From a19d98ce7e590e6c7f82aa08f7e9791a72e2e8bc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Harald Eilertsen Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2020 14:14:41 +0200 Subject: Split english and norwegian posts. This turned out a bit different than I initially though. The english and norwegian sections will essentially be separate. Afaict there's no direct way to make a "combined view" listing both english and norwegian posts. However, I think that's fine. Let's roll with this for now. --- config.toml | 15 +- content/_index.en.md | 15 + content/_index.md | 3 + .../index.en.md | 49 +++ .../index.md | 49 --- content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.en.md | 86 +++++ content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.md | 86 ----- .../index.en.md | 27 ++ .../2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.md | 27 -- .../index.en.md | 41 ++ .../index.md | 41 -- .../index.en.md | 26 ++ .../index.md | 26 -- .../2015-03-19-how-big-is-hello-world/index.en.md | 206 ++++++++++ .../2015-03-19-how-big-is-hello-world/index.md | 206 ---------- .../index.en.md | 24 ++ .../2015-06-09-the-stench-of-corruption/index.md | 24 -- content/blog/2015-08-04-some-webcomics/index.en.md | 75 ++++ content/blog/2015-08-04-some-webcomics/index.md | 75 ---- content/blog/2015-08-08-gchq-and-me/index.en.md | 15 + content/blog/2015-08-08-gchq-and-me/index.md | 15 - .../index.en.md | 17 + .../index.md | 17 - .../index.en.md | 36 ++ .../index.md | 36 -- content/blog/2015-10-02-kalandra/index.en.md | 39 ++ content/blog/2015-10-02-kalandra/index.md | 39 -- content/blog/2015-11-14-a-sad-day/index.en.md | 13 + content/blog/2015-11-14-a-sad-day/index.md | 13 - .../index.en.md | 24 ++ .../index.md | 24 -- .../2015-12-16-java-as-afirst-language/index.en.md | 110 ++++++ .../2015-12-16-java-as-afirst-language/index.md | 110 ------ .../index.en.md | 71 ++++ .../index.md | 71 ---- .../2015-12-24-are-we-up-for-anonymity/index.en.md | 25 ++ .../2015-12-24-are-we-up-for-anonymity/index.md | 25 -- content/blog/2015-12-25-do-not-track/index.en.md | 20 + content/blog/2015-12-25-do-not-track/index.md | 20 - .../index.en.md | 17 + .../index.md | 17 - .../index.md | 19 + .../index.md | 19 - content/blog/_index.en.md | 8 + .../film/2015-02-01-among-the-living/index.en.md | 21 ++ content/film/2015-02-01-among-the-living/index.md | 21 -- content/film/2015-02-01-ida-film/index.en.md | 19 + content/film/2015-02-01-ida-film/index.md | 19 - .../2015-03-13-baby-of-macon/baby-of-macon.jpg | Bin 0 -> 43852 bytes content/film/2015-03-13-baby-of-macon/index.en.md | 67 ++++ .../baby-of-macon.jpg | Bin 43852 -> 0 bytes .../film/2015-03-13-film-baby-of-macon/index.md | 67 ---- .../2015-04-11-hal-hartley-ned-rifle/index.en.md | 61 +++ .../film/2015-04-11-hal-hartley-ned-rifle/index.md | 61 --- content/film/2015-06-24-film-kumiko/index.md | 24 -- content/film/2015-06-24-film-kumiko/kumiko.jpg | Bin 36470 -> 0 bytes content/film/2015-06-24-kumiko/index.en.md | 24 ++ content/film/2015-06-24-kumiko/kumiko.jpg | Bin 0 -> 36470 bytes .../i-am-divine-cover.jpg | Bin 43981 -> 0 bytes content/film/2015-06-26-film-i-am-divine/index.md | 18 - .../2015-06-26-i-am-divine/i-am-divine-cover.jpg | Bin 0 -> 43981 bytes content/film/2015-06-26-i-am-divine/index.en.md | 18 + content/film/2015-08-08-clowne/index.en.md | 28 ++ content/film/2015-08-08-clowne/index.md | 28 -- content/film/2015-10-21-ramaskrik/index.en.md | 173 +++++++++ content/film/2015-10-21-ramaskrik/index.md | 173 --------- .../2015-11-02-film-the-devils-hand-2014/index.md | 22 -- .../2015-11-02-the-devils-hand-2014/index.en.md | 22 ++ content/film/2016-04-28-huset/index.en.md | 38 ++ content/film/2016-04-28-huset/index.md | 38 -- content/film/2017-08-19-ramaskrik-2016/index.en.md | 415 ++++++++++++++++++++ content/film/2017-08-19-ramaskrik-2016/index.md | 415 -------------------- content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.en.md | 335 +++++++++++++++++ content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.md | 334 ----------------- .../film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md | 417 +++++++++++++++++++++ content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.md | 417 --------------------- content/film/2020-06-06-ramaskrik-2018/index.en.md | 171 +++++++++ content/film/2020-06-06-ramaskrik-2018/index.md | 171 --------- content/film/_index.en.md | 7 + content/film/_index.md | 2 +- content/license.md | 14 + content/lisens.md | 1 + sass/styles.scss | 10 +- templates/index.html | 4 +- templates/posts/header.html | 2 +- templates/shortcodes/taglink.html | 4 +- 86 files changed, 2823 insertions(+), 2759 deletions(-) create mode 100644 content/_index.en.md create mode 100644 content/blog/2015-01-01-social-networking-done-right/index.en.md delete mode 100644 content/blog/2015-01-01-social-networking-done-right/index.md create mode 100644 content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.en.md delete mode 100644 content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.md create mode 100644 content/blog/2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.en.md delete mode 100644 content/blog/2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.md create mode 100644 content/blog/2015-02-27-a-quick-script-to-import-data-from-my-bank-to-gnucash/index.en.md delete mode 100644 content/blog/2015-02-27-a-quick-script-to-import-data-from-my-bank-to-gnucash/index.md create mode 100644 content/blog/2015-03-13-first-bike-trip-of-the-year/index.en.md delete mode 100644 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content/license.md diff --git a/config.toml b/config.toml index 4343b80..458949f 100644 --- a/config.toml +++ b/config.toml @@ -16,18 +16,25 @@ highlight_code = true taxonomies = [ { name = "tags", rss = true }, + { name = "tags", rss = true, lang = "en" }, ] languages = [ { code = "nb", feed = true }, - { cdoe = "en", feed = true }, + { code = "en", feed = true }, ] default_language = "nb" -[translations] -nb = { moreprompt = "Les mer..." } -en = { moreprompt = "More..." } +[translations.nb] +moreprompt = "Les mer..." +latest = "Siste innlegg:" +allposts = "se alle innleggene i" + +[translations.en] +moreprompt = "More..." +latest = "Latest posts:" +allposts = "View all posts in" [extra] # Put all your custom variables here diff --git a/content/_index.en.md b/content/_index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3050164 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/_index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ ++++ ++++ + +# Welcome to my website! + +I am Harald, and this is my homepage and blog about things that interest me. For the most +part, that will mean subjects in the cross section between technology and society, but there +will also be posts about music, film and other cultural expressions. + +Below you will find an overview of the different sections on this site, as well as short +lists of the latest posts in each section. Note that most content will be in norwegian, so +not all posts will show here. + +The content on these pages is made available, and can be freely reused under the Creative +Commons Attribution-ShareAlike licence. Read more [about rights and license here](/license/). diff --git a/content/_index.md b/content/_index.md index 5f9b158..fa43b0e 100644 --- a/content/_index.md +++ b/content/_index.md @@ -8,5 +8,8 @@ Det vil for det meste si problemstillinger i skjæringspunktet mellom samfunn og teknologi, men det kan også dukke opp innhold om film, musikk og andre kulturelle uttrykk her. +Nedenfor finner du en oversikt over de forskjellige seksjonene på disse sidene, samt +en kort liste over de siste innleggene i hver seksjon. + Innholdet på disse sidene er gjort tilgjengelig, og kan fritt gjenbrukes så lenge du oppgir kilde. Les mer [om rettigheter og lisens her](/lisens/). diff --git a/content/blog/2015-01-01-social-networking-done-right/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-01-01-social-networking-done-right/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aaf6814 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-01-01-social-networking-done-right/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,49 @@ ++++ +title = "Social Networking Done Right" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["social networks", "diaspora", "federation"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +For the past year and a half or so I've moved most of my social networking +presence to [Diaspora*]. It's been quite a nice ride, I think. The +change of pace from Facebooks aggressive and immersive ad-driven style to a +smaller community has been both refreshing and enlightening. + + + +This could be just another social media platform, however. In which case it +wouldn't be very interesting. A matter of preferences and taste, combined with +where the people that you know hang out would determine which platform you +prefered. It could essentially be just another facebook clone. There's enough +of them already, and they're all uninteresting. + +What sets Diaspora* apart is that it's a platform for sharing and communicating +with anybody. It's distributed nature is well known. There are a number of +_pods[^pods]_ located around the +internet. [Choose one] that you like and has terms you agree with. +You can even [run your own]. You can share and communicate with +others _regardless of which pod they are signed up to_. + +While that's great by itself, it really shines when you realize that you can +share and communicate with people on completely different platforms too! As +long as the other platforms implement the same protocol for sharing messages +and posts that Diaspora* does, it doesn't really matter on which platform your +friends are signed up to. For now this means that anybody on [Diaspora*], +[Friendica] and the [Red Matrix] can communicate with each other. + +If you ask me, that's just how social networking should be. Not locked up silos +like Facebook and it's clones, but open platforms for communicating and sharing +ideas regardless of the underlying platform. + +[^pods]: Servers running the Diaspora* software. + +[Diaspora*]: https://diasporafoundation.org/ +[Choose one]: https://wiki.diasporafoundation.org/Choosing_a_pod +[run your own]: https://wiki.diasporafoundation.org/Installation +[Friendica]: http://friendica.com/ +[Red Matrix]: https://redmatrix.me/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-01-01-social-networking-done-right/index.md b/content/blog/2015-01-01-social-networking-done-right/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index aaf6814..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-01-01-social-networking-done-right/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,49 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Social Networking Done Right" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["social networks", "diaspora", "federation"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -For the past year and a half or so I've moved most of my social networking -presence to [Diaspora*]. It's been quite a nice ride, I think. The -change of pace from Facebooks aggressive and immersive ad-driven style to a -smaller community has been both refreshing and enlightening. - - - -This could be just another social media platform, however. In which case it -wouldn't be very interesting. A matter of preferences and taste, combined with -where the people that you know hang out would determine which platform you -prefered. It could essentially be just another facebook clone. There's enough -of them already, and they're all uninteresting. - -What sets Diaspora* apart is that it's a platform for sharing and communicating -with anybody. It's distributed nature is well known. There are a number of -_pods[^pods]_ located around the -internet. [Choose one] that you like and has terms you agree with. -You can even [run your own]. You can share and communicate with -others _regardless of which pod they are signed up to_. - -While that's great by itself, it really shines when you realize that you can -share and communicate with people on completely different platforms too! As -long as the other platforms implement the same protocol for sharing messages -and posts that Diaspora* does, it doesn't really matter on which platform your -friends are signed up to. For now this means that anybody on [Diaspora*], -[Friendica] and the [Red Matrix] can communicate with each other. - -If you ask me, that's just how social networking should be. Not locked up silos -like Facebook and it's clones, but open platforms for communicating and sharing -ideas regardless of the underlying platform. - -[^pods]: Servers running the Diaspora* software. - -[Diaspora*]: https://diasporafoundation.org/ -[Choose one]: https://wiki.diasporafoundation.org/Choosing_a_pod -[run your own]: https://wiki.diasporafoundation.org/Installation -[Friendica]: http://friendica.com/ -[Red Matrix]: https://redmatrix.me/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3fe1af --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ ++++ +title = "Popcorn Time" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "popcorn time"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="Popcorn_Time_logo.png") %} +The Popcorn Time mascot +{% end %} + +Lately I've been trying out [Popcorn Time]. I know it's hardly news anymore, +but I'm one of those who like to pay for the movies I watch, so I've been +looking a bit around for what alternatives I have. So far, given my prefered +platforms and a requirement that the solution needs to be playable using [Free +and Open Source] software, I've really only had one choice: [Vimeo]. + + + +I like Vimeo, there's a lot of really great independent film makers out there +who make films that are both interesting and well made. Through Vimeo's +video-on-demand service they have a chance to screen their films for a price +they set themselves – and you know that at least part of the money reach the +film makers. The service is quite good, and I will definitely keep using it. + +Pretty much everything else requires proprietary software that isn't even +available for my systems (read _Microsoft Silverlight_.) That's a no go. I'm _not_ +going to install a closed source proprietary software from a vendor that is +known to [cooperate] with the authorities of hostile nations +just to watch movies. I'm not _that_ stupid. + +So I've read about Popcorn Time, but shrugged it off, as I would rather like a +solution where I can give back to the film makers. Until one day, I decided to +try... + +It does have it's problems. The search is not very good. I would like to search +on films by country, by director, by actors etc, but it seems it only provides +search by title. Also given their own claim that they have everything, I think +the selection of movies is rather thin. They have the most mainstream stuff, +but there's quite a few of my favourite movies I have not been able to find +there yet. Third, for less popular movies the download rate may be wildly +varying, which gives a frustrating viewer experience when the move halts +altogether for extended periods of time. + +That said, when it works, damn how it works! Compared to the commercial +offerings that have jerky playback with occationally severe coding artifacts, +Popcorn Time provides really smooth playback, much better image quality and +crisper sound. If you love movies, I really see no other alternatives coming +even close to this.[^1] + +My question is: _Why hasn't the movie industry looked into this?_ + +The code is licensed under [GPLv3], which means the movie studio who first +decides to try this model has a good and working codebase to start off with +when they decides to make their own offering. The catch? Any software derived +from Popcorn Time must also be free and open source. + +But this is actually an advantage! You'll get a community of people that would +help you develop the software, you just need to provide the movies and a way to +pay for them. Given that Popcorn Time is based on the [BitTorrent] +protocol, it even means that everyone watching films is also helping you +distribute it. So you'll even save on bandwith costs compared to the +traditional video-on-demand solutions of today. Popular movies will practically +host themselves, less popular ones may have to be served more directly. + +Give us a way to pay for the movies, provide enough server bandwith that we can +watch even the less popular movies without trouble, and fix the crappy search +and we should have a winner. + +Please! + +[^1]: I've sometimes paid for movies on other services, just to end up watching + them on Popcorn Time because the experience is so much better! + + +[cooperate]: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/23/nsa-prism-costs-tech-companies-paid +[Popcorn Time]: http://popcorn-time.se/ +[Free and Open Source]: http://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software +[Vimeo]: https://vimeo.com +[GPLv3]: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html +[BitTorrent]: http://www.bittorrent.org/beps/bep_0003.html + diff --git a/content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.md b/content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index f3fe1af..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-01-02-popcorn-time/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,86 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Popcorn Time" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "popcorn time"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="Popcorn_Time_logo.png") %} -The Popcorn Time mascot -{% end %} - -Lately I've been trying out [Popcorn Time]. I know it's hardly news anymore, -but I'm one of those who like to pay for the movies I watch, so I've been -looking a bit around for what alternatives I have. So far, given my prefered -platforms and a requirement that the solution needs to be playable using [Free -and Open Source] software, I've really only had one choice: [Vimeo]. - - - -I like Vimeo, there's a lot of really great independent film makers out there -who make films that are both interesting and well made. Through Vimeo's -video-on-demand service they have a chance to screen their films for a price -they set themselves – and you know that at least part of the money reach the -film makers. The service is quite good, and I will definitely keep using it. - -Pretty much everything else requires proprietary software that isn't even -available for my systems (read _Microsoft Silverlight_.) That's a no go. I'm _not_ -going to install a closed source proprietary software from a vendor that is -known to [cooperate] with the authorities of hostile nations -just to watch movies. I'm not _that_ stupid. - -So I've read about Popcorn Time, but shrugged it off, as I would rather like a -solution where I can give back to the film makers. Until one day, I decided to -try... - -It does have it's problems. The search is not very good. I would like to search -on films by country, by director, by actors etc, but it seems it only provides -search by title. Also given their own claim that they have everything, I think -the selection of movies is rather thin. They have the most mainstream stuff, -but there's quite a few of my favourite movies I have not been able to find -there yet. Third, for less popular movies the download rate may be wildly -varying, which gives a frustrating viewer experience when the move halts -altogether for extended periods of time. - -That said, when it works, damn how it works! Compared to the commercial -offerings that have jerky playback with occationally severe coding artifacts, -Popcorn Time provides really smooth playback, much better image quality and -crisper sound. If you love movies, I really see no other alternatives coming -even close to this.[^1] - -My question is: _Why hasn't the movie industry looked into this?_ - -The code is licensed under [GPLv3], which means the movie studio who first -decides to try this model has a good and working codebase to start off with -when they decides to make their own offering. The catch? Any software derived -from Popcorn Time must also be free and open source. - -But this is actually an advantage! You'll get a community of people that would -help you develop the software, you just need to provide the movies and a way to -pay for them. Given that Popcorn Time is based on the [BitTorrent] -protocol, it even means that everyone watching films is also helping you -distribute it. So you'll even save on bandwith costs compared to the -traditional video-on-demand solutions of today. Popular movies will practically -host themselves, less popular ones may have to be served more directly. - -Give us a way to pay for the movies, provide enough server bandwith that we can -watch even the less popular movies without trouble, and fix the crappy search -and we should have a winner. - -Please! - -[^1]: I've sometimes paid for movies on other services, just to end up watching - them on Popcorn Time because the experience is so much better! - - -[cooperate]: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/23/nsa-prism-costs-tech-companies-paid -[Popcorn Time]: http://popcorn-time.se/ -[Free and Open Source]: http://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software -[Vimeo]: https://vimeo.com -[GPLv3]: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html -[BitTorrent]: http://www.bittorrent.org/beps/bep_0003.html - diff --git a/content/blog/2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a11633 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ ++++ +title = "190 fascists marching in Oslo" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["fascism", "racism"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="hammer-Swastika.png") %} +Fascism is rearing it's ugly head again. We need to crush it! +([Illustration from here](http://www.permanentrevolution.net/category/21).) +{% end %} + +A group trying to bring the PEGIDA crap to Oslo held it's first march tonight. +They managed to drum up [190 +supporters](http://www.vepsen.no/2015/01/190-i-hatmarsj-i-oslo/), among them +well-known figures from the 80's and 90's neo-nazi scene, as well as more +recently active figures from the more recent anti-islam movement. + +Far from overwhelming numbers, but by Norwegian standards it's more than any of +the other movements has been able to gather for a very long time. Let's hope it +is the last time we'll have to endure such scum in our streets! + +On the other hand, the counter demo counted some 500 people. diff --git a/content/blog/2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.md b/content/blog/2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 4a11633..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-01-12-fascists-marching-in-oslo/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,27 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "190 fascists marching in Oslo" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["fascism", "racism"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="hammer-Swastika.png") %} -Fascism is rearing it's ugly head again. We need to crush it! -([Illustration from here](http://www.permanentrevolution.net/category/21).) -{% end %} - -A group trying to bring the PEGIDA crap to Oslo held it's first march tonight. -They managed to drum up [190 -supporters](http://www.vepsen.no/2015/01/190-i-hatmarsj-i-oslo/), among them -well-known figures from the 80's and 90's neo-nazi scene, as well as more -recently active figures from the more recent anti-islam movement. - -Far from overwhelming numbers, but by Norwegian standards it's more than any of -the other movements has been able to gather for a very long time. Let's hope it -is the last time we'll have to endure such scum in our streets! - -On the other hand, the counter demo counted some 500 people. diff --git a/content/blog/2015-02-27-a-quick-script-to-import-data-from-my-bank-to-gnucash/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-02-27-a-quick-script-to-import-data-from-my-bank-to-gnucash/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10ddd40 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-02-27-a-quick-script-to-import-data-from-my-bank-to-gnucash/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,41 @@ ++++ +title = "A quick script to import data from my bank to GnuCash" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["software", "programming", "scripts"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +Here's a quick awk script I did to convert the bank statements from my bank to a +format recognizable by [GnuCash]: + +```awk +# A simple filter to mould the csv from nordea into +# something that can be swallowed by gnucash. + +BEGIN { + FS = ";"; + RS = "\n"; + OFS = ";"; + ORS = "\n"; + + # Regex for matching a date + DATE = /^[0-9]{4}\.[0-9]{2}\.[0-9]{2}$/; +} + +# Only lines starting with a date should be printed +$2 ~ DATE { + # Strip negative sign from withdraw column + withdraw = gensub(/\-/, "", "g", $8); + print $2,$4,$6,withdraw,$10; +} +``` + +It could probably be shorter. I could drop setting the RS/ORS, but I like to be explicit. In addition to fixing the polarity of the withdrawals column it strips away all the lines that don't contain any transactions. I don't need them, and this saves me from having to do it manually in GnuCash. + +Not anything revolutionary, but thought I'd share it anyways. + +[GnuCash]: http://www.gnucash.org/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-02-27-a-quick-script-to-import-data-from-my-bank-to-gnucash/index.md b/content/blog/2015-02-27-a-quick-script-to-import-data-from-my-bank-to-gnucash/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 10ddd40..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-02-27-a-quick-script-to-import-data-from-my-bank-to-gnucash/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,41 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "A quick script to import data from my bank to GnuCash" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["software", "programming", "scripts"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -Here's a quick awk script I did to convert the bank statements from my bank to a -format recognizable by [GnuCash]: - -```awk -# A simple filter to mould the csv from nordea into -# something that can be swallowed by gnucash. - -BEGIN { - FS = ";"; - RS = "\n"; - OFS = ";"; - ORS = "\n"; - - # Regex for matching a date - DATE = /^[0-9]{4}\.[0-9]{2}\.[0-9]{2}$/; -} - -# Only lines starting with a date should be printed -$2 ~ DATE { - # Strip negative sign from withdraw column - withdraw = gensub(/\-/, "", "g", $8); - print $2,$4,$6,withdraw,$10; -} -``` - -It could probably be shorter. I could drop setting the RS/ORS, but I like to be explicit. In addition to fixing the polarity of the withdrawals column it strips away all the lines that don't contain any transactions. I don't need them, and this saves me from having to do it manually in GnuCash. - -Not anything revolutionary, but thought I'd share it anyways. - -[GnuCash]: http://www.gnucash.org/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-03-13-first-bike-trip-of-the-year/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-03-13-first-bike-trip-of-the-year/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d52342a --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-03-13-first-bike-trip-of-the-year/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ ++++ +title = "First bike trip of the year!" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["biking", "outdoors"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +Nothing beats taking the bike out for a quick ride in the spring when it's finally warm enough! Looking forwards to more trips exploring the surrounding area from my new home. + + + +The trusty old bike: + +{% figure(img="biketrip.jpg") %} +The trusty old bike +{% end %} + +A nearby lake: + +{% figure(img="svene-lake.jpg") %} +A nearby lake +{% end %} diff --git a/content/blog/2015-03-13-first-bike-trip-of-the-year/index.md b/content/blog/2015-03-13-first-bike-trip-of-the-year/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index d52342a..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-03-13-first-bike-trip-of-the-year/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,26 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "First bike trip of the year!" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["biking", "outdoors"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -Nothing beats taking the bike out for a quick ride in the spring when it's finally warm enough! Looking forwards to more trips exploring the surrounding area from my new home. - - - -The trusty old bike: - -{% figure(img="biketrip.jpg") %} -The trusty old bike -{% end %} - -A nearby lake: - -{% figure(img="svene-lake.jpg") %} -A nearby lake -{% end %} diff --git a/content/blog/2015-03-19-how-big-is-hello-world/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-03-19-how-big-is-hello-world/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..498f6cf --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-03-19-how-big-is-hello-world/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,206 @@ ++++ +title = 'How big is "Hello, world?"' +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["programming", "rust", "c++", "d"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +## Rust + +I accidentally got an extra day off from work, so then I figured I could have a +go at some initial dabblings in [Rust]. I haven't had time to play with +this language at all yet, but skimming through the tutorial online a while ago +got me interested. So off I went and wrote the mandatory intro-program: +"Hello, world!" + +```rust +fn main() { + println!("Hello, world!"); +} +``` + + +Nice and easy, and running the rust compiler gives me an executable I can run right away: + +``` +$ rustc hello.rs +$ ./hello +Hello, world! +$ ls -l +total 428 +-rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 430656 Mar 19 13:27 hello +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 45 Mar 19 10:18 hello.rs +``` + +Whoa! What's that, a minimalist hello world program takes about 430kB? Sounds excessive, but to be frank I didn't have anything to compare with, so let's see how some other common languages fare. + +## C++ + +C++ is mature and has a long history. Together with it's parent C and grandparent FORTRAN, this is pretty much where the art of compiler writing has been developed and fine tuned. I would expect this to fare really well, so let's see how it checks out: + +```cpp +#include +int main() +{ + std::cout << "Hello, world!" << std::endl; +} +``` + +Compiling and checking with both gcc and clang: + +``` +$ g++ -o hello-g++ hello.cpp +$ clang++ -o hello-clang++ hello.cpp +$ ./hello-g++ +Hello, world! +$ ./hello-clang++ +Hello, world! +$ ls -l +total 28 +-rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 8416 Mar 19 13:34 hello-clang++ +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 83 Mar 19 10:23 hello.cpp +-rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 8424 Mar 19 13:34 hello-g++ +``` + +Pretty much exactly the same size for both. Definitely a lot better. Still a tad large for such a minimalist program, I think. + +## D + +Another language I have found interresting for quite a while is [D]. I have never really had the time to play with it though. At least nothing beyond the simple hello world type of programs. However reading about the language design, and following its development, I think it looks very promising. + +```d +import std.stdio; +void main() +{ + writeln("Hello, world!"); +} +``` + +Here we have three choices for the compiler, the official [dmd], [ldc] using llvm as a backend, and [gdc] built on the Gnu Compiler Collection: + +``` +$ dmd -ofhello-dmd hello.d +$ ldc2 -ofhello-ldc2 hello.d +$ gdc -o hello-gdc hello.d +$ ./hello-dmd +Hello, world! +$ ./hello-ldc2 +Hello, world! +$ ./hello-gdc +Hello, world! +$ ls -l +total 3172 +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 65 Mar 19 13:39 hello.d +-rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 533080 Mar 19 14:39 hello-dmd +-rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 2689880 Mar 19 15:23 hello-gdc +-rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 12712 Mar 19 14:08 hello-ldc2 +``` + +Interesting! + +[gdc] produces an absolutely humongous executable. 2.7MB for a simple hello world is clearly out of line! + +On the other hand [dmd] produces an executable in line with our original samle +in Rust, 530kB. The winner is clearly [ldc] which gets away with 13kB. That's +almost in line with the C++ version, even if it's about twice as large. + +The object files may be more interesting in this case: + +``` +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 39512 Mar 19 15:31 hello-dmd.o +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 21936 Mar 19 15:29 hello-gdc.o +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 12384 Mar 19 15:30 hello-ldc2.o +``` + +They are much more comparable. The dmd-produced object file is still three times as large as the one produced by ldc, but it's less than a tenth of the complete executable. Also gdc plots itself nicely in the middle. + +My suspicion is that the rest of the executable in the gdc and dmd case is the full runtime library. On the other hand ldc produces an executable only slightly larger than the object file, which indicates it only links in the parts of the runtime that it needs. Why the huge difference between the executables produced by gdc and dmd, I do not know. If the object files was any indication, I would expect the relationship to be the other way around. + +## Assembler + +Just for comparison I also did a take a small hello world in assembler: + +```asm + use64 + +stdout equ 1 +syscall_write equ 1 +syscall_exit equ 60 + +section .data +hello db 'Hello, world!', 10 +hello_len equ $-hello + +section .text + global _start + +_start: + mov rax, syscall_write + mov rdi, stdout + mov rsi, hello + mov rdx, hello_len + syscall + + mov rax, syscall_exit + mov rdi, 0 + syscall +``` + +I used nasm to assemble this: + +``` +$ nasm -f elf64 -o hello.o hello.asm +$ ld -o hello hello.o +$ ./hello +Hello, world! +$ ls -l +total 12 +-rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 1064 Mar 19 14:47 hello +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 491 Mar 19 12:40 hello.asm +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 992 Mar 19 14:46 hello.o +``` + +Here we end up with an executable of about 1kB. My first attempt was actually about half that size again. I accidentally stripped away unused symbols that the linker includes by default. However, since I've done no optimizations in the other cases I found that to be a bit unfair. Still this is quite minimal compared to the other examples. + +## Conclusion + +So why do the different languages and compilers produce so wildly different executables for the same program? + +For the really big deviations we see with Rust and D compiled with gdc or dmd I am certain that the result is caused by including the full runtime library in the executable. There's probably ways to strip out what's not being used, which would reduce the size considerable for all of these cases. I have not explored how to do this. + +Looking at the object files produced from the actual source files seems to be a lot more predictable across languages and compilers. While the executable is meant to be a complete and standalone entity, something you can just run. The object file represents the actual machine code produced directly from the source. This means that the executable must include any supporting code that is needed during runtime. This part can vary significantly from one language to another. + +In fact, producing the object file from Rust, we see the following: + +``` +$ rustc --emit obj hello.rs +$ ls -l hello.o +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 3696 Mar 19 14:56 hello.o +``` + +The object file is only 3.7kB. That's one third of the code produced by ldc again. Also for C++ the object files differ significantly from the finished executable: + +``` +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 2656 Mar 19 16:05 hello-g++.o +-rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 2856 Mar 19 16:08 hello-clang++.o +``` + +With this comparison, it seems the Rust compiler is quite comparable to the code produced by the much more mature and state of the art compilers for C++. + +Anyways, this is a detour, and not an attempt to compare which language or compiler is better in any way. This is far from any real world scenario, and for more complex programs you may get completely different results. + +I have specifically not done any optimization of the linker stage. I wanted to see the difference between how the different languages compilers produced the resulting executable with the default settings. + +Further, comparing a very young language like Rust, that's still very much evolving, to some of the most mature toolchains there is will never be a fair comparison. Even if D is quite a bit older, it is also a language that still evolves rapidly. For both of these languages, I expect that as both the languages and tools mature they will become more comparable both to C++ and to each other. + +Even with all of the caveats above, I found this exercise quite interesting. I hope you did too. + +[Rust]: http://www.rust-lang.org/ +[D]: http://dlang.org/ +[dmd]: http://dlang.org/download.html +[ldc]: https://github.com/ldc-developers/ldc/releases +[gdc]: http://gdcproject.org/downloads diff --git a/content/blog/2015-03-19-how-big-is-hello-world/index.md b/content/blog/2015-03-19-how-big-is-hello-world/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 498f6cf..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-03-19-how-big-is-hello-world/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,206 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = 'How big is "Hello, world?"' -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["programming", "rust", "c++", "d"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -## Rust - -I accidentally got an extra day off from work, so then I figured I could have a -go at some initial dabblings in [Rust]. I haven't had time to play with -this language at all yet, but skimming through the tutorial online a while ago -got me interested. So off I went and wrote the mandatory intro-program: -"Hello, world!" - -```rust -fn main() { - println!("Hello, world!"); -} -``` - - -Nice and easy, and running the rust compiler gives me an executable I can run right away: - -``` -$ rustc hello.rs -$ ./hello -Hello, world! -$ ls -l -total 428 --rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 430656 Mar 19 13:27 hello --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 45 Mar 19 10:18 hello.rs -``` - -Whoa! What's that, a minimalist hello world program takes about 430kB? Sounds excessive, but to be frank I didn't have anything to compare with, so let's see how some other common languages fare. - -## C++ - -C++ is mature and has a long history. Together with it's parent C and grandparent FORTRAN, this is pretty much where the art of compiler writing has been developed and fine tuned. I would expect this to fare really well, so let's see how it checks out: - -```cpp -#include -int main() -{ - std::cout << "Hello, world!" << std::endl; -} -``` - -Compiling and checking with both gcc and clang: - -``` -$ g++ -o hello-g++ hello.cpp -$ clang++ -o hello-clang++ hello.cpp -$ ./hello-g++ -Hello, world! -$ ./hello-clang++ -Hello, world! -$ ls -l -total 28 --rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 8416 Mar 19 13:34 hello-clang++ --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 83 Mar 19 10:23 hello.cpp --rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 8424 Mar 19 13:34 hello-g++ -``` - -Pretty much exactly the same size for both. Definitely a lot better. Still a tad large for such a minimalist program, I think. - -## D - -Another language I have found interresting for quite a while is [D]. I have never really had the time to play with it though. At least nothing beyond the simple hello world type of programs. However reading about the language design, and following its development, I think it looks very promising. - -```d -import std.stdio; -void main() -{ - writeln("Hello, world!"); -} -``` - -Here we have three choices for the compiler, the official [dmd], [ldc] using llvm as a backend, and [gdc] built on the Gnu Compiler Collection: - -``` -$ dmd -ofhello-dmd hello.d -$ ldc2 -ofhello-ldc2 hello.d -$ gdc -o hello-gdc hello.d -$ ./hello-dmd -Hello, world! -$ ./hello-ldc2 -Hello, world! -$ ./hello-gdc -Hello, world! -$ ls -l -total 3172 --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 65 Mar 19 13:39 hello.d --rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 533080 Mar 19 14:39 hello-dmd --rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 2689880 Mar 19 15:23 hello-gdc --rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 12712 Mar 19 14:08 hello-ldc2 -``` - -Interesting! - -[gdc] produces an absolutely humongous executable. 2.7MB for a simple hello world is clearly out of line! - -On the other hand [dmd] produces an executable in line with our original samle -in Rust, 530kB. The winner is clearly [ldc] which gets away with 13kB. That's -almost in line with the C++ version, even if it's about twice as large. - -The object files may be more interesting in this case: - -``` --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 39512 Mar 19 15:31 hello-dmd.o --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 21936 Mar 19 15:29 hello-gdc.o --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 12384 Mar 19 15:30 hello-ldc2.o -``` - -They are much more comparable. The dmd-produced object file is still three times as large as the one produced by ldc, but it's less than a tenth of the complete executable. Also gdc plots itself nicely in the middle. - -My suspicion is that the rest of the executable in the gdc and dmd case is the full runtime library. On the other hand ldc produces an executable only slightly larger than the object file, which indicates it only links in the parts of the runtime that it needs. Why the huge difference between the executables produced by gdc and dmd, I do not know. If the object files was any indication, I would expect the relationship to be the other way around. - -## Assembler - -Just for comparison I also did a take a small hello world in assembler: - -```asm - use64 - -stdout equ 1 -syscall_write equ 1 -syscall_exit equ 60 - -section .data -hello db 'Hello, world!', 10 -hello_len equ $-hello - -section .text - global _start - -_start: - mov rax, syscall_write - mov rdi, stdout - mov rsi, hello - mov rdx, hello_len - syscall - - mov rax, syscall_exit - mov rdi, 0 - syscall -``` - -I used nasm to assemble this: - -``` -$ nasm -f elf64 -o hello.o hello.asm -$ ld -o hello hello.o -$ ./hello -Hello, world! -$ ls -l -total 12 --rwxr-xr-x 1 rabalder rabalder 1064 Mar 19 14:47 hello --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 491 Mar 19 12:40 hello.asm --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 992 Mar 19 14:46 hello.o -``` - -Here we end up with an executable of about 1kB. My first attempt was actually about half that size again. I accidentally stripped away unused symbols that the linker includes by default. However, since I've done no optimizations in the other cases I found that to be a bit unfair. Still this is quite minimal compared to the other examples. - -## Conclusion - -So why do the different languages and compilers produce so wildly different executables for the same program? - -For the really big deviations we see with Rust and D compiled with gdc or dmd I am certain that the result is caused by including the full runtime library in the executable. There's probably ways to strip out what's not being used, which would reduce the size considerable for all of these cases. I have not explored how to do this. - -Looking at the object files produced from the actual source files seems to be a lot more predictable across languages and compilers. While the executable is meant to be a complete and standalone entity, something you can just run. The object file represents the actual machine code produced directly from the source. This means that the executable must include any supporting code that is needed during runtime. This part can vary significantly from one language to another. - -In fact, producing the object file from Rust, we see the following: - -``` -$ rustc --emit obj hello.rs -$ ls -l hello.o --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 3696 Mar 19 14:56 hello.o -``` - -The object file is only 3.7kB. That's one third of the code produced by ldc again. Also for C++ the object files differ significantly from the finished executable: - -``` --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 2656 Mar 19 16:05 hello-g++.o --rw-r--r-- 1 rabalder rabalder 2856 Mar 19 16:08 hello-clang++.o -``` - -With this comparison, it seems the Rust compiler is quite comparable to the code produced by the much more mature and state of the art compilers for C++. - -Anyways, this is a detour, and not an attempt to compare which language or compiler is better in any way. This is far from any real world scenario, and for more complex programs you may get completely different results. - -I have specifically not done any optimization of the linker stage. I wanted to see the difference between how the different languages compilers produced the resulting executable with the default settings. - -Further, comparing a very young language like Rust, that's still very much evolving, to some of the most mature toolchains there is will never be a fair comparison. Even if D is quite a bit older, it is also a language that still evolves rapidly. For both of these languages, I expect that as both the languages and tools mature they will become more comparable both to C++ and to each other. - -Even with all of the caveats above, I found this exercise quite interesting. I hope you did too. - -[Rust]: http://www.rust-lang.org/ -[D]: http://dlang.org/ -[dmd]: http://dlang.org/download.html -[ldc]: https://github.com/ldc-developers/ldc/releases -[gdc]: http://gdcproject.org/downloads diff --git a/content/blog/2015-06-09-the-stench-of-corruption/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-06-09-the-stench-of-corruption/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..63b56f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-06-09-the-stench-of-corruption/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ ++++ +title = "The stench of corruption" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["politics", "corruption"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +From an [article in the Intercept][1]: + +> Senators, generals, ambassadors, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and +> the owner of The Atlantic were in the roster of powerful voices who wrote to a +> federal judge to ask him to go easy on former CIA director and retired general +> David Petraeus, who admitted to giving classified information to his mistress +> and biographer. + +There is a stark and terrible contrast between how people already in power is +treated compared to the whistleblowers that does not have these powerful +connections. Read the [full article][1]. + +[1]: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/06/08/david-petraeus-powerful-friends-ask-judge-leniency/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-06-09-the-stench-of-corruption/index.md b/content/blog/2015-06-09-the-stench-of-corruption/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 63b56f9..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-06-09-the-stench-of-corruption/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,24 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "The stench of corruption" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["politics", "corruption"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -From an [article in the Intercept][1]: - -> Senators, generals, ambassadors, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and -> the owner of The Atlantic were in the roster of powerful voices who wrote to a -> federal judge to ask him to go easy on former CIA director and retired general -> David Petraeus, who admitted to giving classified information to his mistress -> and biographer. - -There is a stark and terrible contrast between how people already in power is -treated compared to the whistleblowers that does not have these powerful -connections. Read the [full article][1]. - -[1]: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/06/08/david-petraeus-powerful-friends-ask-judge-leniency/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-08-04-some-webcomics/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-08-04-some-webcomics/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef81670 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-08-04-some-webcomics/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,75 @@ ++++ +title = "Some webcomics" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["comics", "art"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +Just the way the web has made distribution easier for independent musician, the same has happened for comics. I see a lot of fresh and interesting comics on the web these days, so I thought I'd share some of my favourites at the moment. + + + +## Stand Still, Stay Silent + +{% figure(img="ssss-comic.jpg") %} +_Stand Still Stay Silent_ +{% end %} + +This is hands down some of the best I've seen on the web yet. It easily matches high quality comics in paper, has a interesting storyline and is updated every weekday! We're set in the future Scandinavia after some disaster has pretty much wiped out all of the rest of the world, and most of Scandinavia too. We follow a crew sent out on an expedition to reclaim some of the knowledge from the old world. This comic has a strong root in scandinavian mythology, and some absolutely beautiful artwork. + +[Stand Still, Stay Silent on the web](http://www.sssscomic.com/) + +## Wormworld Saga + +{% figure(img="wws-comic.jpg") %} +_Wormworld_ +{% end %} + +Another great comic with a longer storyline. We follow a small boy in his adventures in a strange and different world, that he accidentally stumbles upon by walking through a painting in his grandmothers attic. The artwork is very well done, and the format is really made for the web in a way I haven't seen in any other comics. Each chapter is released only when it is complete, which is not too often, about one chapter a year or so seems to be a normal pace. The wait is worth it however, thought I find I have to refresh by re-reading the previous chapter whenever a new one is released. + +[Wormworld Saga on the web](http://wormworldsaga.com/) + +## Cheer up, Emo-kid + +{% figure(img="cheerupemokid-comic.png") %} +_Cheer up Emo Kid_ +{% end %} + +This is a stripe series that is updated a few times a week. This is black humour, without too much regard for social norms or conventions. Most stripes are self-contained, but the artist sometimes make longer sequences too, like the classic http://www.cheerupemokid.com/comic/dog-part-1[``Dog'']. The comic is well done, but not in the naturalistic style of the comics above. It makes for a good laught, if you're not too easily offended. (And why should you be?) + +[Cheer up, Emo-kid on the web](http://www.cheerupemokid.com/) + +## Oglaf + +{% figure(img="oglaf-comic.jpg") %} +_Oglaf_ +{% end %} + +I just recently stumbled upon this brilliant pearl of a panel based comic. Really well drawn, and with lot's on infantile, sexually loaded puns and jokes in a semi-medeaval setting. It's not too often I laugh loudly at work from reading anything on the web, with this one I did! (Be warned, less liberal workplaces may consider this comic NSFW, so check it out in private first.) Updated every sunday. + +[Oglaf on the web](http://oglaf.com/) + +## Pepper & Carrot + +{% figure(img="pepper-carrot-cover_by-david-revoy.jpg") %} +_Pepper & Carrot_ +{% end %} + +Back to more family friendly stuff: Pepper & Carrot is a really cute comic +about a young whitch, her cat and their various adventures in their world of +magic, potions and dragons. This is a child friendly comic that still is fun +and entertaining also for the adults. In addition to being a well made comic it +is also one of the few where all the artwork is [free to use and +reuse](http://www.peppercarrot.com/en/static2/philosophy) under the [Creative +Commons Attribution Licence +v4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)! Also all the artwork and +the web site is made entirely using [free +software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)! + +[Pepper & Carrot on the web](http://www.peppercarrot.com/) + +I hope you will enjoy at least some of these comics! Check them out and follow them on RSS if you like them. Spread the word and support the great artist making such great art available on the free web. diff --git a/content/blog/2015-08-04-some-webcomics/index.md b/content/blog/2015-08-04-some-webcomics/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index ef81670..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-08-04-some-webcomics/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,75 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Some webcomics" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["comics", "art"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -Just the way the web has made distribution easier for independent musician, the same has happened for comics. I see a lot of fresh and interesting comics on the web these days, so I thought I'd share some of my favourites at the moment. - - - -## Stand Still, Stay Silent - -{% figure(img="ssss-comic.jpg") %} -_Stand Still Stay Silent_ -{% end %} - -This is hands down some of the best I've seen on the web yet. It easily matches high quality comics in paper, has a interesting storyline and is updated every weekday! We're set in the future Scandinavia after some disaster has pretty much wiped out all of the rest of the world, and most of Scandinavia too. We follow a crew sent out on an expedition to reclaim some of the knowledge from the old world. This comic has a strong root in scandinavian mythology, and some absolutely beautiful artwork. - -[Stand Still, Stay Silent on the web](http://www.sssscomic.com/) - -## Wormworld Saga - -{% figure(img="wws-comic.jpg") %} -_Wormworld_ -{% end %} - -Another great comic with a longer storyline. We follow a small boy in his adventures in a strange and different world, that he accidentally stumbles upon by walking through a painting in his grandmothers attic. The artwork is very well done, and the format is really made for the web in a way I haven't seen in any other comics. Each chapter is released only when it is complete, which is not too often, about one chapter a year or so seems to be a normal pace. The wait is worth it however, thought I find I have to refresh by re-reading the previous chapter whenever a new one is released. - -[Wormworld Saga on the web](http://wormworldsaga.com/) - -## Cheer up, Emo-kid - -{% figure(img="cheerupemokid-comic.png") %} -_Cheer up Emo Kid_ -{% end %} - -This is a stripe series that is updated a few times a week. This is black humour, without too much regard for social norms or conventions. Most stripes are self-contained, but the artist sometimes make longer sequences too, like the classic http://www.cheerupemokid.com/comic/dog-part-1[``Dog'']. The comic is well done, but not in the naturalistic style of the comics above. It makes for a good laught, if you're not too easily offended. (And why should you be?) - -[Cheer up, Emo-kid on the web](http://www.cheerupemokid.com/) - -## Oglaf - -{% figure(img="oglaf-comic.jpg") %} -_Oglaf_ -{% end %} - -I just recently stumbled upon this brilliant pearl of a panel based comic. Really well drawn, and with lot's on infantile, sexually loaded puns and jokes in a semi-medeaval setting. It's not too often I laugh loudly at work from reading anything on the web, with this one I did! (Be warned, less liberal workplaces may consider this comic NSFW, so check it out in private first.) Updated every sunday. - -[Oglaf on the web](http://oglaf.com/) - -## Pepper & Carrot - -{% figure(img="pepper-carrot-cover_by-david-revoy.jpg") %} -_Pepper & Carrot_ -{% end %} - -Back to more family friendly stuff: Pepper & Carrot is a really cute comic -about a young whitch, her cat and their various adventures in their world of -magic, potions and dragons. This is a child friendly comic that still is fun -and entertaining also for the adults. In addition to being a well made comic it -is also one of the few where all the artwork is [free to use and -reuse](http://www.peppercarrot.com/en/static2/philosophy) under the [Creative -Commons Attribution Licence -v4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)! Also all the artwork and -the web site is made entirely using [free -software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html)! - -[Pepper & Carrot on the web](http://www.peppercarrot.com/) - -I hope you will enjoy at least some of these comics! Check them out and follow them on RSS if you like them. Spread the word and support the great artist making such great art available on the free web. diff --git a/content/blog/2015-08-08-gchq-and-me/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-08-08-gchq-and-me/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2e492a --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-08-08-gchq-and-me/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ ++++ +title = "GCHQ and me" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["surveillance", "echelon"] ++++ + +A really great read from Duncan Campbell, the investigative reporter who exposed the Echelon program in 1988. + +> In my 40 years of reporting on mass surveillance, I have been raided three times; jailed once; had television programs I made or assisted making banned from airing under government pressure five times; seen tapes seized; faced being shoved out of a helicopter; had my phone tapped for at least a decade; and — with this arrest — been lined up to face up to 30 years imprisonment for alleged violations of secrecy laws. And why do I keep going? Because from the beginning, my investigations revealed a once-unimaginable scope of governmental surveillance, collusion, and concealment by the British and U.S. governments — practices that were always as much about domestic spying during times of peace as they were about keeping citizens safe from supposed foreign enemies, thus giving the British government the potential power to become, as our source that night had put it, a virtual “police state.” + +Read [the full article][1] over at The Intercept. + +[1]: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/03/life-unmasking-british-eavesdroppers/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-08-08-gchq-and-me/index.md b/content/blog/2015-08-08-gchq-and-me/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index f2e492a..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-08-08-gchq-and-me/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,15 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "GCHQ and me" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["surveillance", "echelon"] -+++ - -A really great read from Duncan Campbell, the investigative reporter who exposed the Echelon program in 1988. - -> In my 40 years of reporting on mass surveillance, I have been raided three times; jailed once; had television programs I made or assisted making banned from airing under government pressure five times; seen tapes seized; faced being shoved out of a helicopter; had my phone tapped for at least a decade; and — with this arrest — been lined up to face up to 30 years imprisonment for alleged violations of secrecy laws. And why do I keep going? Because from the beginning, my investigations revealed a once-unimaginable scope of governmental surveillance, collusion, and concealment by the British and U.S. governments — practices that were always as much about domestic spying during times of peace as they were about keeping citizens safe from supposed foreign enemies, thus giving the British government the potential power to become, as our source that night had put it, a virtual “police state.” - -Read [the full article][1] over at The Intercept. - -[1]: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/03/life-unmasking-british-eavesdroppers/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-08-21-the-puritanical-glee-over-ashley-madison/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-08-21-the-puritanical-glee-over-ashley-madison/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce5c0af --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-08-21-the-puritanical-glee-over-ashley-madison/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ ++++ +title = "The Puritanical Glee Over the Ashley Madison Hack" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["moralism", "puritanism", "ashley madison"] ++++ + +From [The Intercept][1]: + +> That the cheating scoundrels of Ashley Madison got what they deserved was a widespread sentiment yesterday. Despite how common both infidelity and online pornography are, tweets expressing moralistic glee were legion. Websites were created to enable easy searches of the hacked data by email address. An Australian radio station offered to tell listeners on air if their spouse’s names appeared in the data base, and informed one horrified woman caller that her husband did. + +This is one leak we could live without. I agree it's important to expose lacking privacy/security in sites that claims more than they can deliver. Especially when charging for something that clearly has not been done. However, exposing private information about ordinary people is not the way to do this. + +This is just moralistic self righteusness in a digital equivalent to the inquisition. I'm not impressed. + +[1]: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/20/puritanical-glee-ashley-madison-hack/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-08-21-the-puritanical-glee-over-ashley-madison/index.md b/content/blog/2015-08-21-the-puritanical-glee-over-ashley-madison/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index ce5c0af..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-08-21-the-puritanical-glee-over-ashley-madison/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,17 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "The Puritanical Glee Over the Ashley Madison Hack" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["moralism", "puritanism", "ashley madison"] -+++ - -From [The Intercept][1]: - -> That the cheating scoundrels of Ashley Madison got what they deserved was a widespread sentiment yesterday. Despite how common both infidelity and online pornography are, tweets expressing moralistic glee were legion. Websites were created to enable easy searches of the hacked data by email address. An Australian radio station offered to tell listeners on air if their spouse’s names appeared in the data base, and informed one horrified woman caller that her husband did. - -This is one leak we could live without. I agree it's important to expose lacking privacy/security in sites that claims more than they can deliver. Especially when charging for something that clearly has not been done. However, exposing private information about ordinary people is not the way to do this. - -This is just moralistic self righteusness in a digital equivalent to the inquisition. I'm not impressed. - -[1]: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/20/puritanical-glee-ashley-madison-hack/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-09-14-stop-using-noreply-addresses/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-09-14-stop-using-noreply-addresses/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99475bb --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-09-14-stop-using-noreply-addresses/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,36 @@ ++++ +title = "Stop using noreply-addresses!" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["email", "netiquette"] ++++ + +{% figure(img="noreply-banned.png") %} +Ban noreply addresses! +{% end %} + +Noreply-addresses are way to common in my inbox these days. These are usually emails from some company, a website or an automated system that wants to notify me about something. Sometimes it is notifications I want, sometimes not. The source of the email is for the most part irrelevant, the important thing is: _I should be able to reply to any email!_ + + + +By all means, there's quite a lot of emails I would not normally respond to anyways, but that desicion should be mine. There may be a number of resons I want to respond, and preventing me from doing so feels like an intrusion. It's quite simply rude. If you're not capable of handling responses to messages you send out, you should not send them in the first place. + +Even worse is that a lot of these emails even ask for responses, but force me to use another medium (usually a web form, sometimes social media) to actually deliver the response. This is both rude, and unnecessary complex. + +Please respect normal [netiquette][5]: Identify yourself and provide a real email address as the sender of your emails! + +Thanks! + +PS: Here's some other ponters on the web about the same topic: + +* [What’s the deal with noreply@ emails?][3] +* [Why You Should Never Use a noreply@][1] +* [“Do Not Reply” Address? Don’t Bother.][2] +* [No name? Then you are a nobody!][4] + +[1]: http://blog.cakemail.com/noreply/ +[2]: https://blog.aweber.com/email-marketing/do-not-reply-address-dont-bother.htm +[3]: https://blog.serverdensity.com/whats-the-deal-with-noreply-emails/ +[4]: http://www.netmanners.com/295/no-name-then-you-are-a-nobody/ +[5]: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/netiquette diff --git a/content/blog/2015-09-14-stop-using-noreply-addresses/index.md b/content/blog/2015-09-14-stop-using-noreply-addresses/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 99475bb..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-09-14-stop-using-noreply-addresses/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,36 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Stop using noreply-addresses!" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["email", "netiquette"] -+++ - -{% figure(img="noreply-banned.png") %} -Ban noreply addresses! -{% end %} - -Noreply-addresses are way to common in my inbox these days. These are usually emails from some company, a website or an automated system that wants to notify me about something. Sometimes it is notifications I want, sometimes not. The source of the email is for the most part irrelevant, the important thing is: _I should be able to reply to any email!_ - - - -By all means, there's quite a lot of emails I would not normally respond to anyways, but that desicion should be mine. There may be a number of resons I want to respond, and preventing me from doing so feels like an intrusion. It's quite simply rude. If you're not capable of handling responses to messages you send out, you should not send them in the first place. - -Even worse is that a lot of these emails even ask for responses, but force me to use another medium (usually a web form, sometimes social media) to actually deliver the response. This is both rude, and unnecessary complex. - -Please respect normal [netiquette][5]: Identify yourself and provide a real email address as the sender of your emails! - -Thanks! - -PS: Here's some other ponters on the web about the same topic: - -* [What’s the deal with noreply@ emails?][3] -* [Why You Should Never Use a noreply@][1] -* [“Do Not Reply” Address? Don’t Bother.][2] -* [No name? Then you are a nobody!][4] - -[1]: http://blog.cakemail.com/noreply/ -[2]: https://blog.aweber.com/email-marketing/do-not-reply-address-dont-bother.htm -[3]: https://blog.serverdensity.com/whats-the-deal-with-noreply-emails/ -[4]: http://www.netmanners.com/295/no-name-then-you-are-a-nobody/ -[5]: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/netiquette diff --git a/content/blog/2015-10-02-kalandra/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-10-02-kalandra/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e406be8 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-10-02-kalandra/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ ++++ +title = "Kalandra" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["kalandra", "music"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="kalandra-onto-the-fire.jpg") %} +Kalandra - _Onto the fire_ +{% end %} + +I discovered this wonderful band while attending the Fjell og Ord (Mountains +and Words) festival at Finse 1222 this last weekend of september. Finse is +located at the topmost point on the railway between Bergen and Oslo, and is an +excellent base for walking in one of the most beautiful but harsh areas of the +Norwegian mountains. + + + +In accordance with the theme for the festival - quiet - the band performed a +purely accoustic set the first night. They're originally a six-piece, but for +this appearance only three members was present. The next day we got to see a +more "plugged" set where one of the accoustic guitars was exchanged for an +electric one. There was also some more experimental use of effects on the +vocals. Both sets were very well performed, and showed a band that's both +confident and able to come close to the audience. + +{% figure(img="kalandra-sell-your-voice.jpg") %} +Kalandra - _Sell your voice_ +{% end %} + +Check them out at their [Bandcamp][1] or [SundCloud][2] sites! + +[1]: https://kalandra.bandcamp.com/ +[2]: https://soundcloud.com/kalandra diff --git a/content/blog/2015-10-02-kalandra/index.md b/content/blog/2015-10-02-kalandra/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index e406be8..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-10-02-kalandra/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,39 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Kalandra" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["kalandra", "music"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="kalandra-onto-the-fire.jpg") %} -Kalandra - _Onto the fire_ -{% end %} - -I discovered this wonderful band while attending the Fjell og Ord (Mountains -and Words) festival at Finse 1222 this last weekend of september. Finse is -located at the topmost point on the railway between Bergen and Oslo, and is an -excellent base for walking in one of the most beautiful but harsh areas of the -Norwegian mountains. - - - -In accordance with the theme for the festival - quiet - the band performed a -purely accoustic set the first night. They're originally a six-piece, but for -this appearance only three members was present. The next day we got to see a -more "plugged" set where one of the accoustic guitars was exchanged for an -electric one. There was also some more experimental use of effects on the -vocals. Both sets were very well performed, and showed a band that's both -confident and able to come close to the audience. - -{% figure(img="kalandra-sell-your-voice.jpg") %} -Kalandra - _Sell your voice_ -{% end %} - -Check them out at their [Bandcamp][1] or [SundCloud][2] sites! - -[1]: https://kalandra.bandcamp.com/ -[2]: https://soundcloud.com/kalandra diff --git a/content/blog/2015-11-14-a-sad-day/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-11-14-a-sad-day/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c78575d --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-11-14-a-sad-day/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ ++++ +title = "A sad day" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["terror", "france"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +What a [sad day](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34814203)! +My thoughts are with my french friends today. diff --git a/content/blog/2015-11-14-a-sad-day/index.md b/content/blog/2015-11-14-a-sad-day/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index c78575d..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-11-14-a-sad-day/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,13 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "A sad day" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["terror", "france"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -What a [sad day](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34814203)! -My thoughts are with my french friends today. diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-09-eagles-of-death-metal-back-in-paris/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-12-09-eagles-of-death-metal-back-in-paris/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..63025d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-12-09-eagles-of-death-metal-back-in-paris/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ ++++ +title = "Eagles of Death Metal back on stage in Paris" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["terrorism", "music"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +I can't express how much respect these guys deserve for being back on stage in +Paris less than a month after the horrible tragedy they and their fans had to +endure. _This_ is the way to fight terrorism! To stand up unafraid and show +that we won't let terrorists or powerhungry politicians dictate how we live our +lives. Contrast this to the response by politicians both in France and the rest +of europe calling for _more violence_, _more oppression_, and _more propaganda_ +to fuel fear and hate. + +Rock'n'roll shows the way forward! + +Respect dudes! Respect! + +{{ youtube(id="Wzi_A2cyWu8") }} diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-09-eagles-of-death-metal-back-in-paris/index.md b/content/blog/2015-12-09-eagles-of-death-metal-back-in-paris/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 63025d7..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-12-09-eagles-of-death-metal-back-in-paris/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,24 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Eagles of Death Metal back on stage in Paris" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["terrorism", "music"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -I can't express how much respect these guys deserve for being back on stage in -Paris less than a month after the horrible tragedy they and their fans had to -endure. _This_ is the way to fight terrorism! To stand up unafraid and show -that we won't let terrorists or powerhungry politicians dictate how we live our -lives. Contrast this to the response by politicians both in France and the rest -of europe calling for _more violence_, _more oppression_, and _more propaganda_ -to fuel fear and hate. - -Rock'n'roll shows the way forward! - -Respect dudes! Respect! - -{{ youtube(id="Wzi_A2cyWu8") }} diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-16-java-as-afirst-language/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-12-16-java-as-afirst-language/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a6c4cca --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-12-16-java-as-afirst-language/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,110 @@ ++++ +title = "Why Java is not good as a first language" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["programming", "java", "learning"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +During the spring semester of the last year, a friend of mine was trying to +learn Java as part of her studies. I think it's great when anybody shows an +interest in programming so I of course volunteered to help her out a bit. That +was an interesting experience in many ways. + + + +On the one hand I found it very difficult to find ways to explain in plain and +simple terms concepts that after decades of programming feel like second nature +to me. Another challenge was of course to guide her towards understanding +without giving her the answer to her excercises, especially when the email +exchanges got rapid and I sensed the frustration rise at the other end. + +On the other hand though, the language itself also created some obstacles to +learning in my opinion. To understand why, let's look at the seminal "Hello, +World"-sample program: + +```java +import java.lang.*; + +public class Hello +{ + public static void main(String[] args) + { + System.out.println("Hello, world!"); + } +} +``` + +There's not many lines of code here, and the gist of it is not hard to +comprehend even for a beginning programmer. But there's a lot going on here +that unnecessarily obstructs the understanding of the code. + +To fully understand this code, you need to be familiar with _classes_, +_objects_, _methods_, _accessibillity_, _arrays_, _packages_ and _streams_. +That's a very tall order for the first day of class. So what the teacher does +is to teach the students to ignore the stuff they haven't learned yet: + +* Why do you have to write `public class Hello`? Don't worry about that, just + copy it for now. +* What's the `public static void main`-thing? It's where you should write your + program, just ignore it for now. +* What about the `args`? ... + +And they have to. There's no way you can get around this code without ignoring +pretty much everything in it. That's bad for many reasons. + +Programming is about paying attention to details, not ignoring them. So this +very way of introducing someone to programming encourages habits you have to +unlearn again as you advance. Another reason this is bad is that since the +students won't understand it, they will not be able to write it from scratch +either. This again encourages them to use crutches like editor macros for +generating code templates, or simply by copying something that works from +somewhere else. + +Now contrast this to a programming language that was designed for learning: + +```pascal +program Hello; + +begin + writeln('Hello, World!'); +end. +``` + +This is the same program written in Pascal[^1]. There's essentially nothing +that even the novice programmer can not grasp here. You declare the name of the +program, and write the code of your program between the `begin` and +`end.`-statements. Output to the terminal is handled by a simple call to +`writeln`, there's no need to know about streams, functions or anything else. + +Now it's easy to expand by introducing variables, loops, conditionals, +functions etc. Along each step the students should be able to follow without +having to repeat, memorize or copy incantations of unintelligible code that +just has to be there. Once the basic concepts are learned properly it should be +much easier to move to new languages, as it will now mostly amount to mapping +the same concepts to a different syntax. + +It can of course be argued that "Hello world" is not a realistic example of +programs that you will write as a student. You will quickly move beyond this, +but to learn the basics the extra stuff still gets in the way. By removing the +cruft and allowing the students to build understanding one concept at the time, +they have a far better chance of learning anything at all. And there will be +less bad habits to unlearn afterwards. + +Neither is it my intention to single out [Pascal] as the perfect teaching +language here. [Ruby], [Python] and perhaps even [JavaScript] are also good +candidates, as are numerous other modern languages. In fact I don't think the +language itself is all that important. The important thing is that the student +can understand the code she writes even from the very beginning. And that you +can progress from there without having to bite over too many concepts at the +time. + +[^1]: This is quite likely the first Pascal code I've written in 25 years! + +[Pascal]: http://freepascal.org/ +[Ruby]: http://ruby-lang.org +[Python]: https://www.python.org/ +[JavaScript]: http://prog21.dadgum.com/203.html diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-16-java-as-afirst-language/index.md b/content/blog/2015-12-16-java-as-afirst-language/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index a6c4cca..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-12-16-java-as-afirst-language/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,110 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Why Java is not good as a first language" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["programming", "java", "learning"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -During the spring semester of the last year, a friend of mine was trying to -learn Java as part of her studies. I think it's great when anybody shows an -interest in programming so I of course volunteered to help her out a bit. That -was an interesting experience in many ways. - - - -On the one hand I found it very difficult to find ways to explain in plain and -simple terms concepts that after decades of programming feel like second nature -to me. Another challenge was of course to guide her towards understanding -without giving her the answer to her excercises, especially when the email -exchanges got rapid and I sensed the frustration rise at the other end. - -On the other hand though, the language itself also created some obstacles to -learning in my opinion. To understand why, let's look at the seminal "Hello, -World"-sample program: - -```java -import java.lang.*; - -public class Hello -{ - public static void main(String[] args) - { - System.out.println("Hello, world!"); - } -} -``` - -There's not many lines of code here, and the gist of it is not hard to -comprehend even for a beginning programmer. But there's a lot going on here -that unnecessarily obstructs the understanding of the code. - -To fully understand this code, you need to be familiar with _classes_, -_objects_, _methods_, _accessibillity_, _arrays_, _packages_ and _streams_. -That's a very tall order for the first day of class. So what the teacher does -is to teach the students to ignore the stuff they haven't learned yet: - -* Why do you have to write `public class Hello`? Don't worry about that, just - copy it for now. -* What's the `public static void main`-thing? It's where you should write your - program, just ignore it for now. -* What about the `args`? ... - -And they have to. There's no way you can get around this code without ignoring -pretty much everything in it. That's bad for many reasons. - -Programming is about paying attention to details, not ignoring them. So this -very way of introducing someone to programming encourages habits you have to -unlearn again as you advance. Another reason this is bad is that since the -students won't understand it, they will not be able to write it from scratch -either. This again encourages them to use crutches like editor macros for -generating code templates, or simply by copying something that works from -somewhere else. - -Now contrast this to a programming language that was designed for learning: - -```pascal -program Hello; - -begin - writeln('Hello, World!'); -end. -``` - -This is the same program written in Pascal[^1]. There's essentially nothing -that even the novice programmer can not grasp here. You declare the name of the -program, and write the code of your program between the `begin` and -`end.`-statements. Output to the terminal is handled by a simple call to -`writeln`, there's no need to know about streams, functions or anything else. - -Now it's easy to expand by introducing variables, loops, conditionals, -functions etc. Along each step the students should be able to follow without -having to repeat, memorize or copy incantations of unintelligible code that -just has to be there. Once the basic concepts are learned properly it should be -much easier to move to new languages, as it will now mostly amount to mapping -the same concepts to a different syntax. - -It can of course be argued that "Hello world" is not a realistic example of -programs that you will write as a student. You will quickly move beyond this, -but to learn the basics the extra stuff still gets in the way. By removing the -cruft and allowing the students to build understanding one concept at the time, -they have a far better chance of learning anything at all. And there will be -less bad habits to unlearn afterwards. - -Neither is it my intention to single out [Pascal] as the perfect teaching -language here. [Ruby], [Python] and perhaps even [JavaScript] are also good -candidates, as are numerous other modern languages. In fact I don't think the -language itself is all that important. The important thing is that the student -can understand the code she writes even from the very beginning. And that you -can progress from there without having to bite over too many concepts at the -time. - -[^1]: This is quite likely the first Pascal code I've written in 25 years! - -[Pascal]: http://freepascal.org/ -[Ruby]: http://ruby-lang.org -[Python]: https://www.python.org/ -[JavaScript]: http://prog21.dadgum.com/203.html diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-21-setting-up-lets-encrypt-with-ruby-on-rails-and-freebsd/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-12-21-setting-up-lets-encrypt-with-ruby-on-rails-and-freebsd/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1784881 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-12-21-setting-up-lets-encrypt-with-ruby-on-rails-and-freebsd/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,71 @@ ++++ +title = "Setting up Let's Encrypt with Ruby on Rails and FreeBSD" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["FreeBSD", "letsencrypt", "tips & tricks"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="letsencrypt-logo-horizontal.svg") %} +Let's Encrypt logo. +{% end %} + +I've been following [Let's Encrypt] for a while, and the idea is as simple as +it's brilliant! Make it so easy to add a encryption to your webserver setup +that there's really no reson not to. Traditionally this has been both a +cumbersome and potentially expensive investment. At least for smaller stuff +like your average blog or community web site getting a certificate and setting +it all up has been a hassle. + + + +So I really like the idea of Let's Encrypt, and since they've just launched +their [public beta program] in time for the renewal of one of my certificates +I decided to give it a spin. The process was surprisingly painless. + +The base Let's Encrypt program is already in the [FreeBSD ports collection], +so installing it was as simple as running: + + portmaster -P /usr/ports/security/py-letsencrypt + +There was quite a bit of dependencies to be installed, but the ports system +takes care of that, and portmaster helps make the process really smooth. A few +config options and 10 minutes later everything was built and installed. + +Next step was to generate the certificates. After a few misses I found the +right invocation: + + sudo letsencrypt certonly --webroot \ + -w /usr/local/www/my_rails_app_dir/current/public/ \ + -d mydomain.com -d www.mydomain.com + +Half a minute later I have my certificates in +`/usr/local/etc/letsencrypt/live/mydomain.com`. I just had to update the apache +config and everything worked right away. + +The Let's Encrypt website warns that you may have to shut down your webserver +while it does it's job. That was not neccesary in this case. It seems this is +only neccesary if you run with the `--standalone` option. The `--webroot` +and `-w` options on the other hand allows you to specify manually where +`letsencrypt` should put it's challenge files. + +The Let's Encrypt server then accesses these files using the regular webserver +you're already running. Since this particular domain runs a [Ruby on Rails] +app deployed using [Capistrano] I ended up with the path above. + +I had quite frankly expected that there should be more bumps. For one, this +*is* still a beta, and they do warn that there will be bugs on their website. +Further not all software developed for Linux runs equally smooth on FreeBSD, +but this time there was no need for worrying. + +The plugins for apache and nginx are not yet available in the ports tree +however, so I'm running things manually for now. + +[Let's Encrypt]: https://letsencrypt.org/ +[public beta program]: https://letsencrypt.org/2015/12/03/entering-public-beta.html +[FreeBSD ports collection]: https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/ports.cgi?query=letsencrypt&stype=all +[Ruby on Rails]: http://rubyonrails.org/ +[Capistrano]: http://capistranorb.com/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-21-setting-up-lets-encrypt-with-ruby-on-rails-and-freebsd/index.md b/content/blog/2015-12-21-setting-up-lets-encrypt-with-ruby-on-rails-and-freebsd/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 1784881..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-12-21-setting-up-lets-encrypt-with-ruby-on-rails-and-freebsd/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,71 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Setting up Let's Encrypt with Ruby on Rails and FreeBSD" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["FreeBSD", "letsencrypt", "tips & tricks"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="letsencrypt-logo-horizontal.svg") %} -Let's Encrypt logo. -{% end %} - -I've been following [Let's Encrypt] for a while, and the idea is as simple as -it's brilliant! Make it so easy to add a encryption to your webserver setup -that there's really no reson not to. Traditionally this has been both a -cumbersome and potentially expensive investment. At least for smaller stuff -like your average blog or community web site getting a certificate and setting -it all up has been a hassle. - - - -So I really like the idea of Let's Encrypt, and since they've just launched -their [public beta program] in time for the renewal of one of my certificates -I decided to give it a spin. The process was surprisingly painless. - -The base Let's Encrypt program is already in the [FreeBSD ports collection], -so installing it was as simple as running: - - portmaster -P /usr/ports/security/py-letsencrypt - -There was quite a bit of dependencies to be installed, but the ports system -takes care of that, and portmaster helps make the process really smooth. A few -config options and 10 minutes later everything was built and installed. - -Next step was to generate the certificates. After a few misses I found the -right invocation: - - sudo letsencrypt certonly --webroot \ - -w /usr/local/www/my_rails_app_dir/current/public/ \ - -d mydomain.com -d www.mydomain.com - -Half a minute later I have my certificates in -`/usr/local/etc/letsencrypt/live/mydomain.com`. I just had to update the apache -config and everything worked right away. - -The Let's Encrypt website warns that you may have to shut down your webserver -while it does it's job. That was not neccesary in this case. It seems this is -only neccesary if you run with the `--standalone` option. The `--webroot` -and `-w` options on the other hand allows you to specify manually where -`letsencrypt` should put it's challenge files. - -The Let's Encrypt server then accesses these files using the regular webserver -you're already running. Since this particular domain runs a [Ruby on Rails] -app deployed using [Capistrano] I ended up with the path above. - -I had quite frankly expected that there should be more bumps. For one, this -*is* still a beta, and they do warn that there will be bugs on their website. -Further not all software developed for Linux runs equally smooth on FreeBSD, -but this time there was no need for worrying. - -The plugins for apache and nginx are not yet available in the ports tree -however, so I'm running things manually for now. - -[Let's Encrypt]: https://letsencrypt.org/ -[public beta program]: https://letsencrypt.org/2015/12/03/entering-public-beta.html -[FreeBSD ports collection]: https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/ports.cgi?query=letsencrypt&stype=all -[Ruby on Rails]: http://rubyonrails.org/ -[Capistrano]: http://capistranorb.com/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-24-are-we-up-for-anonymity/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-12-24-are-we-up-for-anonymity/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b68bd12 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-12-24-are-we-up-for-anonymity/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ ++++ +title = "Are we up for anonymity?" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["press", "freedom", "anonymity", "privacy", "surveillance"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +The Berliner Gazette explores the negative stigma around anonymity, and asks +what this means for a free press and privacy. + +> The dominant narrative of anonymity, as portrayed in popular media, is an +> unflattering one and its usage is associated with trolling, seedy +> transactions, harassment and terrorism. The conventional wisdom seems to be +> that online anonymity protects criminals and enables the hateful and toxic +> side of human nature. Such a negative reputation undermines an important +> practice with many legitimate uses. Anonymity can also offer vital protection +> to those who need it most. + +Read the [full article]. + +[full article]: http://berlinergazette.de/are-we-up-for-anonymity/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-24-are-we-up-for-anonymity/index.md b/content/blog/2015-12-24-are-we-up-for-anonymity/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index b68bd12..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-12-24-are-we-up-for-anonymity/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,25 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Are we up for anonymity?" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["press", "freedom", "anonymity", "privacy", "surveillance"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -The Berliner Gazette explores the negative stigma around anonymity, and asks -what this means for a free press and privacy. - -> The dominant narrative of anonymity, as portrayed in popular media, is an -> unflattering one and its usage is associated with trolling, seedy -> transactions, harassment and terrorism. The conventional wisdom seems to be -> that online anonymity protects criminals and enables the hateful and toxic -> side of human nature. Such a negative reputation undermines an important -> practice with many legitimate uses. Anonymity can also offer vital protection -> to those who need it most. - -Read the [full article]. - -[full article]: http://berlinergazette.de/are-we-up-for-anonymity/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-25-do-not-track/index.en.md b/content/blog/2015-12-25-do-not-track/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43fa2a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2015-12-25-do-not-track/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ ++++ +title = "Do Not Track - A personalized documentary" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["privacy", "tracking", "internet"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="do-not-track.png") %} +[https://donottrack-doc.com/](https://donottrack-doc.com/) +{% end %} + +[Do Not Track] is a great interactive documentary about tracking and privacy on +the internet. Definitely worth a watch if you are unsure about just how much +the ad networks and social media sites actually know about you. + +[Do Not Track]: https://donottrack-doc.com/ diff --git a/content/blog/2015-12-25-do-not-track/index.md b/content/blog/2015-12-25-do-not-track/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 43fa2a0..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2015-12-25-do-not-track/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,20 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Do Not Track - A personalized documentary" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["privacy", "tracking", "internet"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="do-not-track.png") %} -[https://donottrack-doc.com/](https://donottrack-doc.com/) -{% end %} - -[Do Not Track] is a great interactive documentary about tracking and privacy on -the internet. Definitely worth a watch if you are unsure about just how much -the ad networks and social media sites actually know about you. - -[Do Not Track]: https://donottrack-doc.com/ diff --git a/content/blog/2016-01-30-robb-flynn-comments-anselmos-nazi-salute/index.en.md b/content/blog/2016-01-30-robb-flynn-comments-anselmos-nazi-salute/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9cba01e --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2016-01-30-robb-flynn-comments-anselmos-nazi-salute/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ ++++ +title = "Robb Flynn comments Anselmo's Nazi salute" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["metal", "racism", "pantera"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +Robb Flynn of Machine Head comments on Phil Anselmo's "White Power"-stunt at +this years Dimebash tribute. + +{{ youtube(id="fCBKzWg4WYo") }} + +Well said! diff --git a/content/blog/2016-01-30-robb-flynn-comments-anselmos-nazi-salute/index.md b/content/blog/2016-01-30-robb-flynn-comments-anselmos-nazi-salute/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 9cba01e..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2016-01-30-robb-flynn-comments-anselmos-nazi-salute/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,17 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Robb Flynn comments Anselmo's Nazi salute" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["metal", "racism", "pantera"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -Robb Flynn of Machine Head comments on Phil Anselmo's "White Power"-stunt at -this years Dimebash tribute. - -{{ youtube(id="fCBKzWg4WYo") }} - -Well said! diff --git a/content/blog/2017-11-02-aral-balkan-om-cyborgrettigheter/index.md b/content/blog/2017-11-02-aral-balkan-om-cyborgrettigheter/index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..92e6d8a --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2017-11-02-aral-balkan-om-cyborgrettigheter/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ ++++ +title = "Aral Balkan om cyborgrettigheter" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["internett", "samfunn", "teknologi", "personvern"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{{ youtube(id="heNnYPz1m_k") }} + +Veldig interessant intervju med [Aral Balkan] om hvordan internettkapitalismen +er uforenelig med borgerrettigheter. Han snakker også en del hvordan vi kan +tilnærme oss å få til en endring hvor vi etter hvert vil kunne eie våre egne +data og enhetene vi bruker. Intervjuet er også tilgjengelig som en +mp3-fil fra [podcasten sin hjemmeside](https://goodstuff.fm/nbsp/136). + +[Aral Balkan]: https://ar.al diff --git a/content/blog/2017-11-02-aral-balkan.om-cyborgrettigheter/index.md b/content/blog/2017-11-02-aral-balkan.om-cyborgrettigheter/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 92e6d8a..0000000 --- a/content/blog/2017-11-02-aral-balkan.om-cyborgrettigheter/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,19 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Aral Balkan om cyborgrettigheter" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["internett", "samfunn", "teknologi", "personvern"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{{ youtube(id="heNnYPz1m_k") }} - -Veldig interessant intervju med [Aral Balkan] om hvordan internettkapitalismen -er uforenelig med borgerrettigheter. Han snakker også en del hvordan vi kan -tilnærme oss å få til en endring hvor vi etter hvert vil kunne eie våre egne -data og enhetene vi bruker. Intervjuet er også tilgjengelig som en -mp3-fil fra [podcasten sin hjemmeside](https://goodstuff.fm/nbsp/136). - -[Aral Balkan]: https://ar.al diff --git a/content/blog/_index.en.md b/content/blog/_index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9166782 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/_index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ ++++ +title = "The Rabalder Blog" +description = """ +A blog about society, technology, internet, durveillance and other grievances. +In this section I mostly write in Norwegian, but english posts can be found +below. +""" ++++ diff --git a/content/film/2015-02-01-among-the-living/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-02-01-among-the-living/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8eb3257 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-02-01-among-the-living/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ ++++ +title = "Among the Living (Aux yeux des vivants)" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "horror", "france"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="Aux-yeux-des-vivants-affiche-web.jpg") %} +_Among the Living_ cover image +{% end %} + +After seeing (and loving) [Livide](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727516/) I had +some hopes for [Among the Living](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473750/) (Original +title: "Aux yeux des vivants") from the same directors. It's not a bad movie, +but far from the masterpiece that _Livide_ was. It never really manages to +build up to a scare, even though it quite obviously tries to. The filming is +nice, and the movie is well produced without really fulfilling it's potential. diff --git a/content/film/2015-02-01-among-the-living/index.md b/content/film/2015-02-01-among-the-living/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 8eb3257..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-02-01-among-the-living/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,21 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Among the Living (Aux yeux des vivants)" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "horror", "france"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="Aux-yeux-des-vivants-affiche-web.jpg") %} -_Among the Living_ cover image -{% end %} - -After seeing (and loving) [Livide](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727516/) I had -some hopes for [Among the Living](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473750/) (Original -title: "Aux yeux des vivants") from the same directors. It's not a bad movie, -but far from the masterpiece that _Livide_ was. It never really manages to -build up to a scare, even though it quite obviously tries to. The filming is -nice, and the movie is well produced without really fulfilling it's potential. diff --git a/content/film/2015-02-01-ida-film/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-02-01-ida-film/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81c23c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-02-01-ida-film/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ ++++ +title = "Ida" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "poland"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="Ida-2.jpg") %} +_Ida_ cover image. +{% end %} + +[Ida](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2718492/) is a really beautiful, slowpaced +film from Poland. It's filmed entirely in black and white, uses a minimum of +dialogue, and gives the actors time to convey the films dark story mostly +through their emotions. Definitely worth watching! diff --git a/content/film/2015-02-01-ida-film/index.md b/content/film/2015-02-01-ida-film/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 81c23c5..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-02-01-ida-film/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,19 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Ida" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "poland"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="Ida-2.jpg") %} -_Ida_ cover image. -{% end %} - -[Ida](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2718492/) is a really beautiful, slowpaced -film from Poland. It's filmed entirely in black and white, uses a minimum of -dialogue, and gives the actors time to convey the films dark story mostly -through their emotions. Definitely worth watching! diff --git a/content/film/2015-03-13-baby-of-macon/baby-of-macon.jpg b/content/film/2015-03-13-baby-of-macon/baby-of-macon.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd7a00d Binary files /dev/null and b/content/film/2015-03-13-baby-of-macon/baby-of-macon.jpg differ diff --git a/content/film/2015-03-13-baby-of-macon/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-03-13-baby-of-macon/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2555b9c --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-03-13-baby-of-macon/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,67 @@ ++++ +title = "Peter Greenaway: The Baby of Mâcon" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "Peter Greenaway", "surrealism"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="baby-of-macon.jpg") %} +_The Baby of Mâcon_ poster. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia. +{% end %} + +There's film, and there's film by Peter Greenaway. + +I've been a fan of this extraordinary film maker from the first time I saw [The +Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover]. So I was sligthly surprised when I found +a new film directed by the master that I didn't know about. [The Baby of Mâcon] +is far from new, but not one of his most well known films. Released in 1993, it +stired some controversy and was [refused distribution] in the USA. That pretty +much sealed its fate as an underground classic. + + + +As usual with Greenaway, the set and the filming is magnificent! The film is +set in a 17th century italian theatre, and we follow a stageplay about +corruption, desception and religious abuse and power. That is, we're woven in +and out of the play itself as well as the interaction with the audience and the +actors themselves. A wealthy prince and his court is in the audience, but also +takes part in the play. Sometimes as a commentators, sometimes directly taking +part in the act itself. Also the line between the actors and their characters +blurr as the story unfolds. All of this wrapped in a magnificent theatre set +filled with religious ornaments, relics and an aura of sacredness. + +> "The men and the women does not play in their beds anymore. Copulation is serious business!" + +While the set is beautiful, the plot is all but. The play takes us to the +village of Mâcon where famine and drought have caused the animals to wither and +the women to become infertile. + +In the midst of this a baby is born by an old and ugly woman. A beautiful child +that gives hope to the vilage that the bad times are ending. + +The child is abused, first by his elder sister which sees the hope and +desperation of the villagers as a source to enrich herself. She claims it's her +child born by virgin birth, and stages him as a divine creature that provides +blessings to the villagers willing to pay the price. And indeed the village +prospers and with it the power of the childs sister. + +The story that unfolds is ugly and meant to challenge the viewer. It's +difficult to feel sympathy with anybody, and the level of corruption permeating +every scene brings as much distaste as the scenery itself brings joy. This is +where Peter Greenaway shines. By the way he portrays the people that could +evoke some symapthy he makes the viewer an accomplice to the tragedy, because +they are so unlikeable. Even the child itself, which at first appears an +innocent victim of his sisters greed is at the end of it in some sort of +control of the entire situation. Far from the innocent instrument from which +others can enrich themselves. + +[The Baby of Mâcon] is a film that can not be described. It has to be experienced. + +[The Baby of Mâcon]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106335/ +[The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097108/ +[refused distribution]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106335/trivia?item=tr0729697 + diff --git a/content/film/2015-03-13-film-baby-of-macon/baby-of-macon.jpg b/content/film/2015-03-13-film-baby-of-macon/baby-of-macon.jpg deleted file mode 100644 index bd7a00d..0000000 Binary files a/content/film/2015-03-13-film-baby-of-macon/baby-of-macon.jpg and /dev/null differ diff --git a/content/film/2015-03-13-film-baby-of-macon/index.md b/content/film/2015-03-13-film-baby-of-macon/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 2555b9c..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-03-13-film-baby-of-macon/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,67 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Peter Greenaway: The Baby of Mâcon" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "Peter Greenaway", "surrealism"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="baby-of-macon.jpg") %} -_The Baby of Mâcon_ poster. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia. -{% end %} - -There's film, and there's film by Peter Greenaway. - -I've been a fan of this extraordinary film maker from the first time I saw [The -Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover]. So I was sligthly surprised when I found -a new film directed by the master that I didn't know about. [The Baby of Mâcon] -is far from new, but not one of his most well known films. Released in 1993, it -stired some controversy and was [refused distribution] in the USA. That pretty -much sealed its fate as an underground classic. - - - -As usual with Greenaway, the set and the filming is magnificent! The film is -set in a 17th century italian theatre, and we follow a stageplay about -corruption, desception and religious abuse and power. That is, we're woven in -and out of the play itself as well as the interaction with the audience and the -actors themselves. A wealthy prince and his court is in the audience, but also -takes part in the play. Sometimes as a commentators, sometimes directly taking -part in the act itself. Also the line between the actors and their characters -blurr as the story unfolds. All of this wrapped in a magnificent theatre set -filled with religious ornaments, relics and an aura of sacredness. - -> "The men and the women does not play in their beds anymore. Copulation is serious business!" - -While the set is beautiful, the plot is all but. The play takes us to the -village of Mâcon where famine and drought have caused the animals to wither and -the women to become infertile. - -In the midst of this a baby is born by an old and ugly woman. A beautiful child -that gives hope to the vilage that the bad times are ending. - -The child is abused, first by his elder sister which sees the hope and -desperation of the villagers as a source to enrich herself. She claims it's her -child born by virgin birth, and stages him as a divine creature that provides -blessings to the villagers willing to pay the price. And indeed the village -prospers and with it the power of the childs sister. - -The story that unfolds is ugly and meant to challenge the viewer. It's -difficult to feel sympathy with anybody, and the level of corruption permeating -every scene brings as much distaste as the scenery itself brings joy. This is -where Peter Greenaway shines. By the way he portrays the people that could -evoke some symapthy he makes the viewer an accomplice to the tragedy, because -they are so unlikeable. Even the child itself, which at first appears an -innocent victim of his sisters greed is at the end of it in some sort of -control of the entire situation. Far from the innocent instrument from which -others can enrich themselves. - -[The Baby of Mâcon] is a film that can not be described. It has to be experienced. - -[The Baby of Mâcon]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106335/ -[The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097108/ -[refused distribution]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106335/trivia?item=tr0729697 - diff --git a/content/film/2015-04-11-hal-hartley-ned-rifle/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-04-11-hal-hartley-ned-rifle/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eeb763c --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-04-11-hal-hartley-ned-rifle/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,61 @@ ++++ +title = "Ned Rifle" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "Hal Hartley"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="hal-hartley-ned-rifle-2014.jpg") %} +_Ned Rifle_ cover image +{% end %} + +[Hal Hartley] is an american independent filmmaker who has done a number of +films. His latest film [Ned Rifle] (2014) is the third film about the +characters and story begun with [Henry Fool] (1997). I have sadly not seen the +second film, [Fay Grim] (2006) yet, but it does not seem like that's a +requirement either. The films stand well on their own. + + + +After Ned's mother Fay is arrested after terrorist-charges, Ned is taken care +of by the family of a local bishop. On his 18th birthday he sets out to find +and kill his father, whom he blames for his mothers incarseration. Armed with a +bible, a gun, one bullet and a seemingly endless supply of money he sets out to +accomplish his task. + +Along the ride comes the whimsical Susan, a 30-something, mentally unstable +girl who seems to have centered her life around the poetry of Neds uncle, Simon +Grim. She invites herself along, much to Neds disapproval. However, as much as +he tries to leave her behind, she always seem to be able to catch up with him. + +At the same time the bishop, Fay and Simon is contemplating a way to prevent +Ned from acheiving his goal, without going too much out of their way in their +efforts. + +This is one of those films that could probably be filled with action, car +chases, exchanges of fire in hallways and an endless plot of hide and seek +where Ned and his father would try to outsmart eachother. However it is +not. Instead Hartley turns down the pace, let the characters and story evolve, +and tries to challenge how our sympathies shift throughout as the story +unfolds. The actual finding of Henry is rather trivial, and the film is more +about how the dynamic between Ned, Henry and Susan plays out. This is a far +more interesting story in my eyes. + +Contrasted to a film industry that more or less just remakes a small set of +movies again and again, Hartley and other independent filmmakers presents a +fresh breath, and dares to make films that will both surprise and challenge. + +The film is available on [Vimeo on Demand], along with some of his [other +films]. Enjoy! + +[Hal Hartley]: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001325/ +[Ned Rifle]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2925768 +[Henry Fool]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122529/ +[Fay Grim]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444628/ +[Vimeo On Demand]: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nedrifle +[other films]: https://vimeo.com/possiblefilms/vod_pages + diff --git a/content/film/2015-04-11-hal-hartley-ned-rifle/index.md b/content/film/2015-04-11-hal-hartley-ned-rifle/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index eeb763c..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-04-11-hal-hartley-ned-rifle/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,61 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Ned Rifle" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "Hal Hartley"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="hal-hartley-ned-rifle-2014.jpg") %} -_Ned Rifle_ cover image -{% end %} - -[Hal Hartley] is an american independent filmmaker who has done a number of -films. His latest film [Ned Rifle] (2014) is the third film about the -characters and story begun with [Henry Fool] (1997). I have sadly not seen the -second film, [Fay Grim] (2006) yet, but it does not seem like that's a -requirement either. The films stand well on their own. - - - -After Ned's mother Fay is arrested after terrorist-charges, Ned is taken care -of by the family of a local bishop. On his 18th birthday he sets out to find -and kill his father, whom he blames for his mothers incarseration. Armed with a -bible, a gun, one bullet and a seemingly endless supply of money he sets out to -accomplish his task. - -Along the ride comes the whimsical Susan, a 30-something, mentally unstable -girl who seems to have centered her life around the poetry of Neds uncle, Simon -Grim. She invites herself along, much to Neds disapproval. However, as much as -he tries to leave her behind, she always seem to be able to catch up with him. - -At the same time the bishop, Fay and Simon is contemplating a way to prevent -Ned from acheiving his goal, without going too much out of their way in their -efforts. - -This is one of those films that could probably be filled with action, car -chases, exchanges of fire in hallways and an endless plot of hide and seek -where Ned and his father would try to outsmart eachother. However it is -not. Instead Hartley turns down the pace, let the characters and story evolve, -and tries to challenge how our sympathies shift throughout as the story -unfolds. The actual finding of Henry is rather trivial, and the film is more -about how the dynamic between Ned, Henry and Susan plays out. This is a far -more interesting story in my eyes. - -Contrasted to a film industry that more or less just remakes a small set of -movies again and again, Hartley and other independent filmmakers presents a -fresh breath, and dares to make films that will both surprise and challenge. - -The film is available on [Vimeo on Demand], along with some of his [other -films]. Enjoy! - -[Hal Hartley]: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001325/ -[Ned Rifle]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2925768 -[Henry Fool]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122529/ -[Fay Grim]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444628/ -[Vimeo On Demand]: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nedrifle -[other films]: https://vimeo.com/possiblefilms/vod_pages - diff --git a/content/film/2015-06-24-film-kumiko/index.md b/content/film/2015-06-24-film-kumiko/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index d459bd9..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-06-24-film-kumiko/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,24 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "japan", "usa"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="kumiko.jpg") %} -_Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter_ cover image -{% end %} - -Kumiko is a disilutioned office worker from Tokyo that one day sets out on a journey to find a treasure she is convinced exists in America. She has seen so in a movie, it is her destiny. - - - -The film is a quaint, darkish comedy which does not rush things forward. We get well aquanted with Kumiko, her dislike for social interaction, and distaste for her job, her coworkers and especially her boss. Her only passion is the search for the treasure. Her only companion is Bunzo – her rabbit. - -As socially disabled and awkward as Kumiko may be, the people she meets along the way is even worse. This slow paced orgy of awkwardness combined with great filming and desolate landscapes is what make this film resonate with me. The contrast between the overcrowded Tokyo and the desolation of Minnesota, the mundane daily routine against the dream of a rich treasure, the almost anti-social Kumiko against the perhaps over-social helpers she meets along the way... - -I highly recommend this film if you like to watch something a bit off from the Hollywood mainstream! Watch it on https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kumiko[Vimeo On Demand], or other film sites on the net. diff --git a/content/film/2015-06-24-film-kumiko/kumiko.jpg b/content/film/2015-06-24-film-kumiko/kumiko.jpg deleted file mode 100644 index e0d543c..0000000 Binary files a/content/film/2015-06-24-film-kumiko/kumiko.jpg and /dev/null differ diff --git a/content/film/2015-06-24-kumiko/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-06-24-kumiko/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d459bd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-06-24-kumiko/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ ++++ +title = "Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "japan", "usa"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="kumiko.jpg") %} +_Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter_ cover image +{% end %} + +Kumiko is a disilutioned office worker from Tokyo that one day sets out on a journey to find a treasure she is convinced exists in America. She has seen so in a movie, it is her destiny. + + + +The film is a quaint, darkish comedy which does not rush things forward. We get well aquanted with Kumiko, her dislike for social interaction, and distaste for her job, her coworkers and especially her boss. Her only passion is the search for the treasure. Her only companion is Bunzo – her rabbit. + +As socially disabled and awkward as Kumiko may be, the people she meets along the way is even worse. This slow paced orgy of awkwardness combined with great filming and desolate landscapes is what make this film resonate with me. The contrast between the overcrowded Tokyo and the desolation of Minnesota, the mundane daily routine against the dream of a rich treasure, the almost anti-social Kumiko against the perhaps over-social helpers she meets along the way... + +I highly recommend this film if you like to watch something a bit off from the Hollywood mainstream! Watch it on https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kumiko[Vimeo On Demand], or other film sites on the net. diff --git a/content/film/2015-06-24-kumiko/kumiko.jpg b/content/film/2015-06-24-kumiko/kumiko.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0d543c Binary files /dev/null and b/content/film/2015-06-24-kumiko/kumiko.jpg differ diff --git a/content/film/2015-06-26-film-i-am-divine/i-am-divine-cover.jpg b/content/film/2015-06-26-film-i-am-divine/i-am-divine-cover.jpg deleted file mode 100644 index ae886b9..0000000 Binary files a/content/film/2015-06-26-film-i-am-divine/i-am-divine-cover.jpg and /dev/null differ diff --git a/content/film/2015-06-26-film-i-am-divine/index.md b/content/film/2015-06-26-film-i-am-divine/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index bb9182c..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-06-26-film-i-am-divine/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,18 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "I am Divine" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "divine", "lgbt", "documentary"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="i-am-divine-cover.jpg") %} -_I am Divine_ cover image. -{% end %} - -Divine has always been a fascinating figure. Here's a great documentary going beyond the over the top, sleazy drag queen image most of us associate with her, and shows a glimpse of the human behind the image. - -Available on [Vimeo On Demand](https://vimeo.com/ondemand/iamdivine), recommended! diff --git a/content/film/2015-06-26-i-am-divine/i-am-divine-cover.jpg b/content/film/2015-06-26-i-am-divine/i-am-divine-cover.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae886b9 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/film/2015-06-26-i-am-divine/i-am-divine-cover.jpg differ diff --git a/content/film/2015-06-26-i-am-divine/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-06-26-i-am-divine/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb9182c --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-06-26-i-am-divine/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ ++++ +title = "I am Divine" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "divine", "lgbt", "documentary"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="i-am-divine-cover.jpg") %} +_I am Divine_ cover image. +{% end %} + +Divine has always been a fascinating figure. Here's a great documentary going beyond the over the top, sleazy drag queen image most of us associate with her, and shows a glimpse of the human behind the image. + +Available on [Vimeo On Demand](https://vimeo.com/ondemand/iamdivine), recommended! diff --git a/content/film/2015-08-08-clowne/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-08-08-clowne/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..909bb7e --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-08-08-clowne/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ ++++ +title = "Clowne" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="clowne.jpg") %} +Clowne +{% end %} + +[Clowne][1] is something as rare as the pilot for a TV series produced by a a crew of Norwegian high-school students. Don't let that discourage you, this is really well made and very well produced! + + + +We follow Gary Clowne (yep, that's his name) as he is released from prison, but only to be given a surprise sentence to a three year community service as a... you guessed it: clown. His new boss seems to be quite on the shady side, if not downright paranoid. His drug addicted friend and room mate does not improve much on the situation, and his newfound love, the nymphomanic Jen has a boyfriend, Dick - even if he seems rather dimwitted. + +All in all it's a very well made pilot with a good story, great filming and a dark, but humorous atmosphere. It's shot in Oslo, Norway, and makes great use of the city with some really nice locations that work really well with the story. + +The only problem I have is that they pretend the story is set in California, not Oslo. When you look at the episode you will see it looks nothing like California, but has Oslo stamped all over it. If this ever is picked up by someone and made into a full series, I do hope they put the story where it belongs, and stop pretending it's elsewhere. + +See [the episode][1] at Vimeo! + +[1]: https://vimeo.com/99476341 diff --git a/content/film/2015-08-08-clowne/index.md b/content/film/2015-08-08-clowne/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 909bb7e..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-08-08-clowne/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,28 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Clowne" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="clowne.jpg") %} -Clowne -{% end %} - -[Clowne][1] is something as rare as the pilot for a TV series produced by a a crew of Norwegian high-school students. Don't let that discourage you, this is really well made and very well produced! - - - -We follow Gary Clowne (yep, that's his name) as he is released from prison, but only to be given a surprise sentence to a three year community service as a... you guessed it: clown. His new boss seems to be quite on the shady side, if not downright paranoid. His drug addicted friend and room mate does not improve much on the situation, and his newfound love, the nymphomanic Jen has a boyfriend, Dick - even if he seems rather dimwitted. - -All in all it's a very well made pilot with a good story, great filming and a dark, but humorous atmosphere. It's shot in Oslo, Norway, and makes great use of the city with some really nice locations that work really well with the story. - -The only problem I have is that they pretend the story is set in California, not Oslo. When you look at the episode you will see it looks nothing like California, but has Oslo stamped all over it. If this ever is picked up by someone and made into a full series, I do hope they put the story where it belongs, and stop pretending it's elsewhere. - -See [the episode][1] at Vimeo! - -[1]: https://vimeo.com/99476341 diff --git a/content/film/2015-10-21-ramaskrik/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-10-21-ramaskrik/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf59a30 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-10-21-ramaskrik/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,173 @@ ++++ +title = "Ramaskrik 2015" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "horror", "Ramaskrik", "festival"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="inngang.jpg") %} +The entrance to Oppdal Kulturhus and Ramaskrik! +{% end %} + +Here's my personal summary of the [Ramaskrik Horror film festival][] at Oppdal this year. I've been to Ramaskrik once before, but only for a short stop of one day. That was a very positive experience, so this year I wanted to go for the full festival. + + + +Day 1: Thursday +--------------- + +{% figure(img="hotelldekor.jpg") %} +The hotel decorations. +{% end %} + +The first day of the festival starts off with the Ramaskrik horror train from +Oslo to Oppdal. The festival has teamed up with [the railways][] to provide a +special experience for those of us traveling by train. There's around ten +people or so that shows up, and we're greeted by a friendly hostess, a goodie +bag, and a short quiz to get things started. The train trip is quite long, so +it's a very nice initiative to get people to meet and socialize before the +festival. It doesn't take long for the nerdy film references and trivia to flow +rather freely throughout the train cafeteria. + +Also the [festival hotel][] has taken it's task seriously. Upon exiting the +elevator on our floor I was greeted with the decoration seen above. + +we arrived just in time for the opening film [Shut In][] from the US. Quite a good film in my opinion. It's a home-invasion style film with some interesting twists to the story. Director Adam Schindler and producer Erik Olsen was present and answered questions from the audience at the end of the film. + +Next up was [Lost after Dark][]. This is a high school gang meets canibal in a cabin in the woods type horror film. Didn't quite make it for me. It's all been done too many times before, and it does not bring anything new to the table. + +Day 2: Friday +------------- + +A few beers, and some sleep later I was ready for the first film on day two. [Berkshire County][] dissapears a bit into the masses for me. It's well made, and has some good moments, but in the end got too predictable and I'm left with an impression of "I've seen this way too many times before." + +{% figure(img="jeruzalem-poster.jpg") %} +_JeruZalem_ poster. +{% end %} + +Second film of the day was [Jeruzalem][]. Backpackers, google glass, religious differences and demons in a good mix. The old city of Jerusalem lends itself well to this kind of story, although I have a feeling the movie could have taken a different direction about halfway through and been a better movie by doing so. Still, this was an enjoyable film, and quite worth watching in my opinion. + +[Children of the Night][] (aka Limbo) wasn't too well liked by a the audience. Personally I *did* like it, though. We join a journalist as she travels to a boarding school/nursery for children with a rare disease somewhere in the Argentinian outback. Naturally the schools children has some dark secrets. The film is a tad long, builds up slowly, and is a rather amateurish production. In my opinion it has a lot of charm, the story is quite original and is well told. If you're not put off by what it lacks in production, I think this is an original film with a lot of mellow humour. + +Another film I liked quite well was [Inner Demon][]. It is well made, and I especially liked depth and character given to the depiction of the "bad guys." It's not a very original film in any ways, but had an intensity and a focus that made it interesting still. Director Ursula Dabrowsky and main actress Sarah Jeavons was present and answered questions after the screening. + +Director Corin Hardy was also present to talk about his film [The Hallow][]. This was a very enjoyable film, I think. It's a classic monster movie, but incorporates irish myths in a good way and has some beautiful filming. I also liked that the monsters are played by real actors, and not done using CGI. + +After five movies in a row there was time for something to eat and a small break before ending the day with [German Angst][]. An anthology of three short films from Jörg Buttgereit, Michael Kosakowsky and Andreas Marschall. By far the highlight for this day, and possibly the best film of the entire festival. This is grim, german social realism mixed with the ugly and dark sides of human nature. Highly recommended! + +{% figure(img="finalgirl-4.jpg") %} +Still from _German Angst_. +{% end %} + +Day 3: Saturday +--------------- + +{% figure(img="shrewsnestposter.jpg") %} +Poster for _Shrews Nest_. +{% end %} + +Saturday kicks off with [Crimson Peak][] at 10 O'clock in the morning. This is by far the most mainstream film presented at the festival, but it's still worth watching. Aestethically very nice and with a decent story this is a good chill without ever getting too scary. + +Next up was [Deathgasm][], a hilarious movie from the world of heavy metal. It makes a lot of fun about Metal, as well as the prejudice against the genres. As a metalhead myself I enjoyed this film immensely. If you like the films by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, or heavy metal of any sort you will feel right at home in this one. Highly recommended! + +[Grendel][] is a Norwegian amateur film where we follow a film crew on a production on an island that has some dark secrets. The film has some good parts, but is way too long. If you're interested in amateur film, this may be worth a look, but otherwise I think this may be too amateur for most viewers. + +The Spanish production [Shrew's nest][] on the other hand was a very nice surprise. Great performances by the actors, very nice filming, and tight and good storytelling makes this film work very well. A very good movie you definitely should watch! + +After a short break with some food, it was time to dress up with warm clothes and head out into the woods for a special screening of the brand new [Villmark 2 (Asylum)][]. This was a cool thing organised by the festival and some local companies. Quite atmospheric, and the film was very good too! Classic suspence, but with a good story set in an old asylum for treatment of tuberkolosis in Norway. The hospital is real, and is known to have housed some rather grim experiments on it's patients in the time after World War II. This is incorporated into the story, and gives it a good shin of realism while the story itself is of course fictional. Well worth watching, even if you have to see it indoors. + +There was one more screening this night that I had planned to see, but my head was quite full so I instead headed back to the hotel bar and some beers instead. + +Day 4: Sunday +------------- + +Sunday brought three more films. [Spring][] is something as rare as a romantic horror thriller. Beautifully made, an enjoyable story and with good actors. I liked this one a lot! + +Another very enjoyable film was the Austrian [Good Night Mommy][]. Very dark story even if mostly shot in full daylight. As with German Angst, this is a film that can be uncomfortable to watch, and that's probably the exact reason you should. A good, original story and great storytelling makes this film a true gem. + +{% figure(img="goodnightmommy.jpg") %} +Still from _Good Night Mommy_. +{% end %} + +Last film of the festival for me was the US film [Cooties][]. Clearly the worst film of the festival. A lot of people spoke warmly about it, but I think it failed both as a horror film and as a comedy. You can safely skip this one. + +Short films and work in progress +-------------------------------- + +Throughout the festival there was also quite a number of short films and work in progress screenings shown in connection with the feature films. Here's a summary of the ones I saw: + +{% figure(img="canis08.jpg") %} +Production shot from _Canis_. +{% end %} + +[Canis][]\: The stop motion with quite rough puppets works very well to build up a dark and depressing setting and a good story. The story is told without any dialogue, and the [soundtrack][] really accentuates the grim atmosphere. Clearly the best soundtrack of the entire festival. Very nice! + +[One-Minute Time Machine][]\: A fun film where a nerd with a one-minute time machine tries to hit on a girl that appears to be a scientist interested in time travel. Fun and original story! + +[The Fjords - All In][]\: A music video with a lot of nostalgia and nerdy retro aestethics. If you can remember the video game consoles of the mid 80's you will enjoy this one. Very nice! + +[Noe som skjedde på veien][]\: A hilarious short film about a car thief that get's more than bargained for when stealing a car. I liked this one a lot! + +[Sister Hell][]\: A nun joins the devil to pursue a life in freedom. Well made and with good effects. + +[Huset/The House][] (WIP): Director Reinert Kiil presented his coming film "Huset" (NOR) aka "The House" (ENG). We got to see some clips and the trailer for the film. He talked about the film and the process, and composer Kim Berg talked about the music. This looks like a very promising film to be released in february 2016. I'm definitely looking forward to this. + +Disappearing Darlings (WIP): A short film noir set in the world of insects. Animated using a live animation technique, that gives some of the qualities from stop motion but with actual live performances. This looks like a promising film that's both ambitious and looks like it will be fun to watch. + +Wrapping up +----------- + +16 feature films, 5 shorts and two work in progress presentations was what I managed during these four days. There was more films I could have seen, but priorities and the need for some breaks dictated otherwise. I also skipped films that I have seen before (The Babadook) or don't care about (the american remake of Martyrs.) + +I'm really positively surprised about the quality of the films on the festival. The various horror genres is not always known for great production and acting. I enjoy films that may be lacking in these departments, but on this festival pretty much all the films had great production, good filming and good to great acting. + +All in all a great weekend, great films, cool people and a lot of fun. There's a good chance you will find me there next year too! + +{% figure(img="skogen.jpg") %} +Photo from the outdoor screening of _Villmark II_. +{% end %} + +Photo credits +------------- + +Photos in order: + +1. Photo by [Ramaskrik Horror film festival][] +2. Photo by Rabalder +3. Jeruzalem poster +4. Photo taken from [German Angst][] +5. Shrew's Nest poster +6. Photo taken from [Good Night Mommy][] +7. Photo taken from the [Canis][] website +8. Photo by [Ramaskrik Horror film festival][] + +[Shut In]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4009278 +[Lost after Dark]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3397556 +[Berkshire County]: http://www.berkshirecounty-themovie.com/ +[Jeruzalem]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4552524 +[Children of the Night]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2945892 +[Inner Demon]: http://www.ursuladabrowsky.com/work/inner-demon/ +[The Hallow]: http://www.corinhardy.com/the-woods/ +[German Angst]: http://german-angst.com/ +[Crimson Peak]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2554274 +[Deathgasm]: http://deathgasmthemovie.com/ +[Grendel]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4249862 +[Shrew's nest]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3417756 +[Villmark 2 (Asylum)]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2664880 +[Spring]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3395184 +[Good Night Mommy]: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/goodnight_mommy/ +[Cooties]: http://cootiesmovie.tumblr.com/ +[Canis]: http://www.stopmotion.cat/canis.htm +[One-Minute Time Machine]:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBkBS4O3yvY +[The Fjords - All In]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxNfD1fIdzM +[Noe som skjedde på veien]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4532886 +[Sister Hell]: http://www.gofilm.no/#!sister-hell/c19w8 +[Huset/The House]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3425402 +[Ramaskrik Horror film festival]: http://www.ramaskrik.no +[soundtrack]: https://blackestrainbowrecords.bandcamp.com/album/canis +[the railways]: http://nsb.no +[festival hotel]: http://www.skiferhotel.no diff --git a/content/film/2015-10-21-ramaskrik/index.md b/content/film/2015-10-21-ramaskrik/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index bf59a30..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-10-21-ramaskrik/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,173 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Ramaskrik 2015" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "horror", "Ramaskrik", "festival"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="inngang.jpg") %} -The entrance to Oppdal Kulturhus and Ramaskrik! -{% end %} - -Here's my personal summary of the [Ramaskrik Horror film festival][] at Oppdal this year. I've been to Ramaskrik once before, but only for a short stop of one day. That was a very positive experience, so this year I wanted to go for the full festival. - - - -Day 1: Thursday ---------------- - -{% figure(img="hotelldekor.jpg") %} -The hotel decorations. -{% end %} - -The first day of the festival starts off with the Ramaskrik horror train from -Oslo to Oppdal. The festival has teamed up with [the railways][] to provide a -special experience for those of us traveling by train. There's around ten -people or so that shows up, and we're greeted by a friendly hostess, a goodie -bag, and a short quiz to get things started. The train trip is quite long, so -it's a very nice initiative to get people to meet and socialize before the -festival. It doesn't take long for the nerdy film references and trivia to flow -rather freely throughout the train cafeteria. - -Also the [festival hotel][] has taken it's task seriously. Upon exiting the -elevator on our floor I was greeted with the decoration seen above. - -we arrived just in time for the opening film [Shut In][] from the US. Quite a good film in my opinion. It's a home-invasion style film with some interesting twists to the story. Director Adam Schindler and producer Erik Olsen was present and answered questions from the audience at the end of the film. - -Next up was [Lost after Dark][]. This is a high school gang meets canibal in a cabin in the woods type horror film. Didn't quite make it for me. It's all been done too many times before, and it does not bring anything new to the table. - -Day 2: Friday -------------- - -A few beers, and some sleep later I was ready for the first film on day two. [Berkshire County][] dissapears a bit into the masses for me. It's well made, and has some good moments, but in the end got too predictable and I'm left with an impression of "I've seen this way too many times before." - -{% figure(img="jeruzalem-poster.jpg") %} -_JeruZalem_ poster. -{% end %} - -Second film of the day was [Jeruzalem][]. Backpackers, google glass, religious differences and demons in a good mix. The old city of Jerusalem lends itself well to this kind of story, although I have a feeling the movie could have taken a different direction about halfway through and been a better movie by doing so. Still, this was an enjoyable film, and quite worth watching in my opinion. - -[Children of the Night][] (aka Limbo) wasn't too well liked by a the audience. Personally I *did* like it, though. We join a journalist as she travels to a boarding school/nursery for children with a rare disease somewhere in the Argentinian outback. Naturally the schools children has some dark secrets. The film is a tad long, builds up slowly, and is a rather amateurish production. In my opinion it has a lot of charm, the story is quite original and is well told. If you're not put off by what it lacks in production, I think this is an original film with a lot of mellow humour. - -Another film I liked quite well was [Inner Demon][]. It is well made, and I especially liked depth and character given to the depiction of the "bad guys." It's not a very original film in any ways, but had an intensity and a focus that made it interesting still. Director Ursula Dabrowsky and main actress Sarah Jeavons was present and answered questions after the screening. - -Director Corin Hardy was also present to talk about his film [The Hallow][]. This was a very enjoyable film, I think. It's a classic monster movie, but incorporates irish myths in a good way and has some beautiful filming. I also liked that the monsters are played by real actors, and not done using CGI. - -After five movies in a row there was time for something to eat and a small break before ending the day with [German Angst][]. An anthology of three short films from Jörg Buttgereit, Michael Kosakowsky and Andreas Marschall. By far the highlight for this day, and possibly the best film of the entire festival. This is grim, german social realism mixed with the ugly and dark sides of human nature. Highly recommended! - -{% figure(img="finalgirl-4.jpg") %} -Still from _German Angst_. -{% end %} - -Day 3: Saturday ---------------- - -{% figure(img="shrewsnestposter.jpg") %} -Poster for _Shrews Nest_. -{% end %} - -Saturday kicks off with [Crimson Peak][] at 10 O'clock in the morning. This is by far the most mainstream film presented at the festival, but it's still worth watching. Aestethically very nice and with a decent story this is a good chill without ever getting too scary. - -Next up was [Deathgasm][], a hilarious movie from the world of heavy metal. It makes a lot of fun about Metal, as well as the prejudice against the genres. As a metalhead myself I enjoyed this film immensely. If you like the films by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, or heavy metal of any sort you will feel right at home in this one. Highly recommended! - -[Grendel][] is a Norwegian amateur film where we follow a film crew on a production on an island that has some dark secrets. The film has some good parts, but is way too long. If you're interested in amateur film, this may be worth a look, but otherwise I think this may be too amateur for most viewers. - -The Spanish production [Shrew's nest][] on the other hand was a very nice surprise. Great performances by the actors, very nice filming, and tight and good storytelling makes this film work very well. A very good movie you definitely should watch! - -After a short break with some food, it was time to dress up with warm clothes and head out into the woods for a special screening of the brand new [Villmark 2 (Asylum)][]. This was a cool thing organised by the festival and some local companies. Quite atmospheric, and the film was very good too! Classic suspence, but with a good story set in an old asylum for treatment of tuberkolosis in Norway. The hospital is real, and is known to have housed some rather grim experiments on it's patients in the time after World War II. This is incorporated into the story, and gives it a good shin of realism while the story itself is of course fictional. Well worth watching, even if you have to see it indoors. - -There was one more screening this night that I had planned to see, but my head was quite full so I instead headed back to the hotel bar and some beers instead. - -Day 4: Sunday -------------- - -Sunday brought three more films. [Spring][] is something as rare as a romantic horror thriller. Beautifully made, an enjoyable story and with good actors. I liked this one a lot! - -Another very enjoyable film was the Austrian [Good Night Mommy][]. Very dark story even if mostly shot in full daylight. As with German Angst, this is a film that can be uncomfortable to watch, and that's probably the exact reason you should. A good, original story and great storytelling makes this film a true gem. - -{% figure(img="goodnightmommy.jpg") %} -Still from _Good Night Mommy_. -{% end %} - -Last film of the festival for me was the US film [Cooties][]. Clearly the worst film of the festival. A lot of people spoke warmly about it, but I think it failed both as a horror film and as a comedy. You can safely skip this one. - -Short films and work in progress --------------------------------- - -Throughout the festival there was also quite a number of short films and work in progress screenings shown in connection with the feature films. Here's a summary of the ones I saw: - -{% figure(img="canis08.jpg") %} -Production shot from _Canis_. -{% end %} - -[Canis][]\: The stop motion with quite rough puppets works very well to build up a dark and depressing setting and a good story. The story is told without any dialogue, and the [soundtrack][] really accentuates the grim atmosphere. Clearly the best soundtrack of the entire festival. Very nice! - -[One-Minute Time Machine][]\: A fun film where a nerd with a one-minute time machine tries to hit on a girl that appears to be a scientist interested in time travel. Fun and original story! - -[The Fjords - All In][]\: A music video with a lot of nostalgia and nerdy retro aestethics. If you can remember the video game consoles of the mid 80's you will enjoy this one. Very nice! - -[Noe som skjedde på veien][]\: A hilarious short film about a car thief that get's more than bargained for when stealing a car. I liked this one a lot! - -[Sister Hell][]\: A nun joins the devil to pursue a life in freedom. Well made and with good effects. - -[Huset/The House][] (WIP): Director Reinert Kiil presented his coming film "Huset" (NOR) aka "The House" (ENG). We got to see some clips and the trailer for the film. He talked about the film and the process, and composer Kim Berg talked about the music. This looks like a very promising film to be released in february 2016. I'm definitely looking forward to this. - -Disappearing Darlings (WIP): A short film noir set in the world of insects. Animated using a live animation technique, that gives some of the qualities from stop motion but with actual live performances. This looks like a promising film that's both ambitious and looks like it will be fun to watch. - -Wrapping up ------------ - -16 feature films, 5 shorts and two work in progress presentations was what I managed during these four days. There was more films I could have seen, but priorities and the need for some breaks dictated otherwise. I also skipped films that I have seen before (The Babadook) or don't care about (the american remake of Martyrs.) - -I'm really positively surprised about the quality of the films on the festival. The various horror genres is not always known for great production and acting. I enjoy films that may be lacking in these departments, but on this festival pretty much all the films had great production, good filming and good to great acting. - -All in all a great weekend, great films, cool people and a lot of fun. There's a good chance you will find me there next year too! - -{% figure(img="skogen.jpg") %} -Photo from the outdoor screening of _Villmark II_. -{% end %} - -Photo credits -------------- - -Photos in order: - -1. Photo by [Ramaskrik Horror film festival][] -2. Photo by Rabalder -3. Jeruzalem poster -4. Photo taken from [German Angst][] -5. Shrew's Nest poster -6. Photo taken from [Good Night Mommy][] -7. Photo taken from the [Canis][] website -8. Photo by [Ramaskrik Horror film festival][] - -[Shut In]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4009278 -[Lost after Dark]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3397556 -[Berkshire County]: http://www.berkshirecounty-themovie.com/ -[Jeruzalem]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4552524 -[Children of the Night]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2945892 -[Inner Demon]: http://www.ursuladabrowsky.com/work/inner-demon/ -[The Hallow]: http://www.corinhardy.com/the-woods/ -[German Angst]: http://german-angst.com/ -[Crimson Peak]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2554274 -[Deathgasm]: http://deathgasmthemovie.com/ -[Grendel]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4249862 -[Shrew's nest]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3417756 -[Villmark 2 (Asylum)]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2664880 -[Spring]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3395184 -[Good Night Mommy]: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/goodnight_mommy/ -[Cooties]: http://cootiesmovie.tumblr.com/ -[Canis]: http://www.stopmotion.cat/canis.htm -[One-Minute Time Machine]:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBkBS4O3yvY -[The Fjords - All In]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxNfD1fIdzM -[Noe som skjedde på veien]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4532886 -[Sister Hell]: http://www.gofilm.no/#!sister-hell/c19w8 -[Huset/The House]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3425402 -[Ramaskrik Horror film festival]: http://www.ramaskrik.no -[soundtrack]: https://blackestrainbowrecords.bandcamp.com/album/canis -[the railways]: http://nsb.no -[festival hotel]: http://www.skiferhotel.no diff --git a/content/film/2015-11-02-film-the-devils-hand-2014/index.md b/content/film/2015-11-02-film-the-devils-hand-2014/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index f904194..0000000 --- a/content/film/2015-11-02-film-the-devils-hand-2014/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,22 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "The Devil's Hand" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "horror"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -[The Devil's Hand] from 2014 (not to be confused with the [film with the same -title] from 1961) sets a nice atmosphere, but never becomes scary nor very -exciting. The plot seems pretty obvious throughout the entire movie, but the -ending lifts it up a notch. Not a bad movie, it has some interesting elements, -and the setting is beleivable. Still I think it will fall a bit inbetween -chairs for the horror fans. - -{{ youtube(id="uigIV1ALQYQ") }} - -[The Devil's Hand]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2290739/ -[film with the same title]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwmMSR5W7ks diff --git a/content/film/2015-11-02-the-devils-hand-2014/index.en.md b/content/film/2015-11-02-the-devils-hand-2014/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f904194 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2015-11-02-the-devils-hand-2014/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ ++++ +title = "The Devil's Hand" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "horror"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +[The Devil's Hand] from 2014 (not to be confused with the [film with the same +title] from 1961) sets a nice atmosphere, but never becomes scary nor very +exciting. The plot seems pretty obvious throughout the entire movie, but the +ending lifts it up a notch. Not a bad movie, it has some interesting elements, +and the setting is beleivable. Still I think it will fall a bit inbetween +chairs for the horror fans. + +{{ youtube(id="uigIV1ALQYQ") }} + +[The Devil's Hand]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2290739/ +[film with the same title]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwmMSR5W7ks diff --git a/content/film/2016-04-28-huset/index.en.md b/content/film/2016-04-28-huset/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2329f1c --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2016-04-28-huset/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ ++++ +title = "Huset (The house)" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "horror"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="huset-poster.jpg") %} +Poster for _Huset_. +{% end %} + +Norwegian horror films are getting some attention, and there's no reason _Huset_ +should not get it's share too. A brand new horror film from Reinert Kiil, which +at least I know best from the low budget slashers _Hora_ (Whore) and _Inside +the Whore_. Even though low budget, they were enjoyable films and gave promise +of a director that could do interesting things given more resources. + + + +Huset is a very well produced dark and creepy film that plays with the viewers +perception of time and reality. What could have been a pretty standard haunted +house movie set in a Norwegian winter landscape turns out quite different. + +The main plot essentially involves only three characters, and the focus is +close and intense at all times. The flashback revealing the history of the +house is fragmented, and only give a glimpse of the terror that once played out +there. The viewer is left to fill in the blanks, something which intensifies +the experience. + +I really liked this one. The attention to detail, the chemistry between the +characters, the intensity of the shots and the way it reveals the story in +glimpses without ever showing too much. + +Highly recommended! diff --git a/content/film/2016-04-28-huset/index.md b/content/film/2016-04-28-huset/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 2329f1c..0000000 --- a/content/film/2016-04-28-huset/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,38 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Huset (The house)" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "horror"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="huset-poster.jpg") %} -Poster for _Huset_. -{% end %} - -Norwegian horror films are getting some attention, and there's no reason _Huset_ -should not get it's share too. A brand new horror film from Reinert Kiil, which -at least I know best from the low budget slashers _Hora_ (Whore) and _Inside -the Whore_. Even though low budget, they were enjoyable films and gave promise -of a director that could do interesting things given more resources. - - - -Huset is a very well produced dark and creepy film that plays with the viewers -perception of time and reality. What could have been a pretty standard haunted -house movie set in a Norwegian winter landscape turns out quite different. - -The main plot essentially involves only three characters, and the focus is -close and intense at all times. The flashback revealing the history of the -house is fragmented, and only give a glimpse of the terror that once played out -there. The viewer is left to fill in the blanks, something which intensifies -the experience. - -I really liked this one. The attention to detail, the chemistry between the -characters, the intensity of the shots and the way it reveals the story in -glimpses without ever showing too much. - -Highly recommended! diff --git a/content/film/2017-08-19-ramaskrik-2016/index.en.md b/content/film/2017-08-19-ramaskrik-2016/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8240ba0 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2017-08-19-ramaskrik-2016/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,415 @@ ++++ +title = "Ramaskrik 2016" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["film", "horror", "Ramaskrik", "festival"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="howl_front.jpg") %} +One of the attractions this year was the screening of Howl from an old train car at Oppdal station. +{% end %} + +This report from the [Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival] of 2016 has taken way too +long to finish. My apologies for that. We're now only a about a month and a +half away from the next Ramaskrik, which I'm very much forwards to it! Anyways +here is my report from four days dedicated in full to horror films, beers and +socializing with other horror fans. + + + +One of the great things about this festival is it's location. A very small town +in the middle of Norway. (Yes, that sounds like "in the middle of nowhere" for +a reason.) [Oppdal] is a picturesque small town surrounded by mountains. A +popular skiing resort in winter time, and great for mountain trips in the +summer and fall. + +Due to its small size the festival gets very social. Audience, producers, +directors, actors and the organisers of the festival mingle freely. Pretty much +everyone stays at the same hotel. The venue doesn't have any VIP area, and the +evening usually ends up at one of the local bars – either at the hotel or +somewhere else. + +We (the audience) appreciate this, but it seems like the professionals present +do so too. We're all horror film enthusiasts in the end, and the atmosphere is +informal and very inclusive. + +Right! Enough chit'chat, on to the report! + +## Day 1 - Thursday + +{% figure(img="midtnorsk-fortellerforum-underholder.jpg") %} +Midtnorsk fortellerforum is making the train trip scarier. +{% end %} + +For me the trip kicks off with the Horror train from Oslo to Oppdal. This year +I volunteered to be the host of the trip from Oslo, so I don't feel I can +comment too much on how that experience was. Most of the other travelers were +familiar faces from last years trip with a few new ones added. + +Also this year +we had people from [Midtnorsk Fortellerforum] (a storytelling society) come on +board and tell some macabre stories for us during the trip. This was a great +addition! We also had the horror quiz where the winners could gain glory, +fortune and prizes when we arrived at the hotel. + +...which we did just in time to check in before going to see the opening film – +_[Train to Busan]_. An action packet and tight zombie film where most of the action is +on a train. After all, what could be more appropriate after a five hour train +trip from Oslo? A great start of an excellent festival! The director, Sang-ho +Yeon was not able to be at the screening himself, but had sent a video message +that introduced the film. + +Next up was _[The Autopsy of Jane Doe]_ introduced by the director _André +Øvredal_. Øvredal is best known for his previous film _[Troll Hunter]_, and +said he wanted to make something completely different this time around. And he +definitely did. + +_The Autopsy of Jane Doe_ is tight, dark and claustrophobic. Extremely well +made, and plays very successfully on suspense and the primal fears of darkness +and dead bodies. I found that the story worked really well, and the atmosphere +gradually evolves from the mundane everyday attitude of morticians towards pure +dread. A film highly recommended! + +{% figure(img="janedoe-poster.jpg") %} +_The Autopsy of Jane Doe_ poster. +{% end %} + +Due to the travel time from Oslo, two films was all I managed this first day. +However, a really strong start on the festival, and I think everyone is smiling +as we head back to the hotel bar for some beers. André Øvredal hangs around for +the evening, even though he has to get up early to get to the next festival (in +Stockholm) already the next day. + +## Day 2 - Friday + +First film for me on friday was _[31]_ by Rob Zombie. I'd read mixed reviews of +this film in advance, but wanted to give it a shot. We meet a crew of traveling +con artists that get caught up in a game of "31" where they play pawns for the +rich to place their bets on. The game is played by letting them loose in a +closed off industial labyrinth with hired killers trying to kill them off in +more or less imaginative ways. + +This is an orgy of violence for the sake of violence itself. Still I think it +works. It's well executed, the setting is interesting, and both the hunters and +the prey are interesting characters. Perhaps not a favourite from the festival, +but absolutely worth watching if you're not turned off by this kind of +violence. + +Before the next film _[Red Christmas]_, we got to see the short film _[Night of +the Slasher]_. + +{{ vimeo(id="127454533") }} + +_Red christmas_, an australian slasher mixing the festive themes of christmas +with the ethical and political dilemmas around abortion, downs syndrome, human +selection etc. Quite a few people didn't like this one, but I found it +entertaining. The ethical aspects were present but not dominating, still they +added a small touch of uniqueness to what would otherwise be just another +slasher film. And legendary Deb Wallace does a good figure as the mother with a +dark past. + +_[Seoul Station]_ was next on my agenda. But first we got the norwegian short +film _[The Absence of Eddy Table]_, a really absurd computer animated story +about a guy with a backpack that gets lost in a jungle of strange berries, huge +women and snail like creatures that will transform you to a monster by growing +a huge mouth in your neck. Voice talent provided by Mike Patton amongst others, +this was very enjoyable and a surreal ride! + +_Seoul Station_ is an animated prequel to _Train to Busan_. Made by the same +director – Sang-ho Yeon. It's much slower than Train To Busan, and the fact +that it's animated rather than a real film distracts me a bit. It's also a tad +longwinded. Not a bad movie, but not really needed as a companion to Train to +Busan either. + + + +{% figure(img="francesca-poster.jpg") %} +_Francesca_ poster. +{% end %} + +Fourth feature of the day was the Italian Giallo homage _[Francesca]_. This was +also a film that divided the audience a bit. I loved it, but others found it +too much a pastiche of it's genre. + +The atmosphere is set right away, by a catchy prog-rock soundtrack, over +saturated colours and even the proper typefaces from the 70's in the title +sequence. The plot is admittedly thin, and you have to enjoy the aestethics of +the film and the genre for this to be worthwhile. On one level it felt more +like a long music video than a feature film. + +_Francesca_ was preceeded by the short film _[Tunnelen]_ (The Tunnel) again by +André Øvredal (who also had _The Autopsy of Jane Doe_ on the festival.) + +This is dystopian futurism, and we follow a family on their way home from a day +by the sea. On their way back into the city they have to pass though a tunnel, +and while everybody assures eachother there's no danger in passing the tunnel +we sense that they're just not showing their fear. Based on a short story by +Alice Glaser, this is again masterfully executed by Øvredal and not the least +by the actors. Very nice! + + +After this I team up with a couple of friends for a food break. Even though +that means missing _[The Rezort]_ which I had planned to see in this spot. Head +and stomach found it wiser to eat though, so off we went for a bloody beef! + +... + +Back at the venue I went for _[Pet]_. But first the hilarious short film +_[Death Metal]_ from Chris McInroy. A metal head with less than average guitar +skills is given a new guitar by his dad. The new guitar has some secrets +though, and some rules that need to be followed. Needless to say they're not, +and things take off differently than our guitar hero expects. Very funny and +lots and lots of blood! + +_Pet_ was a film I liked very much. It starts off as more of a quirky romance +than a horror film, but it takes a different turn after about 20 minutes or so. +Then it takes different and unexpected turns several more times. + +This was a film that managed to surprise me in a good way. The actors do a +great job, and the story is twisted but somewhat realistic. This is not a film +that aims to be scary, but it does tell an interesting story that's way darker +than what I first thought. Very much recommended! + + +{% figure(img="greasy-poster.jpg") %} +_The Greasy Strangler_ poster. +{% end %} + +Last film for the day, and the one that it seems the entire day has built up +to, is _[The Greasy Strangler]_! + +Jim Hosking's debut feature film is sleasy, greasy, and a hell of a lot of fun! +Don't expect a deep story, or for that matter a conventional film in any way. +This is as if someone put all the sleaziest parts of John Waters films, the +acting talent of a low budget Troma film, mixed them all with bucketloads of +grease and added disco! If that sounds great, this is your film! Don't say I +didn't warn you! + +Three people from _Spectrevision_, the production company behind the film had +come over from Los Angeles to Oppdal for the occation. They were really funny +people with lot's of stories from the shooting of the film and other hilarious +anecdotes. The Q&A after the film had to be broken off because thay had so many +stories to tell. We all went to _Spisbar_, a nearby pub for beers and to let +the films of the day sink in. Most of us went to bed when the bar closed... + +## Day 3 - Saturday + +Saturday starts early! First with a Horror breakfast, where author _Jørgen +Brekke_ reads a couple of horror short stories. + +The first is _Gulebjørn_ (Yellowteddy,) one of his own stories. Since we hade +some time left, he also read _The Oval Portrait_ by Edgar Allan Poe. Both +stories are very enjoyable, but he clearly had not practiced reading the second +story, so that felt a bit stuttering. His own story worked much better. Still a +great start. + +First film on my schedule for saturday was _[Ouija - The origin of evil]_, one +of the more commercial films on the fetival. + +But first the short film _[Closet Space]_ by David F Sandberg. I've been +following this promising director and the shorts he's made with his wife since +I first came accross the original short _[Lights Out]_. I haven't been able to +catch his full length version of Lights Out yet, but his shorts are allways +refreshing and innovative. If you don't know his films, do check out his +channel on [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/ponysmasher) or +[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/ponysmasher). + +{{ vimeo(id="156095543") }} + +As for _Ouija_, I found it to be really good. It builds up nicely and is +extremely well made. Also the young actress playing the gifted child does a +very good job! All in all a very enjoyable movie. + + +{% figure(img="the-similars-poster.jpg") %} +_The Similars_ poster. +{% end %} + +Next up was the mexican production _[The Similars]_ (Los Parecidos). It was +very different than what I expected from the liner notes. A highly original +film, and with a story that manages to surprise at many levels. I liked it a +lot, while it could proabably have worked just as well with a shorter running +time. + +The Norwegian short _Hunden_ (The Dog) was screened just before _The Similars_. +A quietly told drama from the norwegian countryside. Very well executed, the +minimal dialogue accentuates the quietness of the countryside. While the +twist at the end is not really that surprising it comes with a great punchline. +Definitely worth watching! + + +Another mexican film, _[The Untamed]_ (La Región Salvaje) was again quite an +original one. Alejandra is left alone to care for her child after her husband +is taken to prison. By means of a female patient of her brother who is a nurse, +she is introduced to a mysterious creature in a cabin which gives intense +sexual pleasure. + +It works well on some levels, but not quite as well on others. It feels a bit +long. It's not really much of a horror film, but neither does it work as a +science fiction. Still the parts that work is well worth it, and the story is +interresting and fairly original. + +As with last years outdoor screening of _Villmark II_, Ramaskrik had organised +a special screening this year too. This time it was the train/werewolf flick +_[Howl]_ that was screened in an old train car at the Oppdal train station. + +While the film was far from the highlight of the festival, and a train car +really does not lend itself that well to watching movies, the overal experience +was great! It was a fun thing to do, and the setting did help the film in my +opinion. + +As for the film itself? It falls for the classic mistakes of revealing the +monster too soon, too often, and too much. Outside of the action it really +didn't have much of a story to tell, and the characters seemed too +stereotypical to be interesting. + +{% figure(img="night-of-the-living-deb-poster.jpg") %} +_Night of the Living Deb_ poster. +{% end %} + +Back at Oppdal Kulturhus I go for _[Night of the Living Deb]_, with the +somewhat similarly named _[Dawn of the Deaf]_ as the pre-film short. As the +organisers explained, they were placed together for their tounge-in-cheek +names, not their content. The short was light on the horror elements, but had +an interesting twist that leads well into it at the end. + +_Night of the Living Deb_ was rollercoster of a zombie-romance-apocalypse. +Somewhat in the style of _[Shaun of the Dead]_, but with a woman as the leading +role and a romantic backstory to drive the film. In other words, quite +different. This was a refreshing and at times hilarious mix that makes this +film really stand out among the rest. Highly recommended! + +After a short break with an aborted quiz (due to the quiz being longer than the +break!) I was ready for the last film of the day: _[Scare Campaign]_. + +A TV crew needs to spice up their horror reality concept to stand a chance at +attracting viewers against the competition from underground internet snuff +crews. This is a film that could go both ways, but it twists around a few times +in interesting ways. I enjoyed it a lot, and recommend that you check it out! + +{{ vimeo(id="138946032") }} + +Before _Scare Campaign_ though, we were presented the short film _Invaders_. A +couple of guys argues about what masks to wear for a home invasion. They've +picked out a nice house where a family is gathered for their thanksgiving +dinner. Thing's don't go as planned... + +## Day 4 - Sunday + +All good things must come to an end, and so also this edition of Ramaskrik! Up +way too early again judging by the beer-bill from yesterday. But hey, the +breakfast at the hotel is really good so off we go! + +{% figure(img="windmill-massacre-poster.jpg") %} +Poster for _The Windmill Massacre_. +{% end %} + +I got to see two films before heading back to the train station for the ride +home. The first one, _[The Windmill Massacre]_ was a very enjoyable piece from +the land of windmills – the Netherlands. I think I enjoyed this for two +reasons, it really captures the Dutch friendly pragmatism in a good way, _and_ +it had a good story. + +We meet a number of random people that happen to meet on a guided tour to view +some of the old Dutch windmills. The tour bus breaks down at some desolate +place, and as things unfold it may seem that the collection of people weren't +as random as we first thought. + +I really liked the way the story unfolds in this film. Also the director, Nick +Jongerius was present and talked about the film and answered questions after +the screening. + +I was unsure if I was going to be able to finish the next film before having to +run off to catch the train home. Luckily other people are better at calculating +in their head than I am, so we went for it and finished the festival with +_[Don't Breathe]_. + +Again a fairly commercial film which has been hyped quite a bit in advance. I +liked it though! It's intense and well played. It doesn't really hold any +surprises, but is an enjoyable film nonetheless. Sometimes the simple recipe is +all that is needed. + +{{ vimeo(id="193729267") }} + +Before _Don't Breathe_ we got the short film _The Procedure_. This short film +really defies any attempt to describe it. Just watch it! It's a must see, and +it can not be unseen! + + +## Winding down... + +A really great festival has come to an end. Again I've enjoyed every moment. A +lot of films were seen, quite a few beers were drunk and people were met, talks +were had and opinions were shared. All in all a great time! + +The organizers did an amazing job, both with the selection of films and +organizing the event itself. At least from a visitors perspective everything +was super smooth from start to finish. The hotel had again done an amazing job +decorating and preparing for the event, and as far as I could see it was only +smiles and happy faces the entire weekend. + +16 feature films and 9 shorts was what I managed to see this time around. As +allways there was too many films that I did not get to see due to timing or +clashes with other films, but that's only to be expected with a program as +tight and as well put together as it was on this festival. + +See you in October! + +{% figure(img="hotelldekor1.jpg") %} +By tradition the hotel has decorated the main floor where guests for the +festival is staying. +{% end %} + +{% figure(img="hotelldekor2.jpg") %} +...and the elevator, for sports sake. +{% end %} + +{% figure(img="beer.jpg") %} +A well deserved beer between the screenings. +{% end %} + +{% figure(img="kulturhuset.jpg") %} +The venue +{% end %} + +[Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival]: https://ramaskrik.no/ +[Oppdal]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppdal +[Midtnorsk Fortellerforum]: http://fortellerforum.no/ +[The Windmill Massacre]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2923088/ + +[Train to Busan]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5700672 +[The Autopsy of Jane Doe]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3289956/ +[Troll Hunter]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/ + +[31]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3835080/ +[Red Christmas]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5120400/ +[Night of the Slasher]: https://vimeo.com/127454533 +[Seoul Station]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3845670/ +[The Absence of Eddy Table]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aJGfTL2a5Y + +[Francesca]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4958596/ +[Tunnelen]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4583446/ +[The Rezort]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3923662/ +[Pet]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1183374 +[Death Metal]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5640904/ + +[The Greasy Strangler]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4381236/ +[Ouija - The origin of evil]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4361050/ +[Closet Space]: https://vimeo.com/156095543 +[Lights Out]: https://vimeo.com/82920243 + +[The Similars]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3949658/ +[The Untamed]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5265960/ +[Howl]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2393827/ +[Night of the Living Deb]: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nightofthelivingdeb/179690844 +[Dawn of the Deaf]: http://www.dawnofthedeafmovie.com/ +[Shaun of the Dead]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365748/ + +[Scare Campaign]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4467626/ +[The Windmill Massacre]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2923088 +[Don't Breathe]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4160708/ + diff --git a/content/film/2017-08-19-ramaskrik-2016/index.md b/content/film/2017-08-19-ramaskrik-2016/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 8240ba0..0000000 --- a/content/film/2017-08-19-ramaskrik-2016/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,415 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Ramaskrik 2016" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["film", "horror", "Ramaskrik", "festival"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="howl_front.jpg") %} -One of the attractions this year was the screening of Howl from an old train car at Oppdal station. -{% end %} - -This report from the [Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival] of 2016 has taken way too -long to finish. My apologies for that. We're now only a about a month and a -half away from the next Ramaskrik, which I'm very much forwards to it! Anyways -here is my report from four days dedicated in full to horror films, beers and -socializing with other horror fans. - - - -One of the great things about this festival is it's location. A very small town -in the middle of Norway. (Yes, that sounds like "in the middle of nowhere" for -a reason.) [Oppdal] is a picturesque small town surrounded by mountains. A -popular skiing resort in winter time, and great for mountain trips in the -summer and fall. - -Due to its small size the festival gets very social. Audience, producers, -directors, actors and the organisers of the festival mingle freely. Pretty much -everyone stays at the same hotel. The venue doesn't have any VIP area, and the -evening usually ends up at one of the local bars – either at the hotel or -somewhere else. - -We (the audience) appreciate this, but it seems like the professionals present -do so too. We're all horror film enthusiasts in the end, and the atmosphere is -informal and very inclusive. - -Right! Enough chit'chat, on to the report! - -## Day 1 - Thursday - -{% figure(img="midtnorsk-fortellerforum-underholder.jpg") %} -Midtnorsk fortellerforum is making the train trip scarier. -{% end %} - -For me the trip kicks off with the Horror train from Oslo to Oppdal. This year -I volunteered to be the host of the trip from Oslo, so I don't feel I can -comment too much on how that experience was. Most of the other travelers were -familiar faces from last years trip with a few new ones added. - -Also this year -we had people from [Midtnorsk Fortellerforum] (a storytelling society) come on -board and tell some macabre stories for us during the trip. This was a great -addition! We also had the horror quiz where the winners could gain glory, -fortune and prizes when we arrived at the hotel. - -...which we did just in time to check in before going to see the opening film – -_[Train to Busan]_. An action packet and tight zombie film where most of the action is -on a train. After all, what could be more appropriate after a five hour train -trip from Oslo? A great start of an excellent festival! The director, Sang-ho -Yeon was not able to be at the screening himself, but had sent a video message -that introduced the film. - -Next up was _[The Autopsy of Jane Doe]_ introduced by the director _André -Øvredal_. Øvredal is best known for his previous film _[Troll Hunter]_, and -said he wanted to make something completely different this time around. And he -definitely did. - -_The Autopsy of Jane Doe_ is tight, dark and claustrophobic. Extremely well -made, and plays very successfully on suspense and the primal fears of darkness -and dead bodies. I found that the story worked really well, and the atmosphere -gradually evolves from the mundane everyday attitude of morticians towards pure -dread. A film highly recommended! - -{% figure(img="janedoe-poster.jpg") %} -_The Autopsy of Jane Doe_ poster. -{% end %} - -Due to the travel time from Oslo, two films was all I managed this first day. -However, a really strong start on the festival, and I think everyone is smiling -as we head back to the hotel bar for some beers. André Øvredal hangs around for -the evening, even though he has to get up early to get to the next festival (in -Stockholm) already the next day. - -## Day 2 - Friday - -First film for me on friday was _[31]_ by Rob Zombie. I'd read mixed reviews of -this film in advance, but wanted to give it a shot. We meet a crew of traveling -con artists that get caught up in a game of "31" where they play pawns for the -rich to place their bets on. The game is played by letting them loose in a -closed off industial labyrinth with hired killers trying to kill them off in -more or less imaginative ways. - -This is an orgy of violence for the sake of violence itself. Still I think it -works. It's well executed, the setting is interesting, and both the hunters and -the prey are interesting characters. Perhaps not a favourite from the festival, -but absolutely worth watching if you're not turned off by this kind of -violence. - -Before the next film _[Red Christmas]_, we got to see the short film _[Night of -the Slasher]_. - -{{ vimeo(id="127454533") }} - -_Red christmas_, an australian slasher mixing the festive themes of christmas -with the ethical and political dilemmas around abortion, downs syndrome, human -selection etc. Quite a few people didn't like this one, but I found it -entertaining. The ethical aspects were present but not dominating, still they -added a small touch of uniqueness to what would otherwise be just another -slasher film. And legendary Deb Wallace does a good figure as the mother with a -dark past. - -_[Seoul Station]_ was next on my agenda. But first we got the norwegian short -film _[The Absence of Eddy Table]_, a really absurd computer animated story -about a guy with a backpack that gets lost in a jungle of strange berries, huge -women and snail like creatures that will transform you to a monster by growing -a huge mouth in your neck. Voice talent provided by Mike Patton amongst others, -this was very enjoyable and a surreal ride! - -_Seoul Station_ is an animated prequel to _Train to Busan_. Made by the same -director – Sang-ho Yeon. It's much slower than Train To Busan, and the fact -that it's animated rather than a real film distracts me a bit. It's also a tad -longwinded. Not a bad movie, but not really needed as a companion to Train to -Busan either. - - - -{% figure(img="francesca-poster.jpg") %} -_Francesca_ poster. -{% end %} - -Fourth feature of the day was the Italian Giallo homage _[Francesca]_. This was -also a film that divided the audience a bit. I loved it, but others found it -too much a pastiche of it's genre. - -The atmosphere is set right away, by a catchy prog-rock soundtrack, over -saturated colours and even the proper typefaces from the 70's in the title -sequence. The plot is admittedly thin, and you have to enjoy the aestethics of -the film and the genre for this to be worthwhile. On one level it felt more -like a long music video than a feature film. - -_Francesca_ was preceeded by the short film _[Tunnelen]_ (The Tunnel) again by -André Øvredal (who also had _The Autopsy of Jane Doe_ on the festival.) - -This is dystopian futurism, and we follow a family on their way home from a day -by the sea. On their way back into the city they have to pass though a tunnel, -and while everybody assures eachother there's no danger in passing the tunnel -we sense that they're just not showing their fear. Based on a short story by -Alice Glaser, this is again masterfully executed by Øvredal and not the least -by the actors. Very nice! - - -After this I team up with a couple of friends for a food break. Even though -that means missing _[The Rezort]_ which I had planned to see in this spot. Head -and stomach found it wiser to eat though, so off we went for a bloody beef! - -... - -Back at the venue I went for _[Pet]_. But first the hilarious short film -_[Death Metal]_ from Chris McInroy. A metal head with less than average guitar -skills is given a new guitar by his dad. The new guitar has some secrets -though, and some rules that need to be followed. Needless to say they're not, -and things take off differently than our guitar hero expects. Very funny and -lots and lots of blood! - -_Pet_ was a film I liked very much. It starts off as more of a quirky romance -than a horror film, but it takes a different turn after about 20 minutes or so. -Then it takes different and unexpected turns several more times. - -This was a film that managed to surprise me in a good way. The actors do a -great job, and the story is twisted but somewhat realistic. This is not a film -that aims to be scary, but it does tell an interesting story that's way darker -than what I first thought. Very much recommended! - - -{% figure(img="greasy-poster.jpg") %} -_The Greasy Strangler_ poster. -{% end %} - -Last film for the day, and the one that it seems the entire day has built up -to, is _[The Greasy Strangler]_! - -Jim Hosking's debut feature film is sleasy, greasy, and a hell of a lot of fun! -Don't expect a deep story, or for that matter a conventional film in any way. -This is as if someone put all the sleaziest parts of John Waters films, the -acting talent of a low budget Troma film, mixed them all with bucketloads of -grease and added disco! If that sounds great, this is your film! Don't say I -didn't warn you! - -Three people from _Spectrevision_, the production company behind the film had -come over from Los Angeles to Oppdal for the occation. They were really funny -people with lot's of stories from the shooting of the film and other hilarious -anecdotes. The Q&A after the film had to be broken off because thay had so many -stories to tell. We all went to _Spisbar_, a nearby pub for beers and to let -the films of the day sink in. Most of us went to bed when the bar closed... - -## Day 3 - Saturday - -Saturday starts early! First with a Horror breakfast, where author _Jørgen -Brekke_ reads a couple of horror short stories. - -The first is _Gulebjørn_ (Yellowteddy,) one of his own stories. Since we hade -some time left, he also read _The Oval Portrait_ by Edgar Allan Poe. Both -stories are very enjoyable, but he clearly had not practiced reading the second -story, so that felt a bit stuttering. His own story worked much better. Still a -great start. - -First film on my schedule for saturday was _[Ouija - The origin of evil]_, one -of the more commercial films on the fetival. - -But first the short film _[Closet Space]_ by David F Sandberg. I've been -following this promising director and the shorts he's made with his wife since -I first came accross the original short _[Lights Out]_. I haven't been able to -catch his full length version of Lights Out yet, but his shorts are allways -refreshing and innovative. If you don't know his films, do check out his -channel on [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/ponysmasher) or -[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/ponysmasher). - -{{ vimeo(id="156095543") }} - -As for _Ouija_, I found it to be really good. It builds up nicely and is -extremely well made. Also the young actress playing the gifted child does a -very good job! All in all a very enjoyable movie. - - -{% figure(img="the-similars-poster.jpg") %} -_The Similars_ poster. -{% end %} - -Next up was the mexican production _[The Similars]_ (Los Parecidos). It was -very different than what I expected from the liner notes. A highly original -film, and with a story that manages to surprise at many levels. I liked it a -lot, while it could proabably have worked just as well with a shorter running -time. - -The Norwegian short _Hunden_ (The Dog) was screened just before _The Similars_. -A quietly told drama from the norwegian countryside. Very well executed, the -minimal dialogue accentuates the quietness of the countryside. While the -twist at the end is not really that surprising it comes with a great punchline. -Definitely worth watching! - - -Another mexican film, _[The Untamed]_ (La Región Salvaje) was again quite an -original one. Alejandra is left alone to care for her child after her husband -is taken to prison. By means of a female patient of her brother who is a nurse, -she is introduced to a mysterious creature in a cabin which gives intense -sexual pleasure. - -It works well on some levels, but not quite as well on others. It feels a bit -long. It's not really much of a horror film, but neither does it work as a -science fiction. Still the parts that work is well worth it, and the story is -interresting and fairly original. - -As with last years outdoor screening of _Villmark II_, Ramaskrik had organised -a special screening this year too. This time it was the train/werewolf flick -_[Howl]_ that was screened in an old train car at the Oppdal train station. - -While the film was far from the highlight of the festival, and a train car -really does not lend itself that well to watching movies, the overal experience -was great! It was a fun thing to do, and the setting did help the film in my -opinion. - -As for the film itself? It falls for the classic mistakes of revealing the -monster too soon, too often, and too much. Outside of the action it really -didn't have much of a story to tell, and the characters seemed too -stereotypical to be interesting. - -{% figure(img="night-of-the-living-deb-poster.jpg") %} -_Night of the Living Deb_ poster. -{% end %} - -Back at Oppdal Kulturhus I go for _[Night of the Living Deb]_, with the -somewhat similarly named _[Dawn of the Deaf]_ as the pre-film short. As the -organisers explained, they were placed together for their tounge-in-cheek -names, not their content. The short was light on the horror elements, but had -an interesting twist that leads well into it at the end. - -_Night of the Living Deb_ was rollercoster of a zombie-romance-apocalypse. -Somewhat in the style of _[Shaun of the Dead]_, but with a woman as the leading -role and a romantic backstory to drive the film. In other words, quite -different. This was a refreshing and at times hilarious mix that makes this -film really stand out among the rest. Highly recommended! - -After a short break with an aborted quiz (due to the quiz being longer than the -break!) I was ready for the last film of the day: _[Scare Campaign]_. - -A TV crew needs to spice up their horror reality concept to stand a chance at -attracting viewers against the competition from underground internet snuff -crews. This is a film that could go both ways, but it twists around a few times -in interesting ways. I enjoyed it a lot, and recommend that you check it out! - -{{ vimeo(id="138946032") }} - -Before _Scare Campaign_ though, we were presented the short film _Invaders_. A -couple of guys argues about what masks to wear for a home invasion. They've -picked out a nice house where a family is gathered for their thanksgiving -dinner. Thing's don't go as planned... - -## Day 4 - Sunday - -All good things must come to an end, and so also this edition of Ramaskrik! Up -way too early again judging by the beer-bill from yesterday. But hey, the -breakfast at the hotel is really good so off we go! - -{% figure(img="windmill-massacre-poster.jpg") %} -Poster for _The Windmill Massacre_. -{% end %} - -I got to see two films before heading back to the train station for the ride -home. The first one, _[The Windmill Massacre]_ was a very enjoyable piece from -the land of windmills – the Netherlands. I think I enjoyed this for two -reasons, it really captures the Dutch friendly pragmatism in a good way, _and_ -it had a good story. - -We meet a number of random people that happen to meet on a guided tour to view -some of the old Dutch windmills. The tour bus breaks down at some desolate -place, and as things unfold it may seem that the collection of people weren't -as random as we first thought. - -I really liked the way the story unfolds in this film. Also the director, Nick -Jongerius was present and talked about the film and answered questions after -the screening. - -I was unsure if I was going to be able to finish the next film before having to -run off to catch the train home. Luckily other people are better at calculating -in their head than I am, so we went for it and finished the festival with -_[Don't Breathe]_. - -Again a fairly commercial film which has been hyped quite a bit in advance. I -liked it though! It's intense and well played. It doesn't really hold any -surprises, but is an enjoyable film nonetheless. Sometimes the simple recipe is -all that is needed. - -{{ vimeo(id="193729267") }} - -Before _Don't Breathe_ we got the short film _The Procedure_. This short film -really defies any attempt to describe it. Just watch it! It's a must see, and -it can not be unseen! - - -## Winding down... - -A really great festival has come to an end. Again I've enjoyed every moment. A -lot of films were seen, quite a few beers were drunk and people were met, talks -were had and opinions were shared. All in all a great time! - -The organizers did an amazing job, both with the selection of films and -organizing the event itself. At least from a visitors perspective everything -was super smooth from start to finish. The hotel had again done an amazing job -decorating and preparing for the event, and as far as I could see it was only -smiles and happy faces the entire weekend. - -16 feature films and 9 shorts was what I managed to see this time around. As -allways there was too many films that I did not get to see due to timing or -clashes with other films, but that's only to be expected with a program as -tight and as well put together as it was on this festival. - -See you in October! - -{% figure(img="hotelldekor1.jpg") %} -By tradition the hotel has decorated the main floor where guests for the -festival is staying. -{% end %} - -{% figure(img="hotelldekor2.jpg") %} -...and the elevator, for sports sake. -{% end %} - -{% figure(img="beer.jpg") %} -A well deserved beer between the screenings. -{% end %} - -{% figure(img="kulturhuset.jpg") %} -The venue -{% end %} - -[Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival]: https://ramaskrik.no/ -[Oppdal]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppdal -[Midtnorsk Fortellerforum]: http://fortellerforum.no/ -[The Windmill Massacre]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2923088/ - -[Train to Busan]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5700672 -[The Autopsy of Jane Doe]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3289956/ -[Troll Hunter]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/ - -[31]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3835080/ -[Red Christmas]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5120400/ -[Night of the Slasher]: https://vimeo.com/127454533 -[Seoul Station]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3845670/ -[The Absence of Eddy Table]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aJGfTL2a5Y - -[Francesca]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4958596/ -[Tunnelen]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4583446/ -[The Rezort]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3923662/ -[Pet]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1183374 -[Death Metal]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5640904/ - -[The Greasy Strangler]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4381236/ -[Ouija - The origin of evil]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4361050/ -[Closet Space]: https://vimeo.com/156095543 -[Lights Out]: https://vimeo.com/82920243 - -[The Similars]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3949658/ -[The Untamed]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5265960/ -[Howl]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2393827/ -[Night of the Living Deb]: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nightofthelivingdeb/179690844 -[Dawn of the Deaf]: http://www.dawnofthedeafmovie.com/ -[Shaun of the Dead]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365748/ - -[Scare Campaign]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4467626/ -[The Windmill Massacre]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2923088 -[Don't Breathe]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4160708/ - diff --git a/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.en.md b/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f48b2f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,335 @@ ++++ +title = "Ramaskrik 2017 " +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["Ramaskrik", "film", "horror", "festival"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="ramaintro.jpg") %} +Ramaskrik +{% end %} + +Another year, another [Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival]! As always it has been a memorable weekend +filled with lots of horror movies, old and new friends, beers and generally a +great time. + + + +I think the general quality of the films was even better this year compared to +previous years. Something I think can be attributed to the growing reputation +of this small festival in the mountain town of Oppdal, Norway. + +Another observation was that this year more of the films were based on rather +light or humourous premises. There were some great examples of the opposite, +darker themed films of course, but the general tendency seemed to be films +themed around good old fun and violence. I don't mind either, but the real +thrill for me is the films that are able to drag me deep into the darker parts +of the human psyche. + +## Thursday + +As with previous years, this trip starts on the [Horror train] from Oslo to Oppdal +where the festival is held. This time the organizers had booked the early train +from Oslo, which did seem excruciatingly early at that time in the morning. On +the other hand, we were able to catch more films as we arrived earlier, though, +so I think I favour the change. + +Most of the passengers in our section of the train was familiar faces from +previous years, but quite a few new faces had made it out of bed too! Pretty +soon everyone was quizzing and socializing. Great mood, and pretty soon the +trip was over, and it was time to check in at the hotel. + +{% figure(img="el-ataud-de-cristal.jpg") %} +Poster for El Ataúd de Cristal, 2016, Spain +{% end %} + +One of the films I had looked forward to this year was _[Bajo la Rosa]_ (Under the +Rose, 2017, Spain) but checking in to the hotel took longer than the time from +the train arrived until the film started. I wasn't too worried about this, as I +had another opportunity later in the festival to see it, so I went to fetch +some food before the next film instead. Major mistake, more about that later. + +The first film I was able to see was another spanish film, _[El ataúd de +cristal]_ (The Glass Coffin, 2016, Spain.) A great take on the claustrophobic, +enclosed in a small space horror story. An original story, great performance +from the actor, stunning visuals and a strong soundtrack lifts this way above +what I expected from the description. Highly recommended! + +Next up was _[Vampyrvidar]_ (Vidar the Vampire, 2017, Norway) a completely +different kind of film. This is a comedy, but with some serious themes hidden +in the wrapping. + +We meet Vidar, a sexually frustrated sheep farmer from the south-western part +of Norway. What we call the "bible belt" in these parts. Praying for better +luck with the girls, preferably the young ones ("20 plus") his wishes are +granted by a vampire Jesus. Things don't go quite as Vidar had hoped... + +Great fun, and tacfully blasphemous (to borrow a term from one of the other in +the festival audience.) Not sure how well it will work outside of Norway, but +if you like quaint comedy with vampires, blood and small town religious lunacy, +give it a spin! + +The official opening film of the festival this year was another Norwegian film, +_[Hjemsøkt]_ (Haunted, 2017, Norway.) While at heart it is a classic haunted +house movie, I think it scores some extra points due to an interesting +backstory and the main actor's (Synnøve Macody Lund) performance. Set in the +cold winter landscape of Norway, the visuals gives the film a distinct and +chilling feel to it. I really liked this film. Recommended. + +{% figure(img="hjemsokt-intervju.jpg") %} +Director Carl Christian Raabe and actor Synnøve Macody Lund of _Hjemsøkt_ is +beeing interviewed after the screening by Bente Maalen +{% end %} + +Last film for me this thursday was _[Revenge]_ (France, 2017) an intense +rape/revenge film with the main focus on the revenge part! This was an action +packed end of the first day, and a great film to follow with a few beers back +at the hotel. Recommended! + +## Friday + +{% figure(img="panorama-oppdal.jpg") %} +Panorama of Oppdal, taken from the window of my hotel room +{% end %} + +Friday started off quite relaxed. Waking up to the view above out the hotel +room window was not such a bad start. The first film of the day didn't +start until 11:30, so plenty of time to enjoy the hotel breakfast before +getting seated. + +I heard mixed reviews of _[Happy Hunting]_ (2017, USA) in advance, but I have +to say I liked it. The premise is not very original, but the characters, +atmosphere and story unfolds in an entertaining mix of small-town madness, +desert landscapes and alcohol/drug addiction. + +{% figure(img="tonight-she-comes.jpg") %} +Poster for _Tonight She Comes_, 2016, USA +{% end %} + +Next up for me was _[Tonight She Comes]_ (2016, USA), which can best be +described as a high school sexual comedy mixed with Evil Dead, and with the +blood of Braindead. Lot's of body fluids and quite funny, but gets a bit +predictable. Still entertaining enough. I especially liked the puritan satanic +family at the end. + +For the third slot I was unsure wether to go for _[Tragedy Girls]_ (2017, USA) +or _[Leatherface]_ (2017, USA). I ended up going for the first. + +I found Tragedy Girls to be quite entertaining. On one level it works as a +commentary on the shallowness of social media and it's selfmade celebrities, as +well as being a decent splatter and a high school drama at the same time. At +times it becomes too much high school drama, which in my view drags it a bit +down. Still an entertaining and fun film with a few nice splats along the way. + +This was about the time I decided to skip dinner to be able to watch more +films. Popcorn and Svele helps to keep starvation at bay, and I was ready for +the next film! + +{% figure(img="nails.jpg") %} +Poster for _Nails_, 2017, Ireland +{% end %} + +_[Nails]_ (2017, Ireland) is at the first glance a fairly traditional ghost +story. Set in an old hospital complete with long dark corridors, flickering +lights and strange sounds in the night this could have been just another +collection of jump scares. + +I think it goes well beyond that, though. The main character is paralyzed after +an accident, and unable to move. She can only observe what happens around her at +night. The story is decent, but the performance and how the story unfolds works +to its advantage. Also after all the more fun-based films so far, a darker +piece was very welcome. I recommend you check it out! + +Next to last film on friday was _[Happy Death Day]_ (2017, USA). We're back to +a lighter and more entertaining film again, but one that works surprisingly +well. This is a scary murder mystery. The films main character is being +murdered on her birthday, only to have to relive the same day again and again, +until she can find out who kills her. A somewhat refreshing take on much of the +same premise as behind Groundhog Day. + +I decide to end the day with _[Kodoku Meatball Machine]_ (2017, Japan). Which +did not work at all for me. + +The film tries to replicate the style of fighting anime cartoons, but with real +film and actors. The monsters look like something taken out of the Warhammer +40k role playing game, with about as interesting dialog as you can expect from +that. + +If this sounds like your thing you may want to check it out, but my +recommendation is to go watch something else instead. It's a bit of a shame, +because the beginning of the film builds up to something that could have been +interesting, and the actual premise of the story could have been made into an +interesting (short) film. In this case that did not happen, though. + +Well six films in one day is quite enough anyways, so off we go for some beers +and discussions of the films we have seen this day. + +## Saturday + +Halfway into the festival it begins to dawn that it will not last forever. The +screenings start a bit earlier today, but after a hearty breakfast I'm ready +for _[Mayhem]_ (2017, USA). Quite a rollercoster of a zombie-horror set in an +office building. + +For those of us having worked in large office complexes, this film had almost a +therapeutic effect! An original take on the genre, well executed and great +start of the day! Highly recommended! + +{% figure(img="wettlaufers-enke.jpg") %} +Image from _Wettlaufers Enke_, 2017, Norway +{% end %} + +Next up was a _[Wettlaufers Enke]_ (Wettlaufers Widow, 2001/2017, Norway). A 30 +minute amateur film that has waited 16 years before being screened. + +Originally filmed in 2001, the director was too self-conscious to release it. +So it was shelved until he finally got enough courage to release it after 16 +years. I'm really happy he did, because the film is well made, has great +atmosphere and an original story. Shot in a murky black and white really +enhances the feeling of unease. Recommended! + +Then I did a major mistake again. I went to see _[Kurt Josef Wagle og +mordmysteriet på Hurtigruta]_ (Kurt Josef Wagle and the Coastal Express Murder +Mystery, 2017, Norway.) Unless you happen to like movies that work on the +premise that "this is funny because I talk with a funny voice," you don't need +to waste your time on this drivel. + +After such a let down, there was only one thing to do: Go get some food and a +beer to get back into the mood. That meant I missed _[Killing Ground]_ (2016, +Australia) which I had planned to see. Oh well... + +{% figure(img="juleblod-poster.jpg") %} +Poster for _Juleblod_, 2017, Norway +{% end %} + +Back at the Hotel to drop off some more movies I bought at the stand of +_Another World Entertainment_ at the festival, I stumble upon a chance to see +the new Reinert Kiil movie, _[Juleblod]_ (2017, Norway). + +Again Ramaskrik is hosting a special screening for one of it's films. Last year +they showed _Howl_ in a train car, and the year before that again, _Villmark +II_ in an outdoor cinema in the forest. This year we went to an old barn at the +_Oppdal Museum_ where we were fed porrige before the film was screened. The +director and main actors were present, and answered questions after the +screening. A very enjoyable experience! + +The film is dark, and has a good story. Still there are some parts that are +dragged on for too long, and I think the police detectives are way too +caricatural. Still, Santa is doing a nice job of eradicating the naughty boys +and girls, and there are some splendid splats in this movie. Recommended! + +But this was the slot where I had originally planned to see [Bajo la Rosa], +so sadly I missed it. Looks like an interesting film, though, so hoping I'll +be able to catch it somewhere later. + +Back at _Oppdal Kulturhus_ where the rest of the screenings are held, we arrive +just in time for Guillermo del Toro's _[The Shape of Water]_ (2017, USA.) + +This is absolutely not a horror film, but still a film that is dark enough that +many in the audience wanted to see it anyways. Also it's not very common to be +able to watch films this far in advance of general availablility (more than one +month before US release, and about four months before Norwegian release.) +Another great experience at Ramaskrik, and we even got a limited poster to +prove it! + +As for the film, this is a beautifully filmed beauty and the beast-like story. +Guillermo del Toro is a master of making visually stunning films, and this is +no exception. The story is good enough, and the performances are as you would +expect them. I enjoyed it, and I think quite a wide audience will do too. + +Last film for me this saturday was _[Victor Crowley]_ (2017, USA,) a film that +did not really work that well I think. A jungle slasher that for the most part +plays out in the body of a crashed plane. + +This could have been an interesting setting, but it fails to build anything +worthwile. Again the characters are more charicatures than people you can +identify with, and there's really no chemistry neither between the actors, nor +the location. A film that can be safely skipped. + +## Sunday + +{% figure(img="hounds-of-love-poster.jpg") %} +Poster for _Hounds of Love_, 2016, Australia +{% end %} + +Last day of the festival already? Oh well, off we go and start with _[Hounds of +Love]_ (2016, Australia). Beautifully shot, great soundtrack and a captivating +story. + +One of the best, but also by far the most difficult film to watch at this +festival. A gritty and realistic film about a young girl abducted by a couple +for sex and then disposal. Highly recommended, but perhaps not as the first +film after you wake up! + +Next up was _[Freehold]_ (2017, UK). Introduced as probably the most disturbing +film of the festival, which it well might have been. A lot of fun though. Not +so much horror, as a creepy black comedy, but it works really well. Very +different from most other stuff I've seen. Highly recommended! + +Last film of the festival for me this time was _[Still/Born]_ (2017, Canada). A +horror with supernatural elements centered around a couple that get twins where +one of them is stillborn. At times somewhat similar to [Babycall], but darker +and better produced. Another great film! Recommended! + +## Shorts + +Throughout the festival several short films are screened before the main +features. Here's the shorts I came across this year: + +* _[Buzzcut]_ (8 min, 2016, USA) Getting a haircut proves to be more difficult + than anticipated, due to the impending doomsday. Fun little number, with + great effects! + +* _[Storage]_ (6 min, 2017, USA?) Something's lurking in the cellar of an + appartment complex. Well made, creepy and good story. + +* _[Great Choice]_ (7 min, 2017, USA) A surreal ride that's best to see without + any advance knowledge. Well worth watching, though! + +* _[Fucking Bunnies]_ (Saatanan Kanit, 17 min, 2017, Finland). A satanic sex + cult moves in next door. Complications arise. Great fun! + +## Winding down + +Again, a great festival is over, time to say goodbye to old and new friends, +thanks to the organizers and the always friendly staff at Skifer Hotel and head +for other adventures. Next Ramaskrik will held at 18. - 21. of october 2018. +I'll definitely be there again if at all possible! + +If you liked this report, you can check out my other reports from Ramaskrik +{{ taglink(tag="Ramaskrik", name="here", lang=lang) }}. You may also like my reports +from {{ taglink(tag="Dead by Dawn", lang=lang) }}. + +[Babycall]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1595833 +[Bajo la Rosa]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6130310 +[Buzzcut]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6315044 +[El ataúd de cristal]: http://elatauddecristal.com +[Freehold]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/08/26/freehold-two-pigeons-british-black-comedy-horror-film-overview-cast-plot-reviews-trailer-dvd/ +[Fucking Bunnies]: https://vimeo.com/198744796 +[Great Choice]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6952952 +[Happy Death Day]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5308322 +[Happy Hunting]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5189770 +[Hjemsøkt]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6322902 +[Horror train]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCKx6YnEOKE +[Hounds of Love]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/17/hounds-of-love-2016-australian-psychological-horror-drama-film-overview-cast-reviews-trailer/ +[Juleblod]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6228890 +[Killing Ground]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4728386 +[Kodoku Meatball Machine]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6063024 +[Kurt Josef Wagle og mordmysteriet på Hurtigruta]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7411406 +[Leatherface]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2620590 +[Mayhem]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/03/16/mayhem-2017-comedy-action-horror-movie-steven-yuen-plot-review/ +[Nails]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4695098 +[Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival]: https://ramaskrik.no +[Revenge]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6738136 +[Still/Born]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/07/stillborn-2017-canadian-horror-film-overview-cast-plot-reviews/ +[Storage]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUZdaoefuno +[The Shape of Water]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580390 +[Tonight She Comes]: https://horrorpedia.com/2016/08/17/tonight-she-comes-2016-slasher-horror-film-matt-stuertz-overview-teaser-trailer-reviews/ +[Tragedy Girls]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3859272 +[Vampyrvidar]: http://vampyrvidar.no +[Victor Crowley]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/08/23/victor-crowley-usa-2017-horror-movie-hatchet-reboot-cast-plot-overview-teaser-trailer-review/ +[Wettlaufers Enke]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5859042 diff --git a/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.md b/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 85413e6..0000000 --- a/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,334 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Ramaskrik 2017 " - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["Ramaskrik", "film", "horror", "festival"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="ramaintro.jpg") %} -Ramaskrik -{% end %} - -Another year, another [Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival]! As always it has been a memorable weekend -filled with lots of horror movies, old and new friends, beers and generally a -great time. - - - -I think the general quality of the films was even better this year compared to -previous years. Something I think can be attributed to the growing reputation -of this small festival in the mountain town of Oppdal, Norway. - -Another observation was that this year more of the films were based on rather -light or humourous premises. There were some great examples of the opposite, -darker themed films of course, but the general tendency seemed to be films -themed around good old fun and violence. I don't mind either, but the real -thrill for me is the films that are able to drag me deep into the darker parts -of the human psyche. - -## Thursday - -As with previous years, this trip starts on the [Horror train] from Oslo to Oppdal -where the festival is held. This time the organizers had booked the early train -from Oslo, which did seem excruciatingly early at that time in the morning. On -the other hand, we were able to catch more films as we arrived earlier, though, -so I think I favour the change. - -Most of the passengers in our section of the train was familiar faces from -previous years, but quite a few new faces had made it out of bed too! Pretty -soon everyone was quizzing and socializing. Great mood, and pretty soon the -trip was over, and it was time to check in at the hotel. - -{% figure(img="el-ataud-de-cristal.jpg") %} -Poster for El Ataúd de Cristal, 2016, Spain -{% end %} - -One of the films I had looked forward to this year was _[Bajo la Rosa]_ (Under the -Rose, 2017, Spain) but checking in to the hotel took longer than the time from -the train arrived until the film started. I wasn't too worried about this, as I -had another opportunity later in the festival to see it, so I went to fetch -some food before the next film instead. Major mistake, more about that later. - -The first film I was able to see was another spanish film, _[El ataúd de -cristal]_ (The Glass Coffin, 2016, Spain.) A great take on the claustrophobic, -enclosed in a small space horror story. An original story, great performance -from the actor, stunning visuals and a strong soundtrack lifts this way above -what I expected from the description. Highly recommended! - -Next up was _[Vampyrvidar]_ (Vidar the Vampire, 2017, Norway) a completely -different kind of film. This is a comedy, but with some serious themes hidden -in the wrapping. - -We meet Vidar, a sexually frustrated sheep farmer from the south-western part -of Norway. What we call the "bible belt" in these parts. Praying for better -luck with the girls, preferably the young ones ("20 plus") his wishes are -granted by a vampire Jesus. Things don't go quite as Vidar had hoped... - -Great fun, and tacfully blasphemous (to borrow a term from one of the other in -the festival audience.) Not sure how well it will work outside of Norway, but -if you like quaint comedy with vampires, blood and small town religious lunacy, -give it a spin! - -The official opening film of the festival this year was another Norwegian film, -_[Hjemsøkt]_ (Haunted, 2017, Norway.) While at heart it is a classic haunted -house movie, I think it scores some extra points due to an interesting -backstory and the main actor's (Synnøve Macody Lund) performance. Set in the -cold winter landscape of Norway, the visuals gives the film a distinct and -chilling feel to it. I really liked this film. Recommended. - -{% figure(img="hjemsokt-intervju.jpg") %} -Director Carl Christian Raabe and actor Synnøve Macody Lund of _Hjemsøkt_ is -beeing interviewed after the screening by Bente Maalen -{% end %} - -Last film for me this thursday was _[Revenge]_ (France, 2017) an intense -rape/revenge film with the main focus on the revenge part! This was an action -packed end of the first day, and a great film to follow with a few beers back -at the hotel. Recommended! - -## Friday - -{% figure(img="panorama-oppdal.jpg") %} -Panorama of Oppdal, taken from the window of my hotel room -{% end %} - -Friday started off quite relaxed. Waking up to the view above out the hotel -room window was not such a bad start. The first film of the day didn't -start until 11:30, so plenty of time to enjoy the hotel breakfast before -getting seated. - -I heard mixed reviews of _[Happy Hunting]_ (2017, USA) in advance, but I have -to say I liked it. The premise is not very original, but the characters, -atmosphere and story unfolds in an entertaining mix of small-town madness, -desert landscapes and alcohol/drug addiction. - -{% figure(img="tonight-she-comes.jpg") %} -Poster for _Tonight She Comes_, 2016, USA -{% end %} - -Next up for me was _[Tonight She Comes]_ (2016, USA), which can best be -described as a high school sexual comedy mixed with Evil Dead, and with the -blood of Braindead. Lot's of body fluids and quite funny, but gets a bit -predictable. Still entertaining enough. I especially liked the puritan satanic -family at the end. - -For the third slot I was unsure wether to go for _[Tragedy Girls]_ (2017, USA) -or _[Leatherface]_ (2017, USA). I ended up going for the first. - -I found Tragedy Girls to be quite entertaining. On one level it works as a -commentary on the shallowness of social media and it's selfmade celebrities, as -well as being a decent splatter and a high school drama at the same time. At -times it becomes too much high school drama, which in my view drags it a bit -down. Still an entertaining and fun film with a few nice splats along the way. - -This was about the time I decided to skip dinner to be able to watch more -films. Popcorn and Svele helps to keep starvation at bay, and I was ready for -the next film! - -{% figure(img="nails.jpg") %} -Poster for _Nails_, 2017, Ireland -{% end %} - -_[Nails]_ (2017, Ireland) is at the first glance a fairly traditional ghost -story. Set in an old hospital complete with long dark corridors, flickering -lights and strange sounds in the night this could have been just another -collection of jump scares. - -I think it goes well beyond that, though. The main character is paralyzed after -an accident, and unable to move. She can only observe what happens around her at -night. The story is decent, but the performance and how the story unfolds works -to its advantage. Also after all the more fun-based films so far, a darker -piece was very welcome. I recommend you check it out! - -Next to last film on friday was _[Happy Death Day]_ (2017, USA). We're back to -a lighter and more entertaining film again, but one that works surprisingly -well. This is a scary murder mystery. The films main character is being -murdered on her birthday, only to have to relive the same day again and again, -until she can find out who kills her. A somewhat refreshing take on much of the -same premise as behind Groundhog Day. - -I decide to end the day with _[Kodoku Meatball Machine]_ (2017, Japan). Which -did not work at all for me. - -The film tries to replicate the style of fighting anime cartoons, but with real -film and actors. The monsters look like something taken out of the Warhammer -40k role playing game, with about as interesting dialog as you can expect from -that. - -If this sounds like your thing you may want to check it out, but my -recommendation is to go watch something else instead. It's a bit of a shame, -because the beginning of the film builds up to something that could have been -interesting, and the actual premise of the story could have been made into an -interesting (short) film. In this case that did not happen, though. - -Well six films in one day is quite enough anyways, so off we go for some beers -and discussions of the films we have seen this day. - -## Saturday - -Halfway into the festival it begins to dawn that it will not last forever. The -screenings start a bit earlier today, but after a hearty breakfast I'm ready -for _[Mayhem]_ (2017, USA). Quite a rollercoster of a zombie-horror set in an -office building. - -For those of us having worked in large office complexes, this film had almost a -therapeutic effect! An original take on the genre, well executed and great -start of the day! Highly recommended! - -{% figure(img="wettlaufers-enke.jpg") %} -Image from _Wettlaufers Enke_, 2017, Norway -{% end %} - -Next up was a _[Wettlaufers Enke]_ (Wettlaufers Widow, 2001/2017, Norway). A 30 -minute amateur film that has waited 16 years before being screened. - -Originally filmed in 2001, the director was too self-conscious to release it. -So it was shelved until he finally got enough courage to release it after 16 -years. I'm really happy he did, because the film is well made, has great -atmosphere and an original story. Shot in a murky black and white really -enhances the feeling of unease. Recommended! - -Then I did a major mistake again. I went to see _[Kurt Josef Wagle og -mordmysteriet på Hurtigruta]_ (Kurt Josef Wagle and the Coastal Express Murder -Mystery, 2017, Norway.) Unless you happen to like movies that work on the -premise that "this is funny because I talk with a funny voice," you don't need -to waste your time on this drivel. - -After such a let down, there was only one thing to do: Go get some food and a -beer to get back into the mood. That meant I missed _[Killing Ground]_ (2016, -Australia) which I had planned to see. Oh well... - -{% figure(img="juleblod-poster.jpg") %} -Poster for _Juleblod_, 2017, Norway -{% end %} - -Back at the Hotel to drop off some more movies I bought at the stand of -_Another World Entertainment_ at the festival, I stumble upon a chance to see -the new Reinert Kiil movie, _[Juleblod]_ (2017, Norway). - -Again Ramaskrik is hosting a special screening for one of it's films. Last year -they showed _Howl_ in a train car, and the year before that again, _Villmark -II_ in an outdoor cinema in the forest. This year we went to an old barn at the -_Oppdal Museum_ where we were fed porrige before the film was screened. The -director and main actors were present, and answered questions after the -screening. A very enjoyable experience! - -The film is dark, and has a good story. Still there are some parts that are -dragged on for too long, and I think the police detectives are way too -caricatural. Still, Santa is doing a nice job of eradicating the naughty boys -and girls, and there are some splendid splats in this movie. Recommended! - -But this was the slot where I had originally planned to see [Bajo la Rosa], -so sadly I missed it. Looks like an interesting film, though, so hoping I'll -be able to catch it somewhere later. - -Back at _Oppdal Kulturhus_ where the rest of the screenings are held, we arrive -just in time for Guillermo del Toro's _[The Shape of Water]_ (2017, USA.) - -This is absolutely not a horror film, but still a film that is dark enough that -many in the audience wanted to see it anyways. Also it's not very common to be -able to watch films this far in advance of general availablility (more than one -month before US release, and about four months before Norwegian release.) -Another great experience at Ramaskrik, and we even got a limited poster to -prove it! - -As for the film, this is a beautifully filmed beauty and the beast-like story. -Guillermo del Toro is a master of making visually stunning films, and this is -no exception. The story is good enough, and the performances are as you would -expect them. I enjoyed it, and I think quite a wide audience will do too. - -Last film for me this saturday was _[Victor Crowley]_ (2017, USA,) a film that -did not really work that well I think. A jungle slasher that for the most part -plays out in the body of a crashed plane. - -This could have been an interesting setting, but it fails to build anything -worthwile. Again the characters are more charicatures than people you can -identify with, and there's really no chemistry neither between the actors, nor -the location. A film that can be safely skipped. - -## Sunday - -{% figure(img="hounds-of-love-poster.jpg") %} -Poster for _Hounds of Love_, 2016, Australia -{% end %} - -Last day of the festival already? Oh well, off we go and start with _[Hounds of -Love]_ (2016, Australia). Beautifully shot, great soundtrack and a captivating -story. - -One of the best, but also by far the most difficult film to watch at this -festival. A gritty and realistic film about a young girl abducted by a couple -for sex and then disposal. Highly recommended, but perhaps not as the first -film after you wake up! - -Next up was _[Freehold]_ (2017, UK). Introduced as probably the most disturbing -film of the festival, which it well might have been. A lot of fun though. Not -so much horror, as a creepy black comedy, but it works really well. Very -different from most other stuff I've seen. Highly recommended! - -Last film of the festival for me this time was _[Still/Born]_ (2017, Canada). A -horror with supernatural elements centered around a couple that get twins where -one of them is stillborn. At times somewhat similar to [Babycall], but darker -and better produced. Another great film! Recommended! - -## Shorts - -Throughout the festival several short films are screened before the main -features. Here's the shorts I came across this year: - -* _[Buzzcut]_ (8 min, 2016, USA) Getting a haircut proves to be more difficult - than anticipated, due to the impending doomsday. Fun little number, with - great effects! - -* _[Storage]_ (6 min, 2017, USA?) Something's lurking in the cellar of an - appartment complex. Well made, creepy and good story. - -* _[Great Choice]_ (7 min, 2017, USA) A surreal ride that's best to see without - any advance knowledge. Well worth watching, though! - -* _[Fucking Bunnies]_ (Saatanan Kanit, 17 min, 2017, Finland). A satanic sex - cult moves in next door. Complications arise. Great fun! - -## Winding down - -Again, a great festival is over, time to say goodbye to old and new friends, -thanks to the organizers and the always friendly staff at Skifer Hotel and head -for other adventures. Next Ramaskrik will held at 18. - 21. of october 2018. -I'll definitely be there again if at all possible! - -If you liked this report, you can check out my other reports from Ramaskrik -{{ taglink(tag="Ramaskrik", name="here") }}. You may also like my reports -from {{ taglink(tag="Dead by Dawn") }}. - -[Babycall]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1595833 -[Bajo la Rosa]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6130310 -[Buzzcut]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6315044 -[El ataúd de cristal]: http://elatauddecristal.com -[Freehold]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/08/26/freehold-two-pigeons-british-black-comedy-horror-film-overview-cast-plot-reviews-trailer-dvd/ -[Fucking Bunnies]: https://vimeo.com/198744796 -[Great Choice]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6952952 -[Happy Death Day]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5308322 -[Happy Hunting]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5189770 -[Hjemsøkt]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6322902 -[Horror train]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCKx6YnEOKE -[Hounds of Love]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/17/hounds-of-love-2016-australian-psychological-horror-drama-film-overview-cast-reviews-trailer/ -[Juleblod]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6228890 -[Killing Ground]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4728386 -[Kodoku Meatball Machine]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6063024 -[Kurt Josef Wagle og mordmysteriet på Hurtigruta]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7411406 -[Leatherface]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2620590 -[Mayhem]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/03/16/mayhem-2017-comedy-action-horror-movie-steven-yuen-plot-review/ -[Nails]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4695098 -[Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival]: https://ramaskrik.no -[Revenge]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6738136 -[Still/Born]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/07/stillborn-2017-canadian-horror-film-overview-cast-plot-reviews/ -[Storage]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUZdaoefuno -[The Shape of Water]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580390 -[Tonight She Comes]: https://horrorpedia.com/2016/08/17/tonight-she-comes-2016-slasher-horror-film-matt-stuertz-overview-teaser-trailer-reviews/ -[Tragedy Girls]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3859272 -[Vampyrvidar]: http://vampyrvidar.no -[Victor Crowley]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/08/23/victor-crowley-usa-2017-horror-movie-hatchet-reboot-cast-plot-overview-teaser-trailer-review/ -[Wettlaufers Enke]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5859042 diff --git a/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md b/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d9ef62 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,417 @@ ++++ +title = "Dead by Dawn 2018" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["Dead by Dawn", "film", "horror", "festival"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="dbd-logo.png") %} +Dead By Dawn logo. +{% end %} + +In April this year a group of friends organized a trip to the [Dead By Dawn] +horror film festival in Edinburg. This was a new festival to me, even though it +has been going strong for 25 whole years already! Landing in Edinburgh the day +before the festival, we got to see a bit of the city, and did the mandatory +intake of Haggis and Whisky. Nice town, and by the look of it, a perfect +location for a horror film festival. + + + +The festival is organized by Adéle Hartley, and takes place at the Edinburgh +[Filmhouse]. A great location for this type of event, not at least because of +it's excellent bar. This became the natural place to hang out, mingle and get +to know other enthusiasts between the screenings. + +The festival has a very personal and welcoming atmosphere. It's a bit like this +is Adéle sharing the films she loves with other horror and film fans. Given her +enthusiasm for the subject and the taste and connections she obviously have, +this is not a bad start. Add a great selection of films (a good mix of classics +and new productions,) interesting guests and passion for the genre. This was a +weekend that could not go wrong. + + +## Thursday, April 19 + +{% figure(img="siembamba-poster.jpg") %} +Siembamba aka The Lullaby movie poster. +{% end %} + +The festival starts off with a screening of the original _[Nosferatu]_ (1922, +Germany) with a live piano score performed beautifully by Forrester Pyke. The +version they screened was the one released by Eureka on BluRay, which is way +better and has several scenes that's not present in my old DVD version. The +live score added a unique touch to the screening—a great start. + +We go with the classics this evening, and the festival guest of honour, [John +Landis] introduces his classic _[Innocent Blood]_ (1992, USA). I had not seen +it before so it was a great opportunity to catch up. I think the film has aged +quite well. It definitely belongs among the other classics from Landis. After +the screening Landis answered questions from the audience, shared anecdotes +from the filming of Innocent Blood and some of his other films. A very +entertaining session. + +First _new_ film this evening, and the last of the day, was the South American +film _[Siembamba]_, aka _The Lullaby_ (2017, South Africa). I liked this a lot! +A supernatural/psychotic film about birth psychosis. It reminds me a bit about +_[Still/Born]_ (2017, Canada), but definitely carries it's own weight. A well +made, and at times quite creepy film. + +## Friday, April 20 + +Friday opens with _[Rabbit]_ (2017, Australia). An absolutely stunningly well +made film. This is dark and devastating. A film that is able to surprise at +many levels. In my opinion a very good film, and the highlight of the festival! +A slow burn that allows the devastation to really sink in. Go see it and enjoy! + +Back to the classics! John Landis presented a double feature of +_[Frankenstein]_ (1931, USA) and _[Bride of Frankenstein]_ (1935, USA.) I +skipped the first session, but did see the _Bride of Frankenstein_. Again the +copy they had got hold of was a really good one, which made this quite a joy to +see as well. Landis is entertaining, and has a lot of insight into the +cinematic history where these films belong. The session was worth it for that +alone. + +There's a short break before the next session so me and my travel companions +head over to the [Frankenstein Bar] for a quick beer and a bite. Nice and very +atmospheric bar, but the food was not impressive. + +### Shorts: What you make it + +Anyways, back at the Filmhouse I catch the first short-film programme at this +festival, named _"What you make it."_ The short films in this section were: + +{% figure(img="underwater-poster.jpg") %} +Underwater poster. +{% end %} + +* _[Nothing a little soap and water can't + fix](https://cargo.jenniferproctor.com/Nothing-a-Little-Soap-and-Water-Can-t-Fix)_ + (2017, USA, 10 min): A collage of bathtub scenes from various horror films + combined into a sort of story on it's own. Quite interesting. + +* _[Väg 13 (Road + 13)](http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/en/item/?type=film&itemid=85966)_ (2017, + Sweeden, 7 min): A girl is on her way to the vet with her dog, and attracts + the attention of a neighboring car. Short and absurd, the way I like it. + +* _[Underwater](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/42698/underwater)_ (2017, + France, 18 min): An investigator with some special abilities is summoned to a + surveillance operation in a criminal case. A very well told story, and + visually wonderful. I especially liked the use of effects to visualize the + parts of the story you otherwise could not see. One of the better short films + at this festival. + +* _[Two bites](https://vimeo.com/275382038)_ (2017, Australia, 14 min): A + family gathers around the deathbed of their mother, hoping to put their best + face forward to secure their heritage. Things don't go as planned. + +* _[La fille + accordeon](https://www.pifff.fr/2017/court-135-La-Fille-Accordeon-en)_ (2017, + France, 4 min): A trapped girl tries to escape from her captors. A simple + premise with a surprising execution. Different and a quite sweet film. + +* _[Das Mädchen im + Schnee](http://www.swissfilms.ch/de/film_search/filmdetails/-/id_film/2147032209)_ + (2017, Switzerland, 7 min): A foley artist adds the finishing sounds to a + scene. A fascinating process, and perhaps a surprising end. Slow and very + well made film. + +* _[Through the Haze](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6484260/)_ (2017, Australia, + 11 min): The newest kid on a construction job has to go through the rituals + to become one of the guys. A hilarious take on drunken logic and what could + possibly go wrong when combining heavy machinery with excessive drunkenness. + +--- + +After the short films we get another new film, _[Knuckleball]_ (2018, Canada) +by Canadian director _Michael Peterson_. Peterson was present and both +introduced the film and answered quastions after the screening. + +The film relies heavily on the performance by 12 year old actor _Luca Villacis_ +(who handles the job like a pro!) and _Michael Ironside_. The film definitely +has references to both classic comedies like the Home Alone films, but also +some classic horrors. It's a times quite dark, but is not quite as convincing +as it could have been. I enjoyed it for the atmosphere and the performance by +the actors, but felt it never manages to build the scare that it tries to. + +The last event of the day is the much anticipated taste-along to _[Evil Dead II]_ +(1987, USA.) I've never been a fan of the film, but this sounded like a lot of +fun, and that's just what it was! + +The event was done in cooperation with _[The Conjurers Kitchen]_, who had made, +packaged and transported a huge amount of treats and candy shaped like elements +from the film. At certain iconic scenes the film was frozen and you had to find +and eat the treat that looked like whatever was on the screen. This was great +fun, and the creativity and madness that has gone into making these treats +deserve admiration! 10/10 - would eat again! + +{% figure(img="evil-treats.jpg") %} +The treats of the Evil Dead II taste-along. Made by The Conjurers Kitchen. +{% end %} + +## Saturday, April 21 + +### Shorts: It's your funeral + +Saturday kicks off with a short film session named _"It's your funeral."_ A +great collection of short films about approaching death in more or—most +likely—less dignified ways. The films in this session was: + +{% figure(img="som-ein-reier-still.jpg") %} +Still from _You've made your bed, now lie in it_. +{% end %} + +* _[You've made your bed, now lie in + it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXHY6OcRYlE)_ (2016, Norway, 15 min): A + farmer is told by a psychic who has so far never been wrong, that he is to + die on thursday. We follow the farmer in his solemn struggle to prepare his + own funeral. A slow, atmospheric film from the slow norwegian countryside. + Excellent! Do watch it! + +* _[The Mother Situation](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5996448)_ (2016, + Australia, 8 min): Again we meet the potent mix of family, death and + inheritance. A different take this time, and a very entertaining one at that. + +* _[Cold fish](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6722198)_ (2017, New Zealand, 12 + min): An old man is about to give his life to the waves, but is disturbed by + a young and quite annoying kid. A reflective piece more than anything. Still + quite enjoyable. + +* _[Salvatore](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784418/)_ (2017, The Netherlands, + 11 min): Salvatore is in an old peoples institution, but tries to live his + life in as much beauty as he can. The only disturbance in the rather annoying + male nurse, so he decides to do something about that. I enjoyed this a lot, + and got quite fond of Salvatore and his way of life during the few minutes I + got to share with him. + +* _[RIP](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6441412)_ (2017, Spain, 16 min): What do + you do when you have invited simply _everyone_ to the funeral of your husband, + and then he wakes back up to life? A hilarious film about prestige, status + and love – in that order. Great film! + +--- + +{% figure(img="trench-11-poster.jpg") %} +_Trench 11_ poster. +{% end %} + +Next up is the WWI thriller _[Trench 11]_ (2017, Canada.) A film that does a +lot out of little. It plays on the dynamic between trust and distrust when +either could be fatal if you chose wrongly. Good, original story, and very well +executed. Highly recommended! + +### Shorts: We're not in Kansas anymore + +Another short film programme followed, _"We're not in Kansas anymore."_: + +* _[Amy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7549990)_ (2017, USA, 7 min): We meet a + girl being tenderly taken care of by an older nurse. Or perhaps it's not + quite as it seems. A well executed short film that takes you to the edge of + your seat. + +* _[Crying Bitch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0lSsS0TGv0)_ (2017, Japan, + 15 min): A young successful man has a woman for every day, while his caring + wife is waiting at home with dinner and love. Except, behind the surface and + hidden from her husband the wife has learned martial arts. Great fun, lots of + (well deserved) groin kicks, and over all an action packed revenge short. + +* _[Milk](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7281172)_ (2017, Canada, 10 min): + Getting up for a glass of milk in the night may be scarier than you think. + Quite a well made film, but I felt it got too predictable and left too much + unfulfilled. + +* _[We together](https://vimeo.com/175191424)_ (2016, USA, 7 min): Dancing + Zombies. What more is to say, this is as feelgood as a zombie flick ever + gets. Fun and different! + +* _[Smashed](https://youtu.be/UB2OSDsXM90)_ (2017, Australia, 13 min): A gang + of teenagers kidnap a friend to get to his girlfriend. Not the best of ideas, + and not the best of results. Quite a good movie, but again a bit too + predictable. Still worth seeing. + +* _[Homesick](https://www.homesickfilm.com/)_ (2017, USA, 13 min): A + beautifully filmed and very well told story. A young boy is abandoned by + his parents, and coping as best he can in what's left of his home. A slow paced + film, but one you definitely should watch. The cinematographer and director + was present at the festival, and I'm happy they seem to be working on a + feature length project together. If this short is anything to go by, I'll + definitely be on the lookout for that. + +* _[Daemonrunner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyNF7mXH3aY)_ (2017, + Australia, 5 min): Daemons rage in cyberspace and are being hunted down by a + special task force to keep everyone safe. Quite well made and an interesting + concept. + +* _[We summoned a demon](https://vimeo.com/230488802)_ (2017, USA, 6 min): Fun + and entertaining. A couple of guys summon a demon to be cool. Not the + brightest kids on the dark side, but at least they summoned a demon! + +* _[Wyrmwood: Chronicles of the dead + (teaser)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5NVs9zyZdM)_ (2017, Australia, 7 + min): This one didn't catch me at all. Too slick, too much focus on effects, + and does not manage to catch my attention. It has some good moments though, + but over all this feels like a commercial series to cater too the gaming + crowd. + +--- + +{% figure(img="the-slaughtered-lamb.jpg") %} +From _An American Werewolf in London_. +{% end %} + +After a break John Landis is again on the stage, this time introducing his +classic _[An American Werewolf in London]_ (1981, USA.) Again it's time to +catch up on the classics for my part. It becomes very clear why this is +regarded as such a classic as it is. It was great to finally see this on a big +screen, and both the introduction and Q&A with John landis would be worth the +price alone. Nobody is able to make nerdy film trivia as entertaining as this +guy! + +Next up is _[Spookers]_ (2017, New Zealand.) A documentary about a haunted +house operation outside Auckland. Entertaining enough, but at that time my head +is starting to get overloaded, so I don't feel I'm able to appreciate it as +well as I could. This is a slow film, that I think would work much better as an +opener rather than this late in the program. + +I had been looking forward to the double bill, all-nighter _[The Living Dead at +the Manchester Morgue]_ (1974, Italy/Spain) and _[Dellamorte Dellamore]_ (1974, +Italy/France/Germany,) but I was simply too tired to even try! A couple of cask +ales from the pub was consumed and then it was the long way back to the hotel +for my part. + +## Sunday, April 22 + +Sunday started with the fresh, and pretty lighthearted _[Dave Made a Maze]_ (2017, USA.) A +hilarious ride, and a perfect start after three days of gore, glory and horror. + +It's a bit of a strech to call this a horror, but it is a great and well made +comedy aimed at horror fans! Original, captivating and plain old silly fun from +start to finish! This is the kind of film you can show to your non-horror +friends and still have fun, although the horror fans will have even more fun! +Bring pizza! + +### Shorts: 2D & Deranged + +The last of the short-film programmes of the festival, the _"2D & Deranged +programme"_ was entirely focused on animations. The wonderful thing about +animations are that they allow for a great deal of surrealism, something which +definitely was the case in this session. + +The session starts with a number of clay animations from _[Lee Hardcastle]_. These +range from 60 sec claymation summaries of classic horror films and video games, +as well as some other pieces. Check out his website or +[youtube-channel](https://www.youtube.com/leehardcastle) for a glimpse into his +twisted world. + +The rest of the short films in this session were: + +{% figure(img="beastly-things-poster.jpg") %} +_Beastly things_ poster +{% end %} + +* _[In one drag](https://vimeo.com/167923570)_ (2016, Germany, 4 min): A stop + motion animation about when the sigarette butts takes revenge. +* _[L'Aria del Moscerino](http://oliverkrause.com/l-aria-del-moscerino.html)_ + (2017, Germany, 5 min): A fruit fly with a taste for the good things in life + – sweet fruits and opera. Great 2D animation and a fun, though not entirely + unsuspected twist. +* _[The Death, Dad & Son](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7036616)_ (2017, France, + 14 min): A wonderful clay animation about the warm relationship between Deah + and his son. Check this out if you get the chance! +* _[Belial's dream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtWSyIRJ_qw)_ (2017, UK, 5 + min): A disturbing and surreal nighmare made into film by Rob Morgan. + Absolutely worth a watch, though it may not be everybody's cup of tea. + Personally I loved it! +* _[Coyote](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7846672)_ (2018, Switzerland, 10 min): + A coyote seeks revenge on a pack of wolfs after they killed his family. + Classic revenge/drama in a quite unconventional wrapping. Highly recommended! +* _[Beastly things](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7259008)_ (2017, USA, 5 min): + A beautifully hand-drawn animated film about a young street artist that needs + to deal with a crew of bullies. Very nicely made and a well told story + without dialogue. + +--- + +With the early part of the days programme mostly on the light hearted side it +was time to kick it up a notch. The Taiwanese film _[Mon, Mon, Mon, Monsters]_ +(2017, Taiwan) (meant to be pronounced in the voice of Scooby Doo,) was quite a +nice change of pace. Despite the tounge-in-cheek name, the film was quite an +interesting one about a theme that a lot of horror fans probably can feel at +home in–bullying. Well made, interesting story, and a few surprising twists +made this a very welcome addition to the "have seen"-list. Highly recommended! + +_[Aj Zombies]_ (2017, Peru/France) was next up on the agenda. Also a film that +was able to surprise in a positive way. We're back in the rather lighthearted +horror/comedy segment again, but it has a nerve that keeps it interesting +throughout. Here I think the characters and cast really carry the film, and +help give what could be just shallow and silly some more substance. Grab a +beer, invite some friends, and you'll have a great evening with this one! + +Before the last film of the festival, there was a closing ceremony. This was +another fun twist with this festival. The films that had been collected for the +_Shit-film amnesty_ throughout the festival was presented and the shittiest of +them all was awarded. The lucky person who submitted the worst film was awarded +the entire collection. It sounded like he would have hours of really cheezy +watching to do! There was also a gift ceremony where gifts were passed around +the audience while some music played, and the ones who still had a package when +the music stopped was to keep it. I didn't win this time... + +{% figure(img="downrange-poster.jpg") %} +_Downrange_ poster. +{% end %} + +Enough fun and games, the last film of the festival was the drama _[Downrange]_ +(2017, USA/Japan.) If the day until now had been light hearted and fun, this +film brough balance to the tabs. This was a deep dive into the pure unmotivated +brutality that the human mind can display. + +A very simple premise, an almost static setting, but so well executed and with +such intensity that it ends up as one of the most memorable films of the +festival. Highly recommended! + +...and then it was over. A few more cask ales in the Filmhouse pub, a few +goodbyes to new friends and many great memories that needs to be processed. + +A big shoutout to Adéle Hartley who organizes this amazing festival. This is +definitely _her_ festival, and just the fact that she puts so much of herself +into it gives the festival a very unique and personal touch. Also the rest of +the staff, both of the festival and the Filmhouse (and the pub) all helped make +this a memorable and extremely positive experience. And of course to all the +people I met, had a quick chat with or shared a toast with: I'll see you again! + +[Dead By Dawn]: http://deadbydawn.co.uk/ +[Filmhouse]: http://www.filmhousecinema.com/ + +[Nosferatu]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/06/23/nosferatu-1921-german-horror-film-f-w-murnau-overview-review/ +[Innocent Blood]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104511 +[Siembamba]: https://horrorpedia.com/2018/01/30/the-lullaby-reviews-horror-movie-film-south-african-2018-siembamba-overview-plot/ +[Still/Born]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/07/stillborn-2017-canadian-horror-film-movie-cast-plot-reviews/ +[John Landis]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Landis + +[Rabbit]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3415358 +[Frankenstein]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884 +[Bride of Frankenstein]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026138 +[Frankenstein Bar]: http://www.frankensteinedinburgh.co.uk/ + +[Knuckleball]: https://horrorpedia.com/2018/04/19/knuckleball-reviews-movie-film-horror-thriller-2018-overview-cast-plot/ +[Evil Dead II]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/10/07/evil-dead-ii-1987-horror-movie-sam-raimi-overview/ +[The Conjurers Kitchen]: https://www.conjurerskitchen.com/ + +[Trench 11]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5033290 + +[An American Werewolf in London]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/11/16/an-american-werewolf-in-london-reviews-1981-comedy-horror-movie-film-overview-cast-plot/ +[Spookers]: http://www.spookers.co.nz/spookers-movie.html +[The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue]: http://thezombiesite.com/the-living-dead-at-manchester-morgue-1974/ +[Dellamorte Dellamore]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109592 + +[Dave Made a Maze]: http://davemadeamaze.com +[Mon, Mon, Mon, Monsters]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6648404 +[Aj Zombies]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7592928 +[Downrange]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6138228 +[Lee Hardcastle]: http://www.leehardcastle.com/ + diff --git a/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.md b/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 0d9ef62..0000000 --- a/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,417 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Dead by Dawn 2018" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["Dead by Dawn", "film", "horror", "festival"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="dbd-logo.png") %} -Dead By Dawn logo. -{% end %} - -In April this year a group of friends organized a trip to the [Dead By Dawn] -horror film festival in Edinburg. This was a new festival to me, even though it -has been going strong for 25 whole years already! Landing in Edinburgh the day -before the festival, we got to see a bit of the city, and did the mandatory -intake of Haggis and Whisky. Nice town, and by the look of it, a perfect -location for a horror film festival. - - - -The festival is organized by Adéle Hartley, and takes place at the Edinburgh -[Filmhouse]. A great location for this type of event, not at least because of -it's excellent bar. This became the natural place to hang out, mingle and get -to know other enthusiasts between the screenings. - -The festival has a very personal and welcoming atmosphere. It's a bit like this -is Adéle sharing the films she loves with other horror and film fans. Given her -enthusiasm for the subject and the taste and connections she obviously have, -this is not a bad start. Add a great selection of films (a good mix of classics -and new productions,) interesting guests and passion for the genre. This was a -weekend that could not go wrong. - - -## Thursday, April 19 - -{% figure(img="siembamba-poster.jpg") %} -Siembamba aka The Lullaby movie poster. -{% end %} - -The festival starts off with a screening of the original _[Nosferatu]_ (1922, -Germany) with a live piano score performed beautifully by Forrester Pyke. The -version they screened was the one released by Eureka on BluRay, which is way -better and has several scenes that's not present in my old DVD version. The -live score added a unique touch to the screening—a great start. - -We go with the classics this evening, and the festival guest of honour, [John -Landis] introduces his classic _[Innocent Blood]_ (1992, USA). I had not seen -it before so it was a great opportunity to catch up. I think the film has aged -quite well. It definitely belongs among the other classics from Landis. After -the screening Landis answered questions from the audience, shared anecdotes -from the filming of Innocent Blood and some of his other films. A very -entertaining session. - -First _new_ film this evening, and the last of the day, was the South American -film _[Siembamba]_, aka _The Lullaby_ (2017, South Africa). I liked this a lot! -A supernatural/psychotic film about birth psychosis. It reminds me a bit about -_[Still/Born]_ (2017, Canada), but definitely carries it's own weight. A well -made, and at times quite creepy film. - -## Friday, April 20 - -Friday opens with _[Rabbit]_ (2017, Australia). An absolutely stunningly well -made film. This is dark and devastating. A film that is able to surprise at -many levels. In my opinion a very good film, and the highlight of the festival! -A slow burn that allows the devastation to really sink in. Go see it and enjoy! - -Back to the classics! John Landis presented a double feature of -_[Frankenstein]_ (1931, USA) and _[Bride of Frankenstein]_ (1935, USA.) I -skipped the first session, but did see the _Bride of Frankenstein_. Again the -copy they had got hold of was a really good one, which made this quite a joy to -see as well. Landis is entertaining, and has a lot of insight into the -cinematic history where these films belong. The session was worth it for that -alone. - -There's a short break before the next session so me and my travel companions -head over to the [Frankenstein Bar] for a quick beer and a bite. Nice and very -atmospheric bar, but the food was not impressive. - -### Shorts: What you make it - -Anyways, back at the Filmhouse I catch the first short-film programme at this -festival, named _"What you make it."_ The short films in this section were: - -{% figure(img="underwater-poster.jpg") %} -Underwater poster. -{% end %} - -* _[Nothing a little soap and water can't - fix](https://cargo.jenniferproctor.com/Nothing-a-Little-Soap-and-Water-Can-t-Fix)_ - (2017, USA, 10 min): A collage of bathtub scenes from various horror films - combined into a sort of story on it's own. Quite interesting. - -* _[Väg 13 (Road - 13)](http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/en/item/?type=film&itemid=85966)_ (2017, - Sweeden, 7 min): A girl is on her way to the vet with her dog, and attracts - the attention of a neighboring car. Short and absurd, the way I like it. - -* _[Underwater](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/42698/underwater)_ (2017, - France, 18 min): An investigator with some special abilities is summoned to a - surveillance operation in a criminal case. A very well told story, and - visually wonderful. I especially liked the use of effects to visualize the - parts of the story you otherwise could not see. One of the better short films - at this festival. - -* _[Two bites](https://vimeo.com/275382038)_ (2017, Australia, 14 min): A - family gathers around the deathbed of their mother, hoping to put their best - face forward to secure their heritage. Things don't go as planned. - -* _[La fille - accordeon](https://www.pifff.fr/2017/court-135-La-Fille-Accordeon-en)_ (2017, - France, 4 min): A trapped girl tries to escape from her captors. A simple - premise with a surprising execution. Different and a quite sweet film. - -* _[Das Mädchen im - Schnee](http://www.swissfilms.ch/de/film_search/filmdetails/-/id_film/2147032209)_ - (2017, Switzerland, 7 min): A foley artist adds the finishing sounds to a - scene. A fascinating process, and perhaps a surprising end. Slow and very - well made film. - -* _[Through the Haze](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6484260/)_ (2017, Australia, - 11 min): The newest kid on a construction job has to go through the rituals - to become one of the guys. A hilarious take on drunken logic and what could - possibly go wrong when combining heavy machinery with excessive drunkenness. - ---- - -After the short films we get another new film, _[Knuckleball]_ (2018, Canada) -by Canadian director _Michael Peterson_. Peterson was present and both -introduced the film and answered quastions after the screening. - -The film relies heavily on the performance by 12 year old actor _Luca Villacis_ -(who handles the job like a pro!) and _Michael Ironside_. The film definitely -has references to both classic comedies like the Home Alone films, but also -some classic horrors. It's a times quite dark, but is not quite as convincing -as it could have been. I enjoyed it for the atmosphere and the performance by -the actors, but felt it never manages to build the scare that it tries to. - -The last event of the day is the much anticipated taste-along to _[Evil Dead II]_ -(1987, USA.) I've never been a fan of the film, but this sounded like a lot of -fun, and that's just what it was! - -The event was done in cooperation with _[The Conjurers Kitchen]_, who had made, -packaged and transported a huge amount of treats and candy shaped like elements -from the film. At certain iconic scenes the film was frozen and you had to find -and eat the treat that looked like whatever was on the screen. This was great -fun, and the creativity and madness that has gone into making these treats -deserve admiration! 10/10 - would eat again! - -{% figure(img="evil-treats.jpg") %} -The treats of the Evil Dead II taste-along. Made by The Conjurers Kitchen. -{% end %} - -## Saturday, April 21 - -### Shorts: It's your funeral - -Saturday kicks off with a short film session named _"It's your funeral."_ A -great collection of short films about approaching death in more or—most -likely—less dignified ways. The films in this session was: - -{% figure(img="som-ein-reier-still.jpg") %} -Still from _You've made your bed, now lie in it_. -{% end %} - -* _[You've made your bed, now lie in - it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXHY6OcRYlE)_ (2016, Norway, 15 min): A - farmer is told by a psychic who has so far never been wrong, that he is to - die on thursday. We follow the farmer in his solemn struggle to prepare his - own funeral. A slow, atmospheric film from the slow norwegian countryside. - Excellent! Do watch it! - -* _[The Mother Situation](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5996448)_ (2016, - Australia, 8 min): Again we meet the potent mix of family, death and - inheritance. A different take this time, and a very entertaining one at that. - -* _[Cold fish](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6722198)_ (2017, New Zealand, 12 - min): An old man is about to give his life to the waves, but is disturbed by - a young and quite annoying kid. A reflective piece more than anything. Still - quite enjoyable. - -* _[Salvatore](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784418/)_ (2017, The Netherlands, - 11 min): Salvatore is in an old peoples institution, but tries to live his - life in as much beauty as he can. The only disturbance in the rather annoying - male nurse, so he decides to do something about that. I enjoyed this a lot, - and got quite fond of Salvatore and his way of life during the few minutes I - got to share with him. - -* _[RIP](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6441412)_ (2017, Spain, 16 min): What do - you do when you have invited simply _everyone_ to the funeral of your husband, - and then he wakes back up to life? A hilarious film about prestige, status - and love – in that order. Great film! - ---- - -{% figure(img="trench-11-poster.jpg") %} -_Trench 11_ poster. -{% end %} - -Next up is the WWI thriller _[Trench 11]_ (2017, Canada.) A film that does a -lot out of little. It plays on the dynamic between trust and distrust when -either could be fatal if you chose wrongly. Good, original story, and very well -executed. Highly recommended! - -### Shorts: We're not in Kansas anymore - -Another short film programme followed, _"We're not in Kansas anymore."_: - -* _[Amy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7549990)_ (2017, USA, 7 min): We meet a - girl being tenderly taken care of by an older nurse. Or perhaps it's not - quite as it seems. A well executed short film that takes you to the edge of - your seat. - -* _[Crying Bitch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0lSsS0TGv0)_ (2017, Japan, - 15 min): A young successful man has a woman for every day, while his caring - wife is waiting at home with dinner and love. Except, behind the surface and - hidden from her husband the wife has learned martial arts. Great fun, lots of - (well deserved) groin kicks, and over all an action packed revenge short. - -* _[Milk](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7281172)_ (2017, Canada, 10 min): - Getting up for a glass of milk in the night may be scarier than you think. - Quite a well made film, but I felt it got too predictable and left too much - unfulfilled. - -* _[We together](https://vimeo.com/175191424)_ (2016, USA, 7 min): Dancing - Zombies. What more is to say, this is as feelgood as a zombie flick ever - gets. Fun and different! - -* _[Smashed](https://youtu.be/UB2OSDsXM90)_ (2017, Australia, 13 min): A gang - of teenagers kidnap a friend to get to his girlfriend. Not the best of ideas, - and not the best of results. Quite a good movie, but again a bit too - predictable. Still worth seeing. - -* _[Homesick](https://www.homesickfilm.com/)_ (2017, USA, 13 min): A - beautifully filmed and very well told story. A young boy is abandoned by - his parents, and coping as best he can in what's left of his home. A slow paced - film, but one you definitely should watch. The cinematographer and director - was present at the festival, and I'm happy they seem to be working on a - feature length project together. If this short is anything to go by, I'll - definitely be on the lookout for that. - -* _[Daemonrunner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyNF7mXH3aY)_ (2017, - Australia, 5 min): Daemons rage in cyberspace and are being hunted down by a - special task force to keep everyone safe. Quite well made and an interesting - concept. - -* _[We summoned a demon](https://vimeo.com/230488802)_ (2017, USA, 6 min): Fun - and entertaining. A couple of guys summon a demon to be cool. Not the - brightest kids on the dark side, but at least they summoned a demon! - -* _[Wyrmwood: Chronicles of the dead - (teaser)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5NVs9zyZdM)_ (2017, Australia, 7 - min): This one didn't catch me at all. Too slick, too much focus on effects, - and does not manage to catch my attention. It has some good moments though, - but over all this feels like a commercial series to cater too the gaming - crowd. - ---- - -{% figure(img="the-slaughtered-lamb.jpg") %} -From _An American Werewolf in London_. -{% end %} - -After a break John Landis is again on the stage, this time introducing his -classic _[An American Werewolf in London]_ (1981, USA.) Again it's time to -catch up on the classics for my part. It becomes very clear why this is -regarded as such a classic as it is. It was great to finally see this on a big -screen, and both the introduction and Q&A with John landis would be worth the -price alone. Nobody is able to make nerdy film trivia as entertaining as this -guy! - -Next up is _[Spookers]_ (2017, New Zealand.) A documentary about a haunted -house operation outside Auckland. Entertaining enough, but at that time my head -is starting to get overloaded, so I don't feel I'm able to appreciate it as -well as I could. This is a slow film, that I think would work much better as an -opener rather than this late in the program. - -I had been looking forward to the double bill, all-nighter _[The Living Dead at -the Manchester Morgue]_ (1974, Italy/Spain) and _[Dellamorte Dellamore]_ (1974, -Italy/France/Germany,) but I was simply too tired to even try! A couple of cask -ales from the pub was consumed and then it was the long way back to the hotel -for my part. - -## Sunday, April 22 - -Sunday started with the fresh, and pretty lighthearted _[Dave Made a Maze]_ (2017, USA.) A -hilarious ride, and a perfect start after three days of gore, glory and horror. - -It's a bit of a strech to call this a horror, but it is a great and well made -comedy aimed at horror fans! Original, captivating and plain old silly fun from -start to finish! This is the kind of film you can show to your non-horror -friends and still have fun, although the horror fans will have even more fun! -Bring pizza! - -### Shorts: 2D & Deranged - -The last of the short-film programmes of the festival, the _"2D & Deranged -programme"_ was entirely focused on animations. The wonderful thing about -animations are that they allow for a great deal of surrealism, something which -definitely was the case in this session. - -The session starts with a number of clay animations from _[Lee Hardcastle]_. These -range from 60 sec claymation summaries of classic horror films and video games, -as well as some other pieces. Check out his website or -[youtube-channel](https://www.youtube.com/leehardcastle) for a glimpse into his -twisted world. - -The rest of the short films in this session were: - -{% figure(img="beastly-things-poster.jpg") %} -_Beastly things_ poster -{% end %} - -* _[In one drag](https://vimeo.com/167923570)_ (2016, Germany, 4 min): A stop - motion animation about when the sigarette butts takes revenge. -* _[L'Aria del Moscerino](http://oliverkrause.com/l-aria-del-moscerino.html)_ - (2017, Germany, 5 min): A fruit fly with a taste for the good things in life - – sweet fruits and opera. Great 2D animation and a fun, though not entirely - unsuspected twist. -* _[The Death, Dad & Son](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7036616)_ (2017, France, - 14 min): A wonderful clay animation about the warm relationship between Deah - and his son. Check this out if you get the chance! -* _[Belial's dream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtWSyIRJ_qw)_ (2017, UK, 5 - min): A disturbing and surreal nighmare made into film by Rob Morgan. - Absolutely worth a watch, though it may not be everybody's cup of tea. - Personally I loved it! -* _[Coyote](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7846672)_ (2018, Switzerland, 10 min): - A coyote seeks revenge on a pack of wolfs after they killed his family. - Classic revenge/drama in a quite unconventional wrapping. Highly recommended! -* _[Beastly things](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7259008)_ (2017, USA, 5 min): - A beautifully hand-drawn animated film about a young street artist that needs - to deal with a crew of bullies. Very nicely made and a well told story - without dialogue. - ---- - -With the early part of the days programme mostly on the light hearted side it -was time to kick it up a notch. The Taiwanese film _[Mon, Mon, Mon, Monsters]_ -(2017, Taiwan) (meant to be pronounced in the voice of Scooby Doo,) was quite a -nice change of pace. Despite the tounge-in-cheek name, the film was quite an -interesting one about a theme that a lot of horror fans probably can feel at -home in–bullying. Well made, interesting story, and a few surprising twists -made this a very welcome addition to the "have seen"-list. Highly recommended! - -_[Aj Zombies]_ (2017, Peru/France) was next up on the agenda. Also a film that -was able to surprise in a positive way. We're back in the rather lighthearted -horror/comedy segment again, but it has a nerve that keeps it interesting -throughout. Here I think the characters and cast really carry the film, and -help give what could be just shallow and silly some more substance. Grab a -beer, invite some friends, and you'll have a great evening with this one! - -Before the last film of the festival, there was a closing ceremony. This was -another fun twist with this festival. The films that had been collected for the -_Shit-film amnesty_ throughout the festival was presented and the shittiest of -them all was awarded. The lucky person who submitted the worst film was awarded -the entire collection. It sounded like he would have hours of really cheezy -watching to do! There was also a gift ceremony where gifts were passed around -the audience while some music played, and the ones who still had a package when -the music stopped was to keep it. I didn't win this time... - -{% figure(img="downrange-poster.jpg") %} -_Downrange_ poster. -{% end %} - -Enough fun and games, the last film of the festival was the drama _[Downrange]_ -(2017, USA/Japan.) If the day until now had been light hearted and fun, this -film brough balance to the tabs. This was a deep dive into the pure unmotivated -brutality that the human mind can display. - -A very simple premise, an almost static setting, but so well executed and with -such intensity that it ends up as one of the most memorable films of the -festival. Highly recommended! - -...and then it was over. A few more cask ales in the Filmhouse pub, a few -goodbyes to new friends and many great memories that needs to be processed. - -A big shoutout to Adéle Hartley who organizes this amazing festival. This is -definitely _her_ festival, and just the fact that she puts so much of herself -into it gives the festival a very unique and personal touch. Also the rest of -the staff, both of the festival and the Filmhouse (and the pub) all helped make -this a memorable and extremely positive experience. And of course to all the -people I met, had a quick chat with or shared a toast with: I'll see you again! - -[Dead By Dawn]: http://deadbydawn.co.uk/ -[Filmhouse]: http://www.filmhousecinema.com/ - -[Nosferatu]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/06/23/nosferatu-1921-german-horror-film-f-w-murnau-overview-review/ -[Innocent Blood]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104511 -[Siembamba]: https://horrorpedia.com/2018/01/30/the-lullaby-reviews-horror-movie-film-south-african-2018-siembamba-overview-plot/ -[Still/Born]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/07/stillborn-2017-canadian-horror-film-movie-cast-plot-reviews/ -[John Landis]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Landis - -[Rabbit]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3415358 -[Frankenstein]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884 -[Bride of Frankenstein]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026138 -[Frankenstein Bar]: http://www.frankensteinedinburgh.co.uk/ - -[Knuckleball]: https://horrorpedia.com/2018/04/19/knuckleball-reviews-movie-film-horror-thriller-2018-overview-cast-plot/ -[Evil Dead II]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/10/07/evil-dead-ii-1987-horror-movie-sam-raimi-overview/ -[The Conjurers Kitchen]: https://www.conjurerskitchen.com/ - -[Trench 11]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5033290 - -[An American Werewolf in London]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/11/16/an-american-werewolf-in-london-reviews-1981-comedy-horror-movie-film-overview-cast-plot/ -[Spookers]: http://www.spookers.co.nz/spookers-movie.html -[The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue]: http://thezombiesite.com/the-living-dead-at-manchester-morgue-1974/ -[Dellamorte Dellamore]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109592 - -[Dave Made a Maze]: http://davemadeamaze.com -[Mon, Mon, Mon, Monsters]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6648404 -[Aj Zombies]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7592928 -[Downrange]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6138228 -[Lee Hardcastle]: http://www.leehardcastle.com/ - diff --git a/content/film/2020-06-06-ramaskrik-2018/index.en.md b/content/film/2020-06-06-ramaskrik-2018/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..899c96a --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2020-06-06-ramaskrik-2018/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,171 @@ ++++ +title = "Ramaskrik 2018" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["Ramaskrik", "horror", "film", "festival"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="one-cut-of-the-dead.jpg") %} +Still from _One Cut of the Dead_. +{% end %} + +Ramaskrik 2018 was held Oct 19 - 22 of that year. This post is based on the +reviews I did on my [social network +profile](https://hub.volse.no/channel/harald?f=&cat=Ramaskrik) during the +festival. + + + +## Day 1: Thursday + +_One Cut of the Dead_ (2018, Japan): Interesting and well executed. The premise +is quite different than what you expect from the first 40 min of the movie. +Original and refreshing. A bit unlucky with the version we got as the subtitles +did not sync with the audio and was by the end leading with several minutes. +I'm sure it will be even better when you can actually follow the dialogue. + +{% figure(img="framed.jpg") %} +Still from _Framed_. +{% end %} + +_Framed_ (2018, Spain): Another social media critique/exploitation film. +Probably misses the mark as any sensible critique, but is a well executed +violent home invasion film. Quite worth watching imo. + +_Halloween_ (2018, USA): This is a movie for the fans of the first movie, but +has little to offer anybody else. Not that it's a bad movie, just not very +interesting either. + +{% figure(img="satans-slaves-2017.jpg") %} +Still from _Satan's Slaves_. +{% end %} + +_Satan's Slaves_ (2017, Indonesia): A charming and rather creepy take on a +ghost story set in a secular muslim setting. It's a tad longwinded at times, +but otherwise well executed. The unfamiliar (to me) setting and cultural frame +helps the film imo. + +## Day 2: Friday + +Another really great day at the Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival yesterday. +Managed six films, so was pretty baked by the end of the day. + +{% figure(img="what-keeps-you-alive-poster.jpg") %} +_What Keeps You Alive_ poster. +{% end %} + +_What Keeps You Alive_ (2018, Canada): Very beautiful, and quite surprising +plot. A tad long, but highly recommended! + +_Killungard_ (2018, Norway): Some of the key people behind _O'Hellige Jul_ has +made a traditional ghost story. It is an amateur production, but a very good +one at that! Refreshing to see a pure ghost story in this setting. + +{% figure(img="the-dark.jpg") %} +Still from _The Dark_. +{% end %} + +_The Dark_ (2018, Austria/Canada): Refreshing and very different take on what falls a +bit between a zombie and monster film, but in the end is neither. I liked this +a lot, highly recommended! + +{% figure(img="you-shall-not-sleep.jpg") %} +Still from _You Shall Not Sleep_. +{% end %} + +_You Shall not Sleep_ (2018, Spain/Argentine/Uruguay): Another film that goes +it's own ways. A tad slow to begin with, but it really picks up as it +progresses. Original and again a rather surprising story. + +_Terrified_ (2017, Argentina): Well executed ghost/monster/haunted house film that +still end up being a bit too traditional for my taste. It's far from a bad +film, but I think it hits better for a slightly younger audience. + +_Ghost Stories_ (2017, UK): An antology film that I feel did not deliver on it's +premise. Again, not a bad film, quite entertaining at times, but a bit shallow +and simplistic compared to what it promised. Some others liked this one very +much though, so depends on your tastes. + +# Day 3: Saturday + +Saturday, third day of Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival! + +{% figure(img="ill-take-your-dead.jpg") %} +_I'll Take Your Dead_ +{% end %} + +I started the day with _I'll Take Your Dead_ (2018, Canada). A big surprise for +my part, a film that's both sweet and somewhat brutal at the same time. More of +a thriller with horror elements than a pure horror film, but a very good one at +that. Highly recommended! + +{% figure(img="puppet-master.jpg") %} +Still from _Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich_. +{% end %} + +_Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich_ (2018, USA). A horror/splatter complete +with comic geeks, nazi puppets, collectors and a mad scientist. What could +possibly go wrong? A very entertaining movie with a great number of fantastic +splats! + +{% figure(img="mandy-2018.jpg") %} +Still from _Mandy_. +{% end %} + +_Mandy_ (2018, USA) was a film that didn't quite catch me. Nicholas Cage plays +Nicholas Cage as usual, the scenography, the cinematography, the sound and the +music is all very beautiful, but it lacks the actual movie. + +{% figure(img="the-cleaning-lady-2018.jpg") %} +Still from _The Cleaning Lady_. +{% end %} + +_The Cleaning Lady_ (2018, USA) on the other hand, was a fantastic movie which +managed to surprise and captivate on many levels. A great flick that will keep +you thinking for quite a while afterwards. Highly recommended! + +{% figure(img="anna-and-the-apocalypse-2017.jpg") %} +Still from _Anna and the Apocalypse_. +{% end %} + +_Anna and the Apocalypse_ (2017, UK). Ending the day with a wee bit of singing +and dancing seemed like the obvios choice. While I usually enjoy musicals, +especially the horror kind, this one failed to rock me. The songs are too +forgettable, and the story is too traditional to captivate. It's not that it's +a bad movie, it has it's moments, but falls short of being the partystarter I +was hoping for. Others loved it though... + +# Day 4: Sunday + +Sunday was the fourth and last day of the Ramaskrik Horror film festival. Only +two more films on my programme until the festival was over, and there was time +to catch the train back home. + +{% figure(img="the-house-that-jack-built-2018.jpg") %} +From _The House That Jack Built_. +{% end %} + +_The House That Jack Built_ (2018, Denmark): Lars von Trier is an artist, and +has always been one of my favourite directors. So I was quite excited about +this one. The film does not disappoint. This is probably the most lighthearted +film he has made since _The Idiots_ (1998, Denmark), but as always there's a +dark shadow the underlines everything. Humorous, philosophical, dark. Well +worth the two and a half hour of your life! + +{% figure(img="videomannen-2018.jpg") %} +From _Videomannen_. +{% end %} + +_Videomannen_ (_The Videoman_, 2018, Sweden): A trip down nostalgia lane for +those of us who grew up with VHS, 80's horror films and video rental shops. As +director Kristian Söderström said himself when introducing the film, this is +not a horror film, but a film about horror and VHS fans. A great film and a +great ending of the festival on my part. + +Then it's all over. The big empty sets in, and it's time to look forward to +Ramaskrik 2019! Which according to unconfirmed rumors is to happen at Oct 17 - +20, 2019. Hope to see you there! diff --git a/content/film/2020-06-06-ramaskrik-2018/index.md b/content/film/2020-06-06-ramaskrik-2018/index.md deleted file mode 100644 index 899c96a..0000000 --- a/content/film/2020-06-06-ramaskrik-2018/index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,171 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Ramaskrik 2018" -lang = "en" - -[taxonomies] -tags = ["Ramaskrik", "horror", "film", "festival"] - -[extra] -author = "harald" -+++ - -{% figure(img="one-cut-of-the-dead.jpg") %} -Still from _One Cut of the Dead_. -{% end %} - -Ramaskrik 2018 was held Oct 19 - 22 of that year. This post is based on the -reviews I did on my [social network -profile](https://hub.volse.no/channel/harald?f=&cat=Ramaskrik) during the -festival. - - - -## Day 1: Thursday - -_One Cut of the Dead_ (2018, Japan): Interesting and well executed. The premise -is quite different than what you expect from the first 40 min of the movie. -Original and refreshing. A bit unlucky with the version we got as the subtitles -did not sync with the audio and was by the end leading with several minutes. -I'm sure it will be even better when you can actually follow the dialogue. - -{% figure(img="framed.jpg") %} -Still from _Framed_. -{% end %} - -_Framed_ (2018, Spain): Another social media critique/exploitation film. -Probably misses the mark as any sensible critique, but is a well executed -violent home invasion film. Quite worth watching imo. - -_Halloween_ (2018, USA): This is a movie for the fans of the first movie, but -has little to offer anybody else. Not that it's a bad movie, just not very -interesting either. - -{% figure(img="satans-slaves-2017.jpg") %} -Still from _Satan's Slaves_. -{% end %} - -_Satan's Slaves_ (2017, Indonesia): A charming and rather creepy take on a -ghost story set in a secular muslim setting. It's a tad longwinded at times, -but otherwise well executed. The unfamiliar (to me) setting and cultural frame -helps the film imo. - -## Day 2: Friday - -Another really great day at the Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival yesterday. -Managed six films, so was pretty baked by the end of the day. - -{% figure(img="what-keeps-you-alive-poster.jpg") %} -_What Keeps You Alive_ poster. -{% end %} - -_What Keeps You Alive_ (2018, Canada): Very beautiful, and quite surprising -plot. A tad long, but highly recommended! - -_Killungard_ (2018, Norway): Some of the key people behind _O'Hellige Jul_ has -made a traditional ghost story. It is an amateur production, but a very good -one at that! Refreshing to see a pure ghost story in this setting. - -{% figure(img="the-dark.jpg") %} -Still from _The Dark_. -{% end %} - -_The Dark_ (2018, Austria/Canada): Refreshing and very different take on what falls a -bit between a zombie and monster film, but in the end is neither. I liked this -a lot, highly recommended! - -{% figure(img="you-shall-not-sleep.jpg") %} -Still from _You Shall Not Sleep_. -{% end %} - -_You Shall not Sleep_ (2018, Spain/Argentine/Uruguay): Another film that goes -it's own ways. A tad slow to begin with, but it really picks up as it -progresses. Original and again a rather surprising story. - -_Terrified_ (2017, Argentina): Well executed ghost/monster/haunted house film that -still end up being a bit too traditional for my taste. It's far from a bad -film, but I think it hits better for a slightly younger audience. - -_Ghost Stories_ (2017, UK): An antology film that I feel did not deliver on it's -premise. Again, not a bad film, quite entertaining at times, but a bit shallow -and simplistic compared to what it promised. Some others liked this one very -much though, so depends on your tastes. - -# Day 3: Saturday - -Saturday, third day of Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival! - -{% figure(img="ill-take-your-dead.jpg") %} -_I'll Take Your Dead_ -{% end %} - -I started the day with _I'll Take Your Dead_ (2018, Canada). A big surprise for -my part, a film that's both sweet and somewhat brutal at the same time. More of -a thriller with horror elements than a pure horror film, but a very good one at -that. Highly recommended! - -{% figure(img="puppet-master.jpg") %} -Still from _Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich_. -{% end %} - -_Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich_ (2018, USA). A horror/splatter complete -with comic geeks, nazi puppets, collectors and a mad scientist. What could -possibly go wrong? A very entertaining movie with a great number of fantastic -splats! - -{% figure(img="mandy-2018.jpg") %} -Still from _Mandy_. -{% end %} - -_Mandy_ (2018, USA) was a film that didn't quite catch me. Nicholas Cage plays -Nicholas Cage as usual, the scenography, the cinematography, the sound and the -music is all very beautiful, but it lacks the actual movie. - -{% figure(img="the-cleaning-lady-2018.jpg") %} -Still from _The Cleaning Lady_. -{% end %} - -_The Cleaning Lady_ (2018, USA) on the other hand, was a fantastic movie which -managed to surprise and captivate on many levels. A great flick that will keep -you thinking for quite a while afterwards. Highly recommended! - -{% figure(img="anna-and-the-apocalypse-2017.jpg") %} -Still from _Anna and the Apocalypse_. -{% end %} - -_Anna and the Apocalypse_ (2017, UK). Ending the day with a wee bit of singing -and dancing seemed like the obvios choice. While I usually enjoy musicals, -especially the horror kind, this one failed to rock me. The songs are too -forgettable, and the story is too traditional to captivate. It's not that it's -a bad movie, it has it's moments, but falls short of being the partystarter I -was hoping for. Others loved it though... - -# Day 4: Sunday - -Sunday was the fourth and last day of the Ramaskrik Horror film festival. Only -two more films on my programme until the festival was over, and there was time -to catch the train back home. - -{% figure(img="the-house-that-jack-built-2018.jpg") %} -From _The House That Jack Built_. -{% end %} - -_The House That Jack Built_ (2018, Denmark): Lars von Trier is an artist, and -has always been one of my favourite directors. So I was quite excited about -this one. The film does not disappoint. This is probably the most lighthearted -film he has made since _The Idiots_ (1998, Denmark), but as always there's a -dark shadow the underlines everything. Humorous, philosophical, dark. Well -worth the two and a half hour of your life! - -{% figure(img="videomannen-2018.jpg") %} -From _Videomannen_. -{% end %} - -_Videomannen_ (_The Videoman_, 2018, Sweden): A trip down nostalgia lane for -those of us who grew up with VHS, 80's horror films and video rental shops. As -director Kristian Söderström said himself when introducing the film, this is -not a horror film, but a film about horror and VHS fans. A great film and a -great ending of the festival on my part. - -Then it's all over. The big empty sets in, and it's time to look forward to -Ramaskrik 2019! Which according to unconfirmed rumors is to happen at Oct 17 - -20, 2019. Hope to see you there! diff --git a/content/film/_index.en.md b/content/film/_index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e49d63e --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/_index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,7 @@ + ++++ +title = "Film" +description = """ +Reviews and posts related to films and movies. Mostly in english. +""" ++++ diff --git a/content/film/_index.md b/content/film/_index.md index 3c8e664..214ef52 100644 --- a/content/film/_index.md +++ b/content/film/_index.md @@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ +++ title = "Film" description = """ -Omtaler og annet om film. +Omtaler og annet om film og filmrelaterte tema. Disse er hovedsaklig på engelsk. """ +++ diff --git a/content/license.md b/content/license.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..24b9f10 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/license.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ ++++ +title = "License and rights" +lang = "en" ++++ + +The content of these pages have been made available under a [Creative Commons +Attribution ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) +license. + +This means you are free to use the contents of these pages in your own derived +works, either completely or in part. You only have to give attribution to this +website, and share your derived work on the same terms. + +{{ license() }} diff --git a/content/lisens.md b/content/lisens.md index c94fa47..1d04ea0 100644 --- a/content/lisens.md +++ b/content/lisens.md @@ -1,5 +1,6 @@ +++ title = "Lisens og rettigheter" +lang = "no" +++ Innholdet på disse sidene er gjort tilgjengelig under en [Creative Commons diff --git a/sass/styles.scss b/sass/styles.scss index 1027978..94bb3fe 100644 --- a/sass/styles.scss +++ b/sass/styles.scss @@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ body { line-height: 1.5; a { - color: #8f8f8f; + color: #7e8ea6; //#566171;//#8f8f8f; } h1, h2, h3 { - color: #828282; + color: #566171; //#3e4753;// #828282; } } @@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ pre { } } +.post-list { + h2 { + font-size: larger; + } +} + .post-title { margin-bottom: 0; } diff --git a/templates/index.html b/templates/index.html index b39cd9b..c932b7c 100644 --- a/templates/index.html +++ b/templates/index.html @@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
-

Siste innlegg:

+

{{ trans(key="latest", lang=lang) }}

    {% for post in s.pages | reverse %}
  • @@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
{% endfor %} diff --git a/templates/posts/header.html b/templates/posts/header.html index 0266f6e..9340f87 100644 --- a/templates/posts/header.html +++ b/templates/posts/header.html @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Merket:  {% for tag in post.taxonomies['tags'] -%} - + {{ tag }} diff --git a/templates/shortcodes/taglink.html b/templates/shortcodes/taglink.html index 6e8642e..75e1fc9 100644 --- a/templates/shortcodes/taglink.html +++ b/templates/shortcodes/taglink.html @@ -1,2 +1,4 @@ {% set tag_url = get_taxonomy_url(kind="tags", name=tag) %} -{% if name %}{{ name }}{% else %}{{ tag }}{% endif %} + + {% if name %}{{ name }}{% else %}{{ tag }}{% endif %} + -- cgit v1.2.3