Mario World

Periodically I'll be advertising my eBay sale items here.

If you missed the 2005 Wizard World Philadelphia Spike Palz listing fret not! I'm now selling a Nintendo DS Handheld Console & Mario Kart Bundle.

•Bundle includes:
•Silver Nintendo DS
•Mario Kart DS

This is in mint condition - only opened once and switched on to ensure that there are no dead pixels.

Scarlett fever

Several months ago I bought Lost in Translation (2003) and consigned the acclaimed movie to the bookshelf for future viewing...

The movie is an unabridged delight. Sofia's non-intrusive direction lends itself towards the early 'cinéma vérité' of her famous father, Francis, and his apprentice George Lucas. The absence of subtitling enforces the theme of alienation and disenfranchisement.

Tokyo has never looked more arresting; whether the viewer is subjected to the neon-drenched kaleidoscopes of advertising, arcades or more traditional temples of Japan. Air underscores the ambience, tempo and melancholia.

Bill Murray (one of my all time favorite actors) and Johansson's chemistry and relationship, which could have so perilously veered towards Stanley Kubrick's Lolita (1962) if it had been consummated, culminates in a deeply moving coda.

Sofia Coppola artfully blends universal themes with personal introspection (her young marriage to fellow filmmaker Spike Jonze). Roxy Music's "More Than This" serves as a haunting lament. Lost in Translation takes pride of place alongside Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Romeo + Juliet (1996) in the pantheon of pathos.

This time my tendency for a liking of tragic romances gets an Apple Macintosh credit too!

Gellar's Alice

Synchronicity. The Wizard World Philadelphia Spike PALz arrived today and Sarah Michelle Gellar is set to play Alice in the long delayed movie adaptation of American McGee's Alice.

Whilst I welcome the news, the original Dimensions project held promise and after seeing Jennifer Garner in Alias, with it's ambitious Alice In Wonderland subtext, I opine the missed opportunity to see Garner (rumored to be pregnant) play the titular character.

Given the literary roots of McGee's opus, I would have cast Keira Knightley in the titular role! Perhaps a fine line drawing to, literally, illustrate my point... Firing up Corel Painter IX.

Future Imperfect

Metrowerks has ceased support for the Macintosh version of CodeWarrior. The company can't compete with Xcode 2.1 (free with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger).

Palisades Toys are offering their Collectors Club members (myself included) a San Diego Comic Con 2005 Exclusive Transformers: 6-inch scale Megatron Statue. As a fan this is too much. The Wizard World Philly Spike PALz sold out in 90 minutes! I'll post a photo of my PALz soon.

My Revenge of the Sith soundtrack review can now be read here. Thanks to Temple Stark.