Winter's Bone, a Review

Ever since first hearing about Winter's Bone on NPR, I knew I wanted to watch the film.  It was on Fresh Air, I believe, and Terry Gross was discussing the unique sounds of the film and how Realistic it sounded.  Some sweet Appalachian music, abject poverty, and the struggles of a young girl in the harsh backwoods drug-circles of the Ozarks of Missouri sounded mighty appealing, for reasons more personal than I'd like to admit.

Truth be told, the opening images of Winter's Bone reminded me a lot of home and of childhood.  We were in no way poor like the Dolly family was, but the similarities were close, especially if I go back a generation or two.  I grew up in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, a place known for its musical roots (such as the Everly Brothers, Mose Rager, and Merle Travis), coal mines, and methamphetamine.  (Need I point to John Prine's ubiquitous song "Paradise," a somewhat county anthem?)  I thank God I've never been involved with drugs, though many in my family have had their lives ruined because of the stuff.

Winter's Bone is the story of Ree Dolly, a seventeen year old girl that spends her days taking care of her crazed mother and her two younger siblings.  Ree's life is hard and bleak, and nearly every waking moment is spent cooking or cleaning or teaching her brother & sister how to do things in case she has to be away.  Ree's dad, Jessup, has been away in jail/prison for a while due to his drug making.  At the start of the film, a sheriff shows up telling Ree that Jessup has put the house up for bond and that if he doesn't show up to court soon then the Dolly's will lose their house and land.

The rest of the movie is spent with Ree looking for her father.  She runs across all manner of people, and very few (I'm struggling to think of any) are helpful or friendly.  This provides plenty of tension for the viewer.  We're aware of how much the Dolly family depends on Ree, and should anything happen to her, what would become of the rest of them?  

I'm not sure how to classify Winter's Bone.  I'd say something like suspense/horror/pseudo-documentary/mystery.  At one point I was breathing hard and felt my throat constricting, worried for Dolly.  At another I was almost in tears.  And that's part of the wonder of Winter's Bone--the film presents the scene and one cannot help but to react.

Maybe it's the lack of flair or high budget, but Winter's Bone is probably the most stirring movie I've watched in a long time.  It could be that I can see this very stuff happening out my backdoor.  It could be Jennifer Lawrence's* excellent performance, as well as the many other "unknown" faces as secondary characters.  The mostly empty score (as in, there's not much background music at all, just natural sounds) almost gives the viewer an impression that they're watching a home video.

Winter's Bone was nominated for many awards last year, and its deserving of them.  If you've not seen the film, it's worth the watch, though be warned that it's not a light viewing.  If you've a heart, you'll likely feel burdened once the credits roll, but I'm not sure if that's the point.  Yes, we need to be aware of situations like this, and we should help whenever we can, but we should also smile at Ree's perseverance and determination to see her family to safety, too.

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While looking for the Fresh Air article (alas, I couldn't find it) online, I stumbled across an NPR First Listen featuring Gillian Welch and Dave Rawling's album (released today).  I didn't know they were at work on one, but after listening through it, I can say that I enjoyed it tremendously.  This duo is possibly the finest example of Appalachian music, and if you've never heard their stuff, give this first listen a go.  You shan't be disappointed.

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*I think she'll make a great Katniss when The Hunger Games hits the Big Screen.  Maybe a touch too old, but Hollywood can change that. 

The Adjustment Bureau, some thoughts

Like my typical reviews, these thoughts will be spoiler-free, but there will also be a clearly marked spoiler section, too.

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I came into the theater with an idea of what The Adjustment Bureau was about.  Some guy destined to become the President or something cannot be allowed to fall in love with some girl and he's being forced to take drastic steps in order to maintain his love.  It seemed kind of like The Fountain but maybe possibly a Borne movie, too.

My expectations weren't quite right, and instead I watched a weak action movie with a heavy hand of philosophy and true love.  Suffice it to say I was bored.  The film progressed way too slowly, with an exposition that seemed to go on and on and a plot that seemed to only slightly pick up steam towards the end.  As for conflict, my assumptions were right on the surface, but the motivations behind them were completely wrong.

In short, The Adjustment Bureau was not worth the matinee prices we payed to watch it.  I thought the plot could have been salvaged by Damon & Blunt, but even their on-screen chemistry could not lift the story from its cheesiness, flawed ending, and dumb characters.

Maybe I'm in the minority here, since the film currently has a 69% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but not by much.  If you want my recommendation, I'd wait until it's out on video.

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SPOILER Section

1.  Referring to the Chairman as "the Chairman" all the time was just ridiculous.  I really had a problem with the "angels" and stuff being portrayed as clandestine agents, because that's just stupid, and the corporate type setting is just plain dumb.  Their plan books with their weird, circuit-like paths came across as cheesy and simplistic.  The hats were silly.  The idea of the doors was pretty cool, but other than that I thought these guys were total squares.

2.  After half an hour of exposition I thought that the film was about to pick up speed, but nothing.  The only excitement came from Harry chasing down a bus, from Norris running from some agents, and then more running later on. 

3.  I felt like the film was out to pose deep philosophical questions about fate and free-will and stuff, but it didn't.  I think it was just out to say "Look, humanity, you keep screwing up and you better stop it or you're gonna destroy the world and Imma tell on you!"

4.  Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Anthony Mackie all did well, and I enjoyed Michael Kelly's performance quite a bit, too.

5.  The more I think about it the more I disliked the movie.  Maybe I should've save my money for Battle: LA or something.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a (Film) Review

Unless you've been hiding out under a rock, you've probably heard of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, written by the late Swedish journo-novelist Stieg Larsson.  The conclusion to the book trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, just came out earlier this year.  All three novels are international sensations, and I admit, I bought a copy of the opening number to see what all the fuss was about.  But, as it goes, I never got to read it, and now I'm not sure if I ever will.

In 2009, a Swedish version of the movie was released.  Like its source material, the film received excellent reviews.  Performance-wise, Michael Nyqvist (Mikael) and Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth) both acted their characters perfectly, so I've read.  The tone of the movie was on par with the book, and all around it's grossed loads of money, if you want to measure success that way.  Knowing that Hollywood would be releasing a (likely dreaded) adaptation soon, I decided to rent the foreign film and watch it on Friday night.  (The movie is in Swedish, but subtitled in English.)

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a layered story.  Chiefly, journalist Mikael, recently indicted on several accounts of libel, is contacted by the wealthy entrepreneur Henrik Vanger.  Forty years ago, Henrik's niece, Harriet, vanished, and ever since then Henrik's obsessed over her disappearance.  He hires Mikael to try and uncover what happened to her.  Meanwhile, Lisbeth Salander, a modern-day punk with a troubled past, has been hired to hack into Mikael's computer and keep track of him.  Eventually the two's paths cross and from there the film evolves.

This summary is a rough review at best.  There are several things going on throughout the movie, and the disappearance of Harriet Vanger takes the back burner.  The list of suspects is large, and the film takes time to investigate most.  In America, this stuff would largely be overlooked, I think.  Hollywood seems too bent on churning out action and memorable climaxes that not enough time is spent on the rising action.  In Sweden's movie industry, at least with this film, this is not the case.  The plot slowly unravels, inviting the viewer to learn more about the protagonists and their lives.  The whole time I was wondering what happened to Lisbeth in her past?  Is Mikael as "good" as he's portrayed?  Characterization is truly the main driving force behind the movie.

Lisbeth is a highly fascinating character.  Immediately you can tell she's got something going on with her.  She comes across as cold and uncaring to nearly everyone.  She's obviously smart, being her career choice, but how smart?  She's a character with a past that's strongly affecting her every action, and I was interested to explore her more.  Add Mikael to the mix, who's a bit more open to conversation, and dynamic between the two is amusing.

Stylistically, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a dark film.  Part of this comes from Lisbeth's wardrobe.  Part from the cold, deadly grip of Sweden's winter.  Most of it's from the darkness that's becoming more apparent as each minute ticks by.  Incredible acts of violence, some very graphic, and you can't help but feel a pang in your gut.  By the end of the movie, I remarked how sick and disgusting some things were, and Keisha agreed.  Yet, despite this grisly nature, the movie is great.  The real world is not peaches and sunshine.  It's not hard to imagine every dark action taking place outside of the film, and it's a tragedy that such things happen in our world.  The movie is graphic, as I've said, and borderline Realistic, but that culminates in making the film even better.

After watching The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, I can't help but wonder how the final two books pan out.  What's in store for the two fascinating protagonists?  Furthermore, I wonder now if it's even worth reading the book after watching the film.  What was omitted?  Would a Wikipedia summary suffice?  I'm not sure, and if any of you could tell me, let me know.  Overall, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was an exceptional movie, filled with mystery, tension, and unforgettable characters.  It's dark, but in my opinion there's enough light shining through the shadow to make it worth your while.  If you're going to watch it, I'd recommend doing this version instead of waiting for the Hollywood atrocity that's bound to happen. 

Inception, a Review

Inception, on a basic level of understanding, is a simple heist movie.  You’ve got your suave hero Dom (Leonardo DiCaprio), the best in his field, who assembles a team to perform one last big hoorah, one big enough to put his thieving days to an end and get back home.  And like all heist movies, the team is tight and quirky, each adding their own special perk to the group, each relying on the others to perform their jobs and do them right.  Yet, Inception is more than just a simple heist movie.  It’s a film that’s set predominately in the world of dreams, where things stolen are ideas, and death is only an awakening.

Christopher Nolan’s latest film pulls you in quickly and takes you on a fast-paced ride that demands attention lest you be left in the dust.  Extraction, the technology that allows people to enter other people’s dreams and “extract” things, is a fascinating invention.  Entering into someone’s mind is never predictable, and the dreamscapes are always mesmerizing.  When architect Ariadne (Ellen Page) joins the gang, she’s given a short class on how operation within a dream works, and soon she’s on to designing and creating the worlds within.

The ultimate job, the one that will send Dom home, involves inception, the process of planting an idea in someone’s mind through dreams.  It’s “never been done” before, but Dom says he can do it, and so the story begins.  (And it’s also all I’ll say, so as to remain spoiler-free.)

I was very impressed with Inception.  I thought the acting was excellent all around.  Everyone performed perfectly to character.  I also loved the imaginative set designs for the dreams.  The worlds felt enormous, massive enough to swallow you whole and you not even know it.  I would be remiss to leave out the score.  The music that accompanied the film was powerful, good enough that it was the first thing I thought of when the credits began to roll.  The plot itself I enjoyed, finding it a bit complex, but not unwieldy, spiced with the right amount of emotion and intrigue.  And the climax… wow.

There’s no doubt that if you want to see a movie this summer that will have you on the edge of your seat, Inception is certainly it.  The flaws of the film are few and easily forgettable.  The story is as gripping as the characters, both of which are fun to watch and unravel.  I can easily, quite easily, recommend Inception to you.  It’s definitely one I’d see on the big-screen in case you’re thinking about waiting.

Home Made Animated Video, Mortal Kombat, Fallout 3, and Free Brandon Sanderson

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions of this post in no way reflect the thoughts and opinions of the site but are the sole property and ideals of the author.  Please direct all concerns to the appropriate places.

I recently found this awesome website that lets you animate and create your own movies.  It's pretty simple, too, so I made one.  Give it a watch and enjoy.  The script is a little weak, but I think it's a tad humorous.  Good enough for a spur of the moment kind of thing.  You can check out the site here.



Remember those Mortal Kombat movies?  I try not to, but they're there, taking up useless brain space.  The Geeks of Doom put up this amazing discovery of what a Mortal Kombat movie should be, complete with a dark and gritty trailer.  Check out the article and watch the video here.  The embed is too big to post.

Looks pretty cool to me.  Too bad the likelihood of it actually being developed is rather low, but if it ever did, I'd definitely watch it.  I have too many fond memories of playing MK.  I've played practically every one of them up to Deception, and most of them have always been enjoyable.  Sigh.  They just don't make wantonly violent games like they used to.

"I don't want to set the world on fire..."  Clint and I started a new game of Fallout 3 last night.  I haven't played in a long time (and never on my PS3), so it was fun to start.  I transferred my saved game file from William's system and the thing loaded right up on my system.  I really wasn't expecting that.  However, I didn't unlock any of the trophies I was supposed to unlock from when I started a new game, so I'm wondering if the transfer has anything to do with it.  Anyway, the last time I played through Fallout I ended up being the Scourge of Humanity, but that was the plan all along.  I just couldn't help myself when it came to Megaton's fate...  So this time I'm on a path of righteousness, trying to do things good for the most part.  So far, so good.  Of course, I only just started last night and I've still not beat Heavy Rain (which will happen either this weekend or next week while Keisha is gone), so I have a long road ahead of me.

I think my friend Adam is going to hang out with me this weekend.  Maybe we can get in some disc golf or tennis if it doesn't rain.  I still don't have internet connection at home (it's been gone since 5/26), but that's supposed to be remedied by this weekend or next.

Ooh.  I think my Firefly blu-ray should be arriving today...

Finally, Pat from the Hotlist posted up a link that Tor.com is offering the Prelude, Prologue, and first three chapters of Brandon Sanderson's epic work The Way of Kings.  Read 'em all right here and get excited with me.  I can't wait for this series.

A Trip Through the Garden of the Mind

They say there is no Sanctuary.  They say it’s a thoughtcrime to doublethink like I do.  They say Simon didn’t really see the “Beast” on that island after the crash.  They even say the soma is good for you, but I hear it’s high in calories. 

Weird Al Yankovic has mixed feelings on downloading music from the Internet.

“I have very mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I’m concerned that the rampant downloading of my copyright-protected material over the Internet is severely eating into my album sales and having a decidedly adverse effect on my career. On the other hand, I can get all the Metallica songs I want for FREE! WOW!!!!!”—Ask Al Q&A for 7/5/03

I could listen to Iron & Wine pretty much all day long, especially this song.  Is it any wonder that I&W had an album that ranked #6 on my crazy iPod journey I took last year?  No, I think not.

“Abandoned Ode on a Styrofoam Cup”
by LoganKStewart

Thou white and blue cup of silence!
Thou sweet orphan of polystyrene and passion.
Has e’er there been a container as grand as thee?
How you quiver in the wind.
How you light and fail ‘neath the flame.

I just finished watching Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog again.  I love it as much now as I did the first time I watched it.  The plot is perfect, ripe with humor and emotion.  The songs are all phenomenal.  The ending is still tragic and sad.  If you’ve ne’er watched it, then I strongly suggest that you do so immediately.  All three acts are probably available somewhere fo’ free on the Interwebs.

Here’s a fan video someone created in response to Dr. Horrible.  It’s an imagined 8-bit version of the musical’s first Act, and it’s pretty cool.

Thirty-one days til I’m in the Caribbean.  My mind’s been on vacation for the last month or so.  I cannot wait to be on the boat, surrounded by food and fun.  I can’t wait to see the blue-green waters and feel the warm, coarse sands.

I watched Up in the Air last night.  ‘Twas a good movie with great themes and acting, but quite sad, too.  It left me filled with thoughts and possibilities, thinking about our modern world and the lack of personal relationships.  George Clooney did an excellent job, as did all the other actors in the film.  I felt the film hit the Realism aspect of life dead on.

Oh look!  Is that a tulip sprouting from my flower garden I planted last weekend?  And the hostas are growing up quite well, too.

A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do………………

How to Train Your Dragon, a Review

Call me a sucker for animated films, but I can’t help it.  They’re almost always a win in my book, as I usually find myself engrossed in the world of CGI.  DreamWorks new feature, How to Train Your Dragon, fits great into the scads of computer-animated films that I like to say I enjoy.

The story takes place on the island of Berk.  Young Hiccup, the Viking chief’s son, is a walking disaster.  Everything he touches breaks.  Even venturing outdoors often invokes fear and awe in the villagers.  Hiccup is a scrawny lad, lacking all the rugged muscle and bulk all the other Viking’s have.  His father is the most famous of all dragon slayers, and though Hiccup longs to be like everyone else, he’s hampered by his physique.

But Hiccup has more than just daddy issues to work on.  His village is constantly attacked by dragons.  They come in the night and steal their livestock, burning down the homes as they fight the mighty Vikings.  One night, during an attack, the dreaded Night Fury, a dragon so mysterious and dangerous that no one’s ever even seen one, shows up.  Hiccup, in an effort to prove himself, decides that he will capture and kill the Night Fury, thus earning his father’s respect, the admiration of the town, and the heart of the cute little blond Astrid he’s had his eyes on.  While the village is occupied with the dragons, Hiccup sneaks away and launches his plan, and things will never be the same…

As I mentioned, I really like animated films.  They seem to pack more of a punch than many live-action movies.  Mayhap this is because we feel a little safer when dealing with imaginary situations.  Maybe it’s because we see them as children’s movies and we let our guard down.  Whatever the case is, many of the computer-animated films deal with heavy issues (see Up if you don’t believe me).  How to Train Your Dragon was no different, dealing with daddy issues, self-confidence, and moral objection of societal views to name a few.  And while movies like this often have “feel good,” happy endings, I don’t feel cheated or mislead when I see them.  No, I cheer.  Our lives have too many problems as it is.  If I can see achievement and accomplishment in someone else, even if that someone is a computer-animated Hiccup, then I can find meaning and apply it to my life as well.

This movie is different from other CGI films, too.  I was expecting a lot more comedy (like Shrek) thrown in with the adventure, but instead it was the other way around.  The worldbuilding is massive and creative, filled with possibilities for adventure, and our hero finds himself on one.  The movie does succeed in delivering funny jokes/scenes, but honestly I was more excited about the plot.

My favorite thing of the film, however, was definitely the dragons.  (What fantasy reader can resist dragons when they’re done right?)  The writers have imagined many different kinds of dragons.  Some are small and dorky looking.  Some are fierce monsters as large as a building.  Some have thick scales.  Some have multiple heads.  All of them were visually stunning and beautiful.  Yes, there are plenty of dragons in the movie, and my favorite was definitely the Night Fury.  This dragon reminded me of my pet dog Stella.  Some of the mannerisms and actions were identical, so it was hard for me not to like the Night Fury.  In addition, the relationship between the dragon and Hiccup was endearing and heartfelt, harkening up familiar feelings to anyone that’s ever owned and loved a pet.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie.  I watched it in 3D (as we had my 8-yr-old brother-in-law with us), and it was impressive, but plain-ole 2D would have easily sufficed.  DreamWorks has some failed movies in its past, but How to Train Your Dragon isn’t one of them.  I can easily recommend the movie for anyone who wants to be thrilled and entertained.  To me, it was worth the full-price of the movie ticket(s) on a weeknight, so that’s saying something.

Another Licking Tongue… Maybe

Ladies, you won’t understand it when I say this, but having a thin wallet puts the world in a completely different perspective.  Perhaps some of the menfolk can agree with me.  I cleaned out my wallet the other day and it’s amazing how much of a difference just a few strips of plastic can make.  It’s like my own, personal comfy seat.

I like this proverb: “A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.”  (Proverbs 18:6)  I like it when I can read the Bible and laugh at something that’s strangely worded.  This is a pretty clear, to-the-point verse that really leaves no room for misinterpretation.  You act like a foo, Mr. T gonna pity you, and then he gonna beat you down.

So why exactly did The Hurt Locker win best picture?  I’m not saying that Avatar deserved it any more than The Hurt Locker did, but I think it did, maybe.  And I really enjoyed Inglorious Basterds quite a bit.  The acting was superb.  The plot was absurd.  Excellent.  But my favorite film up for Best Picture, which I reviewed here, had no chance in winning: District 9.

I beat Batman: Arkham Asylum over the weekend, just in time for tomorrow’s release of Final Fantasy XIII.  The game was very fun, though a bit too short for my liking.  On the plus side, the pounding of goons never got old, and racking up combos was always fun.  Detective Mode, which gives Batman a little x-ray/thermal vision, almost always came in hand.  The game was tough, too, and I died many times before I completed the last boss.  On the minus side, there weren’t as many major boss battles as I would have liked.  Many of Arkham’s famous residents were never saw in the game, only mentioned at.  Overall, though, I really did enjoy this game, and I can see myself playing through it more later on.

But the major thing that happened over the weekend was that our house now has another warm licking tongue in it.  Yes, we have a new dog.  I came home from work Friday, Keisha told me her friend was selling her one-year old Yorkie/Japanese Chin mix, we made an appointment to see it, and picked up the dog Saturday afternoon.  We wanted to get one for Stella so that she could have a playmate, and if the two get along well, then we’ll keep the dog.  So far, two days later, the two haven’t really been getting along, but they haven’t not been getting along, either.  Sofie (the new name for the dog) does not like to sleep and her house training is not very good.  Needless to say, I’m a little tired.  If we decide to keep the dog, I’ll put up some pictures soon.

The Weekend: A Simple Recap

Quite a cram-packed weekend.  The snowstorm came on Friday, dumping around four inches or so in OBKY.  When I took Stella out Saturday morning the stuff was so deep around Stewartland that she was covered up to almost her neck.  Stella, with her thick hair, did not like it.

Friday night Keisha and I watched Monsters Versus Aliens.  It had several funny parts and an okay plot, but it didn’t do it for me.  Definitely not as good as some other Dreamworks animated films, but better than others.

Saturday morning we watched Valkyrie.  I’m not sure what the point is in watching a movie where you know the ending, but I did watch it.  Maybe I was interested in seeing people oppose Hitler.  Regardless, the ending was (predictably) sad.

Saturday afternoon/evening we went out and ate with some friends.  Then we came back to Stewartland and played Monopoly for a few hours.  I love playing board games.  Scrabble is definitely one of my favorites.  Apples to Apples is fun, too.  After Monopoly was over we played Mario Party for the Wii, staying up late, since church was canceled.

Sunday afternoon we went to the homeless shelter and held the worship service.  I didn’t feel too good.  I woke up with a headache and a stuffy nose and was kind of sick at my stomach a bit.  But I still played guitar and sang.  In the cold room of the shelter my fingers were chilled and I sucked it up with the guitar and my stuffiness made my voice off, but in the end we worshipped God with our hearts, and that’s all that matters.

Sunday night we watched a bit of the Grammy’s (not sure why), but I soon gave up.  I went upstairs and read for an hour or so.  I’m about 60% through Green now.  Hopefully I’ll start Best Served Cold before the week ends.

I had an overwhelming response to my giveaway of Tea with Hezbollah, which I reviewed here.  There were two entries.  I had two books.  That said, congratulations Dave and Alex.  Please send me an email with your mailing address and I’ll ship these books out pronto.  (Also, Kris, I’ll ship you the Abercrombie books, too.  I got your address.)

That’s it.  This bitter tasting bile that’s in my mouth prohibits me from going any farther.  The emptiness in my gut causes a lapsing in my brain and my ability to think coherently and reasonably suffers.  I try to push it out of my head but it seeps in if I don’t keep it in check.  People never cease to amaze me.

Reviewing the new Star Trek movie

Over the weekend Keisha and I fully intended to go and watch Avatar, but things took a turn and we didn't get to go watch it. Instead we wound up renting the new Star Trek movie, directed by J.J. Abrams.

To be fair, I've never watched a single episode or movie of the Star Trek franchise. What I know about it ("Beam me up, Scotty," phasers, "Live Long and Prosper," and Klingon) all comes from being ingrained into pop-culture. Plus, as a lifetime STAR WARS fan, I just assumed Star Trek was my arch-enemy. That said, I now offer my review of the newest franchise film.

Star Trek begins with an exciting action sequence, filled with beautiful space imagery and fantastic technology. This spectacular display of future technology does not cease throughout the film, and it doesn't get old, either. The Starfleet spacecraft U.S.S. Enterprise, as well as the Romulun ship the Narada, are both visually stunning. The special effects throughout the film were all well done and only slightly cheesy a few times (a green-skinned woman? What?). Watching the fate of Vulcan was mesmerizing. Overall, I found the imagery of the movie Grade A eye candy.

The second aspect of the film I enjoyed was the intense action scenes. The few battle scenes between individuals, especially when the Starfleet crew arrived at Vulcan, were all entertaining to watch (albeit not as exciting as a lightsaber duel, but that's a different matter entirely). Abrams pumped adrenaline throughout the movie, and anyone seeking an action movie would surely enjoy this film.

For the most part the plot of the film was enjoyable, too, but not completely. To remain spoiler free there was a large problem with physics and continuity and reality that I felt would have been better explained using a different mechanism. The red-matter technology had some cool stuff to it, but the implications regarding timelines felt a bit too much. Sometimes this mechanism works (like Lost) and sometimes it doesn't (like Heroes). Besides this, the story of Kirk and Spock were both intriguing, and if you could forget about some things the conquest of the Romulans was cool, too.

In the end, Star Trek was a worthwhile movie to watch. I was entertained and thought the special effects were amazing. The story was good, but not great, due to a few fickle things I didn't like. Keisha, on the other hand, had no problems with it, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. If you're looking for a thrill-ride, sci-fi, eye-pleasing movie to watch during the Christmas season that's available on DVD, I'd recommend Star Trek.

Random Bits and Pieces

• Nearly finished with Warbreaker. Hopefully will be before the weekend.
• Blue Mtn. Dew is definitely not the best Dew out there.
• Those who are dead are just living in my head.
• I joined a gym over the weekend.
• I joined Sams Club over the weekend.
  

On Rewatching the Matrix, Being Sick, and the Penultimate Disney Favorite

I remember watching The Matrix back in 1999 and loving it.  The story was awesome, the special effects amazing, the philosophy deep and thought-provoking, the cyberpunk computer thing cool, and the overall film just plain good.  I’ve been wanting to rewatch the movie for a while now, and since I was sick and on the couch all day yesterday I decided to do so.

Ten years later and ten years wiser, my feelings were slightly different.  In fact, my Facebook status states: “After rewatching the Matrix, I’ve decided that it pretty much sucks…”  Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the film, but not with the warm fuzzy feelings I had a decade ago.  Here are some reactions.

1.  Why the heck do Neo and Friends dress like they do when they enter the Matrix?  Is all that leather really practical?  I mean, sure, their outfits fit the “punk” genre, but that’s about it.  To me it looks like their clothing choice makes them stand out while in the Matrix, possibly drawing attention to themselves and thereby summoning the Agents.  Plus, it just can’t be comfortable.

2.  The machine v. man war, while not original, is okay.  I like how man scorched the sky to stop the machines from getting their needed solar power.  I like how the robots got smart and then enslaved man and harvested them for energy.  I like the whole creepy weird ~2199 time setting.

3.  Morpheus is just too much of a “I’m smarter than you blah blah” jerk.  I felt his character was too much of a philosophical guru this time around.  He’s all the time asking Neo these random questions (“[Do] you think that’s air you’re breathing now?”).  I understand that he’s trying to “free Neo’s mind” and all and that he’s trying to get him to understand himself, but the way Morpheus does it is just lame.

4.  Agent Smith is just too cool for school.  ‘Nuff said.

5.  Why, when Morpheus called Neo the second time and said “the phone is tapped” and that They were listening, did he tell Neo to meet him at a bridge and then let him go off on his own?  If They were listening, wouldn’t they know to go to the bridge and pick up Neo and Friends?

6.  What was so bad about living in the Matrix?  Sure, Neo felt that something was wrong, that something wasn’t right, but had no idea what it was.  To me it seemed like living in the Matrix was fine and dandy to practically everybody, except that life had problems.  Well, it looks like the Real World had more problems than living in the Matrix.  Like Cypher said, ignorance is bliss.  How much better would life be if Adam & Eve hadn’t eaten the fruit and had their eyes opened?  Likewise, how much better is life in the Matrix with eyes shut?

So those are some of my thoughts.  The movie is still fairly cool to watch, but it breaks down under scrutiny in my book.  Oh well.

I’m doing better today.  My nose is still stopped up and running (seems oxymoronic), but my head hasn’t hurt today, so that’s good.  Since I didn’t work yesterday, I spent the day playing Oblivion (I probably put in 8 hrs), watching The Matrix, reading Warbreaker, and cooking some soup.  All in all, a terribly exhausting day, though filled with entertainment.

The Lion King.  There.  Now you know.

Where the Wild Things Are, A Review

Like most folks under the age of 40, I read Where the Wild Things Are when I was in elementary school. The book, written by Maurice Sendak, was a particular favorite, alongside classics like Green Eggs & Ham (by Dr. Seuss), Love You Forever (by Robert Munsch), and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (by Judith Viorst). Yes, I remember really liking Where the Wild Things Are, especially from the fascinating art and vivid imagination of the protagonist, Max.

When I first heard about the movie adaptation last year, I was hesitantly excited. I wasn’t sure how there could be a movie made from a short, ten sentence picture book, but I still decided that I would see it.

Where the Wild Things Are, directed by Spike Jonze, stars Max Records as Max from the book. (I know, it’s kind of ironic, but it’s the truth according to Wikipedia.) The movie is quite similar to book in several ways, but there are many creative avenues pursued by Jonze as well. The film runs for just over an hour and a half.

The acting from the movie was solid and well done, and the emotions on Max’s young face were perfectly captured for his scenes. His anger was vivid, his sadness was evident, and his joy was impossible not to notice. In fact, this role was only Record’s second filmed acting role, and his performance was noteworthy. In addition to the fine acting by Records, the voice acting of the Wild Things was top notch. Many well known actors fill these roles, and all do a great job with giving unique character to their Monster.

To me, the best thing about this movie was the surreal art of the Wild Things. Their island is vast, but somehow small, too. There are expansive deserts, a creepy forest, rocks and bluffs, and a magnificent oceanscape, all complete on the one island. Each monster is beautifully crafted and marvelously detailed, from their odd assortment of feet to their individual heads. And the giant fort-house that was built was breathtaking.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this film was the accompanying soundtrack. Some songs were guttural and wild, filled with arcane whoops and screams that instilled a sense of craziness. Other tracks were somber and bleak, and these fit their individual scenes perfectly.

It may come as a surprise, then, when I say that I did not enjoy the movie. While the acting was fantastic and the art was beautiful, the film was too weighty, too serious, for me to say that I enjoyed it. Max is a very mean, lonely kid, and he spends all of his time in his own imaginary world. He is not disciplined at home, and at one point he even bites his mom. But this was not why the film was heavy. No, the heaviness sets in when Max runs away from the “Real World” and goes into his imagination.

It’s easy, yet complicated, to see the metaphors and symbolism each of the monsters embodies. They are all depressed and sad and they are hoping for a King to make them feel happy. Max becomes that king, but he fails, and everybody stays pretty much the same: depressed and sad. The heaviness of life sets in on the island, and it’s a little frightening. Eventually Max realizes he wants to go home and he leaves the island to its own problems.

The conclusion of the film is a powerhouse of emotions, and I spied my eight-year-old brother-in-law wiping tears from his eyes. Indeed, the heartstrings were tugged a bit, but I didn’t turn to tears, only disgust and confusion. After I left the movie, my remarks were that it was not what I was expecting. No, it was too heavy of a film, and because of that I did not enjoy it. However, I’m not really sure if you’re supposed to enjoy it. Sure, the imagination was a fun trip, but it was too rooted in the sadness of life and love to last.

Overall, it’s a bit unfair for me to not like the film. Really I was upset that there were all these valid life problems presented and no real resolution, which is how life truly is. But, we Americans like our cinema to end with resolution, and I felt that there were too many loose ends in this movie. So, in the end, I can recommend watching the film, if only to revel a bit in childhood fantasy, but I can’t promise you that you’ll glean much from it other than life is heavy and hard, and sometimes even our imagination is not an escape.

More of Writing Wednesdays and The American Dreamer tomorrow. You can find my review of Terry Brooks' The Dark Wraith of Shannara on my Goodreads page, and I think clicking here may take you to it. And if you don't use Goodreads, then you really, really should.

Zombieland

Piggybacking off of yesterday’s post, there’s something fascinating about a zombie. The flesh-eating, unstoppable undead provide a medium to laugh at, pity, and fear. When I became aware of the Zombieland movie, it was one that I knew I’d have to see.

The film is typical of any other zombie film: plague turns people into zombies and leave only a small remnant of survivors, all trying to cope with the affects of Zombie Apocalypse. The characters—the college loner Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), the Twinkie seeking zombie slayer Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), and the Pacific Playland Bound Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin)—are all fun to watch interact with each other, and their onscreen chemistry is easily noticeable.

Much of the movie is simple and straightforward. It is narrated by Columbus, who has a set of rules he’s gone by to stay alive. When Columbus meets Tallahassee, the real sparks begin to fly, and Harrelson steals nearly every scene. I found myself rolling many times at some of the jokes that were said.

While Zombieland deals with scary elements, the film is mostly light-hearted and funny. However, there were a few times when I jumped from suspense, which made the film even more enjoyable. The characters’ backgrounds are revealed through dialogue and flashbacks, and these are really the parts of the film that are sobering. By adding in a taste of humanity, the film invokes pity and sorrow for the characters, which can work as a good or bad thing for the movie.

This is not a film I would recommend for children, nor for people that want to avoid swearing and gore. (In yesterday’s post I mentioned how I don’t like gore, but for some reason zombie gore doesn’t seem to bother me one bit.) Zombie blood and zombie sick was a-plenty, and if you like the thrill of hewing down a zombie, you’ll like this movie.

Overall, the movie was really fun to watch and experience. A famous celebrity made a cameo that was hysterical, and most of the banter between characters was hilarious. If you’re looking for a stiff-hearted, post-apocalyptic zombie film, filled with intense and scary moments, then this is not the movie for you. If, on the other hand, you’d rather laugh with (and at) the undead, then I heartily recommend it. Like the words of Columbus’ Rule #32: “Enjoy the little things,” and enjoy the movie.

9, A Review

A few days ago I went and watched the movie 9. You may remember me mentioning something about it a few weeks ago. I particularly wanted to watch it in theatres, as the big-screen sounds and animation for such a movie is something that a home theatre cannot hope to compare to. The movie is directed by Shane Acker, produced by Tim Burton, and features the voices of Elijah Wood (9), John C. Reilly (5), and Jennifer Connelly (7).

The film begins with 9, a stitchpunk doll, waking up to a desolate world, ruined from war and devoid of life. A scattering of machines walk the harsh landscape, all the time looking for any signs of life (presumably that's what they're doing). 9 spies a group of other stitchpunks walking on the horizon, and he makes his way out of the destroyed building, grabbing a mysterious looking object before he leaves.

This starts a journey that is epic in scale, as the fate of all life is put on the battlefield. There are 9 total stitchpunks, and each one is unique and special. Together they must overcome difficulties and restore life to the ravaged world.

To me, watching 9 was like watching a movie version of a video game. The characters can rummage through the piles of junk and customize their weapons or apparel, there's a archetypal antagonist, and the quest to save life fits in there perfectly.

I had two major problems with 9. First, I felt that the characters were all mostly flat and stereotyped. The hero is 9, a young idealist. The other stitchpunks fall neatly in line. There's an untrusting one. There's a mean brute. There's a few kind and trusting ones. There's a wizened pair that have the answers to questions. There's a love interest for 9. There's a crazy one, who somehow has the answer to the mysterious object 9 took from the beginning. And the machines are all just wanting to wipe out all traces of life. The characterization for this film fell short, and I didn't feel any connection to any of them.

The second problem I had was that the movie didn't seem to have much of a plot, or a backstory, either. Sure, the characters did things, but the things they did were mostly dull and not too exciting. And when they did important things, they were predictable and expected. Even the ending was predictable. And the backstory, which had potential, was typical and lacking sufficient explanation.

Despite the flat characters and the less-than-stellar plot, the movie wasn't all in shambles. The film was an absolute joy to watch. The CGI is amazing. The unique post-apocalyptic art style the designers were shooting for worked superbly, and I enjoyed seeing the art in action. The stitchpunks each have their own individual design, and every one of them were cool to look at. Some of the inventions they come up with are also pretty impressive.

Overall, I paid $6 for a matinee ticket to an okay movie. Was it worth it? Yes. Did I learn anything or feel anything special from watching it? No. Nothing new, anyway. Terminator, The Matrix, and WALL-E have already taught us not to put too much stock in machines, and that they'll eventually turn against us. Would I recommend this to you? Yes, and no. If you want to see some pretty cool artistic ideas in a bleak world and you don't care to spend money on that, go for it. If you're looking for an epiphany, you may have to try something else.

On a side note, doesn't that Fantastic Mr. Fox look awesome?

The Long Holiday Weekend Disc Golf Travelling Porkchop Consuming Crossword Working Movie Watching Swine-Flu Flirting Show

What a weekend. What a weekend. As the title may suggest, my weekend was filled and completed with BBQs, a trip to the movies, disc golf, an excellent movie on the couch with my wife, two sick cousins and a sick brother-in-law (all around the same age: 7-10), goodbyes, a short-story, and a nearly completed LA Times Sunday crossword puzzle. If the weekend bag were to be any fuller, I probably would've strained my back trying to carry it all.

Saturday I spent most of the day indoors, cleaning up around the house, watching Avatar: The Last Air Bender season one. Keisha had boat loads of homework to do, and that's just after being in class for the second week. I called various family members to see if they'd like to come over to our house for some BBQ, but everyone was sick, sore, and/or tired. So I grilled some porkchops, made some scalloped potatoes, and boiled some corn-on-the-cob. To end the day we watched Little Miss Sunshine, one of my favorite films, as Keisha had never seen it. All in all, a great day with Keisha and Stella.

Sunday we went to Sunday School and church, where the pastor (who's name is James Dean) asked for a volunteer from the congregation. Then he proceeded to open a box of Hostess Ding Dongs. He unwrapped two, and asked the volunteer to unwrap two. Then they had a Ding Dong eating contest in front of everybody, and we all laughed and wondered what the heck was going on. After it was over he held up a mirror for them to inspect themselves, cleaning their faces, etc. Sermon resuming, he talked about a "man looking in the mirror and immediately forgetting what he looks like" (see James 1). A bit unorthodox, but fun and useful. After church we went home to see our family, especially my brother and sister-in-law and their newborn baby Ian. Stopped by the homestead and picked up a few things, then to see the baby, then off to the In-laws, whereupon a BBQ grill was fired up and hamburgers and chicken were cooking. Next stop was to mamaw's to pick up our puppy and head back home. It was a long day, but good seeing nearly everybody.

Monday, Labor Day, we were going to go to some yard sales, but it was stormy in the early hours, so we slept in a bit. My friend that's moving to Chattanooga came over and we went and played disc golf around lunch. Afterwards we went and watched Extract (a so-so movie, that's funny but stupid and probably not worth the $6 matinee ticket, but probably $4) and then back home, where Keisha was making supper. Then I get a call that one of my first cousins, who I did not get to see when we were home, was being treated for swine flu, although she tested negative she was showing all the signs. After supper William left and me and Keisha watched State of Play (a great movie that I'll possibly review for my next post) and went to bed.

Back to work today, and for some reason I'm pretty tired. One cup of coffee, one Golden Delicious, and one Mountain Dew Code Red later and I'm here, typing away, yawning, staring at my workstation and thinking about the next step for the project I'm working on.

The ipod journey is nearing 96% on albums completed, so brace yourself for an onslaught of music posts coming up in the next week or so. I may be able to reveal the Top Ten on Friday, let them sink in over the weekend, and expound on everything next week.

Sunshine Cleaning (A Review)

Sunshine Cleaning stars Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Alan Arkin. The movie is, on the surface, about two sisters that start a crime scene clean-up business titled Sunshine Cleaning. Rose (Adams) is a single mom, struggling to come to grips with being a has-been and not marrying the love of her life. Norah (Blunt), the younger sibling, lives at home, stays out late partying, and makes a very small impact on society.

Both sisters are in need of money, and, through a series of pulling strings, they start up the crime scene clean-up job. While they work and travel, Rose leaves her son in care of his grandfather, Joe (Arkin).

There are many themes operating throughout Sunshine Cleaning, with family being at the top. How much responsibility does an older sibling have in raising a younger sibling, especially in a single parent home? This question runs along with the movie, and the viewer can feel the love Rose has for Norah and the responsibility she feels for her.

One thing I enjoyed about Sunshine Cleaning is the realistic setting of the movie. I can easily picture this tragi-comic movie taking place down the road, happening to a family or a friend. Realism is often sobering, and should induce social-introspection, and such is the case of this film.

Another plus for the movie is the superb acting of Adams, Blunt, and Arkin. The trio performs brilliantly. You can laugh with them, sympathize for them, and probably cry, too, if you're into that sort of thing. The cast was great, even the minor roles.

Overall, I can recommend watching Sunshine Cleaning. It's a heart-warming tale about family, relationships, and perseverance, filled with humor and love, even when dealing with a bloody crime-scene. The movie is MPAA Rated R for language, disturbing images, some sexuality, and drug use, so I wouldn't recommend it for the wee folk. However, I didn't feel that any of the aforementioned was overly used and abused.

First September Morning

Happy September One, everybody. Today is the International Planetary Convetical on Sar-al-Hai, the National Internal Convention on Ahl-sai-Hay, and Labor Day's Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve here in His Majesty's Empire, the great and famous United States of America. Odd's are, you just thought it was another day, albeit the first one in September, unless you don't celebrate September One and instead live in your own universe where there is an August Thirty-Two. If that's the case, I'm not sure how to proceed.

Have you all seen the previews to the movie 9? I would embed it here, but YouTube prohibits it, telling me that I can't do that for some strange reason. I don't know why that is. To my understanding, YouTube and Google are thick-as-thieves and owned by the same folks, so everything should be intermixable. Well, I'll just have to link it again, here. The movie looks awesome. It's produced by Tim Burton, the mastermind behind so many awesome films that I won't even mention a single one of them. The film is insanely animated, and the CGI is mind blowing. The story is quite epic, too, involving some strange mommet named 9, looking to survive after the fall of humanity in a ruined and deadly earth. It encounters death at every turn and it's quest seems bleak, thus it is truly epic in scale. I recommend watching the trailer just to see how beautiful the film looks. 9 comes to theaters on 9/9/09.

Last night I joined the Yellowbanks Dulcimer Society. I'm probably 30-40 years younger than every other member, and to my knowledge, there are only 3 other males in the group of fifteen or so. But I had fun, even if it was a tad slow at first. Eventually we got to the music part, whereupon I was blown away by the speed and skill of the dulcimer players in the room. I can play my dulcimer very slowly, but I want to get better, so I joined with hopes of improving my skill and learning these old songs. (I also brought my guitar and played a little rhythm on a few songs, adding a bit of diversity to the dulcimer-filled room.)

By the end of the day I should be at around 90% on my ipod journey.

I got a new book in the mail yesterday. It's my second book that I'll be reviewing for Thomas Nelson Books, a Christian publishing company. This book is called Called To Worship, and it explores worship throughout the Bible. I'm looking forward to jumping on this as soon as I finish Before They Are Hanged. (Thanks to Shellie for sending me the link on how to become a Book Review Blogger for Thomas Nelson. You can check her blog out here. She churns out book reviews left and right.) If you're interested in getting free books and reviewing for Thomas Nelson Books, there's a HTML box at the bottom of my blog you can follow.

How about we end this post with a poem, celebrating the day?

It's September One today.

What else is there to say?

Should I investigate the way

that I can keep up in this fray?

How much should I really weigh

on September One's day?

The sky is blue, not grey,

heartburn and reflux is not OK

and I hope it's not here to stay.

So now I leave you, If I may,

And bid you all a pleasant, fond, and strange September One Day.

Home Again

Wow, this trip was frantic, boring, low keyed, high strung, and very fun. I've also been without internet access for the past 3 days, so that was interesting, too. I checked my Gmail and Google Reader and was floored. So, I'm going through everyone's blogs and other things I follow, and it's a tedious task. But, I don't want to miss out on anything.

This post will be brief. While we were on our trip, I took Keisha to watch Julie & Julia. The film is based on two true stories, one of the famous cook Julia Child and the other of a normal, everyday woman, Julie Powell. Julie was having a mid-life crisis and found that cooking made her happy, so she decided to write a blog about her experiences of cooking. She decided to work through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, finishing 524 recipes in 365 days and blogging her progress.

While I'm not reviewing the film (it was okay, but definitely not horrible, but by no means absolutely amazing, either), it did inspire me to be a better blogger/writer. I tend to write a few different stories, some of which I'm proud of and think are halfway decent, but then I tend to stop writing them. I've got several different projects all saved on my computer, none of them complete, or even remotely close. Some of them are connected, and some are just a few paragraphs. However, I enjoy writing, and wish I spent more time doing it, developing my stories and getting something out there.

It's not that I long to be a famous, published author; it's that I truly enjoy reading and writing and want to share what I've got. That's one thing I like about Rememorandom. While I don't know any of you personally (at least here on the actual blog. On the Facebook mirror posting, well, I know most of you) I still respect your opinions and ideas.

That's it for now. I'm exhausted from the trip, and very glad to be back home. There truly is nothing like sleeping in your own bed. Farewell for now.

Song Lyric: "Oh me oh my oh. Look at Miss Ohio. She's a-running around with her rag-top down, she says 'I wanna do right but not right now.'"--Gillian Welch, Look At Miss Ohio

District 9 (review)

I was really excited to go see District 9 Saturday. The movie had a lot of hype, with the viral advertising and crazy-awesome website. The producer is also Peter Jackson, the genius behind the Lord of the Rings films. Plus, the story is about aliens and humans, and their interaction, which I thought sounded interesting.

Basically, twenty years ago the alien ship came to rest directly over the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. After some time, the human race decided to enter the vessel, thereupon discovering the malnourished alien specie. Thus, District 9 was established in the country, serving as a refugee camp for the stranded aliens.

As you can imagine, living conditions grew tense between the humans and the non-humans. The derogatory term "prawn" was given to the aliens, as they resembled the bottom-feeders of the fish aquarium in appearance and mannerisms. Often violence would erupt between humans and the prawns.

District 9 was a tremendous movie, and it is very easy to see the true theme of the film. It explores the issue of racism in an extreme, but still relevant, way. The unspoken question is should non-humans be treated the same as humans?

Naturally, I cannot answer this question for you. However, after watching the movie, I feel that anyone with a heart would answer the question with a vehement "YES". While on the surface this seems slightly silly, at a deeper level it mirrors apartheid racial struggle of South Africa, and more generally the racial issues of the world.

The special affects in the movie are beautiful, and I really could not get enough of the human body exploding into tiny bits and pieces. The aliens are remarkable, and their emotions are clearly portrayed on their face. The backdrop setting of Johannesburg and the refugee camp are completely believable.

Also, the filming style of this movie really pulls the audience in. It is shot like a documentary at times, and at other points like a traditional film. The documentary scenes look rather real, more so than Blair Witch or Cloverfield. The traditional filming style is also well shot.

The best thing about this movie is the plot. I barely scratched the surface of what's going on. On one of the trailers for the movie you can hear someone saying "There's a lot of secrets in District 9." Suffice it to say that this is true, and these secrets propel the movie at a fast and ruthless pace, toying with the audiences emotions. At times I felt disgusted, other times repulsed, and many times saddened.

I like a good movie that knows how to play with my emotions, making me uncertain what to believe and where things are going. I did not know what to expect for the conclusion of District 9, but I was thoroughly satisfied when the film went off. I can easily recommend this to anyone who wants to watch a different kind of movie and be taken along for a wild and crazy ride. This movie works on multiple levels, and I really enjoyed it quite a bit.

Note: If you are easily grossed out and the site of blood, vomit, torture, etc. makes you squirm, you may find it difficult to watch this film at some parts. But if you can get through it, you shouldn't be disappointed.

Week's End Miscellany #4 (Ash nazg durbatuluk)

We're at the end of another week here at Rememorandom. It's been really a pretty bland week for the blog, in part due to the fact I've been sick at my stomach off and on for a week, in part from the aftermath of many shots in the mouth, and in part that my creative, blogging juices were/are on hiatus. Now for the miscellany.

1. I will be traveling to Frankfort again next week, this time taking a class in understanding and using MicroStation. I know very little about this software, so hopefully I learn a lot, as it will be very useful to my job.

2. I watched I Love You Man the other night. It does not warrant a full review, but only a few sentences. It is basically a chick-flick, but for guys. It's laughable and funny at times, but at other times it's a little vulgar. The story was mediocre, but the theme of exploring friendship was nice. I can only half-heartedly recommend this, as it wasn't anything spectacular.

3. One for sorrow/two for joy/three for girls/four for boys/five for silver/six for gold/seven for a secret never to be told.

4. I know I've mentioned this on a few different occasions, but I really love crossword puzzles. There's something supremely satisfying in successfully solving one. Daily I work on the USA Today puzzle, and almost daily I work on the LA Times, and frequently I work on the Yahoo Daily. I really wish I had access to the NY Times, but they are not free, and I can't justify spending the cash on the NYT puzzles (yet).

5. I'm going to watch District 9 tomorrow. Can't wait. Looks awesome. And viral advertisements are usually fun.

6. I'm hoping that by next week I'll be finished with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. The book is enormous. I can't find an exact word count, but I estimate between 150,000 and 200,000 words, at ~800 pages. At times it is slow and uneventful, but there is always enough mystery and intrigue to pull me back. Plus, it's a nice break from what I've been reading of late. Expect a full review when I am finished.

7. The ipod quest is still going strong. I'm at almost 70% of the songs I've intended to listen to. Needless to say, this has been personally epic in my undertaking.

That's it for now, folken. Tomorrow will continue on with the Weekend Specials, if you so choose to opine on what you're currently reading/writing/watching/etc. Remember:

Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul

Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul