Captain America (2011) Dir Joe Johnston
I think this is an improvement on Ironman 2 and Thor but that wasn't hard. Both of those films felt like set-ups for the Avengers but I feel they needed to be more stand-alone. The studio are trying to build anticipation for the 'Avengers' but why not make quality products also. Anyway back to CA - a good blend of action with some character development. I felt that the ending was another typical massive-shoot out without any engagement. When will Hollywood learn that drama and engagement doesn't require scale? On the whole, good but I wonder what will happen after the "Avengers'? How can they return to single-person films when all they are now are set-ups for something bigger?
Thursday 4 August 2011
How did a year go past?
Time passes by and it shocks me that I last blogged in December. 2 weeks into the summer break and lots done. Masters going well and lessons being planned for September. Ticked off many of the culture boxes for London. Saw the following this week:
A Separation (2011) directed by Asghar Farhadi at the Curzon Soho is a fantastic example of Iranian cinema beyond the poetic. Up there with 'Blackboards' and 'The Apple' and 'Offside'. September and teaching 'Iranian cinema' is fast approaching. The films I can provide this year will be superb. Farhadi creates a tense drama which gives a powerful insight beyond the commonly held stereotypes of Iran. Everyone should watch it.
What else? Saw Toulouse Lautrec and Jane Avril at the beautiful Courtauld Gallery. Lautrec preliminary paintings were ferocious explosions of colors and loose form. His superb use of green suggest the absinthe fueled society alongside ideas of the other and the ethereal nature of Paris at that time.
Then leapt across the river to see Tracy Emin 'Love is what you want' which was a survey of her work. I've always loved Emin ever since I was 16 and was led into the light by my good friend Mark. She is criticized by many for her lack of artistic skill or prowess yet her work reminds me of Schiele and Jenny Holzer. What is artistic skill anyway? Technique? Ideas? Inspiration? Or the ability to sell your work? (A Hirst like trait) She also has craft skills and uses textiles to her advantage. As I get older, I enjoy looking at craft and pottery more and more.
Today I dragged my Dad to see 'Dirt' at the Wellcome centre which is a utopia just like the Apple Store. Every exhibition I see there gives a fascinating anthropological insight supported by art, film, social documents and a fantastic use of diagrams and maps. 'War and Medicine' was one of the best exhibitions I have ever seen and I saw it here 2 years ago. Anyone interested should try and pick up the exhibition guide on Amazon.
Then we went to go and see 'Out of this World' at the British Library which was a history of Science fiction as a genre. It showed its origins from 2AD onwards. The sections dealing with the end of the world and 'steampunk' were fascinating. I bought a book called the 'steampunk encyclopedia' which I've been awaiting for ages. It has sections on the origins of steampunk and will be a fascinating read.
Anyway all packed for Scandinavia tmrw. Taxi to Gatwick will probably cost as much as both sets of flights. Copenhagen and Chris' booked hostels to look forward to.
A Separation (2011) directed by Asghar Farhadi at the Curzon Soho is a fantastic example of Iranian cinema beyond the poetic. Up there with 'Blackboards' and 'The Apple' and 'Offside'. September and teaching 'Iranian cinema' is fast approaching. The films I can provide this year will be superb. Farhadi creates a tense drama which gives a powerful insight beyond the commonly held stereotypes of Iran. Everyone should watch it.
What else? Saw Toulouse Lautrec and Jane Avril at the beautiful Courtauld Gallery. Lautrec preliminary paintings were ferocious explosions of colors and loose form. His superb use of green suggest the absinthe fueled society alongside ideas of the other and the ethereal nature of Paris at that time.
Then leapt across the river to see Tracy Emin 'Love is what you want' which was a survey of her work. I've always loved Emin ever since I was 16 and was led into the light by my good friend Mark. She is criticized by many for her lack of artistic skill or prowess yet her work reminds me of Schiele and Jenny Holzer. What is artistic skill anyway? Technique? Ideas? Inspiration? Or the ability to sell your work? (A Hirst like trait) She also has craft skills and uses textiles to her advantage. As I get older, I enjoy looking at craft and pottery more and more.
Today I dragged my Dad to see 'Dirt' at the Wellcome centre which is a utopia just like the Apple Store. Every exhibition I see there gives a fascinating anthropological insight supported by art, film, social documents and a fantastic use of diagrams and maps. 'War and Medicine' was one of the best exhibitions I have ever seen and I saw it here 2 years ago. Anyone interested should try and pick up the exhibition guide on Amazon.
Then we went to go and see 'Out of this World' at the British Library which was a history of Science fiction as a genre. It showed its origins from 2AD onwards. The sections dealing with the end of the world and 'steampunk' were fascinating. I bought a book called the 'steampunk encyclopedia' which I've been awaiting for ages. It has sections on the origins of steampunk and will be a fascinating read.
Anyway all packed for Scandinavia tmrw. Taxi to Gatwick will probably cost as much as both sets of flights. Copenhagen and Chris' booked hostels to look forward to.
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