The Toeava thing is interesting because, on the surface, it appears that first-five, second-five and fullback actually require fairly similar skill-sets. Toeava simply didn't have any of the skill-set, except for vaguely being able to kick.

As someone who actually got into a lengthy argument recently with a "feminist who goes too far", I can say they do exist. I also cut another argument on the Bechdel test off early with my guitar teacher, and she is by no means an aggressive feminist. I think it is more of a misappropriation by people who don't know…

Muliaina could play in the midfield (and sometimes did). But then he was far more of a utility back than specifically a fullback.

The first few episodes of Season 3 are probably my favourite of the entire run.

I'm also considering giving up on Masters of Sex. Just not what as good as it was cracked up to be, and I get annoyed with people trying to have their cake and eat it too by fetishising the aesthetic of an era while being smug about "how much better we are now…"

I watched DoA as a 13-year-old and loved its exploitation-film values and accuracy to the video game. Somehow I doubt I would like it as much now.

I know, it seems like it is self-evidently flawed, but I think certain people (the highly liberal, academic sorts) see it as an easy thing to point and say "this is what is wrong with movies today!" It also leads into arguments around feminism, race and gender, which are completely unwinnable if you are a straight…

I celebrated the end of lectures for the year with some sleeping in. I also watched The Vampire Lovers, the 1956 version of Runaway Daughters, and The Frighteners.

I've still been too busy to do much movie watching this week, but I did listen to another of the Gardiner Beethoven Symphonies. This time I listened to the Pastoral Symphony, and was similarly enthused by his lively interpretation. I particularly liked the first, fourth and fifth movements.

It's interesting to see that they were trying to be humourless, because his performance is actually very funny (and adds much-needed levity).

This week I was swamped with my new McJob and 2 fairly hefty assignments, but I did manage to get to see Gravity. Visually, it was absolutely stunning. Everything about the visuals was fascinating, placing the viewer in the space brilliantly (and using seamless transitions in and out of POV shots to get you to…

I honestly thought the script worked. It wasn't perfect, but the arc was well-articulated. On the other hand, Bullock's performance was awful, and the film works very well in spite of her.

Miller's Crossing is also my favourite Coen brothers film. It's a source of constant debate with my brother (who prefers their cure for writers block, Barton Fink). I'm thinking it's time to do a re-watch and see who comes out right in the end.

This week I watched Rush and Elysium, as well as up to the end of season 3 of Parenthood and various pilots.

I only watched the one movie this week, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. It felt a lot like a first feature, with some odd-looking shots and a not-quite complete handle on pace, but the performances by Eastwood and Bridges were terrific (especially Bridges) and the overall caper vibe was well-done. The script was a little…

Kyle's mom is a big fat fucking bitch
Big ole fat fucking bitch, Kyle's mom. (Jazz hands) Yeah.

I like Ozu's approach to conversation scenes. I realise it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's well-suited to his films and to me it feels more natural than some of the intensified continuity approaches (I'm really, really frustrated with the way filmmakers use over-the-shoulder shots in a lot of recent films).

I've said this before, but I see Primer as Carruth experimenting with dialogue-based storytelling and Upstream Color as his experiment with visual storytelling. When Carruth puts them together in his next film it should result in a great film.

I personally prefer season 3 of Angel, as a lot of my favourite episodes are in that season. Of course, the one thing most people can agree on is that season 4 is terrible (like season 6 of Buffy coming up).

I haven't seen Small Soldiers since I was a kid, but I saw it three or four times and distinctly remember liking it more than Toy Story or Toy Story 2.