Inspired by a post by WEY earlier, and to get everyone thinking about reviews:
What was the last book you read, film you watched, and album you listened to. Here's mine...
Book - Peter Kay: The Sound of Laughter
I'm not usually one for autobiographies, but Mrs Pants loves them so bought me this for Christmas as I like Peter Kay. It's interesting to read about the experiences behind his jokes, and it's written in the same meandering style as his comedy. It's not a laugh a minute, and it's not written to be, but it's a good read if you're a fan of Peter Kay's.
Film - District 13
The last film I actually saw was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, but I've seen that loads before so I'm going to review the last film I saw for the first time. District 13 is a French film with a cheesy plot but lots of action, and action it has in spades. It sort of reminds me of Jackie Chan films, with lost of martial arts and stunts. The big selling point though is the Free Running, which is pretty impressive but the fight scenes make the film for me - they're wincingly brutal, and there's a bit of nice gunplay to break things up a bit too.
Album - Live Lounge
I've not had a new album since Christmas (I've been downloading dance music instead), but I do like this one. The choice of musicians is fairly standard for Radio 1, but for many of the tracks the musicians have had the choice song themselves. This leads to some brilliant combinations, often better than the originals. The second CD isn't as good as the first in my opinion, but if you like unplugged music it's worth a look.
Book, film, album
Moderator: Forum Moderators
Re: Book, film, album
Book - Altered Carbon (Richard Morgan)
A brilliant sci-fi future world book with a little bit of everything: sex, drugs and.. well actually no rock'n'roll but a very interesting storyline based on a future life where death can actually be evaded through the advancement of computing technology. (This is one I can imagine a lot of you enjoying)
Film - Fracture
The last film I saw at the cinema was 'Fracture', I imagine its been out long enough that it will be leaving many screens within the next week or so. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, despite a slightly slow start with some backstory surrounding lawyer chit-chat. It became very compelling and one of those films that really really surprises you yet leaves you with a slight sense of "Oh, I kinda saw that coming" so you don't feel entirely stupid for having it surprise you. Possibly not a huge suggestion for going out to the cinema for when other blockbusters are around like Pirates of the Caribbean but worth sweeping.
Album - Soundgarden - A-sides
This isn't a new album, as its been around for years, if you don't know of Soundgarden they're a 90s rock/soft-metal band. A-sides is a best of so includes pretty much all of their big hits. If you don't know anything about the band, you may have heard Audioslave; which lead singer Chris Cornell used to hail from Soundgarden. Well worth trying out if you're a fan of bands like Rage against the machine or Smashing pumpkins (I like to think they fit right in the middle of these two very nicely)
A brilliant sci-fi future world book with a little bit of everything: sex, drugs and.. well actually no rock'n'roll but a very interesting storyline based on a future life where death can actually be evaded through the advancement of computing technology. (This is one I can imagine a lot of you enjoying)
Film - Fracture
The last film I saw at the cinema was 'Fracture', I imagine its been out long enough that it will be leaving many screens within the next week or so. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, despite a slightly slow start with some backstory surrounding lawyer chit-chat. It became very compelling and one of those films that really really surprises you yet leaves you with a slight sense of "Oh, I kinda saw that coming" so you don't feel entirely stupid for having it surprise you. Possibly not a huge suggestion for going out to the cinema for when other blockbusters are around like Pirates of the Caribbean but worth sweeping.
Album - Soundgarden - A-sides
This isn't a new album, as its been around for years, if you don't know of Soundgarden they're a 90s rock/soft-metal band. A-sides is a best of so includes pretty much all of their big hits. If you don't know anything about the band, you may have heard Audioslave; which lead singer Chris Cornell used to hail from Soundgarden. Well worth trying out if you're a fan of bands like Rage against the machine or Smashing pumpkins (I like to think they fit right in the middle of these two very nicely)
Re: Book, film, album
Good idea.
Book - Past Mortem- Ben Elton
Quite a graphic novel, it follows an english detective inspector type person or something (I dont watch the bill) as he tries to discover the identity of a pretty messed up serial killer. Turns out the website friends reunited is a link and before long old friends he has recently met up with from said website end up dead or suspects.
I can't say too much of the books plot for obvious reasons, but it does do a very good job at keeping you guessing and just plain being wrong at the murder scenes.
Ben Elton is no shakespear, but he does know how to carry out a good storyline.
Film- Chopper
Mark 'Chopper' Read is a very messed up man. Based on a true story about a man who kills a few people and pretty much gets away with it. Eric Bana does a pretty good job of being a freak.
Basically if you have seen it you know what i mean, if you havn't, then do.
Album- Blood Mountain- Mastodon
Very good. Very rawk. Fairly heavy, with some nice tunes like 'The wolf is loose'.
The wolf is definitely win.
Book - Past Mortem- Ben Elton
Quite a graphic novel, it follows an english detective inspector type person or something (I dont watch the bill) as he tries to discover the identity of a pretty messed up serial killer. Turns out the website friends reunited is a link and before long old friends he has recently met up with from said website end up dead or suspects.
I can't say too much of the books plot for obvious reasons, but it does do a very good job at keeping you guessing and just plain being wrong at the murder scenes.
Ben Elton is no shakespear, but he does know how to carry out a good storyline.
Film- Chopper
Mark 'Chopper' Read is a very messed up man. Based on a true story about a man who kills a few people and pretty much gets away with it. Eric Bana does a pretty good job of being a freak.
Basically if you have seen it you know what i mean, if you havn't, then do.
Album- Blood Mountain- Mastodon
Very good. Very rawk. Fairly heavy, with some nice tunes like 'The wolf is loose'.
The wolf is definitely win.
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deject
- Berk
- Posts: 10353
- Joined: December 7th, 2004, 17:02
- Location: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Contact:
Book: For Whom The Bell Tolls - Ernest Hemingway
The story of an American fighting in the Spanish Civil War, this book is a classic, and I'm sure most of you guys have read it already.
Film: 28 Weeks Later
As a lover of 28 Days Later, I knew I had to go see the sequel. From the opening scene you know that even though Danny Boyle didn't direct it, the movie stays true to the original movie's vision. A lot of the movie is predictable, but for me that just made the anticipation more gripping. I know I spend a lot of the movie tensed, waiting to see what I knew would happen. If 28 Days Later is diamond, Weeks is sapphire.
Album: Magnet - The Simple Life
Magnet's new album has a lot more folky in it than his previous work. The Simple Life has a lot of simple, beautiful, laid back songs. If you don't know Magnet, he's a Norwegian singer/songwriter who's made a few albums, and even made a song for the game Dreamfall.
The story of an American fighting in the Spanish Civil War, this book is a classic, and I'm sure most of you guys have read it already.
Film: 28 Weeks Later
As a lover of 28 Days Later, I knew I had to go see the sequel. From the opening scene you know that even though Danny Boyle didn't direct it, the movie stays true to the original movie's vision. A lot of the movie is predictable, but for me that just made the anticipation more gripping. I know I spend a lot of the movie tensed, waiting to see what I knew would happen. If 28 Days Later is diamond, Weeks is sapphire.
Album: Magnet - The Simple Life
Magnet's new album has a lot more folky in it than his previous work. The Simple Life has a lot of simple, beautiful, laid back songs. If you don't know Magnet, he's a Norwegian singer/songwriter who's made a few albums, and even made a song for the game Dreamfall.
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Roman Totale
- Robotic Bumlord
- Posts: 8475
- Joined: October 24th, 2004, 0:27
- Location: Manchester, UK
Book: Timequake - Kurt Vonnegut
I love Kurt Vonnegut, he was a truly brilliant writer. The premise of the book is that there is a glitch in space and time that causes everybody and everything to do exactly what they were doing for the past decade, for good or bad. It's like a 10 year long bout of deja vu, and people have no control over their actions - they can't save their own life or that of a loved one if they failed to do it first time round.
Film: Highlander 2
Dear god what a turgid pile of fetid elk jism this film is. Shockingly bad, total lack of regard for the plot of the original film, and some truly dire acting (most notably that of perennial bad guy Michael Ironside).
Album: Songs for the Deaf - Queens of the Stone Age
Cocking awesome album! Riffs, beats, bass and songs to die for. They have a new album out in June and I can't wait. For the past few days I've been listening to one of their forthcoming singles non stop on YouTube (although it's not really a video, so just keep it playing in the background):
3's & 7's
Regarding other people's lists:
I've got Altered Carbon and loved it, but I was left quite disappointed by the follow up, Broken Angels.
Past Mortem, quite enjoyable but I personally thought it was very easy to guess the end.
I love Kurt Vonnegut, he was a truly brilliant writer. The premise of the book is that there is a glitch in space and time that causes everybody and everything to do exactly what they were doing for the past decade, for good or bad. It's like a 10 year long bout of deja vu, and people have no control over their actions - they can't save their own life or that of a loved one if they failed to do it first time round.
Film: Highlander 2
Dear god what a turgid pile of fetid elk jism this film is. Shockingly bad, total lack of regard for the plot of the original film, and some truly dire acting (most notably that of perennial bad guy Michael Ironside).
Album: Songs for the Deaf - Queens of the Stone Age
Cocking awesome album! Riffs, beats, bass and songs to die for. They have a new album out in June and I can't wait. For the past few days I've been listening to one of their forthcoming singles non stop on YouTube (although it's not really a video, so just keep it playing in the background):
3's & 7's
Regarding other people's lists:
I've got Altered Carbon and loved it, but I was left quite disappointed by the follow up, Broken Angels.
Past Mortem, quite enjoyable but I personally thought it was very easy to guess the end.
Re: Book, film, album
Book - Dragonsdawn
Great book describing the PERN settlers first years on the planet. Also goes into a lot of background stuff, particularly about the how they created the Dragons. Excellent read and a perfect launch platform to read the rest of the (incredible) series.
Film - Jurassic Park
Good God I love this film. Always end up watching it every couple of months and quite rightly so. I still get goosebumps when they approach the Island in the helicopter and the music starts. Fantastic adaption of an utterly fantastic book, brilliant effects and some of the best cinema of the last 20 years.
Album - Just Jack - Overtones
Not normally the kind of music I listen to, but is a great chill out album. Great beats, clever lyrics and a few sing-a-long cheery song make for a pretty cool listen.
Great book describing the PERN settlers first years on the planet. Also goes into a lot of background stuff, particularly about the how they created the Dragons. Excellent read and a perfect launch platform to read the rest of the (incredible) series.
Film - Jurassic Park
Good God I love this film. Always end up watching it every couple of months and quite rightly so. I still get goosebumps when they approach the Island in the helicopter and the music starts. Fantastic adaption of an utterly fantastic book, brilliant effects and some of the best cinema of the last 20 years.
Album - Just Jack - Overtones
Not normally the kind of music I listen to, but is a great chill out album. Great beats, clever lyrics and a few sing-a-long cheery song make for a pretty cool listen.
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randomgazz
- Unicorn
- Posts: 303
- Joined: December 4th, 2004, 13:18
- Location: Manchester
Book - Darkness at Sethanon - Raymond E. Feist
The 3rd book in the riftwar saga. Like the others it can be read as a stand alone book, with little carrying over from the preceding volumes. Fairly standard fantasy stuff, but fairly well done.
Film - The Punisher
I'm not familiar with the comic, but the film seems to set up the story quite nicely. Not a great film, but had decent enough bangs and explosions to make this a watchable action film without being too cheesy.
Album - United Abominations - Megadeth
Megadeth's new album, seems a bit heavier than the ones before. slightly more modern sound to the music, but still with their classic elements. Mr Mustaine still hasn't learnt to sing that well, but he's not too bad. Overall quite a good album, well worth a listen.
The 3rd book in the riftwar saga. Like the others it can be read as a stand alone book, with little carrying over from the preceding volumes. Fairly standard fantasy stuff, but fairly well done.
Film - The Punisher
I'm not familiar with the comic, but the film seems to set up the story quite nicely. Not a great film, but had decent enough bangs and explosions to make this a watchable action film without being too cheesy.
Album - United Abominations - Megadeth
Megadeth's new album, seems a bit heavier than the ones before. slightly more modern sound to the music, but still with their classic elements. Mr Mustaine still hasn't learnt to sing that well, but he's not too bad. Overall quite a good album, well worth a listen.
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Gunslinger42
- Ninja
- Posts: 1448
- Joined: February 12th, 2005, 17:53
Book - The Shawshank Redemption
Saw the film years ago and loved it, then discovered a ratty old copy of the book and decided to read it. Very, very good. Though as with most of King's work he goes to unnecessarily lengths to describe sex (or in this case rape) scenes.
Film - The Matador
There was nothing else on TV at the time. Thought it was ok. This seems to be the kind of film I like to think of as "films that never start or finish". They're all middle. There's no great introduction to characters and there's no major plot points being resolved or anything. It's all just faff. I never enjoy these kinds of films.
Album - Loose
I'll listen to any crap I find on the internet, this just happened to be the latest one. Some catchy songs.
Saw the film years ago and loved it, then discovered a ratty old copy of the book and decided to read it. Very, very good. Though as with most of King's work he goes to unnecessarily lengths to describe sex (or in this case rape) scenes.
Film - The Matador
There was nothing else on TV at the time. Thought it was ok. This seems to be the kind of film I like to think of as "films that never start or finish". They're all middle. There's no great introduction to characters and there's no major plot points being resolved or anything. It's all just faff. I never enjoy these kinds of films.
Album - Loose
I'll listen to any crap I find on the internet, this just happened to be the latest one. Some catchy songs.
Book - Woken Furies: Richard Morgan
Coincidentally, this is the last work of fiction that I read. (I would write about the last book I read, but I figured that none of you would care about "The Economic Structure of Intellectual Property".) Anyway, this is the third book book in the series that started with Altered Carbon. I loved both of the previous two books, and I enjoyed this one too, which is set a few hundred years after Broken Angels. We're back on his home planet now, and the basic theme of this book is rebirth, but with a big tasty dollop of revenge type stuff on top. It's a blend of cyberpunk and hard sci-fi (mostly the latter), so if you like that sort of thing it's highly recommended.
Film - The Asphyx
The last film I tried to watch was a 1970s British horror film called "the Asphyx" that I swept. I say "tried to watch", because I was bored of it after about 20 minutes and within half an hour, it was merely background noise. Something about capturing your own personal death demon in a bottle and hiding it somewhere in order to become immortal, I think. In fairness to it, my attention span is not great, and I've seen far worse films, but it's definitely on the poor side of mediocre.
Album - Liquid Swords: Genius/GZA
Not a new album at all, but it's been in heavy rotation on my iPod recently. This is my personal favourite of the Wu-Tang Clan records, solo or otherwise, and it explores the traditional hip-hop themes of life in the projects, the drug retail business, and samurai executioners. GZA and the rest of the Clan come through with some amazing flows, there are a plethora of dope rhymes/quotables, and RZA's production - which includes a number of samples from the movie "Shogun Assassin" - is on point.
If you profess any liking for hip-hop at all, then this really should be in your music collection.
Coincidentally, this is the last work of fiction that I read. (I would write about the last book I read, but I figured that none of you would care about "The Economic Structure of Intellectual Property".) Anyway, this is the third book book in the series that started with Altered Carbon. I loved both of the previous two books, and I enjoyed this one too, which is set a few hundred years after Broken Angels. We're back on his home planet now, and the basic theme of this book is rebirth, but with a big tasty dollop of revenge type stuff on top. It's a blend of cyberpunk and hard sci-fi (mostly the latter), so if you like that sort of thing it's highly recommended.
Film - The Asphyx
The last film I tried to watch was a 1970s British horror film called "the Asphyx" that I swept. I say "tried to watch", because I was bored of it after about 20 minutes and within half an hour, it was merely background noise. Something about capturing your own personal death demon in a bottle and hiding it somewhere in order to become immortal, I think. In fairness to it, my attention span is not great, and I've seen far worse films, but it's definitely on the poor side of mediocre.
Album - Liquid Swords: Genius/GZA
Not a new album at all, but it's been in heavy rotation on my iPod recently. This is my personal favourite of the Wu-Tang Clan records, solo or otherwise, and it explores the traditional hip-hop themes of life in the projects, the drug retail business, and samurai executioners. GZA and the rest of the Clan come through with some amazing flows, there are a plethora of dope rhymes/quotables, and RZA's production - which includes a number of samples from the movie "Shogun Assassin" - is on point.
If you profess any liking for hip-hop at all, then this really should be in your music collection.
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MORDETH LESTOK
- Ninja Pirate
- Posts: 1651
- Joined: April 10th, 2006, 3:34
- Location: Detroitish
Book: American Gods - Neil Gaiman
Bought in an airport and partially read over a few different flights. I just noticed the reviews in the book topic. Guess I should finish it one day...
Film: Multiple Sweeps
Nothing worth mentioning...actually, been hating movies for awhile now with so few being any good. Another reason to read partially read books.
(If I could ever turn off my pc and/or TV.)
Album: 40 Years of Hits From a Funky House Perspective
14gigs...hope I can find something good in there...haven't found anything worth buying in ages
hmm...either I need to drink more (liver #2) or I need to start lowering my standards cuz I haven't been impressed with anything much (regarding Films/Music) in a very long time...although, I'm quite amused/intrigued by the BBC's Robin Hood...
Bought in an airport and partially read over a few different flights. I just noticed the reviews in the book topic. Guess I should finish it one day...
Film: Multiple Sweeps
Nothing worth mentioning...actually, been hating movies for awhile now with so few being any good. Another reason to read partially read books.
(If I could ever turn off my pc and/or TV.)
Album: 40 Years of Hits From a Funky House Perspective
14gigs...hope I can find something good in there...haven't found anything worth buying in ages
hmm...either I need to drink more (liver #2) or I need to start lowering my standards cuz I haven't been impressed with anything much (regarding Films/Music) in a very long time...although, I'm quite amused/intrigued by the BBC's Robin Hood...
Re: Book, film, album
Here are mine:
Book - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Recommended by my old man, this is a fictional book written from the perspective of a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism. He basically tries to solve the mystery of a neighbour's murdered dog he finds one night when out walking. Pretty standard murder mystery formula on the surface. When you really get into it, however, it's a really interesting portrayal of a totally emotionally detached mind dealing with us weird "normal" humans. It made me see things differently really. Highly recommended.
Film - Chasing Amy
Like Pants, the last film I saw was one I've seen lots (Predator last night) and we all know it's awesome. So the last film I watched properly was Chasing Amy. Directed by Kevin Smith (Clerks 1 & 2, Dogma), this is easily one of his best films. It's about a chap who becomes close to a girl, and starts falling in love with her. The only drawback being said girl turns out to be a lesbian. The boy perseveres though and before you know it, your sides have split and you've pissed yourself, very funny.
Album - Groove Armada - Soundboy Rock
I don't think this is officially out yet, but I fired up the Sweepatron 3000 and came up with this. If you're a fan of Groove Armada, especially 'Goodbye Country, Hello Night Club' you'll really enjoy this. As chilled as it is lively, it's ideal for whatever mood you're in. A few stand out tracks are 'What's your version', 'Paris' and in a cheesy-to-a-degree-but-going-to-be-huge poppy kind of way 'Song for Mutya'. Very 80's electro that last one. Anyway, sweep/buy it, it's cracking.
Also, good work on the sheer volume of Pratchett knocking round. Huge fan of his.
Book - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Recommended by my old man, this is a fictional book written from the perspective of a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism. He basically tries to solve the mystery of a neighbour's murdered dog he finds one night when out walking. Pretty standard murder mystery formula on the surface. When you really get into it, however, it's a really interesting portrayal of a totally emotionally detached mind dealing with us weird "normal" humans. It made me see things differently really. Highly recommended.
Film - Chasing Amy
Like Pants, the last film I saw was one I've seen lots (Predator last night) and we all know it's awesome. So the last film I watched properly was Chasing Amy. Directed by Kevin Smith (Clerks 1 & 2, Dogma), this is easily one of his best films. It's about a chap who becomes close to a girl, and starts falling in love with her. The only drawback being said girl turns out to be a lesbian. The boy perseveres though and before you know it, your sides have split and you've pissed yourself, very funny.
Album - Groove Armada - Soundboy Rock
I don't think this is officially out yet, but I fired up the Sweepatron 3000 and came up with this. If you're a fan of Groove Armada, especially 'Goodbye Country, Hello Night Club' you'll really enjoy this. As chilled as it is lively, it's ideal for whatever mood you're in. A few stand out tracks are 'What's your version', 'Paris' and in a cheesy-to-a-degree-but-going-to-be-huge poppy kind of way 'Song for Mutya'. Very 80's electro that last one. Anyway, sweep/buy it, it's cracking.
Also, good work on the sheer volume of Pratchett knocking round. Huge fan of his.
Book - Northern Lights
Christmas present from my sister and is set in a (slightly) alternate Earth. Fantasy book about the a girl named Lyra and her dæmon. A number of children start to go missing including a friend of hers who she vows to go rescue. Really very good and although I don't normally go for fantasy books but I really enjoyed this. Previous to that I read The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time which I thought was fucking ace, finished in only a few days (would have been quicker but I had to go to work)
Film - Travaux
French film about a female lawyer who conducts her cases through the medium of dance (only happens a couple of times) and ends up getting very drunk one evening and ending up getting together with a guy she can't get rid of so she ends up getting an enormous amount of work done to her apartment to try and stop him coming over. Pretty good (although no subtitles which would make it difficult for non French speakers (and pretty tough for non experts like me
))
Album - Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion
Nearly an entire album of bouncy happy music. The guy has a similar vocal range to Justin from the Darkness and I would thoroughly recommend this as a great Summer album.
Christmas present from my sister and is set in a (slightly) alternate Earth. Fantasy book about the a girl named Lyra and her dæmon. A number of children start to go missing including a friend of hers who she vows to go rescue. Really very good and although I don't normally go for fantasy books but I really enjoyed this. Previous to that I read The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time which I thought was fucking ace, finished in only a few days (would have been quicker but I had to go to work)
Film - Travaux
French film about a female lawyer who conducts her cases through the medium of dance (only happens a couple of times) and ends up getting very drunk one evening and ending up getting together with a guy she can't get rid of so she ends up getting an enormous amount of work done to her apartment to try and stop him coming over. Pretty good (although no subtitles which would make it difficult for non French speakers (and pretty tough for non experts like me
))Album - Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion
Nearly an entire album of bouncy happy music. The guy has a similar vocal range to Justin from the Darkness and I would thoroughly recommend this as a great Summer album.
Re: Book, film, album
Book - Brian Herbert/Kevin J Anderson - Legends of Dune
Legends of Dune is actually a trilogy, but I'm now halfway through the third book, Battle of Corrin, having just read the other two. Its the second time I'm reading them. They're set 10,000 years before the original Dune book by Frank Herbert, and cover the period of the Jihad against thinking machines. They're pretty good in terms of fleshing out the original story, but I'm not finding them that great. Everything is just a bit too significant and meaningful for my liking, so the sense of importance is lost by sheer repition of so many grand events. I'm primarily reading them as a run up to reading the original set of 6 Dune books, along with the first three prequels by these two authors, and the forthcoming conclusion to the whole series. These prequels are worth it if you're really in to Dune, but for those with only a mild interest, read Dune first and see how it grabs you.
Film - Syriana
I saw this film recently having first seen a trailer for it ages ago. I didn't particularly notice it appearing in the cinema, which perhaps says it all. It stars Clooney and Matt Damon, and is about people fighting for control of oil in the Middle East. It was billed as a bit of an espionage thriller. For no particular reason, I was expecting it to be good, but I was left thinking it to be rather "meh". It was slow and just seemed to drag on a bit. When I sat down to watch it I was hoping for something rather more action-filled, so when this wasn't, I guess I felt a bit disappointed. Almost exactly can be said of The Good Shepherd, which I felt similarly let down by.
Album - Live Lounge
I've not bought any new albums for ages, but I too have been enjoying this one quite a lot. I concur that the first CD is the better one, and has some corking tracks including Razorlight's acoustic version of Golden Touch. On the floor-based music side of things, I've been listening to Korpiklaani and Richard Cheese.
Legends of Dune is actually a trilogy, but I'm now halfway through the third book, Battle of Corrin, having just read the other two. Its the second time I'm reading them. They're set 10,000 years before the original Dune book by Frank Herbert, and cover the period of the Jihad against thinking machines. They're pretty good in terms of fleshing out the original story, but I'm not finding them that great. Everything is just a bit too significant and meaningful for my liking, so the sense of importance is lost by sheer repition of so many grand events. I'm primarily reading them as a run up to reading the original set of 6 Dune books, along with the first three prequels by these two authors, and the forthcoming conclusion to the whole series. These prequels are worth it if you're really in to Dune, but for those with only a mild interest, read Dune first and see how it grabs you.
Film - Syriana
I saw this film recently having first seen a trailer for it ages ago. I didn't particularly notice it appearing in the cinema, which perhaps says it all. It stars Clooney and Matt Damon, and is about people fighting for control of oil in the Middle East. It was billed as a bit of an espionage thriller. For no particular reason, I was expecting it to be good, but I was left thinking it to be rather "meh". It was slow and just seemed to drag on a bit. When I sat down to watch it I was hoping for something rather more action-filled, so when this wasn't, I guess I felt a bit disappointed. Almost exactly can be said of The Good Shepherd, which I felt similarly let down by.
Album - Live Lounge
I've not bought any new albums for ages, but I too have been enjoying this one quite a lot. I concur that the first CD is the better one, and has some corking tracks including Razorlight's acoustic version of Golden Touch. On the floor-based music side of things, I've been listening to Korpiklaani and Richard Cheese.
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HereComesPete
- Throbbing Cupcake
- Posts: 10249
- Joined: February 17th, 2007, 23:05
- Location: The maleboge
Book- Three Sheets to the Wind-Pete Brown
This is all about drinking culture around the world, why we as brits seem to be one of the only, if not the only nation that has widespread and endemic drinking problems, but its not another panorama style lets follow the police and consequently see the bloody end of the spectrum of a night out style book.
His previous book "Man walks into a pub" was about ideas like words we use for being drunk, why we get drunk, why its great to meet your mates in the pub etc, this one takes those ideas around the world, looking at the blandness of anhauser-busch bud and their litigation with the czech budweiseer budvar, looking at how australians think lager at 4 degrees is warm etc etc. I borrowed it from my dad, because he got the copy free, (because the author loves black sheep and my dads the head brewer) and I'm glad I did, great read.
Film-Slither
I've watched a few of the usual action films over the past few days, you've all seen and quoted them no doubt, die hard, terminator etc etc. Same goes with the horror genre, the grudge shit me up a bit, the ring not as much, but i have a healthy fear of japanese girls sporting white robe/nightdress things. Slither however, is not scary, its fucking funny, strange thing lands on earth, proceeds to take over the town in a comic fashion does not begin to cover it, the sheer number of classic moments had me nigh on pissing myself with laughter. (Fabyak and other fans of french films, try J'ai tue mon pere(sp?), Im crap at french, but this rather depressing french arthouse thing had me riveted)
Album-Sona Fariq-Sona Fariq
Not new, but still amazing, if I want a non fight music but rocky pick me up then I'll turn to any number of bands, QOTSA, Foofighter, Deftones etc, but these are a tad lighter, a bit bouncier and very addictive, easy to pick up the words and you find yourself singing along without giving a fuck who's listening.
This is all about drinking culture around the world, why we as brits seem to be one of the only, if not the only nation that has widespread and endemic drinking problems, but its not another panorama style lets follow the police and consequently see the bloody end of the spectrum of a night out style book.
His previous book "Man walks into a pub" was about ideas like words we use for being drunk, why we get drunk, why its great to meet your mates in the pub etc, this one takes those ideas around the world, looking at the blandness of anhauser-busch bud and their litigation with the czech budweiseer budvar, looking at how australians think lager at 4 degrees is warm etc etc. I borrowed it from my dad, because he got the copy free, (because the author loves black sheep and my dads the head brewer) and I'm glad I did, great read.
Film-Slither
I've watched a few of the usual action films over the past few days, you've all seen and quoted them no doubt, die hard, terminator etc etc. Same goes with the horror genre, the grudge shit me up a bit, the ring not as much, but i have a healthy fear of japanese girls sporting white robe/nightdress things. Slither however, is not scary, its fucking funny, strange thing lands on earth, proceeds to take over the town in a comic fashion does not begin to cover it, the sheer number of classic moments had me nigh on pissing myself with laughter. (Fabyak and other fans of french films, try J'ai tue mon pere(sp?), Im crap at french, but this rather depressing french arthouse thing had me riveted)
Album-Sona Fariq-Sona Fariq
Not new, but still amazing, if I want a non fight music but rocky pick me up then I'll turn to any number of bands, QOTSA, Foofighter, Deftones etc, but these are a tad lighter, a bit bouncier and very addictive, easy to pick up the words and you find yourself singing along without giving a fuck who's listening.