mockney piers

On that line, the first film to really freak me out as a youngster was Un Chien Andalou which is pretty damn grotesque, and that eye slitting moment has basically scarred me for life. Has anyone else seen that Spanish film about the guy trapped in a phonebox. That's pure brilliant horror as at first you don't know it's a horror, and then it catches you off guard. Ooh, and Boneyard, I'm happy to stand corrected apparently "In his autobiography, "I Thought We Were Making Movies, Not History", Walter Mirisch writes: "People began to read meanings into pictures that were never intended. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers is an example of that. I remember reading a magazine article arguing that the picture was intended as an allegory about the communist infiltration of America. From personal knowledge, neither Walter Wanger nor Don Siegel, who directed it, nor Dan Mainwaring, who wrote the script nor the original author Jack Finney, nor myself saw it as anything other than a thriller, pure and simple.""

Picky picky picky. The original one that was about the cold war paranoia, not the one simply made during the cold war that was about the malaise, distrust and fear in domestic politics post Watergate...need I go on ;-P. Sadly the recent one, for a new generation ripe for a political statement, was, predictably, about well, about zombies...err that's it.

I was talking about the Cold War version

all good films

The original Invasion of the Body Snatchers gave me the real heebie jeebies when I was about 10, couldn't sleep for nights afterwards. And how bad is the recent remake?? why oh why oh why.

blimey, theres a question. *scurries off to compile notes* Will return in a few days ;)

ditto those

I'm an absolute sucker for Hammer films. ok, they're rather camp and not in the least scary, but they've such a wonderful atmosphere about them, love 'em, love 'em, love 'em. Peter Cushing for Prime Minister (even 10? years dead he couldn't actually be worse could he)

Blair Witch was utter rubbish though. They always let you off everytime they've built the tension up, and then it's just a bunch of gits having an argument in a wood during the day. Old Boy was very good. TCM worth a look and the original can't be beat, as the new one took itself too seriously. When it was remade as the cartoon "Scooby Doo" it was far superior ;)

I quite agree *Bob*. I've also enjoyed the new wave of Asian horror (Ring, The Eye, etc) but stylistically. It still doesn't scare as such.

Yeah, haven't been genuinely scared by a horror film for ages, but I did overdose completely on them between about 14 and 16. I was something of a buff back then, and I'm pretty sure most horror is really comedy, Texas Chainsaw Massacre being a classic example thereof. More recently Severance was very much in the final line between horror and comedy vein. Wolf Creek was horrible rather than scary as such. The only thing that makes me hide behind cushions is the horrible discomfort that stuff like the Office or Aalan Partridge can provide.

Does anyone else look at a swimmer thrashing everyone and wonder how long before the words 'drug cheat' appear by his name in a headline?

Exorcist III was really scary if I recall.

Nightmare on Elm St when I was a wee nipper gave me nightmares, though watched it recently and was a mazed at how cheap, and basically rubbish it was. Another shout for Wolf Creek, jeepers. Pan's Labyrinth, that torture description scene..eek. Not sure about Battle Royale, I thought it was a comedy!!

okey doke, finally found a copy 2578-5184-9841

Touch? ;-)

Indeed, South Ossetia is about the same size as Kent for goodness sake!!!

In fairness it was the Georgians who decided to end Ossetia's defacto independence (no doubt with an eye to testing Russia's reaction, with the real goal being coastal Abkhazia) and the Russians who sent in tanks to 'keep the peace' and 'protect Russian citizens'. Neither of which seemed to matter too much to them when they shelled the bejeezus out of Grozny killing thousands of ethnic Russian citizens, but who ever said politicians aren't hypocrites eh?

Olympics blah yawn...and in other news a full on shooting war has broken out in the Caucuses. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/08/georgia.russia2 It has been threatening for the last 15 years mind.

So black men dance better, jews are more likely to be circumcised, Spaniards* are more likely to live with their parents until a late age...blah blah blah. Any of this going anywhere? Fact remains Shu and Mrs Shu were upset by a remark and I think justifiably so. The comment almost certainly came from ignorance and crassness rather than out and out racism (and I'm pretty sure the bloke knew it would have been irksome rather than charming**) but so what, a bit of decency costs nothing. * An old Spanish joke goes, "how do you know Jesus was a Spaniard? He lived with his mum until he was 34." **I'm inclined to agree that "Yo, Sushi" (a la Bush to Blair perhaps) would have at least had some sort of proto-wit about it

The loss of Inside 72 notwithsatnding, I don't see a reduction of artiness (though really, how arty is a bar with a half decent music policy), there's still plenty of artiness in and around the areal; Galleries, exhibitions the open house arts 'festival' etc. Edginess. I've been here 8 years and though I've seen it get more polished, I can't say as it ever felt particularly edgy, it was just there were about 3 old school pubs. I've seen a fair old bunch of the Forresters crowd in the Bishop, and lots of blow ins from Lewisham, and the late night back room crowd in Kebab and Wine are a very interesting bunch if that's what you're after. My relationship with ED has changed in those 8 years. I'm no longer a mid *ahem* twenties singleton out on the pull, I'm a very soon to be married lad in his 30s out to enjoy drinks with friends (actually that's all I ever did, my pulling to going out ratio was very very poor). Perhaps it's Matt who has moved on, I've seen very little change in ED over 18 moths. Now if we can just brick up foxtons again.....

Yeah, that was a lovely tocuh, hmm nice load screen....oh...the game's started.

"I have never, to my knowledge, passed a "stereotypical straight bar with men outside in groups swearing and shouting at each other and girls as they pass" in East Dulwich. Perhaps I dont get out enough." ..or don't walk past the Bishop after a certain hour.

get yourself a proper camera ;-) Here's next lens, hopefully in time for wedding/holiday http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-24-70mm-f-2.8-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

How on earth do yo uget hold of Mario Kart, I haven't seen one in the shops since April. Took me two months to find a blimmin' wii fit.