Categories: uncategorized
Date: 29 November 2004 22:01:30
There are some things I wish that I'd worked on on my life.. Some people who I wish I'd had the chance to meet, some people who I still hope to meet.. I guess these can be marked down as 'regrets' as such.. Although they're more like musings more than anything. My life isn't ruled by thoughts such as 'I'll never have the chance to have worked on, say, Zelda: The Wind Waker' so if they are regrets then they are slight ones..
Anyway I was/am mulling over this at the moment.. Book wise if I could have been responsible for something then I guess it would have been the Dune series of books.. (well, 1-5 anyway.. 6 doesnt count and I havent read the Preludes...) Although I love Out of the silent Planet, Wild Swans, Game Over etc Dune is the high point of creativity for me...
Computer game wise if I could have worked on anything.. I guess it would have been Advance wars or Eyetoy. actually it would definatley have been Eyetoy. A defining moment in games let down (slightly and maybe only to me) by slightly creaky character design.
Film wise it would have been Fantasia, which I've always loved, but for one film which knocked me for 6 and a few more last Christmas. I caught the film late at night on BBC3 or 4 (4 I think) and I don't think I've ever been as impressed by a film. Actually there were two that I saw that same few days which similarly affected me. The Devils Backbone, which struck me as remarkably scripted and directed. Poingant, deep, beautiful.. but the story didn't do it for me.. It was a little too hopeless and bleak in terms of content. Very few of the participants had the capacity for joy in their lives (which in retrospect might be a little understandable given the circumstances they found themselves in). The end of the film is one of the most heart rending finales I can think of. I'd like to see the film again but am nervous that it won't live up to the film I think I saw.
The second I would hold up to be one of the high points in world cinema, and cinema in general. I remember Robert Carlisle agog at the fact that it was voted the world cinema film of the year because it was a cartoon... Whatever if you havent seen Belleville Rendesvous you should. It is everything a film should be and more besides. Whimsical, intelligent, sad and funny within seconds of each extreme emotion. The characters are beautifully designed and rendered, the script perfect. The cleverness extends to the dialog throughout which is almost entirely provided by a whistle. Just watched it again tonight for a brief break and as always I'm astounded by the total and utter brilliance of the film. well worth a view if anyones in need of an animated pick me up. Not that its the most joyous of films, lots of poignant looks and heartfelt silences. The central protagonist Madam De Souza is a triumph of steadfastness in the face of bleak and overwhelming odds. But the end is one of those smiling because you dont know why moments and despite the feeling of slightly wasted lives you know that the main characters remain fond, happy and peaceful. A totally beautiful film.
And without doubt the purveyor of the some of the largest laugh out loud moments in a film. Ooooh I'd watch it again bar the fact I should be getting towards sleeping..
Currently listening to: Nothing, my brain winding down for the night. Currently playing: final level of Halo 2 again, just to see the ending again...