I'm Back

Four weeks.

Four weeks since we ordered Broadband, and here it is. Finally, I can scour the internet for latest movie news, Facebook updates and pictures that no one else finds hilarious but me. It feels good to be connected to the world again, to know that I have every snippet of information at my fingertips once more. Shockingly enough, without this blog under easy access, I've found myself writing less and less. My novel has come to a grinding halt as I rework the structure, and an infuriating bout of writer's block has prevented me from cracking on with screenwriting using Final Draft.

It's time to review some films. Since I've been away, I've seen some stinkers. Yes, there were a few gems, but I'm still of the mindset that 10 months in, 2008 has been lacklustre, especially in comparision to the eclectic range of films on offer last year.

Am I watching the wrong films? Hell yeah, most definitely. Yet, now I have returned to the grand city of Leeds for the 2nd year of my degree, I find myself even closer (a five minute walk at that) to the palace of awesome that is Hyde Park Picture House.

And what's this? A film festival? In Leeds? Sweet. You'd never have guessed it, but an avid film fan, yours truly, foolishly neglected last year's event, choosing only to (wisely) attend an advance screening of No Country For Old Men. This is the year to take full advantage, to watch anything and everything. Ican'twait Ican'twait Ican'twait.

The highlight so far looks to be the Korean film The Good, The Bad and The Weird. It is a homage to all things Spaghetti Western; hopefully delivering on its promise of 'weird'. One individual I've spoken to claims it to be superior to Leone's genre-defining classic The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Extreme hyperbole perhaps, though I shall have to see for myself.

Reliving Stalker on the big screen, accompanied by new doc Meeting Andrei Tarkovsky, is another prospect worth salivating over. Watching The Sacrifice earlier today, I remembered just how amazing ol' Tark was, how each of his films were masterpieces in their own right. Hopefully he can enrich my love of his films further at this very festival.

4th-16th November. If you're in the Leeds area, go for it!