Friday 19 June 2009

Morocco: "Best post title award?"

Ok so I got back from Morocco a week ago and I am only just uploading some pictures now. This is due to the fact that I am going all retro these days and shooting almost everything on film. So, I only managed to get the films processed yesterday, a few hours of scanning and tidying up in Photoshop and we are ready. I'm sure you're all needing to go to the toilet with excitement.

By the way these are in no particular order, because.... I can't be arsed doing them chronologically it'll take too much effort.






HMV: Marakech We thought this guy might be a murderer.
.



One of the thousands of wee creeps


The Medina 50% amazing 50% nightmare.
















"The gardens": SHIT
Obligatory B&W Shot



So there you go, not excatly a comprehensive guide of Morocco, however after getting accosted for taking a picture and not paying for the privilege, I was a little cautious of taking my camera out.

Great week though!!

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Rescue Dawn: More Herzog

For anyone who follows my Blog, I apologise but you will have to get used to the name, Werner Herzog. What can I say the man is fantastic and I have yet to see a film of his that is anything but genius. The third film I am recommending is Rescue Dawn an unusual departure from his traditional format to what could be described as a typical Hollywood Blockbuster. However it isn't a Hollywood blockbuster in the sense that it's full of CGI and very little else. What it does have is poster boy and part time photography director frightening machine Christian Bale.



Rescue dawn is the true to life story of Dieter Dengler, a german born, American Naval Pilot who was shot down whilst on a top secret bombing missing in Laos during the Vietnam War. Dangler was captured by the Pathet Lao and taken to a POW camp, where he faced starvation torture and all round horribleness. The story follows Denglers journey and subsequent escape.

Herzog continues his familiar trademark of exploring the tormented soul, and manages to create tension like no other. I rarely get so involved in a movie that I mirror the emotions of the main character, however I can hoenstly say that Resue Dawn, had me filled with equal parts fear, apprehension and relief.

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Grizzly Man

Ok so I know I said I was going to post some Herzog Film recommendations in the next few weeks after receiving my 24 DVD monster Box Set but having a lot of free time at the minute I've decided to recommend a few that I have already seen. Starting with one of his more recent documentary films, "Grizzly Man" the true story of Timothy Treadwell a self proclaimed protector of the Alaskan Grizzlies. Treadwell spent 13 summers living within touching distance of these dangerous animals and documented the last 5 years on film. Unfortunately for Treadwell his 13th summer was his last as he suffered what some determined as the inevitable outcome for anyone spending time with wild bears, and he was mauled to death along with his girlfriend.

Herzog splices Treadwell's own original footage with new interviews carried out by Herzog on the friends and family of Timothy Treadwell. It really is a fantastic piece of work. I really don't want to talk to much about the film itself as I feel to much information will spoil the journey into the world of Timothy Treadwell.

So just watch it, £5 in HMV. I hope to get it shown at next years Film Club, as I really wish I had of seen it at the start of the year, before we started our nature lectures.

Werner Herzog: Offical Legend

I first came across the work of Werner Herzog when I watched Stozek earlier this year. I was blown away by his melancholic humour and truly bizarre conclusion (still the most unusual ending to a film I have ever seen). I watched Stozek without any preconceptions, any real knowledge about the film or Werner Herzog himself. A few months on I have learn't quite a bit about Herzog, his films and his process. He holds ideals about the world that are similar to mine, opinions I agree with and makes films that captivate me in a way no other film maker has ever managed. So for those reasons (amongst many others) I have declared him as a total legend.



I have just bought myself his complete work (up untill 2007) 24 DVD's in total, so expect a number of recommendations over the next few weeks.