Well, dear readers, the Evil Eye will be here soon, so I must write like the wind (no mean feat) and remove myself from the premises before the cleaning lady arrives. The good news is that the constant sawers apparently are taking the weekend off as there is blessed silence except for the singing bird who is out back singing Ribbons Down my Back from Hello, Dolly! So, today’s notes will be like Cliff’s Notes, whoever the hell he is.
Last night I continued my anime journey with Mr. Miyazaki’s Porco Rosso (The Crimson Pig) which I really enjoyed. Again, it’s subtle, it’s touching, and it’s fun, and again features a great score by Joe Hisaishi. I then watched one of Miyazaki’s first films, The Castle of Cagliostro which, while not nearly as polished as his later films, is still a good deal of fun. It’s a caper comedy, much like a live action Philippe de Broca film from the 60s, and it has a sweet Saturday morning cartoon show feel about it. I’ve been online reading about Mr. Miyazaki and Mr. Hisaishi. Remember when I said that Disney had scored all the places that Miyazaki and Hisaishi had left gloriously silent in Kiki’s Delivery Service? Well, I read an interview with Hisaishi where Disney made him come in and add music to Castle in the Sky (at least they didn’t have another composer do it, ala Kiki’s). Their reasoning? They don’t think audiences can sit still without constant music in animated films. They don’t allow more than a minute or two of silence at any time. They feel that every emotion and action must be underscored to be understood by us, the stupid public. Needless to say, you know what this member of the stupid public thinks – this member of the stupid public thinks that the stupid ones are not the public but the studio that treats the public as if they were stupid. But, it’s the way American studios think now – every minute must have music telling you how to feel. This will remain until someone makes a hit film where there is no music – the critics will point it out, the stupid public won’t care one way or another and then the studios will scratch their collective heads and say, “Oh, well, let’s make some films without music.”
I know I’m going on and on about these anime films of Hayao Miyazaki, but they’re simply the best things I’ve seen in ages. Today I shall be picking up some Tuesday releases, such as the divoon The Carpetbaggers and Nevada Smith.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because I’m running out of time before the Evil Eye arrives.
Don’t forget, our Live Chat is on Monday this week, and it may start one hour earlier depending on my schedule. I’ll have complete details on Monday. Also, Donald has a brand spanking new radio show going up tomorrow, so do give it a listen. Has anyone noticed that today’s notes are like Cliff’s Notes, whoever the hell he is?
Late yesterday I received the final galley of Kritzerland, and I checked all the fixes and I do believe we’re going to put it to bed come Monday, which means I will start taking preorders in about two count them two weeks. Getting this to its final stage has been 100% easier than last time and took two months less time.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must drive to places, I must pass the time until I am allowed to come back to my home. I must pick up laundry, I must do errands, and then I shall write a bit, and then a friend is showing Panic Room which I’ve never seen and which I might be in attendance for. Or, I might stay home and watch the divoon The Carpetbaggers. Today’s topic of discussion: Since we always love talking about food – have you ever gone on a food binge, where you’ve literally eaten from early morning until late at night? Some holiday or special occasion or whatever. Tell us details and meals, please. I’ll start – I spent two days in New Orleans once, on business, and one of those days was spent eating from morning until midnight. I had about five beignets in the morning, I had a muffelata (or however you spell it – I didn’t have to spell it I had to eat it and it was delicious), I had a Po’Boy, I had blackened redfish, I had red beans and rice, I had hush puppies, I had sweet potato pie and pecan pie and by the end of the evening I was ready to explode, but what a great day it had been. Your turn.