P.D. James - "Children of Men"

Was looking through lists of dystopic stories, this title sounded so familiar. Turned out that the film with similar title starring Clive Owen and Julianne Moore was loosely based on this story. When I found it in the library, it seemed to fit alongside "Poste Restante" and why shun some possible inspiration?

Can't help it, but yes the book was better, compared to what I remembered from the film. Less action, less clear answers. Those aren't the point.

In short: suddenly the whole world becomes infertile. No cure is found. Strange practices start, "mothers" with dolls as substitutes. The Quietus: killing of old people because they want it to end (an escape?). The nephew of England's "leading counsil man" Xan (basically, tyrant) becomes involved with an anti-government group, 4 people, not experienced in anything like warfare. After bombings they have to flee across England and one of the women turns out to be pregnant.

quote: "no one was more adept at demolishing a woman's self-confidence while treating her with meticulous, indeed almost insulting, consideration and courtesy."

I wonder whether "I got the blues. The black dog on my shoulder" is a common proverb.

The first sentence of a paragraph often seems factual. Afterwards, it continues with facts or introduces subversive viewpoints. Describe what people do - "spying" -, not just the facts - "has another country found the cure to global infertility" -, but add emotional reasons, - "adult buccaneering". Sometimes, start with this emotional POV.

Lots of Christan elements, without becoming a religious story. Certain things are not explained, the infertility or why the woman can become pregnant again. Moral grounds when there are no facts. Choices to make. Repentance for sins of the past. Xan == Herodes. Julian == Maria. Faron (main character) is ...? Humanity?

Some would call this an open ending. Xan dies, Faron takes his place. A child is born. I like the fact that the story doesn't provide certainties, there aren't always answers. Living is groping in the semi-darkness and trying to make the best of it, I guess.

Wonderful writing.

The Cat Piano

http://www.thepra.com.au/Content.aspx?p=117

A wonderful dark jazzy tale of cats and an evil man who snatches them away to create his devilish "cat piano". Narrated by Nick Cave, simple animation with only a few colourtones per scene, it is beautiful.

The animation seemed somewhere between old-fashioned and flash-web, probably produced with tools of the latter by people who really know what they are doing.

Ponyo on a cliff by the sea

The latest from Hayao Miyazaki, studio Ghibli

It's a nice piece, happy, bubbly (literally) but a whole lot more aimed towards children. Or rather, less aimed at adults. The dark undercurrents that were so typical of his other films, are almost completely gone here.

Still, reading through some trivia, one can't help but marvel at the beauty and craftmanship:

• The opening 12 seconds, involving vast schools of fish and undersea creatures, required 1613 pages of conceptual sketches to develop.

Millenium: mannen die vrouwen haten (Män som hatar kvinnor) (2009)

The books are said to (become) a big hit. They're huge. LoTR style.

I must admit I read some reviews, all of them positive, before watching the film, but those didn't spoil it.

Haven't read the books, some of my family have and they considered them ok, but one quote I remember well: the reviewer actually prefers the shortcut the film needs to take to the extensive description of literally every character offered by the book(s).

I wouldn't say I am as lyrical about it as some of the people I've met, but it is definitely a good film. Gripping at moments, a high pace. The style one could describe as typically Scandinavian; cold, winter, bleak colours, but this is also due to the setting of the story.

There is one plot instrumentum that I wasn't too happy with. It becomes obvious that while "sidekick" Lisbeth Salander (she's much more than that, a stronger personality than Mikael Blomkvist, which is part of the whole male vs female discussion that the book/film raise) discovers who the murderer is, he of course is just at the house of the killer. And is caught by him. And yes (no! you groan) she manages to save him at the very last moment.

Yes, go on, give me crap about timing and suspence, but it ruined the fairly realistic tone that was established. This single plot device suddenly turns you around and you see the Hollywood cardboards, the effects, ... 

But that sounds too harsh. I truly liked the film.

Mono - "Hymn to the Immortal Wind" (album)

Where did I get this album from? X-Rated suggestion?

Long, chaotic, running-wild soundscapes. Bit busy to the ears, but not bad.

The songs, for example "Burial At Sea", feel like a 5min bombastic song that has been stretched into 15-20min. It is slow, yet progressively overwhelming.

There are wonderful parts, but a bit too excessive and repeating. At least, while one is supposed to be working.