Clearing the Backlog...

[Uncle Sam]

My ticket's booked for Monday. Because I'm a member of a decent cinema.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

You live in London (don't you?) so you have access to more cinemas and, wait, you're a member?

 

[Diet Soda]

I want to the cinema yesterday to see it. They told me it wasn't on for a few weeks. I didn't have it in me to see anything else, so I went home.

Fuck Vue.

There's a slather of comfort in knowing that they've dropped the ball nationwide and it's not just symptomatic of living in the arse-end of nowhere.

My ticket's booked for Monday. Because I'm a member of a decent cinema.

Southern privilege.

 

[Bernkastel]

I'd likely fail both of these. It takes me about a month or so to get through a 400-500 page thriller. There's only about 30 DVD's in my collection,and I haven't seen a movie in theaters since the Dark Knight Rises.

 

[Uncle Sam]

You live in London (don't you?)

Technically, yes.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)

Tore through Riptide in quick time, although it is not the longest novel. Anyone who played Jedi Knight III; Jedi Academy will recognise the main character, Jaden Korr. A pretty decent story which uses the usual Jedi vs Sith dynamic but adds a new layer of religious faith for one faction involved.

It also reminded me that I had read its prequel, Crosscurrent but despite its use of numerous clones of prominent characters, and at times pretty gritty fight scenes, I barely remembered it.

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)

 

[Blade]

First time viewings:

American Hustle, 21 & Over, Argo, the Wolf of Wall Street, Dallas Buyers Club, the Spectacular Now, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Repeats:

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World

8 movies in 12 days, not bad. But man, Walter Mitty kinda sucked.

 

[Danger Burger]

But man, Walter Mitty kinda sucked.

I had a great time watching it, but it definitely kinda sucked! His interesting life was less interesting than his imagination. Also I had forgotten that went to see it this year, so it makes my list!

 

[Danger Burger]

Finished "Legend" yesterday. 'Historical Fantasy' they tell me. Part of the Drenai series by David Gemmell. Pretty enjoyable book, centred on the defence of this worlds greatest fortress (nine walls deep) against what seemed to be insurmountable odds. The heroes were varied: A war hating romantic, a group of solemn warrior monks searching for meaning, a quick tempered woman warrior, an incompitent general and a few volunteer farmers. It was a fresh depth to world building too often riddles with complex histories and race attributed. The book focused on the person inspirations that lead each man to defend the fortress. Of course, the heart of the book rests on its namesake, Druss, the legend, deathstalker. A time-worn hero searching for his death on the battlefield and coming up short each time.

Cool tale, wonderfully put together and, most importantly, the battle was epic. Literally. Two thumbs up, and finished well within the one week afforded to it.

Next up is "Rules of Attraction" by Brett Easton Ellis.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I think I read Legend when I was about ten. There's a bit where one of the protagonists gets nude and lies down next to another protagonist, who he's also stripped nude, while she's unconscious, right?

 

[Danger Burger]

I think I read Legend when I was about ten. There's a bit where one of the protagonists gets nude and lies down next to another protagonist, who he's also stripped nude, while she's unconscious, right?

I read it when I was 14 or so, and that was likely the reason I wanted to read it again.

At the same time, not entirely. One guy strips a girl of her chainmail armour so she doesn't freeze to death, puts her in a bed near a fire and goes for a nap on the floor? Total beta .

There's also sexy nurse character who has the hots for the sixty year old. But he's all Right Said Fred about the whole thing.

 

[Shadowmancer]

David Gemmel is always worth a read, the first two Waylander books are good, third one gets a bit weird

 

[Uncle Sam]

Wouldn't recommend The Forever War. Some very interesting concepts - relativity sure is a whole barrel of fun - but all wrapped up in a pretty dull read.

Two books down, two thirds through my total for 2013.

Edit: Oh, and the final act is one of the worst things I've ever read. And you thought Harry Potter's ending read like bad fan fiction!

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

Finished "Legend" yesterday. 'Historical Fantasy' they tell me. Part of the Drenai series by David Gemmell. Pretty enjoyable book, centred on the defence of this worlds greatest fortress (nine walls deep) against what seemed to be insurmountable odds. The heroes were varied: A war hating romantic, a group of solemn warrior monks searching for meaning, a quick tempered woman warrior, an incompitent general and a few volunteer farmers. It was a fresh depth to world building too often riddles with complex histories and race attributed. The book focused on the person inspirations that lead each man to defend the fortress. Of course, the heart of the book rests on its namesake, Druss, the legend, deathstalker. A time-worn hero searching for his death on the battlefield and coming up short each time.

Cool tale, wonderfully put together and, most importantly, the battle was epic. Literally. Two thumbs up, and finished well within the one week afforded to it.

Next up is "Rules of Attraction" by Brett Easton Ellis.

Good shit. I remember reading Legend about four or so years ago as part of the 1001 Books List. For some reason, my most salient memory of the book is some initially bitchy woman giving it up to the protagonist after he saves her life...maybe I thought fantasy and my unhealthy obsession with Heavy Metal instantly surfaced within my mind's eye.

 

[Danger Burger]

David Gemmel is always worth a read, the first two Waylander books are good, third one gets a bit weird

What seems most ineteresting about the series is that the next book is set near 100 years later, or so I'm told? Sounds good to me. The characters of the last book become the legends of the next. Gemmell has no problem making me like new characters so I welcome the change. Have already picked up a copy of The King Beyond The Gates, which I think is next in the series. Four quid!

Good shit. I remember reading Legend about four or so years ago as part of the 1001 Books List. For some reason, my most salient memory of the book is some initially bitchy woman giving it up to the protagonist after he saves her life...maybe I thought fantasy and my unhealthy obsession with Heavy Metal instantly surfaced within my mind's eye.

Yeah he saves her life like three times in a row. There's only so much of a bitch someone can be, eh? The only thing I could remember vividly on returning to the book was that the stable boy sells our protagonist a horse called "Lancer" arguing it to be a good strong and worthy name, after purchase, however, the horse's name is revealed to be Daffodil. A classic.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver

Somehow I had managed to never watch this but once I did I found it to be an extremely interesting portrayal of what is essentially a man who was already afflicted with seems to be something approaching a psychopathy then afflicted with PTSD and gradually spiralling down and losing whatever inhibitions he had.

I don't buy the arguments over him being a 'hero' or even an 'anti-hero.' Travis Bickle was a maniac with an extreme view of what should be done to "clean up the city." That he recognised a victim of the city in Iris and seemingly tried to save her - not convinced he would have done so had he not hated her handlers - does not change that.

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

I don't think Scorsese ever intended for Travis Bickle to be a hero or anti-hero. For that matter, I don't think Taxi Driver contains anything that encourages viewers to offer a moral evaluation of Bickle. The main concern of any critique of Taxi Driver should be explaining why Bickle had such an overwhelming need to be needed that he tasked himself with rescuing someone who may or may not have needed saving in the first place.

 

[Барбоса]

I don't think Scorsese ever intended for Travis Bickle to be a hero or anti-hero.

I agree but as with every great book, show, movie, character that retains even the slightest hint of subtlety in its presentation, there is a lot of interpretation about Bickle (most of which I find nonsense).

For that matter, I don't think Taxi Driver contains anything that encourages viewers to offer a moral evaluation of Bickle.

I would say that the film contains plenty of hints that Bickle holds several immoral points of view about women, race, sex etc., although you could argue that ultimately Bickle is mentally ill enough for any judgement of his morals to be worthless.

The main concern of any critique of Taxi Driver should be explaining why Bickle had such an overwhelming need to be needed that he tasked himself with rescuing someone who may or may not have needed saving in the first place.

He does seem to have a conflicting need to be needed and a need to be alone.

While I was watching though, I did not get the feeling that he was rescuing Iris, more taking out his frustrations at not being able to get to Palatine on members of society he had deemed unworthy. Him attempting to turn the gun on himself only to have run out of ammunition for me is good evidence that it was less about Iris and more about himself.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

If you haven't seen it already, I highly recommend adding Paris, Texas to your list.

 

[Барбоса]

I'll add it to my wish list.

Looking to reduce the unwatched DVD pile before I buy any more though.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher

Always enjoyed the Punisher and his brand of 'human justice.' The fight between Castle and Kevin "the Russian" Nash remains as brutal as ever.

Books

Read

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)

Interesting read about the location of what is a largely forgotten battle in the history of the British Isles. Not really surprising though given that it did not lead to the long term conquest of Caledonia by the Romans, even if at this point, most of the Caledonian tribes had been defeated - similar to their abandoning of Germania, it is likely that the Romans saw no financial gain in establishing provinces north of what would become Hadrian's Wall.

The battle does demonstrate the rather useful Roman trait of getting tribes to fight for them against their own kindred tribes - despite their presence, the three legions at Mons Graupius did not fight at all. Really liked the linguistic detective work to suggest a battlefield site.

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill

 

[Uncle Sam]

I'm making good progress with Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. I've no idea what I'm reading while I'm reading it but seem to get the whole picture by the end of the chapter - it's quite remarkable.

There was a bit where the rising sun was compared to the tip of a phallus, that was fun.

 

[Diet Soda]

1. American Hustle
2. Last Vegas
3. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
4. The Wolf of Wall Street

Only needed one piss break. Impressed with myself.

 

[Danger Burger]

Finishing The Rules of Attraction tonight, y'all gna hear about it in the morning. Struggling to pick the book to start after.

Options:
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Fear and Loathing (half-Likely)
Next book in the Dresden Files series
Vurt (half-likely)
The Catastrophist

If anyone can highly recommend any of those, I'll take the suggestion with a pinch of salt.

 

[Blade]

Haven't watched a movie all week, but I'm binging on Homeland season 3. That should count. right?