(I initally meant to post this on the 1st October. Go me.)

Brideshead Revisited

Up until this point I always assumed Evelyn Waugh was a woman, but this is the name, in fact, of a man. And I had no idea that the mini-series adaptation was held in such high regard. I got “free” tickets for an advanced screening at Nova, thanks to my delightful affiliation with the Monash Golden Key Society. Honestly, I paid $93 to join them; I should get the money back slowly but surely, no? In any case, I’m glad I didn’t technically pay for the film, because it was a bit of a disappointment. My appetite for visual candy was more than satisfied, however, probably to the point of gluttony. It is a sumptuous, seductive film for the senses. But for the mind? Maybe not so much. The protagonist, Charles Ryder, a modest painter is introduced to a world of decadence, wealth and opulence through his growing relationship with Sebastian Flyte at Oxford. He is swept away by the grandness of Sebastian’s home, Brideshead. What follows is a series of events that lead Charles into the closing, controlling grip of Brideshead itself, and the choices he makes …

Have I mentioned how much I adore the 60s Batman series? There is not enough love for it. And I do love me some camp kitsch. Sure, it takes the mickey out of the Golden/Silver Age comics (but even they were camp), but hey, this is the Swinging Sixties we’re talking about here. Who ever cared for darkness and angst? It’s the era of free-loving and psychedelia! Even the Bats ain’t safe. I wish a DVD box set would be released but no, DC are too damn proud to even consider it, and Fox are well, just being difficult. DAMN YOU EXECS, I WOULD TOTALLY BUY IT! As would many others, I’m sure! I’ve managed to find several episodes on YouTube and other video-sharing sites, but it’s just not enough.

Oh well. There’s always the movie, which incidentally is the HOLY SPECIAL EDITION. LULZ. That’s EPIC WIN already. But the movie doesn’t have Julie Newmar (aka Catwoman), whose seductive manner and beautiful figure is greatly envied by me. Her costume is actually one of my favourites; even though it’s really quite simple, and well, figure-hugging (wouldn’t work with me, that’s for sure), the tactile texture of the fabric—it’s all shimmery like …

So it’s been a hell of a month lately! I finally finished second year uni last Monday. That Monday was one of my worst Mondays ever, and that’s saying quite a lot, but in amongst all the travelling from north to west to east to in-between, printing mock-ups (and muck-ups) and bookbinding setbacks, there was that massive shower of relief that washed over me when I set that folio down onto the desk in studio, and exited the campus with a somewhat triumphant feeling. The victory didn’t kick in until I was binging on glorious junk food in QV with Steph, and having a good nervous chortle about it afterwards. Not particularly looking forward to the end of November which is when results are released, but meh, c’est la vie.

More excitingly though, Cam and I went to the Armageddon Expo at the Exhibition Centre on Saturday. I was totally not planning to go this year, but I passed several bill posters in Essendon with multiple Batmans gazing at me, daring me not to come, so how could I not go, eh? That was when I found out Jim Lee, THE Jim Lee, Master of All Comic Art, was making a …

You know, Melbourne has an awful lot of brilliant independent bookshops, galleries and cultural avenues that I don’t know half about. Well, not really, I just don’t have the means to go to said places. I wish I lived next to Hoddle St, Bridge Rd, Chapel St, Brunswick St, Gertrude St or Clarendon St. Pooh. No, I live in a working-class suburban hole.

The Royal Melbourne Show is in its final two days, and the Melbourne Anime Festival (better known as Manifest, such a clever name, eh) has just kicked off. I cannot afford either, nor do I really care for it nowadays… although I should like to go to the latter just for all time’s sake. Or when I come up with a snazzy costume to wear. Perhaps next year. I was checking out the Show’s website which lists the assortment of showbags. Once upon a time, I eagerly waited for the Herald Sun to publish the exclusive liftout. It still does, of course. Just the other week on a busy morning peak-hour train to the city I was stuck between a delightfully hyperactive school girl and boy who were ecstatic when an old man gave them said liftout from …

My Mac desktop (I was inspired by Losille’s LJ entry):

I wonder, does the Dark Knight win the prize for the most teaser websites, hoaxes and gimmicks? Seriously how many have there been? Why So Serious?, The Ha Ha Ha Times, The Joker Travel Agency, I Believe in Harvey Dent… They’re all very clever and manipulative in fleshing out the fictional characters within the social and political climate of the real world. And let’s not overlook the smex factor in bringing the hot back in milk. ;) Yeah I’m as good as infatuated. All this because of a certain Mr. Bale… Well, no, that’s not entirely true—Batman is probably my favourite comic, out of all comics. It’s dark (well that was a given) and grisly and depressing, but there’s an incredible power to the series which lights up like a beacon, and I find that very appealing.

Can’t wait for Batman: Gotham Knight, which is a direct-to-DVD animated feature of six short films, that acts as a prelude to The Dark Knight. Directed by some relatively big names in Japanese animation, including Yasuhiro Aoki and Toshiyuki Kubooka, it’s very much in the essence of The Animatrix, which I love so much. It …