Drive in South Central PA

Scenery changes fast about a half-hour from B'more.

K'Wali recently asked what kind of film I watch for "fun" when I'm "slumming." I said something by Werner Herzog, or Kubrick's Clockwork Orange. Of course I was joking. Hellboy 2 is the kind of slumming I enjoy, and I saw it at the Charles today.

No, it's not as good as the first, which makes it double-plus-ungood in a way. But it's got Guillermo Del Toro's fervid imagining of monsters and it's got Ron Perlman, so it has to be good in some respects. It was worth $6.

And, when I walked out of the theater and into the craziness of Artscape I got to see a couple songs by Memphis Gold. They've got a kickass harmonica-ist.

Later, we went to the Load of Fun Gallery for their Erotic Arts Festival. Cha had a photo shoot up and she was doing henna. Those who took advantage of the 'clothing optional' regs were hilarious. I spent a lot of time watching people get into the latex vacuum table. Ridiculous.

netflixed

I've never read Mishima, and have only a general knowledge of his bio and philosophy. Paul Schrader's film blew me socks off; it's easily the best film about the Samurai worldview I've seen since Ghost Dog. Philip Glass scored Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters. I love Philip Glass but the RZA's soundtrack to Ghost Dog is hard to beat.

Schrader gets at Mishima through biographical vignettes which are woven into segments from his stories, plays, and films. The culminating moment of the film is of course obvious if you know anything about his life at all. It's pretty powerfully handled here.

Love the vivid color and the black and white sequences; love the set design, which is magnificent. The acting too. Criterion Collection strikes again.

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"Roma? That's Fellini's worst film!" folks told me often. I kept sliding it back in my Netflix queue as a result, denying myself an enormous pleasure. Ok--it might actually be his worst film, but so what? I adored it start to finish, and might actually like it more than Amarcord. Love the ecclesiastical fashion show with roller skating priests and rump-shaking nuns.

Of course now I have a major jones to go back to you-know-where. Many wonderful memories of Rome from March '99 came back during the film.

storm's a-brewin'

storm's a-brewin', originally uploaded by Blog-Sothoth.

This storm front blew through @ 4pm yesterday. Pretty impressive.

#43

An excellent short biography of Sidhatta Gotama, placing his revolutionary reforms of yogic practice into context and making reasonably clear the profound importance of his ideas for a Western audience.

Armstrong's introduction explains why it's impossible really to write a biography of Buddha, given the lack of contemporary documents and the likely embellishments of original texts passed down orally. But this is a worthy and interesting attempt.

netflixed

I'd not seen Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet since 9th grade English class. Miss Weissman cried when she showed it to us and we laughed at her. Let's just say it's a good thing my students couldn't see me after I watched it last night.

It's funny to know what's coming and still be caught up in the action. I found the fight sequences between Tybalt and Mercutio and Tybalt and Romeo unbearably tense despite knowing the outcome.

There are moments which fall flat, and the swelling soundtrack is often unctuous, but much of the film holds up. The enthusiasm of the young actors saves the day.

The actors are good, but of course the true stars of the show are barely restrained by Olivia Hussey's costumes.

Now I'm going to get Zeffirelli's Mel Gibson-driven Hamlet. Haven't seen that for a while either.

Rock!

Tonight and tomorrow night at Mick O'Shea's in Mount Vernon: Move Like Seamus!

We start at 9:30. $3 at the door. Guinness poured properly. Guitars, fiddle, drums, and CELLO--and often in tune! How can you resist?