[Movie Review] The City Of Lost Children (1995)

Charming sci-fi/fantasy movie that is almost perfectly executed.

Let's start off with the fact that every character in this movie is brilliantly crafted and an unique person, or scrap the unique person bit because you can find siamese twins and a pack of midget clones from the movie. The premise of the story is that a mad scientist named Krank, who is aging prematurely, kidnaps children in order to steal their dreams. Over the course of the movie the other main characters become apparent: there is a strong and stupid adult named One and a weak and smart kid named Miette, they bond as the movie progresses and it's really cute side to the movie. The scenery is made with utmost care and stylistic sense, it feels like everything shown in the movie is shown for a reason, no filler bits in my eyes. The music and the sound effects do their job as well, but the movie is more about eye candy. There is also darkness in the movie's color palette, but the little violence that is shown is nothing graphic. You will be hooked until the ending credits start rolling in, for the movie sucks you into the magical and technological world that has elements from across the board, in fact the only thing missing from the movie is certain "greater intensity". I can wholeheartedly recommend this wonderfully bizarre and captivating ride for anyone and encourage them to go ahead and see it with their own eyes.

I'll give this movie a superior 9+/10

[Movie Review] Session 9 (2001)

Average chiller with a prominent build up.

Danvers State Mental Hospital needs to renovated but it has to be rid of asbestos. The asbestos disposal team comes into play here, they promise to clean up the mess extra fast and are promised a large bonus fee if they succeed. The chiller part starts immediately after they start working on the building, you can't deny the creepiness of the mental hospital in question. The ride goes on and on, building atmosphere and backbone for the climax, in fact it goes on far too long and then the climax just comes from around the corner. The climax is interesting but feels like it leaves a lot of potholes lying around. Worth a watch but nothing too exciting.

I'll give this movie a lazy pat on the back 6-/10

Surreal Surroundings pt.8

(Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction)

Atoms in space, that is what I am. Atoms that are being led towards an unknown destination. I can't feel the feeling of me, but there is something subtle, a force of will perhaps.

(flight of the particles)

Suddenly the bits and pieces of my flying jigsaw puzzle reconnect - rematerialization of my being. Hundreds of sensations go through me, a sudden storm ravaging the peaceful coast of my mind. All my bodily functions are regained on a single heartbeat, never have I had to endure such a rude awakening.

I'm a mess. I open my eyes slightly, an ethereal blue light penetrates into my retinae, stinging deep, as if searching for a weakness. Trying to shield my vision with my right hand I take a glimpse around me. I see tall corridors with cold steel walls covered with strange symbols, like the ones that were on the monument at the clearing. The blue light radiates from those marks, it infiltrates my head, talking in a language unknown. I wish I could understand it, I wish I could answer to it.

(the walls spread a chant)

The sound in my head changes into a screeching noise, my ears start to hurt as it continues to get louder and louder. I try to cover my ears but the pain keeps climbing towards an excruciating point. I scream from the top of my lungs. It's the loudest scream I have ever made, the screech quiets down and the light from the walls grows dim. I gasp for air in a shock.

(loud humming)

An exotic iron cage descents from the ceiling, an oval vessel with oval holes. It creates a solid thud as it hits the floor. Seemingly blue mist sprouts out from the various holes of the vessel, the mist forms a figure representing a human just outside of it. The mist is clearly mimicing my appearance. Could this mist be an intelligent lifeform? It creeps me out but it doesn't seem hostile.

(like looking into a mirror)

I stare at it in awe. It's genuinely shocking to see something alien trying to mimic your race in size and in shape, something so similar yet so different.

Now it started repeating my every move, but I try to ignore what it's doing. Abruptly my head is filled with weird words again, I still can't answer to the voice, so the screeching noise returns, probably as a mechanism for disobeying the voice. The pain returns too, so I scream yet again - the noise subsides. Now four more vessels descent from the ceiling accompanied with loud humming. They land with a thud and emit a mist person just outside of them.

Encircled by something alien.

3D Warrior

So I suddenly had this idea to get some 3D software. I have a program called "Cinema 4D" now and I'm itching to learn the ways of the trade, if I get anything done I'll put it in my blog for display with some information on the process.

Wish me luck.

[Movie Review] Martyrs (2008)

Another french gem spotted!

This movie is one of the strongest movies I have ever seen without a doubt. The plot is revealed slowly and steadily, some might not get far enough to see the actual plot, for the movie is truly disgusting in all its beauty. The movie has 2 distinct parts but the less you know beforehand the better the enjoyment I'd say. Reality horror and a quest for answers, a rough ride to see the big picture. The scenery is minimalistic but serves the purpose magnificently, also sound effects and music do their job and aren't overused. The main actors are putting a plethora of strong emotions into play and the movie isn't shy about anything, it goes so far that it may be called tasteless but I don't think it is. Definitely not for minors, you can really feel the intensity of the scenes.

I'll give this movie a breathtaking 9½/10

Future Ahoy!

In the coming month or so I will be applying to an university and moving into a student apartment. I will become a flatmate for my cousin, which should also be interesting. So yeah things to think about and things to get done.

Onwards on the road of life.

Headache

I don't like headaches, they make me feel like my head is expanding and pumping molten lava through my veins, like a bubble about to burst - more importantly they seem to come out of nowhere. It makes thinking hurt and it's just an annoying state of confusion and pain. This isn't as bad as having a hangover but it's bad enough to make you want to fast forward past it.

I hope sleep repels this headache.

[Poem] Dawn of Future Apocalypse

World stood still - encased within whispering ice.
Walls were painted with silence and midnight frost.
Only daughter of sun here - spread her wings twice.
Ruins all around her telling sad tale of lost.
She shed sparkling tear and without fear held still.
Stared upon darkest ruins with her fingers crossed.
Breeze blew through her towards dark cemetary hill.
Under all that dust was fading light of past.
From this sad day extinction takes its grim fill.
Funeral for mankind that once was so vast.
Rays of blue aurora reflect final gate.
Dawn of future apocalypse takes step last.

Always has human held inside war and hate.
Always evolving towards ill-pictured fate.

Surreal Surroundings pt.7

(Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction)

This translucent monument on the barren soil, this circle shaped clearing amidst the dark forest, this altar of madness under the weeping space. Strange symbols cover the monument, it must be the language of some great alien species. A transporter pad? A signal flare? What is the meaning of this peculiar design?

(naked under the cold horizon)

I hold my head and sway it from side to side. Why is this happening? I assure myself, that there is no greater feeling of desperation than this dreamlike jail - this unjust confinement. I must not give up so easily, without hope there is nothing and with nothing I can't exist. My head is killing me as I stare obliviously at the symbols, darker than night, yet surrounded by an ethereal blue light. I want to touch the thing, something is ought to happen when you meddle with unknown forces. In this bleak world there is no time for guesswork, so I just have to trust my instincts - a journey built on luck.

(a curious touch)

It tickles my flesh, like electric sparks would, but nothing special follows. I release my touch and stand still. I take a hold of it with both of my hands now, the power it surges seems to increase in potency, still nothing special follows. Frustration crawls up my spine, this thing can't be here for nothing, it just can't. What if I wrap myself around it and hug it real tight? Here goes for nothing. It feels extremely warm now, my whole body is being electrocuted, but it doesn't hurt. The blue light intensifies, it must be on the brink of getting activated. I squeeze it even tighter. I can't let go, neither will it let go of me - sucking me in.

(violent bodily jolts)

There was no pain involved earlier, but now there is a torrent under my skin. It feels as if my insides were rearranging their atomic structure, a feeling so strange it's nigh impossible to describe. I slowly notice how I'm starting to lose the control of my body and mind, before that happens I take a final look at the sky. Some colossal shadow seems to be coming my way, it looks like a ghost gliding through the immense space, but my senses are gradually blurring out and it's soon hopeless to try to make any sense out of it.

I'm shattering into billions of pieces and I can only mildly feel this process happening. Every piece holds a part of me, every piece holds a part of my senses, yet alone they have almost nothing, this feels more unreal than the dream I had - the one with the eye. I can only feel how these tiniest of pieces slowly accelerate towards the star filled space.

Only a blue pillar extending into space leads my way.

[Movie Review] Seul Contre Tous (1998)

French gem of a movie with high artistic value and a realistic approach on how insanity builds up.

Seul Contre Tous (I Stand Alone in english) is a brilliant movie about the downward spiral of one man's life. The movie quickly explains his past in the beginning slideshow scene, then moving on to the present time. He comes off as a very frustrated person, tired of life, stuck in a loop with his past mistakes - so he decides to start "from a scratch" - a new beginning. He finds that his first attempt at a new life doesn't seem to take off and only breeds more frustration, he needs to escape his current misery. Most of the movie is a well-detailed monologue from the man's head; his hate towards rich people, his philosophical takes on life and his lingering madness. The movie is a very heavy piece of work, it's violent and hateful in a realistic sense, never trying to act pretty. It reaches high levels of emotion, that you won't forget (especially in the climax). A portrayal of desperation, where even during the most difficult of moments, a shred of hope is present. The movie isn't cluttered with special effects but the ones it has are classy and give an impact upon the screen. All in all I highly recommend this movie if you aren't easily offended.

I'll give this movie a masterful 9+/10

Long Distance Travel

I think it's tedious to do long distance travels. Be it plane, bus, car or any other vehicle, it's boring to travel miles and miles. Sleeping is not easy and it will hurt your neck without a special pillow, the DVD-players rarely work, the screens are often too small and you have very little space for yourself. It's however a necessary evil, you can't get anywhere without a ride and places you need to go to are rarely as near as your neighborhood mall.

I just travelled 175 miles by bus to visit my sister and that same number to get back home, not to mention during my military service I had to travel like 235 miles into one direction by bus. At least I had good fun at my sister's place, we played "Guitar Hero: World Tour" on career mode, I manned the drumkit. It didn't register most of the hi-hat or cymbal hits but we had a good laugh.

Now to get some sleep.

Moonlight Sonata

I will start practicing Moonlight Sonata on piano when I stop being lazy. Lots of memorization and dynamics in that piece but should be doable.

Words of ambitious beginner.

School Shootings

In modern world, school shootings have became a new trend for the suicidal close-minded inviduals. They want to taste power before they take their own life and frankly I find that kind of mindset pathetic, if you feel that you can't live in this world, hurting (even killing) others that like it here is an act of cowardice.

World's safety net is becoming more and more transparent, I'm thankful that not everyone knows the cruel side of it in great detail, but it's there and I won't close my eyes from it.

Violence isn't justice.

What Is Intelligence?

IQ (intelligence quotient) is one way to measure one's brain, so out of interest I have taken a few IQ-tests recently, some actually being structured nicely for being online ones. I will shortly comment each one of them and provide the links.

http://www.iqtest.dk/main.swf - 133 IQ (fairly nice test inspired by Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices)

http://www.highiqsociety.org/iq_tests/ - 121 IQ on eCMA and 118 IQ on TA3 (fairly bad tests; they have more of a "trivia" approach to it and you have to be a native english speaker or a very skilled english speaker to be able to get fair ratings out of these, they have bits that are found in good IQ tests but seem to delwe into nitpick information and knowledge in the other bits)

http://www.cerebrals.org/tests/tri/TRI52.html - 780 score which translates to IQ range of 135-138 (very nice test in my opinion; introduces logical rules and gets progressively harder, also very tiring)

This is not a post to brag with, it's just a post where I want to say this: IQ isn't everything. Having high IQ counts but intelligence can be so much more. IQ doesn't measure social skills, artistical skills and so forth. However we face the question - what is intelligence?

Different people have different perception of intelligence, my perception is that intelligence comes from being understanding, patient, modest, fair and so on. I don't expect others to think how I think, so I try to understand them. Some may think good manners are a sign of intelligence, while some don't find them necessary. It's a personal find, that can be everchanging.

Even stupidity can hold the fruit of intelligence.

Surreal Surroundings pt.6

(Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction)

I tread this alien jungle, like a clueless tribesman prevented from meeting any signs of life. I know that plants and trees are living things, but I bitterly accept that this place is barren, no matter what kind of things I might face or witness - it is devoid of life.

I must be living out someone's dream, or rather, a nightmare. A stranger in a strange world, so alone that cries for help could never be heard. I dread my fate, I can hear the doom and gloom in the back of my head, the whining noises that are trying to shatter the last shreds of my confidence.

(scouting left and right)

All I can see is the thickness of this paranormal forest, the deformed black trees look down on me and their laughter echoes in the air.

(pushing through some exotic shrubbery)

The purple spiky roots twisting around like tentacles, the red cylinder shaped poles sticking out of the ground and the yellow gargantuan leaves hanging above my head, they all add to my confusion. I'm surprised they didn't give me wings to fly with, considering how little sense this plane of existence makes. All I want is an exit - a grand return to normality.

(deeper and deeper)

I come to a clearing, a well deserved pause from that trek in the woods. There is some kind of a monument standing in the middle of this cleared area. I slowly look up and notice that the vegetation doesn't block the view above me - I'm staring into space. The vast void with its shining stars. I imagine how empty, yet full that space is. I try to imagine the complexity of its entirety, but it's far too much for me to even begin to comprehend. Only feeble sound would come out if I screamed while floating in that dark ocean, so feeble it would be nearly impossible to hear for a human being.

I'm devastated by this sight, I really am. It really feels like I'm out of touch from humanity, probably stranded on some unknown planet. How can it be? I pinch myself hoping to end this dream, to no avail.

I shed a lonely tear while the Universe is watching me.

Lone Wolf

It's in my personality, I like being on my own, I don't like being in a "pack" for a long time. The less people surrounding me the better, also quality over quantity.

I'm not sure if I have always been this way but it has dawned on me. I don't want to think of it as a disorder of any kind either (even if it was one), it's just one side of me. I'm a complex bundle of things to be honest, maybe over the course of this blog you'll get to know me, a little.

Even if none else in this world understood me, I wouldn't shatter.

[Poem] - The Summoning

Command the dark crystal at will,
Hades shall thee the chaos bring,
Deadly energies, a prismatic chill,
Crimson air unto extinction's king.

Gory are the walls and the ground,
This realm is a hollow, inside out,
Spectral thunders here will pound,
Abysmal echo spreads His shout.

"Only black and red, I mix into it,
the scream of Hell now unbound,
Arms open wide, upon life I spit,
Unleashing the Cerberus hound.

Wreak havoc and tear their soul,
Watchdog's rise scars the weak,
My wicked dream, a grim whole,
Apocalyptic prophecy so bleak.

Upon the lands you shall prowl,
Make proud my damnation skull,
Drown all hope within your howl,
In my cloak I wait, life to be null."

The grand conjuration is finished,
Violent minion now heeds its call,
The Earth soon to be diminished,
Into uncreation its entirety will fall.

[Movie Review] Cloverfield (2008)

A movie with great effects, sheer catastrophy panic and shakycam.

In the heart of Manhattan, a surprise party is held, in honor of a guy named Rob, because he just recently got promoted to a vice president and is going to travel to Japan shortly. Things take a big twist and a mysterious force starts to shake the whole city. It's now a struggle to escape, a struggle to live. While the movie offers a plethora of stunning effects, it lacks some substance and realism though. The main characters have a bit soft lines considering what they wittness - in a life or death situation I would drop a few f-bombs myself. Some of their actions are unconvincing or foolhardy but it's not too bad. There's no significant background for the incident that hits Manhattan, which might be sort of realistic for a shakycam movie even if it's lacking in storytelling. All in all pretty enjoyable movie the first time through.

I'll give this movie an O.K. rating of 7-/10.