Month: July 2020

Reeling in the DVDs, II

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More of the movie collection – this is going to go on for quite some time.  And no, I’m not going in super strict order.  I finished the numbers, and now I’m just meandering through the A’s.

300: Rise of an Empire . . . I like Sullivan Stapleton on Blindspot – and Eva Green since Casino Royale – but again with the slow motion!!  I briefly considered timing the amount of slow motion, but that would entail watching it again and I am not prepared to do that at this point in my life.  Thanks to google and the often hilarious Cinema Sins, I know there is at least 30 minutes of slow motion in the first film – and this one feels like more.Handy tip: slow motion does not automatically equal artistry.  But props to the film for working in the word “glabrous.”  (More on my word obsession in other posts.)

*Note – I do collect movies based on comics – one of my things, written some papers about adaptations, etc – and I will be keeping 300 – so since they’re on the same disc, I’ll be keeping 300: RoaE.  Otherwise, might be iffy.  And a personal thanks to the filmmakers since the last two days showcased more man-abs than I’ve seen in years.

Alien – basically summed up as “no one listens to the smart woman who wanted to follow correct quarantine procedure – and everything goes to hell as a result.”  Strangely appropriate for 2020.  I remember that a guy in my class brought the movie book to class one day (they used to put out books of the films with images from the movie as illustrations – I think I have my Star Wars one in a box still – it was a whole Scholastic book fair draw) and it grossed everyone out.  Didn’t see it until years later.

Aladdin – wow, was Robin Williams so funny.  I used to have a VHS tape which had the original version of the opening song (with the “bad” lyrics), but my dvd set does not.  The rug manages to be quaintly human – my favorite is right after “A Whole New World” when Jasmine confronts Aladdin about why he lied about being in the market – Aladdin looks at the rug, who gestures with a tassel in a very human-esque “go on” way and then collapses into a “good grief” posture when Al doesn’t fess up.

Avengers – Okay, I’m a comics junkie.  And a movie junkie.  Of course I dig the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  And this was well done – getting them all together.  I think my favorite bit was Steve handing Nick the $10.  No comment, just passing it over.  My ex said that Natasha’s line, “I don’t see how that’s a party” sounded like me.  I remember in the theatre laughing out loud when Hulk smashed Loki around.

Avengers: Age of Ultron:  “That’s not going away any time soon.”  Yeah, I love Cap.  Almost all the casting, in fact.  That’s part of what made the MCU so good – great casting.  (Not so hot on the Hawkeye casting, but eh.)  I can even go along with changing Ultron to a thing with Tony instead of Hank.  And James Spader is perfect.  But what they did to Quicksilver was practically a crime 

Aquaman – they must have used a real golden for the beginning, because my dog suddenly sat up and stared at the tv.  Aside from that, well, I always feel for Arthur because he often gets the short end of the stick (and I wish I could think of some “fishstick” joke to go here, but my brain is not cooperating at the moment).  It looks impressive.  And it’s better than many other DC movies.  I’m hoping they’ll develop him more with the next one – maybe even go Peter David on him – cheers for the harpoon hand!

Alien V. Predator (AVP):  I admit it, I like this movie.  It’s cheesy but fun.  Mad props for having Lance come in – I’m geek enough to love that blatant pandering.  And I like the franchise combo – makes me want to re-read the Stormwatch issues with Aliens that kicked off the Authority.  The “unrated” version is better in the sense that the story is more complete.  More scenes which tie everything together – it’s only 8 minutes, but it helps.  Though I wonder why they felt they had to cut those 8 minutes.  Maybe some for the gore and the rating?

Ant-Man: We can all agree that Luis is the best part, right?  Maybe tied with just having Paul Rudd as a superhero . . . That meme that was going around – saying Luis should do the “sum up” part for Endgame – I would have been so there for that.  Kind of wish that Micahel Peña had spent his time doing that during quarantine.  

Tomorrow Is Promised to No One

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“Some days are diamonds

Some days are rocks”

 

Two years ago today, I was serving as a dramaturge for a production of Twelfth Night.  I was also assistant stage manager and a costuming assistant – these things happen when you can’t say no.  Shakespeare in the Park – a lovely July afternoon.

Two hours before curtain, the actor playing Fabian became ill and needed to go to the hospital (she was in the military – and she’s kind of a bad-ass – so if she needed to go, you knew it was serious).  Community theatre being what it is, we didn’t have a roster of understudies.  The director asked an actor with a smaller part, but he said he did not feel confident switching.  I think the director was considering going on himself.  I said that I would do it.  

It made sense, really.  I’d been at most every rehearsal, I had done detailed annotations on the script, and I’d spent many nights reading parts when people needed to miss.  We even had roughly the same build, so I could fit into the costume.  And, once upon a time, I had been an acting major.  I hadn’t been on a stage in nearly 20 years, but the show must go on, right??  So I crammed like hell and prayed that I wouldn’t throw up.

I didn’t have all the blocking down – and I missed a few lines – but I did manage to get both the longer speeches correct.  It felt amazing.

It made me remember how I loved acting – the fun of live theatre, the joy of the words.  I started acting when I got the leads in my third grade class plays (head pilgrim’s wife and last year’s rag doll, if you must know) – mainly due to my memorization abilities.  Since that evening, I’ve done a couple of local plays (I’ll spare you the Cabaret stories for tonight).  It’s a singular experience, and one I used to enjoy immensely.  I’m glad I got to remember that.

 

A year ago today, I was confined to the house recovering from major surgery – and shocked to hear that a friend had died suddenly and tragically in a bicycle vs car accident.

That sort of thing gives us a very different perspective.

People always talk about living after losing someone – “you have to live for ___ – he/she would want you to!”  It’s a weird way to try to jolt ourselves out of mourning.  To convince ourselves to embrace life even though we’re miserable.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately because well, there’s the current state of the world, for one.  But I’ve also lost two friends in the last month, and I’m struggling.  Trying to “live for today” and “make the most of your life!” gets heavy sometimes.  Especially with the stress fatigue that we’re all feeling thanks to the party that is 2020.  

How do we hold on to the feeling, that need to do more and be more and drink deeply of life – without letting it make us maudlin?  How do we keep it encouraging rather than a burden we are not fulfilling?  How do we make it something we are glad to feel despite the pain?

Sadly, I do not currently have the answers.  Though I suppose we can take wisdom from Sleepless in Seattle – and just keep getting up, breathing in and out, and trying.  That’s what we owe ourselves – to keep going.

 

“Some things are over

Some things go on

Part of me you carry

Part of me is gone”

 

Doesn’t Everyone?

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If you are a fan of The Dresden Files, you probably already know that the sixteenth book in the series came out today.  And if you are a fan of the series, you’ve probably been waiting for this book ever since the last one – in 2014.  As Jim Butcher was working on this book, it became so long that it was split into two, and we’re getting the seventeenth book in September (a mere 77 days from now!).

Tangent – I’ve seen some people online who were complaining earlier this year – along the lines of “screw Butcher for taking too damn long to write this book! No way I’m buying it!!”  Look, from 2000 through 2015, the guy put out 23 books.  Not counting graphic novels and various short stories and other writings.  So if he needed some extra time on this one because life happens, that’s just fine with me.  He’s not a trained monkey to dance when the fans want him to.  I wonder if these are the same type of people who ask artists to do things for them at a huge discount and/or for free just “for the exposure” (insert eye-roll emoji here).

Back to the main point.  The new book release.  And my apparently weird habit.

When I’m reading a series and the next book is coming out, I go back and re-read the series.  Or sometimes I just re-read a series for the heck of it.  (Disclaimer: I’ve never read the whole Wheel of Time  series – I’ve been assured that that would break my habit.)  I figured this is something everyone does, but I was recently informed that “normal” people don’t do that.

All I can say is that they’re missing out.

Now I do have friends who read more slowly than I do, and they’ve said they have to be selective about what they read simply in the interest of time.  (Only so much time and so many books so why re-read something?)  I can see that.  

But re-reading something – just like re-watching a film – can give me another layer of understanding and enjoyment.  And in something like this series, with its world building and constant expansion of mythos, a re-read lets me have everything fresh in my mind.  I’m even reading them in order – with the short stories and graphic novels in chronological order. (Yes, I’m that sort of book nerd.  I’m good with it.)

I am teaching summer class, however, and dealing with (gesturing vaguely at the world), so I did not get my re-read started as early as I would have liked.  I’m not through with the old stuff and ready to start the new one.

That’s fine with me.  Anticipation can be a lovely thing.

A friend speculated that I’d give in and crack the new book within 48 hours.  I said that wouldn’t happen.  I can wait.  I can take my time and enjoy all the stories along the way.  If I time it right, I can finish Peace Talks right before Battle Ground comes out – all one big story.  (And read some other stuff in the meantime.)

Besides, in case the next installment after these takes time, I should make 16 & 17 last, right?  

It’s not like I have a bunch of other books waiting to be read . . . oh.  Yeah.