"...EVEN WHEN SHE WAS A STUDENT, SHE ALWAYS FELT SOMEWHAT LEFT BEHIND," PROF. XAVIER, X2.

its funny how there's always an ultimatum when it comes to study - you can study, or work. it's almost impossible to do both effectively. i only speak for myself actually, since i know at least a dozen people who seem to manage it perfectly fine.

so why can't i do that?

hmm i don't know what it is, but lately i've been questioning why i'm even at school still. the pay off seems so far off that i can't even seem to focus on it any more. but as always, the feelings i'm having are always transient and ten bucks says i'll be over it in a couple of days. i just need some kind of sign or verification that all i'm doing is actually going to lead me where i want to be.

being at school is kind a like a carousel, you keep going round in circles and the same old shit. and all the while you see people out of the corner of you eye getting on better rides, having more fun, and doing what they want. you can't get off the damn horse cos you're just so used to it, not to mention the thing won't even slow down. or speed up for that matter.

in the mean time i'm studying for property law which i've got on monday morning, and after that its good ol' torts. i can't wait till its all over, i really really can't.

-LOki

RIDING INTO THE SUNSET

while i'm sitting here learning last minutes things about child abduction, my mind keeps wondering to next next friday, when i'll be a free man (until march). here are a few things i want to try and do once exams are long gone:

1) go horse riding
2) paintball
3) go through my "movies to see" list
4) clean out my backyard
5) buy a bbq
6) clean my room
7) learn how to drive a manual car
8) paint something
9) go to the beach

we'll see how far i get, but for now, back to Regulation 16(3)(b) of the Family Law (Child Abduction Convention) Regulations.

-LOki
(for the image, check out http://www.alanandsandycarey.com)

KING ARTHUR

3.8/5
stars clive owen, ioan gruffudd, kiera knightley, hugh dancy

i reviewed this film a while back in january, but after watching it again recently i feel compelled to re-review it. i've actually got a copy of the theatrical version rather than the director's cut; while the director's cut is definitely better, i can still cast a very favourable review on the theatrical version.

i'm not sure how closely the film follows the 'real' legend of arthur and his knights. but i guess the legend itself aint that clear either. anyways, the main story of the film portrays arthur's pre-king journey with his knights in thier numerous battles with the britains, the saxons, and the woads for the casue of freedom. after they defeat the saxons, their freedom will be granted - and after fifteen years, they have all come but one battle away from it.

but, as lancelot (gruffudd) tells arthur (owen), "only certain death awaits you here." the film explores the friendships between each of the knights, and that before they were knights, they were human beings. watching the film over and over, i wonder if the concepts of friendship, courage, and loyalty meant much more back in arthurian days. what i love about this film are the characters of lancelot and arthur, best friends since being torn from their families 15 years ago. their contrasting idelogies on life and faith.

other characters provide the gritty film with a human touch. they all joke and laugh together, they drink together, and they fight in battle together. some make it it to the final credits, and others don't.

this film was to me, kind of like a medieval, bloody, grown-up version of rob reiner's "stand by me". i originally bagged the directing and editing, but after a view viewings, i realised that both were done with the highest attention to detail. the editing is consistent, clean, and seamless.

originally i gave the film 3/5, but now its at 3.8. i highlyu recommend this film. if not for the gratuidous violence, head-lopping, and axings, then for the trials these knights go through for thier freedom. but get the director's cut version, its a lot better.

-LOki

"YOU SHOT ME IN THE BOLLOCKS," - DWAYNE BENZIE, SPACED.

while things at chalkboard have wrapped up until around mid november, uni work and exam prep is in full flight. well, it would be in full flight if i even bothered to take off.

i always say this around exam time, and that is DON'T BLOODY STRESS - it only makes things worse. bust your ass studying from now on and after it all, you've got 3 months (yes, 3 MONTHS) to kick back and do nothing. and even if you've got a job lined up for the summer break, at least you won't be going to school.

i'll be bustin' my ass at the shop over the break, but i'll be doing plenty of chalkboard stuff as well. i've also got a few of my own projects i want to get off the ground. after that, i'll have random outings when i get the chance and hopefully do some horse-back riding and paintballing in between.

hmmm the prospect of shooting people - that's what's getting me through the exam period!

recently i've heard about people getting screwed over, or screwing over other people... and in times like that i kinda feel quite fortunate that it hasn't happend to me (yet). not that i'm hoping it ever does, but i'm glad is hasn't. trust is a funny thing, and if you're not careful, people abuse that trust.

again, it comes down to the people you associate with, and sometimes i think people know that they're about to get screwed over. there are those shady people who you know would send you up the river in an instant - but on the flipside you also know, for a fact, that there are those who would be willing to do anything to protect you. in other words, use your brain (and not your ego) when deciding on who you want to be friends with.

i went to a party the other night and had seen someone i hadn't seen for what felt like a very long time. but i was glad, relieved even, that they were exactly how i remembered, and despite the things going on in our respective lives, we would always be the same around each other. its been a bit like that the past week actually and i'm glad that i have the word "nostalgic" to describe it. because i could easily go on and on trying to talk about the past week and the feelings i've had, but that magical word sums it up perfectly. there are some things you just can't reduce to words, you have to feel it - and i'm glad that i did.

things have been looking up for those close around me, and i'm happy for them. it may not seem it some times (well, i admit a lot of the time) but i am. i am grateful to those who have been with me from way back when until now, and recently i've realised that damn, no matter what, i'll be seeing ya's 50 years down the track (if we all make it that far).

and who knows, we might even have that small country house in the middle of nowhere we used to talk about. all we need is the beer and the company, and we'll be set.

-LOki
(for the above image and others equally as amazing, check out 'real time' aussie photographers at http://www.wildlight.net/wild/home/)

SERENITY + BEER

3.9/5
stars nathan fillion, adam baldwin, gina torres

after incessant nagging from my brother, i went to see joss whedon's SERENITY, a film based off the cult television series Firefly. i thoroughly enjoyed the movie and even though i had no idea what it was going to be about or who any of the characters were, there was the inherent joss whendon comedy and smart-ass comments that made me feel right at home.

the film follows a group of mercenaries aboard the Serenity, a ship that is barely holding itself together. they do odd jobs to pay for repairs, pay themselves, and satisfy "the need to eat sometime this month". like i said before, the even though i didn't know the characters, i felt like i did. they were well developed and believable. when it comes to special effects, CG, and dog-fight directing, all i have to say is this: george lucas, talk to joss whedon. the epic space battle in Serenity is amazing.

the film hits emotional highs and lows of the characters, as well as the funnier side of what it is to be a human being. i've just gotta sit down and watch the series now to fully appreciate it.

AND now the "beer" part...

the other night i went out to a pub to meet up with some friends. i knew i wanted to go an dmade the effort to go, but when i got there i felt numb. i expected it would be the guys hanging out and making some noise, but i was wrong.

it got me thinking, was being "wrong" all that was making me feel numb? possibly. it's sort of like going to party and expecting to see someone there, but they don't turn up. you feel like you've wasted your time, and you just want to go home. but yo know, in the back of your mind, you might as well make the most of the situation - and more often than not there's someone around who knows what you're thinking and talks to you about it. and you're always greatful that they did. but you don't tell them that, they already seem to know.

then the following night was similar... the guys would be at the joint drinking, just not together. and that's the kind of drinking that i really don't like. but i was wrong, but this time it turned out to be good. we we all just sitting around and getting wasted, beer after beer, shot after shot. it was great. it was nostalgic in some ways too, but i won't get into that. i always seem to...

so what does SERENITY and BEER have to do with each other? well, let me try and articulate this coherently: it doesn't matter if you don't know what's going to happen, you just have to make the most of it.

-LOki