Spent the day fretting about the whereabouts of my cat. I know that it is in a cat's nature to wander off from time to time, but my cat is old, half deaf and she is frightened of everything; so it is pretty out of character for her to just nick off in the middle of the night and not return. 
After scouring the area around our property all I found was a few burnt out logs and a dead crow with it's head ripped off, which from a distance I thought was my cat, because she is also black. 
We have a high contingency of foxes and owls out here so I am a really worried about her. At sixteen years of age, and generally a pampered, sleep all day, indoors kind of a cat, she is not cut out for the wilds of the Enfield nights and I have my concerns. 
I knew that something was amiss when she wasn't cuddled up next to me this morning like she usually is, and Craig said that she jumped over his feet and ran off into the night around 11.30pm last night, refusing to come back when she was called. Call of the wild? Had a gut full of all of our shit? Gone away to croak? God forbid. I love my cat and have grown extremely attached to her over the years, I am praying that she returns tonight because the longer that she is away, the more that I am getting worried. 

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE 
Release Date: 2009
Rating: PG
Running Time: 101 mins
This is a deep depiction for children's cinema. It has a depth and tone that could easily be lost on many of the young viewers that watch it, but most kids will get a buzz from the huge monster characters and carry on, even if they miss the subtle undertones.
This film has it's own heartbeat, it's wild and it's beautiful in its exploration of the main character Max as he learns to understand just what the wild rumpus within him is all about. Based on the picture story book of the same name by Maurice Sendak, this movie works hard to demonstrate the enormous energy and unbridled power that lies within the heart of a small boy. 
It's a complex piece but a must see for all parents with a little slice of testosterone in their homes. 
FINAL SAY: Young and wild and free.
3.5 Chili Peppers

I have been road tripping around like a mad woman, burning up god knows how much fuel and squeezing as much out of my holiday break as I can muster. Between swimming, wine tasting and the movies, I also went to Melbourne on Thursday with the kids to see the David Bowie Exhibition at ACMI, and well...I hate to say it... I was a bit disappointed.
​I have seen so many things at ACMI over the years and loved them all, but this was (a) by far the most difficult to view, given to the fact that every man and his dog was piled in there - please ACMI less people in the door at one time when the displays all require reading! And (b) it left me (and Zoe concurred to this thought) thinking that David Bowie is an egotistical douche bag of epic proportions; which I was not expecting and the whole thing shattered my previously grand presumptions about who is he was. I did learn a lot about David Bowie from the exhibition, I just didn't like what I learned about David Bowie from the exhibition, which means that essentially the quality probably wasn't poor, the subject was, and the fact that my illusion had been smashed.
​So now, I no longer see Bowie as the smooth style setter that I once thought that he was, and even though I still adore his early music, in particular the Diamond Dogs era, I don't get that same excited feeling about him that I used to get, a bit of a sad turn of events really, but I suppose we are all guilty of wanting famous people to be genuinely like our idolized image of them, rather than who they truly are. 
​For a change of pace over the weekend, Craig and I packed up the kids and headed to Phillip Island for a brief, but incredibly busy two days. I can now say that we have officially 'done' Phillip Island, we did it all, all the local tourist spots were conquered, including the obligatory visit to see the fairy penguins waddle up onto the beach at dusk and even a tour of the local chocolate factory - which was far more interesting than I had anticipated. Easily the biggest highlight of our getaway was the Trout and Bush Tucker Farm where Seth put us all to shame by being the only one that could reel in a fish from the difficult fishing spots - he reeled in three actually, decent sized rainbow trouts and left all of us adults scratching our heads and wondering how the hell he was doing it. Needless to say, it was fish n' chips for lunch (they cook your fish for you) and by the time the unsuccessful fishers hit the easy catch ponds, I have also managed stocked my freezer with fresh fish too. So, maybe we have unleashed my son's natural talent, he is a 'fish whisperer' of a sort, could be handy if I ever find myself marooned with him on a deserted island someday, but I'm not sure what else it will be useful for. 

BIG FISH
Release Date: 2003
Rating: PG
Running Time: 125 mins
This would have to be one of my favourite Tim Burton films of all time. This film is definitely dipping its foot in the pool of fantasy, but it has it roots firmly attached to drama. It is actually a beautiful combination of all genres, and it is a marvellous story to be entertained by. 
A young man (Billy Crudup) sits by his fathers bed as he is dying listening to him recall events from his life. His father, Ed Bloom is a master story teller and admits that he embellishes the truth to keep his audience captivated. The result is a rich visual experience full of delight and wonder. The story twists and turns in magical and unexpected ways as the man tries to uncover the real truth of his fathers life. 
This movie is such a delight, it's like a modern fairytale complete with fantasy characters and strange happenings. Ewan McGregor is charming as the young Ed Bloom and Helena Bonham Carter picks up her multi- character hat and appears as different people throughout. The cast is strong with Jessica Lange, Steve Buscemi and Marion Cotillard picking up the bit roles to name but a few. It's crazy and colourful and utterly unmissable, a great movie for the whole family. 
FINAL SAY: There are some fish that just cannot be caught. 
4 Chili Peppers

I watched a really interesting movie this week called 20,000 Days on Earth, it was essentially a documentary style film outlining performer Nick Cave's 20,000th day on the Earth. It really got me thinking about my own life and what I have learnt from my 15, 172 days on earth. By the way, if you got to mydaysonearth.com.au you can put in your date of birth and it will tell you how many days you have been on earth and when you will celebrating your 20,000th day; mine is on the 11th December 2028. 
You would hope that by your 20,000 day that you would have gotten some things sorted out as far as life goes. Like a sense who you are, your strengths and weaknesses, your likes and dislikes and best case scenario, what you have to offer to the world in general. There is a great deal of retrospection and contemplation that comes with all of that thinking, as you go fossicking through the archives of your life to really determine where your roots lie and which paths you took, or could have taken, that have shaped you into who you have become. 
I'm not saying that you should have everything worked out, that would defeat the mysterious beauty of life itself, which is in essence a journey of discovery and continual evolution. But I do think that by 20,000 days, and I am getting a sense of it now with only 15,000 odd days under my belt, that certain patterns emerge and a type of fabric has been constructed that dictates the type of life that you have led and who you have become.
It is interesting to look back over the things that you idolized or adored, the people that were your earliest muses and the experiences that had the most defining effects along the way to creating who you are now. And questions arise from these reflections, like are you happy with who you are now? Are you doing what you want to be doing? Are you living out your dreams? Are you where you want to be at this point in life? I think that it is vital to do some self evaluation from time to time, because knowing yourself is the most powerful tool in the world and you are the only thing that you will ever have total control over.
Who knows what I will be thinking about when my 20,000th day arrives or what my opinion on life will be then, probably something different again to the thoughts that I have now, but life...well...it is a wonderful thing to ponder.  

20,000 DAYS ON EARTH
Release Date: 2014
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 97 mins 
A fictitious depiction of a day in the life of musician Nick Cave. Co-written by Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard and Nick Cave himself, we get an intimate view of the world through this eccentric and poetic performer as he celebrates his 20,000th day on the planet. 
If you are not yet a Nick Cave fan, this film will probably make you one; and for those that already adore him, well you are in for a treat. I myself knew very little about Nick Cave before watching this film, and found myself quickly understanding what it was about him that mesmerizes and captivates audiences. 
The film focuses on Nick's artistic processes as a performer and brings together all of the elements of his life and experiences in a disarmingly self-aware and almost mythological fashion. He is clearly a sensitive, reflective and highly intelligent individual with talents that span across many fields of artistry, but what struck me most about Nick was his dark, broody and ever evolving thought processes, that never really seem to cease. Some may see this film as self indulgent, but anyone that is spending that much time on their craft deserves to have a film made about them, and this is a truly interesting movie about a very intriguing man. 
FINAL SAY: In the end, I am not interested in that which I fully understand. 
3.5 Chili Peppers

Shamalama-ding!
The school holidays have started and I am high-fiving myself with the prospect of two weeks of blissful rest time. Of course, I have a hectic agenda, I wouldn't be being very true to myself if I didn't, but I also have a lot of 'not much going on days' too; a good balance I think.
Spent the weekend getting the house in order, working in the yard (thanks to the recent stretch of good weather) and generally staying up too late, hanging around in my pajamas half the day and drinking too much coffee, do things get any better than this?
Checked my website genre lists today to see how much further I have to go to get all of my reviews smashed out, only 95 to go. That probably sounds like a lot, but in January I had about 380 to do, so 95 is really do-able. There are about 100 odd days left for the year, so if I stay faithful to one a day on top of whatever else I watch, I will be triumphant! This website has really become a labour of love for me now, I just want to finish it for my own self satisfaction, because I know that no-one else will probably ever read all of my reviews anyway. Besides my kids, it may be the one legacy that I leave behind in this world - my love of cinema and my opinion on everything! 
So, with fourteen joyful days ahead of me, a break at the beach in the middle, money in my account for the odd splurge and a goal to keep firing for, all is good and whole in my world, and that is something to be happy about. 

BORAT:
CULTURAL 
LEARNINGS of AMERICA 
for
MAKE 
BENEFIT GLORIOUS 
NATION 
of KAZAKHSTAN.
Release Date: 2006 
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 84 mins 
Already being a huge fan of the TV series Ali G, I had gotten plenty of previous exposure to Borat and his insane antics long before this movie hit the screen. However, the idea of a full scale movie dedicated to Borat did really excited me, especially since he has always been my favourite of the Sacha Baron Cohen characters for his simple, unnerving and utterly non-PC behaviours. 
Shot in mockumentary style, we follow the experiences of Borat Sagdiyev, a fictitious Kazakh journalist as he travels through the United States recording real life interactions with Americans. 
Much of the film is unscripted vignettes of Borat interviewing and interacting with various locals who believe him  to be a foreigner with little understanding of western culture, making this cringe worthy humour at its best. Sacha Baron Cohen does an exceptionally good job of pushing the envelope as far as he can and manages to get his movie banned in all Arab countries except Lebanon because of its controversial content. 
I am not sure that this movie has done anything to improve tourism in Kazakhstan, but I thought that it was hysterical and I will always be a die hard Borat fan. 
FINAL SAY: High Five! 
4 Chili Peppers

It is an interesting time when your Grade 5/6 child gets introduced to the exciting world of sex education at school. I am certainly no prude when it comes to talking about sex, and pride myself with having armed my kids with the facts about the birds and bees from an early age; but no matter how much you think that you have covered, something will come up that challenges you - one way or another. 
Over the past few days Seth has regaled us all with humorous and somewhat enlightening tales from his Grade 5/6 sex-ed class, or 'peen-yas and vageen-yas' class, as he likes to call it! Just like his parents, the boy can't help trying to take the piss out of everything!
The other day the students were encouraged to write down all of the words that they could think of for a penis and a vagina. I have no idea what listing the various names has to do with actual sex-ed, and have my suspicions that teachers only encourage this kind of thing so that they can have a good old laugh in the staff room later on. 
Anyway, Seth enlightened his friends with some good faves from around here like 'meat and two veg', but then heard a new one that he couldn't wait to come home and share with me, knowing that I would be up for a bit of new penis slang! And it was....tomb raider! That really is a new one, and a pretty funny one I think. Just when you think you've heard it all, your 10 year old son discovers a new one! Makes a mother mighty proud to think that all of those hours spent in school are really amounting to something great, a new nickname for a penis! 
Anyway, between 'tomb raider' and all of the other interesting conversations that we have had to talk through from menstruation, the hole in a vagina and...dare I say it...moistness!! I have just about met my limit of sex talk, and that's saying something. And I honestly think that my son now has enough information to see him through until he encounters something real for himself, and he can work the rest out from there;  whenever that may be - hopefully much later than sooner!

40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN
Release Date: 2005
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 116 mins 
Easily one of the funniest things that Judd Apatow has written and directed, 40 Year Old Virgin is not just humorous, it's clever and witty and quite sweet too. In 2005, the American Film Institute listed it as one of the best movies of the year, making it the only comedy to ever be recognised as such, proving that it is more than just your average comedy. 
Nice guy Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) is a lonely 40 year old virgin that spends his free time playing video games and tending to his extensive model, comic and action figure collectibles. His rowdy friends insist that it is time for Andy to lose his virginity, and he ends up on a series of disastrous dates, eventually meeting Trish (Catherine Keener), a single mother that is dealing with the trauma of a recent break-up. 
Like all Apatow movies, I found this about half an hour too long; however that being said, I still genuinely enjoyed this innuendo packed, crude little romance-comedy and it's crazy mix of absurd and desperate characters. Steve Carell was a very wise choice for the role, and really carries the character of Andy with a lot of sweet and sincere innocence. 
FINAL SAY: Is it true that if you don't use it, you lose it? 
4 Chili Peppers

Feel like I am straight out of a Science Fiction novel with all of the weird things that I am experiencing. It all started on Friday when I was working out at the vegie patch at work. Some stupid garden spider decided it was going to climb into my shirt and bite me four times! I had no idea that spiders even bit more than once at a time, but apparently they do, especially when they are fighting for their life against a swatting hand. Finally found the little bugger after I raced into the staff toilets and completely undressed from the waist up, it was hiding out in my bra, and didn't meet it's demise until it had sunk it's teeth into my boob twice - OUCH! I felt no guilt whatsoever when I squished it dead. 
Nothing to really worry about, it was actually not the first time that I had been bitten by a spider, so I wasn't too worried. I didn't have any adverse effects or anything, so I just put it down to bad luck. Then Saturday arrived with a lot of sunshine, so of course I went bonkers and raced about cleaning and doing five million things in a day like I always do and then Helen came out in the late afternoon. We went for a walk in the bush, drank a bottle of bubbles and had a lovely meal, and then around ten o'clock I started to feel queasy. What followed was seven hours of me glued to the seat of the toilet with a bucket in front of me, in the most extraordinary pain and discomfort. I thought I was going to die, I was so sick and it just came on so fast and furiously, it was like nothing I had experienced before. I still don't know what happened, or why it happened, I didn't eat anything weird, no-one else was sick....could it have anything to do with my arachnid attack? Who knows, all I know for sure is that it sucked! 
Needless to say that today was a right off, with me couch surfing and napping on and off. I missed a big family get together, which was planned months ago, because I was too damn sick and weak to attend, and I was just so pissed about missing one of the sunniest and brightest days of the year so far. 
So tomorrow I fully expect to be redeemed for this discomfort and to wake up clinging to the ceiling upside down, with fully developed spidey-senses, super strength and other awesome abilities; surely all of this wasn't for nothing! I am expecting good things from here on, because I am done with the crap. The only good thing about today was watching a decent sci-fi movie, but honestly, I would have preferred my health! 

EX MACHINA 
Release Date: 2015
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 108 mins 
A stylized science fiction thriller, written and directed by Alex Garland. Ex Machina takes us into a world of artificial intelligence, presented in a sleek and visually polished environment, that is both beautiful and intensely claustrophobic. 
The story revolves around Caleb, a programmer for Bluebook, the world's most successful search engine. Caleb wins a one week visit to the secluded estate of Bluebook's CEO Nathan; and becomes involved in conducting a Turing Test on his humanoid robot called Ava, to measure her ability to persuade the tester that she is human. 
Like all artificial intelligence cinema, there is a genuine yearning for the human condition that underpins all of the goings on within the movie. The effects are amazing, the robot Ava is intriguingly and believably designed, as too are the sets and stage designs.  Strong performances are delivered from Alicia Vikander as Ava, Oscar Isaac as the maniacal 'Dr. Frankenstein' like character Nathan, and especially from Domhnall Gleeson as the uninformed assistant. 
There is a really ominous feeling to this film that you just can't shake off,  it's a slow burner but a definite piece of intrigue and a must see for fans of quality sci-fi. 
FINAL SAY: This isn't a house, it's a research facility.
4 Chili peppers

When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a famous writer. I used to love making up stories and writing pages of drivel that no-one would ever read. I recently stumbled across some of my old writing and poetry, which was a total hoot, talk about a trip down memory lane. I also discovered that even as a child I had an attraction to writing horror, thriller and science fiction types of tales. 
One story that I wrote when I was ten was called The Grave Diggers, and it was about these guys that dug up dead bodies to steal their jewelry and then ended up getting haunted by the corpse's disgruntled ghosts. I also wrote another one called Strange Sarah which was about a ghost that possessed a school kid's body because they didn't get to go school back in the 1800's and wanted to know what it was all about. And I even had extensive notes on another story that I hadn't gotten around to that was all about alien abduction and involved an annoying American and a handsome Italian for some reason. Clearly I was fascinated with supernatural themes, and I suppose that I never really grew out of that. 
Maybe one day when I really do grow up and learn to stop procrastinating, that novel that has been burning inside of me ever since I was kid will finally be able to come to fruition. Could be the next J.K. Rowling or Stephen King lurking inside of me, just dying to get out!

BIG
Release Date: 1988
Rating: PG
Running Time: 104 mins 
Definitely my favourite of all the Tom Hanks comedy offerings, and a wonderful story about wanting to grow up too fast. Directed by Penny Marshall, better know as Laverne from the 1970's sitcom Laverne and Shirley. Big received a hugely successful reception from audiences and was universally enjoyed for it's refreshingly sweet and undeniably funny script.  
12 year old Josh makes a wish to be 'big' at a magical carnival attraction, only to awaken as a fully grown man (Hanks) the following morning. Josh learns through a series of events that although being an adult has its perks, there are also a lot of responsibilities that come with the 'grown-up' package. Before long, Josh is desperately searching out a way to get his childhood back again. 
Tom Hanks is amazing and incredibly funny as Josh, and this is really his movie from start to end. Big is  a really great story and a must see movie for all 12 year old boys.
FINAL SAY: Be careful what you wish for. 
3.5 Chili Peppers

For Father's Day this year we thought that it would be good to give Craig a day of indulgence. So with lotions and potions in hand we set about giving Craig a daddy day spa treatment of epic proportions. 
Kicked off the day with a huge cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs, followed up by giving Craig a well needed hair cut, shampooing and scrubbing. Then Zoe and I set to a full manicure and pedicure whilst Craig relaxed on the couch and watched Mad Max: Fury Road. 
The afternoon allowed time for a head and back massage with some help from Seth, finishing up with his favourite dinner of a mixed grill and homemade chips. Nothing like loads of protein, fat and salt to really please your man. 
All up I think that he was really pleased with his special pampering day, not a gift pair of socks in sight and no need to lift a finger all day, who wouldn't like a day like that? It is times like these that I adore the simplicity of men, they don't really need all of the bells and whistles to feel like they've had a good day. Every man just wants to feel like a king in their own home, and better still is the fact that this type of thing can be achieved with minimal expense and very little hassle. 
I think that it is great to lavish a good dad with some extra attention and Craig is always really grateful for these demonstrations of care and affection, how could we not want to spoil him on Father's day?

THE DESCENDANTS
Release Date: 2011
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 115 mins
I didn't think that Alexander Payne would be able to top Sideways, but here is the proof, deservingly taking the Oscar for best writing. The Descendants is one of the best father-daughter flicks to date. There is a heartfelt reality to be found here and a gamut of emotions to explore. 
The story revolves around Matt King, the workaholic and estranged father, who tries to reconnect with his somewhat rambunctious daughters when his ex-wife is placed into a coma. As they all become reacquainted, secrets are revealed and their perceptions of each other are altered. 
This is a deeply emotional movie, exploring matters of commitment, tradition and expectation in an endearing and realistic way. Shot in Hawaii, this movie also has a unique and fresh perspective, nothing glossy and Hollywood going on here. 
The real heart and soul of this movie is undoubtedly George Clooney, who should have won an Oscar for his portrayal of Matt. This is the best I have ever seen Clooney and easily the most enjoyable, emotional instability is something he can really deliver well.
FINAL SAY: Everything just happens
5 Chili Peppers

No, I'm not going in for an operation, I am referring to the latest Hollywood phenomenon known as cosmetic surgery. What a sad parade of over tightened, over plumped and over pulled faces trying to gain back their youth in the saddest way possible. Seriously, you have got to worry about the crap that famous people are doing to themselves in the name of 'looking good and youthful'. We all know about the horrific Renee Zellweger transformation, and the terrifying Meg Ryan metamorphosis from pretty blonde to the Joker from Batman, but things are just getting absolutely crazy lately and there seems to be more and more of it occurring. 
People are actually getting addicted to cosmetic surgery. Now I have my fair share of addictions, but being addicted to the knife seems extreme to me, especially given the fact that a lot of these addicts actually look like half melted barbie dolls. And some of these addicts, like Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox and Mickey Rourke, were actually really good looking people before they started mutilating themselves. I don't get it, I really just don't get it.
I do get wanting to look younger, even I had a mini seizure when I saw all of the grey hair that is creeping onto my head and the crows feet accumulating around my eyes, but there's such as thing as too much. And why can't these people see themselves? Surely they would spend a lot of time in front of mirrors getting their hair and make-up done, why haven't they had the "gee, maybe that triple botox and face pull was  bit over the top, better slow down on the face pulling for a while' thought pop into their heads? Instead their weird arse brains says "damn I look great, think I will get some new tits next week."
It's the whole - 'why be you, when you can be new?' thing, just like in the movie Robots. Everyone wants to feel shiny and new, hardly anyone is happy to just age gracefully any more. There are a few famous people flying the banner for graceful aging, but they are bloody few and far between. And this mounting need for a youthful appearance is rubbing off on the general public now. We have all seen someone on the street that looks like a waxworks doll now, and it really isn't that pretty up close at all. 
I'm all for rocking what you've got and taking care of yourself, but I think that we have gone too far and that the media is slowly killing natural beauty and graceful aging. There is a reason that I avoid beauty magazines, between the photoshopping and the cosmetic surgery, it's a sinister field full of self loathing and self doubting landmines.  
I say, strongly resist the urge to cut on yourself and mutilate your body in the name of fashion and beauty, I think that it is time that we all took a stand against this shit, before all of our kids end up looking like Janice Dickinson and the world thinks that that is okay. Even Cher in her pursuit to 'turn back time' has had to face the fact that no amount of surgery is ever going to buy back her youth and natural looks. So don't buy into, dare to be you and don't let the obsessions and insecurities of the rich and famous (and crazy!) ever make you feel less than perfect. 

THE TIME MACHINE 
Release Date: 1960 
Rating: G
Running Time: 103 mins 
I know that a remake of this movie has been made, but I will always have a soft spot for the original version, which was one of the first science fiction films that I ever saw. Based on the 1895 novel of the same name by H. G. Wells and produced and directed by George Pal, The Time Machine won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects in 1961 for its time lapse photographic effects showing the world changing rapidly. 
A scientist (Rod Taylor) invents a machine that allows him to travel backwards and forwards in time through 'the fourth dimension'. He hopes that his future travels will show him an Utopian existence, but instead he finds an oppressive future where humans live in fear of a subterranean species called Morlocks.  
Sure, it may be a bit dated by today's sci-fi standards, but it is really atmospheric and quite dark in it's depiction of a world that has survived three world wars only to arrive at an even more oppressive future. I recall being terrified of the Morlocks as a child and truly concerned about a possibly bleak future. It's a classic for sure, and a great example of high quality science fiction vision. 
FINAL SAY: Thousands of years of building and rebuilding, creating and recreating so you can let it crumble to dust. 
3 Chili Peppers