Must haves!

Tink was over tonight, we made pizza and watched "Cashback", we also had some lemon jelly that I bought on sale. Very lovely. Superlovely!

Frost has arrived, and there are iceroses on all the parked cars on the street. I suppose you call them ice patterns or something, but we Norwegians call them "isroser". That is what it looks like, so I think it is a much better word for it.

Aaaand ---Hi, I'm here to give you this months' must haves, baby!

Movietickets for Disney Pixar's "UP" - I truly adored this film, even though Helge said he would never take me to see a Disney film again. I guess he has the right as I was crying my heart out after about three minutes. Still loved it though!

Kings of Convenience newest album "Declaration of Dependence". Definitely. Even though you will say; heard this before, this sounds just like all their other songs. True! But wrong! It does, but doesn't! This is something new, there is something very different about their sound that I have not yet been able to put my finger on. But it's still there. And you need to have it.

First season of British series "Skins". I am extremely hooked on this right now - while you're at it you should probably get the following two seasons as well. It's brilliant!

Mittens, kitten! It's cold right now. Keeping your hands warm makes every day brighter. Guaranteed.

Other than that - have some orange juice and snog your toes into a pair of warm slippers before you go to school or work. Never fails. Don't forget to brush your teeth!

What makes you sad just by thinking about it?

I took this picture in Lisbon last week.

Forgive me for not updating. It's not that I have so many things to do, it is just that I'm spending my time elaborately avoiding to do them. I wanted to make a post about sadness because Scandinavia can be a very depressing place at this time of year. Sure it is Christmas, but it is also extremely dark and cold. It's dark when you get up and dark when you come home. People are saddened by many things, loneliness, darkness, films, books, music - could be whatever. I just wanted to know what makes you sad.

These things I have listed below make me above averagely sad just by thinking about them, you'll probably have me in tears by the end of this post.

Bits in films that make me cry excessively: 

That part in Fur, when Diane tries to breathe in the air that late Lionel blew into the inflatable mattress.

The ending of Bin Jip when Sun-Wha and Tae-Suk are weightless when standing together on the scale.

When all the Who's in Horton Hears a Who try to make enough noise to save themselves.

In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, when Master Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, dying admit they have always loved each other.

The flashbacks in Dead Mans Shoes. (Definitely one of the best films I've ever seen, I'm not going to link to it, because it's best to not know anything about it and just see it!)

When All Cats Are Grey by The Cure starts to play in Marie Antoinette. 

When Kunlun starts to run wearing the cape of Snow Wolf in The Promise.

When Donnie and Gretchen are separated in Donnie Darko. 

When Jin sings to Xiao Mei while holding her in his arms in the snow in House of Flying Daggers.

When the messenger is waving the flag of failure in Hero.

Songs that makes me cry:

(Even just by hearing a snippet!)

Your Eyes Open by Keane.

Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy.

O Mio Bambino Caro (Puccini) sung by Renee Fleming.

Green Eyes by Coldplay.

Any song Thomas Dybdahl has ever made, especially Henry.

Freedom of the Wa by Klaus Badelt.

The Man Who Flew Away by Husky Rescue.

Curves by Röyksopp.

Pulling Our Weight by The Radio Department.

The Drugs Don't Work by The Verve.

Books that make me cry:

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiKamillo and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, every flippin single time I read them. There are tons of other books that makes me cry, but these two books can make my bottom lip quiver just by thinking about them. 

Not to forget these three films that leaves me a little smudgy pulp with swollen eyes for several weeks at a time: ,

Juno, Bambi and Dumbo. 

I am extremely easily affected by these kind of things, and I believe that to be the reason why I'm almost always happy! All the above genuinely makes me sad and I can end up crying myself to sleep, but by the time I get over it (either by heavy Sean The Sheep or Knudsen & Ludvigsen therapy) I feel so light it's as if I could fly away any moment. Crying about one thing is a great way to get rid of other emotional luggage that is already in the system I suppose!

Dead Mans Shoes

This is simply one insanely good film. This coming from me- spoiled to a point of ridicule after seeing so many films over the past few years. Almodovar and Ang Lee should be ashamed of themselves, they get knocked off their feet by Dead Mans Shoes director Shane Meadows (This is England) - from Staffordshire!

Right now I'm still blown away by Dead Mans Shoes (I don't think you should read about it) I think you should see it, you should see it, and then thank me - because this might be the best film you're going to see this year.

Looking for an "out-of-hollywood" original script experience? May I recommend these?
Snowcake
The elementary particles
Primer
Stay
The Other Side

But I still think you should see
Horton Hears a Who
Snakes on a Plane
Superbad

Because you should!

Somersault

Yesterday I saw an Australian film called Somersault.
To my surprise I actually liked it, because even though it was increasingly strange - it was also quite realistic, in its own, unlikely way. I daresay this is a very uncommon ability for a film to have, which is why I liked it.

Not exactly action-packed, it did require some patience and some afterthought, as it was very symbolic (directed by a girl you know, we always want to make it hard for you).

A very poetic, curious, gentle film. Detailed, and mellow.

Quiet, low-key, and splendidly warm.


Like honey on toast.

Films!

Thought I would sum up a little bit about some films that have been seen lately!

• Go see "Stardust" right now. I love it from my beard to my nails, it's fantastic!
• Swallow a box of anti-depressives and put your rainbow-sunglasses on before seeing "Pan's Labyrinth". Gruesome, dark, fantastic, horrible, grotesque and sad film. With not a single ounze of Hollywood in it. I cried like a baby.
• You have to see "Gegen Die Wand" (Against The Wall) - which is a German/Turkish film about forgetting, about loving unconditionally, about accepting and about drugs, and sex and punk rock (is not dead). Brilliant film. I loved it lots.
• "Wag the Dog" was quite good too.
• "Transformers"... You haven't seen transformers? ... Get out, right now!!

"Against the Wall"
"Transformers"
"Pan's Labyrinth"
"Stardust"
"Wag the Dog"

You Will Always be My Love

My newest stop motion animation! Please tell me what you think of it :)

Tranquil Garden

Post # 501.

The only thing one should be forced to do, is to watch "Pride & Prejudice" with stunning Matthew Macfadyen.
And, listen to "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed.

The days when you would feel like something different, watch "Stardust" with sparkling Claire Danes.
And, listen to "The Man Who Flew Away" by Husky Rescue.

Mankind should do nothing but these tranquil things.Taken in Gardinia di Ninfa, Italy - Click to see previous post about this garden :)

La Vie en Rose

Well first of all, because of French, the subject at school, that is, we were all forced to go see La Môme or La Vie en Rose - which is the same film.

La Môme is a film about the life of the famous French singer, Edith Piaf. The story of her life is one of a tragic affair, and all the hopelessness nearly clogs the system as you sit in pain in the cinema seat. As a varied cast of father- and mother-figures are pushed and pulled dramatically out of her life from a very young age, she finds consolation in alcohol. The little girl, born in the gutter of Paris, most of the time living on the street - has various homes, of them a brothel and a circus.

Forbidden, and also fatal love, hallucination, drugs, partying, drama, friendship, poverty, not to forget the music are the very original keywords this film is built upon. Even though this is all horrible and a tragic life - it does get well over the top. I am very sorry. The film is not at all chronological, and all the time-travel is not always very well cut together, you understand what time the film is currently at, but you don't understand why it is necessary.

It is typical really, because it is all really french! Baguettes in the suitcase kind of french, dirty men, fat women trying to get the ends to meet in a moulin' rouge - and a lot of wine. Little children rubbed with grey run around the streets hollering. And you know, it is touching, it is an incredible story, but all these clichés make it all so... plump. Half the time you are seeing the same over again, just they are wearing slightly different clothes, and all the pathetic tone to this film is doing; is lowering the quality. Cheap tricks to make the audience helplessly burst into tears.

However, the actors do an excellent job, especially Edith Piaf herself, Marion Cotillard. If it had not been for this overall flawfless cast, I would have died.

This is a teary, muddy, even bloody film, and all the sweatiness gets kind of unrealistic. I know it is meant as a touch to make it seem authentic, but in the end it's just another dreadfully sad French film. We already have one on our Yes - list, so La Vie en Rose is unfortunately not allowed in. Sorry.
Go rent Un long Dimanche de Fiançailles instead, because that had a graphical filmatic touch, which made it wonderful to watch.

I am though, amazed, that this,

Were to look like this,

And ended up like this!

Pretty amazing. She was a splendid actor, no matter what.

Arcade Fire - No Cars Go

Short film by Brie Shaffer

Tivoli Tree!

Yes yes, you may ignore the sound :D
isn't it pretty though? I filmed it when in Copenhagen

Happy Birthday King of Norway!

There is actually a part of a speech in one of the police Academy films where one of them thanks the King of Norway. I can't explain why I have seen that, or which of the seventy-seventynine films it was, but all I know is that it was meant to be an insult.

That is right.

But Norwegians have quite had it with that, we have had it with those tarty little jokes at our expense. We have had it with the pointing and giggling, we have had it! We have quite had it!
And as a revenge... well...
Little does the rest of the planet know that we are in control of everything now.
That air in your lungs... Where do you suppose the o in oxygen comes from?
That is right, it comes from Oslo.
Those apples in your eyes... Where d'ya think they come from? From Hardanger, you should bloody well know that, too.

And it is appropriate, I believe, that we demonstrate a little bit of power today.
After all, I want to thank the King of Norway, and, while at it, congratulate him at his birthday. He is 70 years today!

Total Recall

I just spent this afternoon watching Total Recall with Arnold Schwarzenegger in it, you may hope I am joking... Well, so am I.

But unfortunately - I'm not.

Actually there were a few awesome things in this film, the entire plot for one, which I am not going to spoil for you, because you will have to see it to believe it, and not to forget; suffer with it.

For being a film from 1990 the special effects are extremely convincing, and somebody has had a lot of fun with all that fake blood. Still this is just about a bit too much splatter and splurt, though quote-classics like killing someone with a drill while saying "Screw you", is limited to films like this - and therefore - also necessary. There is just no end to reverted memory, shattering glass, explosions and endless machine-gun ammo, but I forgot to mention the best part: It all takes place in the future,
on Mars,
with a monster-bellied mutant as the underdog. You have got to see this, really.



Forever molested, your Tora.
It was nominated for two Oscars, someone call someone with some good pills for me please?

Me-ow!

“The arses on the trousers aren't very tight. They're very loose and baggy and I like tight trousers. And the shoes - the shoes have got a bit of a heel, and it's a strange sensation for a man. Especially when you're running.” He mimes a mincing trot. “I am mighty Hornblower! Watch me run like a girl!”
- Ioan Gruffudd.


Ioan Gruffudd did an outstanding role as the charming Bosinney in the Forsyte Saga remake, which I watched, crying of course.


He also did a convincing manouver as the amazing Midshipman Hornblower, a book which I attempted to snore my way through - only because of him!
(wasn't worth it, never read it).

Other roles he's taken is of course the role as Mr. Fantastic in Fantastic Four (a title I personally found very suitable), and of course the charming Lancelot in the earliest King Arthur.

That's not bad for being Welsh. (No offense Josh).

Katjakaj og Bentebent

This is a childrens cartoon show, some of you might know it as "Jenniferjohn and Britneybob", and if you do, that is great!

Anyway, I was just thinking of an episode of "Jenniferjohn and Britneybob", when they were fishing in the sofa, and suddenly they could hear a bird. The bird is very scared, because it has the job of showing dead people their way to heaven, but today the bird was to fly to heaven for the last time. There is a man in a rocking chair, and he is rocking back and forth very gently until the chair suddenly stops, and the man is dead.
Jenniferjohn and Britneybob assure the bird that it is going to be okay, and that he has nothing to be afraid of, and the spirit of the dead man floats over ground, and the bird flies ahead to guide him. And together they soar across the sky to heaven.
It was all very childish, and sometimes even a bit silly, but in the end it was so moving that I cried, until there were no tears left to cry.

I haven't thought of these two crazy people for ages, but I was reminded of the episode when listening to "The Man Who Flew Away" by Husky Rescue.

If you want to read more about "Jenniferjohn and Britneybob" check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JenniferJohn_and_BritneyBob

(I wish people would stop copying everything from wikipedia, because every single site I visited had the same thing written there about this show. Pathetic).

Monday update

A good friend likes this song too.
if you want the translation, ask this friend.

And I saw a film on Saturday called Primer, it was about mind-twisting timetravel on a completely new level - something my stepdad found hard to understand. The film was at times very confusing, filmed in an original way with a great spark between the two main characters, but left lots of loose threads by the end of it. Still I highly recommend it, and think I'll enjoy to see it one more time, so that I may catch things I can have missed along the way. The script is also amazing, and the idea is very good, packed - of course - with very classic engineer jokes and deep musings about life and its values. Of course I found the engineer jokes to be brilliant (seeing both my dads are engineers).

Stuffed animals are facing a very insecure future, I wont tell you why.

Snow is falling in Oslo, the sound is getting all muted and stiff, the temperature a bit milder, but still around -9 c at eight in the morning. - moving on from the weather, we continue to sports
Sports?
no.

Okay, and now a riddle!
What happens when you put five emos in a square room?

Thank you for your attention at this brief update, see ya!