Gaslight

Saw 'Gaslight' at the local film club this week finishing off our yearly three film pass.

Reading its synopsis, I was easily hooked by references to atmospheric foggy London street scenes and there were plenty of them.

The basic plot focuses on a traumatised woman who moves back to the house where her aunt was murdered when she was young.

Ingrid Bergman does well in the lead role as she starts seeing and hearing things in the rather sinister house.
Her new husband convinces her she is going crazy and a young Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote) as the overly-confident housekeeper slowly dissolves her confidence. Who can save her now?

Though it was predictable, it built tension till the final scene. Would definitely watch it again.

Flat shopping

Been shopping for a flat to rent via Trademe recently. Not actually moving till there is a proper job offer, but it doesn't hurt to see what is out there.

Started off in selected areas and now roam the country with my mouse in the $250 weekly price range. One photo of the property doesn't really cut it, three or more is my minimum to even click on the ad. Then I can get a better idea of the whole flat.

Photos can be shots of just the outside, carpet, doors or windows, but not the actual room. A picture says a thousand words, if you look closely at the fittings and finishes they indicate the age and condition of the property.

Some don't know how to download big enough photos or how to rotate them! Have to turn 90 degrees to see the flat, I know I'm dedicated.

If they list the address and I'm tempted, I'll look at it virtually on Google Earth and size up the neighbourhood.

Most flats are vacant during their glamorous photo shoot but some are still occupied, giving a hint of the tenants' personality and culture. The more stuff in the shot, the bigger indication that there is little to no storage space.

Some vendors are cunning and have an alluring picture but rather disappointing summary. In the summary, it becomes more obvious that it's either a boarding house or a bedsit, studio or cupboard with toilets available at the local shops.

Unfortunately the majority look so grotty, they would have to pay me to move in! Or the wording of the summary is strange and unsettling.
One I looked at specified a male tenant as there wasn't enough room for excess female items, charming!
Still I'm addicted, the perfect flat is out there- just a matter of finding it.

Big Smoke

After a weekend of education in Auckland, decided to go into the city centre for coffee before driving home.

The bright lights of the 'big little city' haven't lost their appeal and I still enjoy spending time in the music stores, bookshops, art galleries and alternative cinemas when I'm there.

Smith and Caughey department store was in yearly sale mode, so it was teeming with people in every department. Upon entry, saw bored husbands with wives deciding on whether to buy discounted talcum powder from the bargain bins and massive lines for makeovers at cosmetic counters.

Proceeding to the next floor, there were plenty of bargain hunters in the women's section, hurriedly assessing each sale rack. Venturing to the household linens/kitchenware section up on the next level, there were men pushing babies in strollers, couples buying duvets and grandmothers sizing up their next crockery purchase.

Came in on a wandering mission so moved out on to the street in search of a Saturday 5pm coffee without a sale bag. We'd just been talking about how in Auckland you hardly see anyone you know as we crossed the road to the Civic Theatre complex.

Coming across Starks Expresso Cafe and Champagne Bar, we stopped in for a mocha/flat white and stuffed date. Its a cosy fit inside but since all the tables were taken, we stepped out into the roped off street dining section. It was bitterly cold but fine with the sun setting, casting Queen Street in dull shade.

When coffee plus extra came out, it was served by the host of NZ TV show 'The Kitchen Job'. Strange after saying we hardly see anyone, what a small world it is. He wasn't in the best mood, maybe one of his waiters had let him down and he had to serve/help out.

Still it was a nice coffee and treat to end our Saturday before returning home. Next time we are in the CBD we'll be stopping by again.

The Architects (Die Architekten)

Whenever the International Film Festival comes to town, I look forward to a copy of the upcoming schedule. Filled with interesting shots and plots, it takes a while to consume/sample and eventually cut out the memorable snippets.
Sadly it has missed Hamilton this year due to the lack of a suitable venue,so I turn my focus to the local film club.

As soon as I read 'The Architects' was filmed just before the collapse of East Germany, I circled the screening date. The subtitled film follows an idealistic architect eventually crushed by standardisation and streamlining in the communist era.
There were plenty of shots panning over the city and the multiple tower apartment blocks.

'The Architects' are a group of idealistic architects, friends from school designing a proposed community centre of dwellings,shops,restaurants,cinemas and activity areas.
Their schemes were definitely statements. Statements that were nit-picked till they were broken by officials.

Can't remember the last time I saw an architectural movie- I liked all the juxtapositions of life inside and outside buildings. One particular scene was a commuter train rushing by the windows of a one room stark apartment.

One more movie to see on the three ticket pass..we've chosen an oldie 'Gaslight'.

Believe it or not

I'm cynical but it's hard to believe in things these days. There are so many unsubstantiated claims of health, wealth and happiness from the supermarket to the latest self-help book.

I find it difficult to jump on the popular bandwagon, just because it is popular.

I remember having a cold at work and one of my co-workers advising me on suitable vitamin combinations. I told her I don't believe in vitamins.
I love the "I don't believe in...." line, its easier than offering a detailed explanation and stops any persistence dead.

Hype is huge in the marketplace and its easy to follow along/buy or indulge because it is the latest thing.

Hype is the magic bean that turns an average product or person into the greatest invention or talent for a decade.

"With my [insert product name here], I'll be the life and soul of the party."

Drones unite, desperate for social status, respect and admiration?- here is the product to solve your boring, ordinary lives! Shame everyone else also has that top, car or apartment-living lifestyle.

We'll never be ahead in the rat race with everyone following so close behind.

TV personalities are another hype- boosted product.

Soon they are so over-exposed, you can't channel surf without finding 'well-known' celebrities on every possible show or network promotional ad.

We are meant to lap this up and marvel at the talent of this increasingly dull person just because everyone else says so.

New Zealand does have a small population, but there are definitely more than 10 people who have the talent to be on air.

Wish a revolution would take place encouraging sheep to think outside the box rather than the Freedom furniture 'square you live in'.