Things like this tend to be subjective, but from where I stand, 2016 has been a year full of grief, specifically in terms of the passing away of cultural icons.
The latest victim of this worrisome trend was actress Carrie Fisher, who died after going through a cardiac event en route to Los Angeles, USA. It's times like this when you have to question what God must have been thinking when he weighed the balancing of fragility and power when he created man. All throughout our lives, we struggle to be at one with comfort, with safety, with utter security. We do this all while knowing that we will one day kick the bucket, whether we like it or not. Why even bother, right? Well, having good quality of life is one reason. If one is to be resigned to the fact that he/she will one day die, then he/she might as well do everything he/she can to make his/her swim in life's fishbowl the best dip anyone could possibly imagine. Work with what you have. That is the name of the game. Work with what you have and make it grow into something magical.
Where I'm from, the government has managed to cheapen the value of life. It's come at us akin to a sickening thud after your head gets clocked by a frying pan. At the end of the day, any self-respecting person would come to the understanding that it would be absolutely wrong to surrender. Scream at the top of your lungs from the top of a skyscraper. Never give up. Tell life to send the flowers in advance because you want to want to be able to enjoy the said flowers, not have them sent to you when you're dead.
Amidst all of the doom and gloom that this year's brought on, we all ought to grab a drink and toast to never, ever, thinking that our song could ever possibly stop playing.
The musicians on the Titanic kept going. You and I can (and should), too.
MC
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
120- Send Over The Flowers
118- Lazarus
Shame that I could not take photos, as doing such was barred.
Lazarus felt like watching an extended David Bowie music video. My artistic mind, not absent of any interest in the craft, nor totally ignorant of it, tried very hard to decode the meanings behind what was put on stage before. Maybe it was because I hadn't bothered to research on the story of "The Man Who Fell to Earth", or, perhaps it was because I had not eaten a proper lunch before entering King's Cross Theatre. A viewer would need to have a very keen eye for detail, and some background knowledge on Bowie beyond the usual in order to not get lost in the initial, euphoric, throes of Lazarus. The use of some Bowie classics such as Heroes and Sound and Vision in the production made me smile. The confusion etched across the face of Thomas Newton, the play's main character. His yearning to be free, and him being forlorn from his one true love- all of it was akin to a rusty steak knife being thrust through your back. Not fun if you're the stabbee. Acting to marvel at if you are part of the theatre audience.
I have around a year to go in London, and while some days have been gloomy, with timescales difficult to measure and manage due to short days and longer nights, having great art within arm's length is something that helps keep me sane. That, and healthy food being readily available in groceries (Philippine supermarkets are not as accomodating).
I have always been a fan old David Bowie- especially of portions of his work from the 70s and 80s. Having watched Lazarus today, though, made me realize that I have a lot more to learn about a man who was more myth than mortal, a bit more alien than Earthling.
What if we are all swimming around perpetually in fishbowl, a tank
Lazarus felt like watching an extended David Bowie music video. My artistic mind, not absent of any interest in the craft, nor totally ignorant of it, tried very hard to decode the meanings behind what was put on stage before. Maybe it was because I hadn't bothered to research on the story of "The Man Who Fell to Earth", or, perhaps it was because I had not eaten a proper lunch before entering King's Cross Theatre. A viewer would need to have a very keen eye for detail, and some background knowledge on Bowie beyond the usual in order to not get lost in the initial, euphoric, throes of Lazarus. The use of some Bowie classics such as Heroes and Sound and Vision in the production made me smile. The confusion etched across the face of Thomas Newton, the play's main character. His yearning to be free, and him being forlorn from his one true love- all of it was akin to a rusty steak knife being thrust through your back. Not fun if you're the stabbee. Acting to marvel at if you are part of the theatre audience.
I have around a year to go in London, and while some days have been gloomy, with timescales difficult to measure and manage due to short days and longer nights, having great art within arm's length is something that helps keep me sane. That, and healthy food being readily available in groceries (Philippine supermarkets are not as accomodating).
I have always been a fan old David Bowie- especially of portions of his work from the 70s and 80s. Having watched Lazarus today, though, made me realize that I have a lot more to learn about a man who was more myth than mortal, a bit more alien than Earthling.
What if we are all swimming around perpetually in fishbowl, a tank
Monday, December 19, 2016
117- Rogue One
I just watched Rogue One in East London. I must say- the film ranks among the highest in terms of storytelling and plot development, in the Star Wars saga.
Casual fans might view the film as just another sci-fi flick, but longtime followers of the series will surely be able to appreciate the tie ins both to the prequels and the original trilogy. The casting, the cinematography, and script were all spot on. For the more nostalgic of us, the filmmakers even managed to pick out Peter Cushing from mothballs, and make Carrie Fisher young again. What's not to like?
The chemistry between Felicity Jones and Diego Luna was perfect for their roles as purveyors of a revolution set against seemingly insurmountable odds (sounds familiar, I know). Donnie Yen and his martial arts added a unique twist to the good guys' fighting character, and a planets new and old made for both fresh start, and a trip down memory lane.
I liked the fact that despite the rebel alliance having been able to successfully transmit the Death Star plans, those who had to take the fall, did. Star Wars has never been afraid to put forth endings which don't taste of candy and nuts. The word hope was thrown around a lot over the course of the film, and sometimes, hope comes at a steep price. The steep price was paid by the good guys in the end, but one can rest easy on the fact that their sacirifces did lead to eventual triumph in Episode 6.
The next couple of Star Wars installments should make for intriguing filmmaking. There has already been talk of a Han Solo movie, and all sorts of rumors for Episode 8. I, as a Star Wars fanatic, cannot wait for what will happen next. One would be silly to bet against the space opera series at this point.
All bets are in for big gains- unless they bring back Hayden and Jar Jar.
MC
Casual fans might view the film as just another sci-fi flick, but longtime followers of the series will surely be able to appreciate the tie ins both to the prequels and the original trilogy. The casting, the cinematography, and script were all spot on. For the more nostalgic of us, the filmmakers even managed to pick out Peter Cushing from mothballs, and make Carrie Fisher young again. What's not to like?
The chemistry between Felicity Jones and Diego Luna was perfect for their roles as purveyors of a revolution set against seemingly insurmountable odds (sounds familiar, I know). Donnie Yen and his martial arts added a unique twist to the good guys' fighting character, and a planets new and old made for both fresh start, and a trip down memory lane.
I liked the fact that despite the rebel alliance having been able to successfully transmit the Death Star plans, those who had to take the fall, did. Star Wars has never been afraid to put forth endings which don't taste of candy and nuts. The word hope was thrown around a lot over the course of the film, and sometimes, hope comes at a steep price. The steep price was paid by the good guys in the end, but one can rest easy on the fact that their sacirifces did lead to eventual triumph in Episode 6.
The next couple of Star Wars installments should make for intriguing filmmaking. There has already been talk of a Han Solo movie, and all sorts of rumors for Episode 8. I, as a Star Wars fanatic, cannot wait for what will happen next. One would be silly to bet against the space opera series at this point.
All bets are in for big gains- unless they bring back Hayden and Jar Jar.
MC
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
116- Parklife
If there's one thing I like about living in London, it would have to be the prevalence of parks where one can just sit, contemplate, and watch adorable doggies zip by.
There is a severe lack of safe, clean, open public space in Manila, where I am originally from. Manila suffers from poor urban planning in general. I have often joked with close friends that one of the wishes I would have a genie help me out with would be for him to magically clear Manila so that builders could start over and put things in the proper order.
A pipe dream, friends, a pipe dream. It is free to dream so I might as well cash in on my dream voucher.
Photo: Southwark Park, December 14, 3pm. By Miguel Cortez
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