I was going to put up a temporary Halloween theme tomorrow, but I’m rather busy so I haven’t had a chance to do it properly. The header was going to be along these lines:

That was just a quick mock-up I got started, hence the really poor font choice. It’s the best I’m going to manage this year, so enjoy. (Also, posting this helps my effort to get more images on this site).

Korean cinema has been getting more interesting recently (or maybe it’s just getting more attention). Oldboy continues the trend of minimal dialogue, highly stylised Asian cinema with something to say.

The story is decent: a man is kidnapped and left in solitary imprisonment for 15 years. Waking up on a rooftop, he begins the search for revenge and the reasons behind his incarceration.

It’s got the style, it’s got a fairly solid plot, direction is not at fault. There are faults though. The hypnosis sub-plot was entirely unnecessary and could have been handled through less jarring means. The pacing was sloppy towards the end; the film should have ended before the final scene (cutting out when the elevator doors close). Apart from that though, a good film. Certainly worth your time.

It’s sad news time: John Peel is dead. I’ll let the news tell the details, but time to show a little respect for a man who championed countless bands and did more than most for the British music industry. He shall be missed.

A year on from my last birthday (as tends to be the case with these events) and a lot has changed. Some good, some bad, some just plain odd.

I look different, I act differently and I feel changed.

For the first time in three years, I’m writing. A lot. While the continued work load at university has cramped this significantly, I’m still writing when I get a chance. Most of it is garbage, and much of it ends up getting deleted. The point is that I got over a three year writer’s block and it feels good.

A lot feels good these days. 21, an interesting age, I’m sure it’ll be a good year.

Never write for anyone but yourself. If you do so the words won’t be heart-felt or interesting; they’ll be staid and contorted. Write because you can’t not write.

Never play for anyone but yourself. If you do so the games won’t be fun or engaging; they’ll be dull and ineffectual. Play because the games engross you.

Never dance for anyone but yourself. If you do so the moves won’t be genuine or rhytmic; they’ll be flailing and empty. Dance because you’re moved to dance.

Never live for anyone but yourself.