Firsts for 2012

This just an update really, we are not that far into the year but I just wanted to share some of the 'firsts' by which I mean the first things i've done or purchased in 2012. Also i'm going to explore what I want to achieve this year, i'm 25 now and frankly I've got take life by the ears and fuck it into submission. So here we go.

First Blog

Well your reading it, to be honest I was really lax with blogging last year, something I wish to rectify.

First Cinema Experience

 Coriolanus, I'm glad this is my first cinema experience of the year, in a word amazing. For a start because this is Shakespeare and pretty obscure Shakespeare at that, there were not many people in the screening, so no screaming kids, no restless teens chattering, in short before the film even started I was enjoying myself. The film itself was brilliant, I'd give it five stars easily a real triumph of British cinema. Now before I go on to describe why I enjoyed the film so much I just need to say that me and Coriolanus have a bit of history. In fact the play was one of the subjects I had to cover in my English AS exam. I remember on my first reading thinking this is the Bards take on an action thriller, The protagonist Martius is essentially the Roman worlds version of Rambo, he's a one man army at one point actually storming the gates single handed. I always wondered what this play would be like if committed to film and frankly Ralph Fiennes adaption pretty much correlates with what was in my minds eyes, back in dim and distant 2004 when I was studying for my AS examination. I don't want to say to  much about plot, alls I want to say is this performances in this film are amazing. Ralph Fiennes is on top form as Martius and portrays the character in such away that he is both terrifying (honestly you don't want to fuck with this guy, he make nails question how hard they are) but also sympathetic, despite the fact that deep down Martius is a fascist with little of the people or civil rites you still find yourself cheering him on. Gerard Butler is very good as Aufidius and is believable as Martius's rival, his role is quite understated, don't expect any 'THIS IS SPARTA' nonsense here, essentially he plays a man living in anothers shadow. However the stand out performance for me was James Nesbitt as Sicinius, he's come a long way since Cold Feet. If there is a villain in Coriolanus its Sicinius and Nesbitt really makes him sizzle, Sicinius is a real bastard, a creature so Machiavellian he'd make the Borgias wince, Nesbitt really makes you hate this guy despite the fact that he is actually standing up for democracy. In addition to the brilliant performances there are also some amazing action scenes and although the violence is strong and at times disturbing it at no point crosses the boundry of violence for violence sake. All in all a must see for any fans of Shakespeare or action films.

First Album

Saint Jude Diary of a Soul Fiend

I discovered this band oddly enough whilst listening to another band called The Answer. On one of their tracks called 'Nowhere Freeway' I found myself blown away by the vocals of the singer Lynne Jackaman, after a quick web search I discovered she had her own band called Saint Jude. So I decided to have a listen to the track 'Soul on Fire'. On that track alone I decided to download the album off iTunes. I was not disappointed, this album is an awesome blend of Soul and Rock. Lynnes voice is amazing and really gives the music some edge. That said any one looking for a balls out hard rock album will be disappointed as there are a couple of slower tracks, but like I said this is at heart a Soul album. I really hope this band gets recognised as a major talent, an album well worth a look.

First DVD's

Troll Hunter and Captain America

I got these for my Birthday, i'm quite a comic book fan so Captain America was a must see as I never got round to seeing it on the cinema. Out of all the recent Super Hero films that have been released I have to say this one was a bit of a yawn fest (in fact I fell asleep halfway through). For some reason I just couldn't connect with Cap and frankly couldn't give a damn about him. Also I found the message in the film to be quite mixed, on one hand the film seemed to be saying it doesn't matter if you are small and weedy as long as you've got heart and the right attitude but this is then undermined by having the small weedy guy genetically engineered into a super soldier. The message therefore comes across its ok to be small and weedy as long as you've got heart but being 6ft 2 and badass doesn't hurt either!

Troll Hunter completely underwhelmed me, i'm quite a fan of Scandinavian cinema and I have a great love of the regions folklore and mythology so really this film should have been right up my street. I just found it dull, a paint by numbers found footage film that didn't really do anything new or have anything much to say. I mean sure I guess it had a message about the unknown, environmental conservation etc but this is nothing new. However that said the locations were breath taking and there was nice cinematography, I also like the design of the trolls as they reminded me of the art of Brian Froud and evoked a real sense of otherworldly wierdness. Also what annoys me about this film is yet again American studios have obtained the rights to make an American copy. Thats like the 3rd Scandinavian to date, we've had 'Let the Right One In' and 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' and now we have 'Troll Hunter' but hey thats a rant for another day. Alls i'm going to say is sometimes things are lost in translation, don't believe me watch Ingar Bergman's 'The 7th Seal' with English dubbing and you will know what I mean.

What I want to achieve

1. A new job, frankly i'm tired of the retail sector, i've been working in shops since I was 17 and i've got knowhere plus my recent grab for promotion was pretty unsuccessful. So 2012 is the year to get out of this industry and find something new, hopefully with better pay.

2. Lose weight, this is one i've already started on, i'm in the Gym from 6:30am to 8:00am 4-5 days a week doing mostly cardio and the odd bit of weight training. Since 2010 after I moved into my new apartment I just gained weight rapidly, at the time I had two jobs I wasn't exercising and I was just eating crap, to top it off I was eating it late at night so I was going to bed on a full stomach. My goal at the end of the year is to have dropped 2 jean sizes, i'm not going for a target weight as i'm naturally heavy/muscular as it is. Believe it or not back in 2005 after I come home from my first semester of University I had a 30 inch waist and practically zero body fat because all I did was drink, fuck and study, I ate about twice a week. Even at that stage I weighed 13 stone and thats the skinniest i've ever been (its also the unhealthiest ever been) now as i'm 5'11 13 stone is technically over weight so aiming for a target weight is pointless.

3. I want to get the hell out of Stoke for a bit a see somewhere different and even visit some friends. Last time I got out of Stoke it was 2010.

4. Save some money, as a graduate I have a lot of debts so this one may be tough. but hell as long as I get the overdraft payed off i'll be happy.

Anyway thats, that.....