Semi-Pro

Monix (Woody Harrelson) said it. ‘Brutally honest’. You need me to be. You are here because you want to be. Isn’t there something better you could be doing? There must be. Anything. I have lived in this country for pretty much three years. When we were really bored at the Bank we would guess what the backroomers do at the weekend. So it’s this. Venting online. Probably playing Dungeons and Dragons. Dressed like elves, or whatever. Or just in your jockies.

Grassley- I hope that you never find out where I live. Tamas- what ever you are on, let Pauli know on 077_____ 349. We could use it on the trading floor. Scanners Man- sounds like you are squeezing out of Julian G what makes him a real player. That’s a great idea- take a winner and turn him into a normal, usual, boring, placid f----ing everyman. What is it to you how he rolls?

So, I didn’t see "Wall Street II". Passive films only. "Semi-Pro"- I have nothing to say about it. It was ok. "Anchorman" was funnier. Woody Harrelson a decent character (when he stopped being a loser). His wig was funny.

Glenn- this has to be fine. One down, five to go. Just so you know, this is completely pointless. Is Janice doing this as well? No. Just remember, it took two to tango.

The Social Network.

Okay, let me get 'er straight. Fellers come on here an' recount the films and or movies they seen in recent times? Well I ain't much of a man for seein' neither films nor movies if you receive my meaning, but MaryAnne's been ridin' my tail t'view this new computer programmin' picture. Guess that'll do.

Now there's a good portion where a couple of fellers are racin' their canoes, and they don't manage to beat these Scandinavians, so I reckoned they were the villains and not worthy of our respect. Another gent had typed in a program that lets Jewish people date Chinese people, but I guess it weren't so popular as he had to appear in front of a lot of panels to explain his methods and thinking. It didn't really have an ending but I gathered everyone got rich.

Now other men gets to comment on my sayings? Well I don't distinctly care for that idea, that some booklearnin type is gonna tell Grassley how he's supposed to behave and think. If you're gon comment, you'd better preface it with your best manners, and don't try bringin a European sensibility to it, if you capture my reasoning.

Black Hawk Down, A-Team and Munich

Hi Gentlemen!

What a great idea is this blog- I really believe I can make a valuable contribution to this forum- I hope you think so too!

I am really sorry to hear, Last Guy, that you had some problems with Scanners. Sounds like it was a challenging film for guys, who are entering a new phase in their lifes, to process all at once. But it really has some inspirational themes, don’t you think? The ability of the human mind- the scope of human potential! It all went a little bad in the end, but, wow- imagine free, emancipated Scanners integrated into a progressive society where we all cooperate in furthering person kind! Wow, hey?!

M A-J, sounds like you have thought a lot about films! Sorry to hear that Fay is busy at the weekends. Fun, her jokes about being alone! But, you have thought about offering to go down to the group with her? It might be really powerful to have father and mother involved in the process (be careful not to crowd the baby)?

Just one thought- the reason that Tobias might be so tired is the Coke-a-Cola! It has a lot of sugar in it- so that’s probably why he crashes out like this! Maybe try some slow release carbohydrates- muesli with yoghurt and honey to taste? That way he will stay awake and fresh all morning.

I have just watched Black Hawk Down. Really like the music- like the scores from Ridley Scott’s other films. Yes there is a difficult message in it, but it’s really a "buddyfriend" movie. Like the A-Team or Munich! It was really good to see a young Orlando Bloom learning the tricks. The film is really about a transmission of knowledge and the way we should always be striving to build a progressive society where we can all work together to build a fair community!

Peace and good will to all you guys. Remember the glass is always half full (of good and cold beer!)

Tamas W.

Scanners

We had thirteen first-timers on the Conscious Life retreat this weekend, meaning less than six weeks’ sobriety apiece. Helen, of course, knows that the post-seminar entertainment needs to be replenishing and serene but, once we found that a previous attendee had defaced the front of the DVD machine, we were forced to go with whatever VHSs lay under the tartan shroud in the back of her truck.

David Cronenburg’s "Scanners" undid much of Friday’s good work. Larry M. journalled afterward that this telepathy-based thriller had the production values of a "Stephen King’s It", but the good sense to pack up its stall after 85 minutes. Great breakthrough for Larry. Jason F. was visibly upset by the viscera spilled onscreen; we talked things through during shantih-hour and he managed to internalize most of his shrieking by lights-out. Desiree was rapt to silence by the depth of some of the basses on the synth soundtrack. Tomorrow we’ll have her gently chant the coyote quote from Guru Om Basti.

For Saturday we’re left with "Cool Runnings" or Season 1 of "Deadwood". I suspect Julian G’s ongoing hostility issues will compel us to plump for the latter.

Hot Tub Time Machine and Valhalla Rising

I have Tobias this morning. Fay takes the other one to ‘Baby Massage with Gaia’ at eight (Fay likes to tell people there that she’s a single mother). She won’t be back until gone three- after, they go down to the park to watch the British Military Fitness instructors.

We had a dinner party yesterday. I thought the ‘if-you-go-back-in-time-and-then-decide-to-stay-do-you-have-to-then-go-back-in-time-again-later-so-that-it-all-works?’ debate was dead. Surely we'd all worked that through years ago in a student union somewhere (T1, T2, BTTF I-III). But, ohh no, Flo and Henry have seen Hot-Tub-Time-Machine. I liked it: the arachnid Crispin Glover (Good). It will sit elegantly between Old School and 17 Again (spitting distance from Big). But, f____, the chat was limited, circular and tedious. Is that the best we've got? I tried: ‘pull out of the Commonwealth Games?’ and ‘Ed or David?’. Fay said I was bourgeois.

I gave Tobias a can of ‘Coke with a twist of lime’ at about ten past eight. He’d crashed out by nine. Valhalla Rising. Makes me laugh when a DVD box blurb gets the plot wrong: ‘Boarding a Viking vessel set for the new world…’ (they didn’t - that’s a big part of the f_____g point). I like it too when they recast the movie . I took it hook, line and sinker: ‘From the producers of the Football Factory…’ Down right cheeky. I wanted and expected a violent placebo. Not a redemptive study. I should have checked if there was a new Danny Dyer about “footbawl and kickin’ f___ owta geeza”.

It was A Very Good Film, no doubt. I should be grateful. It could have been Centurion (“Britain’s answer to Gladiator”- my deep blue balls).

I can hear all of the lavatories in the house flushing. Tobias must be up.