Mat Bowles

How time flies. It seems like the last one was just a few months ago, and here I am forgetting to promote this one properly. Every year, in June, the National Media Museum holds a festival of SF/fantasy/horror themed films, TV shows, talks, etc. 9th Fantastic Films Weekend sacrifice and horror films festival UK

Jennie first dragged me up for the 2007 weekend, soon after we'd met, and I've been to each one since. I normally find the whole thing utterly exhausting, so this year will be cutting back attendance a bit. And probably baking more cakes in the time I'm back here. OTOH, I might just take the netbook and sit in the cafe when too exhausted to watch.

The IMAX'll be showing Avatar, Alice in Wonderland and Prince of PErsia, none of which I've seen yet. The free FFW2010 TV Heaven looks interesting (Captain Scarlet!) and they've got a great archive of other stuff to watch as well, last time I went I watched an episode of Mr Benn, that was cool.

Oh, they're also doing a double bill of 28 Days/Weeks later, showing David Bowie's first screen role, showing Psycho and a big pile of other films I haven't seen yet (What's On).

It's just up the road from us by bus, there're local B&Bs, and there's a possibility of floor space still, but we might be overbooked on that one. If you're on my access list, my 'how to get here' from two years agos is still current: Come visit! Watch films! Drink!

So, late notice, but, y'know, elections; anyone else planning to attend?

ETA: How did I miss Robocop on the programme? Sun, 6 Jun 18:45, surely worth coming just to see that on the big screen, right?

I think I'm beginning to recover from the exhaustion now. Had a simply marvellous (darling) weekend, involving meeting many people, consuming much alcohol and watching many many many films. On Friday alone I was sat in various cinemas for over 8^1/2 hours. So, for those interested, a summary review of the films I watched, in order of showing.

Day one: Friday 13th

( 12.00: Brain Dead—but not the one I expected )
( 14.15: Vampire Diary—including unexpected friends in the crowd )
( 16.00: Black Christmas—traditional college slasher pic )
( 18.15 An American Werewolf in London—so much better than I was expecting, and I knew it was good. )if like me you've never seen this film?
Go and watch it. Now.( really, just do it )
( 20.15: The Mist )

Aftermath

After that, we went to a local Moroccan restaurant for a meal (hint to the waiter—if you want a decent tip, try to avoid serving the chicken dish to the vegetarian and telling him it's cheese), then onto the Gasworks. I was at this stage utterly exhausted (films tend to tire me anyway, enclosed atmospheres, etc), but it was fun. We eventually rolled home in the early hours.

I'm posting this via the flickr blog this tool from karohemd's picture of yself and snapesbabe in front of pmoodie's poster art, I'll do day two and three later.

The National Media Museum have finalised the programe for the 7th Fantastic Film Weekend and updated the website. They've also put up the rather nice artwork they commissioned for it, which the artist is justifiably pleased with, feel free to go congratulate him (after you've booked tickets, naturally).

Oh, for those still thinking of visiting, my parents stayed at the Waterfront Lodge last week and gave it a seal of approval, bus from outside goes straight to the museum and it's got a lot of other attendees in it, while being just downt he road from us.

Go on, y'know you want to...

I've mentioned the Fantastic Films Weekend a few times recently, but today the National Media Museum put the new website live so we have some details:

This year the line-up includes the Tarantino/Rodriguez Grindhouse double-bill, the ultimate Cushing/Lee pairing in Dracula, Daughters of Darkness, Eyes without a Face, Blood on Satan’s Claw and John Carpenter’s The Thing in 70mm with an exclusive video introduction from Carpenter himself. Our guests will be cult filmmakers Harry Kümel, Peter Duffell, Piers Haggard and Robert Fuest.

Now, I'm not a massive horror film fan (because most horror films don't involve space ships), but I can appreciate a good flick, and the normal selection they've had has been brilliant, last year included Soylent Green, 300 on the IMAX, a showing of Ghostwatch and Forbidden Planet. So that's some proper SF, some decent horror, some weird FX driven stuff and SPARTA!

It's a really cool venue in Bradford, just a few minutes walk from Bradford Interchange bus and rail station, incredibly easy to get to. Especially from our house, the 363 takes 20 minutes from the end of our street. So that's:

7th Fantastic Films Weekend runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June

Admit it, you're interested. And you want to come. You can even throw in a visit to sunny Brighouse and see where I live and everything.

And, honestly? Bradford's actually quite a nice place as well. Honest. Or you could do what some of the British Horror Forum regulars are doing (including pmoodie?), and stay in the hotel down the road from us because it's dead cheap and really nice. And they probably won't bite. Unless you're into that sort of thing. And I know you lot, some of you are...

So, right then, never did get around to that 'what I've been up to' post that LJ kept eating during the DDOS thing did I. So, a summary post, but first, a poll!
[Poll #1003180]
( Thursday May 31st - Last day at work, lunch in Portcullis House, the Houses of Parliament )
( Friday 1st June - Jennie visits, the Tate Late panel discussion ) ( Adrian Searle on State Britain - very luvvy )( Pubs and wandering late around Soho )
( Saturday 2nd June - Pirates, Disney and comic fangirls )
( Sunday 3rd - Wednesday 6th - Relax + job hunting )
( Thursday 7th June - Book signing at Waterstones with )( Jon Courtenay Grimwood,  )( Steph Swainston  )( and a BBC camera crew )
( Wondering home chatting, and putting names to usernames )
( Friday 8th June - A family visit and a meeting with friends )
( Saturday 9th June - Ballet - the Three Musketeers )
( Sunday June 10th - Wandering Wimbledon )
( Tuesday June 12th - Hyde Park with a friend )
( Wednesday June 13th - Yorkshire bound and zombie avoidance )( Rik Mayall - The New Statesman )
( Today? )
( Upcoming )

Did I say summary? That's a summary? Oops, probably good job I didn't go for the long version isn't it...