Today

Went to Jenn's late this morning. It was a hot and muggy day though her air conditioner was sweet.

However, my intuition told me to go there first before going to Jesmond to get lunch. As it happened Jenn was keen to use her electric (mobile) chair  to go to Big-W and hunt for DVDs. I would have loved to do that with her, but it was too hot and at the time there were no clouds, so she would have roasted in the attempt.

So, I went to look for four DVDs. Before I left Jenn phoned ahead and asked if they were in stock. Now this action was the height of optimism, as normally the answer got from the media section at Big-W seldom reflects reality. "Couldn't see any in stock" was their reply. However, I suggested that I go look in person. I was right. It took me about 40 minutes but I found the last remaining copies of all but one of the videos.

By the time I got back I almost  dropped from sweat and exhaustion -not a good day to run around in. We spent the afternoon watching The Court Jester and the original Gone in 60 Seconds. Nostalgia yes, and good fun. Didn't get home until just after 8pm. Fed the pets (Tabby turned up again tonight - looks like he only likes dry food) and have done bugger all since.

Apparently a "Baby Bat" will be coming over to visit tomorrow (which is expected to be 37°C, oh joy). Kevin asked if I could do the washing up before she gets here. Hmmm.

Gone in 60 Seconds

Watched this film again today, after first seeing it maybe 25-30 years ago.

I first saw it at the Liberty Cinema in Perth on Barrack St. I don't even know if that cinema still exists - the last time I was in Perth, in 2005, I noticed that so many CBD cinemas were gone (or had been turned into Woolworths). The Liberty Cinema was were I first saw Desperate Living, Baraka, and a whole host of arts/cult films. On Sundays it would show Chinese language films, especially Martial Arts flicks.

Anyway, it was interesting to see this again. I'd forgotten just how non-mainstream it was. The film quality looks like super 8 and for the first ten minutes it's hard to figure out just who's talking to whom. According to Jenn, who's seen the remake, there are whole scenes that have been lifted from the original.

It's all about stealing cars and a 40 minute car chase which is the main feature of the film. After watching the interviews and seeing the extra (often silent) footage that's featured on the DVD, it's clear that many of the stunts weren't fake. There's some slow motion footage that's been cranked up, but for the most part it seems that the real actors drove the real cars as seen in the film. Also, due to restricted budget, it seems that real police and firemen played, you guessed it, police and firemen.

What surprised me was the fact that this was a self-funded film, and that the main character was also the director - explains a lot of under action, though the real star of the film is "Eleanor", a 1973 Ford Mustang. Gasp - this film started a whole genre of chase films.

Good to see it again.