the flicks

I hit up the Hollywood Video last night for the first time in what seemed like forever, and I just couldn't decide what to rent. First, I was going to get 'Pineapple Express' and 'Milk', but then I rembmered that I hate James Franco. As much as I dig Seth Rogan and Sean Penn, I just wasn't in the mood for the Franco...

I ended up getting 'Rachel Getting Married', 'Synechdoche NY', and 'Twilight'. Yes, THAT 'Twilight', the one that tween girls the world over deafened us all with their squee-ing over. AND, of those three movies, I chose to watch that one first. yes, I am ashamed of myself. kind of. but not really...I can't help it; the nerd in me LOVES vampires! their whole 'eternal outsider, eternally alone' rap is totally my style.

anyways, it was awesome and awful at the same time. horrible, terrible, cringe-worthy effects, but awesome in the moody, brooding, restrained passion department.

I recommend that guys NEVER watch it. and I recommend that girls (who like that kind of movie) do what I did: rent it, watch it in secret, and then pretend it never happened.

free at last!

after years of sharing an office at a 'reception' desk at the main entrance of the building, I finally have my own office. when strange people come in with even stranger questions, I will be tucked safely away in my corner. why yes, that is weird foil ducting above my desk. and yet, I am completely undeterred in my joy at this development.

pop!

why, for the love of God, does the popcorn function never work on any microwave I have ever tried?

and why, for the love of God, do I keep pushing that button instead of just setting it for three minutes and then using my ears?

foiled again by my love of pre-programmed buttons. burned popcorn is the worst. I opted for oatmeal for lunch instead...

wicked awesome

we went to go see 'Wicked' at the Keller on Sunday night, and then we stayed at the Governor Hotel downtown. they accidentally overbooked, so we got upgraded to the Governor's Suite! Sweet!

downtown P-town is fun and interesting and exciting, but mostly the traffic just stresses me out.

p.s. - 'Wicked' is still in town for a couple more weeks. if you enjoy musicals at all, you will definitely enjoy this one. it is fantastic!

who watches the Watchmen...? I DO!

I went to the 12:01 of Watchmen last night. ye-ah! I really liked it. and I WILL watch it again. It was deranged and visceral, definitely paying homage to its source graphic novel by being both graphic (gratuitous violence and sex), and novel (an alternate version of America, starting from the rise of an original group of Masked Avengers in the 40's that changed our history as we know it).

I watched 'Almost Famous' on cable the other night, and the scene where Jason Lee's character exclaims "We come off as amateurs, man, fighting and about to break up" kept coming back to me - this is a story of masked amateurs grappling with vengeance, inadequacy, fear of their own past, and narcissism. They don't have superpowers, save for Dr. Manhattan, who seems to be able to control the universe around him at whim, due to a freak accident that rendered him detached and blue (and for some reason, naked).

One of the guys I watched it with complained that there was too much backstory and not enough plot, but I vehemently disagree - without the backstory, what do we care about the plot?

Billy Crudup had the most thankless role, as he spent all but 5 minutes of the movie painted entirely blue with dead white eyes, conveying impassive detachment from humanity.

Jackie Earl Haley was vicious as the snarling Rorschach. His ever-shifting rorschach-like mask was well-animated, and managed to convey emotion even when he didn't speak.

Patrick Wilson was kind of the boy scout/batman of the movie as Nite Owl II, a role I wasn't sure he fit, but with his awesome 80's glasses, sad haircut, and paunch - his sad, settled, impotent character made you root for him to mask up and kick ass.

Matthew Goode was also good(e) as the success-driven Ozymundias. Whether it was the actor or lighting and contacts, his eyes fairly blazed with fervor akin to madness.

...Also, whoever the music producer on this movie was, I would like to kiss them. Their choice of music was note-perfect every scene.