screw you

Via beck_liz: Neil Gaiman says to entitled hoes: George R. R. Martin is not your bitch. Awww Neil Gaiman! You are awesome. Maybe I will just utilize my insomnia to stay up all night reading more Sandman (yes, I finally started).

In other news, my siblings are currently both on my shitlist to varying degrees. My sister needs to grow the fuck up and realize there are certain standards of adult behavior she needs to adhere to if she wants to be treated as anything other than a bratty self-absorbed child. On the other hand, my father called me without any prompting the other day. You win some; you lose some.

Sibling-geddon threatened to ruin my belated birthday festivities but crisis was eventually averted and fun and alcohol were had by all.

I have seen the new Star Trek movie twice. It really could have been subtitled: Spock PWNS so much that times two was necessary.

In TV news: I love Castle to pieces, Bones is still kind of weird this season, Dollhouse's finale was a little sloppy, and OMG Grey's Anatomy... way to realize like 3 years late where you went wrong.

We watched Caprica. There was man-pain. And gratuitous cyber sex-drugs-violence. And racism. Plus terrorism and religious persecution.

Meme: Give me a letter and I will tell you 5 things I like that start with that letter.

I have just gotten back from seeing the Watchman movie and okay, Jeffery Dean Morgan is forgiven.

We interrupt this post for the following announcement:

Law and Order: UK. Starring Freema Agyeman and Jaime Bamber. I could not be more excited.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.


Books Read so far in 2008

1) The Darkangel (The Darkangel Trilogy, Book 1), Meredith Ann Pierce (YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
2) Lady Friday (The Keys to the Kingdom Series, Book 5), Garth Nix (Children's Lit, Fantasy)
3) A Gathering of Gargoyles (The Darkangel Trilogy, Book 2), Meredith Ann Pierce (YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
4) Unmanned (Y: The Last Man, Volume 1), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
5) The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz (Contemporary Literature)
6) Cycles (Y: The Last Man, Volume 2), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
7) Closing Time (sequel to Catch-22), Joseph Heller (Contemporary Fiction)
8) One Small Step (Y: The Last Man, Volume 3), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
9) Safeword (Y: The Last Man, Volume 4), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
10) Ring of Truth (Y: The Last Man, Volume 5), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
11) Girl on Girl (Y: The Last Man, Volume 6), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
12) The Pearl of the Soul of the World (The Darkangel Trilogy, Book 3), Meredith Ann Pierce (YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
13) Paper Dolls (Y: The Last Man, Volume 7), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
14) Affinity, Sarah Waters (Gothic Fiction, Queer Fiction)
15) Kimono Dragons (Y: The Last Man, Volume 8), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
16) Motherland (Y: The Last Man, Volume 9), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia)
17) Good Omens, Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett (Apocalyptic, Religious, Humor)
18) Legends in Exile (Fables, Volume 1), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
19) Mort (Discworld Series), Terry Pratchett (Fantasy, Humor)
20) Animal Farm (Fables, Volume 2), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
21) Storybook Love (Fables, Volume 3), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
22) March of the Wooden Soldiers (Fables, Volume 4), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
23) The Mean Seasons (Fables, Volume 5), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
24) Homelands (Fables, Volume 6), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
25) Arabian Nights (and Days) (Fables, Volume 7), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
26) Wolves (Fables, Volume 8), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
27) Sons of Empire (Fables, Volume 9), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
28) 1001 Nights of Snowfall (Fables, non-linear), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy)
29) One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Magical Realism)
30) Deadeye Dick, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (Contemporary Fiction, Apocalyptic)
31) The Wall: And Other Stories, Jean-Paul Sartre (Short Stories/Novella, Existentialism)
32) ( The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Volume 1, Alan Moore (Graphic Novel, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Gothic Fiction) )
33) ( The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Volume 2, Alan Moore (Graphic Novel, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Gothic Fiction) )
34) ( Dance with Me, Luanne Rice (Popular Fiction, Romance) )
35) ( No Future For You (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8: Volume 2), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Urban Fantasy) )
36) ( The (Nearly) Great Escape (Jack of Fables: Volume 1), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban Fantasy) )
37) ( A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce (Stream of Consciousness) )
38) ( Whys and Wherefores (Y: The Last Man, Volume 10-final), Brian K. Vaughn (Graphic Novel, Dystopia) )
39) ( The Good Prince (Fables, Volume 10), Bill Willingham (Graphic Novel, Urban-Fantasy) )
40) ( Superior Saturday (The Keys to the Kingdom Series, Book 6), Garth Nix (Children's Lit, Fantasy) )
41) ( Idoru, William Gibson (Cyberpunk) )

Breakdown By Type
Graphic Novels: 25
Literary Fiction: 6
YA/Children's Fantasy: 5
Genre Fiction: 3
General Fiction: 2

Currently Reading:
House of Mirth, Edith Wharton



Movies Seen in the Theater This Summer (from favorite to least favorite):

1) The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Usually adaptations of books are disappointing or just so widely different that it's basically a different story, but occasionally there comes an adaptation that actually improves on the book. This was one of those. The movie teases out the character motivation and development that lay fallow in the book, rounding the characters and turns route summaries into evocative description. Additionally, I was inclined to like the film because it was beautiful, in setting and in its cast.

2) Ironman - When I heard this movie was good, I was surprised. When I actually saw it and enjoyed it as much as I did, I was shocked. I mean... he's fighting the terrorists. This is usually an instant turnoff for me and yet it wasn't here. Gwyneth Paltrow has never been a favorite of mine and I've never considered her as really attractive, but here she was simply stunning (also I wanted all of her clothes). Ultimately I am forced to conclude that it's just a really well made movie. The pacing and dialogue were good, the acting was just right as was the tone, and it was incredibly shiny.

3) Hancock - Boy did this movie exceed my expectations. I went in with a base assumption of being entertained by Will Smith that Jason Bateman would be in it. I expected it would be kind of silly. But it really wasn't; sure there were some funny lines, but I actually think it's the most serious superhero/adventure movie I have seen in I don't know how long. Will Smith didn't seen gratuitous, and in fact may I say that I feel that he is aging ridiculously well and I am far more likely to feel smitten with him now than ever before. And I loved Bateman's character... which was just similar enough to Michael Bluth not to throw me, but was more of what Michael might have been if raised by a less insane family... or at least differently insane. And there was a twist, which wasn't full of plotholes, and which the trailer didn't give away like they so often do.

4)Dark Knight - So I really liked most of the things about the movie, but it was far too long. The creators seemed not to understand that just because a scene or idea is good does not mean it belongs in a movie, book, tv show, play or whatever. It would have been a two hour and ten minute movie, and there was a perfect point to do so there. ( spoilers ) That said, the extraneous scenes were still good in their own right and I enjoyed the movie quite a lot. But I really do think that this movie exemplifies part of why Ironman was such a hit. It's simple and doesn't drag on for 40 minutes after what should be the end (like almost every movie to happen recently, including Casino Royale for instance). I had a secondary pet peeve, which was ( spoilers )

5) Hellboy II: The Golden Army - Okay, so I was seriously really excited about this movie and I suspect that had I not been it might have rated higher on my initial impression. When it comes out on DVD I will probably be more forgiving. But this was a movie that the previews really showed too much of. I still enjoyed the banter and characters, but I already knew the awesome cinematic moments that were coming and the climax didn't feel that exciting. Also, the whimsical look of the creatures, which is magnificent in Pan's Labyrinth, just contrasted awkwardly with the rough and tumble feel of Hellboy. The new addition to their team was a mistake and terribly executed and actually made my brother miss Myers. Also there was a ( spoiler ) and while it was the least offensive execution of one I have seen in a long time it still is always a terrible idea.

6) Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull - It was enjoyable and hit all the right trigger buttons for the franchise nostalgia. I feel that if I thought too deeply about it then it would fall apart, but it was a good ride. In fact, it made me want to go to Disneyland and ride the Indiana Jones Adventure ride. So good job on that, marketing.

7) The Incredible Hulk - This was a ridiculously lazy movie. Basically they just rested on the laurels of having Edward Norton and didn't bother taking advantage of that fact. Liv Tyler is still pretty and still boring. Basically, it lacked the amazing direction of the first one (which I liked for that reason despite the other issues) and didn't give us much in return except for the promise of an Avengers movie with Edward Norton, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon. They would have been better off not making a film at all because the idea of Norton as the Hulk is more interesting than what's on the screen in this case. Better direction and cinematography might have made the same plot really worthwhile, but the execution was lackluster and disappointing.


Ps. Yes I am possibly already coming up with RPF for a show that hasn't even been made yet.

1) Last night I watched Waitress at sophia_helix and actoplasm's and ate Tasty Bites with Whole Wheat Naan. The movie was heartbreaking and uplifting and had just the right touch of realism mixed in. As a result today I am a little in love with Nathan Fillion as tends to happen sometimes. Also I wanted pie by the time we got 15 minutes in.

2) I have realized that the music I have on my computer/ipod is really out of date not just in terms of not being new but because it's really out of step with who I am now and is kind of depressing. I have invited my brother to select 100 songs for me to start listening to. I now invite you all to pimp me up to 5 songs (preferably with download links or you can email me the mp3s). Like I said I am leaning towards things that are more upbeat but I am open to pretty much anything.

3) ( After discussing the problem of radio button options as opposed to ticky boxes I present another poll, featuring every icon that was no one's favorite )

4) That 10 Things That Are Making Me Happy Today Meme:

* The prospect of getting my hair done tonight.
* Getting to see Jeremy at lunch (even though it is because he is home in pain).
* 2 Dics of Tru Calling waiting to be watched while snuggling up with Jeremy.
* The arrival of my new minion to work her first shift today.
* My ipod and it's ability to shield me from everyone's yapping at the office.
* The fact that the cat followed me around this morning as if she liked me.
* That it's been fairly warm and sunny this week so far.
* The fact that the Plain White Ts actually got nominated for a Grammy.
* The "I'm Fucking Matt Damon" video.
* A general Matt Damon renaissance.