Game of Thrones

So guess you've already heard about this show... I mean, it's even on Fox Life now. As a diehard fan of the books and after waiting eagerly for the series for years, I should be angry that the best fantasy around is turning into a cash-in pop icon. But I'm not. Bringing George R. R. Martin's epic soap opera to the TV-screens is no easy task - huge cast, various locations, costumes, weapons and armor, battle scenes... When reading the books, I often found myself thinking this would make an awesome series (as it would be impossible to fit into movies), yet I was sure nobody would undertake that effort. And only HBO could pull it off. I wouldn't call the final product spectacular but it's defeneatly more than competent, which is saying much.
There are a few things to nag on - some cast members are quite bland (Sansa, Catelyn, Jaime) and the production values fall a bit short in HD (bored extras in the background, fake beard of King Robert). The books were presented from the standpoint of a handful of characters and the series has added some awkward dialogues between supportive characters to further explain the background - these don't feel right.
But this is just a fanboy wail. If you haven't watched "Game of Thrones" yet, you should do so or wildlings will eat your toes.
The second season is in the works but who knows when it will air. Note that the series is actually called "The Song of Fire and Ice" and "Game of Thrones" is only the name of the first book. So do they call the second season "Clash of Kings"? I doubt it...

Saiko

Melancholia

"Melancholia" is the latest film by Danish "national hero" Lars von Trier. It stars Kirsten Dunst as Justine and Charlotte Gainsbourg as her sister Claire.
The movie begins with Justine's wedding. After a failed party, her husband leaves Justine and she falls into heavy depression. Claire attempts to nurse Justine back to health, while the rest of the world is obsessed with a huge "hidden planet", which is moving towards Earth. Rightfully so, because it happens to hit Earth and destroy all life in the Universe.
Lars von Trier has a very unique handwriting when it comes to making movies. Beautiful and well composited wide shots are mixed with shaky handycam closeups, making his films both powerful yet very personal; sotrywriting seems to ignore conventional rules, still the flow is flawless. However, there isn't much in "Melancholia" that hasn't already been seen, it's like "Antichrist" without horror. Also, the social awkwardness  of a failed celebration reminds too much of another Danish film - "Celebration" ("Festen") from 1998. And the whole "big planet comes and destroys everything" aspect isn't as dramatic as it was probably planned.
If you've seen Antichrist, then you remember how the movie focused on one couple so heavily that all the other character's faces were blurred out. Watching "Melancholia", you can see why - most of support characters are stereotypes and caricatures. Although Kiefer Sutherland has a very powerful presence, anchoring the unpredictable actions of mentally unstable main characters. While watching the film, I couldn't remember, where I had seen the actor who played the shy groom. Wikipedia helped, that was Alexander Skarsgård, main character of HBO's "Generation: Kill".

Should watch that again. In high res....

Saiko

The Wire

The first thing I'm going to talk about, is something really deserving. The Wire is HBO's crime drama, which I've been hearing about more and more lately. In recent months I watched through all the five seasons (made 2002-2008) and I have to agree that it's fucking great! Deep writing, brilliant acting and realistic depiction of crime world made me a real fan of the series. Some people call it the best TV-series ever made and they sure have a point.
Although the main characters remain mostly the same, every season focuses on different aspects of the crime and drug dealing of Baltimore, where the series takes place. First season is about drug corners, second about docks and smuggling, third focuses on government and corruption, fourth is about school system and the fifth season brings in the journalism angle.
The Wire wasn't very successful when it came out, as it was hard to follow after missing some episodes and used heavy doses of gangster and cop slang. I mean, what the hell is an affidavit? Why is everybody axing questions instead of asking them? Still, I very much suggest getting all the episodes and having a little Wire-marathon.
Shiiiiit...

Saiko