I just wanted to sort of remind everyone that it's my birthday in less than a week — next Wednesday, to be precise.  So if anyone wants to make me REALLY happy, I would adore some birthday fic (or art, if you don't write).  I don't know, it's probably uncouth and makes me sound greedy to just put it out there like that... but, well.  I rarely get what I want for my birthdays.

(And if you want to but you don't know what I might like, just ask. *cough*)

I keep meaning to mention this on the heals of another post, so as to be more "subtle" about it.  But that keeps not happening.  So there you go: blatant, shameless solicitation.  Because subtlety is overrated, anyway. :P




But to make this post not completely gratuitous...

I just saw Say Uncle.

It... was good.  Probably not among my favorite movies of all time, because like many indie films, it's one of those quiet little slice-of-life pictures that you might be glad you saw, but most likely won't be rewatching.  At least, that's how I feel about those kinds of movies.  (Plus, I was a little disappointed that a couple of the side storylines never really got resolved: ( spoilersCollapse ).)

That said, I love Peter Paige beyond what words can reasonably express.  And Lisa Edelstein — though her role was smaller than I had hoped — is pretty amazing as well.  For them alone, I would totally recommend seeing this movie.

More and more lately, I notice that the advancement of special effects and the general growth of Hollywood budgets has taken a negative toll on the fantasy/adventure genre in modern film (animated movies notwithstanding).  Studios are shelling out big bucks to make a picture visually impressive, create eye-catching trailers to try to outdo each other at the box office... but in the process they seem to be neglecting to worry about plot, so in the end the overall quality truly suffers.

Don't get me wrong, I love fantasy with all my heart.  It's probably my favorite subject in both film and literature.  But for a movie (as much as a book; even though the mediums are pretty different), what matters to me most is substance.  I want to watch films that focus on telling a rich and engaging story more than they do on supplying stunning effects and breathtaking battle scenes, on life-like computer animation, or on fancy sets and costumes.¹

( more on this, plus some very minor Alice in Wonderland spoilersCollapse )


I do not think that fantasy as a film genre is completely doomed.  Since some quality pictures are still being made, clearly there is hope.  But I do think the high-scale production that has become a Hollywood benchmark is slowly choking the life out what was once a small but amazing part of the movie industry: spawning more and more big-budget hype films, and leaving fewer and fewer ones with any real substance.

Filmmakers need to realize what's happening before it's too late, before we've all forgotten what a good fantasy movie is supposed to look like.  They need to scale down on the special effects and get back to the roots of what makes this genre great...


If you're wondering how this post got so long?  It's because this is something I feel pretty strongly about.  It's not religion or politics, but fiction is a big part of my life; heck, if you're in fandom, it's probably a big part of your lives as well.  So yes, fiction (be it movies, books, or television) is something I'm passionate about.

I'd love to hear what the rest you guys have to say on the subject.  I hope I'm not the only one who feels the way I do... but if you disagree, by all means, don't be afraid to argue your point.

---

¹ Which, admittedly, I do appreciate.  I mean, I'm a real costume junkie.  But they still don't make a movie for me, when there's nothing else to hang your hat on.

² ( more Alice stuffCollapse )

³ I mention both Alice and Sweeney Todd, so it might seem that I'm ragging on Tim Burton.  Let me say, for the record, that I love him as a filmmaker: his movies have absolutely gorgeous sets and costumes and all-around fantastic visuals, a vintage-gothic style that really captures the imagination... and as a director he definitely knows how to make a scene pop.  That said, I have noticed that lately his films (at least, his live-action ones) tend to fall into that pretty-but-disappointing category for me.

*shrug* What can I say.  If Tim doesn't write the screenplays, then it's not entirely his fault, is it?  Maybe he should just try to work with better writers.  ...On the other hand, he did Big Fish in 2003, which I loved.  So there is that.

So, listening to my iPod on shuffle, "Be Our Guest" came up; and now I have a question...

If pretty much all the furniture and dinnerware in the Beast's castle are his transformed servants (which, honestly, doesn't make that much sense to begin with: I mean, how is it their fault that their boss/master was an egotistical, shallow jerk?), then what ever happened to the REAL furniture and dinnerware?  Did it magically disappear?  Did he have to throw it all out so he wouldn't have doubles?  Was the essence of his servants somehow fused with the existing inanimate objects in his possession?

Most importantly: when they revert back to their human forms once the spell is broken, does this mean the Prince and Belle totally have to refurnish that whole castle?

O.o





Anyone else ever wonder about this stuff?

In the process of my writing up another post, the lovely jedipirate has decided to play thesaurus fairy and help me find a word that basically means "to make a royal mess of something" (...which is a phrase I might actually use instead, come to think of it).  During this brave endeavor we have discovered two things:

1. One synonym for "blunder" is "boner."  (Which I already knew, thanks to SuperDickery.com; or you can read it here, without the ads.)¹

2. Another synonym for "blunder" is "boo-boo."  Which presumably means that "boner" and "boo-boo" are in fact also synonyms.

jedipirate: Considering both of those, it gives whole new meaning to "let me kiss your boo-boo."  *cough*
supes_: *cracks up*
supes_: ...i kinda want to post about this, now.
jedipirate: lol... of course you do.

And yes, I do believe that was worthy of its own lj entry.

Good night, folks!

---

¹ And according to this, the word "boner" actually became slang for an erection around the same time/shortly after this comic was printed.  Coincidence?  I ask you.²

² Of course, I was a little torn between the icon I'm posting with — which doesn't get nearly enough use — and my horribly inappropriate "Bale's Dilemma" Joker icon.  Because honestly, how could I not think of that video?  Most of you have probably seen it, but if you're one of the few who hasn't: GO WATCH.  It's... terrible, but also brilliant.  That's about the only way I know to describe it.

Barbra Streisand with short hair does not look like a dude.  She looks like Barbra Streisand.  With short hair.

Although, Yentl  is admittedly a cute movie, if a bit corny.  However, it is now apparent that it has been way too long since I've seen anything resembling a musical (that wasn't animated) — every time she starts to sing, it completely weirds me out.  Despite the dozen or so times it's happened already.

(Psst!  Still watching, don't tell me how it ends!)


In other news: I am OMG SO BORED.

Long shot, but... anyone wanna talk?  AIM→ Supergirl 210483
(Just remember to tell me who you are.)

For your Sunday afternoon reading pleasure, here are several things which have almost nothing whatsoever to do with each other:


1. There was a Brokeback Mountain reference in last week's episode of Twins.  I can't remember it verbatim, but something along the lines of "Their hearts beat as one.  Like those two cowboys."  Did anybody else see this?  I mean, that show itself is kinda crappy (in my opinion... no offence to anyone who likes it!), but that line really amused me.  Honestly, I hadn't been expecting Brokeback Mountain to become so mainstream as to get randomly mentioned in sitcom dialogue.  Should this be considered some sort of sign of something?

2. Also along the 'have you seen this?' track, there is a Pirates of the Caribbean cereal out from Kellogg.  Chocolate puffs and pirate-themed marshmallows, I believe.  I was in the supermarket the other day and saw a box of this stuff, and seriously had to stop and stare at it for a good ten minutes.  I'm almost tempted to go buy some just so I could scan the box and make icons or something.  Though, it does also seem like it might be yummy to eat, actually... one's oral health notwithstanding.

3. Speaking of pirates, Hook was on the other night (which we actually also own... but of this I was not aware).  Man, how I love that movie!  Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman are both at their best (though, to be honest, I was half expecting to see Jason Isaacs the fist time Hook appeared on screen...), not to mention the other wonderful performances, and the story itself is beautiful and timeless.  There are so many sad moments, but also ones full of hope and wonder, and it just reminds me why I used to love the tale of Peter Pan as a child.  And... I couldn't help but feel kinda bad for Capt. Hook, despite everything (and despite this being a less sexy version of him :P ).

I also didn't realize Maggie Smith was in this — she's such a great actress (I'm not sure I've seen her in anything else besides Harry Potter; and back when I first saw Hook I didn't know who she was yet).  Oh, and Julia Roberts!  I totally wouldn't have thought of her for the part, but she actually makes the perfect Tinkerbell.

Really, it was a great experience seeing this again (though, it did also make me really want to watch other Peter Pan-ish things).  I only wish I could've had a chance to catch this movie on the big screen... but back in '91 I wasn't in the US yet, unfortunately. :(

4. I've also recently been watching Coupling on PBS.  Only three or four episodes so far, but I am already hopelessly addicted.  I swear, it's got to be one of the best things ever put on television — I can't believe I once tried watching it before and didn't like it.  I mean, ok, a couple of the general non-American TV annoyances (like lower film/camera-work quality) are still there... but the brilliant humor, great acting, and fun storylines totally outweigh them.  Also, I think I'm in love with Steve; and totally not just because he's played by Jack Davenport, honest.  (Also also: hee!  I know what that "pirate spank inferno" icon is about now, finally!)

The only big downside: PBS = no commercials, i.e. no time to do homework during it (and I can't switch over to BBC America, because I don't want to go out of sequence).  Oh, and on a somewhat unrelated note... Jane really reminds me of somebody — most likely another TV character — but I can't put my finger on who.  Grr.

5. By the way, that RP offer from the other night is still open, just in case anyone might be interested and didn't see it.

6. Last but certainly not least, a happy belated birthday to drbillbongo (I swear I didn't forget, doll... I've just been busy and didn't get a chance to work on your present until yesterday)!  Anyway, I made you a pretty, hope you like:


Maybe I should've gone with something Princess Bride-ish, since I'm sure you'll be in love with it and looking for icons as soon as you watch the movie... but this was what I felt inspired for, so.  By the way, you're right, Cillian Murphy does make quite a beautiful woman (though as a guy he still really creeps me out).  No, but... I think I might have to actually see Breakfast on Pluto now.

So, PotC is on. Of course, I already missed the first two thirds of the movie, regrettably, because I was watching Everybody Hates Chris, then Will & Grace, then Everwood. But luckily it's three hours long, so I get to catch the tail end — and that's got all the best J/N bits, anyway. *eg*

So, I think I'm just gonna write down a few random thoughts, here, as I watch. That's always fun, no? But just to warn anyone who plans to read on, you probably won't get half of what I'm talking about unless you've seen the movie. Er, either recently, or about a dozen times... well, at least enough to remember scene details and crap.

( Very minor spoilers for things you probably knew anyway... but, best be safe.Collapse )

I think I've rediscovered my somewhat-forgotten love of theological fiction.

(Am in the middle of reading Good Omens.)

Note to self: must get my hands on a copy of Dogma so I can finally watch it from beginning to end (plus, bonus: Rickman. With wings. Mmmm).

I think I might like to rewatch Michael, too, though that's not all that theological... well, it's still a good movie, at any rate. And, oh! Just remembered: I never saw City of Angels. Although, Dogma is still at the top of my list, as far as this subject-matter is concerned; just because that one I already know I really, really like — even if I never managed to see the whole thing. (Besides, I'll take [a good, cynical] comedy over drama any day.)

I think I would very much like to reread The Master and Margaret (a Diabolical satire of the 1930's Russian sort, for those who don't know), too. Or possibly get my dad to finish reading it aloud to me for the second time, which he started to a while ago. Though... come to think of it, no: I think I'd rather read it on my own this time. Get more personally aquanted with the book, so to speak.

And it really is a shame, I must say, that Bulgakov wrote in Russian, and that (despite being translated into English) he never became as popular in the English-speaking half of the world as, say, Tolstoy, or Chehov, or Dostoyevsky. I mean... there are so many of my friends I would love to recommend TM&M  to. If I thought there was a chance in H. they'd actually read it.




(Will post thoughts on GO later [hopefully], perhaps after I'm finished. For the moment, I'll just say that Neil and Terry are two of my most favorite people right now. I'm torn between conflicting urges to either finish the book as quickly as I can so I can soak it all up, or stretch it out as much as possible so that I might enjoy it longer.)