2001 - A Bizarre odyssey

I've been working through the list of the100 greatest films.  Today I watch 2001:A Space Odyssey, which has to be one of the bizarrest films I have seen in a while.

I remember trying to watch it as a child and giving up, watching it now I understand why.  It's over 2 hours long, with little dialogue, but it is a beautifully shot film.  More than any other film I have seen it portrays the emptiness of space and the claustrophobia of space travel.

It is easy to understand why it appealed to the hippies and counter-culture of the sixties.  There is a section towards the end of the film which is around 10 minutes visuals and colours, which is indeed very trippy, or as the film was re-branded "The Ultimate Trip".

It is a film which will need to be watched several times, as there are numerous interpretations of the meaning, particularly the significance of the black monolith.

Citizen Kane

A cold afternoon surrounded by snow was the perfect opportunity to sit back and watch Citizen Kane for the first time.  I can't say I was bowled over by it, and IMHO it does not deserved the high praise awarded to it by film critics.

I would give the film a 7, and may watch it again in a few years time but I wouldn't put it in my top 50 films.  I did mean I finally got a lot of the references made in the Simpsons episode Rosebud.

Started listening to 100 greatest albums

Task 36 was to listen to all 100 of Channel 4's 100 Greatest Albums.  Thankfully with Napster this is quite an inexpensive task as most are available to stream with the exception of the Beatles.  I already own the first 3 so my first one to try was Michael Jackson's Thriller.  IMHO it is highly over-rated, it would give it 3 stars.

2nd change of task

Beginning to realise that the weight loss task is probably not achievable considering my lack of will power.  I've changed it to getting an ear piercing.

First task achieved

With just over 2 years to go I have achieved my first task, I am now renting a place of my own.  I think one of my next tasks to seek out will be the horse riding.

Change of task

I will soon complete one of the tasks by moving into my own flat, unfortunately it does mean I have to ditch the exercise bike as I don't have space.  Therefore task 21 will now be:

• Have a 40th birthday party.

The final 40

I've decided on the following.  Maybe not too exciting but hopefully achievable:

1. Visit Scandanavia
2. Learn a foreign language
3. Visit another continent
4. See the Northern Lights
5. Watch Citizen Kane to the end
6. Achieve Grade 4 Piano Forte exam (after a break of about 25 years since grade 3 taken)
7. Take an A level
8. Drop from 40" to at the most 36" waist
9. Read every Wallander book
10. Swim in the North Sea
11. Visit Paris
12. Write a Haiku
13. Attend a Tai Chi lesson to see if I enjoy/find it useful
14. Do a fund raising event for charity. (Not sure what yet)
15. Get a tattoo on my right arm
16. Go on a road trip exploring Britain with no destination in mind
17. Take a mini break on the Yorkshire coastline during winter
18. Have no outstanding debit
19. Buy or rent a place of my own
20. Get a photograph published in a photography magazine
21. Reach 1000km on my exercise bike (currently at 5)
22. Complete at least one more 60 point module towards my OU degree
23. Write a piano composition
24. Create a piece of video art
25. Read more about postmodernism so I can concisely explain what it is
26. Ride a horse
27. Appear on a TV quiz show
28. Understand and complete a cryptic crossword
29. Get a letter published in the Guardian
30. Go to a music festival (not something I've done since my early 20s)
31. Visit a jazz club
32. Listen to Wagner's Ring Cycle from beginning to end
33. Go to the ballet
34. Take a break in Edinburgh
35. See all 100 of Channel 4's 100 Greatest Films
36. Listen to all 100 of Channel 4's 100 Greatest Albums
37. Re-watch all of the West Wing
38. Make a curry from scratch
39. Climb to the top of York Minster
40. Make a piece of Photoshop art.

Time to fire the starting gun.  799 days to achieve my list.