Photo Every Day #304

So today could be really positive for my future but I won't say more as I don't want to jinx anything! Asami has also been exploring further and has learnt how to jump up on the gecko's tanks. She has to slowly creep around so she can spread her weight around without falling through the mesh! She doesn't actually look at the geckos but she's fascinated with the locust! She has also done a really stinky poop which the boy is currently cleaning up. It's hard to imagine such a smell coming from such a cute animal!

Asami & Her Tricks:


Song Of The Day: 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Mister Mental
Reason: Another amazing song by an awesomely quirky band

Highlight Of The Day: Possible future developments!

Photo Every Day #303

Just a quick one today as I want to get a good nights sleep. We had my aunty round for tea which was nice then my parents came over with little Pixie. Instead of barking at Asami she seemed to want to pull away so the second meeting didn't make any progress either! My Mum also bought us some more decorations to add to our collection!

Baubles:


Song Of The Day: Jessie J - Domino
Reason: Been stuck in my head all day, I can only guess that I must have heard it in work at some point!

Highlight Of The Day: An interesting phone call

Photo Every Day #302

Just a little funny PED today, my car reached 66.6 miles. Number of the beast!

Satanic:


Song Of The Day: Nicki Minaj - Va-Va-Voom
Reason: We've been listening to it loud in my friend's car today.

Highlight Of The Day: Chilling with friends and Asami.

Film Review: Into The Abyss (2011)

"Live your dash"

Into The Abyss; A Tale Of Death, A Tale Of Life is a feature length documentary film by Werner Herzog. The documentary focuses on two men serving time for murder. One man, Michael Perry received the death sentence for the killing of Sandra Stotler, whereas his accomplice Jason Burkett received a life sentence for the murder of Sandra's son and friend (Perry was also suspected of being involved in these killings but was never charged). They were all killed over the fact that Perry and Burkett wanted to drive Sandra's new car.

The documentary doesn't really focus on the details of the crimes and the innocence or guilt of the men, but instead tells the story of their experience in prison and on death row. Herzog asks them about their sense of the passing of time and how Perry copes with the thought of the death sentence hanging over him. The film is very similar to Herzog's On Death Row, a television mini series which also looks at prison life in the same manner but questions different death row inmates. The documentaries are more conversations with these inmates rather than the typical documentary formula of exploring and analysing the facts.

The documentary also interviews family members of the victims as well as a pastor who visits death row inmates during their final days and an ex-state executioner. It is these last two people who make the documentary so interesting and different to the run of the mill prison documentary; how many of us really consider what happens to the people surrounding death row cases whom are not directly involved in the case itself. It is the pastor and the executioner that show more emotion than even the prisoners themselves.

The film's primary message is to get us to question capital punishment. 'We are all people, who has the right to take another's life?' questions the film. It does encourage us to see everyone featured in the documentary simply as a human being, rather than the caricatures of a monstrous criminal waiting to die, tragic victims who can never go on to lead normal lives or someone simply doing their job. Nor does it try to rationalise nor reason why or how they could have committed the crimes; this would allow the view to be swayed in their opinions by their innocence or guilt. Although I don't feel the film makes us feel sorry for the inmates; I don't think this would be possible considering the pointless stupidity of their crime, it does make us see them as people dealing with a tough situation brought upon themselves through consequences of their own action by painting a picture of their lives in that moment. 

Personally, I'm still undecided. I think it's a good thing as it serves as a deterrent and rids the world of some hideous characters, but I also wonder how putting another family through the death of their loved one can be fair on them.

There's also a great interview with Herzog here which goes into a lot more depth.

Rating: 10/10

Photo Every Day #301

This evening I went out for a friend's birthday. We spent around 5 hours together and it was nice to have a laugh and a catch up. We've also decided to go on a road trip tomorrow to see any crazy sights that we can find nearby, so watch this space!

Hoe & Zeet:


Song Of The Day: Little Mix - DNA
Reason: I love this song! Such a talented group of girls.

Highlight Of The Day: A great evening with some of my best friends. 

Film Review: Identity (2003)

"As I was going up the stair,

I met a man who wasn't there

He wasn't there again today

I wish, I wish he'd go away"

I remember watching this film shortly after it came out on DVD whilst I was a teenager at a girly sleepover years ago. Although I couldn't remember a lot of the details I remember the rain. Strangely, the best part of the film for me is the rain. The noise and look of the rain is awesome and really adds to the sense of drama and entrapment at the hotel.

The plot sees 10 complete strangers becoming stranded at a motel in the torrential rain. The local area is flooded so they have no choice but to wait there for the night. Murders begin occurring and one by one the 10 become fewer and fewer without knowing who is doing it. A seemingly unrelated storyline runs throughout which sees a group of professionals discussing the case of a death row inmate. I won't ruin the end but the twist is a great spin on the plot.

The characters cover a wide spread of individual personalities. There's the hero limo driver (John Cusack), the angry cop (Ray Liotta) escorting a prisoner (Jake Busey), a prostitute heading for a new life (Amanda Peet), a bitchy actress (Rebecca De Mornay) along with a family (John C McGinley, Leila Kenzle and Brett Loehr), newly weds (Clea DuVall and William Lee Scott) and the shady motel owner (John Hawkes). The whole cast is fabulous and create really believable characters. Their relationships with each other are dynamic and leave you wanting to see more. Although the characters are mostly likable, it's hard to know who to trust and for most of the film everyone is a suspect.

Director James Mangold has directed some of my favourite films; Girl, Interrupted (1999) and Walk The Line (2005). So, I will definitely be adding some more of his films to my LoveFilm list. I really like the style of the film, it could have ended up a lot more cliched but Mangold keeps it fresh and tense throughout.

I couldn't rate this film enough. It's got an intriguing plot that keeps you gripped throughout, great sets, a mix of different personalities within the characters and is strung together with tension and mystery. Personally, I would have like to have seen a little more focus on the characters trying to work out their connections to each other although I do think it is covered in general in the film.

Rating: 9/10

Photo Every Day #300

So today is my 300th PED blog! Which means a mere 66 days to go before my task for this year is over! I'm definitely wanting to carry on so I might just carry the numbers on rather than starting from scratch again. We're trying like mad to save up every penny at the moment, so we have a bit pot of all out loose small change, it quickly mounts up and every penny counts!

Money, Money, Money:


Song Of The Day: Jimmy Eat World - Salt, Sweat, Sugar
Reason: My favourite song of theirs!

Highlight Of The Day: Being told that something good might be happening at work very soon.

Photo Every Day #299

Today's PED is of Asami's new cat tower. It's a beast! It's 5'6 and has two sleeping compartments, a little treat bowl and two fluffy mice. She actually seems to really like it so it wasn't a waste of money (it was a bargain at £50!).

Towering Tall:


Song Of The Day: 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Rise Of The Eagles
Reason: Such an awesome song! Great lyrics, great music.

Highlight Of The Day: It still being a mostly light when I finished work, not for long though!