252 days to go

3.2 Jog/Walk

View 1/6/12 10:40 AM in a larger map

Caché

Last year I started using swapadvd.com when I couldn't sell a DVD for a price I wanted, and had already bought the Blu-ray version. I picked up the French thriller Caché through one of the trades because it stars Juliette Binoche, but as the cover also shows, it received some strong accolades. After a rather brilliant opening sequence that successfully disorients the viewer, Caché is a pretty straightforward mystery that forces the lead character Georges to revisit some disturbing occurrences from his childhood. Someone is filming Georges' house and family for hours at a time and leaving the videocassettes on their doorstep.

The movie is less "thriller" than creepy, and ultimately a little frustrating. The cover compares this film to Hitchcock, but at the end of his films, Hitchcock ultimately explained the questions that he set up. If this was an American film, we'd see the face of the person as they turned off the video camera in the last seconds before the credits. If it was Japanese, someone would spend 10 minutes explaining what happened the rest of the movie. Since it's French, they simply can't be bothered to reveal the mystery that drives every action throughout the film, which is a little frustrating. I understand the director's point that it's more "real" in that some mysteries in life go unsolved. I would argue, though, that most people watch films to escape from the Real, and the videotapes weren't just a MacGuffin, but the central story of the film.

Caché means "Hidden", which clearly applies to the resolution of the film. If you can stand the frustration having more questions at the end of the movie than at the beginning, it's probably worth a viewing, but not necessarily one worth keeping on the shelf.

253 days to go

Legs are a little sore from pushing myself yesterday, so I just walked Zoe 3.2 miles. Warmer today. Almost felt like too many layers of clothes.

View 1/5/12 2:32 PM in a larger map

254 days to go

Before I started running I'd been sucked in the by the marketing of the Reebok Realflex. When I won a $100 gift certificate for The Greene shopping center I didn't know what to spend it on since it's mostly clothes or restaurants, and not my type of clothes. I wanted to buy movie tickets, but the Rave doesn't take Green gift cards. However, I learned that E.O. Burger sells movie passes when you get a meal, so for $35 off the card, I got two IMAX tickets plus two dinners. Also swung by Finish Line and picked up this color of Realflex, which are incredibly light, and this color also happened to be on sale. Now I need to find something for $4.85 to wipe out the gift card.

Today: 2.75 Jog / Walk (but not in the Reeboks. They don't keep out much cold air.)

View 1/4/12 4:17 PM in a larger map

Run Forrest, Run!

Well, this is going to be interesting. No turning back. In 258 days I'm committed to running the Air Force 10K. That's 6.2 miles, and I have no idea if I'll be able to do it. Keep in mind I've never run more than 2.5 miles at a stretch in my life, so registering to do this makes me very nervous. But at the same time, I HAD to register to be motivated to force myself to get in shape. I probably wouldn't be doing this, though, without my friend Evren. Only once in a very long time does someone come along that so effectively inspires one to try to be a better person, but that's exactly she does.

A Storm of Swords

Most of the reviews on any of the Song of Fire and Ice books I've read are universal in their agreement that George R. R. Martin is a unique and original voice in fantasy. Some have even called him a cruel god, as the creator of characters whom he them makes suffer in unexpected ways. In A Storm of Swords, Martin elevates his modus operandi to new extremes. The reader should never get comfortable in the Martin Universe because nothing will stay the same for long.

Having had a day to reflect on the book since finishing it, I think this volume reminds me of LOST in some ways. Most LOST season finales were had some sort of big event that was a "game-changer" for the rest of the story to come. A Storm of Swords has more game-changers in one novel than all the LOST finales combined. So far in the series, the story has only gotten better. I have high hopes for what's to come.

Digital Scrapbook Throwback

Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
Repin was replaced by pianist Alexander Toradze for Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2

And for the throwback entry, a 2007 35mm screening of Back to the Future.