Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Join The Rumpus.

As a child, I loved the book Where the Wild Things Are. I think, on reflection that it's one of the books my parents bought me on a day I'd been foul-tempered. We had a policy that I would get a book a week, to ensure that I turn into the verbose polymath I vaguely resemble on a good day, if you squint a bit. Frequently I would get to choose these books, but on certain weeks, dependent on bouts of ill-behaviour, I would end up with Naughty Nigel or Ffangs the Vampire and the Kiss of Truth. But that is by the by.

Where the Wild Things Are is a book that stands up to adult inspection, mainly on account of just how charming Maurice Sendak's illustrations are. I knew it was being adapted into a movie, but it seemed like a fools errand, even for someone as talented as Spike Jonze. There has also been a lot of talk of studio interference, massive reshoots, problems with the costumes and CGI integrating. Basically, everything that could derail a film has been claimed to have happened to this one, shy of Ragnarok. Still, the first trailer is here, and it looks astonishing. Visually, it's captured the look of the book to a tee. It also, if I'm reading things correctly, seems to have stretched out the story of Max and his temper in a believable and useful way. I am, not to put too fine a point on it, sold.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Crochet Man.

Just read it. Whatever doesn't kill you, etc.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Speaking As A Mother

We already knew that Jenny McCarthy's tiny mind thinks "vaccination bad", but now we also know that it's parsed "botox good". Whilst it's good that she's not anti-science per se, it seems distasteful that someone who has contributed to the increase in child mortality from easily preventable diseases would refer to a chemical designed to keep you looking like a young-ish trout for as long as possible as "a saviour". Her contributions to the cult of "Speaking as a Mother" cannot be understated.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Because Supervillains Need Bailing Too.

The marvellous Jon Hamm of the marvelous Mad Men makes a marvelous Lex Luthor, albeit in a shitty, shitty bald cap. Play on.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Fuck.

Need any more reason to think the Catholic Church is an increasingly irrelevant, monolithic and misogynistic organisation, here you go.