Irma Vep (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes

Irma Vep (1996): French. Movie about moviemaking. Fading director remakes a silent movie classic, with the sexy cat burglar played by Chinese star Maggie Cheung (played by Maggie Cheung herself). Confused? Very meta. Very arty. Both homage and satire. C+

#VeryTardyReview

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018): Part love story, part WWII historical drama, part mystery movie, all heart (even a Nazi). I can't think of a movie with a better constructed plot where all the pieces fit just right and go in place at just the right time. A-

#VeryTardyReview

Hypnotic (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Hypnotic (2023): Police detective's daughter is kidnapped. The search to find her uncovers a web of people with power of instant mind control. Silly premise but the movie invests itself wholly in it as the web expands to ever wider reach. C-

POTD: The City of Light at Christmas

From 2022 12 25 Paris

"Louis's power play,
In Place Vendôme's grand display,
Paris's heart today."

—h/t ChatGPT

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Place Vendôme in Paris. Place Vendôme was built by Louis XIV as a grand setting to embody absolute power in the heart of Paris. The Vendôme Column was erected by Napoleon I to commemorate the Battle of Austerlitz.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Paris at Christmas

From 2022 12 25 Paris

"Champs-Élysées' charm,
Arc de Triomphe in the night,
Christmas memories."

—h/t ChatGPT

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Paris, France. Christmas in Paris: dream vacation or cliché? Regardless, our whole family gathered last year for Christmas at the home of surplus vowels and accent marks for five days of seeing as many sights as we could fit in.

Bonus photos are after the jump.