Just a hunch...

Here's a prediction that probably will be fulfilled. The only real question is how much longer it will take to achieve.

That, drum roll please...

AVATAR WILL PASS THE $2 BILLION DOLLAR MARK!

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/

Time will tell...

The NOUGHTIES: PT 2. my top 10 favorites

OK, so here's my top 10 favourite movies from this last decade. It was both easy and hard at the same time to get it narrowed to this select few. Let me explain properly...

Since I first wrote the list of my favourites, I've been having the usual internal debate about the merit of even having it categorized into a 'top' list. I mean, its all rather arbitrary isn't it? Some of you may not agree with some of my choices (Esp the 'top' 10!), but that's the risk any writer takes. In committing any words down for anybody to read, you will invariably take a position on whether or not you like a film or not. I've tried to be  fundamentally different by not reviewing stuff I DON'T LIKE! Life is too short to waste on crap movies, so I will always stick to films that make a positive impression on me. And try to convince you out there as to just why you should have a look as well.

My specific criteria for the top 10? two main points. First, did it create an emotional connection for me? And secondly, would I watch it again ? (Or even buy it to have always available!). With these two things in mind, here we go. My personal top 10 favourites from 2000-2009!

10: LORD OF THE RINGS-THE TRILOGY.

Am I cheating when I say that I view all three movies as one (Very) long story? Nah, not at all. This magnificent trilogy was monumental for so many reasons, but one particular thing stood out. It was bloody good!!! An epic achievement for all concerned, it created a new dynasty. The Jackson era may have slightly hiccuped with anything produced after this, but he will always have this fantastic effort associated with his name. Go and revisit it again to refresh your memory of its greatness...

9: DEPARTURES

One of the key factors for my enjoyment of any movie I view is the environment I watch it in. This does make a difference. The other key factor for me, is whatever may be happening in your life at that point in time. That will most certainly affect your viewpoint on that movie your viewing. With those two key factors in mind, this film struck a huge chord with me. Graceful, poetic, sensitive, charming, heartwarming, heartbreaking, believable. Just a few words to describe this majestic movie. Do not miss it under any circumstance! Your life will be the better for it.

8: DONNIE DARKO

Richard Kelly's debut is like no other film. Completely fresh & original, this complex movie augured well for his future films, alas "Southland tales" suffered from the curse of the 'follow-up album' blues that derail so many. Still, the next one ("The Box") promises a return to form...

7: AMELIE

This first international glimpse of a star in the making (The pixie-ish Audrey Tatou), utterly charmed us from the very first scene, till the last. A dazzling visual wonder, the story also captured your heart - without much challenge. One of the best 'feel-good' movies ever!

6: GRIZZLY MAN

Werner Herzog is the man to go to. That is, if you want to really get behind the mindset of the various people that appear in his movies. His approach is compelling to say the least. It also helps to have great subject matter. That, Timothy Treadwell provides by the bucket-load in this riveting train-wreck of a doco which makes it, quite simply, unmissable!

5: O BROTHER, 

      WHERE ART THOU?

Homer's 'Odyssey' as re-imagined by Joel & Ethan Coen is both George Clooney's finest comedy - and my favourite Coen Bros movie from this decade. From the superb support work from John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman (Amongst many other fine character actors), to the gorgeous camera work from long time associate Roger Deakins, to the seminal soundtrack that helped kick-start my love affair with Americana music, this is one road trip that is a sheer joy to watch. Again and again...

4: THE RETURN (2003-RUSSIA) 

Soviet Director Andrey Zvyagintsev's debut marked him out as a possible heir to the throne of Tarkovsky with this stunningly powerful film. The magnificent camerawork & the brooding score set up a rich canvas for the actors to display their talents with utter distinction. Zvyagintsev's follow-up, 2007's "The Banishment" is another movie worthy of your time as well.

3: ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW

Miranda July's debut movie won a special prize at Sundance for 'Originality of Vision'. It clearly, was absolutely deserved. I knew that after only viewing ten minutes of this masterpiece, that it was going to be a movie that I would love for the rest of my life. Completely unique from start to finish, this is a movie that is simply unforgettable. MACARONI!

2: ALMOST FAMOUS

This was my number 1 - Until another certain movie appeared at the end of 2009. But, it still has a major place in my heart as my favourite Rock 'N Roll movie of all-time. Director Cameron Crowe's autobiographical tale of life on the road with bands in the 1970's was a blast from start to finish. The combination of the great ensemble cast (Kate Hudson in particular!), evocative storytelling, and a cool 70's drenched soundtrack made this film irresistible for me.

And thus, my personal favourite...

1: AVATAR

If you know me in person, then this is no great surprise. Let me digress to you anyhow.  It has been a very interesting time since Avatar was first released to the world. In the 34 days since I first viewed this masterpiece (and I've seen it 3 times so far...), a lot has happened in between then and now. Critical reaction has been (unsurprisingly!) pretty much polarised (Although more for, than against), its now eeking closer to the number one spot on the chart that matters the most for Hollywood- the Box office http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/, and just today, its got a Golden Globe for best director - and best picture. And it might just get a nod in the Oscar direction as well.

Avatar, is quite simply, the reason to remind us of the pure joy of going to watch a movie on the big screen. It is an experience like no other. Avatar is something that is, for me, close to cinematic perfection. All the inane criticism from many about the supposed poor storyline is just lazy in my eyes. What did you expect? 3 hours of Shakespearean dialogue? Get real, its entertainment, entertainment on a scale the likes of which we've never seen before. Is it the future of  movies? Well, the technological advances Cameron has made are going to be utilized by other directors, but any movie worth its salt has to have a story that resonates with people. Clearly, after earning $1.6 billion to date, it has connected with many. How many of them had a gun to their head, demanding that they must go and watch this? Probably zero. And, like the current number one Titanic, they enjoyed the experience, enough to either recommend it to others-or maybe they went to see it again. Or both! Did I mention I've seen it 3 times already? Heh heh...

The best part about its financial success means one thing. That James Cameron (And more importantly, his studio backers) will now have no excuse to not make parts 2 & 3 of his planned trilogy. Apart from James Cameron, I'd say the other really happy people associated with Avatar are the shareholders. Money is in the bank. Unless Roland Emmerich is right about a future date. But, that was only a movie, wasn't it...

The NOUGHTIES: PT 1

My favourite movies of the decade (2000-2009) are, to say the least, an eclectic bunch. From big budget blockbusters, through to serious art-house fare (and a fair multitude in between!), this decade has produced many varied  & memorable movies that have made an indelible impression upon many people. This list is my personal selection of films that made a sizable impact on me. Movies that I am quite happy to recommend to pretty much anyone. Granted, you probably wont agree on all my choices-but that's cool. It's the nature of this beast. What one person may love-someone else may hate-both with equal passion! Still, no harm in trying to convince you of what kind of movies I really loved this decade - is there?

This first part is movies ranked from 50-11. Part 2 will reveal my top 10 of the decade.

50: HELVETICA: A doco about a font? It both entertains-and educates. Go and look at your world again...
49: ONCE: Musicals shouldn't be this cool. This one is a total reinvention of the genre-and no happy ending!
48: SECRETARY: James Spader as a perv? Who else! And Maggie Gyllenhaal was more than up for it...
47: ONG-BAK: A Thai reinvention of a much maligned genre. Tony Jaa is the new boss...
46: THE NEW WORLD: Terence Malick's beautiful rendering of the legend of Pocahontas. Sublime...
45: MEMORIES OF MURDER: A taunt Korean thriller about a serial killer-and dogged cops.
44: BRICK: The new riff on Shakespeare & daylight Noir. Great cast, great script. This will age well...
43: DOWNFALL: The definitive Hitler movie. Bruno Ganz makes him human. Debate that!
42: ANTICHRIST: Von Trier-love him or hate him. He makes movies that leave an impression...
41: DEAD MAN'S SHOES: Paddy Considine is not a man to be messed with. Especially in this film!
40: AMERICAN BEAUTY: The deconstruction of the American dream with Spacey & Bening on song.
39: SIDEWAYS: An atypical romance that reeked of 'real' for the boomer generation.
38: WALL.E: Pixar are the force in animation. Where they lead, others merely follow...
37: AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH: For making 'Green' sexy-and still in fashion years later...
36: SUNSHINE: An overlooked gem-and a decent serious Sci-Fi movie to dazzle your minds-eye...
35: CONTROL: Anton Corbijn's heartfelt paean to his first love-Joy Division's genius-Ian Curtis.
34: BAD SANTA: The best Santa movie ever! Billy-Bob wasn't acting...
33: SEXY BEAST: Arise Sir Ben Kingsley! You are not Gandhi anymore. You are bloody scary!
32: MOON: Bowies son directs & a tour-de-force performance from the underrated Sam Rockwell.
31: SHAUN OF THE DEAD: The worlds first "Rom-Zom-Com"!!! Genius from Pegg & co!
30: APOCALYPSE NOW-REDUX: A great movie made even better! 'Released' in 2001..
29: BATMAN-THE DARK KNIGHT: The hype was justified. R.I.P Heath.
28: IRREVERSIBLE: Gasper Noe's masterpiece wasn't easy to watch. Great cinema sometimes isn't...
27: YES: Sally Potter's unique 2004 gem with its 'rhymed iambic pentameter' dialogue. A 'one-off' for sure...
26: HIGH FIDELITY: John Cusack's bravura visualization of the classic Nick Hornby novel. It ROCKS!!!
25: CITY OF GOD: A Brazilian descent into a bleak, bloody & raw teenage hell. The runts. The runts...
24: FAHRENHEIT 9/11: Michael Moore's attack on Dubya was box office gold. Doco's are sexy!
23: THE WRESTLER: Its all about Mickey Rourke. It was actually a doco on his life don't ya know?
22: UNITED 93: The best 9/11 movie. Period.
21: I'M NOT THERE: A Dylan movie that was genius for having multiple actors playing him. Sheer genius.
20: NORTH FACE: The best climbing movie since 'Touching The Void'. Taunt, grim & heart-stopping...
19: THE LIVES OF OTHERS: The human face of the Stasi in cold war era East Germany.
18: THE INCREDIBLES: Pixar-again! Superheroes never were this funny...
17: THE SQUID AND THE WHALE: A perfect cast (Daniels/Linney) in this New York tale of a dysfunctional family.
16: CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS: This powerful doco doesn't take sides. You try and decide. Hmm...
15: HUKKLE: Unlike anything you've ever seen before. Hiccup.   Hiccup.   Hiccup...
14: SAVAGE GRACE: Most like Streep. I think Julianne Moore is the new Streep for this generation. Bravo!
13: YOUNG @ HEART: Dont stop, thinking about tomorrow-It'll soon be here. Yesterdays gone, yesterdays gone...
12: TONY TAKATANI: If this was music, it would be a long, slow, sorrowful, smoky jazz tone poem...
11: MAN ON WIRE: Riveting doco about a mad Frenchman walking between the twin towers in 1974. Brave-or totally insane? You decide...

PT 2 coming next week...

Aint nothing like a BIG MAC...

...Especially if its a FLEETWOOD MAC!
 

Its always gratifying to see a wide range of people at a live gig covering the very best & worst that humanity can offer. From the boomers singing along to the hits,to the yobs-well, just being yobs!, the hard-core music fans, live gigs attract so many, from places so far away. Thankfully though, where we (Mike, Johnny & myself) were 'parked', there weren't too many dickheads nearby to ruin the evening. So, having nabbed what seemed like a good location, we cracked open a refreshing ale, assumed a relaxed pose, and let the band take us on a trip to musical nirvana!

Now, call me a purist-or a die-hard, but I enjoy live gigs for one main reason; to see 'professional musicians' strut their stuff. I just really get off on watching these consummate pros make musical magic. Its the trademark of all truly great modern bands to be able to deliver concert after concert-for decades in some cases-that set them well apart from all the other poseurs. Cutting it live is the only true way to cement your bands legacy into the hearts & minds of your followers.

So, can the Mac still 'cut it' after all these years? Hell yeah! - and then some. Perhaps this gig was best summed up by Lindsay Buckingham on Sunday night, when he said that this gig was one his top 5-this year, if not his whole career. High praise from someone who has done many top notch gigs in his lifetime. Reflecting back on this show, I'd say I'd have to damn well agree with his sentiments. The band were on fire from the first song "Monday Morning" till the last song in the 2nd encore. Mick Fleetwood is still a towering presence at the back-providing a solid-but subtle foundation with John McVie on Bass. McVie is your typical stoic strong but silent type, never stepping out into the spotlight, content to anchor the proceedings with nicely understated bass lines & riffs that drive the songs-rather than overwhelming them with fiddly bits; like Entwhistle in The WHO! This venerable pairing have now been playing together for 43 years as the rhythm section in the Mac. That is cause for wonder and astonishment that two muso's still feel compelled to create music together. Long may they continue. In complete contrast to the engine room, up front its still the Buckingham & Nicks show. On stage left, we have the still glamorous Stevie Nicks, singing with her trademark raspy, achingly tender voice-still hitting all the right notes, in all the right places. Her stage image is uniquely hers-and hers alone. She may have inspired plenty of imitators-but there's only one original.
Over to her right, "The Man with the Magic Fingers"-Lindsay Buckingham. After this evening, I was totally in awe of his incredible talent on the guitar. With his unique finger style, Buckingham scorched his way through the set, providing so many musical high-points with this instrument. From a defiant power-driven acoustic rendering of "Big Love", to a blistering solo laden lengthy version of "I'm So Afraid" ( I didn't time it-it seemed to run on for 15 minutes?!-that's not a bad thing in my book either! ), this man was on fire from go to whoa. Hugely entertaining in his own right, I might just have to go and buy his solo DVD I suspect... The other musical highlight was another lengthy interpretation of a mac classic, the ethereal "Gold Dust Woman". Besides stretching this beguiling tune out, they also reinterpreted it as a slow moody blues piece, changing the time signature numerous times. Not once, did I think of the term "Prog Rock" during this number...

Interestingly, there's a rumour floating around about the possibility of a combined tour next year with another iconic seventies super-group, The Eagles. That is, very much a tantalising prospect. Gotta feeling the tickets could sell fairly quickly for that one. Just a hunch...

AVATAR

After all the hype, its finally here. James Cameron's new movie "Avatar" has arrived to massive expectations-primarily about its much vaunted 3D technologies that Cameron has developed specifically to realize his vision of the world of Pandora and its inhabitants. To say that I've been looking forward to this would be an understatement of some magnitude. Any time a big event movie such as this comes along, then count me in for being one of the first to a screening. Still a big kid at heart I guess...

So, obviously the key question is... Is it any good? Does it live up to the hype-or not?

Hell yeah!

One of my key criteria for enjoying a movie is believing that the world the filmmaker creates is one that is real and will completely immerse me in it for the length of the running time. It then doesn't matter about such trivial details such as plot, character development does it? heh heh, you know that's not true-but anyways...

Firstly, without hesitation-go and see this movie in 3D. You will believe that you are on Pandora! And what a world Cameron and the super-talented people at Weta, Digital Domain have conjured for us to feast upon. Totally indebted to the fabulous artwork of Roger Dean without any doubt whatsoever. Go and look at a YES album cover-or "Google it" to see what I'm saying! It is surprising to me that in all the other reviews worldwide-no other reviewer/critic has picked up on this coincidence (Or not!). Or maybe its because of my age that I'm old enough to remember YES in the first place... Back on topic.

Although the visuals are absolutely stupendous, Cameron hasn't forgotten the rudiments of great film-making which is to create a compelling story-and characters that we both feel for-and believe in their destiny or fate.
To achieve this goal, you need to cast wisely-and get actors that will look and feel like a real life person. If they (Actors) are well cast, then your not watching an actor-your watching the character. So casting a relative unknown (By Hollywood standards) is a sometimes risky manoeuvre for an unwary director. Many notable directors have rued the day they choose a supposed marquee A-List actor, to find out that that person in retrospect, wasn't the right choice. Aint hindsight a wonderful thing? Sam Worthington is Jake Sully. He is both A) Good enough for the role, and B) feels credible as person grappling with a complex set of decisions to make about his future-and all that he believes in in his present situation. Sure, sometimes a line (Or two...or three!) of dialogue may be slightly cliched, but in the overall context, it doesn't really matter because moments later, an action scene will start-and that corny line is quickly forgotten. Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quadritch is a major revelation. Apparently Michael Biehn did have some preliminary talks with Cameron-and even traveled to New Zealand to check out production work a couple of years back. But, Cameron decided after signing on Sigourney Weaver, that having two ex-Aliens cast members in this movie was one too many! As much as I would love to have seen Biehn in another major movie, this was inspired casting by Cameron to get Stephen Lang on-board. He totally embodies the hard nosed military madman with supreme ease. We definitely aint in Kansas anymore! Again, although Quadritch may have a cliched line (Or two-again), Lang delivers those lines with such powerful conviction - that you soon get over yourself about such trivialities. Sigourney Weaver is, as to be expected, tough, no-nonsense-and completely idealistic about the interactions with the local indigenous population, the Na'vi. Giovanni Ribisi is perfectly cast as the company bad guy! He has the Paul Reiser role from Aliens down pat! And the other human characters are not just window dressing either-all the various actors are credible in their respective roles.

But the crucial part was the Na'vi. You can see where a big chunk of money has gone. The Na'vi look, feel and act like they are very real characters. The actors that did the groundwork for these roles (Zoe Saldana, Wes Studi, CCH Pounder, Laz Alonso) all did remarkable jobs to emphatically embody the specific Na'vi characters they play. I now believe that a race of creatures like the Na'vi could conceivably exist somewhere out there in the universe. The attention to detail is simply staggering. Hats off to Cameron for putting the time & effort into developing this most crucial aspect. If he didn't, then we wouldn't have a movie. Now, we can understand why he said that he couldn't have made this movie 10 years ago. The technology wasn't at the point (then) to realize his vision properly. Thank the gods he waited! Its been well worth it Jim, absolutely...

The storyline is both straight forward-and clear for this kind of movie that is so visually driven. To have a cast of many would have bogged the story down unnecessarily. So, we cut to the chase-to follow the hero (Jake) on his quest to right some wrongs-and win over the local princess while he's at it! Its all you need to know before you go and see this movie.

But, without a shadow of doubt, the biggest thrill for me was seeing the spectacular world of Pandora-and its stunning native fauna & flora. My god, oh my god. What a planet! I now, want to ring Richard Branson and say-forget about suborbital flights. Build a really big (and light-speed fast!) spaceship to take me to Pandora-or another world like it, PLEASE! Today preferably! (I mean, C'mon Richard-Mr Emmerich has already foretold the end of the world!). I too, want to run through towering trees, climb precarious rocks, swim in luminescent rivers-and be at one with nature. I'm already feeling closer to my cat (Not that close!). I know I'm going to want to see this movie many times-just for those reasons alone.   

My final thought is this. My favourite film of the decade was Almost Famous. Now, with merely days left till the next decade, James Cameron has made AVATAR my new number one movie of the decade. I simply can't wait for parts 2-and 3. Trust me. They will be made. He didn't create all this just for a 'once-off outing'. Stay tuned...

GO AND SEE THIS MOVIE. NOW!

2012

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Mr Stipe summed it up very nicely in this song from the mighty R.E.M didn't he? It should have accompanied the teaser trailer when it first appeared on the internet, but maybe he (Stipe) objected to its use in the movie-or maybe he wasn't even asked?  Regardless, its chipper tones would have been a great juxtaposition against the onscreen mayhem unfolding before our disbelieving eyes. Still, your there to see the dollars spent on the visual FX in this film. The music's entirely secondary in an event movie of this kind. Lets face it-we are only going to watch this film for one reason. To see how spectacularly it all ends on 12/21/2012! And if you're going to do a movie of this magnitude, only one name needs to be called. Step up Mr Emmerich! No-one else needs to apply for this position. There is no other director who could be as technically convincing as this transplanted German. Well, maybe Mr Bay-or Spielberg, or Jackson. But you just know its not really their forte. They know to leave it to Rolly to perfectly recreate the end of the world as we know it.


And how do the money shots add up? Do we get our "Bang for our bucks"? Does it seem realistic? Does it entertain us for the length of the running time?


Short answer: Hell yeah!

Long answer: Its a Roland Emmerich movie! If you've seen Independence Day or The Day After Tomorrow, then you'll know what he's capable of. Shit going BOOM! on a bloody massive scale! Lets face it-this is the only reason to justify seeing this movie on a big screen. The story is perfunctory, the acting fairly average (Cusack's good though! Actually so's Woody Harrelson...), the cliches are piled on so much, that you give up after a very short while worrying about these trivial concerns. Everything is geared to one thing only. Shit going BOOM! That it does, extremely well...

There is one thing that does ring entirely true though in this film. That the Chinese are the only nation capable of building the arks within the 'allotted' time-frame! That sorta thing they could pull off most definitely. Any other nation would be looking for the financial gains to be made. And squabbling about union rates etc!

Any other kind of deep analysis on this type of film is redundant. Your only there for one reason. Don't complain about any percieved shortcomings. Its not art. Its commerce. They just want your bum on that seat OK?

Don't forget the main reason for viewing this...

SHIT GOES BOOM!

Helvetica & Objectified

One of the most overlooked genres in documentaries is good quality films on designers (Of all persuasions) and the massive influence they have on our day to day lives. So, have you ever stopped and wondered about the process that designers go through to bring an everyday object such as a new type of toothbrush to the market? Or, the sometimes complex decision making needed to choose a type font that will accurately convey a companies 'message' to the wider public? These questions are just two of the central reasons that ex-punk record label boss Gary Hustwit needed to ask himself before setting off on his journey into the world of designers-and the variety of reasons products end up the way they do on the shelf-and into millions of homes throughout the world. And just why Helvetica is so dominant in the world of communications...

HELVETICA

Starting with Helvetica, Hustwit was intrigued by the seemingly endless uses for the font-and how it seemed to dominate with nearly every organization that needs to convey a message to the public-with as little confusion as possible. Sounds easy enough in theory, but as many have found out, choosing the right typeface is extremely crucial to avoid the dreaded misinterpretations that people may have when they are wanting to find out more about a product or service-and where to obtain them. A clear concise message will convey instantly all the critical information a consumer will need to know exactly what it is the organization is offering.
Get the message communicated with an easy to read typeface-and it becomes much clearer for the people who need to use that information quickly-the person who might just spend money on your product or service!
If you get it wrong as such, then you can spend needless amounts of time and energy just explaining yourself to the confused punter. Who then, might decide not to spend money with you-or get they might not get to the right destination because the message wasn't clear enough.

Wisely, Hustwit choose to concentrate the bulk of the story on both-the various people who love using this ubiquitous font-and those that wouldn't touch it with the proverbial 'Ten ft bargepole'! These various personalities are more than vocal in their admiration of Helvetica-or their outright contempt for such an antiquated font that should really be consigned to the history books. And both sides have good compelling arguments for and against its continued usage. But, after viewing this movie, you do understand why Helvetica is at the top of the font world. It is very easy to understand-in nearly every language available, it is the font least likely to give the public any confusion about the message conveyed. Its simplicity is so good, that no other font to date has really had any serious chance to dethrone it from its position.

When I first read about this movie in a film festival book, I just knew that it would be, at the least, an interesting look at a topic that doesn't get much coverage overall in today's society, but, I wasn't prepared for just how much fun this doco was. It was both entertaining & informative-illuminating a subject matter that we do take for granted much too easily in these busy times we live in.

After viewing this fantastic doco, you too, will notice Helvetica much more than you did previously...

OBJECTIFIED

In the second part of his now confirmed "Design Trilogy", Hustwit turns his eye to those other unsung heroes of the design world-industrial designers-to ask them just what factors shape their thinking into the design for any given product. Why do certain things end up in the form they take? Why do they struggle to change that form? Why do some changes come from the most unlikely sources? And most importantly, will most people 'get it'? i.e why are some things so successful-and others doomed to failure? Is it all because of the initial design? Or, are there other factors involved that aren't immediately obvious?

As with his first movie Helvetica, Hustwit logs more frequent flier miles traveling all over the globe to interview some very interesting people at the forefront of industrial design. And one of the best examples of just how great design can make a significant difference is best exemplified by the interview with the head designer of an American company that is clearly head and shoulders above all others-APPLE. To say that Jonathon Ive is a god for the Apple faithful is not too far from the truth. Making computers sexy was never high on the computer industries list, but Apple knew that if these boxes looked different, it would make them stand out in a rapidly crowed field. And it might make them fun to use as well. But, really Apple's big coup was the iPod.
Making that sexy was a masterful mover on their behalf. Now, everyone either has one-or seems to want one! For the record I don't own an iPod-or a iPhone. I wouldn't mind having an iPod-but the phone still seems hampered by poor reception/call clarity issues that might be solved with more time. Maybe its just in this country? (New Zealand).

Aside from Apple, other great designers get to share their stories, ideas, and reveal the sometimes complex processes that are need to bring a product to the market-and for it to be successful as well. The story about the potato peeler is an object that most of us take for granted, but to learn about how a major change came to such a simple item is quite revelatory to say the least. The 'Toothpick' story is another of those "I did not know that?" kind of deceptively simple design masterstrokes that just happen from out of nowhere.

This film is more than just a companion piece to helvetica, its a film that gives you a greater appreciation for the multitude of things in your life that are either very necessary-or taken for granted. By shedding light on this aspect of the modern world, you come away with a heightened level of interest in those things those surround you everyday of your life.

I would recommend this not just to those of you who love good design, but to anyone curious about how good design can make a undeniable difference in your own lives.

Already looking forward to the third part of this trilogy Gary-whenever you decide to make it-that is!

District 9

The temptation to write only about the blatant political allegory on full display is going to be extremely hard for me to resist, so I'll try my best to avoid it if I can. Having said that...

South Africa and Sci-Fi. Not the two most obvious bedfellows you could ever envisage, but think about it for a moment, and it does make complete sense. A country that has had a tumultuous history to say the least, it does provide a rather unique environment to base a movie on with the sort of themes that District 9 deals with.

The story starts with the fact that a massive alien spaceship has been hovering silently over Joburg for 30 odd years, with no sign of going anywhere. Inside, over 1 million alien beings (Dubbed as "Prawns" by the locals-for their rather obvious physical similarities) are dying, and need urgent help. These creatures are the last from their homeworld, but this detail fades into the background when the true plight of their situation is revealed to us. Forced down to earth into a shantytown, the prawns just mope about aimlessly, seemingly without any hint of an optimistic future, forced to endure third world squalidness, begging for food, operating black markets with Nigerian warlords - all to survive another bleak day in a place which is more akin to being in a concentration camp.

Enter the MNU (Multi National United) corporation to run District 9-as they see fit. We meet the exuberant Wikus Van Der Merwe, the 'friendly' face of the corporation sent to be the bearer of some rather disturbing news for the prawns. They are to be moved to another camp-which is going to be much better than the current one. Supposedly. Little does the ever smiling Wikus realise it, but he is just a pawn in a much bigger game. Namely the key reason why MNU are so keen to move the unsuspecting prawns. They want to acquire the aliens' superior biotechnological secrets behind the very formidable weaponry they have. Unlocking these secrets would make a company extremely rich beyond belief.

Whilst conducting the eviction, Wikus is accidentally infected with an alien virus, which causes his DNA to mutate. Into something neither he-nor anyone else could imagine. Slowly, but surely, transmogrifying into a prawn. District 9 picks up speed after this event, taking us on one hell of a ride as the increasingly distraught Wikus struggles to convince anyone that he is OK, when its fairly obvious that he isn't.

Meanwhile, some enterprising prawns are hatching plans of their own-unbeknown to MNU and the general public...

Everything about this seminal piece of Sci-Fi just works perfectly. The story is totally believable (With, yep, you guessed it-the fairly obvious political parallels represented here), the acting first rate (Even though some supporting characters are rather cliched), the alien design (and movements) very convincing, the set & production design's totally realistic, to name but a few seperate aspects that stand out in my mind.

This is a great Sci-Fi movie, one of the very best this year so far. Maybe even, one of the best this decade possibly.

Second Skin

An addiction can manifest itself in a staggeringly wide variety of forms in this modern digital era, so it shouldn't come as a great surprise to many, that some people are completely & utterly addicted to online gaming. And its not hard to see why this is so. Some of these games are so much fun, that you can easily suck up massive blocks of precious time for a never-ending quest for world domination, complex missions, slaying dragons & demons, rescuing fair maidens, fighting the forces of evil to name but just a few diversions! Having played many PlayStation 1 games way back in 1996, I can attest to the compelling nature of games. "Just 5 more minutes babe, just 5 minutes!" is a very familiar phrase that was thrown in the direction of my PlayStation widow-and of countless millions of other people... You get totally lost in the moment, desperate to get to the end of the next stage, goal, better time, end result. Its not the race, its getting to the end that transforms seemingly rational people into monosyllabic grunting neanderthals!

This wonderful documentary gets into the lives of a small group of players whose lives have been profoundly altered by their own unique addiction to an online game called WOW (World of Warcraft). By creating an onscreen character (avatars), these gamers then immerse themselves in this world absolutely, shunning everything else in their own personal lives, concentrating with a obsessive zeal to be further ahead, more heroic, more legendary than anyone else. The commitment alternates between intense-and undeniably, extremely unhealthy in more than one instance. Second Skin delves into these worlds, asking the gamers the necessary questions that are being raised onscreen. Just why on earth, do you guys (And ladies) let yourselves be in thrall to this game? How has playing it affected your own life? And what about the other people in your life-how has your playing WOW affected them? Without much surprise, this film is mainly focused on mainly young guys who've opened up to the camera's to reveal the real impact that their addiction to WOW has created. Their respective stories are all similar-but unique to their own situations. For some, the personal cost has been very high. Some learn to deal with their addiction, some don't acknowledge any problem whatsoever! Complete denial is always useful when you can't deal with the stresses in your own modern life.

Second Skin is an absorbing & entertaining documentary that immerses you very convincingly into the mindset of the online gamer, creating empathy & understanding for these people whose lives have been irrevocably changed by their addiction to this virtual world.

Watch it before you start on your own quest!

Them Crooked Vultures

Here's a taster of something big that's happening in the world of rock!

See if you can guess the various musicians-and what bands they are associated with....

More to come soon. Stay tuned!