h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Beer festival, Portslade. Went down there Friday evening, had a half dozen pints of mostly very enjoyable and good laugh with nice friendly folk, all far cleverer and vastly more interesting than myself. But was too busy enjoying the company a humour to feel too out of place and by the time we were sitting around Tim and Loz's opium table drinking £200 a bottle mediocre whisky I was too inebriated and to feel anything but a kind of warmness inside.
Tim dropped me off at the Marina this afternoon and I went to Hard Candy. Which is disturbingly spot on. From Ellen Page's performance in X-men you wouldn't know she had the strength to give such a performance. I also saw X-men a second time, just to see if would seem any less pathetic if I went in without the high hopes I'd taken with me the first time.
Last week I saw Secuestro Express and Down In The Valley, both damnfine films. Which was a relief after weeks of tedious mind-numbingly stupid films.

I'm pleased you had such a pleasant, social, fun time at the beer festival. Shame the incredibly expensive whisky was so pants!

"Hard Candy"

I saw a review of that on TV this morning. I thought it had the potential to be either really good (questioning the nature of love, morality, etc) or really cardboard (stereotyping paedophiles and having a pat ending in which he realises the error of his ways and everyone lives happily ever after). What did you think of it?

"I also saw X-men a second time, just to see if would seem any less pathetic if I went in without the high hopes I'd taken with me the first time."

And did it?

I've heard that 'Thank You for Smoking' is supposed to be very good.

Bum, I lost my original reply. I don't have time to explain everything clearly.

Hard Candy greatest strength is the performances given throughout by our two leads who are barely off camera. It's other huge asset is the intelligence of the script, it's sharp, it's severe. It cuts through bullshit, the passive-agressive nature of this paedophile predator and his denials and protestations are given a clean kill by the wit of the 14 year old avenging lolita who in a number of ways is his equal, his opposite and his mirror image.
Visceral is word I have heard alot in relation to the film. I can't agree that it's gory, it is visceral in that so much intelligent thought provoking developements and layers of communication being used. I'm thinking again of the avenging lolita being a mirror.
I don't think paedophiles are stereotyped at all and the ending is clever not pappy but you do wonder if they had to be set on the roof.
It is a morality tale but you some people may be blinded by the superficially blurred morality of using surgery and torture.
The nature of love doesn't get much of a look in.

X-men 3: The Last Stand is $H!†€.

Does the 14-year-old have any weaknesses, character flaws or failures?

I think too much empathising with her character would have been bad for this film.

Beer festavil is always good ; so will you be making it to London for the meet?

I may well be there, there's talk of going to museum of London before the evening drinking ceromonies. They've a 'Satirical London' exhibition on, Hogarths and Gillrays and other works from the last 300 years or so, which tipped the balance of my hesitation.

Last time I brought organic chocolates along for a few people, but since you said you don't much care for I was thinking of bringing along some jalepeno crisps for your savoury palette. I find they're quite addictive!

Are you aware of Pastey's http://technoimbiber.co.uk/ project for tose who wish to keep track of all those ales, porters and stouts they've been quaffing upon?
Had some good beer at Stanley Arms, Back Of The Neck and England Expects I think being the highlights.


Snailrind, could you be in London for the 8th?

That's the day we go to our rented summer shack...
I want to meet Azatoth and Snailrind.

!!
AND I really liked the chocolate gingers! Thanks again! I was hoping to get them to meself, but the hubby found them...

The 8th? I'll check.

Glad you liked them... I regret I can't say the same of Salted liquorish.

Where's the summerhouse?


How did the checking go young snail?

Salted liquorish is an acquired taste. Some people just don't get it!

The summer house is on Öland, the long, narrow island just off the east coast of southern Sweden. We're at about the middle of the east coast of the island. Two weeks of being busy doing something close to nothing (quote Prince, Raspberry beret)

Currently it looks as though I'm more likely to be there than not be there. I'm sorry I won't get to meet you, Milla.

How much are B & B's these days?

Been looking at Öland, seems great.


I've no idea about B&Bs, I most frequently stayed at the Dover Castle, which is great if you don't mind sharing room withh a mixture of illegal immigrants, backpackers and homeless and all for only a tenner.

I knew they plotting something.
http://hitlercats.motime.com/

Dover Castle? That's not in London, I take it?

Anyway, I've done a cost analysis, and it's looking pretty unfeasible for me after all. Sorry. It's because I can't stay at my brother's at that time, because his landlord's got guests.

Dover Castle [pub] is in Borough. It was a tenner a night and I rather enjoyed staying there every time because everyone was easy going...

http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/

Private room for less than £30 or, sharing for around £20? Any more feasible?