An Embarrassment of Riches

The Man behind the Camera - Michel Gondry - by Steve I don’t remember the day I first saw music video for "Around the World" by Daft Punk, but I do know that it was the beginning of a torrid love affair with acclaimed director Michel Gondry. At the time, I didn’t know who the director was, but I would watch the video for hours, trying to memorize each component. The video shows mummies, robots, skeletons, and synchronized swimmers all dancing around a stage built to look like an LP. It wasn’t until I checked out a series of DVDs called Directors Label that I discovered the genius behind Gondry’s directorial skill. Basically a collection of music videos, advertisements, and short films, The Works of Director Michel Gondry highlights some of the best and most imaginative creativity I’ve ever seen. Some excellent commentary in the director’s thick French accent gives you a tiny glimpse into his crazy little mind.

It only makes sense that given a bigger budget Gondry’s feature films are that much more brilliant. One of my favorites is Be Kind Rewind. Starring Jack Black, Danny Glover, and a surprisingly talented Mos Def, this film was filmed and takes place in Passaic, New Jersey. A video store owner faces eviction if he doesn’t retool his business. After a freak accident erases all the videotapes, the store must recreate every movie using people and props from the local neighborhood. The new business booms until a fast-talking lawyer tries to shut the entire operation down. Will the community rally to save their local video store?

It’ll be interesting to see what Gondry comes up with on his next project. He’s currently filming The Green Hornet, a superhero movie based on the radio and character of the same name.

The Tudors, Season 2, Haiku too - by Steve

A son? No. A son?
Not quite yet, Your Majesty.
Get me a new wife!

Tudors: The Complete First Season

Tudors: The Complete Second Season

Tudors: The Complete Third Season

For the first season Haiku review, click here.

Twisted Fiction - by Steve I've been a fan of Chuck Palahniuk since I first read Invisible Monsters years ago. His twisted sense of humor makes his stories such great reads. I've been lucky enough to see him speak a number of times.  He said that the process of turning Fight Club into a movie was so horrible that he now writes books with the intention of making them so twisted that no one would want to make them into a movie. I actually maintain the library's "If you like Chuck Palahniuk…" booklist so I'm always on the lookout for bizarre writing. I guess it was only a matter of time until I picked up a book from the iconoclastic and provocative Eraserhead Press. When I saw a copy of the mildly-titled Shatnerquake by Jeff Burk, I just had to check it out. Burk is a Portland author who tells a tale of a world where every character William Shatner has ever played comes to life, and seeks to destroy the actor. He's running for his life. They're running after him.

The Butler Did It - by Steve I wasn't having a very good evening. I was tired from work, and dinner was mediocre. The entertainment I had lined up was an old black and white movie that I had checked out ages ago, but never managed to watch. Now it was on hold and I just HAD to watch it before it was overdue. I couldn't even remember why I had chosen it in the first place. I was actually kinda dreading the film.

My Man Godfrey starts out in Depression-era New York City with a group of Upper Crusters hectically racing around the city to track down items from a scavenger hunt. A pair of sisters, Cornelia and Irene, end up in the city dump. They whisk away a curious "tramp" to claim the top prize of the contest. Dressed in a tattered coat, Godfrey goes with the girls, but ends up schooling the top hat and tails crowd at their swanky hotel. A portly gentleman, Irene's father, likes what he hears and agrees to give Godfrey a job as the crazy family's butler. They could use a bit of common sense from a common man.

While the family constantly tries to wear him down, Godfrey takes no guff from anyone. Hilarious antics ensue. Will they just fire him and start over with someone new or will he become as zany as they are? You'll have to watch and see. By the end of the movie, my frown had turned upside down, and I knew I just had to find a butler of my very own.

Haiku Review - The Tudors - by Steve

Tyrant king in love.
"I need a new wife now!"
Oops, more beheadings.

Tudors: The Complete First Season

Tudors: The Complete Second Season

Drawn To It - by Steve

I used to be a voracious reader. My time spent riding the bus everywhere usually involved a thick novel balanced carefully on my lap. However, with summer creeping slowly closer, I have been riding my bike more and my reading time has been trimmed considerably. I find myself turning to graphic novels more often to get a great story, but in a condensed version.

I discovered FreakAngels by accident. Warren Ellis is truly an icon when it comes to graphic novels. I read his first full-length novel, Crooked Little Vein, a while back, thoroughly enjoying every word. When I saw that he was working on a new online webcomic, I had to check it out.  Each Friday, I get a little delivery of genius to my RSS reader.  FreakAngels is an excellent post-apocalyptic tale of survival. The twelve main characters, each with their own special ability, were the cause of something cataclysmic for which they're now trying to repay humanity. Murder, mayhem, and community gardening: a match made in heaven. Lucky for me, the second volume was recently added to our collection.

Speaking of murder, Whiteout takes place in Antarctica where the U.S. Marshall stationed there to keep the peace has to solve a gruesome murder. Then another. Then the killer comes after her. Will she survive the incoming storm while running for her life? Yes, because there’s a volume two. Greg Rucka’s storytelling is dark, and Steve Leiber’s illustrations match the writing perfectly.

I recently finished the first volume of Bayou by Jeremy Love. Another book that started as a webcomic, this lilting story from the Antebellum South follows a special girl trying to clear her father’s name. He’s been lynched for abducting a white girl, but she saw what really happened, and knows that it was actually a monster.  She travels to a bizarre land where she befriends a hulking giant.  Unfortunately, the story ends as they start their quest together, but I managed to track down the whole story on the site where the comic first started.

Not of This World - by Steve

Ever have one of those days? You know the type where you feel like everything is just a bit off. You miss the bus even though you left five minutes early.You spill coffee on your new white linen, short-sleeve Oxford shirt.Your cell phone reception is nonexistent even though you’re standing in the middle of downtown. Maybe you’re just having a bad morning, or perhaps you’ve been secretly transported to an alternate version of Earth. 

I love when a story seems normal, yet there’s something I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s not until I’m really engrossed in the tale that I figure out that the world is a different place from where I grew up. They’re not science fiction, per se, but contain just enough of a difference to be noticeable.  Here are a few of my favorite examples of these types of stories.

The Walls of the Universe by Paul Melko starts in a small country town. A teenage boy is confronted by his doppelgänger who offers him a trip to an alternate world. Turns out, the trip was one-way. He makes a life in the new world by inventing a new game called “Pinball,” but gets noticed by a shady corporation who wants to rule the world.

Troll: A Love Story by Johanna Sinisalo is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. Translated from the Finnish, it tells the story of a guy who rescues and cares for a troll that has been badly beaten. The author does a great job of making it seem like trolls actually exist, and when the main character bites off more than he can chew, bad things really start happening.

Disney Delight - by Steve (listen, read) Yesterday I bought my very first LP record.  For Christmas I bought myself a new record player. It's actually one of those fancy cd/cassette/radio/record players that looks like it's an antique.  While doing some window shopping on Hawthorne, I came across a tiny store that had odd things for sale.  They had a stack of records, which I thumbed through enthusiastically.  I came across a recording of Walt Disney's Fantasia, conducted by Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra.  Now the library doesn't own any LPs, but we do have a CD version of the same album.  The artwork is spectacular, with vibrant color that mimic the film.  I haven't listened to it yet, but I'm sure it will transport me back to when I first saw the film.

The artwork from my beautiful new record actually reminds me of another item in the library's collection.  Children's author Jon Scieszka has retold the story of Alice in Wonderland, and the artwork inside is magnificent.  The illustrations used in the new edition are by Disney Legend, Mary Blair.  Known for her brilliant work as a conceptual designer for Disney, each page is uniquely painted and very stylistic.  Her images and his story work together wonderfully.  She has a few other titles in our library system that are also visually stunning.

While I cherish my childhood memories of Disneyland, I'm learning to appreciate the time I spend with Disney as an adult.  I think I've even found where I want my next vacation to be...

Rat A What? - by Steve (listen)

I've returned to work after a nice long vacation and snow assault.  Stuck in St. Johns, I spent a lot of time curled up on the couch watching tv, playing card games, and eating too much holiday baking.  Sure I tried to leave the house, but waiting at the bus stop for 90 minutes inspired me to return to my warm couch and some cocoa.

After the snow started to melt, and about an hour of shoveling out the car, navigation through the icy city streets became quite the adventure.  Chains in the boot, shovel in the backseat, and the newest Ratatat cd in the player, the drive was a welcome respite after a week stuck at home.

Now I've been a big fan of electronica music for as long as I can remember.  Daft Punk is, of course, my number one listening choice.  However, last year I was turned on to Ratatat while relaxing with friends at the Oregon Coast.  LP3 is the latest from them, and while their other albums are great, this one is practically perfect for driving around in a winter wonderland.  I enjoy having a Ratatat cd playing in the background, as it helps me pretend I'm in a movie and they're part of the soundtrack of my life.  It's very relaxing, and not as intrusive as some of the other albums I've recently been listening to.

If you've never given electronica music a try, don't worry.  There are many different genres, and you're bound to find one that you'll like.  Ratatat's LP3 is a definately a great place to start.