It is sad to report, but I have had no time to go to the movies since I saw Red Dog. I must say I am pleased to see it doing so well in the box office. It really is a great Australian production.
I have found time to read though, and finished Sunshine and Oranges - that is a must read. I continue to feel very uncomfortable and often outraged about the treatment of these kids who were lied to by successive Australian and British governments, and were so badly treated in Australia. Shame, shame, shame.
Subsequently I read Journey of a Thousand Miles - the story of the wonderful Chinese pianist, Lang Lang. You can also listen to him at his own website here - Lang Lang's website.
He is a remarkable young man and his story is truly inspirational.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Another book about China
I had gone to the Brisbane City Library to pick up the book "Sunshine and Oranges" that I had been waiting for, and as I was leaving the library with it, I saw another book. I'm keen to read books on China, and the title caught my eye. "My Life as Emperor" - a novel written by Su Tong, author of Rice and Raise the Red Lantern. I had not heard of this author, nor his books, but I quickly took it off the shelf and registered it.
As it turns out I read Su Tong's book before the Sunshine and Oranges book, the latter I have only just started. "My Life as Emporer" was quite an interesting book, about a 'pampered and naive fourteen-year-old prince' who became Emperor after the sudden death of his father. It was a fabu7lous read, and I was rivetted to the pages over the last week. I found it hard to put down. It would probably be of greater interest to someone really interested in Chinese culture, and it does describe the cruelty of le3aders in days past in ancient Chinese history, and thre treatment of concubines.
As it turns out I read Su Tong's book before the Sunshine and Oranges book, the latter I have only just started. "My Life as Emporer" was quite an interesting book, about a 'pampered and naive fourteen-year-old prince' who became Emperor after the sudden death of his father. It was a fabu7lous read, and I was rivetted to the pages over the last week. I found it hard to put down. It would probably be of greater interest to someone really interested in Chinese culture, and it does describe the cruelty of le3aders in days past in ancient Chinese history, and thre treatment of concubines.
Red Dog is doing well
I loved the movie Red Dog and as you can guess from the previous post I've told a few people about it!! Yesterday's newspaper reported on the success the film has already had in Australia, and that it is being released overseas soon. You can read the article here. It is currently showing in 246 venues in Australia and is about to be launched overseas. I wonder what non-Aussies will make of the Australian humour?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Movie mix up
I am back in Adelaide - this was something that had been on my agenda for some months, and despite having been here several times recently, I knew there were things to do as a result of Dad's death, so here I am.
I arrived on Sunday and spend much of the day discussing family matters, filling in forms etc. My sister works so during the working week I 'do my own thing.' Yesterday however, the electricity was going to be off all day due to some electrical work in the street, so I chose to go to the movies. I had wanted to see Mr Popper's Penguins, which seems rather fun, and I went up to the Box office and purchased my ticket. I did show my Seniors card, but it cost me $12.50, and as the movie was about to start I headed to the theatres. The lady collecting tickets briefly looked at my ticket and said "Are you over 60?" I was rather surprised by her questioning but with a smile admitted it. She told me I had been overcharged and sent me back to the Box Office with a message. I did as I was told.
The girl at the desk was rather put out - but duly gave me my ticket. I returned hurriedly to the theatres, and in the somewhat dim light read that I was to be in theatre 13, and I went in. One thing that amused me was that there was set seating, though I didn't climb up that far to the row and seat that was allotted to me.
There was already things happening on the screen - there was a short preview of a movie, and then what I thought was the trailer for the movie "Red Dog". It took a while before I realised that I was watching not a trailer but the movie. I wondered what I should do? Clearly I was in the wrong theatre - I couldn't read my ticket in the dim light. I knew also too that even if I did exit the theatre, and go back to exchange my ticket I would have missed the first part of "Mr Popper's Penguins" - so I sat tight.
And I am glad I did. What a fabulous movie was "Red Dog". What a great Australian movie. There are a couple of books detailing the story of this dog that wandered the Pilbara in the 1970's, and it is quite famous in that part of the country even with a statue of it at Dampier. You can read about it on Wikipedia.
There were lots of laughs as the story of Red Dog unfolded, and the most wonderful photography of that part of Western Australia. I wonder about the potential for international audiences - but certainly anyone understanding the Australian history and humour would enjoy it.
I certainly laughed out loud often. Loved it.
I will see it again - it was wonderful.
I arrived on Sunday and spend much of the day discussing family matters, filling in forms etc. My sister works so during the working week I 'do my own thing.' Yesterday however, the electricity was going to be off all day due to some electrical work in the street, so I chose to go to the movies. I had wanted to see Mr Popper's Penguins, which seems rather fun, and I went up to the Box office and purchased my ticket. I did show my Seniors card, but it cost me $12.50, and as the movie was about to start I headed to the theatres. The lady collecting tickets briefly looked at my ticket and said "Are you over 60?" I was rather surprised by her questioning but with a smile admitted it. She told me I had been overcharged and sent me back to the Box Office with a message. I did as I was told.
The girl at the desk was rather put out - but duly gave me my ticket. I returned hurriedly to the theatres, and in the somewhat dim light read that I was to be in theatre 13, and I went in. One thing that amused me was that there was set seating, though I didn't climb up that far to the row and seat that was allotted to me.
There was already things happening on the screen - there was a short preview of a movie, and then what I thought was the trailer for the movie "Red Dog". It took a while before I realised that I was watching not a trailer but the movie. I wondered what I should do? Clearly I was in the wrong theatre - I couldn't read my ticket in the dim light. I knew also too that even if I did exit the theatre, and go back to exchange my ticket I would have missed the first part of "Mr Popper's Penguins" - so I sat tight.
And I am glad I did. What a fabulous movie was "Red Dog". What a great Australian movie. There are a couple of books detailing the story of this dog that wandered the Pilbara in the 1970's, and it is quite famous in that part of the country even with a statue of it at Dampier. You can read about it on Wikipedia.
There were lots of laughs as the story of Red Dog unfolded, and the most wonderful photography of that part of Western Australia. I wonder about the potential for international audiences - but certainly anyone understanding the Australian history and humour would enjoy it.
I certainly laughed out loud often. Loved it.
I will see it again - it was wonderful.
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