I'd rather see it with Mr J) and see.

Hancock

Superhero films are all the rage at the moment and the makers of Hancock have come up with something original at a time when remakes and adaptations flourish.

And they almost hit the target. Almost.

Will Smith, in yet another `Will Smith saves the world' role, plays John Hancock who has all the attributes of a superhero except purpose. Sure he saves the day but he is loathed for the damage he causes along the way.

When he saves struggling PR guy Ray Embry (Jason Bateman) he is convinced, eventually, that he needs to change his ways. People should love him, Embry tells Hancock.

Embry's wife Mary (Charlize Theron) takes an instant cautious dislike to Hancock and we are surprised to find out why.

Hancock is very entertaining. He behaves somewhat like a little kid, over reacting to being called names (one in particular) and handing out justice in destructive ways. He's like a kid, except for the alcoholism.

I know Hancock has been given lukewarm reviews but I have to say it was refreshing in a way. They've had a go at a different take on a superhero story and it does work, just not as well at it could have. At just over 90 minutes it is short but that's okay. It could have been a shade longer without dragging at all.

I'm going for 7.5 out of 10, largely because it is funny and entertaining and surprising. And I've seen a lot, lot worse this year.

A new low

Australian television reached a new low tonight when Pamela Anderson entered the Big Brother house.
If ever people were looking for a point where the show jumped the shark then surely this is it. The strange thing is though that for a while it was riveting as these ordinary Aussies were all of a sudden sharing the house an a meal with the former Playboy covergirl.
I don't know what the fact she accepted an offer to do this says about her, perhaps it says enough money can buy you just about anything.

Hillsong: This Is Our God

The annual live Hillsong CD proves that even though they appear to be merging somewhat with the United arm very little has changed.
That's not necessarily a bad thing but it is not overly brave.
I've always liked Darlene Zschech as both a singer and a writer and her presence, despite being music director, is being felt less.
On This Is Our God, the 2008 release, she writes just one song and sings lead on just two. As almost always they are the best songs on the album which has 16 tracks.
I know there is a lot of talent among the Hillsong team and in some ways this is the best album they have released since Hope because there's less filler by using the United crew.
In my view, just like Mariah Carey seems to be these days, there are usually up to five crackers on each Hillsong and United CDs and the rest rather pedestrian, so on this one about two thirds of the album is great.
With the exception of Chris Tomlin and maybe Jeremy Camp, no one does worship like Hillsong and that is still there, so you know straight up what to expect.
I heard today that from 2009 the Hillsong Nights won't be open to the public anymore and onlydelegates of the conference will be able to attend.
While I can make my peace with paying $5 to secure your seat at the event shutting out the public, some of whom could be non-Christian, is a silly idea. I hope it is not true.

Revelations, ghosts and mind games

To say my soon to be completed break from work has been eventful would be an understatement. Obviously, the house stuff back home has been a big part of it and I'm not exactly sure how much stress that actually caused me.
Significantly less than the rest of the family for sure. But it still caused some.
Anyway, I covered quite a few kilometres in the last few days caching up with friends and I took in quite a lot of information.
On Thursday night I went down to Cronulla and hung out with a friend of more than 10 years who I don't see that often largely due to the distance. I'm not sure what the record is for the number of revelations in one conversation but I found out a lot of things about what's going on in my mate's life that I couldn't have guessed with a million options.
Let's just say his situation is a very tricky and sensitive one and I hope he makes the right choices when he is eventually forced to.
Friday was a large day, not helped by the fact that I was sure I had a bug or at least a cold or something like that. You know how you feel reasonable but just a bit off. That's how it went.
So I pushed on to see a friend who has the most amazing view from his balcony. His roommate was telling me how he woke up and walked outside to see whales out in the water. Amazing.
I really enjoy catching up with this particular mate, another who I don't see as often as I'd like, because he is quite encouraging and not afraid of a bit of contact.
I have few mates who greet you with a hug and while I think it might be strange if everyone did it certainly makes an impression.
So after a wander along the beach and a peppermint tea I headed off to another coastal venue for dinner with another mate. By this stage I was starting to feel a bit on the tired side.
We had a bite and went back to his place to watch the rugby league game and chat about the races. It wasn't as eventful as the last time we hung out, when we stayed out until well into the early hours, but I still had a good time.
When I got home I resolved to do very little today and have succeeded. And I feel a bit better for the rest after being quite spooked for a couple of days. I've got to learn to handle that kind of thing better.
It's weird how your mind can be your worst enemy, you'd think it would be easy to work together! For someone who can be very rational, the irrational side seems to be surprisingly strong and letting it win is a habit that needs to be broken.
On the plus side my housemate was watching Ace Ventura: Pet Detective when I got home last night so I finished that off so it was great to end the night with a laugh.
So what's been going on in your world?

Kung Fu Panda

Hype and expectation have made the wraps on Kung Fu Panda impossible to live up to.

I'm not saying this isn't a good film, you could do a heck of a lot worse, but it isn't in the ball park of the Pixar films and the best animation film of the year Horton Hears A Who!

The problem with Kung Fu Panda is that it's all been done before, story wise, and having a fat panda as the lead isn't novel enough to carry you through.

Jack Black certainly relishes the role of Po, a kung fu fanatic who dreams of being the most revered fighter in the Valley Of Peace.

He is awoken from his dream by his father, inexplicably a duck, who runs a noodle shop in town. He then heads off to see the announcement of the new Dragon Warrior and through his bumbling is named as that warrior.

Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) has trained five hopeful warriors - Tigress, Monkey, Viper, Crane and Mantis - as proteges to fight his estranged adopted son Tai Lung who longed to be the Dragon Warrior but was denied and turned evil.

It all sounds so familiar and while there are few truly original stories out there this one doesn't get its head above that comfortable water.

The main problem I had is that everything happened so quickly. It's two-thirds of the way through the movie before Po is trained and the way he defeats Tai Lung (and that's not a spoiler because you don't seriously think he's going to lose do you) is so laughable it's not even that funny.

I know it sounds like I'm bagging Kung Fu Panda quite a lot. It's not a bad film but Pixar don't have much to worry about at this point (until I bring myself to see Wall E which looks truly awful). This is no Ratatouille, no Toy Story, no Cars.

A 7 out of 10.