[ TVnMe ]

Posted on by August 18, 2014

There is something about trash TV that I really like.
My social circles usually did not care much for TV. I was often among people proudly claiming ” I do not own a TV ” or having a TV only for their PlayStation.
Even though I had every reason to belong to that group, nothing wrong with that group mind,they probably read way more books than me, I always had a fondness for the ol’ dumb box.

Last night, after a few pints, a couple of my mates and me watched some AUGUST LATE NIGHT GREEK TELEVISION, basically as trashy as you can get.
Nowadays not something I do often, I remembered the days when I used to fall asleep at 7-8 AM, watching Μελέτη or Παπαδάκη semi registering all the news/gossip of the day to come. Good times, or at least, good memories.

What is it about trash TV then?
Is it that it makes me feel smarter and superior, do I just enjoy mocking how silly and commonlowestdenominator-y the whole thing is?
Maybe, I don’t really know what it is I like about trash tv.
I totally get the disgust some of my friends feel for it. I think it would be the same level of disgust that I feel for σκυλάδικα (greek neo-folk-pop songs).
Yet something enjoys it. I guess it could just be my brain going
“*click*Goodnight! Cya tommorow”

Is there something to be salvaged from low quality entertainment?

[ Robin Gone ]

Posted on by August 14, 2014

Watching Nightmare on Elm Street now, damn Johnny Depp was young in that movie.

Robin Williams died on monday. I wish I could do an Economist level obituary, but I can’t.
I remember him from childhood movies like Hook but what Robin Williams really did for me is get me interested in stand up comedy.
I probably didn’t even know how watching just one man on a stage telling jokes could be so amazing if it hadn’t been for Robin and his Live at the Met show.
Sure, I soon outgrew his style of humour, moving on to Bill Hicks, George Carlin and Dylan Moran (I still consider these three to be the best when it comes to Stand Up, with Bill being the more “serious” and thought provoking one, Dylan moran being the less political one, and George Carlin sitting happily in the middle.
What I admired most about Robin Williams was his ability to comedically think in what seems to me like light speed. Just check the end of his Actor’s Studio interview. The guy was a master of improv.

Apparently he killed himself.
Depression is something that frightens me, the idea that the mind can turn against itself in such a way scares me beyond words.
I also like to think that humour is a very good defense mechanism (besides just plain good fun) and if a “funny” man of Robin’s level can’t save himself from depression…

Robin was also an avid Video Game fan. He named his daughter Zelda ffs, what a boss (pun not intended).
Weirdly enough, one of the things I will remember most will be his impromptu demo for the game Spore.

I really hate the Rest in Peace saying when it comes to death, feels very religious and lame.
Plus, resting in peace sounds okey for a couple of weeks, but who would want a whole eternity of peace and rest?

As pointless as life is, Robin Williams made a lot of people happy and in the grand scheme of pointlessness, I find that to be one of the most meaningful things that anyone can do.

~Garret

[ The UnBORED ]

Posted on by August 5, 2014

I love crappy horror movies, it is a well established fact.

The Unborn delivers on that promise adequately enough:

Horrible dialogue?
“Do you believe you can be haunted by someone that isn’t born yet?” –Check

-Horrible Plot that makes no sense?
They make a point of establishing that this “demon outside our universe” is something that predates religion, but they kill it with a plain exorcism. –Check

I mean, “thing that is not from our universe” is such a great premise. It could be Cthulhu, it could be an octopus with a bicycle instead of a reproductive organ, it could be the personification of a sneeze.
But no, it’s just a creepy kid. That’s all.

A few creepy visuals but nothing that floats in the sea of stupid jumpscares and silly cliches.

Let’s examine the poster, I think it speaks for itself but I can speak for itself a bit too.

The Unborn

Clearly selling the horror

A few things bug me about the poster.

How can we see the reflection of the girl when the camera is directly behind her?

Either the kid is way taller than her or he is stepping on a stool or something. The latter would kill any morsel of horror still remaining on this movie.

There must be some spring-loaded closing mechanism for the mirror cause everybody seems to get their fingers caught, judging by the blood.
Oh, sorry, it isn’t blood, it’s just some REALLY lame Photoshop brushes.

The girl looks quite distraught but she is not looking at something directly, certainly not the boy. It seems to me like she just remembered something she forgot.

AND OF COURSE THE BUTT, clearly unintentional.

All in all, boring movie, filled to the brim with plot cliches, horror cliches and of course a prime example of the Teal/Orange plague that ails Hollywood for half a decade now.

2 Stars.

~Garret

Garret’s Log,Supplemental

I also finished the second season of Game of Cards, I mean House of Cards. I binged it these two days. A solid show, Kevin Spacey is just amazing as Frank Underwood and even though the politics part became a bit too… thick for me to follow at certain points, I am still amazed at how the show and cast make us root for the most manipulative evil bastard around , I guess we are programmed to identify with protagonists.
The ending was… satisfying. Hellz Yea.

[ Guest Post: Το Παιδί Που Ήταν Λουλούδι ]

Posted on by July 26, 2014

Το οπτικοακουστικό κομμάτι είναι ενα παραμύθι guest-post απο εναν φίλο, το Φώτη Κυριαζίδη.

Δράττομαι τις ευκαιρείας να πω πως απο αυριο και για καμιά βδομάδα θα βρίσκομαι στην Ηρακλειά, οπότε αν θέλετε να επικοινωνίσετε μαζί μου, θα χρειαστείτε τουλάχιστον ενα φουσκωτό.

thechildflower

~Garret

[ Time and Motion ]

Posted on by June 26, 2014

There is a certain charm in doing things the last minute. I am flying to Greece tomorrow, the main reason being that in a week from today I have a Skype interview ,part of a series, after which I have no idea what the future might hold.
So, might as well visit the old Psorokostaina now that I can. Not that I have missed the old land much, if it weren’t any friends and family still left back there I don’t think I would be considering it.

It is the third time this year that I book one way tickets.
Look at me, adventurer extraordinaire.

~Garret

[ Return from Black Pond ]

Posted on by June 25, 2014

The daily update thing sure did not last long did it?
But contrary to what you dear readers might believe, I am nit neglecting you because I am too occupied trying to do a Baldur’s Gate II solo run ( even though that is definitely in the long term plans) but actually, I have been working towards getting a job that I can only describe as a Dream Job, now most of you know already way more details than I am going to reveal here yet.

But I sort of miss updating the Attic, and at the same time I find it easier to just neglect it. Daily update routine must pick up again.

And if things go well…. We will have plenty of things to talk about.

~Σας ασπάζομαι, Garret

20140624-235902-86342402.jpg

[ Hey you there ]

Posted on by June 15, 2014

mainchar
I haven’t posted anything in a while, have I?
A silly question, one that we all know the answer of.
But, unlike all the other times that I have not updated this blog often(ly), this time I actually do have a reason.
Well, not a reason exactly, but I have things occupying my mind that are quite a bit more important than the usual day-to-day drivel.

I don’t want to get into too much detail, although I suspect most of you that read this probably know what I am talking about, but it concerns a job.

A really important job that I am giving it my all to get. I have put aside all my efforts to get into a Master’s degree for the time being. It is a prime example of putting one’s eggs into one basket, I am well aware of that.

I won’t try and explain my reasoning behind my actions, suffice to say I have found something that I am really interested in and working hard to get, it has put all the other things into perspective to be honest.

I have no idea what the future holds, but it won’t be long till I do.

In other news, I have been watching Twin Peaks quiet a bit these days, it is a very strange show, almost a deconstruction of the Soap Opera genre. David Lynch is directing it and I am reminded that I really enjoy the slightly creepy worlds that his works tend to occupy.

Bah, this is a rubbish post, but I hope it serves as a re-entry to the semi-regular update routine.

~Garret