Sunday, September 20, 2009
RL sucks part deux
Yeah, it does, doesn't it? I feel lame that I haven't taken the time to catch up. This was supposed to be an exercise in writing, not just cataloguing. Sharing the fun stuff I was listening to, watching, reading. It still is, but when I have to just make a list to catch up, it takes all that away, ya know? At least this past week, new brain enhancing drugs (plus the extended release muscle relaxers and pain killers) have freed up my mind. It feels great not to have a 24/7 headache, even better that I can actually see the world as it is intended to be (well, that's questionable.) At least it's not blurry and hopefully I can drive at night a little better.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
special
no.131 Special
This movie hit home, I'm ashamed to not have written about it immediately after I saw it, where my nerves were raw and exposed. Michael Rappaport's character starts a psych med clinical trial - he shows signs of moderate depression. He's a guy who doesn't have much, is terribly normal, a meter maid who loves comic books. Then everything goes haywire. The sideeffects of the meds lead Les down a really interesting and silly path. Don't get me wrong, I might come down hard, but I would recommend this, just know, it's not all comic book geek jokes, it's really serious.
Although every trailer made this out to be a comedy about someone who thinks they are a superhero, it's really a socially irresponsible way to treat the film. As someone who lives with a serious mental illness, I totally understood this film. As serious as the side effects of reverse psychosis were real, they were funny. But were the filmmakers trying to make a statement about corporate Rx greed or the fact that we are all just such small specs on this planet, in the universe?
"I suppose this will be my final journal entry. I'm not looking forward to returning to my old life, the truth is, with so many billions of people on the planet most of us can't be unique or important in any meaningful way. We go to sleep, we wake up, we go to work, we eat, we spend time with friends, we watch tv, maybe we even fall in love. But we don't have any magical powers and we don't have any great fights to fight, no evil forces to defeat and no mysterious men in suits chasing after us. We just have reality, and believing anything else is just, well, believing anything else is crazy, isn't it?"
This movie hit home, I'm ashamed to not have written about it immediately after I saw it, where my nerves were raw and exposed. Michael Rappaport's character starts a psych med clinical trial - he shows signs of moderate depression. He's a guy who doesn't have much, is terribly normal, a meter maid who loves comic books. Then everything goes haywire. The sideeffects of the meds lead Les down a really interesting and silly path. Don't get me wrong, I might come down hard, but I would recommend this, just know, it's not all comic book geek jokes, it's really serious.
Although every trailer made this out to be a comedy about someone who thinks they are a superhero, it's really a socially irresponsible way to treat the film. As someone who lives with a serious mental illness, I totally understood this film. As serious as the side effects of reverse psychosis were real, they were funny. But were the filmmakers trying to make a statement about corporate Rx greed or the fact that we are all just such small specs on this planet, in the universe?
"I suppose this will be my final journal entry. I'm not looking forward to returning to my old life, the truth is, with so many billions of people on the planet most of us can't be unique or important in any meaningful way. We go to sleep, we wake up, we go to work, we eat, we spend time with friends, we watch tv, maybe we even fall in love. But we don't have any magical powers and we don't have any great fights to fight, no evil forces to defeat and no mysterious men in suits chasing after us. We just have reality, and believing anything else is just, well, believing anything else is crazy, isn't it?"
forbidden quest
no.130 Forbidden Quest
This movie was absolutely fabulous, and I don't mean that in a campy, English, fag hag way. This was a stunning take on what we consider the first amendment and how its non-existence affected lives in Korea. I can't help but think of the Marquis de Sade and smile ;) This is something you definitely want to watch with friends. I mean, it's not like Knocked Up's Flesh of the Stars, but think 18th century Korea. Yeah, it's a stretch, but if you watch it, you'll know exactly what I mean!
The story follows the preeminent writer/scholar and his adventure to find new passion in his writing. At first, he is shocked when he is given a piece of erotic pulp, even more so when he realizes the money that is made. This begins his exploration into thoughts and feelings on paper which elicit the "flavor of life." He starts to drop his pretensions and high rank by taking off his noble hat in front of the lower class, dons sunglasses like the other writers he feels are below him, but it's like he's shedding his skin, reminds me of what might have happened in the 60s when folks started dressing down, realising that the high maintenance of presentation wasn't warranted.
There's a high importance placed on cowardice. He's too subtle, he's one to put his head down and follow a path laid before him. His family feels he is a coward for not pursuing any sort of vengeance for his brother's death, when in fact, moving within the King's Court, he has the power to do so, but will ruffle feathers, totally against his nature. However, he has the balls to write and distribute illicit material with full illustrations based on his affair with the Queen.
Ultimately, this is a story about societal restraint - there is what is expected of us within the bounds of society and what it needs us to do, then there is our natural curiosity that leads us into darker corners, pulls us in. Treason and imprisonment are the end game but our man show not only lack of cowardice but the strength in his bonds of camaraderie.
I can't begin to touch on the great scenes, the collaboration of questionable men with a noblemen, the shenanigans involved. In order for the illustrator to understand what he is to draw, the old man is used to practice "tactical maneuvers", but at a point, he is dismissed because he's too old and not flexible enough to pose.
This movie was absolutely fabulous, and I don't mean that in a campy, English, fag hag way. This was a stunning take on what we consider the first amendment and how its non-existence affected lives in Korea. I can't help but think of the Marquis de Sade and smile ;) This is something you definitely want to watch with friends. I mean, it's not like Knocked Up's Flesh of the Stars, but think 18th century Korea. Yeah, it's a stretch, but if you watch it, you'll know exactly what I mean!
The story follows the preeminent writer/scholar and his adventure to find new passion in his writing. At first, he is shocked when he is given a piece of erotic pulp, even more so when he realizes the money that is made. This begins his exploration into thoughts and feelings on paper which elicit the "flavor of life." He starts to drop his pretensions and high rank by taking off his noble hat in front of the lower class, dons sunglasses like the other writers he feels are below him, but it's like he's shedding his skin, reminds me of what might have happened in the 60s when folks started dressing down, realising that the high maintenance of presentation wasn't warranted.
There's a high importance placed on cowardice. He's too subtle, he's one to put his head down and follow a path laid before him. His family feels he is a coward for not pursuing any sort of vengeance for his brother's death, when in fact, moving within the King's Court, he has the power to do so, but will ruffle feathers, totally against his nature. However, he has the balls to write and distribute illicit material with full illustrations based on his affair with the Queen.
Ultimately, this is a story about societal restraint - there is what is expected of us within the bounds of society and what it needs us to do, then there is our natural curiosity that leads us into darker corners, pulls us in. Treason and imprisonment are the end game but our man show not only lack of cowardice but the strength in his bonds of camaraderie.
I can't begin to touch on the great scenes, the collaboration of questionable men with a noblemen, the shenanigans involved. In order for the illustrator to understand what he is to draw, the old man is used to practice "tactical maneuvers", but at a point, he is dismissed because he's too old and not flexible enough to pose.
planet of the dead
no. 129 Planet of the Dead (Doctor Who)
I'm American, so Doctor Who doesn't hold a candle like it does to my British counterparts. I really did enjoy the camp of David Tennant, who for me is still Barty Crouch, Jr. I'm definitely going to make the time and go back and start watching the last five years of Doctor Who. Who knows, I might just enjoy giggling at the low end special effects (can you still call them special when they look like any twelve year old did them on home video?)
I'm American, so Doctor Who doesn't hold a candle like it does to my British counterparts. I really did enjoy the camp of David Tennant, who for me is still Barty Crouch, Jr. I'm definitely going to make the time and go back and start watching the last five years of Doctor Who. Who knows, I might just enjoy giggling at the low end special effects (can you still call them special when they look like any twelve year old did them on home video?)
heaven and earth
no.128 Heaven and Earth
Although the story line of rival lords is interesting, I really didn't like the medium - Japanese feudal war. The fighting did not have alot of specific shots, like what we would see in an Hollywood Civil War piece. Loads of wide angle, field battle. The worst part I couldn't make heads or tails out of the action - all I saw were horses and flags/banners. What few one on ones that were shot were lackluster at best.
Although the story line of rival lords is interesting, I really didn't like the medium - Japanese feudal war. The fighting did not have alot of specific shots, like what we would see in an Hollywood Civil War piece. Loads of wide angle, field battle. The worst part I couldn't make heads or tails out of the action - all I saw were horses and flags/banners. What few one on ones that were shot were lackluster at best.
torchwood
Torchwood Seasons One, Two and (Three) Children of the Earth
WOW, I went for the full on Torchwood review. I'd seen an episode here or there, but wasn't really interested because it was a spin off of Doctor Who and I'm not a Doctor girl. DR is the Doctor type, it's just so campy and goofy, although, I'm going back and watching it starting with Russell Davies run with Christopher Eccleston for posterity's sake...ha! I'm so glad that I decided to watch Children of the Earth on it's BBC America run because I loved it! It seems that I was horribly wrong to dismiss Torchwood so quickly because it's a world that I totally love.
Season One was good, but I concur with many that it was iffy. I made the Netflix commitment, so I went through with it and glad I did. Season Two was great, excellent. Aliens, supernatural, guns and sex. hmmmm, is that right up my alley?
I really enjoy the characters - to me, they are real people, I can see them sitting in my living room enjoying a pint and laughing about a blowfish, that is, if they had the time. The casting is excellent - granted, I don't know UK tv, so I'm not versed on their CVs and other actors that might have fit the bill. John Barrowman is overwhelmingly intense, over the top in his actions, I can't help but laugh out loud everytime he pulls out his antiquated pistol and starts waving it around. And the coat...I read that he was one of the three candidate for Will (and Grace) and he didn't get the part because they felt he wasn't gay enough. Did they know he WAS gay? I think the world might be a better place that he didn't get the part. Although, he would have been able to do Broadway rather than West End and Americans would have been wowed by him on stage.
WOW, I went for the full on Torchwood review. I'd seen an episode here or there, but wasn't really interested because it was a spin off of Doctor Who and I'm not a Doctor girl. DR is the Doctor type, it's just so campy and goofy, although, I'm going back and watching it starting with Russell Davies run with Christopher Eccleston for posterity's sake...ha! I'm so glad that I decided to watch Children of the Earth on it's BBC America run because I loved it! It seems that I was horribly wrong to dismiss Torchwood so quickly because it's a world that I totally love.
Season One was good, but I concur with many that it was iffy. I made the Netflix commitment, so I went through with it and glad I did. Season Two was great, excellent. Aliens, supernatural, guns and sex. hmmmm, is that right up my alley?
I really enjoy the characters - to me, they are real people, I can see them sitting in my living room enjoying a pint and laughing about a blowfish, that is, if they had the time. The casting is excellent - granted, I don't know UK tv, so I'm not versed on their CVs and other actors that might have fit the bill. John Barrowman is overwhelmingly intense, over the top in his actions, I can't help but laugh out loud everytime he pulls out his antiquated pistol and starts waving it around. And the coat...I read that he was one of the three candidate for Will (and Grace) and he didn't get the part because they felt he wasn't gay enough. Did they know he WAS gay? I think the world might be a better place that he didn't get the part. Although, he would have been able to do Broadway rather than West End and Americans would have been wowed by him on stage.
RL sucks.
WOW, it's been three weeks since I posted. Real life took a swing at me, but luckily, it struck out. Is that a proper metaphor? I'm still standing and so far, it appears I'm winning, but the shit isn't sticking, so yes, I guess it does work. I'm going to cheat and list off what I've watched. I only write something mildly interesting if it's fresh in my mind.
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