Susan Hated Literature

First of all I’d like to join with Carl and say “I’m a bookaholic.”

It was only last week that I’d never been in the brand spanking new Chapters^[1] shop on Parnell st., but once I’d been I just kept returning. Picking more books that I know I never really intended to buy. I just kept picking them up going, “hmmm, why not?” Sure they’re only cheap.^[2]

And then today I wandered about Waterstones, you know, cause 3 for 2 offers just can’t be ignored. Picked up my three, and then spotted this:

Liked the cover, and so despite it being a hardback and the fact that I’ve never read anything by the author, and that I don’t usually buy short story collections, I decided “ah, sure I might as well.”

Onto the second item on today’s agenda:
Some of you may be aware that the ‘zine Estella’s Revenge has been a little quiet of late. But never fear, it hasn’t gone away. Instead it is being rethought and redeveloped, and will now be concentrating solely on books.

If you’re interested in contributing feature articles, reviews, fiction, or any other tasty, bookish niblet, let us know ASAP!

New writers are welcome, and the new edition should be out March 1st.

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Writ & Dir: Emilio Estevez

• Harry Belafonte - Nelson
• Nick Cannon - Dwayne
• Emilio Estevez - Tim Fallon
• Laurence Fishburne - Edward Robinson
• Heather Graham - Angela
• Anthony Hopkins - John Casey
• Helen Hunt - Samantha
• Joshua Jackson - Wade
• Ashton Kutcher - Fisher
• William H. Macy - Paul
• Demi Moore - Virginia Fallon
• Freddy Rodríguez - José
• Martin Sheen - Jack
• Christian Slater - Timmons
• Sharon Stone - Miriam
• Jacob Vargas - Miguel
• Elijah Wood - William
• David Krumholtz - Phil

As you can see from that impressive cast list, this is a bit of an ensemble film, which means it runs the risk of the audience not caring about the characters. And I’m afraid it failed. I just didn’t care about any of them.

And the story itself was a whole heap of nothingness. I mean, I’m sure that it may have an impact on people who lived through the time, or for those who are big fans of Bobby Kennedy, but as a film it just didn’t work. It tried far too hard to push through some big message, but ended up coming over as heavy-handed, irrelevant and, to be blunt, crap. The various stories of the different characters are un-engaging. The acting is all fine, but the characters themselves are pointless. Pointless and boring. I kept hoping for it to end.

What did work was the insertion of clips of RFK, but to be honest, while I liked watching them I found it impossible to actually listen to anything that Bobby was saying. Maybe it was because I was so bored with the film, I don’t know.

Maybe it is because I don’t know anything about Bobby Kennedy, but this film did nothing but make me yawn. Then again, the film isn’t really about Bobby, it is about the people of the time and the affect he had on them. Everyone seemed to love him, or at least everyone in the film did, considering the fact that he got assassinated I’m sure someone must have disliked him. The film is a snapshot of one day in these various people’s lives, but that is it, there is nothing to focus on, or think about, or engage with. I just didn’t care about anything that happened.

Sure the ending works, but not because you care about any of the characters, but simply because it is people getting shot and panicking in a realistic manner. And of course because you know that this is all based on the truth.

Final verdict? Don’t bother with it. It’s crap.

IMDb | Cinematical | Edward Copeland on Film | Black Sheep Reviews

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While I was at the kino watching Rocky Balboa they showed a trailer for Danny Boyle’s new film; Sunshine^[1] which looks fairly interesting. But what struck me is how music can become so linked to one specific thing that when it is used for another it leaves you scratching your head.

Some of you may be aware that Ireland hosted the Ryder Cup^[2] and some of you who are Irish may remember the AIB “This is going to be epic” adverts^[3] Well, they’ve used the same music, Summer Overture by Clint Mansell & Kronos Quartet in the Sunshine trailer. And as impressive and grand as that music is, I just kept waiting for some voice over man to witter on about titans clashing, and the sound of half a billion people holding their breath. All that epic tosh they used to market that golf yoke.

It is amazing how music can become so lined with a specific memory. Especially when you don’t want it to. Cause I quite like that music, but I really hate that ad. Maybe I should find it online somewhere and listen to it so often that all associations with the ryder cup have been eradicated?

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Luna Nina says

1. Limit ::
2. Voice ::
3. Change ::
4. Expression ::
5. Tailor ::
6. Lemonade ::
7. Thought ::
8. Phoebe ::
9. Impression ::
10. Sister ::

Continue Reading »

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Writ & Dir: Sylvester Stallone

• Sylvester Stallone - Rocky Balboa
• Burt Young - Paulie
• Milo Ventimiglia - Rocky Jr.
• Geraldine Hughes - Marie
• James Francis Kelly III - Steps
• Antonio Tarver - Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon

It isn’t often that you describe a boxing film as sweet. It isn’t often I describe a film as sweet and mean that in a positive light, but if I was asked for a one word review of Rocky Balboa, then sweet would be it. And that is sweet in an “awwww” sense of the word, not the Col. O’Neil from SG type sweet.

Honestly, I think this is my favourite film of the year so far.

I know, it is only January, and the films I’ve seen so far haven’t been great, but I really, really enjoyed this film. I’m not saying it a great piece of art or anything, it is what it is, a Rocky film.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who greeted the news that Stallone was making a new Rocky film with a snort of laughter. I enjoyed the first film, and have seen a few of the others, RTE had a Rocky season at some stage, but I never loved any of them. And I fully expected this to be a piece of drivel. But then I saw some of the trailers, and began to want to see it. And, lo, it was great.

You know the basic plot, Rocky, in his fifties starts to think about making a comeback in a small way. Fighting in local, small bouts, because a fighter is all he has ever been. But the current undisputed world heavyweight champ isn’t too popular. He wins all the time, and his opponents don’t offer much, so the public begins to turn away. His promoters are worried about the lack of revenue, so when a tv show uses a computer simulation to find out who would win, Mason “The Line” Dixon or Rocky “The Italian Stallion” Balboa in his prime, and Rocky wins, they get very interested.

Can I say again I really enjoyed this film. From the little flashbacks and echoes to the earlier films, that music, everything was just right.
Is it clichéd and full of cheese? Yes, but in a good way. In a way Rocky has pretty much the same message as The Pursuit of Happyness, but it lacks the selfishness that I think was at the heart of my problem with that film. Instead of trying to succeed at anything in particular Rocky is about being true to yourself. Taking all the knocks life has to offer and still moving on.

This’ll be one I add to the dvd collection, I may even buy the earlier films, even the ones I know are trash. No pain no gain afterall.

IMDb | First Showing | Cinematical | Flimsy.com | Word of Mouth (scroll down for Rocky)

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Went to see Rocky Balboa this evening and I totally loved it. It may just be nostalgia, or the way the audience reacted, but Rocky really is one of the greatest fictional characters in movie-land. Anyone catch that dragon film, what was it called, you know where dragons came back and decimated the world and the poster seemed to promise us fighter planes v dragons, but the film didn’t bother to deliver. Reign of Fire! That was it. Okay, if you’ve seen it, remember where they re-enact classic scenes from Star Wars as entertainment for the children? Well I bet they did Rocky too

Okay, so I missed Robbie Burns day, and St. Dwynwen’s Day but better late than never. And while I’m here, happy Australia Day, and Republic Day in India

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I finally got around to watching Tall, Dark, and Ó hAilpín^[1] last night. It was an observational documentary looking at the lives of three of the Ó hAilpíns; Seán Óg, Setanta and Aisake.

Seán Óg^[2] is a hurler for Cork, but the two others have headed Down Under to become professional Aussie Rules players. And seeing the difference it’d certainly make you think about whether or not the GAA should turn professional. Is it any wonder that the Aussies won the International Rules series? Their players don’t have to worry about jobs as well as playing football; they just train and play. Course, I’m not so sure if it’d work. Are we a big enough country^[3] to support 32 full-time professional teams? Actually, it’d be more than 32 wouldn’t it, cause there is football and hurling.

Whatever.

Anyways, I don’t get the drooling over the Ó hAilpíns, they aren’t ugly, but *shrug*.

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