Usually I rank as many songs of the year as new movies I saw. After stressing out about this for a couple of days I'm finding that to be impossible. Since my car stereo was stolen this year, I've hardly listened to any music at all this past year. Tragic I know. My New Year's resolution is to listen to a lot more music so I can tell people what to listen to next year.
Anyway, I think I'll just list a bunch of songs this year that I heard (or from bands that I know are awesome anyway) that I liked enough to make the list. We're not gonna hit 43, but maybe we can shoot for like 30 or so.
Here are some songs from this year totally worth noting:
"Viva La Vida" by Coldplay
"Human" by The Killers
"Ricochet" by Shiny Toy Guns
"I Don't Care" by Fall Out Boy
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" by Beyonce Knowles
"Whatever It Takes" by Tom Morello
"Ulysses" by Franz Ferdinand
"Children of the Night" by NosfeROYtu
"Chill Factory" by Jon Madsen featuring Thom Yorke of Radiohead
"Bruises" by Chairlift
"I Feel It All" by Feist
"Something is Not Right With Me" by Cold War Kids
"Mercy" by Duffy
"The Reckoner" by Radiohead
"Circus" by Britney Spears
"No Sex For Ben" by The Rapture
"Addicted to Drugs" by Kaiser Chiefs
"Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3
"J*** in My Pants" by Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone
That one song by Katy Perry that's not "Kissed a Girl"
And here's the top 10:
10. "Salute Your Solution" by The Raconteurs
Nice to see Jack taking his other band more seriously now that The White Stripes are imploding.
9. "Disturbia" by Rhianna
It's been said before.
8. "I Will Possess Your Heart" by Death Cab For Cutie
This song TOTALLY gives away my game.
7. "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend
Finally! Some bright, wicked old school ska! I'm talkin' real old school here.
6. "Low" by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
It certainly made Step Up 2 the Streets watchable. Plus, it was all that was playing for a couple of months.
5. "Pork and Beans" by Weezer
Mmmm. Good.
4. "Love Lockdown" by Kanye West
Man! He seems to make my list every single year. Kanye, stay in the studio. Don't make public appearances. Just stay in the studio and work it hard.
3. "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon
Sweeping. Epic. Awesome.
2. "Paper Planes" by M.I.A.
I was really annoyed that this song wasn't in Pineapple Express, but was overjoyed when it was in Slumdog Millionaire. It samples from my favorite Clash song. Cool.
1. "Untouched" by The Veronicas.
Yeah. That's right. I said it. My favorite song of 2008 is by The Veronicas. Sue me. You won't win. This probably came out in 2007, but I've only heard it recently.
I also want to send a special shout-out to The Jonas Brothers. Hey guys, I've never heard your music, but hang in there. I know everybody's making fun of you but it's just because you're exceptionally talented ten years before you're supposed to be. At least I've heard you're talented. I assume that the writing and performing of chart-topping songs while you're still in high school has got to take some talent. Anyway, you may not deserve more fans, but you deserve respect. Let it shine, boys! Let's see what you come up with in your 20s.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
the 43 best movies of 2008!
I saw 43 new movies this year. New record! Some of them actually came out last year. Some of them came out this year, but I saw them on DVD just a little while ago. Anyway, I haven't really hammered down the rules I use for measuring my end of year list. My brother does it in February to correspond with The Academy Awards. That seems like a good idea. I should do that maybe.
I think this was a really good year for movies. I hardly disliked any, actually.
Anyway, I did catch some movies from last year that I had listed as wanting to see on DVD: Zodiac, Hot Fuzz, Sunshine, Rescue Dawn and Into the Wild. They were all pretty good.
This years list of unseen movies that I meant to see includes: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Spirit; The Wrestler (certainly I will see this one when it finally comes to Salt Lake); Frost/Nixon; Bolt; Synecdoche, New York; Happy-Go-Lucky; W.; Rachel Getting Married; The House Bunny; Hamlet 2; The Rocker; Swing Vote; Baghead; Hancock; Mongol; Kung-Fu Panda; Speed Racer; The Fall; Baby Mama; The Visitor; In Bruges; Jumper.
I'm not at home right now, so my image of a year's worth of ticket stubs will have to wait for a little bit.
Here's the big list:
43. Wanted
Most of the people who saw this movie with me really enjoyed it. I couldn't digest the thing. The ridiculousness of it all wasn't played for camp at all, but more for sadistic bloodlust. This surprisingly came from the Russian director who brought us the vampire film Nightwatch. I think he tried to Americanize this one too much. I'm not the biggest Angelina Jolie fan, but the girl can actually act. Unfortunately they didn't give her anything of the sort to do. The fact that the main character is obviously working the wrong side through the whole movie made him that much more annoying when he actually addresses the audience at the end and berates them for not doing something with their lives while he's some badass assassin. Ridiculous. Insulting.
42. Mamma Mia
I love ABBA. More than most. The musical version of their songs is simply an atrocity. The shoe-horned story is too forced and the characters are too annoying. If it were up to me, half of the story would need to be told in flashback. That's just me, though.
41. Four Christmases
I guess it wasn't really that bad. It's tradition, however, that I don't like Christmas comedies.
40. The Foot Fist Way
This movie was actually made in 2006, but wasn't released wide until this past year. Caught it on video. It's got Danny McBride, but isn't as funny as it needed to be. The funniest part is actually in the alternate scenes, which is weird.
39. 21
Maybe I would have liked this one a little more, but I saw it with Rhett and he told me all the stuff in the book that they didn't put in. After that I was like, so why did they make it suck so bad?
38. You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Meh.
37. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Okay, let's get this straight. I don't mind the whole aliens thing. I feel that since Indiana Jones is based on pulp novels and Saturday matinees that the natural course for such things after 20 years would go from jungle artifacts to UFOs. That said, though... this will forever be considered one of the biggest disappointment sequels since Rocky V.
36. Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Better than I thought, actually. Sure wish they bought their own rights to their own music, though. Like the music, and the Ewok television specials from the '80s, this movie just didn't fit in with everything else Star Wars for me.
35. X-Files: I Want To Believe
This is the X-Files I actually like. I hate all the alien stuff (even though I said otherwise about a different movie). The self-contained stories are way better. Too bad this movie was quickly phoned-in.
34. Burn After Reading
Sort of okay. The Coens usually do way better. I guess they had to even things out after No Country for Old Men.
33. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
It was pretty boring. Good thing it had Amy Adams in it.
32. American Teen
The thing about documentaries is that there is manipulation. We need to accept that and perhaps I need to accept that more than I actually do. With most documentaries, however, the manipulation simply comes with the presentation of the facts. Sometimes though, like with American Teen, the manipulation actually changes the events that are being documented. This presentation of everyday high-schoolers had some awesome scenes in it, but much of it seemed like a dressed-down episode of The Hills, but with uglier people.
31. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
This look at young life in the Depression could have been a lot more fun if Joan Cusack wasn't such a spaz.
30. Step Up 2 the Streets
How hilarious is it that the big street gang in this movie is a gang that choreographs intense dance sequences to totally perform guerrilla on the subway? *Snicker* Good soundtrack.
29. Tropic Thunder
The unfortunate thing about this movie is that, by far, the funniest parts were the first ten minutes. It had some moments after that. I mostly remember lots of loudness and baby throwing.
28. Michael Clayton
Came out last year. Saw it this year. I liked the chick who played the White Witch in Narnia. Her villainous character played like someone on the edge of a nervous breakdown was quite welcome.
27. Forever Strong
I think this may have been the only low-budget local movie I saw this year. Looks like the big local scene is fading. This was pretty fun, but I would have liked more legit rugby action. Heck, I would've liked to have been more illuminated on the game itself. Awesomest thing about this one though? The good guy in Gossip Girl playing the bad guy.
26. Valkyrie
The history lesson was pretty illuminating, but I expect more from Bryan Singer. Ever since he left X-Men, I haven't seen him really put his heart into anything.
25. The Incredible Hulk
Gets points for simply being set in the Marvel Universe. Of course Norton has really bugged me for the past few years.
24. Hellboy II
Del Toro went all out with this one, but it wasn't NEARLY as fun as the first. Pretty cool visuals, though.
23. Ghost Town
I found this to eventually be understandably touching, but I am kind of miffed that it wasn't funnier than it was. My brother totally told me it was really funny and it had a couple of funny parts, but for the most part I don't even think it was supposed to be a comedy. It could've been though. Gervais can carry entire productions.
22. Get Smart
I liked it.
21. Twilight
Yeah, this one's getting a pretty decent score from me, surprisingly. I guess it helps that it had the lamest set of trailers ever put on celluloid. Bringing expectations down doesn't hurt at all. I did really appreciate the humor in the movie that was seriously lacking from the book.
20. Definitely, Maybe
For a romantic comedy, this one didn't insult me. My favorite scene was when Rachel Weisz sings to him. Cute.
19. Quantum of Solace
This, of course, would have been way better if it didn't have to be measured alongside the excellent Casino Royale. Still, besides the comparison I'm really starting to miss the cheeky old 007. The chase scene in the theater with sound of the production playing over the action was fun to watch. Watch The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for a better use for the actor who plays the villain in Quantum.
18. Prince Caspian
I ranked this one well because I think there was a little direction taken away from the book that I really appreciated. Peter was more flawed, plus the appearance of the White Witch was a nice touch. Also, there was a lot more fighting -- hardly PG.
17. There Will Be Blood
Yeah! I know this came out in 2007! I didn't see it until 2008, okay?
16. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
This movie couldn't fail for me because it's got New York City, great music (although there wasn't nearly enough music or talk of music) and Michael Cera. Plus, I just love high school romance movies. It does have some serious flaws, though (like the obstacles to the relationship occuring after the relationship is cemented). The most surprising thing about this one is the revelation of Ari Graynor. Watch her like a hawk!
15. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Apatow was so hot in 2008! Not only were there many hilarious parts of this Hawaiian fun romp, but I discovered that Mila Kunis is actually very pretty and can totally act. Plus you got Veronica Mars doin' her thing too.
14. Pineapple Express
Surprisingly violent, this other Apatow movie has the twin comedy forces of Danny McBride and James Franco. Joe and I saw this one twice. Since it's a stoner comedy it's awesome to see late. I'm looking forward to seeing it on the couch at two in the morning, hepped up on pizza and candy (I don't hep myself up on much).
13. Cassandra's Dream
This is a Woody Allen movie that hardly anybody but me liked. It gets Woody points. Funny or serious I always relate to the anxiety of a Woody film.
12. Quarantine
See Cloverfield below.
11. Son of Rambow
These guys made an okay version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy a few years ago. They get a better chance honing their charm in this great one about two young British movie makers. Weird quirk + whimsical imagery = movie going delight.
10. Cloverfield
I've gone on record so many times saying that I hate shaky-cam. It totally takes me out of the story because instead of bringing me into the action I actually think of the cameraman actually having a seizure. This is a notable exception. I think the concept TOTALLY WORKS when the camera is actually held by a character in the movie. When that's the case it really does bring me into the action. Tons of people were miffed by the lack of vision of the monster and a lack of clarity to what was actually going on. I get that, but what made Cloverfield great is that it wasn't a broad story from a news perspective, it's what the story would actually be from our perspective just in case a monster comes and kills us. Monster movies totally benefit from a fresh perspective.
9. Role Models
A lot of attention is paid to the Apatow-type comedies and how ground-breaking they are for the genre. Role Models may have the Apatow raunch, but it's a simple straightforward old school comedic story with an uplifting message. It did for comedic movies what How I Met Your Mother did for comedic television shows. Old school isn't necessarily a step in the wrong direction if you make it funny. And this one was funny. Hard. Plus, it gets wicked bonus points for making a character a total larper and taking a chance by reveling in high points of the activity instead of simply making a joke out of it.
8. Let the Right One In
This is that movie about teenage vampires. Seriously. It's not Twilight. This one has all the vampire rules in it: sunlight, blood-sucking, vampirism spreading to different people, etc. You even learn what happens when a vampire enters a home when she's not invited (wounds open up and she bleeds everywhere). Strangely, though, it feels less like a vampire movie than any other vampire movie I've ever seen. It's an extremely intimate story between two kids. This one would actually score higher, but there were just too many unnecessary establishing shots of the snow and dull sequences of characters walking in the snow. Okay, I get it. This was an independent film! I know! I'm sitting the most uncomfortable theater seat in Salt Lake Valley. Anyway, the vampire chick goes totally nuts at the end and it's awesome.
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
This is another one that might not count. I'm fairly certain this one came out last year. This one has the bad guy from Quantum of Solace (Mathieu Amalric) in it, but he's a lot -- A LOT -- more interesting here. Half the movie is from his direct viewpoint in a hospital bed and the other half of the movie is fantastic imagery from the rest of his life. His nurse is one of the most beautiful women in the world, btw.
6. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Another Woody Allen. This one was far more agreeable to most people. It's probably a good idea that Allen switched his filming city of choice from London to Barcelona. Every time he does that his films become far more fresh. This one is seriously bleak. It studies the different aspects of love and their faults (with few benefits). It comes from a guy whose probable definition of love is simply entropy. It's famous for Scarlett Johanssen and Penelope Cruz snogging, but it should be famous for Cruz's far out crazy performance and also the wonderful work of the other female role -- Rebecca Hall.
5. Slumdog Millionaire
If many Bollywood movies are of this quality, maybe I should get into that genre. Danny Boyle's movies always hold my interest. The storytelling device on its own is enough to be a really fascinating movie, but the movie used the device far beyond the pedestrian method.
4. Man on Wire
Only a select few of us were able to catch this movie. We were really lucky. It's a documentary about the guy in the '70s who walked a tightrope between the twin towers in New York. Documentaries automatically turn people off, but the way this thing was edited it was more like a heist movie waaaaay more intense than Ocean's 11.
3. Iron Man
We all saw it, so I don't need to praise it. It was a perfect preview of just how fun the superhero movies were this year. I've never liked Robert Downey Jr. more.
2. WALL-E
This was probably the most substantive movie I saw all year (and I saw eight movies at the film snobby Broadway Theatre). The guys over at Pixar never cease to amaze and never cease to experiment -- which is the real soul of good filmmaking. Actually, let me rephrase that. Experimentation that works is what really counts and they have some kind of scientific method over there that just works dynamite alongside their artistry. Great visuals, great science fiction, great love story, fantastic humor. Splendid! I've actually only seen it once, but haven't looked forward to seeing it again because of its weighty emotionalism.
1. The Dark Knight
You know what? WALL-E is probably a better movie, honestly. But I saw The Dark Knight three times in the theaters and it was awesome. I'm not going to bother explaining it too, because everyone else has already said it. I'll just say this: characters make great movies. Here is a Batman movie where Batman himself is the fourth most interesting character in the movie.
I think this was a really good year for movies. I hardly disliked any, actually.
Anyway, I did catch some movies from last year that I had listed as wanting to see on DVD: Zodiac, Hot Fuzz, Sunshine, Rescue Dawn and Into the Wild. They were all pretty good.
This years list of unseen movies that I meant to see includes: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; The Spirit; The Wrestler (certainly I will see this one when it finally comes to Salt Lake); Frost/Nixon; Bolt; Synecdoche, New York; Happy-Go-Lucky; W.; Rachel Getting Married; The House Bunny; Hamlet 2; The Rocker; Swing Vote; Baghead; Hancock; Mongol; Kung-Fu Panda; Speed Racer; The Fall; Baby Mama; The Visitor; In Bruges; Jumper.
I'm not at home right now, so my image of a year's worth of ticket stubs will have to wait for a little bit.
Here's the big list:
43. Wanted
Most of the people who saw this movie with me really enjoyed it. I couldn't digest the thing. The ridiculousness of it all wasn't played for camp at all, but more for sadistic bloodlust. This surprisingly came from the Russian director who brought us the vampire film Nightwatch. I think he tried to Americanize this one too much. I'm not the biggest Angelina Jolie fan, but the girl can actually act. Unfortunately they didn't give her anything of the sort to do. The fact that the main character is obviously working the wrong side through the whole movie made him that much more annoying when he actually addresses the audience at the end and berates them for not doing something with their lives while he's some badass assassin. Ridiculous. Insulting.
42. Mamma Mia
I love ABBA. More than most. The musical version of their songs is simply an atrocity. The shoe-horned story is too forced and the characters are too annoying. If it were up to me, half of the story would need to be told in flashback. That's just me, though.
41. Four Christmases
I guess it wasn't really that bad. It's tradition, however, that I don't like Christmas comedies.
40. The Foot Fist Way
This movie was actually made in 2006, but wasn't released wide until this past year. Caught it on video. It's got Danny McBride, but isn't as funny as it needed to be. The funniest part is actually in the alternate scenes, which is weird.
39. 21
Maybe I would have liked this one a little more, but I saw it with Rhett and he told me all the stuff in the book that they didn't put in. After that I was like, so why did they make it suck so bad?
38. You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Meh.
37. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Okay, let's get this straight. I don't mind the whole aliens thing. I feel that since Indiana Jones is based on pulp novels and Saturday matinees that the natural course for such things after 20 years would go from jungle artifacts to UFOs. That said, though... this will forever be considered one of the biggest disappointment sequels since Rocky V.
36. Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Better than I thought, actually. Sure wish they bought their own rights to their own music, though. Like the music, and the Ewok television specials from the '80s, this movie just didn't fit in with everything else Star Wars for me.
35. X-Files: I Want To Believe
This is the X-Files I actually like. I hate all the alien stuff (even though I said otherwise about a different movie). The self-contained stories are way better. Too bad this movie was quickly phoned-in.
34. Burn After Reading
Sort of okay. The Coens usually do way better. I guess they had to even things out after No Country for Old Men.
33. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
It was pretty boring. Good thing it had Amy Adams in it.
32. American Teen
The thing about documentaries is that there is manipulation. We need to accept that and perhaps I need to accept that more than I actually do. With most documentaries, however, the manipulation simply comes with the presentation of the facts. Sometimes though, like with American Teen, the manipulation actually changes the events that are being documented. This presentation of everyday high-schoolers had some awesome scenes in it, but much of it seemed like a dressed-down episode of The Hills, but with uglier people.
31. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
This look at young life in the Depression could have been a lot more fun if Joan Cusack wasn't such a spaz.
30. Step Up 2 the Streets
How hilarious is it that the big street gang in this movie is a gang that choreographs intense dance sequences to totally perform guerrilla on the subway? *Snicker* Good soundtrack.
29. Tropic Thunder
The unfortunate thing about this movie is that, by far, the funniest parts were the first ten minutes. It had some moments after that. I mostly remember lots of loudness and baby throwing.
28. Michael Clayton
Came out last year. Saw it this year. I liked the chick who played the White Witch in Narnia. Her villainous character played like someone on the edge of a nervous breakdown was quite welcome.
27. Forever Strong
I think this may have been the only low-budget local movie I saw this year. Looks like the big local scene is fading. This was pretty fun, but I would have liked more legit rugby action. Heck, I would've liked to have been more illuminated on the game itself. Awesomest thing about this one though? The good guy in Gossip Girl playing the bad guy.
26. Valkyrie
The history lesson was pretty illuminating, but I expect more from Bryan Singer. Ever since he left X-Men, I haven't seen him really put his heart into anything.
25. The Incredible Hulk
Gets points for simply being set in the Marvel Universe. Of course Norton has really bugged me for the past few years.
24. Hellboy II
Del Toro went all out with this one, but it wasn't NEARLY as fun as the first. Pretty cool visuals, though.
23. Ghost Town
I found this to eventually be understandably touching, but I am kind of miffed that it wasn't funnier than it was. My brother totally told me it was really funny and it had a couple of funny parts, but for the most part I don't even think it was supposed to be a comedy. It could've been though. Gervais can carry entire productions.
22. Get Smart
I liked it.
21. Twilight
Yeah, this one's getting a pretty decent score from me, surprisingly. I guess it helps that it had the lamest set of trailers ever put on celluloid. Bringing expectations down doesn't hurt at all. I did really appreciate the humor in the movie that was seriously lacking from the book.
20. Definitely, Maybe
For a romantic comedy, this one didn't insult me. My favorite scene was when Rachel Weisz sings to him. Cute.
19. Quantum of Solace
This, of course, would have been way better if it didn't have to be measured alongside the excellent Casino Royale. Still, besides the comparison I'm really starting to miss the cheeky old 007. The chase scene in the theater with sound of the production playing over the action was fun to watch. Watch The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for a better use for the actor who plays the villain in Quantum.
18. Prince Caspian
I ranked this one well because I think there was a little direction taken away from the book that I really appreciated. Peter was more flawed, plus the appearance of the White Witch was a nice touch. Also, there was a lot more fighting -- hardly PG.
17. There Will Be Blood
Yeah! I know this came out in 2007! I didn't see it until 2008, okay?
16. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
This movie couldn't fail for me because it's got New York City, great music (although there wasn't nearly enough music or talk of music) and Michael Cera. Plus, I just love high school romance movies. It does have some serious flaws, though (like the obstacles to the relationship occuring after the relationship is cemented). The most surprising thing about this one is the revelation of Ari Graynor. Watch her like a hawk!
15. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Apatow was so hot in 2008! Not only were there many hilarious parts of this Hawaiian fun romp, but I discovered that Mila Kunis is actually very pretty and can totally act. Plus you got Veronica Mars doin' her thing too.
14. Pineapple Express
Surprisingly violent, this other Apatow movie has the twin comedy forces of Danny McBride and James Franco. Joe and I saw this one twice. Since it's a stoner comedy it's awesome to see late. I'm looking forward to seeing it on the couch at two in the morning, hepped up on pizza and candy (I don't hep myself up on much).
13. Cassandra's Dream
This is a Woody Allen movie that hardly anybody but me liked. It gets Woody points. Funny or serious I always relate to the anxiety of a Woody film.
12. Quarantine
See Cloverfield below.
11. Son of Rambow
These guys made an okay version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy a few years ago. They get a better chance honing their charm in this great one about two young British movie makers. Weird quirk + whimsical imagery = movie going delight.
10. Cloverfield
I've gone on record so many times saying that I hate shaky-cam. It totally takes me out of the story because instead of bringing me into the action I actually think of the cameraman actually having a seizure. This is a notable exception. I think the concept TOTALLY WORKS when the camera is actually held by a character in the movie. When that's the case it really does bring me into the action. Tons of people were miffed by the lack of vision of the monster and a lack of clarity to what was actually going on. I get that, but what made Cloverfield great is that it wasn't a broad story from a news perspective, it's what the story would actually be from our perspective just in case a monster comes and kills us. Monster movies totally benefit from a fresh perspective.
9. Role Models
A lot of attention is paid to the Apatow-type comedies and how ground-breaking they are for the genre. Role Models may have the Apatow raunch, but it's a simple straightforward old school comedic story with an uplifting message. It did for comedic movies what How I Met Your Mother did for comedic television shows. Old school isn't necessarily a step in the wrong direction if you make it funny. And this one was funny. Hard. Plus, it gets wicked bonus points for making a character a total larper and taking a chance by reveling in high points of the activity instead of simply making a joke out of it.
8. Let the Right One In
This is that movie about teenage vampires. Seriously. It's not Twilight. This one has all the vampire rules in it: sunlight, blood-sucking, vampirism spreading to different people, etc. You even learn what happens when a vampire enters a home when she's not invited (wounds open up and she bleeds everywhere). Strangely, though, it feels less like a vampire movie than any other vampire movie I've ever seen. It's an extremely intimate story between two kids. This one would actually score higher, but there were just too many unnecessary establishing shots of the snow and dull sequences of characters walking in the snow. Okay, I get it. This was an independent film! I know! I'm sitting the most uncomfortable theater seat in Salt Lake Valley. Anyway, the vampire chick goes totally nuts at the end and it's awesome.
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
This is another one that might not count. I'm fairly certain this one came out last year. This one has the bad guy from Quantum of Solace (Mathieu Amalric) in it, but he's a lot -- A LOT -- more interesting here. Half the movie is from his direct viewpoint in a hospital bed and the other half of the movie is fantastic imagery from the rest of his life. His nurse is one of the most beautiful women in the world, btw.
6. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Another Woody Allen. This one was far more agreeable to most people. It's probably a good idea that Allen switched his filming city of choice from London to Barcelona. Every time he does that his films become far more fresh. This one is seriously bleak. It studies the different aspects of love and their faults (with few benefits). It comes from a guy whose probable definition of love is simply entropy. It's famous for Scarlett Johanssen and Penelope Cruz snogging, but it should be famous for Cruz's far out crazy performance and also the wonderful work of the other female role -- Rebecca Hall.
5. Slumdog Millionaire
If many Bollywood movies are of this quality, maybe I should get into that genre. Danny Boyle's movies always hold my interest. The storytelling device on its own is enough to be a really fascinating movie, but the movie used the device far beyond the pedestrian method.
4. Man on Wire
Only a select few of us were able to catch this movie. We were really lucky. It's a documentary about the guy in the '70s who walked a tightrope between the twin towers in New York. Documentaries automatically turn people off, but the way this thing was edited it was more like a heist movie waaaaay more intense than Ocean's 11.
3. Iron Man
We all saw it, so I don't need to praise it. It was a perfect preview of just how fun the superhero movies were this year. I've never liked Robert Downey Jr. more.
2. WALL-E
This was probably the most substantive movie I saw all year (and I saw eight movies at the film snobby Broadway Theatre). The guys over at Pixar never cease to amaze and never cease to experiment -- which is the real soul of good filmmaking. Actually, let me rephrase that. Experimentation that works is what really counts and they have some kind of scientific method over there that just works dynamite alongside their artistry. Great visuals, great science fiction, great love story, fantastic humor. Splendid! I've actually only seen it once, but haven't looked forward to seeing it again because of its weighty emotionalism.
1. The Dark Knight
You know what? WALL-E is probably a better movie, honestly. But I saw The Dark Knight three times in the theaters and it was awesome. I'm not going to bother explaining it too, because everyone else has already said it. I'll just say this: characters make great movies. Here is a Batman movie where Batman himself is the fourth most interesting character in the movie.
2008 performance review
Okay, we've done well. 149 or so blog posts in 2008. We've added some new features like the Song of the Moment and the Jonblog Cam. We've also almost stopped using words completely and did a ton of video links.
Good: Awesome tenacity in keeping this thing up in spite of it not really mattering in the real world in the slightest. The Song of the Moment is lovely distraction.
Bad: We really need to update the Song of the Moment more often. Plus, the Jonblog Cam needs to go. It's totally malfunctioning and is hardly ever used. Hey and did we ever want to update the word's underneath "Jon's Blog." Yeah, everybody knows it's a freaking blog. Maybe we should put up something more profound. What about updating the blog template so that old entries can be more easily found? Pssshfft.
We'll think this stuff over. Here's to another year.
Good: Awesome tenacity in keeping this thing up in spite of it not really mattering in the real world in the slightest. The Song of the Moment is lovely distraction.
Bad: We really need to update the Song of the Moment more often. Plus, the Jonblog Cam needs to go. It's totally malfunctioning and is hardly ever used. Hey and did we ever want to update the word's underneath "Jon's Blog." Yeah, everybody knows it's a freaking blog. Maybe we should put up something more profound. What about updating the blog template so that old entries can be more easily found? Pssshfft.
We'll think this stuff over. Here's to another year.
just a couple of items before the end of year stuff
So my brother called the tv show Square Pegs "ahead of its time." I didn't believe him until I watched disc two of the complete series. There were a lot of jokes I'd see in other stuff five or so years after Square Pegs. The most obvious (and perhaps reaching) example of this is Sarah Jessica Parker saying "not" in the exact Wayne's World usage. Also there's the joke about not being able to tell a joke -- specifically "make like a tree, and get out of here" from Back to the Future. Finally, SJP also mentioned the social suicide move of accidentally calling your teacher "mommy" which was mentioned in The Simpsons. Sorry if this is a random observation, but I had to make a note of it somewhere.
I scored pretty hard for Christmas. I got three things on the list -- a hard drive, How I Met Your Mother (seasons 1-3) and a video camera (which I haven't actually picked up). I also got a swell Gestapo black jacket, pounds of fudge and this year's pajama pants. Score! Like I always say, Christamas is successful when you get more than you give. I only gave physical gifts to my parents this year (all bought at IKEA). A few of my friends were able to receive my sort of gimmick gift. Seems to have been a success. If you didn't get anything from me, don't be hurt. I really really downsized this year -- but if you want a gift, let me know. The free gift is the gift that infinitely gives (which is what I gave).
My othermay is eallyray icksay. I'm otnay oingday isthay to be utecay. Eshay obablypray oesn'tday owknay Igpay Atinlay -- at eastlay at'sthay atwhay I'm ettingbay on (eshay eadsray isthay ogblay oremay anthay ybodyanay). E'sshay ecoveringray icelynay from ackbay urgerysay, but it's the epressionday -- the everesay epressionday -- atthay has eenbay cruciatingexbay for erhay. We on'tday owknay erewhay it amecay omfray, but it's eenbay eadilystay creasinginay erovay the astpay ewfay onthsmay. Eshay ometimessay ustjay itssay or andsstay for a alfhay ourhay or so ithway a nedpaiay pressionexpay on erhay acefay. Ellway, I on'tway go toinay etailsday, utbay e'sshay ettinggay oremay rationaliray all the imetay. E'reway eryvay uresay it's a emicalchay ingthay atthay appenedhay ithway the angingchay of all the edicationmay atthay tenofay omescay ithway urgerysay. In the eantimemay e'reway eingbay as atientpay as we ancay. I'm ealizingray atthay my atiencepay n'tisay atwhay it eedsnay to be. I earfay atthay atwhay eshay eedsnay is eyondbay my apacitycay ereithay atientlypay or illectuallyintay. Eeingsay erhay so agilefay akesmay me ealizeray ustjay owhay eakway I am enwhay it eallyray eallyray attersmay. If ouyay ouldcay aypray or ateverwhay aithyfay ingthay atthay may be propriateapay for isthay casionocay for erhay, at'dthay be eallyray eallyray someaweay.
I scored pretty hard for Christmas. I got three things on the list -- a hard drive, How I Met Your Mother (seasons 1-3) and a video camera (which I haven't actually picked up). I also got a swell Gestapo black jacket, pounds of fudge and this year's pajama pants. Score! Like I always say, Christamas is successful when you get more than you give. I only gave physical gifts to my parents this year (all bought at IKEA). A few of my friends were able to receive my sort of gimmick gift. Seems to have been a success. If you didn't get anything from me, don't be hurt. I really really downsized this year -- but if you want a gift, let me know. The free gift is the gift that infinitely gives (which is what I gave).
My othermay is eallyray icksay. I'm otnay oingday isthay to be utecay. Eshay obablypray oesn'tday owknay Igpay Atinlay -- at eastlay at'sthay atwhay I'm ettingbay on (eshay eadsray isthay ogblay oremay anthay ybodyanay). E'sshay ecoveringray icelynay from ackbay urgerysay, but it's the epressionday -- the everesay epressionday -- atthay has eenbay cruciatingexbay for erhay. We on'tday owknay erewhay it amecay omfray, but it's eenbay eadilystay creasinginay erovay the astpay ewfay onthsmay. Eshay ometimessay ustjay itssay or andsstay for a alfhay ourhay or so ithway a nedpaiay pressionexpay on erhay acefay. Ellway, I on'tway go toinay etailsday, utbay e'sshay ettinggay oremay rationaliray all the imetay. E'reway eryvay uresay it's a emicalchay ingthay atthay appenedhay ithway the angingchay of all the edicationmay atthay tenofay omescay ithway urgerysay. In the eantimemay e'reway eingbay as atientpay as we ancay. I'm ealizingray atthay my atiencepay n'tisay atwhay it eedsnay to be. I earfay atthay atwhay eshay eedsnay is eyondbay my apacitycay ereithay atientlypay or illectuallyintay. Eeingsay erhay so agilefay akesmay me ealizeray ustjay owhay eakway I am enwhay it eallyray eallyray attersmay. If ouyay ouldcay aypray or ateverwhay aithyfay ingthay atthay may be propriateapay for isthay casionocay for erhay, at'dthay be eallyray eallyray someaweay.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
festivus and the airing of grievances '08
Happy Festivus everyone! Looks like I'm just squeaking this entry in time. I was hoping to get some feats of strength in this year, but I'm way down in Orem.
Anyway, on to the Airing of Grievances!
1. The lack of straightforward HTML embed codes on some online videos
They may provide the embedding, but often they actually have the audacity to ask for my Blogger username and password. There's no way I'm volunteering that! Get over yourselves and just give me the straight code. I don't care if it's easier on everyone who wants to share specifically with Blogger or Wordpress or Facebook or whatever. Yeah, you're probably legit, but it sets a bad precedent. We should never be asked that information by a third party. One of these days when everyone's used to supplying their info, somebody's going to nab all our blogs and identities.
2. Apostrophe's in plural's
Lately it's gone catastrophic. This past year has been especially harsh for this mistreatment. Hardly any words are pluralized with an apostrophe. I believe that just about the only exception is when you pluralize specific letters of the alphabet. Speaking of...
3. E's ate thee ende ofe wordse
Sure it may seem classier to spell it "towne" or "centre" or "theatre," but it's simply wrong. Correctness trumps classy. Incorrect classy is simply sleazy. We fought a revolution with the British to fight the lame pretentious way they spell words, and we won, dammit! (You say: "Pretentious? Moi?")
4. Cars parked on the wrong side of the road
Cars go on the right. Remember that revolution thing? Yeah.
5. All the football players on the team pointing that they have possession of the ball after a fumble
Yeah. As if your pointing is going to affect what the ref finds out when he piles all the guys off the ball.
6. Writer's strike fallout
How lame is it that they didn't release the new Harry Potter in the fall? I don't even care much about Harry Potter and I think it's lame. They already marketed it for the fans for a fall release. Now they're just sitting on it because they have so little for next summer? Same goes for Star Trek. It's done. It's sitting somewhere. I can watch it. And here's the thing: it's supposed to be a winter movie. It's not a summer blockbuster. I like Star Trek because it doesn't belong to the masses. It belongs to me and my people in the middle of winter. I know, I know. It's good business. This year was a good movie year so they have to save some for next year so the investors will be happy. Fine. Good business. Fine. Hey, how's this for good business: DON'T SPIT IN THE FACE OF THE CUSTOMER!
7. Getting penalized for keeping an unregistered car at my house
I can understand why we need to register cars. It could be a dangerous car after all. It's simply not dangerous sitting at my own house. Look, don't ticket unregistered cars in residential areas, okay? If it's parked in a business area. Fine. Ticket.
8. Firefox refusing to update
For some reason this open-source wonder miracle of all browsers doesn't like me or my computer. Haven't tried lately, but the latest version is not being used on this computer. And the other computer's Firefox doesn't recognize generic Quicktime embeds. Sometimes IE is way easier (and it shouldn't be!).
9. Too much emphasis on momentum in sports
I hear the phrase too much. "This play is a real momentum-changer." Can't these athletes be a little zen about their work and take every individual play seriously regardless of the context? Maybe not, but at least try to get it in their heads, coaches and fans. Don't weigh the game entirely on single plays.
10. Goatees
11. Gears of War 2 controls
I love me some Gears, but I am so sick of doing a somersault into a crowd of monsters instead of doing what I WANTED to do which is hide behind a stack of sandbags.
12. Lack of Mr. Plow
Did the city cut its funding in this area? I seriously think they did. The roads are way less plowy than last year. And where's the salt? I haven't seen any.
13. U of U basketball jerseys
When did they change everyone's name on the team to "Utah?"
14. Fast food inconsistency
It's too hard to memorize where all the "good" Arby's and Wendy's restaurants are in the valley. Can't you organize the franchise management so that they're all good?
15. Cafe Rio getting my meal too fast
Hold on there senor. I don't automatically want everything on my salad. Wait for me to say I want shredded lettuce before you put the entire cabbage head on there. Pico is like biting into a living rabbit. Guacamole is green, putrid play-doh. I don't want any of that stuff. And it would be nice if half the meal wasn't cilantro.
16. Dvds that don't rip
Why does my ripping program fail with only some dvds? Look, I'm not running a piracy ring out of my basement. Just let me grab a couple of scenes. Remember that bit with the ax going through the door in the Halloween movie? Well it would have been waaaaaay better if I grabbed it from the actual Shining cd instead of YouTube.
17. Simple cruelty
We're so mean to each other. You know that, right? I think we don't even know how cruel we are. Sometimes it's easy to miss when constantly surrounded by idiocy. That's no excuse. We've all been the moron before. When surrounded by idiocy, be nice. Try to anyway. I HATE being nice. Seriously. It's just something that needs to be done, you know? And it's way easier when everyone else is doing it.
Anyway, on to the Airing of Grievances!
1. The lack of straightforward HTML embed codes on some online videos
They may provide the embedding, but often they actually have the audacity to ask for my Blogger username and password. There's no way I'm volunteering that! Get over yourselves and just give me the straight code. I don't care if it's easier on everyone who wants to share specifically with Blogger or Wordpress or Facebook or whatever. Yeah, you're probably legit, but it sets a bad precedent. We should never be asked that information by a third party. One of these days when everyone's used to supplying their info, somebody's going to nab all our blogs and identities.
2. Apostrophe's in plural's
Lately it's gone catastrophic. This past year has been especially harsh for this mistreatment. Hardly any words are pluralized with an apostrophe. I believe that just about the only exception is when you pluralize specific letters of the alphabet. Speaking of...
3. E's ate thee ende ofe wordse
Sure it may seem classier to spell it "towne" or "centre" or "theatre," but it's simply wrong. Correctness trumps classy. Incorrect classy is simply sleazy. We fought a revolution with the British to fight the lame pretentious way they spell words, and we won, dammit! (You say: "Pretentious? Moi?")
4. Cars parked on the wrong side of the road
Cars go on the right. Remember that revolution thing? Yeah.
5. All the football players on the team pointing that they have possession of the ball after a fumble
Yeah. As if your pointing is going to affect what the ref finds out when he piles all the guys off the ball.
6. Writer's strike fallout
How lame is it that they didn't release the new Harry Potter in the fall? I don't even care much about Harry Potter and I think it's lame. They already marketed it for the fans for a fall release. Now they're just sitting on it because they have so little for next summer? Same goes for Star Trek. It's done. It's sitting somewhere. I can watch it. And here's the thing: it's supposed to be a winter movie. It's not a summer blockbuster. I like Star Trek because it doesn't belong to the masses. It belongs to me and my people in the middle of winter. I know, I know. It's good business. This year was a good movie year so they have to save some for next year so the investors will be happy. Fine. Good business. Fine. Hey, how's this for good business: DON'T SPIT IN THE FACE OF THE CUSTOMER!
7. Getting penalized for keeping an unregistered car at my house
I can understand why we need to register cars. It could be a dangerous car after all. It's simply not dangerous sitting at my own house. Look, don't ticket unregistered cars in residential areas, okay? If it's parked in a business area. Fine. Ticket.
8. Firefox refusing to update
For some reason this open-source wonder miracle of all browsers doesn't like me or my computer. Haven't tried lately, but the latest version is not being used on this computer. And the other computer's Firefox doesn't recognize generic Quicktime embeds. Sometimes IE is way easier (and it shouldn't be!).
9. Too much emphasis on momentum in sports
I hear the phrase too much. "This play is a real momentum-changer." Can't these athletes be a little zen about their work and take every individual play seriously regardless of the context? Maybe not, but at least try to get it in their heads, coaches and fans. Don't weigh the game entirely on single plays.
10. Goatees
11. Gears of War 2 controls
I love me some Gears, but I am so sick of doing a somersault into a crowd of monsters instead of doing what I WANTED to do which is hide behind a stack of sandbags.
12. Lack of Mr. Plow
Did the city cut its funding in this area? I seriously think they did. The roads are way less plowy than last year. And where's the salt? I haven't seen any.
13. U of U basketball jerseys
When did they change everyone's name on the team to "Utah?"
14. Fast food inconsistency
It's too hard to memorize where all the "good" Arby's and Wendy's restaurants are in the valley. Can't you organize the franchise management so that they're all good?
15. Cafe Rio getting my meal too fast
Hold on there senor. I don't automatically want everything on my salad. Wait for me to say I want shredded lettuce before you put the entire cabbage head on there. Pico is like biting into a living rabbit. Guacamole is green, putrid play-doh. I don't want any of that stuff. And it would be nice if half the meal wasn't cilantro.
16. Dvds that don't rip
Why does my ripping program fail with only some dvds? Look, I'm not running a piracy ring out of my basement. Just let me grab a couple of scenes. Remember that bit with the ax going through the door in the Halloween movie? Well it would have been waaaaaay better if I grabbed it from the actual Shining cd instead of YouTube.
17. Simple cruelty
We're so mean to each other. You know that, right? I think we don't even know how cruel we are. Sometimes it's easy to miss when constantly surrounded by idiocy. That's no excuse. We've all been the moron before. When surrounded by idiocy, be nice. Try to anyway. I HATE being nice. Seriously. It's just something that needs to be done, you know? And it's way easier when everyone else is doing it.
jon demand 4
I had to pack my computer up and go to the parents' house to edit this, so that part about wanting a Macbook Pro is especially poignant.
Remember to subscribe to Jon Demand!
Remember to subscribe to Jon Demand!
Monday, December 15, 2008
jon demand 3 and the giving of gifts
Here is Jon Demand Episode 3! I've had it done for a few days, but I haven't posted it because I've been trying to video blogger embed it into the Jon Demand blog. Why do I have to do that? Because I need the video itself in the official RSS feed so that it will automatically download for the fine folks who've subscribed to the podcast in iTunes or other RSS feed. Yes, I am quite aware that quite possibly nobody has subscribed yet. Well it's not my fault that I surround myself with unsupportive non-podcasters! Anyway, the point is, the blogger upload feature is totally not working for me right now. Did anyone else have problems uploading videos to blogger this weekend? I tell it to go and it just says "uploading..." for hours and hours and it doesn't even go up one byte. Lemme know.
Okay, so one more thing. I think I know what I'm giving for Christmas this year. I considered not getting anybody anything, but I thought of a fairly clever, frugal and easily mass-produced system of gifts for this year. I just don't know where to draw the line on whom to give to. Please comment on this post and let me know if you feel close enough to me to give you a gift.
Okay, so one more thing. I think I know what I'm giving for Christmas this year. I considered not getting anybody anything, but I thought of a fairly clever, frugal and easily mass-produced system of gifts for this year. I just don't know where to draw the line on whom to give to. Please comment on this post and let me know if you feel close enough to me to give you a gift.
Friday, December 12, 2008
jon demand episode 2 plus major technological announcement
Hey, before I forget, I just put up a new Song of the Moment. I've neglected it for like a month and a half.
So here's the next Jon Demand. And also here's a very special treat. Anybody have iTunes out there? Because now you can subscribe and sync episodes of Jon Demand to automatically download to iTunes -- and hence onto your iPod or mp3 player!
Go to this page on iTunes.
Also, Jon Demand is its own RSS now. That means that one can go to jondemandpodcast.blogspot.com and stick that in their reader and avoid having to deal with all my lame wordy blog posts. So if you hate my blog, just stick jondemandpodcast.blogspot.com into your Google Reader.
Anyway, the point of this whole Jon Demand subscription thing is to have a distribution outlet for all my videos, including Jon Demand specifically, Halloween movies, friends' movies, pirated movies, funny clips in general and recordings I make of you without you knowing.
I think it sounds totally fun! Seriously.
Okay, here's Episode 2:
So here's the next Jon Demand. And also here's a very special treat. Anybody have iTunes out there? Because now you can subscribe and sync episodes of Jon Demand to automatically download to iTunes -- and hence onto your iPod or mp3 player!
Go to this page on iTunes.
Also, Jon Demand is its own RSS now. That means that one can go to jondemandpodcast.blogspot.com and stick that in their reader and avoid having to deal with all my lame wordy blog posts. So if you hate my blog, just stick jondemandpodcast.blogspot.com into your Google Reader.
Anyway, the point of this whole Jon Demand subscription thing is to have a distribution outlet for all my videos, including Jon Demand specifically, Halloween movies, friends' movies, pirated movies, funny clips in general and recordings I make of you without you knowing.
I think it sounds totally fun! Seriously.
Okay, here's Episode 2:
Thursday, December 11, 2008
watchful observations of new watchmen trailer
0:00 -- Freaky music, huh? I guess the pumpkins have been done to death with the Watchmen campaign. The churchy spookiness fits, though.
0:05 -- Has anyone noticed that in the past week YouTube has switched to the widescreen format. The place I got this from has the widescreen embedded into the blog, but it looks like it's not working for me. Sorry about half the screen being black bars everyone!
0:40 -- Check out the framed picture of the younger Silk Spectre in what's probably the Comedian's apartment. Nice touch.
0:43 -- One thing the movie really has going for it is the eerie ink movements on Rorschach's mask. I read the graphic novel twice and a half and I never really caught on that it even did that. Surely this will be one thing that's cooler on film than print.
0:45 -- Headline: "The Comedian Gets Last Laugh on Moloch."
0:52 -- Sometimes I hesitate watching and scrutinizing trailers because I'm afraid I'll hit too many spoilers. Perhaps I shouldn't have read the graphic novel then, because these trailer images are exactly like the novel's images.
1:02 -- Fade to black. I hate movie trailers for for fading in and out of black as often as they do. Since I started editing movie trailers into The Cinematic Experience, I've noticed it a lot more often. It's wicked obnoxious.
1:04 -- Wow, the original Silk Spectre's hair was hideous.
1:09 -- Was this sinister Comedian look toward Silk Spectre in the book? I don't have my copy right now (not that it matters, since I'm too lazy to look it up online). Anyway, it's a beautiful addition.
1:10-2:00 -- We've seen just about all of this in the past trailer. I suppose I didn't comment on it too much back then. The Mars sequence looks like it could be slightly breathtaking -- although it's completely given away now. I like whoever they got for Sally Juspeczyk. If she delivers her lines as well as she looks the part, I think we're in business. The Jon Osterman sequences look pretty good too. Hopefully they don't show off Dr. Manhattan too much. I think they'll get more mileage out of him if they keep him mysterious.
2:09 -- Sounds like Danny Elfman took the reins on the music.
2:19 -- Nixon! Anybody see Frost/Nixon yet? How about that Futurama where the disembodied head of Nixon wins the Earthican presidency?
2:22 -- I'm worried about Nite Owl's little ship. Will the audience believe that it can fly and shoot through ice with no wings and not really any noticeable jet propulsion? It may be the fakest looking thing in the story. Zack Snyder will need to tow a fine line between ridiculous camp and dead seriousness.
2:32 -- Did the Comedian just deck a woman?
2:35 -- Isn't Veidt supposed to be more handsome than this? He looks pretty drugged up.
2:39 -- Who's this kid? Does he have the shining?
2:42 -- Looks like Nite Owl goes a little nuts. You know there's no holding back with this movie when the nicest guy in the book is shown in the movie trailer totally wailing on a guy.
2:50 -- Is that Max Headroom as Moloch? Nice to see him getting work. Although I never really liked the guy. When he was here filming The Stand all those years ago, he implied in an interview that everyone in Utah was inbred.
2:55 -- Here's my favorite image in the trailer: Dollar Bill stuck in the revolving door. I'm pretty sure this one wasn't in the graphic novel. Kids! This is why you don't wear a cape! I like to believe that Bill's ill-devised cape was the inspiration to mention the impracticalities of capes in The Incredibles
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
jon demand is on the air!
Okay, this first episode and the one that's gonna follow aren't as exciting as I was hoping, but I'll still watch them! Seriously, though -- episode 3 is going to be nuts.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
now that the tryptophan has worn off...
I meant to blog about my Thanksgiving weekend. Is it too late? It's the first weekend of December and I'm listening to Christmas music right now. I'm probably exceeding the statute of limitations on this one.
Really briefly, let me just say that I love Thanksgiving, but I don't really enjoy Thanksgiving dinner (What? Turkey, again? *sigh*). So it was especially fun to go out for Thanksgiving this year. The 'rents and I hit up Magleby's for their annual Thanksgiving buffet. The line was long and homeless-like, but it was good food. Unfortunately, I'm now going to associate crab legs with Thanksgiving dinner from now on.
Other Thanksgiving tradition upheld: seeing a movie. Maria was in town and we saw Twilight. The
parents were supposed to come as well, but things came up and mom was feeling goofy sick anyway. I strangely liked the movie. Maybe it was because the trailer was so lame and the movie was actually better than the trailer. I doubt the studio execs did such a thing on purpose, but it totally worked. Everybody was going to see it anyway, so it only helps spread the word when everybody coming out says, "It was way better than I thought it would be!" I think it's a good idea. Of course, I seem to be the only one actually saying that it's better than expectations. Anyway, I seriously found it more enjoyable than the book on several occasions -- most notably in providing some humor. The girl wasn't very good (of course with a lame character like Bella, how could she be?), but I thought the Pattinson guy who played Edward was plenty cool. I know all the girls are saying he's not hot enough, but think about it this way: Stephenie Myer constantly wrote about how beautiful the guy is, but she hardly ever delivered some non-subjective descriptions. When she did, however, she was totally describing Robert Pattinson. Anyway, the movie wasn't horrible. Probably won't make my year-end top ten, but it wasn't horrible.
My final Thanksgiving necessity was catching up on some overdue dvds.
First up: Square Pegs. I probably know only two people who are aware of this tv show from the early 80s. 'Twas a high-school sitcom starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Jami Gertz and the guy who played Kirk's son in Star Trek II. As my brother put it (my brother Andy is a HUGE fan), it was way ahead of its time. In many senses it was. It was a single-camera show, which means that it didn't look as staged as most traditional sitcoms at the time. It looked a lot more like The Office, 30 Rock or Scrubs. Another plus: it was definitely a product of its time. Most people would call that a minus, but it's a plus for me. It's like a fascinating study of the specific trends and attitudes of 1982. It wasn't Duran Duran that guested on the first episode, it was The Waitresses -- a perfect image of that exact time. Some annoying things: yes, there's a single camera, but there's also a laugh track, which makes no sense. They're obviously filming in a real school and not a studio audience. The kids are also VERY stereotypical. Maybe this is a plus, because it's so very very obvious. We got the shy girl, the girl who wants to be popular above all else, the weirdo music lover, the hopeful stand-up comedian, the bossy student government (pep squad) chick, the valley girl and (embarrassingly the most stereotypical of all) the sassy black woman.
Next: Star Trek: The Next Generation. I've started watching the entire series of TNG on behalf of another project. Now I don't care what you say or what your so-called credentials are, but Next Gen is pretty sweet. The first season, however, is howlingly not sweet at all. Fortunately, there's plenty of unintentional comic relief. Eventually, this show grew to a really great franchise, but how it got past the first season is beyond me. I guess it had the luxury of non-network syndication in 1987, plus legions of fans clamoring for a new Star Trek series for nearly 20 years. Those same fans will mistakenly bestow more accolades on TNG than on the original series (whatever).
Veronica Mars. I've only seen the first ten or so episodes, but it's becoming an absolute delight. I was really worried at the beginning. Unfortunately, I'm probably less of a fan of Kristen Bell than I was before. It's not that I dislike smart girls, but what I really hate is when a girl gets smart girl attitude. You know, the kind of attitude where everything you say is dumb and her tiny self is just standing there with an annoying smirk and her head cocked to the side. Yeah. Sass. I hate it. On everybody. Also alarming when I first started watching was how I had the assumption that it was a super smart, under the radar show that the mainstream simply didn't get. Imagine my horror, when the stunt casting of Paris Hilton occurred on, like the second episode. Quibbles aside, it's an awesome show. Funny, sad, thrilling and all that. I also love having a mystery to solve every time. The theme song "We Used to be Friends" by The Dandy Warhols is an awesome song. Fortunately it was done first on The O.C. I also love Logan Echolls. He plays the jerk. Veronica fans keep asking me if I "like" Logan yet which I think means "has his heart softened and has he won the heart of Veronica Mars yet?" The answer to that is no. I think I'll actually like him less when that happens. Sad to hear that the show only lasted for three seasons.
So next holiday plans: MLK Day! What're we doin'?
Really briefly, let me just say that I love Thanksgiving, but I don't really enjoy Thanksgiving dinner (What? Turkey, again? *sigh*). So it was especially fun to go out for Thanksgiving this year. The 'rents and I hit up Magleby's for their annual Thanksgiving buffet. The line was long and homeless-like, but it was good food. Unfortunately, I'm now going to associate crab legs with Thanksgiving dinner from now on.Other Thanksgiving tradition upheld: seeing a movie. Maria was in town and we saw Twilight. The
parents were supposed to come as well, but things came up and mom was feeling goofy sick anyway. I strangely liked the movie. Maybe it was because the trailer was so lame and the movie was actually better than the trailer. I doubt the studio execs did such a thing on purpose, but it totally worked. Everybody was going to see it anyway, so it only helps spread the word when everybody coming out says, "It was way better than I thought it would be!" I think it's a good idea. Of course, I seem to be the only one actually saying that it's better than expectations. Anyway, I seriously found it more enjoyable than the book on several occasions -- most notably in providing some humor. The girl wasn't very good (of course with a lame character like Bella, how could she be?), but I thought the Pattinson guy who played Edward was plenty cool. I know all the girls are saying he's not hot enough, but think about it this way: Stephenie Myer constantly wrote about how beautiful the guy is, but she hardly ever delivered some non-subjective descriptions. When she did, however, she was totally describing Robert Pattinson. Anyway, the movie wasn't horrible. Probably won't make my year-end top ten, but it wasn't horrible.My final Thanksgiving necessity was catching up on some overdue dvds.
First up: Square Pegs. I probably know only two people who are aware of this tv show from the early 80s. 'Twas a high-school sitcom starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Jami Gertz and the guy who played Kirk's son in Star Trek II. As my brother put it (my brother Andy is a HUGE fan), it was way ahead of its time. In many senses it was. It was a single-camera show, which means that it didn't look as staged as most traditional sitcoms at the time. It looked a lot more like The Office, 30 Rock or Scrubs. Another plus: it was definitely a product of its time. Most people would call that a minus, but it's a plus for me. It's like a fascinating study of the specific trends and attitudes of 1982. It wasn't Duran Duran that guested on the first episode, it was The Waitresses -- a perfect image of that exact time. Some annoying things: yes, there's a single camera, but there's also a laugh track, which makes no sense. They're obviously filming in a real school and not a studio audience. The kids are also VERY stereotypical. Maybe this is a plus, because it's so very very obvious. We got the shy girl, the girl who wants to be popular above all else, the weirdo music lover, the hopeful stand-up comedian, the bossy student government (pep squad) chick, the valley girl and (embarrassingly the most stereotypical of all) the sassy black woman.
Next: Star Trek: The Next Generation. I've started watching the entire series of TNG on behalf of another project. Now I don't care what you say or what your so-called credentials are, but Next Gen is pretty sweet. The first season, however, is howlingly not sweet at all. Fortunately, there's plenty of unintentional comic relief. Eventually, this show grew to a really great franchise, but how it got past the first season is beyond me. I guess it had the luxury of non-network syndication in 1987, plus legions of fans clamoring for a new Star Trek series for nearly 20 years. Those same fans will mistakenly bestow more accolades on TNG than on the original series (whatever).
Veronica Mars. I've only seen the first ten or so episodes, but it's becoming an absolute delight. I was really worried at the beginning. Unfortunately, I'm probably less of a fan of Kristen Bell than I was before. It's not that I dislike smart girls, but what I really hate is when a girl gets smart girl attitude. You know, the kind of attitude where everything you say is dumb and her tiny self is just standing there with an annoying smirk and her head cocked to the side. Yeah. Sass. I hate it. On everybody. Also alarming when I first started watching was how I had the assumption that it was a super smart, under the radar show that the mainstream simply didn't get. Imagine my horror, when the stunt casting of Paris Hilton occurred on, like the second episode. Quibbles aside, it's an awesome show. Funny, sad, thrilling and all that. I also love having a mystery to solve every time. The theme song "We Used to be Friends" by The Dandy Warhols is an awesome song. Fortunately it was done first on The O.C. I also love Logan Echolls. He plays the jerk. Veronica fans keep asking me if I "like" Logan yet which I think means "has his heart softened and has he won the heart of Veronica Mars yet?" The answer to that is no. I think I'll actually like him less when that happens. Sad to hear that the show only lasted for three seasons.So next holiday plans: MLK Day! What're we doin'?
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