I just read a transcript of an interview kobe bryant did on espn radio today.

he says “you know” 101 times.

so I’ve been secretly going to see films and not telling you about them (yeah, it’s got nothing to do with being lazy). but that all changes right NOW as I shall blab about my cinematic experiences.

first up is severance. I really, really enjoyed this one and I’m not even a fan of the slasher genre. I know I said the same thing about shaun of the dead and zombie movies, and this isn’t quite the shaun of slasher movies, but they do a very good job of taking you to the edge of your nerves and slipping in an unexpected funny. oh, you brits.

then I finally saw 28 weeks later. you know what? considering this was a huge budget follow-up to an excellent indie, I thought it was still very good. they managed to add an interesting nibblet to the existing story and added even more human drama elements… and of course big budget special effects. all you 28 days puritans should consider checking this out.

then on a spur of the moment I decided to catch paprika. I saw this on an evening when I was dead tired and I admit my mind could have been slipping in and out of brief consciousness, but this film wouldn’t have been any less vividly imaginative had I been otherwise. using the words “trippy” or “bizarre” would be an insult to describe an animated feature of this magnitude, which stretches the limits of human creativity and imagination. the soundtrack doesn’t slack either.

just a few days shy of my half birthday into my 35th year I had my first drink with my dad. he was in town for business so we met up after my improv class. we hit up a japanese-style pub and munched on goodies and had a beer.

I wish it could have been something more monumental but it was pretty ordinary. I’m sure he wasn’t aware we were out drinking for the first time.

so yeah.

I am hereby officially declaring may 18th as national Shake Your Keyboard Upside down day.

step 1: confirm the day is indeed may 18th
step 2: locate a trash bin (important)
step 3: turn your keyboard upside down and shake vigorously over trash bin
step 4: watch in horror of all the disgusting morsels spilling out of your keyboard
step 5: wait till next year

any questions?

last night I went and saw the nyc premiere of memories of tomorrow starring ken watanabe. it had an introduction AND a q&a afterwards from the man himself!

the film is about a man who devoted his life to his career only to find his work life, home life, and relationship with his wife fall apart when he discovers he has alzheimer’s disease.

expertly shot, directed and acted, this is easily the best film I’ve seen this year.

those of you in nyc, sf and la will see one of japan’s top films from 2006 in select asian theaters. check the site for listings.

do I really want to see 28 weeks later? while weighing into the pros and cons it became another conversation about indie vs major.

28 days was shot on video, on a much lower budget and it just looked so raw. 28 weeks, based on the trailer, looks completely slick and polished (as it should with big studio budgets). scenes of fighter jets dropping bombs on the city? what the fuck? who turned this into a michael bay movie?

though… in the end I think I’ll go to see it anyway. wake me up when 28 years later comes to theaters (infected robots, perhaps?).