Flaming Zinc

This was going to be a gushy “isn’t it great to be back in overcrowded, noisy NYC after the blandness of Denver, Colorado” post but my exam grades have come through so I am going to gloat about them. Apparently all my hard work and neglecting Alex (amongst others) paid off as I got high 2:1 grades in Greek Lit and Ancient Philosophy and a for Greek History I only went and got a 73% which is a first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And what makes me even fracking happier about my marks is that there is room for improvement.

Just back from seeing this film. I was a little hesitant because of the use of rotoscoping (animated images drawn over live action film), not a huge animation fan but since it was based on a Philip K. Dick story I figured it was worth a shot; and it wouldn’t have worked without the rotoscoping. It is an intriguing plot all about perception, drugs and a police state. Needless to say Robert Downey Jr stole the show from Keanu et al, and it is nice to see Winona working again.

This morning I noticed that there were a few small ants in the kitchen and they appeared to be coming from underneath the sink cabinet.  Eeeeewww! I do not react well to having other life forms (bar Alex) in the flat because whenever I see an insect I don’t just see an insect I have Temple of Doom flashbacks. I am such a wimp.

The Illusionist, The Prestige, Running with Scissors and Children of Men. PD James wrote the latter in the 1980s so the tinkering to the plot and characters look to have up dated and heighten things. And can you ask for anything better than Clive Owen, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Caine (other than Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine perhaps) in the same picture ? Plus Julianne Moore as the intelligent yet tortured female lead I say roll on September 29th. If they don’t tickle your taste buds then the teaser for Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica is available over at SciFi and if it doesn’t leave you panting for more then you are on your own.

There appears to be a dearth of blockbuster event type movies this summer. Perhaps since last year was overshadowed by an unassuming independent film it seems rather empty in comparison. It has been two weeks since Pirates 2.0 was released and there is nothing on the radar till Miami Vice (which is a good week away) and the Woody Allen comedy Scoop (but that is not really an event type movie, more of a film with a really cool ghost in it). Pirates is fun, and seems to feature all the Brits who aren’t holding down jobs at Hogwarts. Now there’s a choice either film Harry Potter in cold, damp Blightie or have a couple of months kicking your heels somewhere warm and tropical.

Because it is setting things up for next instalment the film does run slightly long and the plot gets a little meandering. Basically there are two new enemies in town: Culter Beckett and Davy Jones (played by Tom Hollander and Bill Nighy respectively). They both want things from Jack Sparrow and of course Will and Elizabeth get in the way. Johnny Depp is still giving his all as Captain Jack, and obliterates everyone else. Who is interested in pretty boy Bloom when you can have Depp in full rock star slash pirate mode? Far more interesting than any of the Will/Elizabeth plots is Commodore Norrington’s fall from grace (love Jack Davenport), and the CGI for Davy Jones motely crew. His band of sailors have well and truly been pimped by the sea.

This not studying in the evenings really leaves me at a loose end. I could be doing something constructive (putting together bookcase) but I end up slumped on the sofa trying to find something to watch. I am currently hogging the DVR; there are twenty four hours worth of tv stashed on it and twenty three of them are mine. Alex has one program on String Theory from PBS’ Nova and I have:

• Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness (2 hrs)
• BBC America’s Tough Love mini series (3 hrs)
• Brotherhood (new drama with Jason Isaacs) (2 hrs)
• Hustle (2 hrs)
• Psych (1 hr)
• Sharpe (8 hrs)
• Krakatoa (2 hrs)
• Big Love (1 hr)
• Going Tribal (2 hrs)

And at this moment in time I don’t fancy any of it… I want some BSG.

I passed ‘em.

Now the hard work for autumn must start. I need to read the books I keep ordering, the knowledge isn’t magically going to transfer to my brain without me cracking them open.  I am going to take 4 modules come October (Roman history & society, The birth of christian europe,  Intro to Greek archaeology and Intro to Roman art), which means more studying and even less of a life till May.  But now I am only 13 exams away from getting my BA and (fingers crossed) going back to college full time.

I think I might have to celebrate with a slice of the really really good chocolate cake from Dean & Deluca tonight.

• The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas
• The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
• To the Ends of the Earth DVD
• Chancer (series one, first two episodes)
• The Archaeology of Greece by William Biers (two chapters)
• The Moving Finger (concluding instalment of the re-jigged Miss Marple mysteries)