Thoughts on... Belle (2021) - Spoilers!

 

I’m fascinated by Belle.

Patreon, YouTube & Twitch Update

Hello! This is a slightly modified version of a post on my Patreon: patreon.com/lukescoffield

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCejiZRfZOqqR3njmf-LdtHg

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/catsequences

Quick Update: October 2021

 

It's been a while! Apologies for not having updated you since July. Here's a quick post on some relevant things.

Roundup: May & June 2021

Hello, it's been a while and yes, it's nearly mid-July, but here we are...

In this roundup, some quick thoughts on films, updates on my let's play activities and some recommendations.

Roundup: March and April 2021

I forgot to update you on what I'd been doing in March, but there wasn't a lot to talk about so, if you please, have a double bill now...

Roundup: February 2021

Let's see what I've been about in February...

Writing and illustration-wise: I've been pitching for some interesting projects and I've yet to see what will bear fruit. I think at the very least I will have some interesting work to share as its own thing further down the line.

Let's Plays: I kicked off a new series playing Divine Divinity, a delightfully silly roleplaying game from 2002 I've been keen to play for some time. I'm having a ball with it so far. It's been a pleasure to play compared to some other games I could mention (*cough*) and coming up with titles/thumbnail art in a medieval manuscript style has been a delight.

This is episode 1, mainly going over the controls and mechanics:

I start exploring the world in episode 2:

Which flows into episode 3:

My let's play strategy for an RPG is to try to role-play my character (in this case, Jeanne) as much as possible given the demands of the mechanics and plot, and to give her and the other characters voice in at least equal proportion to the commentary I give as myself.

I'm still assembling pieces for the next episode of Let's Play The Feeble Files (it's going to take a lot of recording, editing and invention I think), so watch out for that in the future. In the meantime, I have plenty of episodes of Divine Divinity recorded and just in need of the editing treatment.

I think that's it for Feb!

Take care and see you soon.

X

Roundup: January 2021

If writing 2020 felt like being in the future, writing 2021 feels like the far future...

I thought it might be nice to initiate a monthly roundup of my online doings for ease of access and so I look busier. January's roundup is probably going to be quite straightforward.

Thoughts On... Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films 1980-1983 (Spoilers!)

You may be aware that back in 2016, one or more lifetimes ago, I attempted to write a review of The Assassin because I didn't enjoy it and had some thoughts as to why, then this time last year (November 2019, a pandemic ago) revisited the film and commented on the original review with some new thoughts.

Second time around, I felt that it was working as it intended, but still didn't offer me much. This was frustrating, because The Assassin is a well-regarded film by well-regarded filmmakers, so what was I missing? I thought I'd take a chance on exploring more films directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien and picked up the Eureka Masters of Cinema boxset containing Cute Girl (1980), The Green Green Grass of Home (1982) and The Boys of Fengkuei (1983).

Where Are We Now?

 Thanks, David.

This is a little update about where I'm at with my creative output and what I'll be doing from this point on.

Thoughts on... Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion (spoilers)

This should be a good year for Asterix lovers, with the publication of a new album (by Ferri and Conrad) on October 24th, and the release (outside France) of a new animated film with an original story... if you're lucky enough to be able to see it.

Rebellious Youth

Hello again!

May usually proves to be a hectic month for me and this past one was no exception. I got out of step with my webcomics, but they're now back on a regular schedule: Multum in Parvo and The Box. I haven't completed work on any other projects, unfortunately, although ideas have been coming thick and fast. It's been one of those periods where ideas just seem to keep generating themselves, faster than I can write them down, and whenever that happens, it's always surprising and wonderful. I should certainly be all right for cartoon material for a while now.

In the meantime, I've also been reading quite a few comics and have some thoughts to share (though not enough for a full review of anything), so let's jump in feet first with:

Plan of Action (Comics)

Hello,

How have you been?

I have a lot of ideas, some of them funny, and the frequent urge to switch to the newest. The latest idea must surely be the best, and the previous was probably, actually, crap. I don't think this is an uncommon impulse with creativity, but it tends to not get a lot done. The skill, I suspect, is in disciplining oneself to persevere with a project through self-doubt and periods when you lose engagement. Therefore, I have an announcement: I'm going to commit.

Where have you been?

Working for money, working for pleasure, getting upset, playing, eating, sleeping.

And having said that, I think I'm in my most creative period for years; at least since I stopped drawing my barbarian comic Talmac in 2011 (I still love some of those pages, and really enjoyed the square format).

2016 Picture Book Recommendations

With the announcement of the Caldecott Medal and Honors this month, I thought it was past time I wrote about my favourite picture books of 2016.

Review of The Assassin (2015)

Dahong Ni stares into space for several seconds.

I have reviewed the film The Assassin, directed by Hou Hsian-hsien, 2015, not because I particularly enjoyed it, but because I felt able to describe why I didn't. The review's below the break.

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Roundup

Firstly, sorry for the lateness of this roundup of my Picture Book Challenge 2015. I wanted to squeeze in as many books read and reviewed as possible, but toward the end of December I was in a position where I just needed to catch up with myself. The one benefit of the delay in getting to publish this is that I was able to add three extra titles to my recommendations, but more on that later.

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Her Idea

I had hoped to post at least a couple more updates before year's end, but unfortunately I ran out of time. This will be the last post in the 2015 Picture Book Challenge, apart from a summary and recommendations from among the books I have read which is to follow soon. I have three more book reviews in this last update, and will finish with a list of other books I read but won't comment on.

Her Idea by Rilla Alexander

2015 Picture Book Challenge: The Zoomers' Handbook

The Zoomers' Handbook by Anna & Thiago de Moraes

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Terry Perkins and his Upside Down Frown

A bit of a bumper edition for this post, so let's start at the top:

Terry Perkins and his Upside Down Frown by Felix Massie

2015 Picture Book Challenge: Steve Antony quadruple bill

There's every chance Steve Antony will be the most prolific author & illustrator I'll review in this challenge with an impressive four books published this year. He's also a new kid on the block; find out more at his website. I've saved my post till the publication of Green Lizards vs Red Rectangles, so I can compile thoughts on all four. But, to begin:

Please, Mr Panda