Category Archives: Reference

Oct 28 0 comments
Reference

The Door To Hell

Discovered this at the awesome site known as English Russia.

darvaza_gas_crater

This is located in the Turkmenistan village of Darvaza.  From its entry on Wikipedia:

The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971 geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of about 50-100 meters. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn the gas. Locals have named the cavern The Door to Hell…. As Darvaza no longer has an airstrip, the crater’s site is too far from the capital to send a foam plane to put the blaze out.

So, yes.  This football field-wide fire has been burning bright for 38 years. Why aren’t the apocolyptic folks camped out here, waiting for Asmodeus’ rise?

Oct 25 0 comments
Film/TV, Reference, Video

Things On My Mind

A longer post today, I think. A few things dancing around my brain.

Saw Where the Wild Things Are and Paranormal Activity. These may seem like vastly different films, but I was struck by both their similarities and my similar reactions to each. The greatest strength of the former is how perfectly it taps into the imaginary process of a young boy - emotional reactions, chaotic creativity, subconscious use of symbolism. This all sounds a bit high-falutin’, but it’s the most concise way for me to put it. Nevertheless, the film left me wanting something more. Can’t quite put my finger on it, but I did find myself checking out of the picture more than once. Truth be told, I don’t know what I’d add or take away.

All I knew about Paranormal Activity is that it dealt with a haunting and was make for something like $1.49. They do a good job of creating a slow burn of scares - noises, then slight movements in the dark, then… well, no sense spoiling for those who care. However, I didn’t really buy the mythology they were creating. Don’t get me wrong; I was suitably freaked out after the film, but for different reasons (to be explained below). That said, the filmmakers’ view of demons seemed to change every ten minutes. Of course, it’s fiction and they can do whatever they damn well please. I just didn’t buy the end of the film, where the established rules seem to be tossed in favor of something “more spooky”.

What they do really well is show that two of the best tools for cinematic terror are repetition and a locked-down camera. These guys get more mileage out of a static shot of a bedroom and its open door than any other horror film in the last decade. And we’re given this shot… how many times? Feels like a dozen. Probably more like eight. But, it carries serious power. You know something is going to happen, but you don’t know what. Again, the filmmakers show their skill by spooning it out, just a little bit more each time - and always different. With the camera sitting there still, we the audience are just as trapped as the couple in bed. The camera’s not going to turn away. It’s not going to pan to something innocuous. There won’t be any cutaways to close-ups of the sleeping couple, a vase of flowers, a picture on a nightstand. We are there to look at things from this ONE vantage point, like Alex with his eyes propped open in A Clockwork Orange.

Strangely enough, both films have odd similarities. A snowball or dirtclod fight is great fun, until somebody gets hurt. Same can be said of messing with the supernatural. Both films have a handful of characters; PA has literally four people in the whole picture. And, each movie focuses on the notion that you can’t run away from your problems - be they domestic or demonic.

Also, I’m feeling a bit inspired by Warren Ellis’ recent post, wherein he’s tossed up a bunch of video and quotes, things that are circling around his brain that he just wants to get all in one place that he might sort them out in some fashion. To that end, here are a few things that matter to me on some level. Perhaps they’ll add to something. Perhaps not.

















Sep 18 3 comments
Exercises, Film/TV, Reference, Uncategorized

In Response to Frank Darabont

In the June issue of Empire Magazine, writer/director Frank Darabont was charged with writing about his Top 10 favorite films.  The task spiraled out of control as he realized its impossibility - he couldn’t possibly narrow it down to just 10.  Ultimately, he opted for his Top 10 favorites - in each of 22 genres.

I immediately found myself modifying his list, bending it to my own preferences and obsessions.  Like Darabont’s, what follows is not an expression of the “best” films of each genre.  These are personal favorites, movies that speak to me in spite of their inclusion or exclusion from any other list that might label them as “classics” or otherwise.  Additionally, films are not listed in order of preference, and the genre headings - again borrowed from Darabont - are “loose definitions at best.”

So, sit back and take ‘em in….

Drama

  • The Razor’s Edge (1946)
  • Casablanca
  • Wild Strawberries
  • Citizen Kane
  • Dead Poets Society
  • Lucia Y El Sexo
  • The Big Chill
  • Broadcast News
  • The Ninth Configuration
  • Lost In Translation

Science Fiction

  • 2001: A Space Odyssey
  • A Clockwork Orange
  • Blade Runner
  • The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
  • The Matrix
  • Star Wars
  • Close Encounters of the Third Kind
  • Solaris (2002)
  • The Empire Strikes Back
  • Altered States

Comedy

  • The Hangover
  • Harold and Maude
  • Office Space
  • After Hours
  • The Big Lebowski
  • The Graduate
  • Hannah and Her Sisters
  • Love and Death
  • The Royal Tenenbaums
  • Swingers

War

  • Black Book
  • Full Metal Jacket
  • 3 Kings
  • The Thin Red Line
  • Paths of Glory
  • Saving Private Ryan
  • The Dirty Dozen
  • Platoon
  • Apocalypse Now
  • Inglourious Basterds

Western

  • Unforgiven
  • McCabe and Mrs. Miller
  • The Proposition
  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
  • High Plains Drifter
  • The Quick and the Dead
  • Dances With Wolves
  • Once Upon a Time in the West
  • My Darling Clementine
  • The Searchers

Horror

  • The Shining
  • The Thing (1982)
  • Let the Right One In
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
  • Dawn of the Dead (2004)
  • An American Werewolf in London
  • Pulse (2001)
  • The Descent
  • Alien
  • The Mist

Noir

  • The Third Man
  • Sunset Boulevard
  • Chinatown
  • Blood Simple
  • The Maltese Falcon
  • Taxi Driver
  • L.A. Confidential
  • Against All Odds
  • Angel Heart
  • Sharky’s Machine
  • Night Moves (Honorable Mention)

Thriller

  • Don’t Look Now
  • No Country for Old Men
  • The Game
  • Seven
  • Manhunter
  • Rear Window
  • Saboteur
  • Witness
  • Marathon Man
  • Strangers on a Train

Epic/Adventure

  • King Kong (1933)
  • The Bridge on the River Kwai
  • The Hidden Fortress
  • Until the End of the World
  • Aguirre, the Wrath of God
  • The Right Stuff
  • Seven Samurai
  • Braveheart
  • Troy
  • Excalibur

Costume Drama

  • Shakespeare in Love
  • Dangerous Liaisons
  • Impromptu
  • Barry Lyndon
  • Sense and Sensibility
  • The Adventures of Robin Hood
  • Henry V (1989)
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
  • Last of the Mohicans (1992)
  • Room With a View

Crime

  • Mean Streets
  • Shoot the Piano Player
  • Dog Day Afternoon
  • Thief
  • Natural Born Killers
  • Bad Lieutenant
  • The Limey
  • Out of Sight
  • The Usual Suspects
  • Band of Outsiders

Music/Musical

  • Almost Famous
  • All That Jazz
  • Singin’ in the Rain
  • Amadeus
  • This is Spinal Tap
  • The Last Waltz
  • The Commitments
  • Pink Floyd’s The Wall
  • The Wizard of Oz
  • Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sports

  • Bull Durham
  • Field of Dreams
  • The Cutting Edge
  • Rollerball (1975)
  • Jerry Maguire
  • Hoosiers
  • Big Wednesday
  • Pumpkin
  • Rocky
  • Rocky Balboa

Action

  • Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • The Road Warrior
  • Aliens
  • The Terminator
  • Terminator 2
  • Jaws
  • The Hunt for Red October
  • Mission: Impossible 3
  • The Bourne Identity
  • Casino Royale

Prison

  • The Shawshank Redemption
  • Grand Illusion
  • Cool Hand Luke
  • Kiss of the Spider Woman
  • A Man Escaped
  • Escape from New York
  • Schindler’s List
  • 25th Hour
  • Take the Money and Run
  • Dead Man Walking

Biographical

  • Lawrence of Arabia
  • Downfall
  • Patton
  • Walk the Line
  • Erin Brockovich
  • Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse
  • Star 80
  • Caligula
  • The Doors
  • Sid & Nancy

Silent Era

  • The Gold Rush
  • Metropolis
  • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
  • Nosferatu
  • Sunrise
  • City Lights
  • The Battleship Potemkin
  • The Last Laugh
  • Haxan, or Witchcraft Through the Ages
  • Un Chien Andalou

Fantasy

  • The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad
  • The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
  • Wings of Desire
  • Conan the Barbarian
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
  • Videodrome
  • Slaughterhouse Five
  • Strings
  • Donnie Darko
  • Lost Highway

Superhero

  • The Dark Knight
  • X-Men
  • X-Men 2
  • Spider-Man 2
  • The Return of Captain Invincible
  • Unbreakable
  • Hellboy
  • Iron Man
  • Watchmen
  • Batman Begins

Animated

  • Toy Story
  • The Incredibles
  • Up
  • Finding Nemo
  • Lord of the Rings (1978)
  • Wizards
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
  • Bambi

Gangsters

  • Miller’s Crossing
  • Heat
  • The Godfather
  • The Godfather, Part II
  • Goodfellas
  • King of New York
  • Pulp Fiction
  • Reservoir Dogs
  • The Untouchables
  • The Departed

Socio-Political

  • The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
  • The Conversation
  • Network
  • Inherit the Wind
  • Three Days of the Condor
  • Children of Men
  • JFK
  • Traffic
  • The Constant Gardner
  • Fight Club

Romantic Comedy

  • Annie Hall
  • Manhattan
  • When Harry Met Sally
  • Amelie
  • The Sure Thing
  • The Goodbye Girl
  • Arthur
  • It Happened One Night
  • Trust
  • Say Anything
Jun 17 0 comments
Reference, Techniques

Equivalent of Synonym

Warren Ellis gave me a fantastic idea today.  On what he has admitted is nothing more than a “notebook”, he has posted an extensive list of synonyms for “bureau”.  Such a simple notion, yet I’m sure it will save him oodles of time when he’s trying to think up the name for his next organization, tribunal, or Authority.

I reproduce it here to remind me that I should do the same with various terms for my own benefit.  Further reminder to me:  Do so in the wiki.

bureau
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: branch of an organization

Synonyms: agency, authority, board, commission, committee, department, division, front office*, office, salt mines, service, setup, shop, store board, bureau, cabinet, chamber, commission, consultants, convocation, council, investigators, jury, panel, representatives, task force, trustees board, bureau, cabinet, commission, consultants, council, forum, group, jury, representatives, task force, tribunal

annex, arm, bureau, category, chapter, classification, connection, dependency, derivative, division, extension, local, member, office, outpost, part, portion, section, subdivision, subsection, subsidiary, tributary, wing administration, agency, area, arena, beat, board, branch, bureau, canton, circuit, commission, commune, constituency, division, force, office, parish, precinct, quarter, range, staff, station, subdivision, territory, tract, unit, ward activity

administration, assignment, avocation, bailiwick, berth, bureau, business, capacity, class, classification, domain, dominion, duty, field, function, incumbency, jurisdiction, line, niche, occupation, office, province, realm, responsibility, slot, specialty, sphere, spot, station, vocation, walk of life, wing