Wow! Almost 3 months without going to the cinema. That's to say how tired I am! ^^;
Well actually I WOULD have gone, if only the movies i wanted to see had been released around here!
What about Black Book or The Fountain? I would have wanted to see those so much. But the closest they got from my home was around 50km. I don't do 50km for watching a movie. Then you'll say that I didn't want to watch them that much... But dedication has its limits! :p
Anyway February has seen my 1st outing in month to see The Science Of Sleep, a movie I've been eying ever since I knew that 1) it was Michel "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" Gondry's latest 2) it was released in France 6 months ago.
I can't say how much I loved Eternal Sunshine, beautiful story beautifully told. I especially appreciated Gondry's eerie weirdness and how he used all sorts of effects, all optical, to convey it, with a sort of stubborn romanticism. This was top of my 2004 cinema top 10.
So I know it's bad, it spoils aeverything, but somehow I had high expectations for this. I didn't know what to expect but I wanted it to make me escape the way Eternal Sunshine did. Well I can now say happily that I wasn't disappointed.
The story centers around Stephane, young mid 20s guy, lured by his mom into coming from Mexico back to Paris. He barely speaks French and the job his mom got him is everything he didn't want: he's the creative type and he's doing basically a monkey's job. One of his particularities is that he dreams a lot and as he sees his life being more and more away from what he wanted it to be, back in his old kid room, being stuck in a shit job in a country he doesn't really know, when his colleagues or people just make of of him as he can't really speak French, he escapes more and more into his dreams which start mingling with reality, to the point where he actually doesn't know what is true or part of his imagination, bringing the audience with him.
As I write this I suddenly realise that somehow it's a bit Lost In Translation but in France and with a twist (the dreams).
It's a story of "boy meets girl", but with a lot of layers. It centers more on his main character, who's a bit this kid who hasn't grown out his dreams at all. Unresolved grieving about a lost father and a exploded family floats in the background...
The whole movie really feels like a dream, when different unrelated things seen through the day mix together to make things sometimes funny sometimes weird, sometimes unpleasant.
I'm always impressed at movies that actually can physically reproduce on the audience feelings that the characters can feel. Here at some point you really feel like "reality" is fading away. What's real? Was it a dream?
This is what cinema, to me, is all about.
Experience.
This was a great one.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Helpdesk.
Anybody who has tried to explain something to someone (especially about computers!) should laugh at this...
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Computers & private parts.
A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. "House" for instance, is feminine: "la casa." "Pencil," however, is masculine "el lapiz." A student asked, "What gender is computer'?" Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation. The men's group decided that computer” should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora"), because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long erm memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.
The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ("el computador"), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won
-------------
(as a personnal opinion, I think that's unfair... :p )
Next is a real memo sent out by IBM to its employees in all seriousness. It went to all field engineers about a computer peripheral problem:
------------
'If a mouse fails to operate or should it perform erratically, it may need a ball replacement. Mouse balls are now available as FRU (Field Replacement Units). Because of the delicate nature of this procedure, a replacement of mouse balls should only be attempted by properly trained personnel.
Before proceeding, determine the type of mouse balls by examining the underside of the mouse.
Domestic balls will be larger and harder than foreign balls. Ball removal procedures differ depending upon the manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop off method.
Domestic balls are replaced by using the twist off method. Mouse balls are not usually static sensitive. However, excessive handling can result in sudden discharge.
Upon completion of ball replacement, the mouse may be used immediately.
It is recommended that each person have a pair of spare balls for maintaining optimum customer satisfaction. Any customer missing his balls should contact the local personnel in charge of removing and replacing these necessary items.
Please keep in mind that a customer without properly working balls is an unhappy customer.
------------
You can only agree with the last sentence.
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long erm memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.
The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ("el computador"), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won
-------------
(as a personnal opinion, I think that's unfair... :p )
Next is a real memo sent out by IBM to its employees in all seriousness. It went to all field engineers about a computer peripheral problem:
------------
'If a mouse fails to operate or should it perform erratically, it may need a ball replacement. Mouse balls are now available as FRU (Field Replacement Units). Because of the delicate nature of this procedure, a replacement of mouse balls should only be attempted by properly trained personnel.
Before proceeding, determine the type of mouse balls by examining the underside of the mouse.
Domestic balls will be larger and harder than foreign balls. Ball removal procedures differ depending upon the manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop off method.
Domestic balls are replaced by using the twist off method. Mouse balls are not usually static sensitive. However, excessive handling can result in sudden discharge.
Upon completion of ball replacement, the mouse may be used immediately.
It is recommended that each person have a pair of spare balls for maintaining optimum customer satisfaction. Any customer missing his balls should contact the local personnel in charge of removing and replacing these necessary items.
Please keep in mind that a customer without properly working balls is an unhappy customer.
------------
You can only agree with the last sentence.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Parlons BD... (partie 3)
La derniere BD que j'ai decouverte cette annee, c'est pas non plus une nouveaute, c'est Blacksad (vol. 1), par Juan Diaz Canales & Juanjo Guarnido.
La BD relate les peripeties d'un prive nomme John Blacksad, dans l'Amerique des annees 50, donc au milieu des affaires de corruption et autres embrouilles mafieuses.
La 1ere chose qui frappe sont les dessins exceptionnels, d'un realisme qui ferait presque oublier que les protagonistes sont des animaux (ils sont toutefois anthropomorphes)! L'utilisation d'une telle representation pour les personnages est a mon sens extremement judicieuse car elle permet de transcrire le caractere a travers le choix de la race (un indic sera bien evidemment une fouine!) mais aussi une grande expressivite: par exemple quand Blacksad, qui est un chat, se met en colere, son poil se herisse, tout naturellement, ce qui amplifie visuellement son sentiment.
Le realisme de l'ensemble permet de ne pas rendre tout cela "mignon" et donne une atmosphere sombre, limite poisseuse, a souhait!
Les personnages, semblant sortis tout droit d'un roman de Chandler ou d'Elroy, se revelent tres attachants, Blacksad le 1er, prive expeditif mais ayant quand meme son code d'honneur.
L'histoire de ce 1er volume nous emmene a sa suite dans l'enquete du meurtre d'une de ses ex-"clientes", qui bien entendu va montrer des implications dans les hautes spheres de la societe...
En resume, c'est une perle de serie noire, rien que du classique mais extremement efficace!
La BD relate les peripeties d'un prive nomme John Blacksad, dans l'Amerique des annees 50, donc au milieu des affaires de corruption et autres embrouilles mafieuses.
La 1ere chose qui frappe sont les dessins exceptionnels, d'un realisme qui ferait presque oublier que les protagonistes sont des animaux (ils sont toutefois anthropomorphes)! L'utilisation d'une telle representation pour les personnages est a mon sens extremement judicieuse car elle permet de transcrire le caractere a travers le choix de la race (un indic sera bien evidemment une fouine!) mais aussi une grande expressivite: par exemple quand Blacksad, qui est un chat, se met en colere, son poil se herisse, tout naturellement, ce qui amplifie visuellement son sentiment.
Le realisme de l'ensemble permet de ne pas rendre tout cela "mignon" et donne une atmosphere sombre, limite poisseuse, a souhait!
Les personnages, semblant sortis tout droit d'un roman de Chandler ou d'Elroy, se revelent tres attachants, Blacksad le 1er, prive expeditif mais ayant quand meme son code d'honneur.
L'histoire de ce 1er volume nous emmene a sa suite dans l'enquete du meurtre d'une de ses ex-"clientes", qui bien entendu va montrer des implications dans les hautes spheres de la societe...
En resume, c'est une perle de serie noire, rien que du classique mais extremement efficace!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Friday, February 09, 2007
A review and a trailer.
Guys, 1st this an early review of the up-coming-Frank-Miller's-comic-book-adapted-Spartians-VS-Persians-story, 300.
And it happens to be the best review anybody will ever do. Ever.
No kidding.
Enjoy.
(you might have to be a guy though)
2nd, this might be one of the best trailers I've seen, for the upcoming comedy/action-movie-by-the-team-that-brought-you-Shaun-Of-The-Dead, Hot Fuzz.
Love it as well.
There you go.
I'm still laughing... :)
And it happens to be the best review anybody will ever do. Ever.
No kidding.
Enjoy.
(you might have to be a guy though)
2nd, this might be one of the best trailers I've seen, for the upcoming comedy/action-movie-by-the-team-that-brought-you-Shaun-Of-The-Dead, Hot Fuzz.
Love it as well.
There you go.
I'm still laughing... :)
Nouvelle expression...
J'ai lu ca sur un forum: "etre un parapareunique diptérophile".
J'aime beaucoup. :)
(l'expression, hein... Encore que...)
J'aime beaucoup. :)
(l'expression, hein... Encore que...)
A manga meteor rushing on the UK!
A good article from the English version of the Asahi Shinbun (thanks Anime UK) describes a growing interest (a tsunami!) for manga in the UK.
It's even more surprising that "graphic novels" in general haven't really massively caught on around here...
Cool! :)
It's even more surprising that "graphic novels" in general haven't really massively caught on around here...
Cool! :)
Thursday, February 08, 2007
OMFG.
I've just read an article saying that an 11 years old girl had had a baby...
The father was 18 at the time.
Surely that's a record. And it'd be a French one! Wow... ^^;
Article here (French).
The father was 18 at the time.
Surely that's a record. And it'd be a French one! Wow... ^^;
Article here (French).
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Parlons BD... (partie 2)
La 2e BD que je voulais aborder, c'est Donjon, de Lewis Trondheim et Joann Sfar.
Cette serie d'heroic fantasy prend un concept extremement interessant: c'est l'histoire, au fil des albums, d'un donjon (surprise!). Un donjon, ca a un maitre, des monstres, des heros qui viennent tenter d'en piquer les tresors... C'est un ecosysteme.
Donc la serie s'interesse tour a tour a tous ces elements, decrivant ainsi une evolution globale.
Pour ce faire, 3 series principales ont ete crees: Potron-Minet, qui est le debut du Donjon (album -101, -102, etc), Zenith qui represente l'apogee du Donjon (albums 1, 2, etc) et Crepuscule qui decrit la fin du Donjon (albums 101, 102...). Les auteurs sont partis (sur une boutade) pour faire 300 albums en tout...
A cela s'ajoutent les series Monsters & Parade qui s'interessent plus particulierement a des personnages 2aires le temps d'un album et qui s'inserent dans la chronologie du Donjon (entre -100 & 199).
Cette profusion de niveaux permet une grande variete: d'un album a l'autre et d'une serie a l'autre les histoires peuvent se montrer violentes et sombres ou au contraire pleinement humoristiques. Le fait qu'elles s'inserent toujours dans la chronologie du Donjon font qu'elles enrichissent toujours un univers tordu mais extremement coherent. On decouvre ainsi au detour d'un album "Monsters" les origines d'un personnage principal de Zenith, puis sa mort dans un album "Crepuscule".
Tout cela serait bien beau si les albums en eux-memes etaient sans interet... Il n'en est rien! Dessines simplement mais avec gout, surprenants a chaque case, avec des dialogues tres bien ecrits, c'est une joie a lire!
Au finish, un serie intelligente, coherente, pour tous les gouts et hautement addictive...
J'ai trouve par hasard une interview tres interessante de Trondheim, suivie d'une autre de Sfar. Il n'y a rien de mieux que les auteurs pour parler de leur oeuvre...
Cette serie d'heroic fantasy prend un concept extremement interessant: c'est l'histoire, au fil des albums, d'un donjon (surprise!). Un donjon, ca a un maitre, des monstres, des heros qui viennent tenter d'en piquer les tresors... C'est un ecosysteme.
Donc la serie s'interesse tour a tour a tous ces elements, decrivant ainsi une evolution globale.
Pour ce faire, 3 series principales ont ete crees: Potron-Minet, qui est le debut du Donjon (album -101, -102, etc), Zenith qui represente l'apogee du Donjon (albums 1, 2, etc) et Crepuscule qui decrit la fin du Donjon (albums 101, 102...). Les auteurs sont partis (sur une boutade) pour faire 300 albums en tout...
A cela s'ajoutent les series Monsters & Parade qui s'interessent plus particulierement a des personnages 2aires le temps d'un album et qui s'inserent dans la chronologie du Donjon (entre -100 & 199).
Cette profusion de niveaux permet une grande variete: d'un album a l'autre et d'une serie a l'autre les histoires peuvent se montrer violentes et sombres ou au contraire pleinement humoristiques. Le fait qu'elles s'inserent toujours dans la chronologie du Donjon font qu'elles enrichissent toujours un univers tordu mais extremement coherent. On decouvre ainsi au detour d'un album "Monsters" les origines d'un personnage principal de Zenith, puis sa mort dans un album "Crepuscule".
Tout cela serait bien beau si les albums en eux-memes etaient sans interet... Il n'en est rien! Dessines simplement mais avec gout, surprenants a chaque case, avec des dialogues tres bien ecrits, c'est une joie a lire!
Au finish, un serie intelligente, coherente, pour tous les gouts et hautement addictive...
J'ai trouve par hasard une interview tres interessante de Trondheim, suivie d'une autre de Sfar. Il n'y a rien de mieux que les auteurs pour parler de leur oeuvre...
Friday, February 02, 2007
Sometimes things need to turn off...
A follow up on yesterday's turn off the light for 5 minutes in France: it made the energy consumption drop by 1% which represents the consumption of a city like Marseilles!
Cool!
It's good to hear that such actions can find such support.
Full article here (in French).
Cool!
It's good to hear that such actions can find such support.
Full article here (in French).
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Parlons BDs... (partie 1)
(Sorry guys, since I'm speaking of comic books in French (1 is Spanish) here, I don't see the point of doing this in English>
Hop! Pour une raison bien particuliere, la fin du mois de Janvier est toujours pour moi plus propice pour decouvrir de nouvelles BDs, c'est donc l'occasion de partager tout ca...
3 en tout sont au programme de cette annee.
3 BDs europeennes majeures que j'ai mis un moment a decouvrir malgre de chaudes recommandations. L'important est bien de sy mettre au bout du compte.
La 1ere, c'est Les Formidables Aventures de Lapinot, de Lewis Trondheim.
D'une certaine maniere je commence par le plus difficile, car decrire une BD comme celle-la, en soi, ca parait assez difficile. Il y a aussi le fait que je n'ai lu qu'un seul volume et que le reste me parait emprunter a pas mal de genres. Jugez plutot: on m'a dit que le 1er tome est un pur Western old school alors que celui sur lequel je me base n'est rien de tel.
Le dos de la couverture arbore fierement "Ce 2e tome rejouira les amateurs de Scrabble, de billes, de flipper & d'esoterisme d'Europe centrale".
Je pense que ca decrit assez bien l'esprit.
Le fil conducteur est effectivement une malediction, mais cette histoire principale rondement menee se retrouve emaillee de digressions geniales autours de personnages tres bien construits et surtout de dialogues percutants.
L'ensemble est berce d'une douce ironie et d'un sens de la logique absurde qui, d'une certaine maniere, me rappelle Fred.
C'est reellement "formidable" et je vais veiller a decouvrir les autres albums.
La suite bientot...
Hop! Pour une raison bien particuliere, la fin du mois de Janvier est toujours pour moi plus propice pour decouvrir de nouvelles BDs, c'est donc l'occasion de partager tout ca...
3 en tout sont au programme de cette annee.
3 BDs europeennes majeures que j'ai mis un moment a decouvrir malgre de chaudes recommandations. L'important est bien de sy mettre au bout du compte.
La 1ere, c'est Les Formidables Aventures de Lapinot, de Lewis Trondheim.
D'une certaine maniere je commence par le plus difficile, car decrire une BD comme celle-la, en soi, ca parait assez difficile. Il y a aussi le fait que je n'ai lu qu'un seul volume et que le reste me parait emprunter a pas mal de genres. Jugez plutot: on m'a dit que le 1er tome est un pur Western old school alors que celui sur lequel je me base n'est rien de tel.
Le dos de la couverture arbore fierement "Ce 2e tome rejouira les amateurs de Scrabble, de billes, de flipper & d'esoterisme d'Europe centrale".
Je pense que ca decrit assez bien l'esprit.
Le fil conducteur est effectivement une malediction, mais cette histoire principale rondement menee se retrouve emaillee de digressions geniales autours de personnages tres bien construits et surtout de dialogues percutants.
L'ensemble est berce d'une douce ironie et d'un sens de la logique absurde qui, d'une certaine maniere, me rappelle Fred.
C'est reellement "formidable" et je vais veiller a decouvrir les autres albums.
La suite bientot...
Final College Fantasy
This is quite fun!
Especially to anyone who has played the Final Fantasy games.
A bit long maybe but you need to do what you need to do... It's also an aspect of the game after all. ;)
Especially to anyone who has played the Final Fantasy games.
A bit long maybe but you need to do what you need to do... It's also an aspect of the game after all. ;)
Eteignez les lumieres!
Ecologist associations in France are calling for everyone to turn off their light for 5minutes between 19h55 & 20h00 on thursday night (tonight that is), as a token to show people's awareness to global warming.
Apparently the Eiffel Tower might be turned off as well!
I think that's a great symbol and I'll follow it from where I am!
The full article here (French).
Apparently the Eiffel Tower might be turned off as well!
I think that's a great symbol and I'll follow it from where I am!
The full article here (French).
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