LOST ep 3

Jughead - there was so much talk from Joopers about the significance...and it ends up being the name of an H-bomb?

I really liked the way they "camouflaged" the young Widmore's identity. I'm going to make the leap that when the 18 US Military men were killed, they kept their uniforms. It appears that what Others we saw were all in fatigues...except Richard. His clothes looks way too modern.

HOWEVER - I'm wondering WHEN the Others and Richard figured out the time travel issue. Locke obviously shocks Richard by pulling the Jacob card, but I just wonder if time travel wasn't possible until they did something with the bomb. We know that the island has a history of different people on the island, but I wonder if it never started traveling in time until the appearance and possible diffusing/cementing of the bomb? They can get off the island, as Richard shares with Locke.

I didn't get to watch the enhanced version because the local assholes thought that a Boat and Car show preview was a little more interesting...a Jooper logged that Mrs. Hawking is Eloise Hawking, which gives her another leg up on being the possible mother of Daniel Faraday, but even better, the aggro little English girl pointing a gun at Daniel, who he says she seems very familiar, just happens to be called...ELLIE. Go figure.

Locke repeats his birthdate, so that Richard will go find him, May 30, 1956. Just happens to be during the bus boycott in Tallahassee. Can't see how the bus boycott can be linked, but you just can't put Locke and Tallahassee in the same sentence and not call a spade a spade.

Charlie - of course Des would call his boy Charlie. It just stings that it's also the name of his evil grandfather. Des was not a coward, BTW. He went straight to the beast and called it, walked into Widmore's office, got what he wanted and left. Granted, Widmore appears want his daughter to stay safe. We know that Ben said he would find and kill her, but Penny said, "Don't underestimate him...if he finds out, I don't know what he'll do." Then again, by sending them to LA (she's a very private person,) he's nearly sending them to the Lion's den, and also telling Des that he shouldn't get involved in something that's been going on for many, many years. HIDE AGAIN.

What doesn't make sense, is that Ellie, at the beginning of the ep, tells Daniel, " You just couldn't stay away, could you?", but then asks him who he is? Can't be a loose end, we'll find out about it soon enough, I'm sure. These Others also seem to think our freighter folk are the ones who put the trip lines/mines around the creek, but she also says something about "coming to our island".

wall-e

no. 21 WALL-E

I actually watched this over a week ago, but didn't want to post until I got the bonus DVD...

Totally should have gotten a best movie nod! So many good tags in this, what I say will come up way short. A spot on cautionary tale incorporating corporate greed, eco/social awareness, sloth. Great little bits with Hello Dolly!, Louis' La Vie En Rose. Sound, rather than dialogue, propels the story, God bless Ben Burtt, he's brilliant! I just watched Brazil, so the magnifined screen popped out (and found out it was a nice homage.) Eve is so elegant yet violent. Wall-e has the biggest heart, I really liked the physical/emotional comparison to ET. The Captain, a perfect example of what's happened to humanity, reaches out of the depth of complacence, "Sit here and do nothing? I don't want to survive, I want to live!"

hancock

no. 20 Hancock

Not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be...and another Jason Bateman film! The premise reminds me of American Gods - I just wish I knew more about them to figure out what gods they are supposed to be. Maybe it's Michael Mann, but I was hoping for a little mythos, I expect that from Mr. X Files, Jr, Vince Gilligan. I totally dug it was directed by Dexter Rutecki!

juno

no. 19 Juno

I own this DVD, so there should be no reason to choose to watch it on HBO when there's something else new to experience, but I needed enough time to take all my meds (these antibiotics are killing me!) and it just started after Big Love last night. Again, proving the point that Diablo Cody should be my best friend. I've said it before, say it again, love that Jason Bateman is getting a second go-round in Hollywood. I mean he's always been "working", but not like anyone saw those bits on tv shows. I miss he and Michael Cera together - what is to become of the Arrested Development movie? For all that Ellen Page scared the shit out of me in Hardy Candy, she's down right adorable and whip smart. We share a bday, so that smart thing goes with the territory ;)

For the record, I've been digging the Moldy Peaches for years. "Who's Got the Crack?" is one of my favorite all times.

gladiator

no. 18 Gladiator

I wouldn't have chosen to re-watch this if Dad wasn't sitting in the same room. Sometimes, you just gotta give in to your old man. This was amazing the first time I viewed it - on the big screen. The grandness of the Coliseum scenes, the CGI effects to make it look monstrous. The battles were so intense. Watching it at home, I feel cheated.

holy biglove order!

HBO really does have great programming.

As if Alby's face last week didn't pay for the 60min of programming (I mean who's mom tries to have them killed in a homo-erotic pick up in a reststop bathroom?)...tonight was pretty good. The look on Barb's face while she looked on the family with which she will spend the afterlife...

seven real bucket sleuth

I just gotta catch up!

no. 14 The Bucket List
Granted, this was just another blah-ish comedy, but it has heart. One can only speak from experience, and experience is subjective (obviously). The idea actually caught me a little more than others, knowing that you can be that close to death. There is a part of me that knows I'm alive because I know that life is too beautiful - there is too much for me to see, learn, no matter how painful my own life might or can be.

no. 15 Seven Years In Tibet
For years, I said Brad can't act. New girlfriends, new looks. He has no personality so he can absorb another identity like a sponge. Granted, I think he's done that with Angie, but it appears he is working on his craft these days. As for Tibet, the accent was just horrible. I know this is based on a true story, so it's nice to see that the guy who has it all, high achiever, good looks, etc, doesn't get the girl.

no. 16 Sleuth
I don't remember reading anything about this when it was released, in fact, I was holding the disc in my hands, reading the label to my dad and couldn't remember why it was in my queue, other than I must have been looking at a bunch of films and added it. Then I realised it was a Jude Law movie, so I had to have added it just because I love looking at him. Dude, I couldn't have been bothered to look at him in this because he proved just how much he can fucking act. I think this is one of the best character films I have seen in the longest time. Kenneth Brannagh proves he is an amazing director and really gets language, composition, emotion. Some people just toss him off as the guy who's completely obsessed with Shakespeare, but he gets it.

no. 17 Dan In Real Life
No matter how many times I watch this, I always tear up during the talent show. Although, this time, I had a different read to it, watching it with my dad. I never realised how much I relate to Dan's character. Everyone loves Dan but all are appalled at his behavior and express this to him. He's alone, stuck in the laundry room on a cot. This is exactly how I feel when I'm with my family. They have their perceptions, but they are not realistic. Dan is made to contain his undeniable attraction and love for Marie, which is channeled in some odd ways of acting out like a teenager. I feel like that with my family - they don't see everything, but they don't ask. I made a smart assed comment to my brother over xmas. "Just because you never see me with a boyfriend does not make me a lesbian." Granted, his comeback had something to do with carpet munching doesn't entail a relationship. I've never been one to share my relationships with my family, not really with anyone. They're never cut and dry or easy to explain; complicated is being kind.

LOST ep 1 SPOILLLLLLLLLL

If I'm going to talk about LOST, I just need to get ideas off my chest. I refuse to spend hours on message boards. Maybe I can use this as a reference point to prove I was right about something :)

Tonight was great...and it sucked. They gave us enough that we've been waiting for, but had to throw in some clunky plot driving devices.

**I think the island is stuck in time. Think about the Constant, the back and forth in Desmond's consciousness, the bloody nose. If the island is trying to get "unstuck" Billy Pilgrim style, what can a huge chunk of earth do? I think the blender noise and violet sky is the island's version of a the cerebral hemorrhage. We're never given the chance to see what the time line is, which I'd be interested in. Timeline as in how often the island is trying to "reboot". That's really what I think it's doing. This is where the clunky plot push comes along. I hate that I get where the story is going and have to sit through the skips that the rest of the folks need. Yeah, we do need to see the freighter folk/Sawyer & Juliette try to figure out where they are in time, hatch, no hatch.

**Smoke Monster! Sawyer & Juliette refer to and you can see the black smoke from the freighter - BUT you see black smoke swirl not once, but twice, from the Beechcraft. First, right when it landed in the trees, second, I believe it was after Richard fixed Locke up.

**Desmond - Daniel says he is "special" and the rules don't apply. I think this is a simple one - although when a suited up Des comes to the door looking for a carrot line, he has no memory or shows no recollection of Daniel. I think it has to do with the timeline...it hasn't really happened yet, him turning the fail safe. He is special simply because he is a traveler - Ms. Hawkins has explained to him the nature of the universe and course correction. His utter fiber, his being has muscle memory even if he didn't have a conversation with Doc Brown.

**Charlotte - I think she's experiencing a form of "motion sickness", hence the bloody nose. She's not confused, she's not skipping around in her consciousness. I think it has to do with where she was born. Everyone else on the island is fine - whether they are moving in time or the island is, well, that's to be seen - but Charlotte is the only one who's symptomatic. I believe her past, present and future has to do with the island. If the island is freaking out and trying to get "unstuck", her birth on the island is in flux. I'll articulate it better soon.

**Richard said that he's not going to recognize Locke the next time they meet. It's because Richard stays in tune with the island, he's made of the same fabric, where and when the island goes, I believe he goes.

**Locke - Richard gives him a compass. It's the same compass he showed to the five year old Locke. It will hold truth for Richard. I also wonder, in the whole timeline, where and when Richard gets it back from Locke? Does he get it back, get stuck in time with the island, get off the island in 1960 and look for Locke then? Hmmm....

**Hurley was another clunky device. He was used to push the narrative forward, he got some really great scenes where we do see him as the moral compass. But overall, everything with Hurley in this season opener was a dud.

**Sun - something is really up her sleeve. She's not all just about killing Ben. There will be much more to come with her and Widmore - I think she'll be the way we learn about him...and more about how the island was his.

I guess I'm really wrapped up in the "how", not the "who" at this moment. I wanted to see more "how" as much as I love the characters. It was a bummer to see so little of Des and Penny, but they got their directive for ep 2.

dead man

no. 13 Dead Man Walking

Wow, that's a great no. 13, eh? Another film I have no idea why I've never watched. It is damn near perfect...well, other than that fact that they just didn't do the accents and there is NO way white trash from Slidell had never eaten shrimp until his death meal. That boy had to have some white shrimp boots in his family.

I don't post anything unless I've seen it in its entirety. Like Bull Durham. It is my favorite movie of all time, I watched about twenty minutes of it last night, which totally set up both Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. The juxtaposition of "would you rather I be making love to you using his name" and her talking to the parents of the raped and murdered girl certainly got my attention. Some may say her best assets are her tits, which are amazing, but her eyes kill me every time. Everybody knows that Sean Penn could be six feet under and call in an Oscar performance, although, he really rocked that pomp. Is it good enough that I just really like Tim for being able to pull off Nuke, be a true activist and he can write?

And Jack Black gets his movie break!

bringing up baby

no. 12 Bringing Up Baby

I think this is a silly, silly movie. Although I love Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, and it made me giggle when I put together Tony Curtis' fake Shell Oil accent as Grant's, I don't get how this has made top comedy and top film lists. This could have been pulled off in a 15 min short, it would have been just as funny. Like we didn't know from the minute David describes his bone is from a brontosaurus that she wasn't going to demolish it.

On a side note, my grandfather used to sing "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" to me all the time. I couldn't help but note that he was about my age when he most likely saw this movie. Update - of course, this is so stream of consciousness...the song was originally recorded in 1928 - so he was 20. He sang it to me from 1976-94. He'd been singing that for almost 70 years! Although I love Louis', Billie is my girl. I wonder who's he liked the best?

immortal without youth

no. 10 Immortal
no. 11 Youth Without Youth

Two very stylistic and different stories dealing with life...and death.

Immortal really tried to bridge the gap between CGI and human, lots of CG sets. Weird movie, although really interesting. I think this is what happens when Italians drop acid with the French and decide to decipher in English. Gotta look into the graphic novels - I know the author, Enki Bilal, had a huge visual impact on films like Blade Runner.

Youth Without Youth would have been spectacular if it wasn't squished into 125 minutes. There was too much to work with, I guess when you are writer, director, producer...no one puts Coppola in the corner, ya know? Lots of great ideas that didn't have the time to be fleshed out - it was like the time travel aspects of LOST mixed with WWII secrecy and lots of weird languages, not to mention some interesting religion notes. He's given the gift of "life" in order to finish his life's work, if you will, and he gives up his dogged pursuit in order to give life to another. There are some smart superpowers thrown in here, too. Really, way too many details to iron out. I'm still not sure if I liked Tim Roth or not - after seeing him in Hulk, I just look at him in a different way.

us of t

Honestly, I think I'm going to get rid of regular cable and just keep History International and pay cable. My favorite shows are on Showtime and HBO (or have already wrapped and I might get a re-run.)

United States of Tara is brilliant. And as I've already said today, as a crazy lady, that's like getting a Grade A stamp from the USDA - or a dentist giving thumbs up for Crest. The artist known as Diablo Cody would certainly be my best friend if we met. I love her EW column - she gave ShamWow a spot on her top five. Vince is getting lots of wear out of that one.

It hasn't come up on my radar yet, but I'll have to check with one of my policemen to see whether or not any of the big psych organizations are boycotting...and if they are, they are cutting their noses off. It's an honest depiction of a family who has decided to understand and tackle the issue of DID head on. Mom goes off her meds so that her family can understand why she has such difficulty and the alters that help her to cope. Cody consults with several mental health professionals on the scripts to make sure that she's pointing in the right direction, which I think is socially responsible and professionally respectable. It is funny as shit, I cannot articulate it in any other way. If you don't have SHO, find a way to watch it. Period.

"I just really resent picking up after them...the alters. The messes they make can be astounding. I mean, having multiple personalities is like hosting a kegger in your brain, only you're knocked out cold while everyone is just trashing the joint."

BTW - in looking for the link to the show, I found out that SHO has a site explaining DID and links. How responsible...and I'm sure legal strongly persuaded them that this little positive is much better than all the negative that could come...

bread and tulips

no. 9 Bread and Tulips

I've been meaning to watch this for ages - it's a story that's been repeated over and over. The bored housewife who realises there can be so much more in her life...or that she hasn't been living it. But this is different - it's GOOD. There are so many touches that are just so cute and funny. She tells about how her grandfather died falling off an unfinished bridge. When asking her son if he's on drugs, he replies, "Joints aren't drugs." "Then what are they?" "Joints." On the imdb page, the comment highlighted said it's a movie like only a European can make. Ditto.

mamma mia

no. 8? Mamma Mia!

I'm so glad I watched this in a room full of girls; it wasn't an offense to womankind because I know I wasn't the only one groaning. The story was cute, we all laughed. Great casting (I love Julie Waters!), but never let Pierce Brosnan sing again. Period. It was New Year's Day with Tammy, DR's mom and nieces. I drank monster bottle of champagne for mimosas. Just a little indulgence.

dune

no. 7 Dune

I finally had the time to sit through the entire movie at once. I must admit, I'm really not the biggest fan. This film to me, is a sum of its parts; the great cast, David Lynch, the VFX crew - which at the time was cutting edge. I'm sure if I dig for it, I'll find out that Tim Burton is a fan of the movie, ie: the big worm in Beetlejuice and the black "dry" suits for the desert look like Edward Scissorhands. I didn't start a list, if I did, I wouldn't have really been paying attention to the pacing, etc. There are so many of these iconic films that have been replayed on tv so much that its easy to have seen the movie times over, if you pieced it together. I'm glad HBO was running it tonight. If anything, so I can finally say I have seen it.

Brad Dourif is great! Kyle MacLachlan has this airy price look to him, the hair does it for me. I almost didn't recognise the super young and goregous Virginia Madsen. Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow, Patrick Stewart, so many actors that make the cast really deep, at least when you look at it now. Man, whatever happened to Sean Young? She really should have kept her attitude in check, she would have been huge. And Sting? Well, he just looks really good.

emperor and assassin

no 6. The Emperor and the Assassin

I have seen a million Gong Li movies and she never fails me. This was tough - 2hr45min Mandarin subtitles and a long story. But great regardless. I dig Chinese films that teach me, whether it be actual history or just culture. I had a long talk with my PT the morning after the opening games in Beijing. There were things she didn't get, and I feel, that I totally did because I've taken the time to start to understand Chinese art and culture. Granted, I'm no scholar, but I know more than the next twenty people in line together.

Do yourself a favor and look into the big Chinese stars...

spectacle

Sundance's Spectacle with Elvis Costello is a great spin on a talk show. Elvis gets to perform songs we'd never normally hear, for which we should feel special. I'm surprised how intimate it feels - the little theatre look is great. I just watched the Loudon Wainright episode; he's all old Hollywood handsome in a white dinner jacket. I think he's adorable, but I wish he'd just shut his trap. He writes beautiful songs, he can sing. But man, he sounds like a pompous fag and I mean that in a good but irritating and childish way.

Back to Elvis. Keep em coming. I can't wait for the episode with She & Him, Jenny Lewis and Jakob Dylan. Oh, and his mama Diana is interviewing him. That should be fun.

irma

no. 5 Irma la Douce

It's Jack Lemmon month on AMC. I did double duty the other night (Jack and Billy Wilder!) He was an amazing talent, a gifted artist. I think he picked up the comedic baton...and was still able to do a great straight man. In one of the first scenes, when he's got the girls in the back of the paddy wagon, it's amazing who's face I saw - Peter Sarsgaard.

People are generally polarized by Shirley McClaine, but I think it's her personal life. She shows so much life behind those sparkling eyes...and green hose. Although, I guess it's tough when Warren Beatty is your brother.

some like it hot!

no. 4 Some Like It Hot

I've seen this movie a million times and still stayed up until 3am to watch it the other night. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are so good looking - and have great legs as broads. Marilyn Monroe really rounds the movie out, for real. I truly believe she is just the embodiment of mother earth - maybe not the mother part - but she's not tiny. She's round, curvy, meaty, plump in all the right spots. She is one true woman. Not many girls can pull off the dresses she wore - in a time where clothes were made so well, she's barely got anything covering her.

Nobody's perfect.

run fatboy

no 3. Run Fatboy, Run.

Simon Pegg is really a funny guy, I loved Shaun of the Dead, he writes his own stuff and he's oddly cute. You can't go wrong with Hank Azaria, he's just a magnet. Thandie Newton pulls her own in a comedy, her beauty is just so overwhelming. I hate giving David Schwimmer and credit because I really think he fell into celebrity due to a moment in time.

tropic..tom cruise?

no 2. Tropic Thunder. LOVED IT. Great spoof in a genre that's made up of some really crappy movies. Robert Downey, Jr can take on any role and make it his. There was nothing amazing about it, but I am unapologetic in my affection.

Danny McBride is getting lots of face time. The dude is plain funny and had the greatest line about moving to catering. Really can't wait to see things from the new guy...esp the HBO show.

Tom Cruise. Man, he put himself back on the map. He's pissed off so many people with his antics over the past two years, all the studio crap, etc. Ben Stiller made him (kinda) cool again, but he may have ditched that with Valkyrie. I'm sure I'll have something to say about it once I get the DVD.

wanted

no 1. Wanted. This was totally billed as an Angelina movie. I don't know if that's because James McAvoy's name wouldn't do much in the US. Honestly, I would have watched it regardless, but my big interest was to see my boy James in an honest to god action flick. We've seen him carry a gun, but it never counted. I dug it - the action and CG was really far fetched - but compelling nonetheless. I never read Mark Millar's series, but was aware of it.

Just proves my point, I love James McAvoy.

counting?

A girl I know keeps a blog of the books she's read, and counts them down. I think it might show how pathetic my life is if I put numbers, but what the hell. At least she's a librarian. Then again, I still am an industry geek, so if I can justify and put work in the equation...

LOST for the new year

I've been stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere, literally. I got home on 1/2 from being with family since 12/23. I wasn't feeling well and really, do I ever really have anything to do? I knew I was on a tight timeline to re-watch four seasons of LOST. I never thought that I'd stick on the couch and get it all done in less than two weeks. That includes commentaries and some special features. I'm a loser, but I'm okay with that. At least everything is fresh in my mind and I have some new ideas!

I always love reading Doc from EW's ideas - especially the whole "he" and "raise" idea. I think I'm on board with that one.

Just counting down the days until the 21st.