Having never forked out for a Bond boxed set (they just keep making 'em!) I watched Dr. No on video! Yes, one of those old fashioned mechanical type things with tape in them and everything! What's more it wasn't even a bought video, it was taped off TV years ago when ITV had a "Double O Heaven" season. Still, the quality wasn't all that bad, and it certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of this classic film at all.
First thing to notice is that there is no title song. This of course makes sense being the first film, the songs wouldn't really get going in terms of James Bond themes until Goldfinger, though I'm certainly not forgetting the mellifluous voice of Matt Munro's From Russia with Love. The credits start with the James Bond theme, before degenerating (sorry) into some sort of Latin drum beat thing over which we see silhouettes of dancing women, soon to become a staple of 007 film intros. This then becomes a reggae version of Three Blind Mice!!! WTF?! Oh I see, the film starts with three "blind" guys. Still, a tenuous link, and a bit of a comedown from the dramatic James Bond theme of a minute ago.
There were two things that really struck me about this film. Firstly, how slick it was. The plot moved effortlessly on, gliding from one one location/encounter to the next. This was all helped by the fact that Bond is always one step ahead of the villains, and of the viewer I felt sometimes! Now I'm no expert in 60s films, but I imagine that in 1962 this slickness could have been quite striking, to me it is reminiscent of Bullitt, which would not be seen for another 6 years.
The second thing was just how perfect Sean Connery is as Bond. He just slips right in there like a hand into an expensive Italian leather shoe. No, just me? Moving swiftly on. It also made me realise that Daniel Craig's Bond is much more of a return to the "Thinking on his feet" Bond rather than the "Rely on invisible cars and explosive watches" Bond that we were becoming accustomed to. I had thought that this was a reflection of the popularity of the Bourne films, but now I see that is how Bond used to be (and he's better this way I think). In Dr. No, Bond is constantly reading every situation, monitoring all the players, and dispatches henchmen very efficiently, hardly breaking sweat; except for when a big hairy spider is crawling up him.
I also think it's great that Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) is no-one in particular (not a secret agent, or a nuclear physicist, or some billionaire's wife who's just being mischievous) she's just out, on the beach picking up shells; Honey: Are you looking for shells too? Bond: No, I'm just looking. That is of course before she gets caught up in all the adventure.
The other two things I thought were great were: the first time Bond says: "Bond, James Bond", it sounds completely natural and not clichéd or unnecessarily shoe-horned in. And also I'd forgotten what SPECTRE was an acronym for. SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion. Fantastic!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
127 Hours
Aron Ralston's story of having to hack his own arm off after he became trapped in the Utah Canyonlands was presumably very well known, even before the great Danny Boyle got hold of the story to make into a film. The plot doesn't really need that much explaining, but I must stress that my view is based on the film, as I haven't read Aron's book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" yet.
Essentially, Aron went away for a weekend to go mountain biking, hiking and climbing in Canyonlands in Utah. After having spent an afternoon with two girls he met while hiking they head off their way and Aron continues on his way to a big "Drop-off", where a smaller canyon opens out into a much larger canyon. However, as he quickly descends into a narrow gorge he slips, dislodges a large rock which, when he lands on the canyon floor, traps his right hand against the canyon wall. Aron is stuck, completely isolated, low on food and water and unable to free his hand. So after 5 soul-searching days (127 hours in fact) of trying one way or another to shift the rock, he finally amputates his own arm so that he can get home.
The majority of the film is just Aron (James Franco), in a canyon, experiencing various emotions from disbelief, through anger, frustration, despair, desperation, and finally determination. Wow! James Franco is fantastic. There isn't a minute when you don't believe that he is there experiencing all of this. I thought the film-making was also phenomenal to make this story so gripping (a man stuck in a hole for 5 days!), and I don't think there was a single camera angle that Danny Boyle didn't use!
The story was well spaced out with flashbacks of family, past girlfriend, and how he feels he has let people down; perhaps that's too strong but certainly the impression is that he feels he has not given those close to him the love that he can give. Finally it is the thought of his family, and the desire to start his own family that cements in his head that he must amputate himself to get out of there. I think I have heard of some people feeling very sick and grossed-out by the amputation scene. Maybe I've seen too much horror, but I thought is was subtly done, far worse for me was before he fell into the canyon knowing that something awful was going to happen. Much like Touching the Void.
The other very similar part to Touching the Void was Aron getting the music to Scooby Doo in his head! This is because the girls he had met on the first day had mentioned that they were throwing a party that night and there would be a huge inflatable Scooby Doo there. So part of the delirium Aron experience was having the Scooby Doo music going round and round his head. Very much like Joe Simpson thinking he was going to die to "Brown Girl in the Ring" by Boney M!
Anyway, I thought the film was great, brilliantly made, a great example of how filming one man in isolation can still be gripping. I've heard great things about Buried as well, and if it's half as good as this is, it must be a good film.
Essentially, Aron went away for a weekend to go mountain biking, hiking and climbing in Canyonlands in Utah. After having spent an afternoon with two girls he met while hiking they head off their way and Aron continues on his way to a big "Drop-off", where a smaller canyon opens out into a much larger canyon. However, as he quickly descends into a narrow gorge he slips, dislodges a large rock which, when he lands on the canyon floor, traps his right hand against the canyon wall. Aron is stuck, completely isolated, low on food and water and unable to free his hand. So after 5 soul-searching days (127 hours in fact) of trying one way or another to shift the rock, he finally amputates his own arm so that he can get home.
The majority of the film is just Aron (James Franco), in a canyon, experiencing various emotions from disbelief, through anger, frustration, despair, desperation, and finally determination. Wow! James Franco is fantastic. There isn't a minute when you don't believe that he is there experiencing all of this. I thought the film-making was also phenomenal to make this story so gripping (a man stuck in a hole for 5 days!), and I don't think there was a single camera angle that Danny Boyle didn't use!
The story was well spaced out with flashbacks of family, past girlfriend, and how he feels he has let people down; perhaps that's too strong but certainly the impression is that he feels he has not given those close to him the love that he can give. Finally it is the thought of his family, and the desire to start his own family that cements in his head that he must amputate himself to get out of there. I think I have heard of some people feeling very sick and grossed-out by the amputation scene. Maybe I've seen too much horror, but I thought is was subtly done, far worse for me was before he fell into the canyon knowing that something awful was going to happen. Much like Touching the Void.
The other very similar part to Touching the Void was Aron getting the music to Scooby Doo in his head! This is because the girls he had met on the first day had mentioned that they were throwing a party that night and there would be a huge inflatable Scooby Doo there. So part of the delirium Aron experience was having the Scooby Doo music going round and round his head. Very much like Joe Simpson thinking he was going to die to "Brown Girl in the Ring" by Boney M!
Anyway, I thought the film was great, brilliantly made, a great example of how filming one man in isolation can still be gripping. I've heard great things about Buried as well, and if it's half as good as this is, it must be a good film.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Shudder: Possession Kills by S.K.SAINI
For those who have been with me since I've started my blog, you already know that I am a paranormal freak, yes?
Serena Parker and Hailey Chambers were walking back from dinner after celebrating Hailey’s 20th birthday. As the two girls were walking along the side of the footpath, Hailey sighed. Serena, who was walking ahead of her, stopped by the side of a busy intersection and looked back. Serena swished her long black hair and her dark brown eyes stared concerned for her best friend.
“What’s the matter” Serena said, as she stared at her best friend, wondering why on earth she was sad on the day of her birthday. Hailey looked at her smiling slightly, her baby blue eyes and short blonde hair illuminated from the street lights that shone brightly above.
“This is the greatest birthday I could ever have, Serena. Since my family died when I was younger, your parents took me in and you’ve been like a sister to me always,” Hailey smiled, showing her white but crooked teeth. “Thank you for everything today,”
Serena blushed slightly, and said that it was no problem. They stopped talking, and turned to look at the vehicles whizzing by like flies across the intersection.
Serena thought back to when she was only seven years old. She remembered clearly that her mother once took her aside to her bedroom for a little talk. She remembered her mother seating her down on her bed and telling her that there will be a girl with the same age coming to live with them. When asked whether she was going to stay here forever, her mother replied yes. Her mother told her the story of what had happened to Hailey’s family.
Hailey’s younger brother George was an autistic. One day when playing around with crayons in his bedroom, he had an epileptic fit. Her mother Samantha, who had come into his bedroom fifteen minutes later, quickly called her husband Fred who in turn told Hailey to stay in the house, drove both an unconscious George and weeping wife along to the hospital. According to the police reports and witnesses, their four wheel drive spun out of control after hitting an overloaded truck and exploded.
Hailey, who was also seven years old then, was taken into the custody of the police, while they tried to find other family members to take her. My mother, who happened to pass by the accident site, realized (after talking to a few frightened people) that there was a little orphan, who had no idea why she was there, or what had happened to her family. Out of pity, my mother went to the police station; spoke to the officer in charge who helped get her have custody of Hailey, because the police couldn’t find any family members...
A cold, icy wind snapped Serena out of her head; she pulled her coat up higher and shivered.
“You feel cold?” Hailey asked, but Serena ignored her and looked up at the sky. The sky was dark and eerie, the clouds were overcast and rain was starting spit down from the sky, just looking at it gave Serena the shivers. While looking at the sky, another large gust of wind blew at them. Both girls groaned.
“Just can’t wait to get out of this wind,” Serena said irritably, clenching her teeth together to stop them from chattering. She looked at Hailey who was standing still, her hand on the pole where the button for the traffic light was.
“So now Hailey, you’re twenty, single. What are you going to do with your life?” Serena said, trying to strike up a conversation. But Hailey didn’t answer, her hand was still holding the pole, her hand wrapped around the pole so tight, her knuckles were turning white. Serena waited a moment, and when Hailey still didn’t move, Serena touched her shoulder. Hailey span around so quickly that Serena jumped back in fright; Hailey was staring at her with –
Serena froze, staring at her best friend with her mouth gaping open in shock. Hailey’s eyes were pure white, where the pupil should be, there was only blankness. Serena tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth. She looked at Hailey again but more closely, her face was expressionless, it was just blank. It reminded Serena of the horror movie ‘Children of the Corn’. Finally finding her voice, Serena spoke cautiously.
“H-Hailey?” Serena said nervously, trying to avoid looking at her eyes. Hailey still didn’t move, nor did she utter a word. She was standing there like she was in a trance, or perhaps like she didn’t know she was there or who she was. Then without warning, at the same time sending a chill up Serena’s spine, Hailey spoke. It wasn’t the sweet and kind voice of her best friend, but a harsh and spine chilling voice spoke from within her.
“Let’s play a game,” She said it so coldly, that Serena stepped back a little, afraid that Hailey might attack her. When Serena didn’t say anything, the voice in Hailey continued to speak. “I’ll stand on the road, and if I don’t get hit, then you will get a reward,”
Serena stood on the asphalt baffled, her mouth opened in surprise as Hailey stepped out onto the road. Serena didn’t know what to do. Whatever spoke from Hailey’s mouth, wasn’t normal nor human.
“Hailey?” Serena said in a small voice, scared to speak any louder. “Get off the road before you get yourself killed,” But Hailey just laughed, the hairs on Serena’s back stood up and she shuddered slightly. The thing inside Hailey took another step onto the road, the cars not even stopping as they saw a woman about to walk right into a busy intersection.
“This is the perfect place to play this game,” There was still no expression on her face. Serena’s heart was beating frantically inside her chest.
“Hailey please –“ But before Serena could finish her sentence, a hiss came out of Hailey’s mouth, like a snake about to attack its prey, and her face transformed into a snarl.
Even with Serena’s frantic pleas, Hailey was now standing in the middle of the road. Serena was surprised that she wasn’t hit by a car right there. She seemed to have walked there like she didn’t know how to use her legs, like someone else other than Hailey was forcing it to move. Serena tried to speak again, but only a choke of protest came out. What made Serena even more fearful was that Hailey was smiling, a malice smile that spread across her beautiful face. Then she looked at something which made her smile even wider. When Serena trailed her eyes to what Hailey was looking at, her whole heart froze again in screaming terror.
Not too far away, a large semi-trailer was speeding across the road towards the intersection, right where Hailey was standing. Without even thinking, without even caring for her own life, Serena ran onto the road, dodging the cars that were speeding by and grabbed Hailey’s arm.
“Get off!” snarled Hailey, as she pulled her arm away from Serena with incredible and unexpected force. But Serena couldn’t care and made another grab for her arm again.
“No!” screamed Serena loudly, tugging at her best friends arm to move her. “I’m not letting you do this!” Hailey then unexpectedly grabbed Serena and threw her hard onto the pavement, hitting her head.
Before Serena passed out, before the truck smashed into Hailey, Serena saw a look of fear in Hailey’s eyes. A cry of protest trying to come out of her mouth.
“HAILEY!”
This is still in draft, but please tell me what you think of it. And if there is anything off, please tell me how I can fix it. :)
S.K.SAINI
Also if anyone doesn't know, I am making a book series, it is crossed between the supernatural and goosebumps. I call it, Shudder by S.K.SAINI.
This one particular story, is one of the books. I call it, Shudder: Possession Kills by S.K.SAINI
Vancouver
Serena Parker and Hailey Chambers were walking back from dinner after celebrating Hailey’s 20th birthday. As the two girls were walking along the side of the footpath, Hailey sighed. Serena, who was walking ahead of her, stopped by the side of a busy intersection and looked back. Serena swished her long black hair and her dark brown eyes stared concerned for her best friend.
“What’s the matter” Serena said, as she stared at her best friend, wondering why on earth she was sad on the day of her birthday. Hailey looked at her smiling slightly, her baby blue eyes and short blonde hair illuminated from the street lights that shone brightly above.
“This is the greatest birthday I could ever have, Serena. Since my family died when I was younger, your parents took me in and you’ve been like a sister to me always,” Hailey smiled, showing her white but crooked teeth. “Thank you for everything today,”
Serena blushed slightly, and said that it was no problem. They stopped talking, and turned to look at the vehicles whizzing by like flies across the intersection.
Serena thought back to when she was only seven years old. She remembered clearly that her mother once took her aside to her bedroom for a little talk. She remembered her mother seating her down on her bed and telling her that there will be a girl with the same age coming to live with them. When asked whether she was going to stay here forever, her mother replied yes. Her mother told her the story of what had happened to Hailey’s family.
Hailey’s younger brother George was an autistic. One day when playing around with crayons in his bedroom, he had an epileptic fit. Her mother Samantha, who had come into his bedroom fifteen minutes later, quickly called her husband Fred who in turn told Hailey to stay in the house, drove both an unconscious George and weeping wife along to the hospital. According to the police reports and witnesses, their four wheel drive spun out of control after hitting an overloaded truck and exploded.
Hailey, who was also seven years old then, was taken into the custody of the police, while they tried to find other family members to take her. My mother, who happened to pass by the accident site, realized (after talking to a few frightened people) that there was a little orphan, who had no idea why she was there, or what had happened to her family. Out of pity, my mother went to the police station; spoke to the officer in charge who helped get her have custody of Hailey, because the police couldn’t find any family members...
A cold, icy wind snapped Serena out of her head; she pulled her coat up higher and shivered.
“You feel cold?” Hailey asked, but Serena ignored her and looked up at the sky. The sky was dark and eerie, the clouds were overcast and rain was starting spit down from the sky, just looking at it gave Serena the shivers. While looking at the sky, another large gust of wind blew at them. Both girls groaned.
“Just can’t wait to get out of this wind,” Serena said irritably, clenching her teeth together to stop them from chattering. She looked at Hailey who was standing still, her hand on the pole where the button for the traffic light was.
“So now Hailey, you’re twenty, single. What are you going to do with your life?” Serena said, trying to strike up a conversation. But Hailey didn’t answer, her hand was still holding the pole, her hand wrapped around the pole so tight, her knuckles were turning white. Serena waited a moment, and when Hailey still didn’t move, Serena touched her shoulder. Hailey span around so quickly that Serena jumped back in fright; Hailey was staring at her with –
Serena froze, staring at her best friend with her mouth gaping open in shock. Hailey’s eyes were pure white, where the pupil should be, there was only blankness. Serena tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth. She looked at Hailey again but more closely, her face was expressionless, it was just blank. It reminded Serena of the horror movie ‘Children of the Corn’. Finally finding her voice, Serena spoke cautiously.
“H-Hailey?” Serena said nervously, trying to avoid looking at her eyes. Hailey still didn’t move, nor did she utter a word. She was standing there like she was in a trance, or perhaps like she didn’t know she was there or who she was. Then without warning, at the same time sending a chill up Serena’s spine, Hailey spoke. It wasn’t the sweet and kind voice of her best friend, but a harsh and spine chilling voice spoke from within her.
“Let’s play a game,” She said it so coldly, that Serena stepped back a little, afraid that Hailey might attack her. When Serena didn’t say anything, the voice in Hailey continued to speak. “I’ll stand on the road, and if I don’t get hit, then you will get a reward,”
Serena stood on the asphalt baffled, her mouth opened in surprise as Hailey stepped out onto the road. Serena didn’t know what to do. Whatever spoke from Hailey’s mouth, wasn’t normal nor human.
“Hailey?” Serena said in a small voice, scared to speak any louder. “Get off the road before you get yourself killed,” But Hailey just laughed, the hairs on Serena’s back stood up and she shuddered slightly. The thing inside Hailey took another step onto the road, the cars not even stopping as they saw a woman about to walk right into a busy intersection.
“This is the perfect place to play this game,” There was still no expression on her face. Serena’s heart was beating frantically inside her chest.
“Hailey please –“ But before Serena could finish her sentence, a hiss came out of Hailey’s mouth, like a snake about to attack its prey, and her face transformed into a snarl.
Even with Serena’s frantic pleas, Hailey was now standing in the middle of the road. Serena was surprised that she wasn’t hit by a car right there. She seemed to have walked there like she didn’t know how to use her legs, like someone else other than Hailey was forcing it to move. Serena tried to speak again, but only a choke of protest came out. What made Serena even more fearful was that Hailey was smiling, a malice smile that spread across her beautiful face. Then she looked at something which made her smile even wider. When Serena trailed her eyes to what Hailey was looking at, her whole heart froze again in screaming terror.
Not too far away, a large semi-trailer was speeding across the road towards the intersection, right where Hailey was standing. Without even thinking, without even caring for her own life, Serena ran onto the road, dodging the cars that were speeding by and grabbed Hailey’s arm.
“Get off!” snarled Hailey, as she pulled her arm away from Serena with incredible and unexpected force. But Serena couldn’t care and made another grab for her arm again.
“No!” screamed Serena loudly, tugging at her best friends arm to move her. “I’m not letting you do this!” Hailey then unexpectedly grabbed Serena and threw her hard onto the pavement, hitting her head.
Before Serena passed out, before the truck smashed into Hailey, Serena saw a look of fear in Hailey’s eyes. A cry of protest trying to come out of her mouth.
“HAILEY!”
This is still in draft, but please tell me what you think of it. And if there is anything off, please tell me how I can fix it. :)
S.K.SAINI
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)