The Shoot.

Up

Being human, I have nothing but love and enthusiasm for most of Pixar's output- not just some of the best animation films, but maybe perhaps films in general. Personaly coming late to the party once again Up is no exception, a mix of humour, spectacle, fun and surrealism, with a tear-inducing story of love at it's very centre. As with the rest of the Pixar's catalogue, it's a film that works on many levels and will satisfy different age groups, but besides the Toy Story series it is certainly the funniest feature the studio have produced yet. This is good.

The Prestige

With a mixed cast of Bale, Jackman, Caine and Johansson, The Prestige is a back and fore tale all coming down simply to two magicians and their deadly game of one-upmanship- a desire to humiliate and destroy. To mention and expand on this battle is to ruin some of the twists of the film, a story told non-chronologically and full of surprises, particularly the deus ex machina residing near the end, so deliciously absurd that only I wouldn't question. With no truly-defined protagonist and antagonist roles, the story keeps you on your toes with characters that are never good or evil, but always at conflict with each other. This is fantastic.

LOST : The Final Season

With the sixth season proving once again that the stakes don't stop there, they just keep getting higher, the episodes thus far of LOST this year are all about one thing- destiny. With the characters themselves slowly (and finally) beginning to question the reason and purpose of exactly why they're on the island, character development is the order of the day. Sideflashes show the lives of these characters had the fated plane never crashed, while new supporting acts and settings help ensure the show stays fresh. The history of the smoke monster, the creation of the statue and why Jack is still an awful character are mysteries that still remain, but with the episode count running down, these are hopefully things that will be addressed sooner rather than later. This is promising.

Heavy Rain

Pitched early on in it's development as an interactive movie and to this day still continuing to be described as such, well, lets not fight it, that's exactly what Heavy Rain is. Playing as four characters the game pits you with solving the case of the Origami Killer, a serial murderer on the loose. Over the course of the story personal choices and paths can be chosen and defined by the player, with fates and the ending never clear until the very end, and given entirely in regards to the choices you and your characters have made through the game. There's no denying that gameplay-wise things are a little thin-the piece instead preferring to be a movie, a modern-day choose your own adventure with both consequence and, yay, conclusion. This is the best game that I never played.

If I was a character on LOST, what events of my life would my flashback focus on?

AFOL A Blocumentary from AFOL on Vimeo.

Directed by Jess Gibson, AFOL: A Blocumentary is a 30 minute film that examines the appeal of Lego for adults, and the innerworkings and thought processes that occupy these very fans. As an AFOL myself i've heard the "but Lego is a child's toy!" on a number of occasions, and while this film does address that, it's the creations made by these people and their enthusiasm for the hobby that quickly dispel this very thinking. It's a really nice video that truly explains the appeal and joy of the brick.  (via)

A Lego Rose.

 Based on a design by Joe Meno / Given to someone rather lovely.

All the cool kids are taking pictures of snow.

 I want to be a cool kid too.