Monday, October 26, 2009

Feeling really sad right now...

So I've just heard that The Kino is going to close down. And, like, nothing is going to be done about it. I only heard by chance through a messageboard, which was then backed up by the owner of the Kino, and the Irish Times, and the rather shitty schedule that has been showing there recently. Basically, they owe someone €6,000, and the owner is being sued for €50,000 or something, and it could be closed at any minute. All because of some issue with a €750,000 grant it was eligable for 6 years ago,but never availed of.


I'm really depressed, because I won't have anywhere within 3 hours to see foreign films (Mahon Point will get indies, but I've only seen 2 foreign film ever showing there), and also because I love The Kino. Really and truly love it. From the sellotaped seats to the chipped coffee cups to the leaky roof (upstairs). I loved how shabby it was, and I loved how into films everyone there was. I loved being the only person in the theatre sometimes. Now I'm going to have to take the train to Dublin (I like The Lighthouse, and the IFI is fine, but nothing compares to the Kino) every two weeks or something. It'll cost a fucking fortune. I'm really, really going to miss it, and I'm pissed of at the owner, to be honest. Nothing on the website, or in the building itself states it will be definitely closing in three weeks. Everything seems normal. Some warning would be nice.

I'm holding out hope that it'll be sold as a business, rather than a building, and remain an arthouse cinema, or someone will open a new arthouse cinema in Cork, or The Triskel will actually show films, or The Gate will step in and franchise it slightly, but I know that none of these will happen, most likely. I was talking to my Dad about it, and he was like "Oh, something else will take its place" (my dad also really likes the Kino, so he isn't being as casually dismissive as you might think), but, I'm not sure will be something. There are only 5 (I think) arthouse cinemas in Ireland currently, 3 in Dublin, one in Galway, and The Kino, in Cork. I can't see another just popping up. And, besides, it was the whole atmophere of the Kino I loved. Whenever I go to another cinema, I feel odd, like I'm not meant to be there. I don't know how I'll cope without it.



*EDIT* Even though I don't think many people (if any) read this blog, but I'm still going to post this, to raise awareness of some sort... Here is a link to a 'Save The Kino' meeting. Saturday, at 2pm, at the Kino. So, if anyone is reading this, and wants to help save The Kino, go to this meeting!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

My New Coffee Maker


Ever since we moved house, I've been begging my parents to get a coffee maker, and, finally, they have relented! Mostly because they think it would be heplful in case I want to be a barista, but we're still getting a super cool coffee maker! So, these are my options-I personally prefer the look of the silver one, but I'm not that sure about technics (?) and stuff- what do ye (all 2!) think? (Ijust realised, this is a really self obsorbed blog!)
*EDIT* The smaller picture is the one I prefer! Both are silver! Also, I promise to do like a 'Getting to Know My Reader' thingy tomorrow/tonight!




Saturday, October 24, 2009

Blogthings!

I felt like doing some personality quizzes today, because I didn't have any school; so here are 5 quizzes as filled out by me.
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You Are a Playwright










You are a highly literate wordsmith. You love both reading and writing.

You are also a natural storyteller. You can turn a mediocre anecdote into a riveting tale.



You find people and all aspects of life fascinating. No topic is off limits for you.

In modern times, you would make a good filmmaker or novelist.








 
 
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You Are Electronic Music










You are energetic and expressive. You love feeling alive.

You never get sick of your favorite things - they're what makes life special.

You don't take tradition or conventions too seriously. You live for the future.

You enjoy remixes and re-interpretations of things. Life is about making improvements.








 
Funny, because I hate most electronic music.(Are Santogold and M.I.A. electronic?) 
 
 
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Your Inner European is Dutch!










Open minded and tolerant.

You're up for just about anything.








 
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Your Body's Element is Air










You are competitive, assertive, and dominant.

You live to win, and it really makes you angry if you lose.



You are brilliant and competent. No matter what you're doing, you now your stuff.

People tend to be intimidated by your intelligence. It's hard to measure up to you.



Your energy tends to be: ebbing and flowing



Your power color is: white








 
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Your Face Says You're Energetic










At first glance, people see you as confident and determined.



Overall, your true self is passionate and physical.



With friends, you seem dramatic, lively, and quick to react.



In love, you seem intelligent and a bit intimidating.



In stressful situations, you seem cheerful and optimistic.








What I've seen/read recently

The Invention of Lying (Ricky Gervais/Matthew Robinson)

Horrible film. Horrible. Really just devoid of any artistic merit- nothing special about the direction, all the acting was monotone, the story and dialogue was bad too, there was nothing in terms of editing, art direction, etc. It had the most abhorrant message ever- that it's fine to lie, about everything, so long as its not to the person you love? If you're pretty, you can be a bitch, and it's fine? It's fine to laugh at depressed people and alchoholics, because they know their lives are bad? Since when did always telling the truth mean that you burst out with random nasty stuff, like every character in this film does? Even when I don't like something, and don't want to lie, I shut up. Why couldn't they?  Every character in this film was an idiot; Gervais was a moocher, who couldn't be bothered working for anything, Garner was a vain, vaccous, superficial bitch, that other guy was a smarmy idiot, who no one would want to go out with. Useless film. D

District 9 (Neill Blomkamp)
My thoughts on this aren't nearly as long as they were on The Invention of Lying, but anyway. I thought it was great to start with (I really liked the way that the people they interviewed actually sounded as though they were being interviewed), and the cinematography was amazing, and the story was a good one, and Sharlto Copley was quite good, I thought that the end was poor, and there wasn't enough character development. My three favourite scenes were Wikus talking to his wife on the phone, when Christopher talks to his son(?) about going home, and the last scene, where Wikus' wife talks about the flower he made her. Not all the exploding people. But it was still a nice film, I thought, despite the weak end. B2


The Virgin Suicides (Jefferey Eugenides)
I hate talking about books as I do films, because I never feel what I say about them is right. I loved the prose in this book, because it felt really dreamy, and quite teenaged, I thought, and made you feel like you were part of the book. I loved the way the story was told, because I think I prefer when the narrarator isn't omniscient. Basically, I loved the book, and I think it made me appreciate the film more (I already liked it) because Sofia Coppola did a great job capturing the mood of the book.


What I hope to see/read in the next 10 days
Up (Pete Doctor/Bob Peterson)
Life is Elsewhere (Milan Kundera)
The Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson)
An Education (Lone Scherfig)

Also, it's going to be the Corona Cork Film Festival (EVERYTHING in Ireland that has to do with the arts is sponsered by alchohol) soon, and I hope to see Samson and Delilah, The White Ribbon, Unmade Beds and The Road, but I don't know how realisitc that is. If I see one, I'll be lucky.

Friday, October 23, 2009

General Stuff About Me


  1. I love film and literature. A lot. But I have a very diferent love for each of them. With literature, I tend to be able to read anything, without immediately judging it. With film, I'm a lot more judgmental. If I think a film is awful from the first half an hour (or the first 5 minutes) little is going to change my mind. So, basically, I'm choosey (read: pretentious) when it comes to film
  2. I'm a vegetarian
  3. I can speak Irish and English very fluently, French, German, Spanish and Italian quite well, and I am learning Japanese and Dutch
  4. I use the phrase 'you know' WAY too much when I'm speaking
  5. I am INFP
  6. I love internet personality tests, even though I don't really believe they tell me anything.

So, in the spirit of that last point, here is a random quiz from blogthings, as completed by me:


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Your True Birth Month Is August










Suave

Romantic

Attractive

Observant

Loves to joke

Easily jealous

Easily angered

Learns to relax

Loves to dream

Thirsty for praise

Loving and caring

Brave and fearless

Extraordinary spirit

Careful and cautious

Independent thoughts

Angry when provoked

Loves to make friends

Sensitive but not petty

Too generous and egoistic

Takes high pride of oneself

Loves to lead and to be led

Thinks quickly and rationally

Knows how to console others

Poor resistance against illnesses

Firm and has leadership qualities

Talented in the arts, music and self defense













I love the way it says I'm talented in self defence, because, really, can't defend myself against someone poking me in the ribs.

Also HI! *First Post!!*

Monday, October 12, 2009