A cocktail of my own invention

You can make spaghetti last a whole week (the unwritten survival guide of a student states this as step no. 1) and not mind the monotony of the dish. This is quite different when it comes to cocktails.

There is a certain smirk I cannot quite shake as I hand someone their drink whilst asking "have you met the Captain ?" 

Rosemary's Baby (1967, 1968, 2014)

The many versions of Rosemary's Baby.

novel —1967. Really greatly written by Ira Levin.
film — 1968. Great performances from Mia Farrow and cast.
TV — 2014. Great performances from Zoe Saldana, Jason Isaacs, Carole Bouquet and Patrick J. Adams.

novel — well worth a read, but quite scary. Not to read when expecting.
film — interestingly filmed. Scary to see Rose’s development and skeletal form. Not to see when expecting.
TV — very well filmed. Slightly rewrites abhorrent behaviour and moves language from slightly awkward 60’s tones to modern day sensibilities. Not to see when expecting.

novel — NY
film — NY
TV — Paris

novel — sculpting class
TV — cookery (it is set in Paris after all).

novel — Really bloody rape-y and disgusting - “kind of fun in a necrophile way” . Abhorrent.
film — Slightly rape-y excuse for scratches.
TV — Not rape-y reason for scratches - just cheeky scratches.

novel — really awkward language with its approach to race (60’s crudeness) 60’s notions of drinking when pregnant is also quite surprising to read in this day and age of strict medical attention.
TV — no awkwardness at all.

novel — novel Rosemary seems really nasty and shallow in her description of Mrs Castevet’s appearance! Guy also joined in with Rosemary to mock her appearance, which i thought was terribly rude with no purpose. Though saying this, I did cringe inwardly when I read the dinner table didn’t have matching plates.
TV — the Castevets are just as pompous in the TV series as in the book, but in a different vibe.

The main change are that, where the book and film are really awkward and strange in places, the miniseries removes these awkward events. (Novel and film) Rose is in a shutoff, restricted relationship which we would call abusive nowadays. - The miniseries makes them staying together seem more realistic, instead of Rose leaving the relationship earlier. The relationship doesn’t seem as twisted.


Haikus

Dear Rosemary,
you should listen to your instincts.
Run from Castevets.

Dear Rosemary,
Guy is a bad, selfish man.
You can do better.

Dear Rosemary,
We do not drink when pregnant.
One of times changes.

Dear Rosemary,
try healthy relationship
and grow old happy.

 

Maleficent (rated PG)

3.8/5 Stars (slightly too in love with classic Disney to jump right on this just yet)

No spoilers fam.

As "preparation" I re-watched Sleeping Beauty (1959). The slight changes made for Maleficent seemed foolish and slightly annoying at first (for continuity is one of the babes of life) but it was soon obvious that they were made so that the character of Maleficent, played amazingly by Angelina Jolie, can be empathised with later on in the film.

Maleficent and King Stephan have several younger counterparts. - I was rather excited to see Jackson Bews in a big film like this after seeing him in The Psychopath Next Door (2013), waiting for a bigger part to see if he really is the yet untapped talent I thought... Without saying too much, there wasn't much. Like, at all. That did humour me in a way though, getting all excited and there being surprisingly nothing in return. (I assure you I'm giggling as I type). Isobelle Molloy, who plays young Maleficent, was truly amazing (it kind of scares me to think she was born in 2000) and played opposite the also rather marvellous Michael Higgins. It really was rather charming, seeing them really take the stage and not awkwardly blurt out their lines, but really play them.

Sam Riley (who played Ian Curtis in Control) is Diaval, Maleficent's assistant/coworker. His vibe is pretty sick, with his symmetrical scars (slightly sexy) and the nature of the character. He is a genuine, lovably character as opposed to his 1959 version.

Elle Fanning and Brenton Thwaites, who play Aurora and Prince Philip respectively, are the perfect renditions of the 1959 version, with their cute little giggles and smiles (these moments reminded me it was a Disney film and not just a crazy fantasy film). Seeing as the last thing I saw Thwaites in was Oculus, I'm not sure he could have chosen a more opposing character (which really proves his acting skill). I don't remember  seeing baby Fanning in anything before except a few modelling shoots, but she pulls off an English accent well, as does Jolie. In a similar way to the 1959 version, Aurora doesn't have very much dialogue and firstly comes across as pretty face. - However, there is the clear vibe that the three fairies (who grant the princess the gifts when she's young) are really quite foolish and granted the gift of beauty and joy because of their naive nature and not knowing what would actually come in useful - like some brains, common sense, and not such a shallow outlook. Other than this, they were rather fun (remember this film is for kiddies).

Speaking of accents, what's with the Scottish tones of King Stephan (who's the baddy in this film) and most people of the kingdom having Scottish tones? Is this some vague/not so vague nod at the unhappy vibe between Scotland and England? Should we read into it? Shouldn't we just be happy that people are realising the babeness of both nations' accents?

Though I really love the original, Maleficent is a quirky, quaint, quite heart-puncturing film, with Angelina Jolie playing superbly (dare I say "best performance ever"?).

Undercroft Skatepark

"I'd rather be out on the street without guards" 20 year old student, London.
Recently (Thursday 25 March until Saturday 19 April) there was an underground skatepark at Selfridges (Entrance on Orchard Street, W1). (The HTC One Skatepark). To myself and cited friend, this could not have come at a stranger time. Long Live Southbank (LLSB) have been fighting for the right to keep the undercroft skatepark free, public space as the Southbank Centre proprietors argue their case of expanding their buildings and galleries (very generalised summary).
Southbank Centre are claiming all sorts of bizarre reasons, one being that they would create space where young people can meet and get into art... Clearly the skatepark is one such meeting place, which is inclusive of all and completely free 24/7. The undercroft is the oldest skatepark and one of the most famous skate spots in the world, having been skated for 30+ years.
With thousands of persons signing the petition supporting LLSB, the plans for redevelopment have been put on hold for a few more months. - This standoff has been going on for months now (and even years if you count the deterrents used by the Southbank complex) and Selfridges chose now to host an underground skatepark?
The vibe of the place was to mimic the well skated areas on the street ...but it was underground ... Surrounded by four walls... With ground rules.
This seems to be kind of missing the point with street skating - you take advantage of the space around you and utilise that in a free way, not given rules and copies of buildings to skate on.
With its bright lights and borders around the outside, the underground skatepark felt... Artificial. You could see that people were enjoying themselves and could get good pics of tricks, but the timing felt quite cheeky - like a sort of challenge - if people enjoy a skatepark made for that sole purpose, instead of an organic use of free space, then why leave the undercroft intact?
I get how skateparks are areas to play in and learn your footing as a beginner (or maybe you prefer indoor skateparks), but the street has a different vibe. To repeat my friend, "I'd rather be out on the street without guards".
 In the upcoming months as the Southbank undercroft is again discussed for redevelopment, remember that the space is organic, created by the people out of love for the sport/mode of transportation, not because of financial gain, and that the space is free for all to use and enjoy, not some barred off zoo enclosure.



 Video links

Rarely Asked Questions with Reuben - Junior Spokesperson for Long Live Southbank

LLSB - Southbank Centre: Consumerism over Culture

 

Undercroft

 

 HTC One Skatepark

 

Southbank Centre plan

Camden Rocks 2014

Of all the places in London one can visit , Camden is a babe of a destination.
So on the announcement of the Camden Rocks lineup, I quickly bought my ticket and planned my day. - First mistake , don't plan and expect to stay on schedule.
It was ever so much fun, wandering around and going, " I know him... And him... don't I ?" and a little moment later realising that you'd been standing near The Struts before they played their set (which was rather good).
Though as I had a review-writing-session in mind, I decided that getting there early would be a good vibe. - Second mistake , when I was über exhausted and was on the tube at the reasonably early 23.00, all the noises I heard were like gobbling of Turkeys.



I've seen more and more people wearing earplugs to gigs, and have always been (until now) quite skeptical and frowny when I saw such cases; however, after the hours of bombardment I now consider them a rather clever idea.
What is rather strange, is that gigs seem to have gotten more relaxed in a possibly awkward way - you've come to see a band you like the music of and run around and dance in your room to, yet when they play, you and most audience members stand and nod along (rather like a prog rock or Frank Zappa gig as you try and appreciate the complicated riffs and solos). The Struts felt the need to address this and try and get us to dance, which was really quite thoughtful and cute in my opinion. I think people were a bit reserved at earlier gigs (they played at 17:00 at Camden Proud) because of all the other gigs later on which were at different venues across roads and dodging market-goers. It did feel rather strange having my first pint as soon as I got my wristband, as later leaving the gig to see the early noon sky.
Back to the awkward dancing- isn't always the case, as there is often a lot of tentative dancing/swaying when the band play new tunes (oh so excited for The Xcerts new album), but all the same, the band want the audience to show their love for the music in a more obvious manner.
This was not the case for The Hell as all us audience members turned up to the gig prepared to scream profanities at the band members, which we readily did. (There was also a rather fabulous mosh pit to shame all other small-venue mosh pits.) Before the set even properly started the singer (cannot remember corresponding nickname) came into the audience pit and started up the vibe... And got a beer poured on him.
There is also the scheduling, as sometimes bands start late, take a long time setting up, have technical issues, or just don't seem to turn up... I may have been in the wrong place... it's hard to, and useless, get to each venue as the bands set begins. I may have been looking at the time far too frequently at this time, but in truth we don't go to gigs for punctuality.
As I'd been wandering around for near 11 hours, I said goodbye to my friends and voyaged home in the dark, taking these words with me (as my dear friend retold the advice given to her by another friend) "there is nothing wrong with being horizontal sometimes".
And oh, aren't lie-ins the best.



My favourite sets:

Stereo Juggernaut (14:00 Black Cap) 

The Struts (17:00 Proud) 

The Xcerts (18:00 Jazz Café) 

The Hell (21:00 Black Heart) 

Messenger (22:00 Purple Turtle)