War of the Ring

Players: Christian, Brian, 2/6/09

Games of this magnitude can rarely be conquered in one sitting, but this doesn’t mean they can’t be enjoyable. Even as we fumbled though the 24 page rulebook and the 15 page FAQ we knew we were onto something good. Christian playing the Sauron, quickly used their military might to make a number of Free People homeless. The FP, for their part, kept a low profile and the Fellowship chose to remain hidden. Sauron’s relentless attacks took two strongholds and 4 out of the 10 victory points needed for a win.

But then, after reaching 6 (out of 12) on the Fellowship progress track, the hobbits made a bolt for Mount Doom in an effort to meet their victory conditions, while the Free People staged a counter attack to retake a stronghold and also capture one held by the dark forces. The game then, was finely balanced but the opposing armies decided it was too hot for all this battle malarkey and called it a day. Both relished the challenge and I’m sure they’ll meet again (don’t know, don’t know when but I’m sure…etc).

Films 2009

Memories of Matsuko - who is Matsuko and what memories are these? Mitsuko was a born optimist, a fervent believer in human goodness. The memories, therefore, are inevitably sad as she discovers the yellow brick road to be tough haul. We discover Matsuko through her brother's quest when he hears of her death (she left home some fifteen years ago). Porn star, convict, hairdresser - these are all part of a less than glittering cv. This could easily have been an unremitting 2 hours of grimness and probably would have been were this film British. But director Tetsuya Nakashima throws everything into this including the kitchen sink (see pic) just as he did with his similarly surreal Kamikaze Girls. The result leaves you reeling as you run the gamut of emotions as the heroine's fate unravels.


Five Minutes of Heaven is ninety minutes of pure tension as Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt battle it out through Northern Ireland's Truth and Reconciliation program. The protagonists are based on real characters from the 'troubles' in the 70s, and both co-operated on the script, though separately for reasons which will become clear. They are almost brought together by a TV program on the subject - a bitter and satirical subplot on the vaccousness of television emerges here. Neeson and Nesbitt are terrific with the former's guilt but inner calm being counterpointed by the latter's ferocious quest for revenge. It's all held together and given a cinematic quality by the direction of Oliver Hirchbiegel, who also made the excellent Downfall.

JCVD - Jean Claude Van Damme in brilliant film shock! Who'd have guessed it? Certainly not JC if you have ask him, at least if this semi autobiographical gem is to be believed. JC plays himself, some would so he always plays himself but in this film he really does. Returning to his Belgian home after a custody battle where his film's are object of the court's derision, he quickly finds himself caught up in a 'hostage situation'. There's much banter about his image as the criminals discuss what to do about their celebrity hostage. The film loses its way a little here, but comes back strongly with a five minute monologue to camera by JC in which he dissects his his life and career. Despite its shaky moments this is one of the best films I've seen this year.


Slumdog Millionaire - Its got oscars and BAFTAs a-plenty but now it gets the ultimate accolade: the Baba seal of approval.

Films 2008 Best Of

It was pretty grim year for cinema with few films finding critical favour, a situation not helped by the collapse of Tartan who were responsible for distributing Asia's best - a gap that has still not been plugged. I was out of the country for about half the year, only fitting then that I have a top 5 rather than a top 10. And so, for your consideration...

Lonesome Jim - comedies about depression are rare things but then so are good American films these days. This is neither blockbuster, obviously, or whiney US indie. It's a film by all round good guy Steve Buscemi. Casey Affleck stars as the eponymous Jim whose sometime girlfriend is played by Liv Tyler. Jim doesn't exactly ooze confidence as this question to his girl illustrates: "There's so many fun and cheery people in the world. Don't you think you'd be better off with one of them?"

Oddball characters abound in the small town setting, in a way that recalls Jonathan Demme's films of the 70s. This almost certainly didn't come to a cinema near you and probably never will. Teach the marketing jerks a lesson and seek this out by any means possible.


Caramel - wonderful female ensemble piece from the Lebanon set a Beirut beauty parlour. It's funny, heart-warming without ever being cheesy and very, very sexy.





The Edge of Heaven is another powerful Turkish/German co production from Fatih Akim. Although lacking the intensity of his previous film Head On, this tale of a Turk searching for the
daughter of a prostitute is father took a shine to, still packs a punch and another great soundtrack.

Shotgun Stories got very positive reviews, though it didn't greatly trouble the box office scorers. A shame as it's one of the best American films of the year.

Beautifully shot in a small town in Indiana it tells of a simmering feud between two families. The brooding menace and outright hate is tangible as it moves towards a powerful climax.


In Search of a Midnight Kiss is an American indie film. Think, a guy with a (shaky) camera telling a story about his mumbling friends in some dire American town. This is beautifully shot in LA in glistening b&w and there's nary a mumble within earshot. The main characters are well drawn and believable and the premise hinted at in the title is captivating. It's far from perfect but its charm edges it through some of the more dodgy moments.

Goa

My local bike shop







The Prawn Factory, Mandrem Beach is a building that was actually used as a prawn factory at one time in its chequered history. But a poisonous entity made its way into the processing system, causing the business to collapse and plunging the owners into bankruptcy. Subsequently they both committed suicide - in the building. It is that causes the locals to believe that buiding is possessed by spirits who will vanquish any intruders. Two Europeans invested in the building but their plans came to nought. Last year the son of a local bigwig took over the place with the aim of turning it into a nightclub. A few hours into the opening night the new owner decided he wasn't getting paid enough attention and so decided to stop the party. When no one too any notice he called the police to stop his own party. The building has remaied stubbornly vacant ever since. A prospective buyer, hearing of the bulding's reputation, hired an exorcist to go along with him and 'cleanse' the place. Alas, when the would-be cleaner got within shouting distance, he backed off claiming the spirits were screaming at him that they did want any occupiers.

The Bannion Tree, Asvem Beach 8.11.07 The lesser known of northern Goa's two bannion trees this is more easy to find than its Arumbol counterpart. However, it's chief advantage is that when you reach it, there isn't a resident hippie droning on about the Age of Kali.

Scene and Heard

Trafalger Square, London, 30.10.07: Waiting for the nightbus, a woman with her daughter approaches me. "Is this the stop for Heathrow?" she enquires. "I hope so", I reply. Where are you going?" she continues. "Goa", I respond, smugly. "and where might you be going?" "Apora", she replies. It later transpires that we are on the same flight.

Upper Street, Islington, London N1, 24.10.07: Bald middle aged man: "Ere, mate, do you know what skunk is?" Me: "Yes". Bmam: "Well, let me tell you, it really fucks you up, I ain't never doing it again".

Food

La Bouche, Broadway Market, London E8
A Guardian readers' (self included) favourite where the pastries and coffee are almost as fabulous as the staff. Ideal for an al fresco breakfast, which will set back £3.30 for a large latte/cappuccino and an almond croissant. Lots of other delicacies to go, including French cheeses and crispy baguettes (£1.30).

Music Gigs

Kevin Davy Group: Kevin Davy, (trumpet, and flugelhorn), Cheryl Alleyne (drums), Vicky Tulson (bass), Renu Hossain (tablas and percussion), Dom Pipkin (piano and keys) and Jo Hendrix Ndelo (vocals) Vortex Jazz Bar 18.10.07

Jazz can be as unforgiving as it is complex. In a rock band the lack of technical ability can give you street cred, whereas in jazz you just sound crap if you hit bum notes. Not there were many of the latter coming from Kevin Davy's band, it was more a lack of togetherness that was the problem. To be fair they suffered from a poor mix in the first half with the piano and bass straining to be heard. This lack of balance highlighted the need for another front line player to complement the formidable Davy. It also placed the rhythm section in the headlights and while they played well individually, they never sounded anything like a tight unit. The material was a mixture of funk and Afro jazz, mostly self penned though Branford Marsalis' Mo Better Blues was given a workout.

In the second set things got better as they always do at jazz gigs, starting off with an excellent piano solo from the the previously inaudible Dom Pipkin, while the scat vocals of Jo Hendrix Ndelo provided much needed variety. The percussion led by Cheryl Alleyne whipped up a storm much to the crowd's delight, and what they lacked in unity they made for in volume. I'd still like to see another horn player to fill things out. The last band I saw at this venue was Stan Tracey's trio and although they were only half the size of Davy's group, they sounded like an orchestra by comparison.