I enjoy films that make me think about something outside of my own perspective. I had no idea what Babel was about. In fact, I had got it into my head that it would be similar to Troy; I think Brad Pitt being in it confused me.

From the offset, the first few scenes really did nothing to tell me what Babel actually was. Throughout the first half of the movie I was waiting for a sudden twist of events to piece everything together in some cliché way, but thankfully this never came and what the film turned into was a number of individual stories loosely connected but told with their own importance. The links between the stories revealed some elements of irony as each did affect the next (you could argue profoundly), but I prefer not to look too much into these links. They served their purpose but they don’t take anything away from the power of the four individual situations. The film was not about consequences so much as it was about human thought.

People seem divided about the movie, but I think it was one of the better films I have seen in recent years. For a long time, I have not felt so empty and emotionally drained as a film’s credits begin to roll as when Babel finished. It was almost too much. Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu is a fantastic director. I loved the way that this film avoided convention: there was nobody to love or hate, just people and their stories, their lives, their fears, their dreams.

The reviews on Rotten Tomoatoes seem split between praising Babel for its brilliance and slating it for its bloated, uneven narrative. Perhaps the theme of cultural interaction could have been explored better along with the concept of universal communication, but during the movie I wasn’t too interested in discussing social issues. All I wanted to see were the stories, although I must say the whole thing would have been better without Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett turning in (what I felt were) uninspiring performances.

What was interesting was the casual way that several cultures were presented to the audience. There was nothing overbearing about it. We learnt as we watched. Babel was a pleasant surprise.

Techno' tags: Babel, Movies, Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu , Brad Pitt

In what I can only describe as “strange news”, here are a few selected winners from last night’s Grammy Awards:

Record of the year

Not Ready To Make Nice – Dixie Chicks

Album of the year

Taking the Long Way – Dixie Chicks

Song of the year

Not Ready To Make Nice – Dixie Chicks

Best country performance by a duo or group

Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks

Best country album

Taking The Long Way – Dixie Chicks

And, of course:

Best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal

My Humps – The Black Eyed Peas

It’s obvious why the Grammys are considered the Oscars of the music industry.

Techno' tags: Dixie Chicks, Grammys

Last night I went to meet a friend, Ae, at Emporium for sushi. Will and Kitty showed up after watching a movie and Will, Ae and I went to the Japanese soi because we had nothing to do.

The bar we chose turned out to be, of course, a karaoke bar. It was tiny but felt somehow homely. The songs were blaring out of the sound system, and much to our surprise we were warmly welcomed by the Thai hostess. We sat at the bar and Will was handed a book of English songs. He made his choice and we watched the remainder of the offbeat videos accompanying the Japanese songs (those videos were fantastic).

Lots of clapping ensued at regular intervals, and at one point the hostess got out a tambourine. Everything seemed normal… until:

Mr. Vain by Culture Beat started roaring out of the speakers.

Much to my surprise, Will had carefully selected one of the most well-known monstrosities (which I do own a copy of) from the early-nineties Euro-rave revolution. Will took lead vocals and I backed him up with occasional noises. Ae did some dancing.

The waitresses started to dance and the Japanese people started to leave. It was surreal, to say the least. The applause when the song finished seemed to come more from relief than appreciation.

Even though it cost us more than 400 baht each for the privilege of one beer, some dried peas, a bar of chocolate, and one song, I think we’ll be back next week. I won’t say exactly where it is because I don’t want anyone else to go there.

I haven’t really blogged much over the past seven days. I’m actually quite happy this week as there are a number of things going on at the moment that are making my life interesting. Work seems to be flowing in and I’m saving money, and the possibility of moving to Australia took an unexpected twist this week. Ah, but there is also another job that I may or may not be formally offered in Bangkok. What’s a boy to do? So that’s work, life and money (of which I’m owed a lot) dealt with to an extent. As for girls, well, the way things were this weekend was actually really positive, so I hope things stay exactly like that.

I’m happy without complications.

Techno' tags: Karaoke, Bangkok

I bought cigarettes today for the first time in I don’t know how long. After successfully quitting three months ago, or so I thought, I smoked three cigarettes on Friday just gone. It’s obviously nothing to do with a physical craving, but smoking seems to complement my mood at the moment. I’m not sure if I can fully articulate the state of mind I’m in today. I think the best way to describe it is that I feel like I want to change the world but I can’t figure out how. I’m kind of lost right now, which I suppose is fitting.

I just drifted to work today, almost floating from point A to point B without any acknowledgement of my surroundings. I was trapped within my own bubble beneath the realization that everything I see inspires me, but it doesn’t inspire me to actually do anything. The books I read, the people I meet, the songs I hear: It creates this uneasy melancholy that won’t identify itself.

I feel utterly reclusive from my surroundings within a sort of self-made seclusion. I just have this urge to be productive, which I think is why I want to study again. I don’t miss home other than the friends and family that are there; I don’t feel lonely because there are very few people I really want to talk to; and I don’t resent my life in any way; but there is something lacking, and it’s probably the same non-existent thing that I assumed I would find when I left the UK.

I’m going to buy Mario DS tomorrow and on Saturday I will catch a number of buses and see where I end up: I’ve wanted to do that since I arrived 19 months ago.

I grabbed something to eat at Central World with one of the guys from work tonight, and on our way back we were greeted by this specimen:

Her name is Natalie Glebova and she was, apparently, Miss Universe 2005. I didn’t have my camera with me so this picture will have to suffice. I’ve never seen a woman quite like her. She walked past me and I gave her a nod and smiled and she met my eyes and smiled back. I think there was some connection there.

Techno' tags: Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe