dictation's diary

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tina enjoying a foot soak. Someday, if I follow in my stepgranny's footsteps I might have legs like these...(no I won't!)

Still, cute as a button on an elephant aren't they?

Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki - is inspiring, magical, intriguing, suspenseful, touching and highly addictive to the eyes. This Japanese anime movie will appeal to adults and kids older than six (younger kids will probably get scared). A keeper. Worth buying the DVD. Three-hundred times better than Shrek Drek.

The Fog of War directed by Errol Morris - mindbogglingly good. You could have heard a pin drop. Rare in theaters today. Should be mandatory viewing for all Whitehouse administrations. As long as the human race chooses the path of war this flick will be relevant.

The Eye directed by Oxide and Danny Pang (isn't Oxide an intriguing name?) - first rate metaphysical thriller/horror with no gore. An ordinary woman undergoes a corneal transplant and inherits the eyes of a woman who died under mysterious circumstances. When the wraps come off she sees in a new and horrifying way. The hairs on the back of your neck won't just rise, they'll do the twist.

There are certain films in the horror genre I won't watch: anything featuring blood, gore, chainsaw noises, zombies, torture, etc., but if a scary film has an interesting plot, I'll tolerate having to keep the lights on at night for a few days.

Ringu (the original Japanese series, not the exceedinly poor American remake), Don't Look Now, The Others, and (99% of all Hitchcock feature films) are examples of thrillers I've thoroughly enjoyed. The Eye definitely measures up.

P.S. Remember a film called Vanilla Sky that Tom Cruise made (and, unfortunately, starred in)? It's a terrible remake of the mezmerizing thriller Open Your Eyes by Spanish Director Alejandro Amenábar. Penelope Cruz starred in the original - which is why Cruise wanted to remake it. She's much more interesting and enigmatic in the original.

Well Tommy recently bought the rights to The Eye and is planning the remake. You can bet his version will suck. If you have to choose - and why would you? - choose Oxide and Danny over Cruise. You won't be disappointed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------