Mountain Fog

Blue Mountains, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA


Joined June 18th 2007

Number of Posts:
287

Number of Comments:
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fear not!

About Me
meandering through the mists of time...

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Recent Posts

Mystery of Disappearing Comments

July 3rd 2009 06:04
I have had three people in the last three days leave a comment on posts of mine, in particular the reviews I wrote for 20/20 filmsight.

The first one, left three days ago now by "Mia", on my "New In Town" review, I read and responded to, then later on it had disappeared completely, I thought she had deleted it herself for some reason.

Then today, I got notice that two people had commented on my other film post, "Knowing", on 20/20filmsight, yet when I went to read them today, they had disappeared too.

Has this happened to anyone else?

By the way, when I tried to remove my response to the first commenter, "Mia", on my "New In Town" post on 20/20 filmsight, all I could do is remove the text, not my avatar and so it appears with a blank comment space, yet, the other three people's comments have disappeared completely.

What is going on in Orble? Is it being hacked?

Only Morgan Bell's comments remain on my two film posts, which also seems strange. The comment counter still shows, on the Knowing review, seven comments, so it is still counting the disappeared comments....bizarre huh?

Has this happened to anyone else on Orble?

cheers
and I'd really appreciate some feedback.

fog

11
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New In Town

July 1st 2009 06:53
What would be the worst nightmare for a Miami dwelling, corporate ladder climbing, big city lifestyle obsessed young executive? Probably it is being sent to live in an isolated country township, while overseeing staff cutbacks at the local factory.

It doesn’t immediately sound like a recipe for humour, however, the support cast who populate this township provide most of the laughs, as they battle yet another attempt to downsize their factory. These folks are frozen in time, place and attitude!

Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger) is a career obsessed junior executive who gets the job no one wanted; to live in an isolated and snowbound small township, to oversee the automation of the locals main source of employment, the food factory. Along the way, as she gathers enemies amongst the kooky townsfolk, she falls in love with the local union rep, Ted Mitchell (played by the still stunningly handsome Harry Connick jnr).

(L) Dan Augusta as Billy and (R) Wayne Nicklas as Harve Gunderson (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)


After much angst, in trying to keep the workforce on side by becoming a ‘friend’ with some of the local key players, all to no avail, Hill becomes her company’s biggest problem, as her loyalties and objectives change, leaving her, and the townsfolk, with the task to create a win for all, in no time at all.

Renée Zellweger as Lucy Hill (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)


Such is the lot of Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger), who has to deal with kooky, oddball town folk, (reminiscent of those folks in Fargo), some of whom try their hardest to please, like her secretary, Blanche Gunderson (Siobhan Fallon Hogan), who is so desperate for Hill’s approval, she takes Hill’s photo as Hill drives to her new bolthole, then tries to entertain Hill with her mini scrapbook, full of photos of her dead pets, complete with appalling detail of their decline, and all this within minutes of meeting her.

Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Blanche Gunderson (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)


The part of Blanche Gunderson, (Siobhan Fallon Hogan), is one of the kookier and more endearing characters, in this gently entertaining film. In fact, it is one of those rarer films where the supports, and bit part roles, tend to make the film a success, instead of the stars.

(back of) Renée Zellweger as LUCY HILL and Harry Connick jnr. as Ted Mitchell. (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)


Both Zellweger and Harry Connick jnr are competent, but do not shine, as their love interest does seem to appear more perfunctory, than passionate. However, it is the stars’ telegraphed, over-cooked attempts at slapstick, which momentarily detract from the general feel good reality of the film. Mercifully, the director Jonas Elmer has not flooded the film with his poor attempts at slapstick, which should appear spontaneous, unexpected and believable.

J.K. Simmons as Stu Kopenhafer (centre) (photo credit: Rebecca Sandulak)


The homespun good nature and deadpan delivery of the support cast, such as J.K.Simmons’ performance as the frosty foreman Stu Kopenhafer, Nancy Drake as the imperious waitress, Frances Conroy as Trudy Van Uuden and especially Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Blanche Gunderson, among others, all combine to create an enjoyable film.

Good for a ‘snuggle in’ with your partner or pals.

Run: 96mins
Production by: Gold Circle Films and The Safran Company
Australian Distributor: ICON
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick jnr
Writers: Kenneth Rance and C. Jay Cox
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KNOWING

June 30th 2009 11:57
© 2008 Summit Entertainment N.V. All rights reserved


'Knowing'

A professor of astrophysics, John Koestler (Nicholas Cage) discovers that a bizarre item his son Caleb (Chandler Canterbury) brings home from school has a terrifying significance, not only for his family, but for the rest of humanity.

Caleb's school was celebrating its 50th anniversary, the climax of the celebrations was to open the time capsule, embedded in the school grounds. Inside the capsule were letters to the future, that the students of the 1950s had written, for today's kids to read. Most letters contained colourful drawings, of space ships and a happy colourful future, yet one did not.

The letter Caleb opened was not a drawing, but a sheet of paper completely filled with numbers, created (as we see at the start of the film) by a disturbed school girl 50 years ago. As Caleb stared at the nonsensical numbers, another world subtly begins to make its presence known to him. Instead of handing the opened letter back to the teachers, as all the others did, Caleb takes his strange note home with him.

Later, Caleb's father notices the odd list poking out of his son's school bag and investigates. It is not long before his mathematical mind discovers something that perturbs him.

As the disastrous action mounts, Koestler, the estranged atheist son of a preacher and single dad, battles his own scientific reality based mind-set, in order to understand what the bizarre list of seemingly random number sequences mean, then, through a series of horrifying ordeals, Koestler realizes he is on a countdown and needs to find answers, and find them quickly.

Nicholas cage as Professor Koestler in ‘Knowing’.

(photo credit Vince Valitutti) © 2008 Summit Entertainment N.V. All rights reserved.

This film begins as a spooky, supernatural thriller, that soon becomes a maelstrom of major disasters that Koestler keeps associating with the enigmatic list. This bizarre list of numbers, written by an even more bizarre little girl 50 years ago, is starting to unnerve Koestler; the disturbing effect on him worries his university colleague and friend Phil Beckman (Ben Mendlesohn) who suggests that, maybe, Koestler is finally having a breakdown, after the death of his much loved wife.

But Koestler continues to explore the number sets and how they relate to dates of disasters, all of which had occurred in the previous 50 years. But there are a few dates still unattributed at the end of the list. In attempts to discover their meaning, Koestler meets the daughter of the list’s creator, Diana Wayland (Rose Byrne) who now must reluctantly face her torturous past, in order to help solve the riddle of the numbers.

Rose Byrne as Diana Wayland with Nicholas cage as Prof. John Koestler.

(photo credit © 2008 Summit Entertainment N.V. All rights reserved.)

As the hunt for meaning continues its relentless and disastrous course, Koestler’s son Caleb and Wayland’s daughter Abby (Lara Robinson) become aware of a supernatural force at work, but no one knows if ‘they’ are benevolent, or, a danger to their children and perhaps the real cause of the disasters.

The subtextural themes of what this film touches upon will be debated by many audience members, as various standpoints may be taken, depending on the individual's belief system and psychological nature. The film certainly rears many mental spectres that haunt people today; the supernatural, our collective existence and its end, even the debate regarding the nature of alien life, may be pondered.

Chandler Canterbury as Caleb Koestler in ‘Knowing’

(photo credit © 2008 Summit Entertainment N.V. All rights reserved.)

KNOWING is one of the first feature films to be shot with the "Red One Camera", a lightweight camera using high resolution digital technology. The great advantage of the "Red One Camera", over the film motion camera, is its ability to allow the director to immediately review what he has just shot, on set, then re-shoot if necessary.

With the film motion cameras, you must wait till the next day for the film reel's developing to see what you shot the previous day, then wait yet again for another arduous process, the colourization of each scene by man operated technology, and the inclusion of any special effects, often done bya process called "Blue Screen".

As producer Jason Blumenthal noted, “It (Red One Camera) made things move very quickly. We were able to do so much more on set than when we used to have to wait to do it in post, like tweaking colour.”

The Director of Photography (DOP), Simon Duggan, stated that “With the Red One Camera, we didn’t have to wait overnight just to see if a lighting scheme worked out. It’s all immediate, and we ended up having more confidence in pushing the limits of what we were doing.”

'Knowing' air crash site

(photo credit © 2008 Summit Entertainment N.V. All rights reserved.)

This technology is the future of picture making today and unlike other technological innovations of the past, is here to stay. The special effects in this film are both fantastic and yet realistic. It wasn’t till I checked the credits that I realized this film was made in Melbourne, Australia, for the most part, which is a credit to our battling film industry and its talented technicians.

Nicholas Cage as John Koestler in ‘Knowing’.

(photo credit: © 2008 Summit Entertainment N.V. All rights reserved.)

The DOP, award winning Simon Duggan, creates a balanced view that doesn’t impose itself upon the audience's consciousness, allowing the atmosphere created to seamlessly flow between the big disaster shots and the more intimate moments, leaving the viewing audience to marvel and immerse themselves in the film.

While some slight criticism could be considered, regarding some of Cage’s reactions, they are but fleeting and do not derail the momentum of the film. Well art directed, edited and shot, this is a mixed bag of roller coaster treats for the movie goer, sure to deliver satisfaction on the ticket price!

KNOWING
Run: 121mins
Production: Summit Entertainment;
Escape Artists Productions in association with Mystery Clock Cinema
Director: Alex Proyas
Australian/New Zealand Distributor: ICON Film Distribution
Stars: Nicholas cage, Rose Byrne, Ben Mendleson, Chandler Canterbury





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PRESIDENTIAL QUOTES 2

June 18th 2009 08:38
Herein lies another instalment of my famous, and infamous, quotes from all walks of life, however, this particular series is devoted to the Presidents of the United States of America. Why just them? Because Australia barely rates a mention overseas; unless it is on fire, in flood, or, we find another "Crikey" type to wrestle dangerous animals.

Of course, this nature aspect of Australia is played up far too much by overseas countries, leaving their collective populaces frightened about coming here, lest they be dragged from their sky scraper five star hotel room by a voraciously hungry crocodile, to then be tossed into a pit swarming and seething with poisonous spiders and snakes! We would never allow this, well, not too often, and only if you insult us! (Warning to Aussie haters; keep away from the crocodile luggage in hotel lobbies!)
[ Click here to read more ]
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PRESIDENTIAL QUOTES

June 9th 2009 06:53
This entry in "Quote me no Quotes!" covers some of the insightful comments made by presiding Presidents of America. Some of these surprised me, and made me reflect on how far we have been fooled, lied to and led by the nose, by our collective Governments.

President James Madison
[ Click here to read more ]
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QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!

June 4th 2009 13:25
George Bernard Shaw


This is the first of many posts on the subject of great quotes in history. It spans from the ancient Greeks and Romans, to this very day. Of course, some will be full of import and cause one to reflect as the knell of familiarity chimes deep within our dusty brain corridors, others will merely entertain, for we are but briefly visiting, in this present incarnation, so there is no time to lose in having a good old laugh, and a ponder, upon the bon mots of the wise, the humorous and the ludicrous. Enjoy! And, if you have any pet quotes, feel free to add them to the list


[ Click here to read more ]
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Well, as it seems hardly anyone wants to stretch their brains to come up with some newly coined collective nouns, it is, once again, left up to me. And so, I shall oblige with this list for today...enjoy...whomever can be bothered to read it...anyone out there?...(echo..echo..)

A hatful of milliners.
[ Click here to read more ]
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Merciless Sisters

May 23rd 2009 09:10
Pencil shavings,
India rubber cubes,
a class of clatter and chatter,

[ Click here to read more ]
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More Amusing Collective Nouns

May 20th 2009 05:01
So here I go again, continuing to ride this WILD wave of blogging success, or, should that be excess? Anyhoo, here are a few more that slopped down to my fingers from my partly petrified preservative and additive bathed frontal lobes. Enjoy..or else..umm...err... sorry.

A dumpster of Bin Ladens.
[ Click here to read more ]
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More Collective Nouns for a larrf

May 19th 2009 14:58
Yes, here I go again, after my recent RAGING success, when I posted my first foray into the amusing world of collective nouns, some of course, would be more bemused, than amused, with my suggestions. To them, I say, each his/her own!

A prevarication of attorneys.

[ Click here to read more ]
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Recent Comments

Comment by Mountain Fog
on Les Diaboliques

July 3rd 2009 13:28
I agree with Matt,

a review well done David, love your wrap up too!

I have seen this film, but oh so long ago. I must try and track it down.

cheers

fog

Comment by Mountain Fog
on KNOWING

July 3rd 2009 13:10
Ahh thanks forthat,

actually, you stimulated me to check up on a system that was becoming the 'next best thing' after Blue screen, a system developed by Introvison.

I worked with the guys for a year as we set up to shoot Total Recall, (the eventually failed Sydney attempt by De Laurentis), and it had a similar advantage, that being, the view finder saw all, so rushes nest day had the finished product, so still down to film, but it allowed all sorts of tricks like crossing the dividing line, and objects appeared real, as they cut away when the actor walked in front of them.

A complex process, however, I only learned tonight, after checking out where they were at these days, that with the advent of digital, it disappeared over night!

Anyway, I should post about my days in film, sometime, if I can drag myself back through the sludge of old memories and egrets I didn;t stick it out, like some of my pals, who have Oscars to their names today...
too depressing to think about...going to sign off now...

fog

Comment by Mountain Fog
on Natalina takes a stand: Be nice or go away

July 3rd 2009 08:25
ooops! sollly gurrrlish! my typo my baaad!! tee hee!

Actually, your name should be, Natalina Natalian

sounds rather grand and powerful!

As far as the removal of rights go, yes the big bad 'machine' (military industrial complex) has a lot to answer for, particularly the terrible coup like hoax perpetrated on 911. Go watch a doco entitled "911: In Plane Site" all the guy uses in this terrifyingly revealing film is CBS officially released film, that they shot that awful day. We live in very dangerous times I fear...

cheers

fog

Comment by Mountain Fog
on KNOWING

July 3rd 2009 07:37
Hi Matt,

at last your comment stuck, but for how long this time...

Yeah, I agree, the second half lost some ground, and it wasn't helped by Cage's almost histrionic facial expressions, and the dropping to his knees at the end...oh dear...

by the way, do you know anymore about "red one", when and where it was developed, and why was it called "red one". I can imagine it is a suitably unimaginative reason, going by some of the techs I knew in the business years ago..hehe!

cheers and thanks for dropping back to re-comment, I appreciate it.
fog

And, if MARLEY is reading this, I did not delete your comment, a 'phantom', for want a a more deserving low brow moniker, has hacked this site and removed it, feel free to comment again, and cheers anyway.

fog

Comment by Mountain Fog
on REVISITING THE FILMS OF LUCHA LIBRE

July 3rd 2009 06:07
Hey Matt,

got your test email through to my address, but did you get my response back to you?

Or, did you get my questions about your comment disappearing from my Knowing review, via the Orble email?

In case not, basically, your comment and comments by Marley, and Mia have all been totally erased off my two film reviews, (Mia from "New In Town") and the other from "Knowing".

Do you have any answers why they disappeared, as I presume you didn't remove your own comment?

cheers

fog

reminds me of some spagetti I watched while tripping in the seventies...

reminds me, I must try and find that pic of that freakout fish/mammal/blob/monster thang... saw it a couple of years ago, it was beached by these fishermaen, who posed in the photo with it, and it really looked 'out of this world'...and no, I wasn't tripping then.

Hurry up with the Squirm review! You should link it to this blob thang too.

fog

Comment by Mountain Fog
on Natalina takes a stand: Be nice or go away

July 3rd 2009 05:47
Natalian, ummm tell me..

just how much 'peace and love' and 'open acceptance' does Ron Paul espouse?

What is there to admire in that man in particular?

I know little aobut him, but there have been some caustic attacks made, what is your take on him?

cheers

fog

Comment by Mountain Fog
on KNOWING

July 3rd 2009 05:43
DELETION UPDATE

Two more comments have been MYSTERIOUSLY deleted from this blog, comments from Marley and one from Matt Shea have been removed since they posted here between midnight last night, to today.

So what is going on here eh???

Any Orblers had this happen on their blog?

fog

Comment by Mountain Fog
on KNOWING

July 2nd 2009 12:45
Morgan,
I couldn't solve the problem, so I deleted my remarks about it.

Oh yes, Rose Byrne, first time I have seen her, and she did a great job actually, I forgot to cover her in the review, and the junior lead, Chandler Canterbury, who was excellent for being so natural in his performance. I got too caught up in giving an overall view of the film, trying to capture the feeling of it.

cheers

fog

Comment by Mountain Fog
on Father O'Grady - Catholic Paedophile

July 2nd 2009 12:38
Hi Amy,

the very idea of raping a baby is beyond comprehension. The perpetrator's mind must be on the verge of insanity to do something like that, a total psychopath.

But what of the child sex rackets and the slavery rackets, that still go on today, not only in the Middle East and Asia, but in the West as well?

Frankly, I am of the opinion that the entire paedophilia problem must be treated as a mental illness, not because of wanting to reduce their responsibility for what they have done, but to start work towards finding a cure and/or effective management, also having programmes to detect it in people at an early age. Maybe following that path we might better help children of the future?

The idea of just punishment does not solve the problem. That is mere economic expediency by governments that also use it as a political tool when they wish to curry favour with the voters. I have spoken to psychologists on the matter, and they said governments just took the cheapest way out, gaol.

I think the public is much better served if we apply some science to the area, so it can be eradicated altogether. The way we are currently going about it does nothing to address tomorrows twisted psyches being formed and causing more harm.

cheers

fog