American television...

[davidn]

...is patently awful. Most of the time, judge shows will be taking up at least some of the airwaves - programmes that take the already suspect process of justice and turn it in to a Weakest Link-style game. Even though I feel my intelligence draining away every time I'm in front of the television, they do have a sort of therapeutic effect, similar to reading the Sun - the feeling that I'm immeasurably superior to anyone involved with it.

There are a few worthwhile things on, though - a couple of nights ago I had the opportunity to watch Iron Chef for the first time. I had heard about it before, but I didn't expect it to be quite so much of a bizarre hybrid of Ready Steady Cook and Mortal Kombat. After the host ceremoniously and inexplicably bites in to a yellow pepper, a challenger chef selects from three grandly-clothed Iron Chefs to battle, and the cooking takes place in a circular arena surrounded by columns and stained-glass windows.

It would be a fairly normal if frantic cookery programme if it wasn't for the Gladiators stylings, but it was very entertaining to watch, especially as the challenger I saw seemed to feel it necessary to dip his hand in to the 500 degree boiling oil every few minutes to test its temperature, with no ill effects apparent whatsoever.

To avoid most of the television, though, we've been watching Miyazaki films. His work is immensely popular here despite being relatively unknown in Britain (with Spirited Away being by far the most recognisable of his films so far there). We were going to try and see the new one, Howl's Moving Castle, but no cinema in Berkeley seems to have it at the moment - so much for being popular. In the meantime we've been renting his older films from the video store down the road. Last night we watched Kiki's Delivery Service. This film features Jiji, who as shown in kytheraen's user icon, is a strong contender for the sweetest thing ever.

Comments

[starfishchris.livejournal.com]

Even sweeter than your favourite starfish?

[kibet.livejournal.com]

have you seen Castle in the sky?

[davidn]

Not yet, but we'll get to it - I've also seen Porca Rosso and... another one, the name of which escapes me, but it ended with two As.

[kibet.livejournal.com]

might be nausicaa?

[davidn]

Yes, that's the one.

[davidn]

Exactly - and they get you just before the credits as well. It's even worse than ITV, and I used to think that was pretty bad.

What really gets to me, though, is the lack of quality of the commericals - it's like being spammed through the TV. One of the ones that got to me most was some sort of window cleaner advert that promised "high-definition windows". The stupidity of sticking a randomly chosen buzzword on to the start of a product is beyond my comprehension.

[mercuryanna.livejournal.com]

I think it's playing at the Shattuck theater... when I walked by there, there was a big banner for it. I really want to see it - my roommate does too.

What are you doing watching crappy tv when you could be hanging out with me? (Only possibly more interesting.) I'm working a lot this week but we should be able to work something out. How long are you here?

[adararose-2.livejournal.com]

I second this question, especially since I'll be in Berekely for a week soon and it would be fun to have a mini-reunion.

[davidn]

Wonderful! When?

[adararose-2.livejournal.com]

I'll be there July 1st through 7th, but it sounds like you'll be gone by then. However, Davis really isn't very far away, so I can always drive in and see you all. Let me know what works for you!!

[davidn]

I'm here until the end of the month, so plenty of time - I've not been on Messenger because I don't have it on my laptop, but we should definitely work something out.