Tuna and sweetcorn deepfill

Wow! loads to tell, last night I went to see the premiere of Madonna's new documentary 'I'm Going to Tell You a Secret' at the Chelsea Theatre, Kings Road. Justine had won tickets from the Channel 4 web-site and asked me to go with her (nice!), we went to the pub next door first and had a few pints then joined the queue with our hilariously loud friend Bennett. Once inside the cinema we had goodie bags with crisps, popcorn, sweets and chocolate. We were sat less than six feet away from Madonna when she came down to the front and introduced the film with Jonas Åkerlund. She was wearing a flashy evening dress and said that it cost more than the film did to make, to which Bennett shouted out, how much did that cost!!! I had so much fun last night, it was brilliant. Some pictures are on this web-site: http://www.madonnatribe.com/news/index.php

Things are going well with regards to the mortgage and moving house. I think we might be in our new home by mid to late January. Yippee! So cannot wait. Wonder what our Christmas will be like? That kind of worries me but it shouldn't. I've finished doing my Christmas shopping, thank god, just got to get my sister's Birthday gift and then I'm done. I've bought myself a pair of trainers, some wicked Etnies by Arto Saari, they've got a pattern of forest trees on them. I'll look just peachy.

Met up with Peter and Bex on Saturday night in the 'Champion', had quite a riot. Bex is moving abroad for a year to be with her daughter, sniff, going to miss her. Friends seem to drop like flies these days. Peter has a mammoth beard, I was quite jealous.

Films we've seen? Ah yes...

'Dario Argento's The Phantom of the Opera' ('Il Fantasma dell'opera') Directed by Dario Argento 1998
So-so take on the story with Julian Sands as the phantom and Asia Argento as the love interest. Wasn't that brilliant I have to say, I'm not really a fan of Argento's modern stuff (or any modern stuff for that matter - I am truly stuck in the 70's when it comes to my film taste) and I don't like watching people mime to opera. I did like the idea that the Phantom was brought up by rats though, and the opening scenes with him as an abandoned baby floating down the sewers was quite hilarious, well, the rat rescue team was anyway.

'Violent Cop' ('Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki') Directed by Takeshi Kitano 1989
Cool film with as Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano) as a very violent cop who does what he wants to get results. Quite nasty, although there is some humour in there. I didn't like watching the treatment of his mentally unstable sister at the hands of some drugged up jerks. It was kind of like an Italian cop thriller but with minimal talking, Azuma (Takeshi) is a very laconic chap. The DVD from the UK box set, was dreadful, it was as if they only put on the sub-titles when they felt like it and the picture was pretty crap too. We've got 'Boiling Point' to watch next, I hope that's better.

'Black Snake' Directed by Russ Meyer 1973
I bought this from someone on ebay in Japan, expecting it to be a proper release, stupid me - it was just some very clever copy (oohh shrink-wrapped too, it must be the real thing, ttsskkk). Anyway I'd got it because I love Meyer's films and also for the fact that Anouska Hempel ('Scars of Dracula') was in it... what the bloody hell was she doing? Her character is so thoroughly loathsome, you just can't wait for her to get her comeuppance, and even that isn't strong enough. She plays a tough whip cracking racist owner of a plantation somewhere. Her right hand man is just as bad. A guy from England (David Warbeck - 'Twins of Evil') goes out to the island to find his brother, whom she had his tongue and dick ripped off and tries to help the slaves. I felt dirty watching this film and won't be seeing it again.

'Die Tote aus der Themse' ('The Dead One in the Thames River') Directed By Harald Philipp 1971
Yup! Another one of those Edgar Wallace films. This one wasn't directed by Alfred Vohrer and wasn't half as camp as the rest of the ones we've seen, that said it was still cool and had the most gorgeous soundtrack yet. I wish someone would release all the Edgar Wallace soundtracks. Oh yeah Uschi Glas is in it, star of 'Seven Blood-Stained Orchids', plus loads of other E.W films.

See ya

Alas Dies Laughing

Well, been an odd Friday today. My step Mother is no longer talking to me and leaving messages on the answering machine asking our flat-mate to pass on messages to Matt. The Building Society has been investigating our mortgage claim, so that's good news. Can't wait to find out...

The Cocteau Twins - 'Lullabies to Violaine' box-set arrived today and it's so brilliant, I just love it. Great packaging too, it's just gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. I've just imported the four discs to itunes, so I'm listening to it right now.

Last night we watched:

'Dracula Has Risen from the Grave' Directed by Freddie Francis 1968
I had only seen this once before, years ago, so it was great to see again. Lot's of nice imagery. Pretty Veronica Carlson is in it - star of 'The Ghoul' - one of my favourite Peter Cushing films, again directed by Freddie Francis (I don't know why so many people don't like this. Maybe I like it so much because I saw it when I was a child and it has made a lasting impression on me?) and Barry Andrews ('Blood on Satan's Claw') star with Christopher Lee, who speaks a few lines... "destroy her" being my favourite. And as for the slutty bar-maid, who's name escapes me, she's cool too. Best scene? Dracula and a transfixed Maria (dressed in virginal white) riding atop the horse cart riding like the devil, at high speed...

I then watched:

'Barbarian' Directed by Henry Crum 2003
Oh my god! What absolute rubbish this is! I picked this DVD up in Amsterdam, for about £1.00 - it's not even worth that! Makes an episode of 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' look like 'Gladiator'. Nothing to recommend it what-so-ever, not even in the 'bad movie' vein.

Well, that's it for now, time to fill my pint glass with more delicious (and hard earned) beer.

ABC Freeform

Sweet Jesus. I so cannot wait to leave this flat and get away from everything to do with it.

'Meat Raffle'

Wowsa! this is my 94th post, almost 100. I do have a life, honestly. I'm at home having another medicinal beer, all this talk of mortgages and moving house is beginning to get me down. Why does it take so long? Why do you get stressed? Ah well, things will look differently when we are in that gorgeous cottage next to an orange (!) church. Even though I don't eat meat, I think I should enter the weekly 'Meat Raffle' at our soon-to-be local. How is it presented I wonder? On a platter. arranged decoratively or is it just a box of tinned meats, like corned beef, hot-dog sausages and spam? Who knows, who cares? Oh what joy, discovering new places to drink too much, and places to take friends they've never been to before. We'll see...

We watched two episodes of 'The Protectors' last night. One we watched the other day starred Eartha Kitt ('A Pocketful of Posies') of all people, it was quite campy, well it would be wouldn't it? Anyway one of the ones we saw last night ('Shadbolt ') starred Georgina Hale and she comes in our shop regularly - I must mention that to her next time she's in. Oh my god! I've just seen on the IMDB that she's also in 'The World Is Full of Married Men' how awfully good.

Well that's all for now, although I must mention that I watched Sergio Martino's 'Case of the Scorpion's Tail' with my sister the last time she was here. That film is great, I love Anita Strindberg... Why did she disappear? The DVD we watched was the new 'NoShame' edition, although I do already have the X-Rated Kult version too.

Be seeing you.

Rising from the ashes

Jesus! Safari crashed after I had typed in loads of stuff and I can't be fagged to do it all again. So this will be a short and sweet version.

Feeling much happier than of late...

Saw our mortgage advisor this morning. Keeping fingers crossed about that house. Have signed up for life insurance, so feeling old and way too grown up.

As for stuff we have watched, it's been quite a mixed bag recently:

'Welcome To Spring Break' ('Nightmare Beach' Directed by Umberto Lenzi 1988)
Vaguely giallo-ish trash about a motorbike riding killer who enjoys electrocuting people at a beach locale. There's big eighties hair, nasty clothes, a bad soundtrack and a few wet tee-shirt competitions. Oh and John Saxon is in it, the only actor I was familiar with. Not very taxing at all, but good to watch with a hangover and friends which is what we did.

'Der Hund von Blackwood Castle' ('The Horror of Blackwood Castle' Directed by Alfred Vohrer 1968)
This has to be my favourite Edgar Wallace film I have seen so far. It was brilliant! Far too much to write about, but there are snakes, hidden jewels, a Doberman with tacky fangs, a lovely old woman who rides a motorbike, a money hungry singer who so didn't deserve to die (Mady Rahl), lots of mist and a totally groovy soundtrack (that I need!). Can't wait to get the other Edgar Wallace box-sets.

'Seven Deaths in the Cat's Eye' ('La Morte negli occhi del gatto' Directed by Antonio Margheriti 1973)
Enjoyed this period giallo a lot too, even though I prefer mine to be in the 70's. Lots of gothic nonsense with Jane Birkin, Hiram Keller (hellooooo), Anton Diffring and Serge Gainsbourg amongst others. Some of the acting (particularly Françoise Christophe's) was very 'Acorn Antiques'. That poor moggy gets thrown about all over the place, you even see someone's hand pushing it onto Corringa's (Birkin) bed. There's a man in an ape suit (always brilliant), a superb soundtrack by Riz Ortolani, lovely sets and a huge cave under the family home where lots of bats and rats live. Almost like a Hammer film. One to watch again and I must search out films with Hiram Keller...

'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage' ('L'Uccello dalle piume di cristallo' Directed by Dario Argento 1970)
What's to say that hasn't been said a gazillion times before? Watched this last night, have already got the VCI edition, but had to get the new two disc 'Blue Underground' edition because of the extras (and the fact that their releases are superior to many out there). I had forgotten just how excellent this film is, there's so many good things in it, like the cinematography and the soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. Suzy Kendall doesn't look as vacant as she usually does, either. When will 'Four Flies on Grey Velvet' get a release?

Well that's enough for now.

Frost

Matt's doing loads of house stuff this morning (telephoning solicitors etc.) after we put an offer on one we saw in Mitcham. The place is great. I really want it so I hope nothing goes wrong.

It's sunny outside but freezing cold.

I don't want to go to work.

Meeting Bex this weekend, seems like years since we last got together.

Going to stay with friends in Windsor the weekend after that.

Wish I could shift this unhappy mood I am stuck in, no longer want to run away though.

Watched the last two episodes of 'Crying Freeman', which was a big disappointment.

My heart's a forest fire and your's a field of snow

Feeling better this evening, although I am exhausted from drinking too much last night and lying awake from 3am. Have started buying Christmas gifts on the net and have got loads of stuff which is good. I have nothing else to say (!) except the Kate Bush album isn't rubbish it's totally brilliant, 'The Coral Room' is my favourite...

Post number 90

I feel maudlin and miserable. I hate everything and everyone. I feel like I did ten long years ago. Even Kate Bush's new album is rubbish.

The end.

Home Alone

Yay! Am having a beer or four at home on my own. Matt's having a meal with some contractors in Waterloo and Max is out seeing a band somewhere, when isn't she? Think I am a bit drunk. Used the MSN messenger to talk to my friend Patricia this evening which was lots of fun, can't believe her and Andy might move to Leeds, that's bloody miles away, not that I ever see her these days anyway. We talked about possibly meeting up in our old haunt in Earls Court, for a big alcohol session, hope that does transpire...

So what have we been watching? Well, if I remember correctly:

'The Mutations' ('The Freakmaker' Directed by Jack Cardiff 1973)
Donald Pleasence plays Professor Nolter a mad scientist who is creating freakish human/plant hybrids with the aim of creating a super-race (hmm). He gets a hideously deformed owner of a freak show (Tom Baker - my favourite 'Dr Who') to provide the bodies for his experiments (who all happen to come from the local college where Nolter lectures...).
Totally brilliant Brit horror with a cast of thousands (well a few anyway). This film stars Brad Harris (as 'Brian'!) so I was totally engrossed (Matt was slipping into a coma), Julie Ege is in it too (as Brian's love interest) so that's a sign of quality. I totally LOVE 'Subversive Cinema' for bringing this film out on DVD, I've been waiting years for it! The packaging is just great; mini poster, repro lobbies, nice double-sided cover and a good featurette with the producer, director and Brad - plus there's a trailer for 'Seeds Of Evil' ('The Gardener') the forthcoming DVD with Joe Dallesandro which I can't wait to get my hands on.

'Ten Little Indians' (Directed by George Pollock 1965)
The usual Agatha Christie story set in a mountain castle accessed only by cable car. One by one the guests are murdered by an invisible host...
Picked this DVD up in Germany. It has a fantastic cast; (gorgeous) Shirley Eaton, Hugh O'Brian, Leo Genn, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Stanley Holloway, Dennis Price, Mario Adorf plus others - you have to see Daliah Lavi's wig... It's truly monstrous! Not much in the way of extras, photo gallery and cast info (in German).

'Rattler Kid' ('Un Hombre vino a matar' Directed by León Klimovsky 1968)
Another German DVD release. This one being in German language only (well it was only about £1.90) so I am afraid I wasn't all that interested, only in the parts with Brad Harris (he does display his huge physique in one bathing scene). Otherwise I found it dull especially for a Spanish/Italian western. However, it does have though a trailer for 'Picture Mommy Dead' directed by Bert I. Gordon and starring Zsa Zsa Gabor, that I need to view NOW!

'Killer Cop' ('La Polizia ha le mani legate' Directed by Luciano Ercoli 1974)
Got this on VHS from that weird pet shop/charity shop in Fisherton Street, Salisbury. The picture was pretty dreadful and I found the story a trifle (love that word) boring, I have after all seen loads of these Italian police thrillers. The ending was inconclusive too - or was it just me? Maybe I didn't get it, anyway this is going back to another charity shop.

'Thor the Conqueror' ('Thor il conquistatore' Directed by Tonino Ricci 1983)
Well, what can I say? Sword and sorcery film that's beyond dreadful. No special effects, apart from a sorcerer who transforms into an owl (rubbish) and it's all set in a wood or a cave. If it wasn't for Luigi Mezzanotte's attractive chest I think I would have slipped into a coma myself. Nice cover to the huge 'big box' padded video sleeve though.

God that's enough for one night. I am starving and could do with another beer...

Gggrrrr

Stop letting off fireworks you bloody fools.

Back so soon?

Yeah, forgot to say I've sent off at least three wishlists for Christmas. Can't wait! I know I'll be getting a couple of Edgar Wallace DVD box sets as I made Matt buy them in Germany. Forgot to mention that I'd really like the German edition of 'Department S' and 'Jason King', those box sets are sexy (!). Must do that later...

Stuff we've seen this week? Well we watched the final episode of 'Six Feet Under', which was sad, but awful right at the very end when everyone got old - those make up effects were dreadful and unnecessary. Going to miss that show.

And...

'Horror of Dracula' (Directed by Terence Fisher 1958)
Don't really need to say anything about this one that hasn't been said before. It's just brilliant. Cushing & Lee - what more do you need in a film? Got this DVD as it was unbelievably cheap (about £3.00).

Bye!

Another Friday

Well it's Friday again. Been a busy week. Saw a mortgage advisor last night to see how we can do, very well it seems although some basta*d has been and bought the house we'd seen in New Malden. Ttsskkk, oh well, back to searching the web-sites.

Going to David's on Saturday night for a party at his new abode, that should be fun, I hope I don't make a tit of myself, but I'm sure I will.

Jess is back up in London on Friday and staying with us for the weekend. Oh I love my little sister, but she does make me feel about a thousand years old, as she's so young and gorgeous. Fish and chips WILL be on the menu...

Really want to get another tattoo done before Christmas, have put some money aside for one, just need to pick one of many ideas I have. Also need my Santo mask touching up again as his chin's disappeared (!).

Right, time to top up my pint glass with another delicious Friday night lager, I'm SO classy.