so obviously i've been slacking off a bit here. or rather, more than a bit. i guess the momentary appeal of documenting every waking moment of my life, or at least the entertainment which i fill it up with, has quickly worn off. there may be a future point at which i will resume updating with either entertainment type things, or something altogether different, but i think in the meantime the blog will be going on hiatus. apologies to anyone who might feel like this is leaving them out of the loop or something, but direct contact continues to be my favored form of communication.
you can live life, or you can document it, but it seems to me it's one or the other.
Aug 12, 2008
Jun 30, 2008
June 30, 2008
Watching:
All I Want: Not too bad, up until the end when every one lives happily ever after and everything is okay. Blech to that. Franka Potente = always great.
Reading:
Need to make a stop at the library.
Listening:
Bonobo feat. Fink: If you Stayed Over
All I Want: Not too bad, up until the end when every one lives happily ever after and everything is okay. Blech to that. Franka Potente = always great.
Reading:
Need to make a stop at the library.
Listening:
Bonobo feat. Fink: If you Stayed Over
Jun 24, 2008
June 24, 2008
(updated Tuesday the 24th because I forgot yesterday)
Watching:
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story: Bad. Bad bad bad bad bad. Whosever idea this was, they should have their head cracked open, shove all the dvds into it, shove a stick of dynamite into it, and light it. BAD. Trying way too hard, the formula has run out, just cause you put funny people in it doesn't make it funny, etc. BAD.
The Bourne Identity: Ran out of things to watch, so I thought I'd check this one out. Not bad. Decent action movie with a decent plot.
The Bourne Supremacy: Seemed logical to follow up with the sequel. Fell asleep though.
Reading:
Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People: Totally hate the writer's writing style. From what I can tell, he has no credentials. He does make some good points though, even if he does re-word and re-iterate them to DEATH. And oh my god, stop talking about your ex-wives.
Listening:
I'll update this later, cause I can't have photoshop and iTunes open at the same time.
side note: Song downloads will now only be available from the current and previous month, because having all these mp3s on my website is threatening to blow it up.
Watching:
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story: Bad. Bad bad bad bad bad. Whosever idea this was, they should have their head cracked open, shove all the dvds into it, shove a stick of dynamite into it, and light it. BAD. Trying way too hard, the formula has run out, just cause you put funny people in it doesn't make it funny, etc. BAD.
The Bourne Identity: Ran out of things to watch, so I thought I'd check this one out. Not bad. Decent action movie with a decent plot.
The Bourne Supremacy: Seemed logical to follow up with the sequel. Fell asleep though.
Reading:
Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People: Totally hate the writer's writing style. From what I can tell, he has no credentials. He does make some good points though, even if he does re-word and re-iterate them to DEATH. And oh my god, stop talking about your ex-wives.
Listening:
I'll update this later, cause I can't have photoshop and iTunes open at the same time.
side note: Song downloads will now only be available from the current and previous month, because having all these mp3s on my website is threatening to blow it up.
Jun 10, 2008
June 17, 2008
(updated Tuesday the 17th because I wasn't working yesterday)
Watching:
The Iron Giant: Cute. I liked that it was the older style of animation, like in the movies I watched as a kid (think The Rescuers Down Under). The plot was the usual, the voice cast was kind of refreshing, even though I'm not a huge fan of Jennifer Aniston or Vin Diesel. The 'lesson learned' (cause doesn't there *always* have to be one in a kids' movie?) wasn't too forced, it fit into the plot nicely without seeming like an afterthought.
I, Robot: I wasn't expecting to think much of this one, but it wasn't terrible. It did seem to get the whole way to the end before getting on with the point, but that's kinda the way of a sci-fi I guess. The fight scenes with the robots were a little 'ehhhh ok already get on with it'/'seriously? he's gonna fight a bazillion really freaking agile/strong robots pretty much by himself? and win?' but so it goes in an action movie (with robots).
Can't Hardly Wait: the Sunday afternoon movie on network tv, so edited out the wazoo. I forgot how many b-list 'stars' were in this movie, so watching it kind of became 'what's she in?' and 'hey that guy's in freaks and geeks.'
The Missing: Pretty good. Strong cast, strong story. Not completely predictable.
Reading:
Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People: Still reading this one.
Listening:
Leonard Cohen
Totally love the crap out of this guy. A fantastic poet who's been around for many a decade, I can listen and re-listen to his cd's endlessly and they never get old.
Leonard Cohen - Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye
side note: Song downloads will now only be available from the current and previous month, because having all these mp3s on my website is threatening to blow it up.
Watching:
The Iron Giant: Cute. I liked that it was the older style of animation, like in the movies I watched as a kid (think The Rescuers Down Under). The plot was the usual, the voice cast was kind of refreshing, even though I'm not a huge fan of Jennifer Aniston or Vin Diesel. The 'lesson learned' (cause doesn't there *always* have to be one in a kids' movie?) wasn't too forced, it fit into the plot nicely without seeming like an afterthought.
I, Robot: I wasn't expecting to think much of this one, but it wasn't terrible. It did seem to get the whole way to the end before getting on with the point, but that's kinda the way of a sci-fi I guess. The fight scenes with the robots were a little 'ehhhh ok already get on with it'/'seriously? he's gonna fight a bazillion really freaking agile/strong robots pretty much by himself? and win?' but so it goes in an action movie (with robots).
Can't Hardly Wait: the Sunday afternoon movie on network tv, so edited out the wazoo. I forgot how many b-list 'stars' were in this movie, so watching it kind of became 'what's she in?' and 'hey that guy's in freaks and geeks.'
The Missing: Pretty good. Strong cast, strong story. Not completely predictable.
Reading:
Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People: Still reading this one.
Listening:
Leonard Cohen
Totally love the crap out of this guy. A fantastic poet who's been around for many a decade, I can listen and re-listen to his cd's endlessly and they never get old.
Leonard Cohen - Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye
side note: Song downloads will now only be available from the current and previous month, because having all these mp3s on my website is threatening to blow it up.
Jun 3, 2008
June 9, 2008
Watching:
Juno: Blah. Blahhhhhh. 'Quirk' and a soundtrack full of indie music do *not* a good movie make. I didn't hate Ellen Page as much as I expected to (I find her totally irritating usually), but her acting fit the part. The plot was so incredibly mediocre, and the dialogue was so contrived, I can only compare it to flowery poetry that's heavy on the 'flowery' and light on the 'poetry.' But hey, if you liked it, watch Dan in Real Life, because obviously you like movies that pose in the independent genre but are really formulaic and boring. Oh, I did totally love the crap out of that hamburger phone though.
Flight of the Navigator: Fantastic, durr. Classic, of course.
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla: Hilarious in that way that it doesn't mean to. Once again, it's the kind of movie I can't help making fun of, but isn't that the fun of it? I kind of wish I'd been able to get the 1974 Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (which is a completely different plot, by the way), simply for the cheese-factor, but my resources were limited.
Futurama: Bender's Big Score: It's Futurama, of course it's great.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Hilarious in that way that it doesn't mean to. Once again, it's the kind of movie I can't help making fun of, but isn't that the fun of it? (Yeah, this one too.) It was entertaining, but it was by no definition 'good.' And it seemed like they were opening themselves up to a series of Mutt Jones and the Adventure of the Something Cheesy's.
Side note: Did you know the Addams Family is on dvd now? Cause I didn't, and that's pretty rad.
Reading:
Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People: Holy crap, I'm actually reading something! Well sort of anyway, I haven't gotten far enough into it to say much about it, since I rented like twenty robot movies, and then had to wrestle with myself about do I watch these movies before they're due or read this book which is crazy interesting, and doing both at the same time doesn't really work that well.
Listening:
Nicole Reynolds
Upbeat, folksy, cute, easy-going, light. Like listening to a honeysuckle bush.
Nicole Reynolds - When We Meet Again
Juno: Blah. Blahhhhhh. 'Quirk' and a soundtrack full of indie music do *not* a good movie make. I didn't hate Ellen Page as much as I expected to (I find her totally irritating usually), but her acting fit the part. The plot was so incredibly mediocre, and the dialogue was so contrived, I can only compare it to flowery poetry that's heavy on the 'flowery' and light on the 'poetry.' But hey, if you liked it, watch Dan in Real Life, because obviously you like movies that pose in the independent genre but are really formulaic and boring. Oh, I did totally love the crap out of that hamburger phone though.
Flight of the Navigator: Fantastic, durr. Classic, of course.
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla: Hilarious in that way that it doesn't mean to. Once again, it's the kind of movie I can't help making fun of, but isn't that the fun of it? I kind of wish I'd been able to get the 1974 Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (which is a completely different plot, by the way), simply for the cheese-factor, but my resources were limited.
Futurama: Bender's Big Score: It's Futurama, of course it's great.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Hilarious in that way that it doesn't mean to. Once again, it's the kind of movie I can't help making fun of, but isn't that the fun of it? (Yeah, this one too.) It was entertaining, but it was by no definition 'good.' And it seemed like they were opening themselves up to a series of Mutt Jones and the Adventure of the Something Cheesy's.
Side note: Did you know the Addams Family is on dvd now? Cause I didn't, and that's pretty rad.
Reading:
Battling the Inner Dummy: The Craziness of Apparently Normal People: Holy crap, I'm actually reading something! Well sort of anyway, I haven't gotten far enough into it to say much about it, since I rented like twenty robot movies, and then had to wrestle with myself about do I watch these movies before they're due or read this book which is crazy interesting, and doing both at the same time doesn't really work that well.
Listening:
Nicole Reynolds
Upbeat, folksy, cute, easy-going, light. Like listening to a honeysuckle bush.
Nicole Reynolds - When We Meet Again
Jun 2, 2008
June 2, 2008
Watching:
Family: I randomly picked this up at the library although I'd never heard of it. It's a family drama tv show from the 1970's. The story lines are a lot cleaner than more modern tv shows, in that it just is what it is, rather than throwing in a bunch of superfluous drama, cliff hangers and other such baloney just to keep your interest, and for that I like it. Which isn't to say it's boring, because it isn't, it's interesting, but with valid plots and conflicts.
Reading:
The problem here is that I really did plan to read something this week, but I've read everything I own, and I hadn't planned ahead and gone to the library. So, hopefully next week there will actually be some something or other here.
Listening:
The Refreshments: I just lost probably a zillion points of indie cred, but that's what I've been listening to. It's been in my cd player for probably a month now, and it's mainly what I listen to when I'm in my room (aka playing video games), singing along to every single song like the 90's-loving nerd that I am. It's good southwestern pop from the mid/late-90's, that's really easy-going and simple with a lot of the lyrics being about ladies and beer.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of their music on my computer and there isn't any that's easily and freely available for download, but I will probably update this later this week with a link/song for downloading.
UPDATE: The Refreshments - Sin Nombre
Family: I randomly picked this up at the library although I'd never heard of it. It's a family drama tv show from the 1970's. The story lines are a lot cleaner than more modern tv shows, in that it just is what it is, rather than throwing in a bunch of superfluous drama, cliff hangers and other such baloney just to keep your interest, and for that I like it. Which isn't to say it's boring, because it isn't, it's interesting, but with valid plots and conflicts.
Reading:
The problem here is that I really did plan to read something this week, but I've read everything I own, and I hadn't planned ahead and gone to the library. So, hopefully next week there will actually be some something or other here.
Listening:
The Refreshments: I just lost probably a zillion points of indie cred, but that's what I've been listening to. It's been in my cd player for probably a month now, and it's mainly what I listen to when I'm in my room (aka playing video games), singing along to every single song like the 90's-loving nerd that I am. It's good southwestern pop from the mid/late-90's, that's really easy-going and simple with a lot of the lyrics being about ladies and beer.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of their music on my computer and there isn't any that's easily and freely available for download, but I will probably update this later this week with a link/song for downloading.
UPDATE: The Refreshments - Sin Nombre
May 28, 2008
May 28, 2008
Just realized I completely forgot to update this thing this week, so here's what I'm up to...
Watching:
Bedazzled: I didn't realize this was the same thing as the 2000 remake with Brendan Fraser, and had in fact completely forgotten about that one altogether. I really enjoyed this old version though. Old British humor (aka dry with a lot of barely veiled sex jokes), and a clever execution of a plot that may have not been so clever. Peter Cook is (was) a total cutie, and a fantastic actor, and Dudley Moore compliments him perfectly as the shy dorky guy that just wants a piece of tail (why he didn't just wish for *that*, I wouldn't know).
Reading:
nothing. blarg.
Listening:
Rocky Votolato: Not the most exciting, but it's enjoyable. If you're a fan of say The Format or The Get Up Kids, you'll enjoy Rocky Votolato.
"Please slow it down
There’s a secret magic past world
That you only notice when you’re looking back at it
And all I wanna do is turn around"
Rocky Votolato - White Daisy Passing
Watching:
Bedazzled: I didn't realize this was the same thing as the 2000 remake with Brendan Fraser, and had in fact completely forgotten about that one altogether. I really enjoyed this old version though. Old British humor (aka dry with a lot of barely veiled sex jokes), and a clever execution of a plot that may have not been so clever. Peter Cook is (was) a total cutie, and a fantastic actor, and Dudley Moore compliments him perfectly as the shy dorky guy that just wants a piece of tail (why he didn't just wish for *that*, I wouldn't know).
Reading:
nothing. blarg.
Listening:
Rocky Votolato: Not the most exciting, but it's enjoyable. If you're a fan of say The Format or The Get Up Kids, you'll enjoy Rocky Votolato.
"Please slow it down
There’s a secret magic past world
That you only notice when you’re looking back at it
And all I wanna do is turn around"
May 19, 2008
May 19, 2008
Watching:
Fools Rush In: I took an allergy pill and knew I'd be immediately falling asleep, so I put this movie in. I slept through probably 90% of it, and could still tell you exactly what happens.
Reading:
The Maxx: I recently got volume #6, so I am re-reading the series from the beginning. (I also just got my economic stimulus dollars from the government, so I am ordering the cartoon series adaptation on vhs. SQUEEEE!! I'm so excited.) On a side note, when I searched amazon for 'The Maxx,' Terror Toons came up in the search results. Good lord, if you want to see something horrible, watch Terror Toons. haha, or Head of the Family. or Weird TV.
Listening:
Devendra Banhart: sometimes classified as 'freak folk,' he's definitely folk of some sort, some times. He's amazing and strange and difficult to describe, as he changes completely from one track to the next.
This track reminds me a little of The Doors, at about the Strange Days point...
"I'm high and I'm happy and I'm free
I got my whole heart
Laid out right in front of me
And I finally can see
The way it's always been
The need for peace
Starts from within
So I leave my possessions to the wind
And I'm done with ever wanting anything
Well I can die satisfied
No desires do I hide
Not today, not today
Nor for the next one thousand lives"
Devendra Banhart - Sea Horse
Fools Rush In: I took an allergy pill and knew I'd be immediately falling asleep, so I put this movie in. I slept through probably 90% of it, and could still tell you exactly what happens.
Reading:
The Maxx: I recently got volume #6, so I am re-reading the series from the beginning. (I also just got my economic stimulus dollars from the government, so I am ordering the cartoon series adaptation on vhs. SQUEEEE!! I'm so excited.) On a side note, when I searched amazon for 'The Maxx,' Terror Toons came up in the search results. Good lord, if you want to see something horrible, watch Terror Toons. haha, or Head of the Family. or Weird TV.
Listening:
Devendra Banhart: sometimes classified as 'freak folk,' he's definitely folk of some sort, some times. He's amazing and strange and difficult to describe, as he changes completely from one track to the next.
This track reminds me a little of The Doors, at about the Strange Days point...
"I'm high and I'm happy and I'm free
I got my whole heart
Laid out right in front of me
And I finally can see
The way it's always been
The need for peace
Starts from within
So I leave my possessions to the wind
And I'm done with ever wanting anything
Well I can die satisfied
No desires do I hide
Not today, not today
Nor for the next one thousand lives"
May 13, 2008
*Robot Movies*
Years of planning are finally almost coming into actuality. This is the list for the great Robot Movie Marathon. Genres range from sci-fi to rom-com to campy horror. If you have any to add, please add a comment. Also, if you have any I can borrow, let me know, since I don't have cable or netflix or any of that fancy stuff.
2001: A Space Odyssey **L
A. I. **L
Batteries Not Included **N
Bicentennial Man **L
The Black Hole **N
D.A.R.Y.L. **N
The Day the Earth Stood Still **L
Electroma
Eve of Destruction **N
Flight of the Navigator **N
Forbidden Planet **L
Futurama: Bender's Big Score **B
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla **N
Heartbeeps **N
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy **L
I, Robot **L
Iron Giant **L
Logan's Run **N
Lost in Space **H
Metropolis **L
RoboCop (sequel) **L
Robot Carnival
Robot Jox **N
Robots **L
Robots of Death
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians **B
Saturn 3 **N
Short Circuit (sequel) **L: sequel
Sleeper **L
Star Wars (sequels) **B
Terminator (sequels) **H
THX 1138 **N
Transformers **B
War of the Robots
L= at library
H = at home
B = can be borrowed
N = available through netflix
2001: A Space Odyssey **L
A. I. **L
Batteries Not Included **N
Bicentennial Man **L
The Black Hole **N
D.A.R.Y.L. **N
The Day the Earth Stood Still **L
Electroma
Eve of Destruction **N
Flight of the Navigator **N
Forbidden Planet **L
Futurama: Bender's Big Score **B
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla **N
Heartbeeps **N
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy **L
I, Robot **L
Iron Giant **L
Logan's Run **N
Lost in Space **H
Metropolis **L
RoboCop (sequel) **L
Robot Carnival
Robot Jox **N
Robots **L
Robots of Death
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians **B
Saturn 3 **N
Short Circuit (sequel) **L: sequel
Sleeper **L
Star Wars (sequels) **B
Terminator (sequels) **H
THX 1138 **N
Transformers **B
War of the Robots
L= at library
H = at home
B = can be borrowed
N = available through netflix
May 12, 2008
May 12, 2008
Watching:
Lust, Caution: I rather enjoyed it. It's almost three hours, and I got a really long phone call in the middle of it, so I did get a little tired towards the end, but I liked it. A straight-forward presentation, no surprises just to keep your attention. Kind of sad, but very sweet.
Short Circuit 2: I can't help making fun of a movie like this while I watch it, but then isn't that the fun of it? (See movie list below)
Reading:
Still nothing. I need to pick up a book this week, because it's starting to depress me.
Listening:
Lykke Li
like listening to candy... but that candy that has the weird fizzy 'soda' in the middle.
Lykke Li - Little Bit
Lust, Caution: I rather enjoyed it. It's almost three hours, and I got a really long phone call in the middle of it, so I did get a little tired towards the end, but I liked it. A straight-forward presentation, no surprises just to keep your attention. Kind of sad, but very sweet.
Short Circuit 2: I can't help making fun of a movie like this while I watch it, but then isn't that the fun of it? (See movie list below)
Reading:
Still nothing. I need to pick up a book this week, because it's starting to depress me.
Listening:
Lykke Li
like listening to candy... but that candy that has the weird fizzy 'soda' in the middle.
May 5, 2008
May 5, 2008
Watching:
Bonnie and Clyde: Not bad, interesting. I did kinda start dozing off near the end despite the gallons of Mountain Dew I had had. I'm guessing it's not the most accurate depiction of the story; it's the totally Hollywood-ed version.
The Secret Life of Words: Pretty good. I think there's this drive in movies to throw in something weird or wacky that people will for sure not understand, just for a the sake of being weird (think David Lynch movies). So other than that little factor, which seemed to have no point, I mostly enjoyed this movie.
Men In Black: the Sunday afternoon movie on network tv cause hey why not.
Reading:
Nothing this week.
Listening:
Jens Lekman
"Would you stand up for this kind of beauty?
Cause this kind of beauty won't stand up for you.
It won't lift a finger for some lazy dreamer.
Here it comes the average dirty word, pardon my French"
Jens Lekman - F-Word
Bonnie and Clyde: Not bad, interesting. I did kinda start dozing off near the end despite the gallons of Mountain Dew I had had. I'm guessing it's not the most accurate depiction of the story; it's the totally Hollywood-ed version.
The Secret Life of Words: Pretty good. I think there's this drive in movies to throw in something weird or wacky that people will for sure not understand, just for a the sake of being weird (think David Lynch movies). So other than that little factor, which seemed to have no point, I mostly enjoyed this movie.
Men In Black: the Sunday afternoon movie on network tv cause hey why not.
Reading:
Nothing this week.
Listening:
Jens Lekman
"Would you stand up for this kind of beauty?
Cause this kind of beauty won't stand up for you.
It won't lift a finger for some lazy dreamer.
Here it comes the average dirty word, pardon my French"
Apr 28, 2008
April 28, 2008
Watching:
Wall Street: Not bad. Not terribly interesting, but a good time-filler for about two hours. Nothing about it really sticks out in my mind except that I don't like Charlie Sheen, and it seemed like a rather odd role for John C. McGinley.
Reading:
Nothing this week.
Listening:
Busdriver
"They got easels to stain, and uh
People to blame, with their
Egos inflamed, and their
Neat codenames
I saw your sub-genre in a passing glance
It was you and your DJ in matching pants"
Busdriver - Sun Shower
Wall Street: Not bad. Not terribly interesting, but a good time-filler for about two hours. Nothing about it really sticks out in my mind except that I don't like Charlie Sheen, and it seemed like a rather odd role for John C. McGinley.
Reading:
Nothing this week.
Listening:
Busdriver
"They got easels to stain, and uh
People to blame, with their
Egos inflamed, and their
Neat codenames
I saw your sub-genre in a passing glance
It was you and your DJ in matching pants"
Apr 21, 2008
April 21, 2008
Watching:
Psy (The Pigs) I keep accidentally picking up subtitled movies about communism. This one is set in Poland, during the transition from communism to democracy. Interesting premise, but not terribly exciting, and I was barely staying awake. Additionally, the subtitles were translated by someone who apparently didn't have a strong grasp on the English language.
Reading:
Just finished Charles Addams: A Cartoonist's Life. I started this... this past Christmas I think. Another case where I was plowing through it and then halfway through kinda gave up on it for a while. Worth picking it up again though, it was a good book, and an interesting history about the guy that created the Addams Family. He's nothing and everything like what you'd think, which keeps the biography interesting.
Listening:
The Weepies
If this music had cheeks, I'd wanna pinch them. Listening to The Weepies makes me want to ride tire swings and take a nap in a meadow. If springtime had a theme song, the Weepies should write it.
"The devil he wore such a fine, fine shirt
and it stayed so clean while he dragged me through the dirt.
Now, honey, don't trust anyone who looks you in the eye
don't take any kindness, it's a demand in disguise."
The Weepies - Rocks & Water
Psy (The Pigs) I keep accidentally picking up subtitled movies about communism. This one is set in Poland, during the transition from communism to democracy. Interesting premise, but not terribly exciting, and I was barely staying awake. Additionally, the subtitles were translated by someone who apparently didn't have a strong grasp on the English language.
Reading:
Just finished Charles Addams: A Cartoonist's Life. I started this... this past Christmas I think. Another case where I was plowing through it and then halfway through kinda gave up on it for a while. Worth picking it up again though, it was a good book, and an interesting history about the guy that created the Addams Family. He's nothing and everything like what you'd think, which keeps the biography interesting.
Listening:
The Weepies
If this music had cheeks, I'd wanna pinch them. Listening to The Weepies makes me want to ride tire swings and take a nap in a meadow. If springtime had a theme song, the Weepies should write it.
"The devil he wore such a fine, fine shirt
and it stayed so clean while he dragged me through the dirt.
Now, honey, don't trust anyone who looks you in the eye
don't take any kindness, it's a demand in disguise."
Apr 14, 2008
April 14, 2008
Watching:
Brokeback Mountain finally watched it. It's exactly what you think it'll be. There's really no more I can say about it than that.
Dan in Real Life blah. blaaaaaah. Tired story. I hate Dane Cook. Great soundtrack though.
Georgia Rule not quite as bad as I thought it was going to be. I got a little tired of the 'was she molested was she not' baloney, but when you don't have much else of a plot for your movie, you've gotta stretch out what little 'interesting' part there is I guess.
Ride With the Devil Surprisingly good. Never heard of it, but it's got some semi-famous people in it. Great if you're into the history/fiction genre.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Funniest damn thing on television these days. Watch it, re-watch it, then re-watch it with all your friends.
I think I'm missing a movie or two, cause I watched a ton this week, but I guess if I remember them they'll go on the next week list.
Reading:
Still nothing.
Listening:
Nina Simone
So fantastic. Bluesy, jazzy, strong, smooth. "The high priestess of soul." How could you not love her? Covered, sampled, and used in so many soundtracks, it's like you've known her forever.
"When it's warm and the sun is out
It's like my heart's restored
I've had my love I've had my children
And I have so many memories
So don't mind me complaining
What the years may bring"
Nina Simone - Another Spring
Brokeback Mountain finally watched it. It's exactly what you think it'll be. There's really no more I can say about it than that.
Dan in Real Life blah. blaaaaaah. Tired story. I hate Dane Cook. Great soundtrack though.
Georgia Rule not quite as bad as I thought it was going to be. I got a little tired of the 'was she molested was she not' baloney, but when you don't have much else of a plot for your movie, you've gotta stretch out what little 'interesting' part there is I guess.
Ride With the Devil Surprisingly good. Never heard of it, but it's got some semi-famous people in it. Great if you're into the history/fiction genre.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Funniest damn thing on television these days. Watch it, re-watch it, then re-watch it with all your friends.
I think I'm missing a movie or two, cause I watched a ton this week, but I guess if I remember them they'll go on the next week list.
Reading:
Still nothing.
Listening:
Nina Simone
So fantastic. Bluesy, jazzy, strong, smooth. "The high priestess of soul." How could you not love her? Covered, sampled, and used in so many soundtracks, it's like you've known her forever.
"When it's warm and the sun is out
It's like my heart's restored
I've had my love I've had my children
And I have so many memories
So don't mind me complaining
What the years may bring"
Apr 7, 2008
April 7, 2008
Watching:
The Break-Up and Everything Is Illuminated. Both were time-killers because nothing else was on tv. The Break-Up is pretty much exactly what you'd think it would be. Mushy angry blah blah whatever. Everything Is Illuminated was a fantastic movie, with a spectacular soundtrack. My only complaint: Elijah Wood. I find him irritating generally, I think big stars ruin independent movies, and they could have gone with someone who looked a little more the part.
Reading:
Nothing. Yep, totally slacking off here.
Listening:
Laura Marling
Indie, simple/real, catchy, melodic, and absolutely the definition of 'cute as a button.'
"I've got this friend and he sounds just like him, and he's the man I'd leave you for, the man that I just adore like you."
Laura Marling - New Romantic
While you're at it, check out the videos for New Romantic and Ghosts. They have a beautiful simplicity that perfectly matches the music.
The Break-Up and Everything Is Illuminated. Both were time-killers because nothing else was on tv. The Break-Up is pretty much exactly what you'd think it would be. Mushy angry blah blah whatever. Everything Is Illuminated was a fantastic movie, with a spectacular soundtrack. My only complaint: Elijah Wood. I find him irritating generally, I think big stars ruin independent movies, and they could have gone with someone who looked a little more the part.
Reading:
Nothing. Yep, totally slacking off here.
Listening:
Laura Marling
Indie, simple/real, catchy, melodic, and absolutely the definition of 'cute as a button.'
"I've got this friend and he sounds just like him, and he's the man I'd leave you for, the man that I just adore like you."
While you're at it, check out the videos for New Romantic and Ghosts. They have a beautiful simplicity that perfectly matches the music.
Mar 31, 2008
March 31, 2008
Watching:
The only movie I watched this week was The NeverEnding Story. Wondering what those kids are up to these days? Barret Oliver (Bastian) hasn't done anything since 1989. Noah Hathaway (Atreyu) will be in Troll next year... and then there's this.
Reading:
I haven't really been reading anything this week. I've been mad busy, and have barely been home since last Monday. This post is shaping up pretty freaking weak.
Listening:
Morphine. Bluesy, rock and roll, like nothing else. Vocals smooth and dark as black strap molasses. If Mark Sandman were just a little older, I'd swear he was spawned during the Boston Molasses Disaster. I'm tempted to compare the band's music to drunken sex, but what particular qualities about it draw that comparison, I cannot put my finger on.
"Sandman's primary instrument was a two-string bass guitar (with both strings usually tuned to the same note) played with a slide... Colley played primarily baritone saxophone, and he sometimes played two saxes at once." (thank you, Wikipedia)
"I propose a toast to my self control
You see it crawling helpless on the floor
Someday there'll be a cure for pain
That's the day I throw my drugs away"
Morphine - Cure For Pain
The only movie I watched this week was The NeverEnding Story. Wondering what those kids are up to these days? Barret Oliver (Bastian) hasn't done anything since 1989. Noah Hathaway (Atreyu) will be in Troll next year... and then there's this.
Reading:
I haven't really been reading anything this week. I've been mad busy, and have barely been home since last Monday. This post is shaping up pretty freaking weak.
Listening:
Morphine. Bluesy, rock and roll, like nothing else. Vocals smooth and dark as black strap molasses. If Mark Sandman were just a little older, I'd swear he was spawned during the Boston Molasses Disaster. I'm tempted to compare the band's music to drunken sex, but what particular qualities about it draw that comparison, I cannot put my finger on.
"Sandman's primary instrument was a two-string bass guitar (with both strings usually tuned to the same note) played with a slide... Colley played primarily baritone saxophone, and he sometimes played two saxes at once." (thank you, Wikipedia)
"I propose a toast to my self control
You see it crawling helpless on the floor
Someday there'll be a cure for pain
That's the day I throw my drugs away"
Mar 24, 2008
March 24, 2008
Watching:
V for Vendetta: I attempted to watch this movie once when it first came out, but fell asleep. Re-watching it now, I'm not sure what that was all about, because I rather enjoyed it. Yes, there's a special soft spot in my movie-watching heart for comic book movies and sci-fi, but I thought it was a good comic book to movie transliteration. It was the type of sci-fi I enjoy too, a story that's not only physically viable, but easy to foresee (isn't that supposed to be the point of sci-fi?). PS: If you think The Matrix was the best sci-fi movie of our time, crawl out from under your rock and watch Equilibrium.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Tuesday night I had a migraine, and when I feel like doodoo, I put this in and fall asleep, which is exactly what I did. I still love the crap out of this movie, it's familiar and comfortable and I know all the words to all the songs, and no I don't think the Child Catcher is scary.
Monster House: Suncoast is the devil. Half-price sales and whatnot. But all the same, this movie is a modern classic, which isn't *really* appropriate for children anyway, with the dead people and drinking and all. The cast is great; it isn't a bunch of 'voice talent' actors, it's genuinely good actors (Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Catherine O'Hara), and the animation and directing are artistic and very well-done. My only complaint is all the fat jokes directed at Chowder. Come on, the name was tolerable, but why perpetuate that kind of idea in a kids' movie?
3,000 Miles to Graceland: Action movie with B-list actors as Elvis impersonators. The 'bad' actors get killed off first (Christian Slater, David Arquette), but the movie is quick to introduce new characters that had me saying "really? seriously?" like Jon Lovitz and Ice-T (don't get me wrong, I like Jon Lovitz, but an action movie isn't really his place). If you liked it, check out Shoot 'Em Up, it was equally bad, or as my brother said 'good for what it was,' which is pretty much all you can say about Graceland, too.
Short Circuit: Classic, classic, classic. I don't know anyone that doesn't enjoy this movie. It's been ages since I'd seen it, so I'd forgotten most of it, so lines like "I am sporting a tremendous woody" still sound funny. Watch it with your childhood friends, but maybe not your kids.
Reading:
Just picked up Jesus : an interview across time : a psychiatrist looks at his humanity but haven't started reading it yet. I'm not even sure what it's about since there's no info anywhere on the net, including on my library's webpage, which is where I got it. The topic itself sounded intriguing though, so we'll see how that goes...
Still reading The 8 Essential Traits of Couples Who Thrive but I'm on the second half now, which is always the point that I kinda slack off on the reading. I could use "I've been really busy" as an excuse, but that list of movies invalidates it.
Listening:
Magnet (aka Even Johansen). He's great. Mellow, sincere, I'd classify it as 'shoegaze' maybe, you might call it 'indie.' Great for chilling on a rainy day or falling asleep to. Also, he covers 'Lay Lady Lay' with Gemma Hayes, which is just freaking fantastic.
"With your heart in the future and your head in the past, there's nothing in between that's gonna last"
Magnet - The Gospel Song
V for Vendetta: I attempted to watch this movie once when it first came out, but fell asleep. Re-watching it now, I'm not sure what that was all about, because I rather enjoyed it. Yes, there's a special soft spot in my movie-watching heart for comic book movies and sci-fi, but I thought it was a good comic book to movie transliteration. It was the type of sci-fi I enjoy too, a story that's not only physically viable, but easy to foresee (isn't that supposed to be the point of sci-fi?). PS: If you think The Matrix was the best sci-fi movie of our time, crawl out from under your rock and watch Equilibrium.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Tuesday night I had a migraine, and when I feel like doodoo, I put this in and fall asleep, which is exactly what I did. I still love the crap out of this movie, it's familiar and comfortable and I know all the words to all the songs, and no I don't think the Child Catcher is scary.
Monster House: Suncoast is the devil. Half-price sales and whatnot. But all the same, this movie is a modern classic, which isn't *really* appropriate for children anyway, with the dead people and drinking and all. The cast is great; it isn't a bunch of 'voice talent' actors, it's genuinely good actors (Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Catherine O'Hara), and the animation and directing are artistic and very well-done. My only complaint is all the fat jokes directed at Chowder. Come on, the name was tolerable, but why perpetuate that kind of idea in a kids' movie?
3,000 Miles to Graceland: Action movie with B-list actors as Elvis impersonators. The 'bad' actors get killed off first (Christian Slater, David Arquette), but the movie is quick to introduce new characters that had me saying "really? seriously?" like Jon Lovitz and Ice-T (don't get me wrong, I like Jon Lovitz, but an action movie isn't really his place). If you liked it, check out Shoot 'Em Up, it was equally bad, or as my brother said 'good for what it was,' which is pretty much all you can say about Graceland, too.
Short Circuit: Classic, classic, classic. I don't know anyone that doesn't enjoy this movie. It's been ages since I'd seen it, so I'd forgotten most of it, so lines like "I am sporting a tremendous woody" still sound funny. Watch it with your childhood friends, but maybe not your kids.
Reading:
Just picked up Jesus : an interview across time : a psychiatrist looks at his humanity but haven't started reading it yet. I'm not even sure what it's about since there's no info anywhere on the net, including on my library's webpage, which is where I got it. The topic itself sounded intriguing though, so we'll see how that goes...
Still reading The 8 Essential Traits of Couples Who Thrive but I'm on the second half now, which is always the point that I kinda slack off on the reading. I could use "I've been really busy" as an excuse, but that list of movies invalidates it.
Listening:
Magnet (aka Even Johansen). He's great. Mellow, sincere, I'd classify it as 'shoegaze' maybe, you might call it 'indie.' Great for chilling on a rainy day or falling asleep to. Also, he covers 'Lay Lady Lay' with Gemma Hayes, which is just freaking fantastic.
"With your heart in the future and your head in the past, there's nothing in between that's gonna last"
Mar 17, 2008
Post Number One! (Mar 17 2008)
So I'm starting this new blog, and we'll see how it goes. My goal is to post once a week, and possibly after a while on the same day every week (Monday probably). I'll be talking about what movies I'm watching, what books I'm reading (or avoiding reading), maybe what books I'd like to read, and what music I can't stop listening to.
Watching:
The Lives of Others: set in East Germany in the 80's, a "political thriller and human drama" (usually both descriptions that make me not watch a movie, but I don't really read the backs of dvd boxes)... one Stasi officer is listening in on the life of a writer and gets a little caught up. Which is a shite description, but it's a quite good movie; I really enjoyed it.
The Pianist: Ok, so I realize I'm probably like the last person in the world to watch this movie, but I knew it was really long and I have a short attention span and it didn't really seem that interesting etc. But I picked it up because I had watched pretty much everything else in my brother's movie collection, and I managed to watch it in one sitting. Besides being a little long and drawn out, it was pretty interesting for one more movie about Jewish genocide, which if that's a topic you like, I could give you a whole list of recommended titles, cause I feel like I've seen them all. Life is Beautiful is probably a good place to start...
The Flower of Evil: I should have read the description on the back of the box. "Anne runs for re-election to the town council, shepherded by Matthieu, her fellow candidate and campaign manager. Her husband, Gérard, a businessman and philanderer, hates the campaign and feels vindication when a nasty leaflet circulates about their family history. His son, François, just back from the U.S., is in love with his step-sister Michèle, and she with him, although something is amiss besides their being cousins. Watching it all is their elderly Aunt Line, who has her own haunting memories. A death in World War II and a death on election night collapse time in the perpetual present and bring unexpected expiation. There's a lot to celebrate." Sounds interesting in a boring kind of way, eh? Yeah, by the time it got to the climax, the movie was over and I had already fallen asleep. I finished the movie another night, then couldn't remember if I'd finished it; it was that un-memorable.
For the Bible Tells Me So: an interesting documentary about Christianity and homosexuality, and the co-mingling of the two. To me, most of what was presented was pretty much old hat, but my mom and brother found it very interesting and loaded with new info. If you're already familiar with this movie and enjoyed it, you should check out Trembling Before G-d, directed by Sandi Simcha DuBowski, and occasionally playing on the Sundance channel. It's a similar concept, except that it follows Orthodox Jews who are gay, which I find a little more interesting since they follow the letter of the law waaaaaay more than Christians do. Which reminds me, check out THIS website.
Ghost World: My brother happened to rent this, and I was bored and thought it'd be better to re-watch Ghost World than Van Wilder. Good choice, obviously. The humor is classic, in that high school funny, but not immature funny kind of way, and the sound track is just phenomenal. The cast is stellar: the always fantastic Steve Buscemi, gorgeous Thora Birch (Thora Birch's boobs in Ghost World: amazing. Thora Birch's boobs now: ehhh.), Scarlet Johansson (no worse than usual), and Illeana Douglas (whose name I can never remember, but she's unforgettable as always). I didn't realize that Art School Confidential was also by Terry Zwigoff (director) and Daniel Clowes (writer); that movie seems to be in a whole different category than Ghost World... I don't really have much good things to say about it; I thought it was a yawn-fest with tired jokes.
If you wanna nerd it up with another great comic book movie (one that doesn't suck anyway), check out American Splendor.
Reading:
I had been reading The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind Is Designed to Kill, which was very interesting, but then the Garden Show started and I didn't have time to read it, and it was due back at the library and I didn't feel like renewing it again. It's about the psychology of murder (from an evolutionary psychologist's background), so as far as I got, people mainly kill because of baby-making. Hopefully I'll be finishing it at some point, cause psychology + murder = pretty freakin interesting to me.
Currently reading.... ok, I admit, I was a little embarrassed and hesitant to post this one, but it's The 8 Essential Traits of Couples Who Thrive. Effing embarrassing, I know, but I totally suck at interpersonal relationships, and there's no time like the present to learn how to not be a total screw-up, ya know? So, for what it is, it's pretty interesting. Admittedly, I didn't realize it was a book for married people, but the info wouldn't really be that different for couples who aren't married (at least so far in the book). It works from the viewpoint that long term relationships aren't destined to be boring, stifling things that cramp your style, and there's no reason to go into them expecting that.
I'm still kind of reading The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, which I really need to finish because everyone wants to borrow it (sorry, everyone). It's good, and not as boring as you'd expect, being a book about following every written law in the Bible. It's actually more about the author's 'journey' through the Bible than the Bible and its laws directly. So I'm not sure why I'm dragging my feet on finishing this one, but I'd really like to get to the end before I forget what the beginning was about.
Listening:
*Arrah and the Ferns*
Seriously, check them out. Folksy-ish pop-ish with (usually) a girl (Arrah Fisher) singing leads. Their one and only cd, Evan is a Vegan was released in 2006 and is spectacular and has been on repeat on my iTunes for like a week. The lyrics are somewhat adolescent (including a reference or two to myspace), but on that same token, innocent and clean and even poetic...
"You and I, we lay like fireflies
retired from those summer nights
All bottled up as victims of our child's play
And when we laugh the walls are muted by our existence
Should I be a bit more persistent when I ask you to stay over?"
Arrah and the Ferns - Skylark
Watching:
The Lives of Others: set in East Germany in the 80's, a "political thriller and human drama" (usually both descriptions that make me not watch a movie, but I don't really read the backs of dvd boxes)... one Stasi officer is listening in on the life of a writer and gets a little caught up. Which is a shite description, but it's a quite good movie; I really enjoyed it.
The Pianist: Ok, so I realize I'm probably like the last person in the world to watch this movie, but I knew it was really long and I have a short attention span and it didn't really seem that interesting etc. But I picked it up because I had watched pretty much everything else in my brother's movie collection, and I managed to watch it in one sitting. Besides being a little long and drawn out, it was pretty interesting for one more movie about Jewish genocide, which if that's a topic you like, I could give you a whole list of recommended titles, cause I feel like I've seen them all. Life is Beautiful is probably a good place to start...
The Flower of Evil: I should have read the description on the back of the box. "Anne runs for re-election to the town council, shepherded by Matthieu, her fellow candidate and campaign manager. Her husband, Gérard, a businessman and philanderer, hates the campaign and feels vindication when a nasty leaflet circulates about their family history. His son, François, just back from the U.S., is in love with his step-sister Michèle, and she with him, although something is amiss besides their being cousins. Watching it all is their elderly Aunt Line, who has her own haunting memories. A death in World War II and a death on election night collapse time in the perpetual present and bring unexpected expiation. There's a lot to celebrate." Sounds interesting in a boring kind of way, eh? Yeah, by the time it got to the climax, the movie was over and I had already fallen asleep. I finished the movie another night, then couldn't remember if I'd finished it; it was that un-memorable.
For the Bible Tells Me So: an interesting documentary about Christianity and homosexuality, and the co-mingling of the two. To me, most of what was presented was pretty much old hat, but my mom and brother found it very interesting and loaded with new info. If you're already familiar with this movie and enjoyed it, you should check out Trembling Before G-d, directed by Sandi Simcha DuBowski, and occasionally playing on the Sundance channel. It's a similar concept, except that it follows Orthodox Jews who are gay, which I find a little more interesting since they follow the letter of the law waaaaaay more than Christians do. Which reminds me, check out THIS website.
Ghost World: My brother happened to rent this, and I was bored and thought it'd be better to re-watch Ghost World than Van Wilder. Good choice, obviously. The humor is classic, in that high school funny, but not immature funny kind of way, and the sound track is just phenomenal. The cast is stellar: the always fantastic Steve Buscemi, gorgeous Thora Birch (Thora Birch's boobs in Ghost World: amazing. Thora Birch's boobs now: ehhh.), Scarlet Johansson (no worse than usual), and Illeana Douglas (whose name I can never remember, but she's unforgettable as always). I didn't realize that Art School Confidential was also by Terry Zwigoff (director) and Daniel Clowes (writer); that movie seems to be in a whole different category than Ghost World... I don't really have much good things to say about it; I thought it was a yawn-fest with tired jokes.
If you wanna nerd it up with another great comic book movie (one that doesn't suck anyway), check out American Splendor.
Reading:
I had been reading The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind Is Designed to Kill, which was very interesting, but then the Garden Show started and I didn't have time to read it, and it was due back at the library and I didn't feel like renewing it again. It's about the psychology of murder (from an evolutionary psychologist's background), so as far as I got, people mainly kill because of baby-making. Hopefully I'll be finishing it at some point, cause psychology + murder = pretty freakin interesting to me.
Currently reading.... ok, I admit, I was a little embarrassed and hesitant to post this one, but it's The 8 Essential Traits of Couples Who Thrive. Effing embarrassing, I know, but I totally suck at interpersonal relationships, and there's no time like the present to learn how to not be a total screw-up, ya know? So, for what it is, it's pretty interesting. Admittedly, I didn't realize it was a book for married people, but the info wouldn't really be that different for couples who aren't married (at least so far in the book). It works from the viewpoint that long term relationships aren't destined to be boring, stifling things that cramp your style, and there's no reason to go into them expecting that.
I'm still kind of reading The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, which I really need to finish because everyone wants to borrow it (sorry, everyone). It's good, and not as boring as you'd expect, being a book about following every written law in the Bible. It's actually more about the author's 'journey' through the Bible than the Bible and its laws directly. So I'm not sure why I'm dragging my feet on finishing this one, but I'd really like to get to the end before I forget what the beginning was about.
Listening:
*Arrah and the Ferns*
Seriously, check them out. Folksy-ish pop-ish with (usually) a girl (Arrah Fisher) singing leads. Their one and only cd, Evan is a Vegan was released in 2006 and is spectacular and has been on repeat on my iTunes for like a week. The lyrics are somewhat adolescent (including a reference or two to myspace), but on that same token, innocent and clean and even poetic...
"You and I, we lay like fireflies
retired from those summer nights
All bottled up as victims of our child's play
And when we laugh the walls are muted by our existence
Should I be a bit more persistent when I ask you to stay over?"
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