Skateboarding...

Isn't for everyone but no matter who you are you have to admire the dedication required to develop the skills involved.


Fully Flared from Sturge on Vimeo.

Banksy, take note... This is guerilla art...

On Monday morning I was splonging around on The List when I noticed an ad informing me that the film Man on Wire was showing at the Edinburgh Filmhouse. Having seen a trailer for the film previous to the eye hurtingly shit Babylon AD, and noticing that Man on Wire was only showing for the next two days, I decided that I should haul my arse out of bed and go and see it on the big screen where the sense of scale would be better far than watching it in a few weeks time when the DVD is released. I was not dissapointed.

This film should be seen on as large a screen as possible (IMAX would be ideal) as the risk that the star of the film, a Frenchman named Philippe Petit, took in doing this stunt are pounded into your mind by the images on the screen. Imagine standing on the edge of a pair of buildings, that at the time were the worlds tallest at 415m, now try to imagine stepping onto a 3/4" thick wire and walking from one tower to the other.

This movie is not only a tribute to the man who walked the walk instead of just talking the talk but to the World Trade Centre building itself. Memories of that day were certainly not far from the front of my mind as I waited for the movie to begin and I'm sure I wasn't the only one in the auditorium that felt the same. The Timing was appropriate. The film, more so.

For the last seven years the images in my head I associated with the words World Trade Centre were ones of aircraft crashes, falling men, deadly debris and crushing concrete. Now though, thanks in part to this film I can think of the World Trade Centres and think of something positive and life affirming.

Images ©2008 Jean-Louis Blondeau/Polaris Images.

Babylon AD - A review...

Shite. With a capital S.

If you have an hour and a half of your life to spare this week, or any other week for that matter, I would highly recommend that you do not spend it watching this movie. Starring Vin Diesel (The non-thinking mans Arnold Schwarzenegger) Babylon AD is so awful if I were given the choice of watching it again or sticking hot needles into my eyes I'd plum for the latter option safe in the knowledge that it would be the more productive way to spend my time.

Surf's up.

As a small treat for you all on Boxing Day I have rooted out a great surfing video for you all to watch. It's called Riding Giants and is about the evolution of Big Wave surfing. Enjoy.

But first, to get you into the mood here's a small clip of Laird Hamilton riding the Chopu breaker.



And here is the main feature. Riding Giants.

Just for Crimbo...

Here's a little video of some spectacular crashes from the world of Motorcycle racing.



In the words of a wise man; Pain is temporary, humiliation lasts forever.

Ok, it's time to clear the air...

There is only ONE movie trilogy worth a fuck.

And no, geek boy, it isn't that bullshit Lord of the Rings thing (Peter Jackson's best film was Bad Taste. End of story. There is nothing left to say. Fin.) or the other trilogy (in six parts) that is so often bandied about, Star Wars. And that trilogy, dear reader, is Back To The Future. That's right, I said it...

And what drives me to say this? The fact that I have just watched BTTF 1-3 back to back and enjoyed it so much I'm gonna do it again straight away. Damned right I am. Who's gonna stop me? You? Ahahahahaha, I laugh at the face of Danger, tweak the nipple of Hazardous Misadventure and give a Chinese wrist rub to Fear on a regular basis.

I once wedgied Death himself you know... No, wait a minute, that was Bill and Ted. Rest assured though the first time I see Death I'm going to give him a wedgie so severe his undercrackers are going to slice through him like a cheesewire through something soft. Warm Brie perhaps.

(After Death has gotten over the uberwedgie and I've stopped laughing I'll no doubt tell him that he was always my favorite discworld guest appearance, we'll go for a beer together and discuss humanities faults in detail and We'll all not live happily ever after.)

The BTTF trilogy stands way above both LOTR and Star wars for script writing, plot, drama, escapism and sheer fun. It speaks to the kid in all of us and deals with something we all wish we could do at some point in our lives.... Time Travel.

The ability to travel through time has captured the imagination of humanity since H. G. Wells' published The Time Machine in 1885 and has, amongst certain circles, been the same ever since.

Shit, I know I for one wouldn't waste a seconds thinking time if the TARDIS were to materialise in my living room and Dr Who asked me if I was busy. I'd be off in a heartbeat bubba you'd better believe it. (It's unlikely really. My living is a bit on the cramped size and parking a TARDIS can't be the easiest of things to do.)

So, there you have it. The argument is closed once and for all.

How Very Strange...

Today I watched the strangest movie I've ever seen.

Bad Boy Bubby. (Imdb link)

If you are easily offended please, in the name of the Grand Whazoo, never watch this movie.

Stand and Deliver...

Todays comedy video comes from Steven Wright.

Don't you just hate...

Other peoples ringtones?
I do. Especially when they're not at all fun like mine.

"We are the knights who say Ni! We shall say Ni again to you if you do not appease us.... Ni...Ni."
(Monty Python.)

"We are now the knights who say Ecky Ecky EckyPhatangnzootboingnzowie... Ni."
(More Monty Python.)

"How much for the little girl? The women, how much for the women?"
(John Belushi/Jake Blues.)

A 34 second soundclip of the Tardis in flight.
(Nice long soundclip of the Tardis engine noise.)

Sam Kinison's scream.
(Quite short and good for a repeating sound.)

"Good Morning Vietnam!"
(Robin Williams classic revelry call.)

"There's a message for you."
HAL from the Motion Picture 2001

Feel free to grab a copy should you feel so inclined.

Files hosted by Mediafire.com.

Tuesday Movies...

Today I whiled away a few hours by going on a DVD adventure.

At roughly 10am this morning I dropped out of my bed and stumbled through to the living room where my DVD player sat awaiting me. "Hello baby." I said as I popped the first film of the day into the drive.

As the introduction played I popped into the kitchen to stock up on the necessities for a day spent watching movies. Chili flavoured crisps and enough Dr Pepper to drown a manatee in hand I headed back into the living room and settled into my chair where I got myself comfortable and hit the menu button.

When the familiar green falling code of The Matrix slid down the screen I decided it was far too bright to be watching movies so I paused the Movie and went and grabbed a couple of bath towels. After I had draped the towels over the windows the living room was dark enough for me so I plonked back into my seat and hit the play button.

So far I've watched The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions and as I type this The Animatrix is playing.

It's been a long day but I've enjoyed it.

A lack of a job...

Has somewhat prevented me from purchasing the luxury items my soul craves for; DVD's, CD's, Books and Hardcore Pornography... Ho ho... But this small detail didn't stop me yesterday when I was sauntering around the town centre and popped into HMV.

I limited myself to £30 maximum and bought a copy of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (IMDB link) and a rather nifty copy of Pink Floyd - The Wall 25th Anniversary (Deluxe Edition).