Day #21,835

Walk km 8712-8718: Lynn Canyon Park (upper half)

suspension bridge
approx km 8715 Lynn Canyon Park

Movie #1834: Intentions Of Murder (1964, Shohei Imamura)

Low-life love quadrilateral centered around poor Sadako. Her husband treats her like a slave while he spends his time having an affair with a co-worker. She is also being persued by a rapist. The husband is so despicable that he actually makes the rapist seem like a good choice for Sadako. The scenes in the railroad tunnel are not to be missed. In fact, there's an awful lot of trains in this movie.

Movie #1835: The Man From Planet X (1951, Edgar G Ulmer)

Very cheap sci-fi programmer. So cheap that some of the scenery is just drawings. Otherwise, it's OK as aliens from outer space land in Scotland. Still don't see what all the fuss about Edgar G Ulmer is though. I've seen a bunch of his movies and they don't appear to be anything special.

Day #21,834

Walk km 8701-8712 (13,122 to go): Cleveland Dam to Lonsdale Quay

trees and a road
approx km 8701 leading to Cleveland Dam

Day #21,833

Walk km 8684-8686: running errands
Walk km 8686-8701 (13,132 to go): King George Blvd @ #10 Highway (Surrey) to Langley Centre

those darn golden arches are everywhere
approx km 8694 56th Ave (Surrey)

Day #21,832

Walk km 8673-8684: Mosquito Creek to Phibbs Exchange

walking trail
approx km 8678 William Griffin Park

Movie #1833: Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon (2007, Julian Schnabel)

There is a problem with this movie. The director has gotten so clever that you cannot focus on the story - you are continually reminded that you are watching a movie.

Day #21,831

Walk km 8664-8673 (13,158 to go): Cleveland Dam to Lonsdale Quay

Movie #1832: Miranda (1948, Ken Annakin)

Fellow goes fishing and comes back with a mermaid. The whole film is a series of scenes where they try and keep the secret that she's a mermaid. So, kind of a one note film but a fun one nevertheless.
The final shot is Miranda with a baby mermaid (merman) so it looks like someone found out about her being a mermaid and wasn't put off about it at all.

Day #21,830

Walk km 8661-8664: running errands

Movie #1831: Bird Now (1987, Marc Huraux)

Documentary about Charlie Parker. A real mess. When they interview someone they don't say who it is. When they have a musical clip they don't say who it is. In between there are these long stretches of film showing New York in 1987 (Charlie Parker died in 1955). A real mess.

Day #21,829

Walk 8650-8661 (13,168 to go): Cleveland Dam to Dundarave with the Meetup group

Kathy & Dave from the Meetup group
approx km 8653 Baden-Powell Trail (West Vancouver)


Movie #1830: Je Me Souviens (2009, Andre Forcier)

Too bad the DVD shut down with just 10 minutes left in the movie. So, I watched the first 80 minutes last night and then decided to try my laptop this morning. Voila! That worked. Unfortunately, it did kind of ruin the continuity of the film.
It appears that Forcier hasn't lost it since his kooky "L'eau Chaude L'eau Frette" from 1976. This one is also chock full of goofy characters and unexpected plot twists.

Television episode #10: Play For Today - Abigail's Party (1977, Mike Leigh)

Great collection of obnoxious characters and poor "Sue" who has to put up with them.

Day #21,828

Walk km 8643-8650 (13,178 to go): Every Block walk: Kitsilano Library to 2nd @ McDonald via Alma

Movie #1829: Leur Derniere Nuit (1953, Georges Lacombe)

A movie that should be a dull affair but isn't. Jean Gabin is a crimal hiding out from the police. The interesting thing here is that there is a school teacher who decides to try and help him out. Why?
Also, since this movie wasn't made in Hollywood, the criminal may or may not be caught. It's nice to not know the ending in advance.

Day #21,827

Walk km 8633-8641: Circle Vancouver walk: Chippendale to 24th @ Marine
Walk km 8641-8643: to the library

a creek running downhill
approx km 8634 Chippendale Road

Movie #1828: The Sellout (1952, Gerald Mayer)

My kinda movie. However, the execution of this one is so crappy that I cannot recommend it. The direction is strickly pedestrian and the script never goes beyond shooting-fish-in-a-barrel. Everyone is either all black or all white. John Hodiak is a very bland leading man. Avoid.

Burnaby Lake

Day #21,826
Walk km 8621-8633 (13,193 to go): Meetup walk, Burnaby Lake

Meetup walkers
approx km 8625 Burnaby Lake

Movie #1827: A Scene At The Sea (1991, Takeshi Kitano)

Speaking of silent movies.......... this is almost one as the lead character is deaf and dumb. And it's not your usual extreme violence Kitano, this is the kinder gentler Kitano.
It's so low key that I didn't even realize what had happened at the end. Apparantly the lead character died? Who knew!

Day #21,825

Walk km 8603-8621 (13,204 to go): Circle Vancouver walk: Pitt Meadows to Coquitlam

a giant bee
approx km 8619 at the entrance to Coquitlam Park

Book #392: Where Men Win Glory (2009, Jon Krakauer)

Not nearly as good as Jon's previous book (Under The Banner Of Heaven). That one was about the depth of human stupidity. This one is about human self-preservation: the willingness to do whatever need be in order to benefit yourself. Unfortunately, that trait is pretty easy to see at work everywhere (even in oneself if we're willing to shine a light there). And where he finds it is in the United States military and in politicians. Those would definitely be two places where you would expect it to be rampant.
Also, the book has a wasted first half. That part is mainly the biography of professional football player turned army recruit Pat Tillman. Mr Tillman's life may be of some interest to sports fans but it was his death that makes compelling reading. However, the fact that the politicians used his death to curry favor with the public and the military tried to hide the fact that he was killed by his fellow soldiers is exactly how you would expect these people to act. It's pretty sad but it's certainly not surprising.

Movie #1826: Underworld (1927, Josef Von Sternberg)

This movie has one big handicap: it's silent. When compared to other silents I'm sure it's one of the best but it still has that significant handicap when compared to the talkies. Beautiful but silent.

Day #21,824

Walk km 8593-8601 (13,223 to go): Every block walk: Rupert Station return via Normandy Dr
Walk km 8601-8603: to the library

a school that doesn't look like a prison
approx km 8598 Nootka Street

Movie #1821: Sansho The Bailiff (1954, Kenji Mizoguchi)

This one came in at #22 in WondersInTheDark's Top 3000 of all time. It would be considerably lower on my list. Like last night's film this one is beautifully composed but the plot needs to be better. In last night's film everything was gray, in this one everything is black or white (good and evil in stark contrast instead of all characters being the same). However, this really doesn't help much because there is no wiggle room : slavery is bad, freedom is good. Who is it that would disagree with that?
I assume that this one is ranked so high because of its beauty (see photo).

Movie #1822: How To Start Your Own Country (2010, Joey Shapiro)

An amusing look at micro-nations. Ones newly minted as well as some 30, 40 or even hundreds of years old. Both eye opening and silly.

Day #21,823

Walk km 8584-8593: Queens @ St Johns (Port Moody) to Guilford @ Pinetree (Coquitlam)

tree stump and bridge
approx km 8586 Shoreline Park (Port Moody)

Movie #1819: The Story Of Temple Drake (1933, Stephen Roberts)

They say that this was the last straw: the straw that caused Hollywood to introduce the Hayes Code. This is the film of William Faukner's "Sanctuary". Mariam Hopkins finally has to pay for playing fast and loose with all the men of Dixon, Mississippi.
A fun movie but it ain't exactly "Mudhoney". However, I guess in 1933 this sort of thing was quite scandalous.

Movie #1820: Des gens sans importance(1956, Henri Verneuil)

Beautifully made film. However, the plot leaves one cold. All the characters are flawed so there is no one to cheer for. It's a slice of life that tastes like cold pizza.

Day #21,822

Walk km 8574-8584 (13,238 to go): Lynn Canyon Park with the Meetup group

Meetup walkers
approx km 8579 Lynn Canyon Park

Movie #1817: Employee's Entrance (1933,Roy Del Ruth)

Another early Loretta Young. This one starts out as a straight anti-capitalism rant but by movie's end the tone has softened. Seems that capitalism is fine for some (if you have the stomach for it) but others need to opt out.
In the end, cold blooded boss Warren William continues his ruthless ways but Loretta and Wallace Ford decide they're just not cut out for that kind of dog-eat-dog life and so they drop out and start their life anew.
And it's all done quite entertainingly. Thumbs up.

Movie #1818: Une petite zone de turbulences (2009, Alfred Lot)

It's old-timers Michel Blanc and Miou-Miou in a new Netflix release. Michel plays his usual crazy person role. Miou-Miou is edging toward 60 but still looks great. Fun.

Day #21,821

Walk km 8563-8574 (13,247 to go): Hastings @ Inlet (Burnaby) to St Johns @ Queen (Port Moody)

North Cliff at Northcliffe
approx km 8565 Burnaby

Movie #1815: Mr. Thank You (1936, Hiroshi Shimizu)

Japanese road trip movie as we go along with our driver (Mr Thank You) as he travels along the rural roads picking up all sorts of characters.
Like "Crime Wave" yesterday, one of the stars of this movie is the locale: instead of 1954 Los Angeles, this time it's 1936 Japan.

Movie #1816: The Bothersome Man (2006, Jens Lien)

Quite a run of good movies I'm having. In this Norwegian film a guy commits suicide and arrives in heaven. He finds heaven awfully boring so he decides to try and escape. So, it's like one of those prison escape pictures where they try and tunnel out except here we're not really sure where the tunnel leads. If you dig a tunnel out of heaven, where do you end up?

Day #21,820

Walk km 8550-8552: running errands
Walk km 8552-8563: Stanley Park with the Meetup group

Movie #1812: Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden (2008, Morgan Spurlock)

Comic documentary maker sets of to find Osama? Not really. He sets off to the middle east to talk to people about terrorism. Interestingly, he does admit that one of Osama's two reasons for attacking the USA is legit: the USA has repeatedly supported world leaders who suppressed their own people as long as they were pro-USA. As for the other reason, he talks to regular Muslims to show that they are just like everyone else. And on top of all that, he supersizes the whole think with an extra helping of comedy.
I was entertained.

Movie #1813: Decoy (1946, Jack Bernhard)

It looks like we've found a long lost Hollywood director who ranks up there with the best. Jack Bernhard has created quite a movie here. Endless crosses and doublecrosses as everyone fights over the loot from that bank job that's buried out in the bush. Great visuals, spiffy dialogue and mighty weird to boot.

Movie #1814: Crime Wave (1954,Andre DeToth)

And I thought that last one was good. This is about as good as a crime caper movie can get. The whole thing looks real - like they shot this right on the streets of L.A. instead of some back lot. You got Sterling Hayden with his toothpick. Hard as nails Charles Bronson. Everybody's favourite psycho, Timothy Carey. Ted De Corsia looking just like Bill O'Reily. Lots of good stuff from director Andre DeToth especially a couple of dark to light/light to dark sequences. Fabulous.

Day #21,819

Walk km 8540-8550(13,269 km to go): Hastings @ Inlet to Hastings @ Cassiar via the Trans-Canada Trail

trail through the woods
approx km 8553 Trans-Canada Trail (Burnaby)

Movie #1809: Man's Castle (1933, Frank Borzage)

I saw this one back in the 70s on TV. I remember liking it and I still do. However, it doesn't seem to be quite as good as it should be. Jo Swerling wrote the script. Spencer Tracy is his usual great self. Loretta Young, Marjorie Rambeau and Arthur Hohl are great too. The whole concept of Tracy and Young being made for each other because they each have what the other lacks works perfectly. Still, I think it could have been better - maybe I was just tired when I saw it.

Movie #1810: The Furies (1950, Anthony Mann)

It's a western about a cattle baron from New Mexico. Sounds kinda boring don't it? Well, yes, the story is pretty dull but I tell you that that Anthony Mann can sure direct. Makes what would have been a real snooze fest in less capable hands and turns it into solid entertainment.

Day #21,818

Walk km 8528-8540: Cleveland Dam to 26th @ Marine (North Vancouver)

a dam and canyon
approx km 8528 Cleveland Dam

Movie #1808: Orlando Vargas (2005, Juan Pittaluga)

I've never sat in a chair and watched paint dry but it must be something like sitting in a chair watching this movie. Orlando has some troubles. Orlando dies. His wife and son are sad. The end.

1000 Degrees Of Musical Separation: #51 - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Composed by Eric Bogle (Peebles, Scotland). First recording: John Currie (1975)
Version #1: The Pogues (London, UK) 1985
Version #2: Slim Dusty (Kempsey, Australia) ????



1000 Degrees Of Musical Separation: #52 - Waltzing Matilda
Composed by Banjo Paterson (1895). First recording: John Collinson & Russell Callow (1926)
Version #1: Slim Dusty (Kempsey, Australia) ????
Version #2: Ali Mills (Darwin, Australia) 2010

Day #21,817

Walk km 8517-8519: running errands
Walk km 8519-8528: Capilano @ Montroyal to Lonsdale Quay

a creek
approx km 8521 Montroyal Blvd

1000 Degrees Of Musical Separation: #50 - The Leaving Of Liverpool
Composed by traditional. First recording: ????
Version #1: The Seekers (Melbourne, Australia) on the A World Of Our Own LP 1965
Version #2: The Pogues (London, UK) 1984




Movie #1806: Don't Let The Angels Fall (1968,George Kaczender)

I've really run into a long line of stinkers lately. This one is the worst of the lot. I guess the folks at the National Film Board Of Canada saw the 60s slipping away and they needed a real happening type of film to show that they were just as groovy as Hollywood. Well, this couldn't have helped. What a total disaster!
Why did they reissue this on DVD? Couldn't you let these poor people just pretend they'd never been part of this mess?
UPDATE: This movie has a 79 score on IMDB! Hahahahahahaha.

Movie #1807: The Expert (1932, Archie Mayo)
Old codger comes to live with his son and daughter-in-law causing no end of trouble for them. Nauseatingly cutesy kid across the back alley is his friend. Too heartwarming for me.

Day #21,816

Walk km 8502-8517 (13,299 to go): 64th Ave to Annacis Island via Watershed Park and Burns Bog

Meetup group
approx km 8507 Watershed Park

Movie #1805: Play It Again Sam (Herbert Ross, 1972)

Not funny. I guess in 1972 the Woody Allen persona was new enough to make this seem fresh but now it's yesterday's news. We've all seen this sort of thing done many times over and better with Woody directing.

1000 Degrees Of Musical Separation: #49 - Four Strong Winds
Composed by Ian Tyson (1963). First recording: Brothers Four (1963)
Version #1: Neil Young (Toronto, Canada)
Version #2: The Seekers (Melbourne, Australia) on the A World Of Our Own LP 1965

Day #21,815

Walk km 8490-8502 (13,313 to go): 64th Ave to River Rd via Watershed Park and Delta Nature Reserve

boardwalk and park bench
approx km 8496 Delta Nature Reserve

Movie #1804: The Innocents (1961, Jack Clayton)

It's a "haunted house" movie. I hate haunted house movies. However, there may just be more going on here than meets the eye. I think I'd need to read the source material (Henry James' "A Turn Of The Screw") to find out. This movie really doesn't get much deeper than the usual a) the house is haunted or b) the person who thinks that is crazy question.

1000 Degrees Of Musical Separation: #46 - I Love You So Much It Hurts
Composed by Floyd Tillman. First recording: Floyd Tillman (1948)
Version #1: Floyd Tillman (Ryan, Oklahoma, USA) 1948
Version #2: Patsy Cline (Gore, Virginia, USA) 1961



1000 Degrees Of Musical Separation: #47 - I Fall To Pieces
Composed by Harlan Howard and Hank Cochran (1960). First recording: Patsy Cline (1961)
Version #1: Patsy Cline (Gore, Virginia, USA) from an early 60s TV show
Version #2: Mandy Barnett (Crossville, Tennessee, USA) from the movie "Crazy" 2007



1000 Degrees Of Musical Separation: #48 - Oh Lonesome Me
Composed by Don Gibson (1957). First recording: Don Gibson (1957)
Version #1: Mandy Barnett (Crossville, Tennessee, USA) live 2010
Version #2: Neil Young (Toronto, Canada) from "After The Goldrush" 1970

Day #21,814

Walk km 8479-8490: Dempsey @ Lynn Valley to Phibbs Exchange via Lynn Canyon Park

Movie #1802: La Tete En Friche (2010, Jean Becker)

An old fat slob (Gerard Deperdieu!) finds love all around him. Sappy. Very sappy.

Movie #1803: The Last Supper (1995, Stacy Title)

What is it? A drama or a black comedy? Well, it's a little of each and although the drama part was kind of predictable, I enjoyed the black comedy part.
One thing quite annoying about this and most modern movies: song placements. Why do they all-of-a-sudden have to start some song playing over top of the action for no reason except to make a few bucks for the record companies? Oh, I guess I've answered my own question.

Day #21,813

Walk km 8465-8479 (13,334 to go): Annacis Island to #6 Road

CANFOR for as far as you can see
approx km 8472 Portside Road

Movie #1800: I Am Waiting (1957, Koreyoshi Kurahara)

I like the visual style but Yujiro Ishihara is just too goofy looking. He just ruins everything - he's supposed to be a boxer who kills people with his bare hands? Gimme a break!

Movie #1801: Daytime Drinking (2008,Young-Seok Noh)

Guy breaks up with his girlfriend so his friends decide to take a trip with him to take his mind off his troubles. He goes but his friends never show up. Then things start going downhill. Fairly entertaining road movie.