Shutter Island by Martin Scorsese
Top of the month February 2010: Shutter Island
Madness…? This is Ashecliffe!
Why should you go see Shutter Island by Martin Scorsese, right now?
- Because of the sound of the double bass that follows the main characters from the fog to the gates of the detention facility.
- Because it’s not only a film noir homage but a highly elaborate graphic universe.
- Because the island of Doctor Scorsese is more than a set, a character on its own (Lost anyone?).
Runners up :Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes Anderson and I Love You Phillip Morris by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa.
(not to mention Brothers by Jim Sheridan, Lovely Bones by Peter Jackson and Sherlock Holmes by Guy Ritchie)
Agora by Alejandro Amenábar
Top of the month January 2010: Agora
Violent memories of ancient times.
Why should you go see Agora by Alejandro Amenábar, right now?
- Because of the performance of Rachel Weisz, playing the part of philosopher and scientist Hypatia of Alexandria.
- Because if two things are equal to a third thing then they are all equal to each other (good old Euclid’s first rule).
- Because it’s a great reminder that in the fourth century, the bearded men were not Taliban but Christian.
Runners up :Invictus by Clint Eastwood and Gainsbourg - (vie héroïque) by Joann Sfar.
(not to mention Mr Nobody by Jaco van Dormael, Up in the Air by Jason ‘thanks for smoking’ Reitman and The Book of Eli by the Hughes brothers)
District News Comment your neighborhood
Naaty Design is proud to be part of the first iPhone / iPodTouch application of french developer Bertrand Boudaud.
So, what is District News about?
Stay tuned about your district or the district you visit and the good stuffs around! District News tells you about your neighborhood comments and local news, considering your current location.
Participate and let your neighborhood know about what you think about the best shops, restaurants, bar, events around you, or just express your mood!
No login is required, everybody can post comment without heavy id checks!
The application is simple, light and fast, showing 2 views: a list view, showing messages sorted by date and a map view.
This social networking application is free and available on the App Store.
Top of the year 2009
Previously on… the Top of the year, season 2009: 12 months, 12 movies
- January 2009 : Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle
Jai Hoooooo!
- February 2009 : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by David Fincher
We are all going to die.
- March 2009 : Watchmen by Zack Snyder
Who watch the Watchmen?
- April 2009 : Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the sea) by Hayao Miyazaki
Cute goldfish?
- May 2009 : Star Trek by J.J. Abrams
Reboot, live long and Prosper!
- June 2009 : State of Play by Kevin Macdonald
Print media won’t die!
- July 2009 : Up by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson
Spirit of Adventure with Carl Fredricksen!
- August 2009 : Un prophète by Jacques Audiard
Social climbing in prison?
- September 2009 : District 9 by Neill Blomkamp
Best prawn movie ever!
- October 2009 : The White Ribbon (Das Weiße Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte) by Michael Haneke
Grow up evil, children!
- November 2009 : Zombieland by Ruben Fleischer
This place is so dead.
- December 2009 : Avatar by James Cameron
Pandora’s blue box.
Avatar by James Cameron
Top of the month December 2009: Avatar
Pandora’s blue box.
Why should you go see Avatar by James Cameron, right now?
- Because even if the movie is not the expected ‘revolution’, it’s still a fine piece of work with a perfect narrative structure from the start to the end, leaving a deep pessimism regarding the human race.
- Because the 3D immersion is a brilliant experience and you will want to go back to the world of Pandora.
- Because James Cameron meets Terrence Malick who meets Hayao Miyazaki who meets David Lean who meets James Cameron.
Runners up :The Road by John Hillcoat and Where The Wild Things Are by Spike Jonze.
Zombieland by Ruben Fleischer
Top of the month November 2009: Zombieland
This place is so dead.
Why should you go see Zombieland by Ruben Fleischer, right now?
- Because of the opening title sequence shot in slow motion, playing Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” out loud.
- Because of the survival rules (and their reasons) and the hunt for the last Twinkies on Earth.
- Because of the best cameo appearance ever!
Runners up :A l’origine by Xavier Giannoli and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by Terry Gilliam.
(not to mention Rapt by Lucas Belvaux, The Box by Richard ‘Donnie Darko’ Kelly and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee by Rebecca Miller)
Das Weiße Band (The White Ribbon) by Michael Haneke
Top of the month October 2009: Das Weiße Band (The White Ribbon)
Grow up evil, children!
Why should you go see The White Ribbon by Michael Haneke, right now?
- Because of the sumptuous black & white and aesthetic photography.
- Because of the frightening children as if they were coming from an episode of The Twilight zone or Village of the Damned… without an once of fantastic.
- Because it’s one of the best screenplay pointing out the link between education and growth of terrorism of any kind, and the consequences that (may) follow.
Runners up :Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs by Phil Lord & Chris Miller and Funny People by Judd Apatow.
(not to mention Le Syndrome du Titanic by Nicolas Hulot & Jean-Albert Lièvre and Mademoiselle Chambon by Stéphane Brizé)
Book review: Dragon’s Dream Roger Dean
Dragon’s Dream is the third book to be published after Views (1975) and Magnetic Storm (1984).
Roger Dean is an english artist and designer, well known for painting album covers for rock bands (remember the Yes ‘bubble’ logo?).
In the middle of the 80’s, Dean has been commissioned by a software company, Imagine, then called Psygnosis and designed some of the greatest packaging artwork for video games (the first chapter of the book).
In recent years, he has been designing eco-friendly architecture and prototyping home concepts, a lifelong passion.
The height chapters cover the last twenty five years and contain a wide range of his work from videos games, album covers, paintings, logos, concept arts to architecture designs.
There are also a couple of pages about his daughter Freyja who appears to be an artist too, specialized in scientific illustration and costume design.
This book is a GREAT value, very affordable for a hardcover art book and highly recommended for every fantasy art aficionados! :]
Title / Author : Dragon’s Dream / Roger Dean
Publisher : Ilex
Published : October 2008
Format : Hardback 224 pages
ISBN : 9781905814411
District 9 by Neill Blomkamp
Top of the month September 2009: District 9
Best prawn movie ever!
Why should you go see District 9 by Neill Blomkamp, right now?
- Because you will have empathy for christopher, a fully CGI character!
- Because for once this is a truly original sci-fi concept and it’s not happening in the USA!
- Because it’s a great reminder of the history of South Africa - apartheid (District Six) AND post-apartheid (Zimbabwean immigrants).
Runners up :Mary and Max by Adam Elliot and (500) Days of Summer by Marc Webb.
(not to mention The Hurt Locker by Kathryn Bigelow & L’Affaire Farewell by Christian Carion)
Un Prophete by Jacques Audiard
Top of the month August 2009: Un prophète
Social climbing in prison.
Why should you go see Un prophète by Jacques Audiard, right now?
- Because of the acting: Tahar ‘Malik‘ Rahim, THE revelation, present in (almost) all the scenes and Niels ‘Luciani‘ Arestrup, scariest Corsican ever! :]
- Because it’s the best film of director Jacques Audiard who already has a perfect filmography!
- Because it’s an instant classic (in the prison genre).
Runners up :Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino and Les Derniers jours du monde by Jean-Marie Larrieu & Arnaud Larrieu.
(not to mention The Brothers Bloom by Rian Johnson & Staten Island by James De Monaco)
