Monthly Archives: September 2005

Howl’s Moving Castle – another beauty from Studio Ghibli

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My brother thought that the English translation of this originally Japanese produced movie left something to be desired for but watching it tonight I must say that I was utterly delighted.

As with animator Miyazaki’s 2002 movie Spirited Away, this movie delivers yet another viewing delight.

The story starts with an unassuming young girl, Sophie, working in a hat shop who is whisked literally off her feet by a handsome wizard, Howl. Once Sophie returns to earth, a jealous witch curses her turning Sophie into an old lady. As Sophie sets off to find a way to break the curse she finds herself in Howl’s moving castle (this giant junk heap of a thing) and gets caught up with Markl (a young wizard-wannabe), Kalcifer (a demon cursed to be trapped in a flame), Turnip-head (a live scare-crow and my personal favourite) and of course Howl. I think its fair to say its a modern day fairy tale.

From the creative animation to the heart-felt story, you will find yourself utterly charmed by this one. And there is no pop culture reference in sight!

Maangamizi: The Ancient One

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Here was something a little different. The first feature film made for worldwide release in Swahili, Maangamizi: The Ancient One brings us a tale of healing and forgiveness. The story is set at a mental institute in Tanzania and centres on three women: a psychiatrist, a patient and a mysterious magical ancestor. Rather than the traditional scientific way of talking through your problems with your psychiatrist we are brought through the healing process the African way: through spirituality and transformation.

I’m sure the above description over simplifies the movie and its themes. I went to see this with some friends of mine who are keen existentialists and also keen philosophy students so I’m sure that they got more from the film than me as there are many more ironies and deeper thoughts entwined within the movie than I can properly describe. These include such thoughts as the traditional African conception of duality – that life is about, well, ying and yang. However, the movie was very well delivered and I think, despite my denseness, was to me able to delivery its main theme of the power of forgiveness and compassion in healing.

Momix Opus Cactus

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At first I thought I was going to see a knock off of a Cirque du Soleil show but I was pleased to see it wasn’t (though having said that it must be noted I’m a huge fan of the Cirque franchise). Momix Opus Cactus was more dance than circus. But merely calling it dance really doesn’t do the show any justice. Its probably a little cheesy to say but it really was like moving art.

I could go on an on about the inventiveness of the performances with acts including a swing-hammock, low trapeze, glow-in-the dark tumbleweed type things (can’t even describe this), rolling jacks (think skateboard type use), and this massive thing which defies description (see the picture to the right instead) but I think instead I will leave it to these pictures, courtesy of Momix.

Momix Opus Cactus is definitely something that needs to be experienced rather than read about.

Never Mind the Buzzcocks

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N generously invited me to tonight’s recording of Never Mind the Buzzcocks. For those not in the know (and before tonight’s experience that would have included me) Never Mind the Buzzcocks is billed as a music gameshow but runs more as a comedy. It is hosted by the very dry Mark Lamarr and features two teams: one generally permanent team captains in the form of Phill Jupitus (I think a radio host) and the very funny Bill Bailey who I know best as the funny long-haired chap from the TV series Black Books. These two are then joined each by two guests.

I think there were about 4 rounds of “quizzes” – What’s the Connection (where teams have to connect two apparently disparate musical groups by some wierd fact, such as the connection between Nsync and John Denver), Intros (two team members play out an intro to a song and the other member has to guess what it is), The Identity Parade (hilarious – as each team tries to pick out an old band member from a popular band from about 20 years ago out of a choice of five), and the final rapid-fire round where Mark says a line from a song and teams have to give the next one.

The experience was definitely very enjoyable though a very very long one. I think we were in there for over three hours just to film a half-hour spot! But thanks N for the ticket.

Dancing in the Streets

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They should have called it Dancing in the Theatre! Dancing in the Streets is a wonderful tribute show that covers a lot of the cool music from one of the best eras in music history – Motown in the 1960s.

The atmosphere had a slightly different feel from another tribute show, The Rat Pack, but with either show you are going to get some dedicated fans. At tonight’s show there were clearly two sides to the theatre – the dancing side and the rest! Be prepared to get on your feet – particularly if you have an especially vigorous group in front of you and you actually want to see any of the performance. Crowd participation actually makes a difference to the feel of the show as there is a definite energy that gives the cast something to play with.

As for the actual performance on stage, and not in the stalls, the singing was generally of a good standard but I felt that some songs were a little bit oversung (almost like the perfomers were shouting … or could it be my too old ears being so close to the speakers … ), the costumes were fab (gotta love the guys’ hairdos!), and the dancing was fun (they could have given today’s boy and girl bands a run for their money – heh heh.)

The show had me singing all the way home.

Lights from the Mayor’s Thames Festival

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Bajra the Peacock Boat Along the Hungerford Bridge Bike trick
River Embers .. .. more River Embers … .. and more …
.. the finale. Hexstatic – gotta love Astro Boy Flying off ..
… to save the world. The crowds Trust me – the moon was massive tonight

The Aristocrats

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There were only maybe 20-25 of us to start with and we lost 4 within the first ten minutes. You could be mistaken for thinking that this was the worst movie of all time (though note nothing could be be as bad as The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou) but no – the reason for the walk out was that we were watching a documentary on The Aristocrats and we noted that all the walk outs were females. What is The Aristocrats? What could cause such a walkout. Well, if I had known that it was doco on THE filthiest joke ever I don’t think I would have brought my young impressionable trainee with me. Sorry S!

Anyway, the doco was certainly interesting, quite well told and often amusing but boy was the topic simply outrageous. I can’t even begin to describe what we heard but it was dirty, scandalous, profane, scatalogical, naughty and just plain funny. My favourite version was when the joke was incorporated with a card trick – now that was a nice little party trick.

This is not a movie for everyone but if you can take it, and not feel absolutely mortified, it is a definite hoot.

Brick Lane Festival 2005 … sort of

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The Brick Lane Festival doesn’t attract nearly as many people as the Notting Hill Carnival but it does have its own character, and it is definitely an adventure trying to navigate Brick Lane past the crowds as they amass in front of the numerous stalls that line the lane. I’m not sure we actually hit the “Brick Lane Festival” area if there even was one as all I could see were banners for the Banglatown International Curry Festival 2005.

We didn’t mind so much though as the main reason we were there was to eat, and so we did!

What the Butler Saw

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What did the butler see? I’m not really sure because as far as I could tell there was no butler. Instead, what I saw was a very complicated storyline that starts with a doctor’s attempt to seduce his (still innocent) potential secretary and his cover-up that eventually leads to proclamations of insanity, cross-dressing, mistaken identity, shootings and just general mayhem (and there is a LOT of running in and out of doors.)

So the whole thing was set in a mental aslyum so I guess you can expect that it would eventually get “crazy” but I thought at times it bordered on ludicrous with some characterisations becoming almost overbearing.

Overall, not a bad effort for this re-telling of a 40 year old story. There were enough laughs to keep you entertained.