Oh, China...

Random fact: Noel and I (and a gaggle of others from our church) spent 10 days in China in 1999. We visited pretty remote mountain villages and small cities in the south-west of the country. Gosh, I love that place. The cities (though I only know a couple of small ones) are crazy, hectic, warm places, and the villages are just amazing. Simply beautiful. I'm tempted to say that all the people are friendly and welcoming and lovely, but i'm sure that's not really true. They are human, after all! We certainly met a whole lot of fabulous locals, though. We hope to take our kids there one day.

Anyway. I've been thinking about all this lately after watching Children of the Silk Road.

As you'll see in that link, the film's official title is Children of Huang Shi, with "...Silk Road" being the Australian title. Strange, considering it was an Australin Film Comission film and released first here. Why did we get an alternate title I wonder?

Apart from reminding me of the gorgeous nation of China and its wonderful people, the film really caught me. The acting performances were spot-on. Chow Yun-Fat, in particular, impressed me, as did Radha Mitchell. Johnathan Rhys Meyers was the hero, though, and he did it so well.

Not to mention all those children! What talented young things!

My thoughts are a little sketchy this evening, sorry. In short, definitely one to see. It's one of those films that really makes you feel blessed to live in a safe, prosperous place... and also makes you wish you were the one on screen... oh is that just me? Hmmm.

When You're Strange...

Oh yes, I'm all Johnny, all the time, lately. (Except for when I'm all Panic at the Disco, but more on that another time...)

This isn't actually new news, but I forgot to blog about it the other week, and then today I found more info.

In news that pretty much makes my brain explode and the rest of my body go jittery, Johnny's signed up to narrate a new documentary by director Tom DiCillo about The Doors, called When You're Strange. That 2nd link is to a review of the film on DiCillo's website (the doco is all done and has screened already, but with DiCillo narrating), which declares it a fabulous doco, authentic and truthful about those brilliant-but-very-troubled young men.

The Doors have been one of my favourite bands for as long as I can remember. My dad loves them so I grew up with them, knew all the songs and everything about them. The fact that Jim Morrison's death was 10 years before I was born was completely irrelevant. I adored him and spent long hours daydreaming of being alive in the 60s and 70s, getting up to all sorts of shenanigans with Jim and his ilk.

So, to combine Jim's singing and Robbie, John and Ray's amazing music with Johnny Depp's voice? Oh yes. Heaven on a stick.

~~~~

Latest report is that they're having trouble getting time in Johnny's schedule to do the recording before the film is due to screen at the SXSW Film Festival on March 15. Bugger! I'm crossing my fingers that they can get it sorted.

Can you see me squirming with excitement?

New Johnny film. Finally we have a trailer.

Can't talk. Go watch:

Public Enemies Trailer

Whooo!

Nice to see...

I was watching NCIS last night, and for a few brief moments there was a face I recognised, and an Australian accent. At first I thought it might've been someone I knew from college or met at a drama class somewhere. So I looked up the episode and discovered it was Sharni Vinson. No, I've never met her, but I did used to be rather obsessed with Home and Away (oh shush, most people are at some stage!) so I guess that's why I thought I had.

Anyway, it was lovely to see her pop up like that. It makes me proud in some kind of weird disconnected way, to see the young Aussies doing well over in the big scary exciting USA. Also makes part of me very envious, but hey, you get that.

There's Isla Fisher, Tammin Sursok, Isabel Lucas, all Home and Away girls. And then there's Simon Baker and Jesse Spencer.

And then there's the however-many others over there, living the dream (or attempting to) in LA. Bit parts in TV shows and commercials, endless cattle-calls and extra work and working as a waitress......

So, well done, talented Australians. I think you're doing great.

Connor!

Of Blue Skies Falling.

Why can I not see your blog? Why is there some kind of real esate / vacation / online dating / pretty blonde student thing going on when I try to see your site?

Please make it stop!

The best of Chocolat

I watched Chocolat last night.

Ok, I will be honest and I say I made judicious use of the fast-forward button and only watched the best bits.

~ The bit where Anouk comes home all upset and asks about going to church and says "Why can't you wear black shoes like all the other mothers?".

~ And when the cute old man, whose name I can't remember (they're difficult French names ok?), the one who owns Charlie the dog, is confessing to Pere Henri about his lustful thoughts for Madame Audel.

~ And Roux's first appearance, noodling around on his guitar and looking up with that lovely face.

~ Serge dressing up like he's joining the circus, to apologise, and Josephine firmly telling him it's over.

~ Everything about the party for Armande. Especially the food and the music.

~ "I'll come round sometime and get that squeak outta your door", with that LOOK on his face. I promise I didn't rewind that part 4 times to watch it over and over.

Okay, maybe I did.