Jaz Design

This has now moved to my personal blog – http://nomorechoc.com

I wrote this way back when the movie came out… oops!

The day before the big move, The Dark Knight was released in the UK. The mister was desperate to see it and so was I to some extent. We headed to the cinema straight from work, and spent two solid hours staring at the big screen.

The hype about the Joker and Ledger’s performance was definitely right – he was great. But so was everyone else (except maybe the woman who played Rachel this time, not that Holmes was much better, but still).
I particularly liked the character of Harvey Dent, and it was interesting to see that element of the plot played out. There were some really funny moments, and some really awesome moments (note: Batmobile), but one thing stood out more than anything – and this isn’t anything against the film, I loved it – it was so freaking depressing! I imagine that’s the point, but for two hours we were bombarded with this deluge of angst, and I felt rather deflated afterwards. A lot of people I’ve spoken to have said the same.

That said, eat loads of sugar to get your happy up, and then go and see it. You must see this film. The adverts are not lying when they tell you that much! 5/5!

I love the Hitchcock version of Rebecca, and whilst it’s not 100% true to the book, I think it does it justice and makes for worthy watching. The BBC edition goes completely the other way and fails miserably. Film and book are completely different media and should be treated as such. The BBC version is basically the book put on screen (not adapted), which makes for long and dreary watching because it simply doesn’t work. The one change they did make was to add in a sexual relationship between Mrs Dewinter and Maxim – which in the book it’s pretty much made clear is nonexistent until they have their big revelation moment. This doesn’t really add anything to the film and detracts from the vein of Mrs Dewinter’s insecurity in the relationship and Maxim’s distance from her.

Its three hours long and definitely one to miss – try the book, it’s so much better. Or if you’re really not a book person, the Hitchcock adaptation.

I finally finished watching all the 24 that has been released (I started with season 6…) and after the not that exciting season that was day 4, day 5 proved to be something most awesome.

If you haven’t seen it, watch it. If you have, ignore the spoiler warning.

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I quite enjoy a bit of cheesy horror from time to time, and lent this by a friend I wasn’t disappointed. The writing is terrible, the acting is wooden (actors chosen for looks? Same as a lot of horror films…), the stories are pretty much every horror film I’ve ever seen rehashed to fit into a 40 minute slot and it’s very one dimensional. Which doesn’t mean it’s bad, if you want some light entertainment of that calibre. It may get better in the second season, I don’t really intend to find out. I did enjoy a couple of the episodes, and some things are quite funny, but it’s never going to be a cult classic like Buffy or Roswell. Sorry.

The writer’s strike has really messed this show up. With the rushed ending of season 3 (which was still good, but honestly needed more back story, and the whole Booth scenario needed something more), and the first two episodes yet again just seemed like a lot of character development crammed in to a short space of time to make up for the gap. Sorry writers, I’m sure you’re doing your best, but it’s not quite cutting it.

Spoilers – Not seen season 4 or the end of 3? Don’t look!

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My copy of Adbusters came today. Like every year they’re doing a TV Turn-Off week, only this time it’s called “Mental Detox Week” which makes more sense in that the digital explosion of the last few years means we’re hounded by more than just TV.

The premise:

“The idea is simple: take your TV, your DVD player, your video iPod, your XBOX 360, your laptop, your PSP, and say goodbye to them all for seven days. Simple, but not at all easy. Like millions of others before you, you’ll be shocked at just how difficult – yet also how life-changing – a week spent unplugged can really be.”

Find out more at this link.

Last night’s South Park, titled “Over Logging” actually highlighted some key issues surrounding always being “turned on” to the internet in particular. It’s really hilarious, but also a little disturbing. I won’t spoil it, but I did want to mention a few things that have tied into things I’ve read in Adbusters material. Not knowing how to behave in a face to face situation, feeling compelled to check and reply to emails etc, becoming numb to real relationships and sex, having too much information etc.

I’m all for the internet, I just thought it was funny and thought provoking and tied in well with Adbusters’ message. Check it out if you get the chance

I think in America you might be able to view the full thing where this clip is, if not, here’s a clip!

I’m all up to date since the last update I think, here are the thumbs. Actually this is going to turn into a massive post now that I think about it, interspersed with thumbs of my 365.

I had this photograph featured in a piece on NowPublic.com about the government maybe enforcing some kind of smoking licence scheme. I know it’s not that big of a deal, but it’s really nice that they asked to use my photograph. Also VOTE PETE for student support officer. This be him, pictured here.

I saw Sweeney Todd. Whever it was, with the Mister. I thought the movie was good. Not my favourite Burton, but it kept me entertained. Here I tried drawing with white on black paper, which is much harder than it sounds. I will post the finished piece, when I finish it, I guess.

The Mister’s mum sent us pressies from Egypt. This is the little wood camel we got. Name suggestions in the comments please!

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My best friend came to visit that Friday. Haven’t seen him since Christmas so it was a blast. The Mister cooked us up a good dinner and good times were had by all. These are some of the flowers he brought me.

I honestly adore how in England going to the beach in winter isn’t a bad idea. I spent the best part of my day down at the beach whichever day this was, just listening to music and sleeping on the pebbles. It was awesome. The weather was nice too. I love this photo.

My Valentines present was oil pastels which I asked for. Expect an art in the next few weeks This is also the card I made for the Mister, the idea for which I stole from Dinosaur Comics. Check that out. Hilarity with dinosaurs. It’s hand painted anyway. Check me out. Little miss artist.

Valentines day itself, the Mister cooked me a lovely meal, we had lots of wine, and watched Lost in Translation. I quite liked the film, it kind of reminded me of Eternal Sunshine in the way it was formulated and how it was two people making a connection.

Selling my blue Olympus 410. Buy it here.

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Massive emo moment, haha! I’ll post when I have the rest of this set up, I have a few of them. They’re sort of a sequel to my Descent themed set and part of my Self Elected project.

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Today’s picture is about something so exciting, it’s getting it’s own post.

I have to bind it. On the deadline. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR ME.

And no lectures about time management either, there were issues with this project.

Just a note to say I do have my daily photos, almost all of them, I think I missed one. You can see them when I have time to upload them, maybe Thursday. Provided I don’t drink too much after hand in tomorrow and cease to exist.

I dyed my hair today. Tis black. Also, I’M SEEING SWEENEY TODD ON THURSDAY.

I had a lovely Christmas, I spent Christmas eve and Christmas morning with the mister and his family, which was great and I really enjoyed myself. We spent Christmas eve snuggled up watching telly, drinking Champagne, and then woke up uncharacteristicly early Christmas morning to open our presents.

We’d decided to do a “serious” present, a “silly” present and a bunch of stockingy presents for each other. I’d bought him Mass Effect (Xbox 360), the Muse poster from the gigs we went to in June, a Screaming Flying Monkey and a lot of chocolate and sweeties

He’d accepted my suggestion of jewellery, and got me the beautiful set shown here. I picked butterflies because of the Muse song “Butterflies and Hurricanes” which is my favourite song of all time, it’s pretty special. He also got me Lego Star Wars II (PS2) (which I haven’t had chance to play yet), a make and display Play-Doh parrot which is awesome, and lots of sweeties.

My Mum got me a subscription to Adbusters magazine which is awesome because I won’t be able to read it at the library once I finish uni , I got money, a new duvet and set, lots of chocolate and sweeties, a nail varnish set, Sleepy Hollow, Design Without Boundaries: Visual Communication in Transition and I’m sure I’m forgetting some stuff.

As an aside, watch Toy Story, it’s awesome. I’m Woody, howdy howdy howdy.