Permutation City Blog

What would you do if this were your last night on Earth? The end of the world is coming and everybody is going to die. People cope in different ways. They each must fill the last few hours of their life. Follow them on their last night.

A wonderful animated tale about Jack Skellington and Halloween town and how they, with good intention, try to take over Christmas. Enjoy the characters, the story, the mis-understandings, and even the songs.

The first book is very much like the film. Subsequent books felt like they were cheating; each uncovers a new layer ignored by the previous book. Still an interesting read and if you liked the film or first book then worth investigating.

As the first man steps out onto the moon we follow the action at an Australian radio telescope which receives the television broadcast from this historic moment. This is a slow film in which very little happens but, if you can get beyond that, it's a lovely film about people.

Once a year in this near future Japan a class of school children is selected at random and transported to a remote island. Here they are given weapons and must fight until only one is left. (None of this makes sense.) What follows is a violent but not bloodthirsty film. Many of the children choose to fight for what's right rather than what's wrong.

I remember this on late night telly many years ago, it can't have been long since it was released, and was delighted to discover it again when I came to Io. Since then I've seen it on the big screen, bought it on DVD, and haven't been disappointed. It's a story about two kids and their journey to discover the secret floating island of Laputa. It's filled with weird flying machine, good guys, bad guys, and giant robots.

The muppets feature in many classic shows and movies and I think this is the best of them. All your favourite characters are there in this great adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Fine performances from everyone and is Michael Caine is the perfect Scrooge, a great contrast and the only non-muppet in the film.

If you're looking for something strange you can't go far wrong with Terry Gilliam. His earlier work tended towards the funny, well hilarious actually, and his later work is more serious but equally good. Although The Brothers Grimm seemed more like traditional Hollywood fare he is one of the few directors who might properly adapt Good Omens for the big screen.

Worth it for Huey, Dewey and Louis alone. Watching them struggle through hardship you cannot help but anthropomorphise them.

Many of my favourite films could be described as strange. This film is definitely strange but seem to be trying too hard. Ultimately it didn't work for me.