battle royale (2000) - kinji fukasaku

I didn't know what to expect from Battle Royale as a film.  I knew the story, but on settling down to watch it, myself and the FPO agreed we would give it half and hour or so, and if it turns out to be crap, we'd switch it off and watch something else instead.  There was no need to do that though, as this was funny, fast paced, easy to follow, and very (very) violent.
Japan is going to the dogs, and children don't respect their elders (amongst other things), so a school class is selected (without their knowledge) to go onto an  island that has been cleared of it's population, and fight each other to the death until there is only one survivor, who is then returned home.  They are drugged and taken there, given random weapons and provisions, and they have necklaces that explode if there is more than one person left after three days on the island.  Loyalties are tested, grievances are aired, and mayhem ensures.  Excellent stuff.

toodle pip

untold stories - alan bennett

I was reading 'Untold Stories' by Alan Bennett a couple of weeks ago, but when l was steaming through it in the bath one evening after work (see what l did there), l fell asleep and dropped it in (obviously been working too hard).  The pages then became wet and enlarged (CALM DOWN) and l had to wait to dry them out before l could finish it.  This l  managed to do, and a fine read it was (l'm glad it wasn't my kindle).  There's a moving and interesting part at the beginning about his mother (and other family members) battle with severe depression, and about how he and his family dealt with it, plus an account later in the book about how he was attacked with his partner while strolling to the sea in Italy, and the way that was handled by the authorities.  The book also includes diaries, reproduced speeches, details of his cancer, plus lots, lots more.  Bennett is droll, and easy to caricature, but ultimately, an informative and funny writer.  I'm reading another one of his collections (Writing Home) at the moment, but so far, l prefer this book.  Top notch stuff, and if anybody wants a free waterlogged copy off it, they can have mine.

toodle pip

civil war gunshot wounds (with mirrors!)

All of these poor sods were shot in the American Civil War, and had the gunshot go straight through their bodies and out the other side.  How can this be captured in a photograph?  With a mirror of course!  Now smile and say cheese, there's a good soldier.  OK then, don't smile, look pissed off.  That's it - ACTION!
More photos and information is at The Sterile Eye.

toodle pip

the young savages (1961) - john frankenheimer (and the savage young beatles)

Three youths from Harlem stroll across to another gangs patch and stab to death a blind Puerto Rican boy.  Burt Lancaster (as Hank Bell) is on the case, and wants to convict the boys so they receive the electric chair.  However, different reasons and views as to what happened are presented, and Bell, as he was part of that culture when growing up, starts to have doubts.  The Young Savages is a pretty good film in my eyes (despite some of the acting) due to the twists and turns as it goes along, and the ending is mostly unexpected.  Lancaster's profile should be on Mount Rushmore, as he is such an iconic figure, but Stanley Kristien, the actor playing Danny diPace (one of the accused) was really strange looking, as his face looked as though it had been molded into a sneer by pouring wax on it.  Dina Merrill (Bell's wife) gave  a pretty poor performance, but Kojak himself (Telly Savalas, with some hair left) made his first appearance in a film (as Detective Gunderside).  Well worth anybody's money.


As an afterthought, The Savage Young Beatles (Hamburg 1961) is an old bootleg featuring The Beatles that was also featured on the front of the Anthology series.  Obviously the name would have been nicked from this film, but that's not important.  What is, is the fact l am such a nerd and l need to get out more, but with my sore chest and back........

toodle pip

anti wanking device

I might buy a certain fellow one of these for his birthday at the end of the month.  It's an anti wanking (onanism) device and is from about 1880 and was used in Catholic France.  This one was for sale on eBay in 2008.  I'll also have to disconnect his computer and hide his paddles, but it will be worth it just to see the look on his face.

toodle pip

the james cook experience (two more from them later)

 My original bed (and operating gown)

Jacking up before the operation

Notes after the operation

 More notes after the operation

My evening and night time bed

The Bridge entrance at James Cook

 The covering l have to leave on at the moment

Well, it was off to the James Cook Hospital to have my pacemaker fitted yesterday.  I was already knackered by the time l got there, as l was up late the night before (my fault) and then had to get up and leave Catterick at 7am to be at the hospital for 8am (not my fault).  The FPO drove through and stayed with me for a couple of hours while l got settled into my ward (31) and told what was going to happen.  I then read until about 11.30am, when l was wheeled through for the operation.  I stayed conscious throughout (with painkillers of course), and getting the loop recorder out first didn't hurt that much, but the pacemaker part afterwards certainly did.  I asked for extra relief (pain - settle down at the back), but l had to grit my teeth on a few occasions, due to the pain and discomfort (and not just because Meat Loaf was being played at the time).  There were no photos of the op, and they wouldn't let me keep the loop recorder as a memento, so that was a disappointment, and l am 100% going to be sedated and knocked out if l need another implant like this.  One good side is that l could get back to my reading, change into my trackies and top, and have some food straight away, until l was wheeled down into ward 29 for the evening and night.  Robbo visited and bought an NME, sweets and lager (l didn't have the lager), and l had a stroll around the hospital by myself at about 9pm, to stretch my legs a bit.  When the lights went off (about 10pm), l listened to podcasts on my ipod, as l couldn't sleep properly, due to the discomfort. An old fellow in the bed next to me got confused as to where he was, and the nurse had to come to get him back in bed and re-assure him.  There were also the usual snores and farts (not from me for a change), and the day started again veeeery early (about 6am).  by then l was really shattered, but laid on my bed all morning reading and dropping off a bit, apart from when l was wheeled off to get the pacemaker checked and have an X Ray.  Got the all clear to go home at about 1pm, and the FPO drove back again.  No work for about 5 or 6 weeks as l've got holidays booked for when l could probably go back, but the bad news is l can't drive, lift my left arm much, and l am pretty sore, both in my chest area, and in the small of my back (as l am probably using different muscles to overcompensate and protect my chest and arm).  Have to type with only one finger due to the way l am sitting, but at least l can manage to go on the computer.  A box load of comics arrived for me yesterday, but l will have to wait to sort them out until a bit later.  Not looking forward to trying to get comfortable in bed tonight, but l'm off to give it a bash (NOT THAT) as l am still tired.

toodle pip

scary swimming pool

This swimming pool is on (or off) the 24th story of the Holiday Inn hotel in Shanghai.  Most of it is indoors, but the bit that sticks out must be fantastic to swim in (while looking down of course).  It makes our infinity pools on holiday look soooooooooooooooooo yesterday.   More info here from CNN.

toodle pip

richmond live and the weekend

 Cast at Richmond Live

Deb and Rook doing their Jay Hazy slot

Dazzer cracking a smile

Despite the rain on Saturday, we had a good time at Richmond Live, and decided to just get soaked and go for it, even though we were in a warm pub when the rain hit town.  Robbo was dropped off at mid day, and myself, the FPO and my brother Paul headed to The Wine Bar with him, before heading into Richmond for the Spirit Levellers and Jay hazy sets.  We had a couple of passes put aside off Rook and Deb, so it was only polite to catch their performance.  We also bumped into Steve Tarren (amongst others) and had a good chat with him, as we had not seen him for about 3 or 4 years.  At one stage it was like the 1980s were still up and running, with the people we were talking to.  There was a moment when Robbo lost his temper for a few seconds, and Paul ended up with lager thrown in his face, but that's a long story (as if this isn't). We decided to go into town later on for a change, and hit Wetherspoons, The Turf, The Unicorn and The Buck Inn.  The FPO was persuaded to stay out, as she was going to go home early, and after some fish and chips, we headed back to the Batts to see Cast, who were a lot better than we were expecting, as you forget how many good songs they had/have.  There were idiots amongst us dancing with balloons and neon lights (not me), but there is no film (at present) of that spectacle.  Taxi home afterwards, and bedtime consisted of myself, The FPO and Robbo sharing one bed, with my brother on the settee, as we couldn't work out how to open the sofa bed in the spare room. Bloody idiots we are.

Sunday myself and Paul went to Joes for a while, then back to JT's to meet Ritchie, and home for tea, TV and wine.

Monday it was more of the same.  Myself and Paul went to feed the cats at Dazzer and Louises, but they had returned early, so we went to The Wine Bar, met Ritchie again, and were joined by Dazzzer for a while.  There's even a moment when l managed to catch him smiling (see above).  Amongst the others there were Kung Fu Bez, Larry, Para Joe, Jimmy Kav, and Joe Lynch, who has just returned from holiday, and has broken ribs from an accident at sea (falling off a speedboat).  He wants to be careful when abroad, as he nearly drowned a few years ago, but was saved at the last minute.  I assume drink had been taken.  After returning home, Paul fell asleep on the armchair in the living room (again) and compromising pictures were taken (as you have to).
It's a hard life putting the hours in, but it's all quiet now, as l dropped off Paul at Northallerton station so he could go back to Leeds today, as l have to go into James Cook Hospital tomorrow morning for my pacemaker to be fitted (overnight stay).  I'm looking forward to lazing around reading and watching films afterwards, just a shame The FPO isn't so keen, as l'll be driving her up the wall.


toodle pip

x rayed fishes from the smithsonian

The Smithsonian has an exhibition travelling around showing fish that have been X Rayed, and it's pretty interesting stuff.  I wouldn't want to meet some of the creatures at the best of times, and they look even more disgusting when you can see their bones.  There's more photos here if you want to be grossed out.

toodle pip

more paul and robbo's bum

The sort of nonsense l have had to put up with all weekend.  Paul flaking out in our house with a squirrel on his head, and waking up to Robbo's bum after Richmond Live.  What joy.

toodle pip

paul and rab outside the wine bar

A long weekend is ahead, as l have just picked up my brother Paul, and he is staying at our place for a few days.  Here is the start of the madness, Paul outside the Wine bar in Catterick with old Rabbie, who is still hanging on to life with a mad Scottish determination.  More reports later.  It will get messy.

toodle pip

rasta elvis

A rasta version of Elvis Presley.  Brilliant?, insane? (or both).  I'm not really sure, but l'd certainly like to see it.

toodle pip

jane eyre (1943) - robert stevenson

Jane Eyre is one of the many books l have never got around to reading, and I knew little about it, as l have never seen any of the other film or TV adaptions.  Therefore, when this 1943 effort with Orson Welles popped up, l got stuck in.  The film was a bit too 'romancy' (if there's such a word) for my liking (what a surprise), but that was kind of what l was expecting.  The orphaned Jane is sent to a school that is more like a prison, leaves it to be a governess, and (of course she does) falls in love with her employer, Mr Rochester. There is however, a secret he has not revealed to her.  The lighting on Wells (Mr Rochester) reminded me of old Dracula movies, but he did give a heroically over the top performance.  Joan Fontaine as the older Jane l could take or leave, but l was impressed by the younger version and the cameo by an also young Elizabeth Taylor as Helen, who befriends Jane at the school.  I'm glad l have now seen a telling of the story, and am now more aware of what it entails, but the book will probably remain untroubled by me in the future.

toodle pip

stranded humpback whale in sydney

Another sight l would liked to have seen (but without the eggs).  A humpback whale has been washed up in a swimming pool by the ocean outside Sydney, Australia.  The whale was apparently already dead, and was washed up during heavy storms.  It's certainly not a pleasant sight and l would rather the whale was alive and swimming freely, but if it is dead and there for viewing, it would be amazing to see it up close, as it's not exactly everyday that you get the opportunity.
If you do have interest in Whales, l would recommend 'Whale Nation' by Heathcote Williams.  An excellent poem/book about the hunting of the whales, the things they were used for, and their intelligence.  Once l get round to it, l'll dig it out of our garage and re-read it again (if l haven't died of old age first). 

toodle pip.

boris gets stuck abseiling

OK, l'll admit this isn't Boris Johnson's' fault, but it is still funny.  While promoting the London Olympics, he went abseiling in Victoria park and got stuck near the end.  Much as l dislike the Tory toff, he did handle it well.  Shame l wasn't there with some eggs.

toodle pip