Musings

The King's Speech

2010-12-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

Earlier today in an attempt to not bring unpleasantness to a couple of guests my Mum was entertaining I left and headed to the Pasadena Playhouse. I've been wanting to see "The King's Speech" for over a month now but with it's really limited release, I had to wait. Anyway, it was phenomenal and would be my pick for Best Picture and Best Actor for Colin Firth with Best Supporting Nods (and wins) for Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham-Carter

So before I add anything more, here's the trailer for the film. You'll immediately notice the richness that emboldens the film beautifully.

So first thing to catch my eye was.... Helena actually had a sane role for once! She was so wonderful and it was very refreshing seeing her act as a historical figure rather than a ranting, sexy lunatic [I love those lunatics but the change was nice]. I need to see more of her normal stuff to compare.

Colin Firth was breath-taking. The stammer, stuttering, and lisp must have been so difficult to perfect. He portrays Albert with a finesse that you don't see anymore with most actors. If Firth doesn't win the Oscar, the Academy are even more despicable that I originally thought. I've never held these peer-awarded ceremonies in high regard due to the political and popularity contests that go on instead. I've been surprised before ["Avatar" not getting best picture was a plus in my book] so let's hope this year, the Academy will do right by Firth. As a friend has already pointed out, he should have gotten it last year with "A Single Man" but I have to argue the best man did win it after all and that was a tough choice (Christoph Waltz won).

Now Rush was amazing. His character stole the scene whenever he was in the shot. I can't give enough praise to him. You couldn't help but love him.

The whole film was beautifully shot and transitioned well between events. The supporting cast were good but I didn't care for Timothy Spall's Churchill. He had the voice down, but something irked me. Maybe because he was too tall? Maybe I'm biased because of Brendan Gleeson? I don't know. I didn't like him for it though. Guy Pearce did a good job as Edward. Derek Jacobi was brilliant as always. Hell, even Michael Gambon whom I have many issues with, was good as George V. Jennifer Ehle was a pleasant surprise! The Pride and Prejudice dork in me "awwed" as Firth and Ehle were in only one scene together [Firth played Darcy to Ehle's Elizabeth Bennett] but it was a bloody fantastic scene at that! Mrytle: "But you're... you're..." They were marvelous!

I really think this film was the best I've seen all year. I loved "Let Me In" and "The Social Network" but this one had the least flaws in my opinion. I need to see all these films another 3 or 4 times to make sure. Definitely GO SEE this one if you have the time!

The Women

2010-07-12T01:44:00.000-07:00

I have always written about the Men I admire, lust after, will see any film or show with them, etc. I appreciate the older, handsome gentlemen such as Alan Rickman and ogle the young, very fit hotties like Jesse Spencer. I love Men as much as the next hot-blooded female. Of course, all actors are not men though. I tend to overlook the Women when it comes to this blog. It's not that I don't appreciate their skills and beauty. It's just more fun for me to write about the men. Don't blame me, blame my gender. [Yes, I stole that line, but it fits.] Without further ado, the women I'll see any film or show if they're in.

Gillian Anderson
From the moment I saw her, I knew she was fantastic. Yes, I am a hardcore X-Files fan, but that was only the beginning. Scully was fascinating and it was refreshing to see the woman as the voice of reason. Her masterpiece and my favorite role of hers is in "Bleak House" as Lady Dedlock. She should have won the Emmy and BAFTA for that series. It was brilliant and sad and unlike anything I had seen her in. Overall, it's my favorite Dickens adaptation. And because I am nothing if not appreciate of looks, she's probably the most gorgeous woman out there. Yes, I'm biased because she was ginger, has blue eyes and is very short. She can make smart, sexy as hell. I'm all for intelligent, hot women.

Emma Thompson
I absolutely love Thompson. She can do tragedy, romance, comedy, awkwardness, anything and everything and do it with flare, grace and charisma. I do not understand how this woman is not more famously known. She deserves it more than bloody Helen Miren. My favorites of her's are the "Cambridge Footlights Revue," "Howard's End," "Much Ado about Nothing," "The Remains of the Day," and "Sense and Sensibility" to name a few. There are literally dozen more films that she is phenomenal in. She broke the hearts of any person watching her in "Love Actually." Tell me you don't feel empathy for her character as you watch her crumble and try to hold her family together. I think this was the only time I hated one of Rickman's characters. Of all the actresses I admire, she is the best of her craft. Plus, I must give her props on snagging Greg Wise as a husband.

Lisa Edelstein

If I had to choose one lovely woman to party with and listen to wild, fantastic stories all night, it would be Edelstein. If you love listening, this woman is willing to talk and hold court. Of all the women mentioned, I've seen and had the pleasure to hear Lisa speak about her career and, of course, "House," the most. I've seen Anderson several times at premieres and Jimmy Kimmel and Olivia Wilde once at the premiere of the sixth season of "House." Never had the pleasure of hearing Thompson speak but hopefully one day it'll happen. Anyway, I digress.

I have to be honest. Originally, I didn't care for her. Due to my best friend coercing me into watching House, albeit lovingly, I started from the Pilot and worked my way into the series, going out and buying the seasons. Every House fan knows how horribly they dressed her in season one. Yes, I am that shallow. But... she grew on me. The more her character grew, the more I liked her. She's the HBIC (Head Bitch In Charge) who could go toe-to-toe with a crazy, pain in the ass genius. To act opposite a powerhouse (no pun intended) actor such as Hugh Laurie takes guts and a lot of skill. Also, personally, how can you not like someone devoted to animals, loves theater (saw her just last week at "In the Heights"), and who has a throaty laugh so sultry you can't help but blush? She reminds me of Grayson Hall... except, luckily, Lisa's had a lot more luck in the business.

Olivia Wilde

Everything is exotic with this female. This is the shallowest pick of mine. It's all about the eyes. If Christopher Nolan needed a Catwoman in the next Batman, I can't think of anyone more perfect. I also can't wait to see "TRON: Legacy" when it comes out later this year. I know I'm going to grin when I see the posters and swag at the San Diego Comic Con. She's currently filming "Cowboys and Aliens," directed by Jon Favreau. Supposedly they'll be showing clips at their panel on Saturday. I'll probably be in there to check them out and root for Wilde.

That's it for now, folks. I know there are hundreds more actors out there that are as great and beautiful as these, but these four have caught my eye for a while.

Zombie's Halloween II

2010-07-09T01:21:00.000-07:00

Before I get rants of "remake! blasphemer!" technically "Halloween II" is not a remake since Zombie took the story and ran with it. Originally I thought it was going to be exactly like the original, set in a hospital on the same night. Zombie's is set a year after his story. Laurie Strode is one traumatized kid, looking like she's barely coping with living. Michael sees his mother as a ghost-like angel. The inner child literally speaks for the adult Michaels whenever he sees her. It's all very odd, but works to creep you out. Laurie's nightmares and her appointments with her psychiatrist, played by Margot Kidder (who seriously looks a lot better than the last time I had seen her), are intense, but too quick to really catch your attention.

I didn't like the spin they put to Dr. Loomis's character, profiting from all his time with Michael and the events of last Halloween. He's a bastard. Malcolm McDowell is always good on screen and you see that even when they drag his character into the ground. Loomis was suppose to be the voice of reason and the only "sane" person.

I don't know if it was because I started watching the film close to midnight or what, but it was jumping all over the place with the shots, the musics, and just the plot of the story. I jumped and flinched at the suspenseful moments. I laughed at wholly inappropriate moments. The ending left me going "What the fuck? That's it?" It was just blah, especially after the totally hectic, awesome ending of the first movie. It was an okay film. Nothing beats the originals though.

Tomorrow's flick is Wes Craven's first film, "The Last House on the Left." Hopefully I can stomach it!

Let the Right One In VS Let Me In

2010-07-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

"Let the Right One In" is one of my favorite films. It's dark, haunting, beautiful, etc, etc. If you've been reading this blog for the past three years, you know how I feel about it. I've praised and defended this movie.When I heard "they" were going to remake the film into an English version, I was leery and saddened. The Swedish film does have its faults with editing and special effects (the cats scenes for examples), but it was good, a worthy film to be admired by fans of horror and vampire flicks.

"Let Me In" is the basically the same film but in English. Of course, I haven't seen it so I'm just going by what I've seen in the trailer. It looks pretty good and the kids are sufficiently creepy. Still peeved they changed the title, but I'm going to give it a chance. That is one well done trailer. It's very similar to the original's but still brings its own flare, for lack of a better word. Will this finally be a good remake? We shall see.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2010-07-07T15:59:00.000-07:00

2010 has been another slow year for me. There hasn't been a film that I've gasped and loved and had to write about the second I finished watching. Finally I have found that film. "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was exciting, daring, and intriguing.

The mystery of the story had me hooked. The film begins with a request to find out the murderer of a beloved niece of a millionaire. The millionaire's family are all suspect. The man commissioned to find out what happened is Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), a reporter just sentenced to six months in jail for slander. The millionaire had a security firm investigate Blomkvist to make sure he was reliable before hiring him. A young hacker, Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) investigates him, however after she turns in her report, she continues to monitor his actions.

And then the story really takes off.

Blomkvist investigates and unearths secrets forty years old. Salander cannot stand by when she notices a pattern in Blomkvist's notes, thrusting herself into the investigation. I'm not going to go into detail with the story because you should just go out and watch it yourself.

Just watch with caution as this film doesn't hold anything back and delivers gruesome and horrific scenes bluntly. Lisbeth is brutally raped and rapes her rapist in a fitting act of revenge. The millionaire's family is nothing short of fucked up (seriously the best phrase to describe them) and insane, except for the millionaire, himself. I never yawned or hardly blinked through the film. It was brilliant! Now I need to see the sequels.

[I should be updating more often since I finally have Netflix and the "Instant Play" is my new favorite thing in the whole world! I have to catch up on 2008's 74 blogs versus this year's 15.]

A Good Geek News Day

2010-06-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

Today has been such a geek day for me. First I wake up to "Torchwood International," season four of the Doctor Who spin-off! I have high hopes that this series will be so good. Russel T. Davies spoke to the BBC about it which you can see HERE. He will still be the head writer for the series. I'm still eagerly awaiting the cross-over of his for "The Sarah Jane Chronicles." Sarah Jane will get to meet the Eleventh Doctor! [Fun Fact: She's met them all except for six, seven, eight, and nine.]

Then I see this video.

At first I thought a fan had done some creative editing before I watched the whole video. Then immediately thought someone was trying to promote their skills. Turns out, the makers are trying to promote the re-boot of the Mortal Kombat franchise! As long as they keep the film rated R, instead of the lame PG-13 versions, I will go see this movie. Good luck to the makers of this video!

And if Marvel hasn't had enough press, they release the Captain America and Thor logos. "Captain America" will be released July 22, 2011. "Thor" will be released on May 20, 2011. Looks like Marvel will dominate the summer box office! It'll be about a year later to see "The Avengers" on May 4, 2012. I was wishing it'll be an earlier release, but I'll try to be patient. "Thor" is the movie I'll be waiting at midnight for. I can't wait to see what Kenneth Branagh has done with it!

That's it for now, folks. Tomorrow I see a beloved Scotsman on his late, late night show so I know I'm in for a good time.

My Take on the Series Finale of "House, MD."

2010-06-06T00:03:00.000-07:00

I'm still reeling from the fantastic finale of Season Six. The love I have for this show is rare since I usually do not get into shows that are still on the air. It's just easier for me to fall in love with a whole complete series than wait week after week or months for new episodes or seasons. I'm very impatient. Anyway, with speculation about the state of Hugh Laurie's contract, which is 'to be or not to be' renewed in 2011, I think it is only natural to theorize the end of the show. It has to end eventually, right?

So to be totally blunt, House has to die in the final episode.

Before you, dear readers and fans, stab and chase me with pitchforks down the streets of Los Angeles, hear me out. First, this is only theory; not canon... at least, not yet. Second, David Shore isn't going to leave the show open-ended. There is going to be a finality to it. House will be admitted into Princeton-Plainsboro with another infarction or with some sort of drug/vicodin related illness such as his liver failing or his heart going out. The Ducklings will be trying everything in their power to save him. Cuddy and Wilson will be glued to his side, allies and enemies at the same time. They'll agree on some treatments and argue vehemently on others. They'll all sit or pace around the room., watching as the heart monitor slows. House would not die alone.

OR...

House will solve a case that has plagued him for years or he'll have some sort of personal victory (marrying Cuddy [yes, a Huddy can dream], etc). He'll be content for the first time in his miserable life. House will have to check up on something and go to his room, alone. Everyone will be celebrating. Drinks are flowing and people are laughing. And then Wilson, because it has to be Wilson, will find him in his room, either on his bed or on the floor, dead.

The final scenes would be of the old and new teams, Cuddy with Rachel, Wilson, any living family (his Mum or biological father perhaps), and maybe a few former, notable patients, grieving over a casket. We'll watch as its lowered to the ground. Every person present will be seen dropping roses or earth into the grave. Shots of an empty apartment, a vacant piano seat, an empty office will flash before our eyes. The last shot being House's name on his door.

These are the endings I expect and would like to see. I love morbid, dramatic and heart-wrenching endings. I would love House to end with a bang. Moriarty was never found after he shot House in Season 2... But I don't think it'll be likely he'll appear again. If Shore followed Holmes's "supposed end" Moriarty would be used. There are literally dozens of possibilities for the series end. I'll be heartbroken for a while, but I'll be satisfied as always with House.

So, dear readers, any thoughts?

On Film Etiquette

2010-05-30T23:25:00.000-07:00

Dear fellow Movie Goers,

It seems to have become the norm to have a very disruptive audience. You don't need to lean over and tell your girlfriend that the scene that just passed was hilarious. I think she got that from the stupid guffaw you made. It wasn't that funny either. Repeating lines just said is vexing and lowers your I.Q ten points. I have excellent hearing and so do the other patrons around you. Texting and taking phone calls during a film is extremely rude. Also, if you know you're going to be taking more than 3 phone calls during the length of the film, go see it when you can actually view it in peace. Running up and down the stairs and across the theater is annoying and very distracting. If you need to use the restroom, you don't have to invite four other giggling girls to accompany you. Please save your anecdotes until after the movie has ended. Mr. I-couldn't-shut-up-for-five-minutes, you were wrong about a couple of things during your pointless commentary.

If you follow those small guidelines, watching movies should become a pleasant experience again.

A Fellow Film Addict,

A.

PS. Mr. Darren Lynn Bousman, director of "Saw II" and "Repo! The Genetic Opera," has a good blog on Film Etiquette that I highly encourage you to read here.

My Favorite Season Finale Endings

2010-05-20T00:30:00.000-07:00

After seeing the House Season Six finale, I got inspired to write this. Well, not entirely true. I just wanted to write about the finale without it turning into a full-blown review so I added in other finales that I absolutely love. Spoiler-phobes, beware.

House Season Six "Help Me."

That finale was one of the most beautiful, emotional, and cringe-worthy ones I have seen. I was weary of it due to the season flipping and flopping on many issues, but this episode tied in the whole season marvelously. From hindsight, we now see what cliff the writers were throwing us off of. I can honestly say I enjoyed the sensation of falling for this show all over again. [Plus, FINALLY House and Cuddy are together!]

Torchwood: Children of Earth "Day Five."

I loved the ending so much! It was heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. What kind of man is Captain Jack Harkness to suddenly sacrifice his grandson so easily it seemed? I've always loved how "wrong" and screwed up every character in Torchwood appeared to be, but with this series, it showed the lengths of how far the characters would go to save the Earth. Was that the end of Jack? I sincerely hope not.

Doctor Who "The End of Time" Part II

I did have a couple issues with the ending of the Tenth Doctor's life (falling from the ship was a little too cheesy for me), but the ending was fantastic. I included both these clips because it is a very long ending. Very worth it though! I loved how the Doctor was able to see his friends and loved ones once more before he changed his face forever. It was tragic, sad, but oh so lovely an ending for David Tennant. I didn't want you to go either!

House Season Five "Under My Skin" and "Both Sides Now."

Unfortunately I couldn't find short clips of the endings of these two episodes. "Under My Skin" starts with House hallucinating and questioning the only thing he holds dear, his mind. We see him resolve the issue yet is everything still as it seems? It's never that simple in House. In "Both Sides Now" we see how far the hallucinations have taken House from reality. Showing the audience in back to back clips of reality versus fiction was ingenious of the show. I had not read any spoilers so I was in total shock of the conclusion.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Two "Becoming Part I" and "Part II."

Joss Whedon took great pleasure in torturing us during Season Two. First he brings in handsome, punk vampire, Spike, with his crazy girlfriend, Drusilla, to bring chaos to an already chaotic Sunnydale. Then he changes Angel into Angelus, one of the most brutal and evil vampires in the series. We saw him torture Buffy's friends, kill one of my favorite characters ("Passion" still makes me weep), and almost destroy the world. In Part I, we see Angelus's plan come to light and with that, he kidnaps Giles, Buffy's Watcher. Part II sees Buffy killing her lover as his spirit is restored, sacrificing him for the world. As that season ended and we saw poor Buffy walking by herself, away from friends and family, it left the audience wondering how psychologically damaged our Slayer was and what she was going to do next... alone.

The X Files Season Four "Gethsemane"

Season Four will always have a special place in my heart for the greatest episode The X Files ever had, "Home." FOX originally did not air the episode due to the 'graphic' nature of the episode; infanticide, incest, mutants, all in a town reminiscent of Mayberry. The creepiness and horror were upped by the pleasant sound of Johnny Mathis singing "Wonderful." I still get chills thinking about this episode. However... "Gethsemane" steals the spotlight due to the beginning. We first see Special Agent Scully in a court room and get a flashback of her identifying a body... Mulder's body! Huh? Of course Mulder isn't dead, but the whole story behind the fake death is thrilling and keeps you guessing.

Dark Shadows Episode 460 The End of the 1795 Era

Dark Shadows may have had seasons, but they have either been long forgotten or just not marked on the DVD sets. So to keep this simple, we'll treat the end of a storyline as the "finale." We see Barnabas implore Joshua, his father, to kill him in his coffin. Joshua essentially becomes a coward and instead chains Barnabas in his coffin to suffer for eternity. Such a nice Dad. Anyway, it ends the tale of Barnabas's transformation into the fierce and insane vampire we grew to love in the 1960s. I really hope Johnny Depp choses "1975" as his first film's storyline.

I could go on for a couple more pages, but this will do for now. These finales are the ones that have really stuck with me.

Hello, My Name is Alex and I am a Fangirl Snob.

2010-05-17T01:45:00.000-07:00

Or Ramblings about Comics and their Film-verses.

I am a real pain in the ass when it comes to the mythology and storyline of characters. The more convoluted, the more complex, the longer the storyline, I am probably in love with it. I can provide evidence based on the "fandoms" I love. I could go into a long and very extensive rant on those fandoms but I'm going to get specific: comic books.

First the reason for this blog: Here I must put a SPOILER WARNING for "Iron Man 2" and future Marvel/Comic book films.

I love the Marvel Film franchise. I love how the producers have woven the stories of Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America, Thor and a couple others together in the current films. It makes seeing the films an exercise on spotting the tie-ins. The Geek in me cheers with joy whenever I see something that ties into another story (ie. Captain America's shield in Iron Man 1 and 2, Tony Stark in "The Hulk"). I am easily amused. The Geek, however, gets easily frustrated when others don't see those tie-ins or when people make up their own [bullshit] explanation of the new "clue."

Scenario after seeing the clip after the credits of "Iron Man 2:"

Kid to Brother: "That was totally a weapon for Iron Man 3! Iron Man is going to use that!"

That poor Kid fails miserably. He's not even close to what that object is. I bit my tongue as I walked behind him, cringing every time his chubby mouth opened. I don't feel too bad knocking on him since he looked like a teenager and he didn't hold the door open for me as we exited the theater. People just don't have any manners.

Anyway, if you're puzzled by the object, here's a photo and link to the film it is from. I'm dying to see what Kenneth Branagh has done with this film since the man is marvelous.

I know Marvel are not following their canon even loosely. I totally understand that actually. If they were to follow the comic book series of Iron Man, we would be seeing far less technology and more a story about the Cold War. Then the story would move on to the self-destruction of Tony Stark, the Suit becoming sentient and killing without distinction of civilian or villain, an alternate-version teenage Tony Stark showing up, the real Stark dying, and just a story that wouldn't work well on the silver screen. I like the new road being paved a bit more. Also, it is futile to argue canon when alternate universes come into play.

I don't expect ninety percent of people to know those facts above. With comics, I can easily forgive that... to a point. The following images should be easily identified:

If you can't identify one logo, you must be hiding under a rock. All of these superheros (Batman, Captain America, Spiderman) have had films made. I really do like the Captain America one a lot. They have also been around in comic books for decades! They should be one of the first pop cultural icons kids see and enjoy on Saturday mornings; unless the networks have completely wimped out due to the "violence" factor and taken these off the air.

I'm far from being a comic book nerd. In stating that, I clarify by saying that I wouldn't know the numbers of issues, volumes, and maybe a couple story-lines. Give me a character and I could probably tell you where they came from if they're not very obscure. I can remember going to the comic book shops in my hometown and picking up anything I thought looked interesting. I did judge a comic by its cover. I did know better, though. I usually stayed with the Marvel-verse unless it was Batman or Superman related (DC). If I could "sneak-buy" a Chaos comic, I would do it in a heart beat. Chaos comics usually were more gruesome, horrifying, with explicit language and stories and the parents didn't approve, of course. That made them all the more appealing; forbidden fruit and all that. I still have those comics in storage. Looking around my room now at almost 2 in the morning, I can see more than 20 comics in plain view, Dark Horse my favorite company at present.

Yeah, I'm not a hardcore comic geek.

Movies I NEED to See

2010-05-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

We all have movies that we CAN'T wait for. There are "Harry Potter and the Death Hallows Part 1 and Part 2," "The Villa Golitsyn," "Iron Man 2" (coming out next week), "Coriolanus," and many others that I will definitely see in theaters. But with these highly publicized films, we can be patient... maybe. The ones below, I cannot.

"The Oranges"

An older guy falls for the daughter of a family friend resulting in a dark comedic film of their trials. That's all I know about this film except that it stars Hugh Laurie. Will I see it when it comes out? Certainly. It's every young Hugh Laurie fan's fantasy!

"The Liar"

I'm cheating here a bit. I've read the book by Mr. Stephen Fry. I loved it's very eccentric yet thoroughly complicated and bloody amazing plot. I can see myself adoring the film. Have you read (and particularly understood) it? Yes, wait to see the film. All of its production information is currently unavailable so I don't even know when this will be in pre-production. Hopefully soon!

"Faster, Pussycat, Kill Kill"

Now to go from the library to the bitter and bloody gutters of exploitation cinema at its best.... I have no idea what this film will be about, but Quentin Tarantino is directing. He hasn't made a film I haven't liked yet.

"Machete"

This was one of my favorite trailers in the "Grindhouse" films, released by Robert Rodriquez and Tarantino. It has been a long time coming for Danny Trejo to get his own leading man role and what better than in a film like this.

[And these two trailers need to be made into films ASAP. "Don't" (recognize the blue-eyed Brit in the beginning?) and "Werewolf Women of the SS."]

"Retreat"

This is the next horror film that I've wanted to see since I found out about it. I haven't felt that way about a horror movie in a while ("Trick R Treat" in 2007 and "Repo! The Genetic Opera" in 2008). From what I've read it is about a couple getting stranded on an island/isolated area and not being able to find their way out. Then to make it worse, a soldier shows up causing more tension and terror within the cabin/house (?) the couple are staying. Why do I want to see it? The Husband is the aforementioned blue-eyed Brit from above who plays some of best Villains out there. The Soldier, who is the villain of the piece, has shown he can be terrifying and very believably insane. I can't wait to see him as a villain!

Again, there are many more than just these, but that's all I'm good for at the moment. It is 01:00 am and I am knackered.

Doctor Vs. Doctor

2010-04-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

It has been three weeks of Eleven's (Matt Smith) reign as the "new" Doctor and a lot of mixed reviews have come out. Most are nit-picking about his "style of dress," "his looks," and his seemingly new inability to solve what's happening in the stories (which is more to do with the current story arc, I'm guessing).

Personally I like him. Eleven is actually a bit more like Nine, reverting to action before thinking of the consequences. Last night's (UK) episode proved that when he went straight for the painful option instead of taking a deep breath and following Amy's lead. [Fellow Geeks, you know Dumbledore would have been proud of her.] I also don't think we've seen the whole of Eleven's "range." He's holding back. There's a lot of passion and anger under the surface. I have a feeling he's going to explode later on. I think Ten had the better introduction with "New Earth" and "Tooth and Claw" (one of my favorite episodes) so we can't hold that against Eleven. Also remember, Eleven is still in the shadow of the greatest and most memorable Doctor in "Doctor Who" history. Poor Eleven is trying to find his niche, give the bloke a break!

So here's the ultimate question on every fans mind: Ten or Eleven or Other and why? It'll be interesting to see if people's opinion's change at the end of this season.

"The Eleventh Hour" Mini-Review of the Eleventh Doctor

2010-04-05T00:41:00.000-07:00

Who da man? I think Matt Smith is the man of "The Eleventh Hour." And yes, that will be the last time I use that phrase. I was really worried about this gentleman's performance, but it was proved that I need not have been. I'm a Tenth Doctor Fangirl-still-in-mourning so I was very, very leery of Eleven. Matt Smith is attractive in a goofy, long-faced sort of way. The only other show I've seen him in was "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" starring former Who companion, Billie Piper. His part was only a couple minutes long, but he was decent.

Then there was "The End of Time" with the Tenth Doctor saving the world for the last time. I got teary and had a lump in my throat as I re-watched it peacefully. I thought to myself as Ten started to regenerate, "No, I'm NOT going to like this new guy at all. No way anybody can be as good as David Tennant." I was going to nit-pick and be as biased as I wanted to be. Tennant was gorgeous as the Doctor and that can be proven scientifically. Hell, even my two year old cousin likes him and refers to him as her boyfriend (God bless her!). I watched the preview trailers and saw each promotion photo as it appeared. "Ugh, a tweed jacket?" "Is he really wearing a bowtie?" "Is he trying to copy Tennant's hair? What a poser." I was not going to like Matt Smith at all. No way, no how.

So naturally, I liked him. Well, that's an understatement. I kind of loved him. Smith has fashioned his own Doctor and rather brilliantly, I might add. For being the youngest Doctor yet, he was able to still keep that Time Lord dignity in tact and make you believe he was much older than he let on. He was fresh and natural, never letting you think, "Oh, Tennant would have done that better." Not once. All and all, it was a fantastic premiere! Bravo, Smith!

I just have to add that I was never worried about Steven Moffat taking over as he had written some of my favorite episodes ("Don't Blink!"). I'll miss Russel T Davies, but I think I won't for long. If he goes through with Torchwood US, I'm going to be a bit cross with him. Maybe I'm prejudging again but experience has showed me that UK shows cannot be successfully turned into US shows 99% of the time. Anyway, Moffat has been able to assemble an excellent writing team! Toby Whithouse of "Being Human" fame is returning for several episodes. Richard Curtis who wrote and directed one of my favorite Christmas films ("Love Actually." People, come on!) is writing an episode! Famous comic book legend Neil Gaiman ("The Sandman," "What happened to the Caped Crusader?") has written an episode or two! I can't wait to see the rest of the series.

One last thing... Did anyone else love how Eleven walked through Ten's image? I thought it was a good tribute to all the Doctor's past selves and an excellent way to show Eleven is the Doctor. Is it time for "The Beast Below" yet?

Don't believe the Critics...

2010-03-06T22:43:00.000-08:00

Or why "Alice in Wonderland" wasn't as bad as 'everyone' claims it is.

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this film. Some are valid; some are people looking for something to bitch about. "Burton isn't Burton." "It didn't follow the books' story-lines." "It was horrible!" "What's up with Depp's accent changes?"

Can someone honestly tell me what is "Burton?" His films span to so many genres that to place him within that "gothic, must be dark like 'Sleepy Hallow' or 'Nightmare Before Christmas' type of movie" is really unfair. Okay, my favorite film of his is "Vincent" which has those very dark, lovely qualities. But to think "Alice" was going to be like this, is folly. As to the story lines, it's Burton's movie! And be honest, when was the last time you read Lewis Carroll? The books are written more to the lines of vignettes so to adapt a film to these would be a little difficult. Didn't anyone notice Depp changed his accent with the subject of the conversation? OH! That's why he used different accents! I actually think Depp did that change too seamlessly so people didn't pick up on it.

It was far from horrible. Stephen Fry (the Chesire Cat) and Alan Rickman (the Catepillar) did superb jobs as usual. Depp (really?) and Crispin Glover (the Knave) played off each other very well. Michael Gough only had two lines (Dodo). Christopher Lee only had ONE (as the Jabberwocky). He should have had at least three more with a voice like his. It was fitting that him and Gough were billed together. The fangirl in me was delighted. Imelda Stauton was lost as a flower. I loved how I recognized Lindsay Duncan (also known for her Adelaide Brooke in "Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars [side note: My favorite special]) as Alice's Mum. I have to say Helena Bonham Carter did steal the movie. The characterization was perfect! Since Burton is working on "Dark Shadows" I'm hoping she's cast as Aunt Abigail, if they are doing a "1795" film (a very Red Queen/Bellatrix-like character). She needs to be another evil character. In the words of Craig Ferguson, she does "bat-shit" crazy well.

I liked the movie. I enjoyed it and was entertained so it was worth the ticket price. Its certainly better than three-quarters of the films out there.

Michael Gough

2010-02-28T23:51:00.000-08:00

Michael Gough, 93, is a man everyone has seen, either on film or television. He’s probably one of the most successful character actors out there. His name is in over 171 credits! Now, you’re probably thinking, “Alex, please, he’s just one of those actors you’ve become fixated on.” Sort of true, but then again, I’ve known this actor’s filmography for years and he still amazes me. So let’s get his most famous works out of the way (to prove I’m right about the above statement) and then move to his prolific but little known works.

For Americans, most people would identify him as Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s trusted butler in the original Batman film franchise. Starting his role in 1989 in Tim Burton’s “Batman” he became the best “Alfred” in my opinion. Michael Caine has nothing on this man. Even after Burton left the franchise, Gough stayed until the dreaded “Batman and Robin.” He would work again with Burton when Burton asked him to play a character in “Sleepy Hollow” (1999), effectively pulling Gough out of a very short retirement. Gough then lent his voice in “Corpse Bride” (2005) and will be seen/heard in “Alice in Wonderland,” coming out next week. I have a feeling Burton likes Gough, too.

Now here’s where else I’ve seen him and come to love his other works. I am a huge fan of Hammer Horror Films, a British film production company that released B-level horror movies that have become classics. After seeing his almost grandfatherly performance as Alfred, it was a shock to see him as a villain! It was like a breath of fresh air to see such class and elegance in a villain. I first watched him in “Horror of Dracula” (1958), as a very young, haughty English aristocrat. I loved watching him act opposite Christopher Lee who played the dreaded Count Dracula. Lee towered over Gough, but Gough’s character never let on that it bothered him. He played another aristocrat villain, a Lord, in “The Phantom of the Opera” (1962) staring Herbert Lom. If you want to see a very trippy version of "Phantom" this is the movie for you! To be fair, it is the farthest from Leroux's story as imaginatively possible. I still liked it but then again I do have odd taste. [I can go on with about 20 other "Phantom" movies, but I'll leave that for another day.]

Now I was looking up old “Doctor Who” episodes, trying to find downloads or clips on YouTube, when I spied his name in a list of Doctor Who Villains. I’ve been on a Doctor Who spree, watching anything I can get my hands on before I fall asleep at night (practically the only time when I can watch my cult stuff). I love watching the classic shows of the 60s. Gough played the “Toymaker” a villain of the First Doctor (William Hartnell)! I know this is my age showing through, being amazed that he was in the very first seasons of Doctor Who in 1966. Gough then appears in several parts of “Arc of Infinity” with the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) in 1983 as a Timelord, Councilor Hedin. From a frightening looking toy maker to a Timelord, this guy knew how to choose his roles well.

What I’ve written about is only a very, very small part of his impressive resume. I have never seen a bad performance by this man. I’m a bit amazed he’s not more well-known. I know it is because he is a character actor, always in the background, delivering a good performance, and silently stepping away from the fame of “superstars.” He's shown he could act with the best having many roles with screen legends like Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Johnny Depp, George C. Scott, and many others.

What's not to like about a guy who has been in films with names like "Satan's Slave," "Horror Hospital," and "The Corpse?" [You can bet I'll be looking for those films now.]

Kids these days...

2010-02-25T15:11:00.000-08:00

I don't know why stuff like this surprises me still. The other day a friend posted that a guy, 18, didn't know who David Bowie was. Ok, I could kind of see this happening if you're not really into music. Even then, it's still hard to forgive. It's almost as bad as someone saying they don't know who Queen is. That is certainly unforgivable. Instances like this make me really sad. What kind of culture are these kids learning? They are missing out on so much! It's not like I'm asking him to know who Django Reinhardt is. [Which if you know who that is, I love you.]

This is not even the worst instance of ignorance, willing or born, that I've encountered. I have had people ask me if London was a wonderful country. Well, it's a beautiful city, I replied, wondering if they were kidding. They weren't. Now, I feel for some kids like this. You know because of their situations that they never had the chance and its heart-breaking. Most people like this are pretty quick learners and will try to better themselves. I love people like that. People who have that drive to learn and experience any and everything are people dear to my soul. I've also met the opposite, punk-ass kids who are so damned snotty and stupid, there is no hope. I had a kid tell me he didn't need to know geography because he was never travelling outside California so screw it. He couldn't tell me where Arizona was... It's funny because he looked at me as if I was the dumbass. What the hell kind of attitude is this? What kind of life must they lead? It's absolutely appalling!

What kind of World is shaping with these types of youth? There's no ambition. Bit frightening in my opinion especially if they are suppose to be our "future." Good joke to whoever coined that phrase.

The Geek in Me.

2010-02-24T22:36:00.000-08:00

"I really love your geekedness. Makes me feel not so odd in my geekedness." -A Good Friend on Twitter

Today I was bored. Like, sitting at the table with nothing to do, gazing out the window, not even anything to tempt me, bored. No book caught my eye. No show could drag me in [though I still need to catch up on "Being Human"]. I couldn't go outside because it was "too cold" and people were worried I'd get sick all over again. I've been sick since last week with a really bad infection, but am on the mend. It really did kick me in the head... and shoved it through a compactor. I casually mention going for a walk, maybe a run, and was told not to. When I stop sounding like a car back-firing, I guess. Gee, I wish there was a social network where I can bitch and complain about being sick and bored...

Anyway, films have always been a good filler. Hell, they usually are the first things I go find when I'm bored. I still have about 50+ films on dvd that I need to watch or re-watch since I watched them in the middle of the night or very early morning. I have a lot of catching up to do. Did I catch up on them today? No, sir! Having the youngest home means having duels over the telly. Then indecision to chose a movie gave way into frustration and so I settled for a crime novel. Read 45 chapters (457 pages) of good detective work and was happy.

After the novel though... Peter O'Toole has always fascinated me due to the company he kept when he was a young man. Oh, he's a good actor, also, but to be the "drinking mate" of such others like the late Richard Burton and Richard Harris? His life is fascinating. There's a casset tape out there in this vast world. It's priceless if it exists. No one knows how many copies there are, if there are copies, and whether the person who made the tape still has it. You see, this tape has a conversation between the aforementioned three men above. They are reportedly talking and having a grand 'ol time. Now here's why the tape is so intriguing and frankly, charming. It's a fraud. None of the aforementioned men are there, none were recorded. One man did all three voices to such utter perfection that when one listened to it, you couldn't tell the difference!

Who was the man you ask?

Well, he's a nobody really. He just won an Oscar for a 15 minute performance of a cannibalistic serial killer that has no equal to this day. If you still don't have any clue on who it is, and God help you, man, if I meet you,

it is the one, the only, Anthony Hopkins. He is not known for mimicry at all as far as I can tell with other movie fans. He's astounding! He's done restoration work for the film, "Spartacus" imitating Laurence Olivier's voice in the missing audio tracks! Am I such a geek to think that all of this and the tape is just outstanding or at the very least interesting?

I can go on tangents on the other's now, but its after midnight and I need my beauty sleep; badly if what the mirror tells me is true. If you're wondering what brought on the sudden barrage of information: this 174 minute film on YouTube (link to Part 1 of 18) which O'Toole stars and the news that Jason Isaacs and David Tennant are going to be in the same film!

The New Beverly

2010-02-23T15:45:00.001-08:00

If you don't have a Twitter or don't follow me, go read this link HERE and then continue reading this.

The New Beverly, for those of you who have not had the pleasure, is a small theater in LA, located off of Beverly in Hancock Park. To the causal observer, it may look like a little run-down theater from the 1970s. To a film-nut, it's paradise. The New Bev is nothing like an Edward's or an AMC. Outside, you see the grand marquee letting you know what film or films are playing that night. There's only one box-office where you get your ticket before entering the building. The first thing that hits you when you walk in is the concession stand, or another patron who's squeezed into the area (happens to me a lot). Then you walk into the theater. There is only one theater, not 18, 21 or 30. Quantity does not mean quality. There are maybe a hundred seats or so.

What I love most about this theater is the ability to see the old films I hold dear. Just recently I saw a double-feature of Dracula (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). There are no other theaters around here that would do the same thing. It's refreshing.

I was happy when I heard Tarantino bought the New Bev. There are only two other people I could think of that would be proper owners of such an establishment. I can't wait to see what kind of programs he's going to introduce and the foreign films he'll show. Knowing an inkling of his tastes, that shit is going to be tight!

The Death of the Intelligent Villain.

2010-01-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

In 2009, I would have to say that I went to the cinema less times than any other year. Sure, I showed up for midnight premieres and saw movies no one ever heard of, but I had done that in abundance in 2008. There were really hardly any films I needed to see. Out of those films, I can hardly remember the action movies. I literally looked up all the films in 2009 in case I missed any. I didn't. One other point before I get to the main reason for this blog. I like villains. Villains are interesting characters. They're the people we hate because they go against everything we've been led to believe is good and right in the world. They're destructive and selfish. We secretly envy them their "freedom", but we know the world cannot handle such chaos if everyone became selfish, etc.

The only film that made a lasting impression and stayed with me into 2010 was "Inglorious Basterds." The villain of the piece was Col. Hans Landa of the SS, played marvelously by Christoph Waltz. He was the only intelligent villain of the year! Every other villain I saw was an idiot and predictable! I'll put that down to crappy writing and story-planning. Landa had charisma, cleverness, and was wholly evil. He did everything with a smile that sent chills down your spine. He was almost as good a villain as Hans Gruber, who in my book is the standard of the Intelligent Villain. Landa essentially had several plans during the film, all of which involved him coming out on top. If the Nazis had won, he would have been a decorated officer living the good life in France. Since we know how the movie ended (if you've seen it), we know that he may be rich, living in the States, but the scar on his forehead is probably giving him hell.

"But, Alex, what about 'Avatar?' That was epic!"

Um... No. I cannot deny that the film was visually exciting, especially during the last battle. It was well done. I just don't like CGI or whatever new technology that James Cameron used. It has never impressed me (see The Fall). I could have done without 40 minutes of the movie also. I yawned and sat next to an obnoxious couple who kept digging into their back-pack for junk food and clapping whenever a "happy" moment appeared. They were the people "Avatar" was made for. The "villains" of the movie were the Corporation and Colonel Miles Quaritch. Quaritch, at the beginning of the film, was a good character. He slowly became retarded as the film progressed, ending it with pathetic one-liners and a plan that was doomed to fail and actually not even necessary! He had potential that was wasted for a sappy, happy ending. The fanboys pissed themselves whenever they heard the name of this movie. Good graphics do not equate to a good movie.

The second movie that failed in almost exactly the same way was "Watchmen." Ozymandias was intelligent, but boring. No charm. No daring. He was blah. He was a good villain but the audience could care less. I'm not going to mention the graphic novel since it is far superior to the movie so I'll leave this as is. It'll turn into another paragraph that's not needed here.

Come on, 2010. I need at least 3 films that I'll go crazy for. Give me a villain that will give me a charming smile while knifing me in the gut without me even suspecting it and me still liking him for it. That's all I ask.

Favorite Quotes of the Year

2009-12-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

So here are a collection of my Favorite Quotes of the Year. Some are simply lovely. Most are hilarious. Enjoy!

Text Message: 'So get any Head last night?" -Michelle [refering to Anthony Head].

Moderator: "So any interesting anecdotes?"

Lisa E: "Um... I made out with Hugh."

"Incidentally, there is a Wii currently being installed on the writers' room TV. So there will be no more episodes of HOUSE, ever. Sorry." -Sara Hess (writer, producer of HOUSE MD).

"Plague and pestilence laying waste to our offices. I'm not saying it's BONES's fault, but...actually, yes, I am. It was totally BONES. I'll tell you one thing: if I get sick, I'm taking LIE TO ME down with me. You hear me @hiwire? I will lick ALL your doorknobs." -Sara Hess

"I'm going to be singing "life is a show" for THE REST OF MY LIFE." -Carla

"I wonder how many geeklings are being conceived at. this. very. moment." -Michael Doughtery during Comic Con.

"I can't steal anything [fron the set]. Only successful person to steal stuff from set was Rickman." -Michael Gambon.

"Characters on dramas need to laugh more. Sometimes that's how you can tell someone's heart is breaking... because they try to cover it." -Jane Espenson (writer of Buffy, Battlestar Galactica, and Caprica.)

"I used to have a lot of bad habits. Now I just call them habits, and don't label them." -John August (currently working on the Dark Shadows screenplay [hopefully]).

"Want to thank everyone who tweeted nice tweets about the House finale. We only mindf*ck you because we love you. (Seriously)." -Doris Egan (writer/producer of HOUSE MD).

"Robert Pattinson has an anteater..."

"What'd you mean an anteater?"

"............."

"OH."

"Last thing that made you laugh?" "Mitchell's Evil Laugh of Doom."

"Drunk Minds speak gibberish which sober hearts remember and make fun of them until it gets old and unfunny."

20, 40 years from Now

2009-12-09T01:50:00.000-08:00

I sit in the kitchen, stupidly barefooted and freezing, drinking hot cocoa (fat free, here's looking at you, Sims!), and thinking of the years ahead. It is something I do on occasion when sleep evades my weary mind and teases me with yawns that lead to more browsing on youtube or reading through the books I've yet to finish. I should also be writing a reply to a friend but that can wait until tomorrow.

So I sit here, shivering slightly (my iPhone told me it is currently 40 degrees Fahrenheit) thinking of many tomorrows. Time is a fickle broad. I can remember walking through a red bricked amphitheater, dressed in white and carrying red roses, thinking time should speed the hell up and let me get on with my life, let me be who I am meant to be, let me experience all I have yet to experience. I was fresh faced, having virgin hair that had no dye near it, my skin unblemished and clear of the tattoos that I would get six months later, my nose and eyebrow were still whole, no metal gracing such features. I certainly do not miss that girl. She was laughed at, good-naturedly mind you, about three months later in an Irish pub in Las Vegas by the waitress and people who would become extremely good friends. If you want to know why, it was because I was a non-risk-taking 18 year old who was served an alcoholic drink. The nervousness I felt as I sipped the forbidden treat would leave me by the end of that weekend. I had heard horror stories of underage drinkers being thrown out of the buildings, my mind creating the image of two hulking Italians with obvious mafioso ties, grabbing my arms and throwing me right on my ass in front of a bus full of tourists, camera's poised and ready for the perfect shot of humiliation.

Thanks to three cups of coffee, my imagination is as good as ever.

I laugh at that girl now, also. She's no longer as shy as she was. The only thing she fears is spiders and being thrown in front of celebrities she loves, doing an excellent impression of a deer about to be slaughtered by a semi truck. She's a lot more trusting and more cautious at the same time. She's happy and that's all that really matters.

From the age of 18 to present, 22, I've done so much, seen so much, read so much, that it baffles me how life will be in twenty years. Will it slow down to a crawl, drudging along at a snails pace, letting boredom and monotony invade a once vivid life? Should I savor each day instead of each moment, balancing out time?

In all honestly I don't know. I'm a bloody optimist who always has hope and views the silver lining.

I bring all of this up because it had me thinking of an older actor I admire. No, it isn't the dashing Mr. Rickman nor the ruggedly handsome Mr. Laurie. Let's just say that I know only 3 of you reading will know who I am talking about so to put it out there, it is the ever-bumbling yet charismatic Mr. Jonathan Frid. ["Really, Alex, pick actors from this or last decade.... not from four decades ago!"]

I've met Mr. Frid three times. My first experience in his company is the memory in which my racing mind has me thinking of at the moment. It was a 40th anniversary dinner held in his honor. The anniversary was celebrating his first appearance on the small screen. It took me two hours to get ready and work up the courage to walk downstairs by myself in a silver and black tube dress, which was very short to me, and strapy silver high heels. Thank you, Chaffey College Swim program,, for allowing me to wear such a thing. I needn't have worried. I sat at a black baby grand piano, waiting for a new friend, watching the fellow attendees walk in with jeans and t shirts on. To be fair, it was about 50/50 with people dressed nice and others like slobs. My friend arrived and we were seated in the front of the ballroom. Mr. Frid was sitting diagonally to me, not five feet away. His hair had turned from jet black to iron gray. He stood slightly bent, the arthritis evident in his long fingers.

Before they served dinner, they showed a montage of all his greatest scenes between 1966 and 1971. My eyes flickered between him and the screen. He sat there, smiling and watching calmly. The audience knew all the scenes shown by heart but gave the appropriate applause and gasps when necessary. He was watching himself, 40 years younger, back straight, handsome in a Charles Bronson kind of way. His voice was even different (smoking explains the change). I wondered what he was thinking. It was a sure bet it included how marvelously awful the dialogue was and about how he forgot his lines and tried to ad lib with little success. Did he think of what he did those days and nights when he wasn't on set? Did he sit reminiscing about the difference between his screen and stage career? Or did he sit there thinking of himself as a young man, enjoying all the pleasures of New York City in the sixties?

He seems like a very no-non-sense type of person so he would likely cuff me around the ears if I suggested he was basking in days long past.

I wonder, with all the technology present, if 40 years into the future, I'll be able to look up photos and video and suddenly remember what was going on during that event, trapped, frozen by time and gigabytes.

I once wrote that I would be fully content when I was an old woman, surrounded by old friends, sitting on a porch, telling stories to a generation that would never know a time when there was no television, no Alan Rickman [the man is that unique], no internet, and whatever else they create in between those 40 or 60 years. All the stories would be adventurous and exaggerated to epic proportions though they would be all true. Hell, I tell stories now and people do not believe me. I would sip tea (with maybe a pinch of brandy included), laugh, and think "I don't regret anything." There is something so freeing in that line of thought.

It's probably the end of this year that has me thinking about this topic. 2009 was a pain and a pleasure [School (ugh), books (yay), Hugh Laurie (three cheers), stress (boo!), injuries (oh bloody hell), Hugh Laurie ("Didn't I see you last week?"), photography (woo hoo!)]. 2010 is the freshest start I have had in a long time with no school breathing down my neck and new employment I'm dying to start. May we all enjoy ourselves immensely, help Cindy catalog and distribute the 5,000 random photos she will take throughout the year, get over the fear of embarrassing oneself in front of handsome people (wait, no one else has that fear? damn it!) and remember and cherish all the events that will come.

I'll make sure the next post will be full of sarcasm, comedy, and fiction instead of more of this soppy mess. I'll be back to reviewing old, obscure, terrible horror films in no time.

Lie To Me *

2009-12-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

So on my down times (when the fanatic in me doesn't have anything to obsess over), I checked out "Lie to Me" since I'm a fan of Tim Roth. He's another actor who plays mostly villains magnificently. He literally stalks in, steals a scene with a look, and then walks out just as stiffly out of the scene. Plus, he's partially a redhead and everyone knows I like gingers.

Anyway, the show centers around two main characters: Dr. Cal Lightman and Dr. Gillian Foster (played wonderfully by Kelli Williams). They set up a private firm in which they investigate people who may or may not be lying; being contracted mostly through the US Government. Foster is the foil to Lightman's crass, sarcastic, standoffish personality. While Lightman figures out who's lying, Foster figures out the why. She's sweet, a bit eccentric, yet she has steel behind her gaze. Their additional staff includes Loker (Brendan Hines), a former employee, now intern due to a screw up, and Torres (Monica Raymund), a natural walking lie detector.

Lightman and Foster look for "micro expressions," facial expressions that last less than a second. These expressions are involuntary and therefore are very subtle "tells" (ie. like having a poker face but blinking or your cheek twitching whenever you have a good hand). From the little back story we have, both have studied human behavior for years. They are hired by the government or by private firms in order to get to the truth of a situation.

The main theme for the show so far has been "Truth or Happiness? Never both." Cal cannot help but "read" everyone he comes into contact with. He's divorced and hardly has any friends because he can never let anything just be (hm... sounds like a certain doctor we all know...). Honestly, he's a pain in the ass. He has a daughter, Emily, who tries to make him act "normal" and like a good daughter, wants to see him happy. Emily hints that her Dad is only happy when Gillian's around, which leads us to Gillian's character flaws. I think its kind of obvious she likes Cal as more than a colleague, but she won't do anything about it. Gillian is recently divorced from her coke addicted husband. She's trying to get use to the single life again. Cal takes advantage of her loyalty to him, something she allows no matter what the situation. I can see the show going into the direction of an all out brawl between them which strengthens their ties or breaks them apart. Most fans root for the former yet FOX shows always kill their characters' relationships.

This show is still in its infancy, having only one full season and half a second one. FOX approved of the rest of the second season but it won't air until April! So far, I'm enamored with it. Not the writing quality of HOUSE, but it works well and the story lines are interesting.

And here, I leave you with a cheeky, cleverly edited promo: House VS Lightman.

Parting is such Sweet Sorrow.

2009-12-02T23:07:00.000-08:00

My dear beloveds.

I write this in order to pay homage to the passing (well, dismemberment) of one of our favorite things: Tasha's bed. Myself and many others have been very acquainted with that bed. It has been the site of numerous memories. It has witnessed the various fan stages of all our lives, from Harry Potter to Twilight to True Blood. It has kept many of us warm and safe, especially after nights we do not remember. Rock stars have enjoyed the comforts of it with four or five other occupants. Also, they were the cause of the bed breaking, leading to this sad day. With three legs, it boldly withheld its place of honor for several months.

We mourn this terrible loss.

Survivors and dear friends of this bed are Tasha, Milton, Macy, Dennis, Marisa, Cindy, and many others including myself.

Though to be honest, I never slept a whole night in there. I always slept on the couch with Dennis and/or Milton.

A Wake will be held tomorrow evening at Tasha's.

When Fans Attack!

2009-11-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I know for a fact I have young readers so read with caution. I don't want your parents pissed at me.

I am a very accomplished fan. Most fans have not done or seen half the stuff I've participated in. Most fans will never get to meet the man that makes them brain dead or travel thousands of miles to hear their favorite authors read excerpts from books yet to be written. I've been backstage, chatted with producers, toasted with musicians... you get the picture. Yes, I am bragging and pointing out that it is all about location and lots of luck. I'm passionate about the stuff I love. Based on those experiences, this is where this sudden tirade comes from.

There is a point when fans become too involved though.

They sit at their computers and bitch and complain about every little thing wrong about their beloved obsession and curse the production teams of said obsession to the lowliest depths of Hell.
The ratings dip slightly and suddenly it signifies the displeasure of the fan base. [Not necessarily, folks.] Critics who will never win a Pulitzer prize are suddenly trusted. They, the fans, feel the need to start voicing their opinions and start telling the producers and actors how the show should run. They're "the fans," of course they know best.

Seriously, shut the hell up for just a minute and listen to yourselves.

How many people read a novel half way through and then tell the writer that they don't like how it's progressing so fix it? How do you know the ending isn't the one you want already or once you see the bigger picture that you won't love it? If the writer is anything like yours truly, they'd tell you to stick to your day job, finish reading the bloody book, and then pass judgment. Or burn the fucking book and see how much I care. I'm not making you read. Writers already have a blurry vision of what the future will be. They write and explore the natural progression of the story line. If it takes them to some depressing and dark places, they go on because its what feels right. Some writers express surprise at how a story turns out.

Jo Rowling said something similar. Once she finished "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she thought, "People are going to hate this." And they did. There are still people who write to her and beg her to right her "wrongs". "Please, Snape couldn't have died!" "NO, you can't have it end with Harry alive!" "You have to write an eighth book!" She's not going to fix any of the above. It's not that she doesn't care about fans; its that Potter is her creation and what she says, goes. She has stayed true to herself and her work. For her, writing is her art. And people tend to forget for those thousands who hated it, millions cried with joy. Fans who hated it thought they were the majority like most fans who hate what's happening in their fandoms.

So if you're one of the above people who send hundreds of letters, messages, emails, tweets, or anything voicing your displeasure, good for you. It's your right. Just don't be pissed when you get a "thanks, but no thanks" reply. They don't tell you how to do your job so stop telling them how to do theirs. Don't be a tosser and obnoxious prat. Don't become indignant because "they aren't listening to ME; how dare they!" Who the fuck are you to them?! Really, the complete narcissism of some fans is astounding.

So to end on a (kind of) positive note: be patient, trust that the writers know what they're doing [because they do], and then judge the whole story once it is revealed.

[To the fans this is directed to: take a deep breath. We know the story is going into some serious shit, but keep faith and stick it out. We'll be okay.]

New Moon

2009-11-28T22:54:00.000-08:00

First and foremost, mostly everyone knows I am not a hardcore fan. I like the stories but know that they will never be classics, nor will they be literature. The Twilight books are a step above harlequin romance novels. Or maybe only half a step. Anyway, they are a guilty pleasure.

I liked New Moon so much more than Twilight. Twilight felt like a badly done art film trying to appeal to the "indie" kid in everyone. Enough with the first movie. The acting in this movie left much to be desired, but they could improve with the third film. I have a lot of hope with Eclipse. Director David Slade also directed 30 Days of Night, an excellent vampire film. His vampires were primal, fierce, deadly, and savage. Eclipse has a lot of fight scenes in it so I'm hoping for some insane choreography. Pattinson's accent still has something that bugs me. Taylor needed to blink a little more naturally and speak his lines with less drama. He would do well on a soap opera. Luckily I had a row in the theater by myself since I had to stifle my laughter at that thought.Michael Sheen. That man stole the movie with his scenes. His Aro was equally sophisticated, creepy, and frightening. He was the undisputed leader. Spot on with the casting! I can't wait to see how he does in the fourth film. The fights in those scenes were excellently done. The slow-fast motion pace in which they were filmed brought out the best perspective.

Overall, the fluffy, closet romantic enjoyed the movie. I'd go see it again!

Film Accuracy, or why "Sherlock Holmes" is going to ruin an Icon.

2009-11-27T23:15:00.001-08:00

If there is one thing I can pride myself on being regarding films, is that I am a purist. If I could, I would put every piece of dialogue from a novel into its film adaptation. I think that is why I love Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet so much. You could flip through basically every page in the play and follow along in the movie (all 242 minutes of it). Yes, certain scenes were switched around; however they were done in order to keep the story linear on the screen. Branagh didn't give the Prince of Denmark superpowers or anything else as fantastical as that.

I think that is my main problem with Sherlock Holmes. Holmes, as even Conan Doyle has written, was not a handsome man nor one who did "brute work." Watching the trailer for the new movie had me gagging just a little. They (the collective "Hollywood") have made him into a bloody comic book character! And before anyone argues, Guy Ritchie pitched the movie in comic book form. That was the only way Warner Bros. was going to agree to make the film. If this film is successful they will be doing [dreaded] sequels to create a new franchise.

After reading several reviews, Hugh Laurie's House is closer to Holmes than Downey's. Holmes is not a superhero. Holmes was not a nice character. He was disagreeable, a cocaine addict, experimented with other drugs "to relieve the boredom between cases," not afraid to break the law, and was a racist ("along with having a deep mistrust of foreigners") and chauvinist. If anyone did a close adaptation in today's filmland, the MPAA would assign it an R rating. I personally love the character because he is an anti-hero.

I fear anyone who will read the complete works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle after seeing the movie will become quickly bored and disinterested for the lack of "action." Action has taken over the observation aspect in this movie. How the hell is Holmes going to solve the case without observation, his trademark? Ritchie will be smart and try to sprinkle in some "clues." Conan Doyle would be rolling in his grave if he found out Holmes had "inspiration" or a "light-bulb" moment without the appropriate clues. The audience needs to be able to piece together the mystery in the second viewing themselves. If they cannot do that, the film has failed miserably.

Hopefully kids will see the movie and then read the original stories. Anything that gets people reading is good, my public service announcement of the day. It will be a measure of their character if they can understand and appreciate the real Holmes though.

Welcome to the Beginning of the Rest of Your Life.

2009-11-27T01:06:00.000-08:00

This will be short and pithy to allow you, humble readers, to know that I am still alive. Yes, I am still here even though my last post was on August 2nd. Even that last post was late and horribly rushed.

Alas, I shall endeavor to neglect this blog no longer!

My new hobby was stealing away all my writings. For now on, I'll be writing everything here first and posting what I've written on other sites I'm affiliated with instead of keeping everything separate. I've watched films that need to be discussed and read books that do need to be stricken from my mind. I will be back berating lazy critics for not doing their research properly in regards to the books and films they review. I'll rant on the current politics that no one seems to be ranting about. I will write stories that are steeped in truth yet so far-fetched most will question whether I am lucky or a BS-er.

So without further ado, sit down, pick your poison, and enjoy.

Ramblings I

2009-08-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

First of all, here's the long delayed second part of my night at Paley since I never posted it here [Skip if you've read this at my art site]:

Most actors hardly ever get to interact with their fans on an intimate level. They see millions of faces, some hollering or even crying (tears of embarrassed joy) for their attention. Some fans might get a wink, a smirk, and a second of eye contact. Some actors don't really care to see anything else but blurred faces in a crowd. After Wednesday night, I could tell Hugh Laurie and Lisa Edelstein were the actors who were curious what kind of fans they have.

During the panel at the start of the Q&A, the tables were suddenly turned on the crowd. Lights blared from the top of the stage directly at us. Hugh and Lisa straightened themselves in their chairs, eyes scanning the now visible faces of the people that sat in front of them. I slouched deep in my seat because I'm vain as hell and seriously would have turned an ugly shade of red if a certain pair of bright blue eyes made contact with mine. Come on, I know other people would have done the same. Anyway, the questions at this panel were good. Others I've attended have been horrible with people asking the same question that could be easily answered with a Google search.

The youngest person at the panel ended up being a cute little boy (sounded 5 or 6) who asked Laurie what was the grossest thing he ever did or saw on the show. I think his mother wanted to know and knew cute kids really could get anything they want. The scene with the tape worm from "Painless" was Laurie's grossest item.

"I kept pulling and pulling, and as I pulled it suddenly started to become more real," he said. Mind you, it's two days after so it is not verbatim.

Now here's the part I add three people whom I've neglected to mention so far: David Shore, Katie Jacobs, and Greg Yaitanes. Where would a panel about the creative process of House MD be without the creators? I have not posted the photos that I have of them because they didn't come out good. I caught Katie mid blink or got the head of the guy in front of me in most of the frame of the other photos. David Shore is a quiet genius. He didn't speak much but what he did say, was significant.

Asked on how they would end the show or when: "I don't know." They aren't going to even think of it at this point. Why? House is an interesting character. There are still a lot of aspects of his life that we haven't even touched.

Will House ever be happy or at least be content? According to Katie and David, No. If House was ever truly happy or content, the show would be over. So... for all the Huddy fans out there, don't expect a happy ending or even if they do get together, they won't be happy for long. I was a bit sad, but it's understandable. My favorite stories are always about the hero never making it, no matter how hard they try.

I did not write anything for July even though it was an exciting month. I just did not have the focus to write anything. I did not write a review for Half-Blood Prince because everybody and their mother had one. No need to put my two cents in and be redundant. Nevertheless, it was amazing and that day and night was well worth it. I spent a total of 16hrs at the Irvine Spectrum waiting for the 12:12 (what the hell?) showing. There is nothing better than spending time with your friends and 4000 other fans.

Here's my Comic Con adventure:

I'll be damned. Everything that could go right today, did. My friends and I headed down to San Diego for the International Comic Con. We weren't registered nor had even bothered to try to register. Last year we did and the programing was rubbish. This year, it was anything but! First off, we got pretty decent FREE parking. That is unheard of. We were waiting for another friend who was inside the vendor's room when a man approached us, asking if we had passes. We replied in the negative to which he countered, "Do you want some?" He gave us all FREE passes!

So we step inside the air conditioned convention center and decide to just wander around until our friend met us. Not even two minutes in, JOHNATHAN ROSS steps out of the vendor's room. I couldn't believe it. He was on his phone though so we decided not to bug him. I had to grin because he was dressed up in an air force jump suit. I am content with just hearing his slight lispy accent.

We ate a quick lunch and Tasha and I headed to the "Being Human" and "Torchwood" panels. Really, there is no excuse not to watch both these shows. You have eye candy, good plots and stories, comedy, tragedy, everything all packed into these shows! John Barrowman was hilarious. He is one of the most flamboyant personalities I have ever seen. I missed seeing David Tennant and John's kiss! Oh, Captain Jack just has to jump everyone's bones, eh?

So, yes, we were extremely lucky. This summer has been more exciting than I thought. I was depressed about not traveling since I've flown somewhere every summer since I was 17. I have a plane ticket that I can use whenever I want so I still might fly somewhere (New York or New Orleans, I'm thinking) in late August or September for a couple days.

Hmm... I'll be seeing Juliet Landau at her comic release party in LA. I love her as Drusilla of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame. On her twitter she has remarked about inviting other "friends," so I'm even more excited.

I've never gone to the red carpet hours of the Emmy's so I'll be a fangirl there. Here are all the people I want/need/have to see.

Hugh Laurie, because seeing him once was not enough.
Gabriel Byrne (I am in love with his theater work.)
Mary-Louise Parker, “Weeds”
Steve Carell, “The Office”
Jemaine Clement, “Flight of the Conchords”
William Shatner, “Star Trek!” lol.
Kristin Chenoweth, “ Pushing Daisies” and "Wicked."
Kenneth Branagh, “Wallander: One Step Behind” [I really want to see this man!]
Brendan Gleeson, “Into the Storm” Prof. Moody of HP
Kevin Kline, “Cyrano de Bergerac”
Ian McKellen, “King Lear” "X Men" "Lord of the Rings" (who doesn't know this guy?)
Kiefer Sutherland, “24” and "Lost Boys"
Sigourney Weaver, "Aliens" and "Snow Cake" (with Alan Rickman).
Bob Newhart, “The Bob Newhart Show."
Carol Brunett, "The Carol Brunett Show"
Ed Asner "The Mary Taylor Moore Show" and guest starred on The X Files.

Well, that's it for now.

A Night with the Cast of House MD. Part I.

2009-06-18T12:17:00.000-07:00

Last night was amazing. I had never been to the John H. Mitchell theater, home of the Paley Center for Media, but it did not disappoint. Rather, its my new favorite setting for these types of events. If you have looked through my gallery, the photos can say all I can't about the theater.

Enough about that though... Let's get on to the cast!

I still wasn't a true fangirl about Hugh Laurie until last night. I was a flip flopper; "ok, I could see his attraction and he is a great actor, but..." I had that hesitation. Not anymore. I love him and will probably do anything to sit in on another panel with him. I think he's more attractive in person actually. Hell, even my Mum agreed. He's so personable and is a very nice man. We didn't get to take photos with him because there were too many people at the stage and the Paley staff were trying to usher us out of the room. I was content. I loved how attentive he was to the questions. I've been to many of these things before and the actors tend to give the shortest answer or explanation possible. Yes, they have time restraints, but they do the ability to string together better stuff. Hugh Laurie was not one of those actors. He apologized for talking so long. The audience scoffed at him and told him to go on! We were eating it up! What type of audience doesn't love to here from the main actor himself? Laurie spoke about how he was cast and how he had also read for the part of Wilson.

"But once I read about Wilson having a boyish face I knew I wouldn't be cast," he remarked while pointing to his face. Robert Sean Leonard laughed. Leonard did not look like he was comfortable at all being there. He wasn't abrasive but he looked bored. He even zoned out a bit.

Moderator: "So what is your favorite episode?"
RSL: "Of what? House?"

That got giggles and laughs from everyone in the room. He turned slightly red and asked to think about it a while. He is really handsome with that boyish charm. Omar Epps was very quiet, but unlike Robert, he paid close attention. His answers were clearly heartfelt. I wish he did speak more, but he looked shy. [I can't understand a shy actor. Its an oxymoron to me.]

Lisa Edelstein. I'm a straight woman, but hot damn! The only other woman that had that much real beauty and had me gobsmacked, was Gillian Anderson. Lisa is a fan favorite and I could see why. She's adorable and hilarious. She was not afraid or shy to talk about sex scenes and making out with Hugh Laurie. Laurie on the other hand blushed and was horribly embarrassed. She brought up the make-out when the moderator asked if the cast had any stories in particular they'd like to share or some random anecdote they thought was interesting.

Lisa: "I got to make out with Hugh." She had the chesire-cat grin in place. Everyone got a laugh. "Clarify!" Hugh shouted over the din. I'm betting he didn't want the missus or the public (mainly the dreaded paparazzi) to misinterpret that statement. Lisa did explain the scenes. Everyone in the crowd cheered for "Huddy" action. To Laurie, it was "odd."

"It was odd... doing that with a friend I've known for the past five years."

"Odd? I would have used some word like passionate!" Lisa goaded him. She was playfully offended and tried to get him to use some other adjective rather than odd. I truly believe she has a crush on him or at least is an admirer. The way she smiled and whispered together really spoke volumes. The chemistry is there and plays out well on screen. I can't wait for season six!

So there are a ton more things I'd love to write but I shall continue with this later on today. It's almost noon and I unfortunately have to return to reality. Feel free to check out anything in the gallery and download the photos! I should a couple more up soon. Someone apologized for leaving a ton of comments earlier and thought they were spamming my inbox. Quite the contrary! I only consider comments spam if they have nothing to do with the photo being commented on (Example being, talking about Daniel Radcliffe while viewing the Alan Rickman photos. That's spam [and blasphemy]). Like my profile says, I like my ego stroked.

My All Time Favorite Fictional Couples Slightly Spoilery

2009-06-04T11:13:00.001-07:00

I've seen and read hundreds of these. Most are quite good but they tend to stick to the "mainstream" television/literary/whatever couples. The Geek sector is overlooked. As an intense member of the "Geek faith" (saw this earlier and made my day), I have to add my two cents in. These couples are tragic and dysfunctional and just oh so much fun to watch and/or read. So here's my list of the best couples ever: [Disclaimer: I took major liberties with some of these "couples" since I know a couple of them were just "friends." Haha, yeah right!]

Bill Compton and Sookie Stackhouse ("True Blood" and the Stackhouse Books)

This was a doomed romance from the beginning a la Romeo et Juliet. He's a vampire, ousted from society for being dead. She's a hick waitress with an unusual "gift." Bill doesn't really get being "human" anymore since he's been a vampire for over a century. Sookie is all human and more so with her compassion and understanding. Her friends are against her dating Bill and the vampires Bill associates with, don't get why he's trying to go "mainstream." I won't spoil the story since season 2 of "True Blood" hasn't even started, but if the books are any indication, Bill and Sookie have a long way to go.

Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, etc)

Everyone, and I mean Everyone, knew there was something between the FBI student trainee and the cannibal when Lecter ever so slyly brushed his finger against hers when she was handing him the file on serial killer Buffalo Bill in the movie "Silence of the Lambs." The tension in rooms and movie theaters was electric! Just that little contact caused the whole chemistry between them to change. The sequel "Hannibal" did a good job with keeping up that strange, dark attraction, but Ridley Scott should have kept the original book ending... Yes, audiences would have been thrown into the 8th ring of Hell shrieking, but it would have worked better than the lukewarm ending they used.

Josette DuPre and Barnabas Collins (Dark Shadows)

Love really does make you do the wacky to borrow from another hit vampire show. You just knew Josette and Barnabas were meant for each other but they would not be able to be together due to Angelique's resentment toward Barnabas. If Barnabas had only kept himself in check... Josette's death is really the breaking point for Mr. Collins who turns into the blood thirsty, insane vampire after being the first sympathetic, self-loathed creature most vampires are portrayed as now. I'm dying to see who is the lucky actress to be chosen to play Josette in Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows."

Jenny Calendar and Rupert Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

You're still in a love with a guy who had raised a demon decades ago and then possessed you, making you torture said guy? You forgive the woman who practically destroyed your surrogate daughter's love life in one fell swoop and lied to you about practically everything, even her true name? Don't forget she shot you with a crossbow, too. Giles and Jenny were the nerdy couple that I seriously thought were going to break the Hellmouth's hold on relationships. He was the bumbling librarian, brave and stalwart when facing evil. She was the computer nerd, quick witted and beautiful. They learned that neither of them were perfect but they loved each other regardless. Giles finding Jenny's dead body in his bed was the most horrifying, tear-jerking scene I've seen in a while. I still haven't seen anything so sad. Giles was never the same afterwards. In my book, that proved she was his soul mate.

Severus Snape and Lily Potter nee Evans (Harry Potter series)

After reading "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" you have got to be crazy to argue this couple with yours truly. Yes, they weren't together romantically, but damn it! Snape did anything and everything to avenge her death! Almost two decades went by with Snape mourning and planning in his own sadistic mind. He risked his life and swallowed his pride to help the "Chosen One" even though he wanted nothing to do with him. I would be as hateful and resentful as Snape if I had to look into the eyes of the person I loved, shinning through on the person I hate most's face. He died for her. To take a quote from Marryanne (Sense and Sensibility), "what's more glorious than dying for love?" Plus, even if you hated Snape and think he was the world's biggest bastard, you know you balled your eyes out when, after Dumbledore asked if he was still in love with Lily, he replied, "Always."

Fox Mulder and Dana Scully (The X Files)

There is nothing like a good extraterrestrial event to bring opposites together. From the pilot to the last (awful) episode, Mulder and Scully were the "it" couple. From the moment they met, you knew they were destined to be together. I think audience's fell in love with that tension that always surrounded them and that indecision on both their parts. When they finally got together in season six and seven, I think the writer's relied too much on the fan's expectations instead of letting the characters grow naturally.

Doctors Gregory House and Lisa Cuddy

These two are the Mulder and Scully of the medical world. Bickering about anything and everything, they just can't stand each other. But they can't keep away from each other either. We really don't their history, but we do know they've known each other since their college days. The deception of the season five finale though has me questioning my own sanity on whether they really were as "friendly" as we all thought. Hopefully we won't have to wait long to see where their relationship goes.

Let Me Hear that Triumph Purr.

2009-06-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

Has it been so long since I have written anything of substance? Yes, I believe so, but that is not directly my fault. Blame it on higher education and its insane need to preach the inane and prove that ineptness is not cured by a doctorate or bar exam. After two years of law classes, I never will be a lawyer. You truly sell your soul and I cannot even fathom some of the moral ambiguities that have presented themselves this quarter. Plus, personally, they are miserable people. Anyway, that is my gripe.

To the fun stuff...

Due to the persistence of a Ms. Sanchez, I finally gave in a several weeks back and gave House, MD. a chance. I've always liked Hugh Laurie but never was really a fangirl. I was more enamored with Stephen Fry and his quick wit. Anyway, I ended up watching all five seasons. My sleeping pattern has well and truly gone to Hell. Sarcasm and satire are my favorite types of comedy. I'm a fan of "bad good guys" (example: I'd pick Batman over nancyboy Superman any day). The tragic/conflicted "hero" types are so much more interesting. So now, I'm officially a House fan.

Did I mention Ms. Sanchez and myself are seeing Mr. Laurie in person? No?

Well then, thanks again to the Paley Center for Media, we'll be at a panel where Hugh Laurie, David Shore and Katie Jacobs will be speaking on the creative process of House. Paley has the best presentations. This panel will be held at the John H Mitchell Theater instead of the Arclight. I was surprised but after seeing the room its going to be held in, elated. The room is tiny! It holds only 150 guests which means I was pretty damn lucky to get tickets in the first place. Never having been in that theater, I'm praying they allow photography. Hugh Laurie is a nice addition to my gallery. Worse comes to worst, I'll find the backdoor. There is always a backdoor. Additional panelist are to be announced so says the Paley website. Bryan Singer, Lisa Edelstein and Robert Sean Leonard better show up! My Mum will be on hand to make sure I don't give my famous portrayal of a "deer-in-the-headlights" if we're allowed to rush the stage. Oh Dear God, will I ever let that go?!

Live Long and Prosper

2009-05-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

So I let this review stew for almost a week because I wanted to do it justice. I saw "Star Trek" on Thursday night, by myself (reason #345 for why I dislike this part of Orange County). The theater was relatively empty. I would have to guess there were about 20 people, 3 Trekkies among them. I sat in the very back as usual to get the best view.

I have to say that all my bad-mouthing of the film was thrown out half-way through. I still don't like Abrams (overrated) and Chris Pine who just bugs me acting-wise, but I have a new found respect for them. I went into the movie thinking it was going to be as bad an "Indy 4" with way too much nostalgia and not enough substance and plot. The plot of this movie was very well done. Sequels are a must now. Leonard Nimoy was fantastic! I have heard a lot of bad press because people didn't like Simon Peg's Scotty. Give the man a bloody break! I loved it! The actors are not going to copy the originals because then that would be too wooden.

I'm avoiding spoilers so this is going to be very short. Just go see it if you haven't already. It was a perfect start to the summer movie marathon.

Real Down Time and Wolverine.

2009-05-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

Seriously, I don't remember the last time I just stayed home or just relaxed for relaxing's sake. Maybe some random weekend at the beginning of last year? No clue. I'm burnt out though. I just can't stay home. I'm not the type of person to "not do nothing" if that makes some sort of warped sense. I'm always on the run; always "on the town" as my Mum says.

This weekend we'll be going to the range again. I come from a family full of law enforcement and a line that has always owned firearms. Anyway, the range is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by hills and wild Californian floral. I have about ten photos in my gallery that show where I'm talking about. I don't think I'll be shooting, but rather walking through the trails a couple miles away. The trails have been there since the early 1800s. I can easily picture cowboys riding through the shrubbery. There's an old iron bridge that is rusted through. Squirrels might cross it from time to time. A creek runs under it. I can't remember if there's anything living in the water. I think its too shallow. I have seen mountain lions and other creatures. Most walk away. For the others that don't, noise and a flash of steel usually do the trick (literally a flash with the light, not a stabbing gesture [semi-vegetarian here]). I've missed that peace of the wild; that calm that you can only get with a couple hours away from civilization. And, of course, I'll have my camera.

Just a quick word on Wolverine, the X-Mens Origin film. It wasn't as bad as the third X-Men movie, but it was bad. There's hardly any dialogue and the plot jumps and then abruptly ends. I think the ending was a lousy cop-out to tie it to the other movies. They really needed to add another twenty minutes to explain the story properly. I heard that Marvel was going to do a "Deadpool" movie. Ryan Reynold's is NOT a good actor!

I plan on seeing Star Trek tonight so hopefully that will kick off my summer movie theater-going... Or kill it completely.

Worse weekend ever?

2009-04-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

I just had a bad weekend. Period. The only highlight was seeing my best friend and getting a couple sexy outfits that are guaranteed to get jaw drops. Other than that, my weekend was utter crap.

I'm still in disbelief about Friday night/early Saturday morning. Hell, I'm usually a pro at pinpointing where people are going to be or at least my friends and sources are much more on top of things when I find out stuff through them. My sources are the ones that didn't cut it this time. For me, it makes it just that much worse that I picked the wrong date. I went to last month's show thinking "he'd" [Anthony Head] show, but it was a no go. Tomorrow night is what has lifted my spirits.

Musician George Sarah is playing with his old band, THC, tomorrow night at the Knitting Factory of Los Angeles. A lot of people have heard his music, but just don't know it. If you're a Buffy Fan, his music was featured in Season 4's "Beer Bad" and "Wild at Heart." He even cameoed in those episodes as Veruca's keyboardist. I bought THC's cd this past week and love it. Sarah Folkman on vocals is totally sultry and wanting.

Ok, so I have to fess up to something embarassing. I went to a friend's Vampiric Valentine's Birthday party and saw he was there. She's known him for years and laughed at me when I couldn't introduce myself. I was in heavy make-up and my poor guy friend was sick as a dog so I had to get him out of there asap. I had a million excuses. I think it was the week before, I'm talking to my cousin and venting a bit when he stops me and with an excited expression, says, "George?! We've been friends for almost 20 years!" [My cousin works in the music industry and practically knows everyone. He's really The Master (best nickname ever).] Worse yet, George knows I was trying to talk to him because he asked the Master if we were related or I came up in their conversation somehow. So tomorrow night, I'll be holding my chin up high, camera on my hip, trying not to be super obvious that I'm scouting the whole club for familiar faces. Really, its been ages since I've gone somewhere and just relaxed. There's a vodka tonic with my name on it and an empty, dark booth that is waiting for me.

Just Whinning. Grr.

2009-04-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

"Speak English, not whatever they speak in, um..."
"England?" -- Buffy and Giles

The first Buffy convention I learn about is the first I cannot attend! This is seriously hurting my fangirl spirit. The reason I'm not going is a good one (major job training, both physical and mental) but it still smarts. Seeing that the Con is being held in London put the nail on the coffin.

I absolutely adore London. Normally I'm no city girl (reason why I visit LA instead of live there), but from the moment I stepped off the plane at Heathrow, I knew there was something that called to me. I did the whole tourista thing but I still went off and "people-watched," seeing how life really was. I ran in the soaking rain, loving it. I took trains, cabbies if it was 3am, and walked everywhere. No matter how hard they try here, we'll never have the public transport they have across the pond. So Buffy Fan Con and London together? Oh, it cuts right down to the bone! I won't even have time to go for a day (since I'm about that desperate to go). I've been torturing myself by checking out the guest list. The one person I want to see isn't on there, at least not yet, and I'm taking a small comfort from that. Hmm... maybe the department will give the recruits some "out of the blue" vacation or even a couple days off? That's wishful thinking, but you never know... Right?

"Did anyone ever tell you you're kind of a fuddy duddy?"
"Nobody ever seems to tell me anything else."
"Did anyone ever tell you you're kind of a sexy fuddy duddy?"
"No, actually, that part usually gets left out. I can't imagine why."
-- Jenny and Giles

True Blood at Paley

2009-04-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

I really love the Paley Festival. The set up is marvelous and the presentation is just spectacular. I did get there later than I wanted to so I didn't get the best seats. Blame LA traffic and the Dodgers for that. The Fest started right on the dot with the VP of the Media Center saying a quick word about the Paley Foundation and then introducing a short clip of past presentations. After he then introduced a clip that the current Paley (William S. Paley's son) picked out to show the audience before the panel.

It was a Dark Shadows clip. I felt like a 3 year old jumping out of my seat when I saw the black and white scene and heard the music. I actually cheered. The people next to me turned to stare for a moment before looking back at the clip. Mum rolled her eyes as she smiled next to me. The only thing I was a disappointed in was that they didn't show the man himself, Jonathan Frid, as vampire, Barnabas Collins. I seriously think they are setting up for a large panel with the former cast of the show and the new cast of the movie. I am still rooting for that to happen.

Anyway, the moderator was then introduced and the show got rolling, as they say. All the actors were introduced to warm applause and a bit strained enthusiasm. I was surprised to see the audience was mostly older men and women. I thought there would be more 20 to 30 somethings present. The actors I think we surprised at this as well. Alan Ball (writer and director) was hilarious and probably the best speaker. Sam Trammell (plays Sam Merlotte) was also a conversation starter.

The only thing that I have not liked about any of these presentations are the audiences' questions. Really, folks, in the words of Ana Paquin, "Who cares about where the dirt comes from?" That was an actual question. She was nice. I would have slipped a more colorful word in there just to shame the questioner. There were about 2 questions that were decent. The others just made the cast look puzzled and wonder where these people are coming from.

The panel ran out of time at that moment so they abruptly ended the show. The audience at the front immediately flooded the stage to get autographs and closer photos. I was up in the Mezzanine and tried to push my way into the front. A group of old bitties (that reminded me of the dreaded "Twilight Moms") would not budge! If you got a photo and an autograph, move over and let someone else in, instead of hogging up the space with your not-small body. It's simple fan etiquette in my opinion. Even when I met Rickman, I immediately moved over so other people to get their share of the love.

The panel was worth it. Clips from the new Season look fantastic! I won't write what they were to not spoil any of you out there.

Photos of the event can be seen HERE.

1000 Miles

2009-04-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

I originally had a four day weekend for the Easter holiday. I took Thursday off to enjoy all that Disneyland has to offer, including the long walks to the parking lot that mysteriously ended up a mile away. Mum treated me for my birthday. It was nice, but Disneyland is always so damned crowded. If there were about a couple thousand less people, it would be perfect.

Anyway, Friday I drove to Tucson, Arizona, to pick up my great-aunt (or biabuela in Spanish). I made extremely good time. I hate driving through Phoenix though because of the cameras. You think the street cameras are annoying? Try having those suckers on the interstate! A delicious meal of tamales set me to rights though. The next morning I drove back and just took my time. I didn't realize how tiring it is to just sit there and pay attention. Hell, I'm still tired. I seriously need rocket fuel-styled coffee.

It feels at the moment like I only had a day off. The thought of seeing the cast of "True Blood" tonight has me struggling to be cheerful and awake. I'll try to post photos here, but more than likely they will all be in my gallery tomorrow. Tonight I just want to enjoy the panel and hope I can get a salad and flaming margarita at El Compadre's afterwards.

Favorite Quotes of the Moment Part I

2009-04-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

I am a bit bored and looking to fill in a bit of time so here's my favorite quotes of the moment. Hopefully I can at least put a smile on your face.

Text from Mitchell: "So, get any Head last night?"

Terrance Zdunich: "He was a hot looking girl."

Ryan (9 year old cousin): "I liked Repo!" [I had to ask how and where he watched it. I fear for his sanity... though I am a major contributor to his 'delinquency'.]

Chris (bro): "Nice jump, Officer Trull!" [referring to how I sprained my ankle.]

Mum: "That Grave Robber is hot." [Mum heard "Zydrate Anatomy" on my cell and then had me show her "Repo!" I only had to tell her where the gory parts were so she could close her eyes. Bless Her!]

Jonathan Ross to Tom Jones: "Can I see you naked after the show?"

J. Ross: "He (David Walliams) told me you got an errection and pressed up against him?"
Tony Head: *snorts* [So classy, eh?]

Weary

2009-04-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

At the moment I am moping. Yes, I am feeling sorry for myself. My ankle is throbbing and my foot looks like a white canvas with purple, green, and blue paint liberally applied to it. Every time I stand, it shoots a pain through my foot and causes me to shift all my weight onto my right leg. My right leg is now sore. My shoulders are sore from the crutches because I tend to "strong-arm" them instead of using my leg to help me along, too. I slept much better last night since I had the splint off, but I still feel tired.

This month is usually a very good month for me.

On April 13, I'll be at the Arclight in Hollywood for the "True Blood" panel of the Paley Festival. Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin along with all the main cast will be present. That is a lot of beautiful people in one room. "True Blood" is an excellent show and I love how Alan Ball has made it his own. The "Stackhouse Books" aren't well written at all and tend to drag. The show is much more exciting and in depth.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing the Curator, David Bushman, of the museum and hoping to speak with him, too. He had a very interesting idea in an article he wrote sometime ago. With the Vampire genre coming back into the mainstream cinema, why not have a panel with a Legend and a devoted Fan seated side by side? Bushman in the last article hints at trying to set up a panel with Johnny Depp and Jonathan Frid. That would be too bloody cool. It would be every die hard fans wish! Plus, it will be fascinating to hear Depp's take on Barnabas Collins and Dark Shadows in general. Frid would be the wild card in this case. He has been attending the fan conventions, but not sure if he'd be up to traveling down for the panel. I'm sure the Festival would "wine and dine" him and give him every comfort. Depp would be a bit difficult, too, because I don't see him doing this kind of thing. I'll be very surprised if Bushman can pull it off.

I will also be the first one to pay for the membership fees so I can get better seats for that historical event... if it happens.

Darling, when are you going to get rid of Sebastian?

2009-04-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

Miracles really can happen. So last night I couldn't sleep. It's probably due to the splint on my left foot and leg at the moment (severely sprained ankle) and its inability to be comfortable. I was just wasting time online and trying to find something extremely boring to read/watch at 2 a.m. I searched through all the news sites I have bookmarked and re-read old news.

It was boring and did not help me sleep. The link I barely noticed did not help me sleep either. I was checking my Yahoo! account and saw I had an email from a certain fan site I joined some months ago. Inside was the link to these gems.

I have two tickets to a semi-private review... featuring a Mr. Anthony Head. Yep, didn't sleep a wink last night. The review is being held at Hemery College of the Arts in Beverly Hills. Tickets are still available HERE. The review is held a la "Inside the Actor's Studio" type of interview. The theater where its held does not have a bad seat in the house. I have seats in the first five rows! Mitchell is joining me as my back-up "slap-Alex if she goes deer-in-the-headlights zombie." I do need back up in these situations. Look what happened to me at the Jimmy Kimmel show. I hang my head in shame!

I must apologize to all those who are going to Chain Reaction on Friday. I love the 100 Monkeys but... We're talking about Tony Head! Scariest villain of Dr. Who (except for those darn monsters from "Blink"), the Prime Minister of Little Britain, The RepoMan, and last but certainly not least, Ripper Giles of Buffy!

So I'm stoked.

In other news, I'll be joining my maternal grandmum, Queen Elizabeth, or Lizzie as the family calls her, for tea this afternoon. I do love the cucumber sandwiches the servants whip up. They've been helping me here at work with my impending sexual harassment case. How was I to know that wasn't a flashlight in his pocket? Well, back to my life as an undercover secret agent of the X-Files department.

[The only true this about this is entry is my sprained ankle sadly.]

"Don't Tase Me, Bro!"

2009-03-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

Last night was something! First good food and company at Pinche Tacos, then a beer at a sushi bar right next to the Laemmle's while peering over my shoulder to see the cast sitting in the main part. Other fans were preaching the word of Repo! to the bartenders who laughed and seemed a little interested.

Everyone was in the theater by midnight.
Darren Lynn Bousman introduced the Shadowcast and again told the audience to give it their all.

We sure as Hell did not disappoint. The Shadowcast was really impressive. They were even mostly accurately cast. I have to say they were much better than the Rocky troupe I saw here. My friend, Tasha, and I laughed so hard. The Sunset 5 is going to be holding these midnight showings once a month so go down there and support the Shadowcast or even go if you don't have anything fun planned. This is a guaranteed fun night.

At the Opera Tonight!

2009-03-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

I will be at the Sunset 5 tonight for the midnight screening of "Repo! The Genetic Opera." It's the "Shadowcast" premiere, so good luck to all those folks. Director Darren Lynn Bousman will be there with all us crazy people. Still no clue on who these "Special Guests" are, but I guess we will find out.

I am a total "Repo!" supporter, so if you're in the Southern California region, take a trip to Hollywood. You won't regret it, especially if you love horror and eccentric films. The creators and actors need the support especially if we want to see the rumored prequel. Let's show Tinseltown we won't take mediocrity and unimaginative films anymore.

For Tickets and more information, go HERE.

Oh Crickey, Batman!

2009-03-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Damn it! When you say "Special Guests" does that include main cast? How about the actor who plays the main character? And why, in all that is holy, are you such a bloody tease?

Darren Lynn Bousman is evil. He leaves these very vague statuses on Facebook or messages on the Repo! boards, hinting at unseen treasures... He'll be at the Sunset 5 in Hollywood on Friday for a midnight showing, with special guests. Who are the special guests?! The only two people I have not seen of the main cast are Paul Sorvino and Anthony Head. Terrence Zdunich is an awesome guy so I'll go if he's there, too. Hearing the jeers and cat-calls will liven up a night that looks to be a dead one for me.

So quick POLL: Do I go to the Sunset 5?

A) YES. You never know what will happen or who will be there. You have run into interesting people before.
B) Sure. At least you can hang out with the other deviants of the Repo! crowd.
C) Curse Bousman for his inability to be clear and just be around the area just in case...

I hate being indecisive.

On Being a Vegetarian.

2009-03-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not a hardcore vegetarian (at least, not yet) but I gave up meat for Lent. It's been tough especially coming from a family where beef and chicken is always the main entree. I miss carne asada and ribs and steak... well, you get the picture. I've always liked duck, lamb, venison, and even alligator. I'm not a picky eater. For Lent it came down to a choice between coffee and meat. I shot down the coffee choice because of finals. It wouldn't do me any good to be going through caffeine withdrawals while trying to concentrate and study. It's bad for me, too, since I've winged myself off coffee once. Shakes, headaches, bad moods are just some of the symptoms. I've gotten down to about a cup and a half a day and supplement the rest with tea and water.

Anyway, like the good Catholic that I am, please, hold those snickers, I gave up the next best thing: Meat. I feel pretty good about it. The hardest thing is actually eating enough veggies. Do you realize how much veggies you have to eat in order to get a full days nutrition? It's crazy! Anything less than that though and your body will start to think you're starving it so then you'll start gaining weight (ie. why starving yourself will ultimately backfire and you'll gain more weight than ever). I'm taking vitamins and making sure I lay off the cheeses and breads so I don't get an overload of sugar into my system. Cold and Hot soups are a Godsend. I do love veggies plain and snack on mushrooms, carrots, and even cauliflower.

But man, just planning meals is tough. I'm trying to loose more weight for the Sheriff's department and think I plateaued. IT sucks and its making me a bit stressed. I'm suppose to be a young, cute 21 year old who can loose weight just by thinking about it! I feel like I'm working much harder than I did in HS. If this is growing old, may I please stop now?

I'm off work in an hour so I'll this griping has now made me motivated to do an extra hard work out later on this evening. Need to get extra fit by August because at 5'4" I need to be able to handle a 6'4" guy. Hmm... I think I should go running on the beach again.

Comics Very Spoilery

2009-03-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

During this quarter I ended up reading the "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" Season 8 comics. I really can't read full novels (since I choose books more than 500 pages most of the time) because of time and class restraints. One of my classes had four books alone. I hate stopping in the middle of a novel and leaving it for a couple days or even whole weeks. I'd rather wait and read it when I have oodles of time to enjoy it. Such as now and summer break.

Anyway, the first comic is called "Long Way Home," and was written by creator Joss Whedon and George Jentry. Of course, it is a semi-introduction comic, starting with Buffy explaining how she changed the world. 1800 Slayers now exist with her closest friends the leaders of the squadrons. Buffy, as usual, is alone, feared and revered by the world. The new big bad of the series is a character called "Twilight." He only makes cameos throughout the series and has an intricate plan involving pitting slayers against each other, the governments of the world, and the demons that haven't fled underground.

"No Future for You" is my favorite so far in the season 8 comics ("Tales of the Vampires" is my favorite overall, but as a spinoff, it doesn't really count in this section). "NFU" brings back badass dark Slayer, Faith, with all her trashy talk and self-loathing. Faith, I have to admit, is one of my favorite characters. She doesn't bitch and complain as much as Buffy does. We find out that she's the "go-to girl" for dirty deeds in the new slayer order. You have little kids turned into vampires? No prob, just get Faith to kill the little buggers. No need to burden new slayers with such a difficult job. Faith lives in a shabby apartment in Cleveland (the other Hellmouth) by herself and its there where she finds Giles waiting for her. Giles gives her a mission that involves killing a rogue slayer. That starts off the story with Giles teaching her everything there is to know of the English aristocracy in order for Faith to go undercover and get close to this dangerous slayer. All in all, Twilight's symbol makes an appearance and Faith and Giles team up to help other slayers who are going down the wrong path, "a slayer's social work program" as Faith says. The next comic out this May continues this story line.

"Wolves at the Gate" brings back Dracula! A group of Japanese vampires steals Dracula's secrets of turning into fog, animals, etc, and plans to elimanate the slayers by using Buffy's scythe to return the girls to normal. Buffy get Xander to visit the Dark Prince and they set off to Tokoyo to stop these new vampires' plan. The only thing I didn't like about the story? Buffy's sudden interest in Satsu and their sleeping together. Really? After Faith, Buffy was the straightest person on the show! Oh well, I guess they had to in order for Buffy to realize how alone she really is, again.

Now onto the spin-offs...

I absolutely love "Tales of the Vampires." You could know nothing about Buffy and enjoy the stories interwoven throughout. The stories flip back and forth from the past to the future. An elder vampire tells the tales to a group of young watchers-in-training. I love how the writers included stories about Spike and Drusilla's time in Prague and Angel's nightmares of his past victims (including Season 2 favorite, Jenny Calendar). The main story of the young watchers is frought with anxiety when one of the watchers, Edna Fairweather, becomes aware that another vampire is in their mist. In between the stories, she pieces together who it is and ultimately faces off with the sire of the elder vampire. My favorite line as Edna blacks out is "He was right. I am in love with the Baker's boy." Edna then wakes up and tells off all the adult watchers for being stupid. One of the Watcher's remarks that she'll be running the Council in no time with her attitude. The next set of frames shows Edna letting off steam with a walk through London. It shows her going into the Baker's shop. The last frame is the hook. The name of the shop is Giles's. (Which if you don't get it, the whole story was about Rupert Giles's [Buffy's current watcher] Grandmother! Ok, I'm a nerd for getting spazzed out about that.)

The next comics are the Omibuses which are stories that are "inbetween" the seasons. The first one is a preseason one and then the others follow suit with explaining what Buffy does during the summers. Interesting and Entertaining. I think they have one more before they catch up with the Season 8 comics.

"Fray" was a pleasant surprise. I was leery reading about a totally futuristic slayer, but Wheadon doesn't disappoint. Since there is only one anthology out there, I'm not going to go too into it. The next one should be out soon so I'm looking forward to it.

So that's it for now on comics. I can't wait to get my hands on the next season 8 one. I should have more blogs up soon with movie reviews, news, etc. Dark Shadows has been more "active" so I'll be posting about that. Cheers!

SPRING BREAK

2009-03-19T09:37:00.001-07:00

"Spring Break" are the key words every college kid has on their lips at the moment. Mine started last night. I have almost two weeks of no school to worry about. Well, I do have one thing I have to do over the next week, but it's not going to be very hard at all.

Anyway, as an "anglophile" and theater lover, I am shocked and saddened by the very sudden passing of Natasha Richardson. Everyone has probably read over her career highlights in other publications so I'm not going to be repetitive. I just feel for her poor family.

The weather here in Orange County seems to be reflecting my mood. It's foggy, dark, and a bit cold. The ocean breezes are icy. I hope it clears up so I can go walk along Newport again or even go a bit farther into Huntington (that way I'd make a stop at DVD Planet). I must be bored if I'm musing on the weather. I'm dying for my hot as hell summer.

100 Posts! Whoa! Spoiler Warning for Watchmen.

2009-03-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

So this will be short and sweet. Well, maybe. Writers are liars and you can't trust the lot of us when it comes to our passion. The Spoilers for "Watchmen" will be the last paragraph so if you haven't read/seen it, skip the last paragraph if you are sensitive to being spoiled.

First off, I always say I'm going to post photos for events and hardly ever do because Blogger's photo uploader takes forever and then I get lazy since I write most of these entries at work. So I'm going to be an attention whore and post the link to my photo gallery that I have on DeviantArt.

http://acollinsvampire.deviantart.com/

You can see larger photos of people like Alan Rickman, Ray Bradbury, Gillian Anderson, David Selby, and a lot more from the events and places I've gone to. I've posted Repo! cast photos there but they are not very good. I bought a new camera last week and am already extremely happy with it. PaleyFest is in April this year and I will be attending the "True Blood" Panel. The whole main cast will be there so stay tuned for blogs and photos on that.

Now onto "Watchmen."

I liked it more than I thought I would but I still hated the ending. Zack Snyder, the director, went for the happy ending and killed the sense of hopeless the comic portrayed. I thought he had just taken out the Squid Monster (which in my opinion would have been cool to see) but he did more than that. He or the studios thought about the effect it would have on the "general" audience. The "general" audience are a bunch of morons; I won't even go into that more. Anyway, the effects, sets, and CGI were perfect. I must say the music was the best soundtrack I've heard in a while for a film. Having Nat King Cole sing while the Comedian was being beaten to a pulp just made the beating that much more brutal. Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix all have their music threaded throughout the film. It really helped explain the time periods. The story did have some trouble shifting and moving on, but they were able to keep the integrity of it. Overall, it was good, but not the great film every fanboy was wetting his pants for.

Update

2009-02-17T10:57:00.000-08:00

Um... yeah... Real life snuck up on me and held me in its thrall for a while there. It was hectic, but it came with good news that will allow me to travel around a lot more on my time off so viola.

I'm planning on seeing "Friday the 13th" tomorrow or Thursday depending on if my current plans go through or not. I have a lot more dvds, too, that I'll finally be able to watch and go through without interuption. I'm especially looking forward to new giallo films and need to pick up Argento's other works. I rushed and bought "His Name Is Jason" and am looking forward to seeing it. I finally got "American Psycho" since it was only 4 bucks.

Hopefully I won't take forever to post the new blogs. School, work, future work, and family can be blamed for that.

Repo! Last Stop: Los Angeles

2009-01-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

I am so tired at the moment so I apologize for any stupid grammatical mistakes I might/probably will make. I didn't get a lot of sleep on Friday because of good times with friends and Saturday because I was all hyped up to go see "Repo! The Genetic Opera" again.

I was not disappointed. I took two of my cousins who hadn't even heard of the movie with me to the Royal Theater that night. They're young ones, but they aren't sheltered at all. Most kids don't know about screenings and other stuff until much later. I'm starting their "education" now. I made them dress up since I did. Another friend helped out with make up and made me a latex scar and applied more to my hairline to make it look like my face was falling off. I put more make up on them than they'll wear in their entire lives and dyed their hair. I don't think they believed me about other people dressing up until we stepped out of the car and into the brisk, cold night air of Santa Monica. People were waiting in a line that wrapped along the building. Most were dressed up and I'd bet everyone was wearing black. Zydrate addicts, scalpel sluts, Repo men, and Genterns lined the sidewalks. The first person who caught my eye was Terrence Zdunich who was walking up and down it with a camera guy in tow. People burst into song and yelled all manner of fun vulgarities that only Repo! fans would get.

We didn't wait long outside before they herded us in and we rushed to get seats. It's always a pain to decide whether to sit in the back where the director and cast will be, or sacrifice and move to the front for better photos. I sacrificed so I apologize for the quality of the photos I shall be posting later. Fans were rushing up and down the isles. Darren Lynn Bousman, the director, was pacing in the front. The same camera man who had been following Terrence was running up and down the main isles, yelling at people to shout and generally trying to get the crowd into a frenzy. It didn't take a lot of effort.

Once everyone was seated, Spooky Dan from Bloody-Disgusting.com started off the night with his own "Puppet Zydrate Anatomny" short film. It was great! Is it so wrong to write that I got a little hot when the Repo Man puppet jumped the Grave Robber? Probably is, but I laughed and hollered like the rest of the crowd. Darren Bousman introduced the film and the cast. Paris Hilton and Alexa Vega had just been taking their seats. He then encouraged everyone to "be as loud as fucking possible!" Oh, I think LA showed we kick ass in that department. No song went unsung. No corny line was given mercy. I cracked up every time I heard Bousman or Zdunich shout something from 10 feet away from me.

"Dead man walking!"

"Fuck, that looked like it hurt!"

The only thing that bugged me that night was the group of bloody Buffy fans behind me... I really feel for actors who have obnoxious fans. I cringed every time I heard one of them shout "Giles!" when Anthony Head was on screen. Finally one of the chits shouted something during a rare quiet moment and didn't receive a laugh, but did get a couple of glares. They took the hint at last and shut up about Buffy. Really, it was all about Repo! that night.

My cousins loved the movie. I filled them in on who's who and stuff like that during the credits. The cast and crew did a wonderful Q&A afterwards. It made me appreciate again how ignorant and challenged mainstream critics are. This movie is really the "film that would just not die." Bousman, but especially Zdunich, and Smith are so passionate about this story. They lived with it for years. I say its a tragedy if this were just to fizzle out and die with out any prequels or sequels. It was mentioned the cast is all up for it but they need the financial backing.

At this point, I was going on two hours of sleep and needed to drive the primos back to my house. We lingered in the cramped lobby for about two minutes and then split. Somehow after getting onto the wrong freeway and passing by the pier at 1 am, we made it back to my house in one piece. We didn't sleep until 3 though. No one ever told me latex was such a bitch to take off, especially when it got into one's hair. I loved the Road Tour though, so it was worth it.

A Couple Treats...

2009-01-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

A couple things have come to my attention in the past couple days since I'm back at work and able to read the news a lot more.

First thing up, Big Finish Productions have a couple new Dark Shadow audio dramas that they will be releasing. At the end of this month, they will be releasing "The Wicked and the Dead." I really can't stress on how well made and brilliant these things are. I have the first series and can listen to it straight through for hours. They are more entertaining than most of the television shows up there right now. The stories are classic "Dark Shadows" themes with all the darkness and macabre comedy there for any fan of horror. As a die hard fan, I love how the original actors have worked on these, some even coming out of retirement. John Karlen sounds the same as he did in the 60's! I can't wait to hear Jerry Lacy's voice as the evil witch hunter, Reverend Trask in this new installment.

Next thing up... "Repo! The Genetic Opera" is returning to Los Angeles! For one day only, it will be screening in Santa Monica on January 24th as part as the 3rd Tour director Darren Lynn Bousman and Writer Terrance Zdunich will be on hand presenting it and signing autographs. This article mentions the actors showing up, but it doesn't mention who, where, or when... Los Angles is a safe bet in my honest opinion to see at least a couple of the main cast. These showings have sold out very fast so get your tickets if you live in one of the cities they'll be visiting! If for some reason you've missed the other hundred blogs or reviews out there about "Repo!" read this one HERE. It's a very good one that expresses just the simple joys of this movie...

One more thing regarding "Repo!" that I have to add. Apparently it is the middle movie of a trilogy planned, but we'll just have to wait to know if the "prequel" and "sequel" will pan out. I'm always against sequels because they are never done right, but who knows, right? Yay for pep and optimism!

Don't you Love the Holidays?

2008-12-29T09:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, the Holidays! I don't care much for the winter breaks since I feel more tired coming back to my responsibilities than when I left. Plus, I had to spend time with a certain cretin, my brother. If both of us were in the same breathing range, it was like putting two fire fish in the same bowl. We're opposites in almost every way: I'm pretty conservative, he lives in San Francisco. Go figure. I really don't know why my Mum insists on us being at home at the same time. I stayed out of the house as much as I could wandering around my hometown haunts or barricading myself with movies and shows. I couldn't watch any films though without being bombarded with a smart ass or technical answer to every scene. My brother is a film nut but in the most obnoxious sense. I had a few emergencies that popped up that kept me away from my friends sadly but luckily everything turned out okay.

I'm back in the relative peace and quiet of Orange County. I almost want the winter quarter to start; keyword: almost. I'm not bored yet. I've been able to go browse around the shops and do whatever I feel like. The weather has been nice and cold for scarves and combat boots. In So Cal its hard to get into the winter spirit. I feel out of place if I show up with a fedora and boots and some people are still walking around in flip-flops.

I have been horrible on watching horror movies! I only re-watched "The Orphanage" and that's it. I did get another 50 movie pack this time with more films of Barbara Steele and Christopher Lee. Steele has such an exotic look. My favorite actresses are the ones who don't fit the usual sense of beautiful. Grayson Hall and Juliet Landau are a couple more examples. I'll slowly go through those movies and recommend the best.

Hmmm... I'm still on a Tony Head trip. I'll be picking up the second season of "Little Britain" tonight hopefully. I did get to watch "Little Britain Live" and just loved the daring of Lucas and Walliams. Would you go on stage and do a "buffalo Bill" dance as in "Silence of the Lambs?" I sat there with my jaw in my lap. Walliams, I guess, is comfortable in his skin. "Repo!" will be out on DVD on January 20th! I can't wait! I'm a sucker for the special features and I'd love to see all the behind the scenes stuff. And its a kick ass movie that everyone should see... even though Paris Hilton is in it and still getting more recognition than the stars... I'm not bitter...

So at Comic Con this year, I sat in on the "Doll House" panel with Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku. The show sounds really good, but after hearing about the re-shoots and little conflicts, I don't think it'll survive. Stick with Dr. Horrible, Joss, and contemplate a new "Buffy" movie or "Ripper" spin off. Let's all face it, Joss is a cool nerd, but that isn't enough if the writing is weak. PS. Stay away from FOX! Why in hell did you go back to them? They are almost as bad as NBC. The only show FOX has kept alive is "The Simpsons" and even they have started lacking in the laughs. I'll go and dodge all the hate mail the "Simpsons" fans are going to throw at me.

Anyway, I hope everyone out there has had a good Christmas, Holiday, Solstice, or whatever you celebrate, and have an awesome New Year!

Television: Not so Dead as I thought.

2008-12-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've written anything on here so I plan to make it up this weekend. I watched a couple of movies, one good, one so horrible it made me question Christopher Lee's sanity for a moment. I've been doing a lot of reading, finally finding the next Vampire Hunter D novel and slowly reading my way through several analogies (one by the notable David J. Skal if you like vampire fiction). It's been a busy but good week.

Television is my least favorite media. Wait, no. Let me rephrase. I hate t.v. Mostly everything on basic, satellite, whatever, is trash. The writing sucks and the acting is horrible. Sitcoms have been dead for years but we have millions of people watching "Desperate Housewives" or "CSI: Nowhere." Don't get me started on how wrong CSI is since it will be a part of my chosen profession. "Heroes" had potential I thought, but after one episode it was just not worth my time. "Lost" is worst. I almost got jumped for saying that its one of the most boring shows out there. I wouldn't complain about them if people loved them for how bad they were. That I can fully understand since I love movies which are so bad, they aren't even worthy of a B rating. I have a beef with people trying to pass them off as great works which should win every award under the sun. Ugh.

I do have some hope though. I've been tuning into a ton of BBC stuff and loving it. Yeah, the only reason I started watching "Merlin" was for Tony Head, but then I started watching the other actors and how the stories are brilliant and following Arthinian legend more closely than any other series I've seen in a long time. John Hurt narrates the series and also supplies the voice of the Dragon. Just last night I could not help but laugh at one of the plot twists because it was so perfectly executed! Can't you see the irony of a prince helping out a young boy and then only finds out the boy's name at the end; the audience alone knows that the boy grows up to be the prince's murderer? I love it when shows throw in teasers of what is to come, maybe whole seasons away. I'm a sucker for legends and mythology so seeing it played out with these hints just had me cheering. If you don't have satellite or can't order the channel its on, don't worry. It's suppose to be showing sometime early 2009 (not so far away now) on NBC. I'm only hoping they don't give it a shitty time slot.

So that is it for Television. Seriously, I don't have the time to watch so I'm literally just seeing what my favorite actors are doing and branching out from there.

Buffy, The Vampire Slayer

2008-12-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

Not too shabby an ending to a good show. It took me about a month and a half to get through all seven seasons (I primarily watched it in the wee hours of the morning). I liked it though. Not one of my favorites, but I did enjoy Joss Whedon's take on vampires and demons. Vampires are suppose to be creatures of evil and loathing. They are suppose to embody vices humans crave but which are ultimately our damnation (immortality, the taking of lives to live). I know from watching interviews and reading transcripts, Whedon liked "The X Files" and it had an XF vibe to it. It was like watching XF for older teens.

With its tendency to not take itself seriously, the show had a weird nostalgic feel of "Kolchak." Anyone else (if you know what "Kolchak" was) know what I'm talking about? Darin McGavin was a really serious actor (Lara Parker once commented he was "difficult") but he didn't take the show seriously. And it worked! It works here perfectly, too, with BtVS, as fans supposedly abbreviate it.

I probably, most likely, will get the comics and check out "season 8." It was a fun series and it'll be interesting to see if anything else comes of it. Maybe the "Ripper" spin-off BBC has been flip-flopping over?

Some Movie Tidbits

2008-12-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

I just saw some of the new teaser trailers they have out for Dragonball: Evoluntion (formerly only Dragonball). Now, I was really, supper iffy about this movie since I heard about its conception a decade ago. Seriously, it has been over a decade that this movie has been trying to get to the silver screen. I ran home to watch Dragonball, DBZ, and some of DB GT when it was on Cartoon Network in middle school and watched the episodes in spanish over the weekend. [It was great hearing Gohan, "Senor Piccolo! Donde esta su planeta y mi padre?"] No one could be as much as a badass as Goku and Vegeta (who is not in this film). When I saw the teaser photos, I rejected any possibility that this movie would last a week in the theaters. It looked horrible. The first trailer that leaked online looked bad, also.

This new one may have potential. The film is still going to not do well by any standards because it doesn't capture a large audience. The only thing that would save it would be word of mouth and just kids (old and young) who remember following along the stories and watching the anime movies. In the new teaser trailer, we get glimpses of fight scenes that look like they can entertain. I think I may have a ray of hope for this film.

A friend last night clued me into a fun gig for January. "Dark Knight" is going to be re-released in theaters on January 23rd. It really wants to beat Titanic so I say go see it. I was watching it in blu-ray last night and it was marvelous. I should have a blu-ray player soon so I can enjoy all the highest def my mind can handle.

I am going to get reaquainted with the New Beverly soon. I haven't been there in so long. I miss sitting with a very enthusiastic audience, watching people walk in with piazza boxes stuffed in their shirts (I'm talking about larges here), hearing the not-so-silent chink of alcoholic beverage bottles hit the floor and the giggles that follow it from everyone in the room. I really hope they are going to show "Black Christmas" and "Silent Night, Deadly Night" again or any other horror movie that deals with Christmas ("Gremlins" maybe?).

I'm thoroughly enjoying being off.

Coffee and Cigarettes

2008-12-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

Great movie, but I'm just stealing the title. I don't smoke. I do enjoy a cigarette every long once in a while in social settings. I can say my last cigg was at the beginning of summer. I never really got hooked or anything because I'm already a sucker for coffee. I drank a pot the day before yesterday to help me stay up till dawn and then downed almost another pot during the day. I kept it black, too (except for the Starbuck's peppermint mocha twist I endulged in). I promptly died last night around 12:15 after finishing my finals and getting the feeling back into my neck and back. I'm done though! My next quarter does not begin until January 7 or somewhere around that date. I won't bitch or gripe again about school unless winter turns out as bad or God forbid, worse, than this one (stupid economy cancelling classes and stuff).

The best news I've heard in a while came to me through one of the many Yahoo! mailing lists I'm on. Looks like Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are going to start filming "Dark Shadows" in the summer of next year! I thought it was a bad joke when I got the email. Filming will be done primiarily in London. This makes me wonder what storyline they are going to use or whether John August wrote a completely new one. It's ironic because the main character is affectionately called "The Cousin from England" but he had never set foot on English soil. More casting news should come through soon but I'm going to add my two cents. Alan Rickman should be cast. I have a feeling he's going to be Burton's regular guys. He could be cast as the main character's stuffy father, the brother of the matriach in the present day, or even as one of the villains (a character by the name of Evan Handly comes to mind [Evan was a satanic lawyer]). I should have asked him that last Wednesday, but his voice wiped every coherent thought from my head.
I think this movie will be pretty badass if Depp keeps it "traditional." The television show is still really out there even for today's standards.

I'm going through a bit of a Tony Head addiction at the moment. After seeing "Repo!" I was intrigued. Then started watching "Buffy" and "Little Britain" and I was sold. I can never pin-point exactly what attracts me to these older guys, but they are great and have solid work. I found episodes of "Merlin," his newest series, online so I'll probably catch up on those. There's going to be a convention in London for Joss Whedon so I'm stalking the guest list for that. I found great airfare to Heathrow right now, but I think I can get a better deal with Virgin if I wait a bit longer. The only snag in that plan is whether I can get the time off with my new job. I miss London so bad. I have been trying to go back but between time and finances... it sucks.

All I know as of this moment, in 2010, I'll be backpacking through the streets of the cities I've always wanted to visit in Europe.

Going Back to Normal

2008-12-05T09:56:00.000-08:00

After this action packed week, I'll return back to my semi-normal, not so hectic life. Life is good even though Finals are looming over my head and a very important step in my new job application process is coming up. I'm choosing a career in law enforcement so it is a very long process. It is worth it. For all the additional stress, I'm thriving off it instead of becoming downtrodden and weary. I'm a work-a-holic when there is work to be done and deadlines to finish (which I always finish early; I'll stop bragging). I'm going to miss the company and people I work for now. I have never worked for a place where they have taken such good care of their employees.

Hopefully, after Tuesday, I'll go back to viewing more movies every day. I just picked up (thanks to an early present from said company above) two dvds: "The Orphanage" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the movie. I've seen both. I still need to go through a lot of my classics, also. The break will be the best time for it since I'll just be at work in the mornings, working out in the afternoons, and settling down in the evenings. Most of my friends out here will be gone so there will be no late night jaunts (unless its something I can't miss).

Speaking of late night jaunts, I'll be attempting the almost impossible feat of changing my sleeping pattern. Again. Right now I wake up at 7 am and go to bed at 1 or 2 am (and sometimes 3) every day. I'm a night owl. In high school, I had the same schedule since I had a ridiculous amount of homework and reading every night. One night I didn't even sleep because of a damn project and presentation I had the next afternoon. Luckily I wasn't the only one and our other teachers took a little pity on us. I want to be able to wake up rested at 5:30 am and go to bed at 9:30 or 10 pm. Is it sad 10 pm sounds so early? With my night classes starting again in Winter Quarter, I'll push the time to 6: 30 am since my classes get out at 10. I don't want to kill myself like I almost did this quarter.

It is a funny feeling knowing that after I had met my favorite people in the world, I can walk up to anybody now and not be so starstruck. I've been searching for new events to go to of the new people I've taken an interest in. I think I'm going to wait and see what conventions are coming to town and just show up. You really never know who you are going to meet. I actually got a wink from James Marsters a couple years back but I didn't know who he was! My friend with me had to fill me in. Now, after getting into Buffy, I'm kicking myself for not at least getting a photo with him. He's a cheeky, flirty guy who knows how to work the fans. I think Fangoria is having their convention here in April and the Sci Fi channel has theirs around that time, too. The next Potter con is in July in San Francisco, but by then I don't know if I'll be in training or not so that's up in the air. There is another one in Boston, but I can't really fly out. I'll visit some other time when I want to go for the history. I'm bummed about the next Dark Shadows Festival. They are holding that in Rhode Island next summer. I've gone to the Fests for the past two years in a row. Oh well. With Johnny Depp's movie in the works (sort of), they will probably hold it here in Burbank again in 2010 or 11. It will make sense, especially if Depp holds the premiere at the Kodak or Grauhman's Chinese Theater.

If anyone knows of any convention or symposium happening in 2009, please, let me know. It could be anything horror, book, tattoo, piercing, sci fi, and all the other stuff related (and even if it's not related, I find everything interesting). Location doesn't matter. I really want to go to the collector's con (forgot the name) they hold in England so I'll have to see how my expenses pan out. I didn't mention Comic Con (San Diego) above because I went this year and didn't care for it at all. It was just too many people. I felt like I was in flea market. I'll have to know the line up before I sign up for it again because I'll only go to see people I know won't appear any where else (which isn't many in my book). Going incognito and alone is a must. It's every man or woman for themselves at that place.

One more thing... If any of the following people plan on appearing at events, hints or just a plain location will be very much appreciated: Quentin Taratino [who is at the New Bev sometimes but I always miss him!], Robert Rodriquez, Guillermo Del Torro, Tim Burton, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Caleb Carr, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, David Williams, Matt Lucas, Christopher Lee, and I'll leave it at that for now.

On Meeting the Love of My Life.

2008-12-04T08:23:00.001-08:00

Wow. Thank God I did not faint but Lord, I wanted to after what happened. Everything went great and was more than I expected.

I arrived in LA around 5. I ran into one of my friends, Marisa, in the Kodak Theater (easiest place to park in Hollywood) so we walked over to Jimmy's building which is directly in front. Our other friends, Quinn and Cindi, were waiting in line. I was too damned excited. I rocked back and forth on the balls of my feet, wrung my hands, checked my cell phone repeatedly. Tasha joined us around 5:45. I was all smiles and trepidation.

The people who ran the show finally let us in at 6:15 and had us wait around until they let us into the main room. If you've ever been to a taping, it takes forever to get into the studio. They sit you at specific places and fuss over everything. It wasn't as bad as when I with a ton of diehard X Files fans waiting to see Gillian Anderson. Our crowd was made up of fans of Dennis Leary and Ice Cube. The Ice Cube fanclub seemed to have bought a good chunk of the tickets. It did not stop us from being the loudest we could be.

If you saw the Jimmy Kimmel show last night, you know what happened there (or if not, click HERE). Leary had me cracking up and dying of laughter. He was a cool guy. They hit for commercial and then readied the stage for Rickman. My friends would glance at me and smile knowingly. I was elbowed a couple times. When they gave the 30 second warning, I couldn't think. In the 20 seconds after, all I did was stare at the door he would come through. The lights went back up and Jimmy introduced him.

Luckily I was "whooping" and "howling" so I had to breathe. I think that helped. I could feel my face turn tomato red and my skin tighten as my smile grew of its own accord. I loved when Jimmy mentioned the Voice study. Rickman was so incredulous. He really doesn't see his appeal or attraction. I wish his interview had been longer. One of the highlights for me was when he perfectly delivered a line from Die Hard. My God, that movie was 20 years ago! I did do that fangirl squeal. Ugh, what has this man reduced me to?!

The interview ended and he sauntered off stage, smiling and waving briefly to fans. My friends and I only thought of how the hell we were going to get out of there and to the backdoor. The crew did let us out a side door and we ran to the back. The major thing that sucked was the crew had made us check our cameras at the door. They would not give them back until after taping was over. We still had our trusty camera phones. A crowd was already there getting autographs and photos. I froze in the back. I could see him clearly. He was less than ten feet away. My friends has jumped fearlessly into the fray. Quinn kept pushing me to the front and telling me to get a photo. I couldn't do it. I was so embarrassed to even be standing there. It was a horrible feeling for someone who is usually as confident as hell.

Quinn actually grabbed me at one point and made to pick me up and push me to the front. I elbowed him. I apologize! Finally, I joined the others on their side since they were able to make a gap in the front. Tasha had my shoulders. Then the unbelievable happened.

Quinn shouted, "Alan, my friend, Alex, is in love with you and is too shy to talk to you!"

He smirked! Rickman smirked and turned to in our direction. I have never heard my name said like that. Rickman said hello to me and shook my hand as I tried to remember how to function. [The Drama is soaking in this post.] I replied it was nice to meet him and then turned for a quick photo. My friends were kidding me about my freeze up. I walked shakily back up to the street. HERE is a little bit of what happened in the back.

I really did feel drunk afterwards. A late dinner and a coconut margarita set me to rights. Thanks to Marisa, Tasha, Cindi, and especially Quinn! I would have never gotten the courage to walk up to him and talk to him if you guys hadn't pushed me. Love you.

Tomorrow! Tomorrow!

2008-12-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

I really despise that song. My apologies. It fits though since I have about 27 hours to go until I am in attendance at the Jimmy Kimmel Show in LA, trying to remember to breathe when Alan Rickman walks out onto that black, shiny stage. I will also be trying not to do that horrible fangirl squeal when he starts talking. This is the story about why I am so damned nervous and why I am embarrassed whenever someone mentions the words "London" and "park bench" in the same sentence.

In the summer of 2005, I went to London with the best group of girls and toured the city along with a short stay in Stratford-upon-Avon first. We were back in London on day 4 or 5 (I'd have to consult my journal to know for sure) and our first stop of the day was the Tower of London. If you've been there, you know there are always a lot of tourists ambling around, shops lining the Thyme's, all the good touristy stuff. It was warm that day for the British. I was bundled in a jacket, scarf, and gloves and received many looks. I'm from Southern California, warm for me is 85+ Fahrenheit, not 60F.

Our teacher gave us our tickets and let us loose to browse all the splendor and tragedy that is the Tower. A friend and I went through the White Tower first. I was ahead of her and the group when I exited the castle. I saw canons lining the wall and nonchalantly went over to them and took photos.

That was when I noticed the man on the park bench.

I almost dropped my camera. He was siting in a very relaxed pose. One leg crossed over the other. His left arm was stretched along the back of the bench. He wore a black jacket, a blue, button up shirt, with jeans and black dress shoes. [I still remember like it was yesterday.] His blondish white hair shined in the sunlight. I couldn't see his eyes because he was wearing sunglasses. His face though! I knew it!

At that point, I panicked. I did not have the bravery nor courage to approach him, to just hear him talk and validate his identity. I gasped. I actually did a full blown gasp! Now I knew what people were talking about in novels. I needed someone to be there with me so I walked as quickly as I could to the exit, ignoring all the signs telling tourist not to go that way, in order to find my friend. She knew I was in crush mode with Rickman. I had to pass him again and when I tried to not make it obvious I was staring (drooling), I tripped. I almost landed on my face. Wonderful way to get some one's attention! Luckily from being in track, I was able to stay on my feet, but in a very awkward fashion. I ended up running to the exit, only looking back fleetingly to make sure he stayed put.

My face was ruby red and I could hardly spit out the words. I ended up just grabbing her by the arm and dragging her back outside.

He was gone. I frantically looked around and only met the quizzical looks of the bystanders nearby. I second-guessed myself. "Was it really him?" Why would he be there of all places? News spread of my "sighting" and at least my teachers could understand my obsessive admiration of the man. The rest of the day I kept my eyes pealed on every male who walked near me. I'll never know for sure if it was him. Probably not though. He does have a couple brothers. They may look very similar. This man, whoever he may have been, looked remarkably like Rickman. I still feel foolish for not at least speaking with him to alleviate all my doubts. So tomorrow I'm praying I don't freeze up like a deer or worst of all, suddenly wake up to find a medic asking me what's my name and how many fingers is he holding up. Someone please kill me quickly since for me, that kind of embarrassment would be a fate worse than death.

I really do not know how I am going to get through the next long, agonzing hours.

Xmas Cheer and Other Stuff.

2008-11-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

Nope, not feeling it. I was absolutely appalled when I walked into my mall a couple weeks back. They already had everything set up for Christmas. Garland was hung from the railings and every pillar was adorned with lights. Thanksgiving hasn't even passed, folks! My hometown's downtown is already spruced up with lights and fake snow. The city where I currently live has decorated their main streets. My neighbors have decorated the walk ways with plastic candy canes and colored lights. Where I live, the lowest temperature so far has been 60 at night with above 72 during the days. For me, that's pretty cool, but for the rest of the country, it's raining, snowing, and just freezing. I think a lot of people have jumped the gun on Christmas. I've banned Christmas music from being played in my presence until December 1. I'd be so sick of it come the 25th (unless the music was like Korn's "Jingle Bells"). I have never cared for new Christmas movies which are only worthy of the Hallmark channel. I'm fine with watching Jimmy Stewart over and over again. At least he can act. I'm no scrooge, but even I didn't start doing stuff for Halloween until October 1st.

In other news....

I have not been able to get out to the cinema or even watch any new films because of the lack of time. I have had time to watch new shows like "Little Britain" and "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" in parts. I have a couple classes that are pointless that I've tried watching stuff in, but reading the dialogue is a little bit of a hassle when the people behind you start whispering, "Go back, I missed a line!" Plus, even reading the jokes in "Little Britain" has me biting my fist to keep from laughing. It really isn't good to be smiling in a Theory of Punishment class. With the long weekend ahead of us, I plan to relax and catch up. I still want to see "Quantam of Solace" some time. I like Craig's Bond.

Hm... what else? 10 days until I see Alan Rickman. I can't say anything more about that unless I make myself all giddy.

Twilight (No Spoilers)

2008-11-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

First of all, I'm not a hardcore "Twilight" fan. I have read all the books. I understand the appeal. I lust after the actors; Peter Fascinelli's scenes are wonderful. I've gotten books signed by Stephanie Meyers, yada, yada.

I liked the movie. It wasn't the major failure it could have been. I did have some problems with the story progression. Pattinson is beautiful but some of his acting is still wooden. I wished they included more of the minor characters. There wasn't just that "wow" factor to it though. Since they are often incorrectly compared (but I'll do it anyway), at least every time I've seen a Harry Potter film, I can walk out with one aspect that totally awed me. [Disclaimer: I am a die hard Potter fan and always will choose the boy wiz over the pretty boy "vamp."] There was always an epic feeling to Potter. "Twilight" didn't cut it.

It was fun to see. I was actually more in awe of the theater (I'm a nerd like that) we were in since it held a bar and lounge, extremely comfortable leather recliners, and not expensive at all for what you got. Any theater that let's me sip a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in the theater instead of some designated area is one I'll be visiting again.

Please Excuse this Moment of a frantic Fangirl.

2008-11-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

I'M GOING TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM AS ALAN RICKMAN!

I'm shaking. I'm lightheaded. I can't concentrate on anything for the moment (and well, the past twenty minutes). Rickman has been my first fangirl crush for so long. I've never met him nor had the chance to see him. Now, I find out he's in LA and I have a ticket for the event.

Wow. So this is what it feels like to be a barely breathing, overly excited fangirl.

Is it fate that after posting my last entry I get an email a couple days later? I don't know how I'm going to react when he first walks onto that small stage. Thank God the room it's in isn't large at all. I'll be 20 feet away from him at most if they seat me in the back (which heaven help that person). I'll be running to the back entrance.

I'm blushing already! Just thinking about it has me all "doe eyed" and stupid. Ah! I've made fun of people who are in such a state as this, but now that I'm in it, I can fully appreciate what they went through. It's a rush.

I feel like I'm dreaming and cannot wake up. The next couple weeks are going to be tortuous in the extreme. Oh Lord help me.

Now back to our regular programming. Maybe.

My Guys...

2008-11-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

When I fall for an actor, I fall hard. Immediately (but always within my modest budget), I compile all the works he's ever done, read past interviews, watch every interview and clips on youtube. Usually I look online if I can find the movies or shows posted and then spend cash to watch the stuff I can't find. The actor of the moment could be in the most outrageous movie and I'll go see it. I went and saw "Galaxy Quest" just for the sole reason of Alan Rickman. I drive my friends crazy with talk of that one person, but especially my Mum who lovingly puts up with it on the weekends when I visit. Let's start with Mr. Rickman.

Alan Rickman was the first actor who if I saw him walking down the street or sitting on a park bench (inside joke), I'd hyperventilate. The first movie I ever saw him in was "Die Hard." It's my favorite Christmas movie. It's my favorite movie overall. I remember laying down on our carpet, my wrists holding up my head, watching this truly sophisticated, villain, outsmart every person in the building, even the hero until practically the end of the film. Again, it was the voice. When I found out about filmographies and other stuff like that, I was already half way to the store looking for his other movies. I scanned the t.v. guides and taped any movie that was on too late or too early. When he was cast as my favorite Potter character, I knew it was fate. As of now I have seen every movie except Dark Harbor. That one has eluded me. I anxiously await his other films, including his role in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" as the Caterpillar. I don't think he gets enough recognition in the world of films. He does have large fan base though. I'll still be the lone figure at the cinema, blushing whenever he speaks and having the people in the theater wondering why in hell am I fidgeting so much.

I didn't even know what the second guy looked like until years after I first heard his voice. When we went camping, my parents would have a ton of tapes that my brother and I could enjoy and fall asleep to. I can remember listening to ballads sung by Luis Miguel and waking up to Freddie Fender. Queen was always high on our list since my parents would sing along with us. Yes, we are a sappy wannabe Partrich family. There was one precious tape that beat every other out of the water. Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Phantom of the Opera" was our first choice. We drove our parents nuts with it. We made them buy a second tape when we overplayed and broke the first. They had seen the original performances of Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in LA and had bought the highlights tape (since CDs weren't even common or made yet). I had looked through their playbill mesmerized by the costumes and darkness of the stage. I didn't even know the story but had a faint grasp of it through the lyrics. Michael Crawford's voice lulled me to sleep or had my heart racing as the music rose and sped through a crescendo of violence and misery. Thinking on it now, I realize I've always been a creepy kid. Now, I'm just an adult with morbid tastes and humor. Like I mentioned earlier, I had never seen his real face. All the photos I had seen were of him in full, disfiguring makeup, wearing a black tux and cape. It was only when I was off of middle school, sick as a dog, that I saw him on television. I was curled on the couch watching "Hello Dolly!" dozing through the long dance sequences and wishing to God there was something else on, when I heard something familiar. This skinny white guy was trying to pull a Yonkers accent but his British one was too strong. All the vowels were still too strongly sung. It bugged me throughout the whole movie. When the credits rolled I couldn't believe it. This young guy became one of the most successful men of the stage? Nevertheless, when they used the songs in "Wall E" I was more excited than the kids in the theater. This was love at first note.

The eyes were the attraction for the next man. They were blank and desolate. He had "goat's eyes," a term used for sociopaths, implying they had no soul. Anthony Hopkins scared me. It took me a year to watch "Silence of the Lambs" in its entirety. Jonathan Demme's awesome viewpoints in the film helped fill the film with the horror mood. The closeup on Hopkin's eyes in his prison cells made me cringe away from the screen. I was afraid he'd bite me if I risked being any closer. Well, like the pattern goes, I watch and read everything he's in. I'm looking for a rare tape that has a conversation between Laurence Olivier, Peter O'Toole, and, I believe, Richard Harris. The only thing is none of them are really there. Hopkins taped himself impersonating their voices. This is usually a "black market" item because it has never been released to the public. I wish he would do more voice work in his films. Anyway, him being in "The Wolfman" is going to be awesome!

So I have autographs, photos, posters, hundreds of DVDs in my room and apartment all dedicated to the men in my life. David Selby and David Duchovny share the same wall space. Rickman and Crawford have their own spaces since I have framed photos and letters. (Crawford personalizes everything and is a fangirl's dream when answering questions.) Anthony Head has caught my eye and ears for now after seeing "Repo!" I've watched two seasons of "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" (which is more about demons than vampires, but still has me interested) and am looking for links to "Little Britain." "Macbeth" looks like it will take forever and a day to get a release date in the States.

I really think I have OCD. But is it really a problem when I enjoy it so much?

The Fall

2008-11-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

Absolutely, visually stunning. Breathtaking. A surreal dream and nightmare.

Those were the first thoughts I had as I watched the ending credits role for The Fall. I have not seen a film shot so beautifully. It is a testament that a movie can be made brilliantly without the use of CG. The story is captivating and enchanting. I sat staring at the t.v. screen in awe. I didn't even look up to see who had entered the room when I heard footsteps. Tarsem, the director, hasn't done much ("The Cell" is the only film I've seen and he doesn't have anything else listed on his IMDB page) but I know he'll produce something that'll be just as great if not better than this movie. That is already a tough job to make something better. I'm really surprised this movie hasn't gotten more attention. I definitely know that it hit all the independent theaters and festivals. My brother who works at one of those theaters "one upped" me when I asked him if he's seen the film. He's seen it and met Tarsem during a Q and A they held. Damn it. I should have gone to one of the LA screenings.

"Assassin, Murderer, Monster"

2008-11-13T08:19:00.000-08:00

It's been two days since I've seen "Repo! The Genetic Opera" and I like it even more today than yesterday. There has not been a movie that has stayed with me in a long time. I've been trying to get other friends to go see it (with the added benefit of myself seeing it again). My review yesterday showed my lack of sleep so it wasn't as passionate as I would have wanted it to be.

I didn't focus on the music so much yesterday, but after really listening to the soundtrack all day after I got off work... wow. Normally I don't even care for rock opera. It would be too distorted to my ears and the voices don't normally go along with the music. I shudder to think what Luciano Pavarotti would sound like with an electric guitar blaring in the background. Sarah Brightman's bell-like soprano with Terrance Zdunich's clear, low voice, along with Anthony Head's powerful one, just all came together and carried the whole movie.

Zdunich's ability to go very low, sometimes even whispering lines, and then suddenly belting out a half growl, made all his songs memorable. As the narrator he knew everything happening and gladly added to the irony of the situations. His sarcastic nature and scorn for the society improved on the story.

Brightman has always been a favorite when she sings within in her range. Yeah, I have to admit I'm a purist Phantom fan which means I probably will not willingly buy an album of Lloyd Weber's musical, Phantom of the Opera, if her and Michael Crawford are not present. That's just me. I've seen the show in Los Angeles and London. It hasn't been the same. She's released other albums where she has tried to lower her range to "normal" singer (ie. singing songs like "Wonderful World," etc). Her voice is too powerful for stuff like that. Did you know that most actresses now who play the role of Christine in "Phantom" cannot reach the same hieght during the aria of the song "Phantom of the Opera?" The song is actually changed subtely to make up for the lost beats. Most people don't even notice. Anyway, in "Repo!" her arias are heard throughout the whole thing! Even in the song "Chase the Morning," Brightman only lowers her register a bit. She dominates the song. Poor Alexa Vega. My confidence would have dived straight down to the negatives.

Tony Head. I walked out of that cold, dark theater with a new voice crush. I don't care what the hell he looks like or how old he is, I could listen to him talk or sing for hours. I loved the way he changed his voice when he was singing as Nathan and Repo Man. Nathan's voice was clear and soft. Once he put on the leather, his voice became much rougher, but a little high. I love how the emotion soakes through, especially at the end. I never watched "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" so I didn't know he could sing. I did order the whole series the other day since the only time I have watched it was at my friend's bachelor pad.

Again, if you haven't seen the movie, if you're able to, GO! It really is worth it!

Repo! The Genetic Opera: The Rocky Horror of Our Times?

2008-11-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

It's the morning after and I still have lyrics running through my head. I know I said I'd see this movie this past weekend, but things pop up as usual so I had to delay my visit. I have never cared about driving long distances or times (usually an hour or so depending on traffic) so with all my classes not in session, last night was perfect. [I'm not one to stay in. Open nights are too tempting.]

I knew my friend and I were in for something when we saw people dressed up in line, waiting to get their tickets. We got ours and went to get our seats. We had a pretty modest crowd that made me immediately think we were going to have a good time regardless if the movie sucked. They previewed the trailer for a Ralph Fiennes movie and we got a couple laughs when my friend stage whispered, "Voldemort!"

The screen went black for about ten seconds and you could feel that the audience was holding it's breath. Everyone in that room had probably heard all the raving reviews and commentary. Before I go on, there will be MAJOR spoilers in this review. The movie isn't showing widely and the DVD will probably be out soon so I'm not too worried about people getting pissed off at me. You have been warned.

The film starts with the prologue. An epidemic of organ failures occurs. No one knows why or has a cure. The only option is to transplant new ones into the patients. A new company appears, GeneCo, which offers organs on lease if you can't afford the operation. No one reads the fine print. A proposition passes which suddenly makes organ repossessions legal and in comes the Repo Man. He stalks the people if they run and try to hide. He kills them quickly and just burrows into their bodies, even when they aren't quite dead yet, and takes what organ he was assigned to repossess. Legal assassinations. Like a good Repo Man, he takes his catch and puts it on ice. All of this is shown in an excellent comic book sequence. Our main character appears, Alexa Vega as Shilo, and the story runs full speed ahead. Shilo is 17 years old with a rare blood disease, supposedly inherited by her mother who died at child birth.

Vega is good in her role, but she's not a singer. She projects all the innocence and nativity the role demands. I didn't like her in the rebellious scenes. "Seventeen" had me thinking, "What the fuck?" We then get introduced to her father, Nathan Wallace, aka The Repo Man. Anthony Head (Giles of Buffy the Vampire fame) is perfect. No one took their eyes off of him when he was on screen. After Terrance Zdunich and Sarah Brightman, vocally, he was awesome. Shilo in the first sequences wonders off into a graveyard and meets our narrator, the drug dealing Grave robber, played by Terrance Zdunich. He steals a very addictive painkiller called zydrate from the bodies of former "knife addicts." Shilo watches in disgust as he pulls bodies out of tombs and inserts needles into the noses. Signs are posted all around decreeing that grave robbers will be shot on sight. He purposely gets them caught but he flees into a storage facility with nothing but bodies. Shilo is captured but her father shows up in full Repo Man gear and the guards back off. Shilo was going into shock from not having her medication so she doesn't fully remember the incident. It's only at the end when she finds out her father is the infamous Repo Man.

I loved how every character was connected to one person, Marni Wallace, Shilo's dead mother. The audience only finds this out in pieces though. Every character is connected through their associations with this mysterious woman. She's only shown through the interweaving comics and flashbacks. I'll bungle the story is I go into it anymore, plus it'll add about five or six more paragraphs.

If you're in an area where they are showing it, I highly recommend seeing it. Black humor and irony are at its best. This movie will stick with you; I'm still humming it and thinking over my favorite scenes.

Check out the trailer HERE and a clip from one of the songs...

OH Crap...

2008-11-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Well, I was reading another review for a movie when I stumbled randomly on this tidbit of information:

JJ Abrams has permission to film The Dark Tower series...

The Dark Tower series is possibly my second favorite set of books by Stephen King; The Stand being his magnus opus. I absolutely loved how King incorporates other characters from his other books such as the doomed Father Callahan from Salem's Lot, lost forever in limbo (or hell). King has big ones for incorporating himself into the story, going so far as to kill himself off and then re-creating the real life accident that almost killed him (years ago he was hit by a car while jogging). The whole series was just one great journey, essentially a spaghetti western with sci-fi and horror in abundance. A reader never knew what was going to happen when Roland, the main character, reached that Tower and fulfilled his destiny. I finished the seventh and last book in one night. I was so hyped to see what would happen and how it would end... I was blown away the next day with shock and in hindsight, thought "I should have known." I'm not going to spoil it, so if you haven't read the series, please do. Be prepared for buying all the connected stories, too, since they hook you in.

I really don't like Abrams. "Star Trek" is in my iffy list of upcoming movies to see. My main reason is the decision to cast Chris Pine as Kirk. That guy cannot act. Everything is so forced. He tries too hard. Pine and Abrams will probably kill the franchise. I haven't seen "Cloverfield" and I will never see it because of the way it was shot. I enjoy not being motion sick during my films, thanks. As for LOST... I tried watching the first six episodes. You know I love stuff that makes you think, but LOST just doesn't make any sense! Irrational would be putting it way too mildly. It's just all drama and not the good kind. It reminds me of the high school shit with no point. It drags on and on with no resolution. Boring.

I hope Abrams is smart and only produces this project. They need a director with a very visually creative mind and who will stay away from CG. I can already picture the stupid studio requesting everything be in CG. CG will kill the series. The whole story is already beyond reality and adding more fakness to it will be the last nail in the coffin. It'll be too "out there" for a large audience.

In all honestly, I hope the films are never made. Go read instead, people.

REPO! Opens Today?!

2008-11-07T10:13:00.001-08:00

So I've heard nothing but good things about this movie ("Repo! The Genetic Opera!" for all of you slackers) and have been dying to see it. BC from "Horror Movie a Day" just posted a blog about it being out in theaters. I checked the main site's calander of events and lo and behold it's playing at the Pasadena Playhouse 7! YES! I will have to take a detour tonight or Sunday to go see this thing. It's been months since I first heard about this film.

The only good movie out in theaters that I've seen was "Zack and Miri Make a Porno." It was pretty funny and had me grossed out at a very unexpected scene... The last good movie before that was "Let the Right One In" at the LA Film Fest back in July, I think.

The Most Intolerant People I have ever met...

2008-11-05T13:10:00.000-08:00

... are the ones preaching tolerance.

You guys know how I voted. I'm pretty moderate but lean right (Disclaimer: I am a proud Roman Catholic, gun owner, soon to be in a law enforcement career, soon to have a BA in Criminology and Law, etc.). I did give my vote for Prop 8 to my friends even though after reading the proposition, I knew this was poorly written and would lead to a whole shit load of problems in future.

Did people stop to think or wonder what no definition of marriage would really be like? Most people think it is equality for everyone... Well, everyone and everything is included when you think of it from a purely legal and sterile perspective. Judges will have no legal standing to decide whether a "marriage" is legal or not... including that of arranged marriages, marriages between minors, marriages between people and pets. Seriously, I am not trying to be funny or equate gay unions to something equivalant to beastiality. Far from it. (And anyone who dares call me a hatemonger will just have to look at my friends and the company I keep to know how wrong their words are.) There are sick people out there who really would start a case based on sick shit like this; and they'd win!

The proposition really should have had a definition something akin to "Unions between consenting persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender, accepted by the State of CA." Something that is clear cut and leaves out the crazies while making it clear that it is a State function instead of a religious one. And don't start bitching at me for using the word "union." Straight people who had civil unions are in marriages! People don't say, "Hi, we were just unionized." They say, after they walk out of city hall, "We just got married." It's the same deal, folks. I thought actions were louder than words...

People can spout off that the word "marriage" is neutral all they want, but 99% of people will equate it with religion. It's just the natural conotation. "Marriage" has been thought of as a religious sacrament whether you're Christian, Jewish, Islamic, whatever, for thousands of years. Plus, the threat that churches, mosques, and synagogues could be sued for not administering same-sex marriages was a bad part on the No on 8 people. Never should have brought those into play. The saying is "God and Country," not "Country and God." People's personal and private beliefs will trump any state thing as we just saw.

Hey, and there's hope out there. Four years ago, the vote was over 60% against same-sex unions. This morning it was 52. Get a good legal writer in there, take out all the religious conotations, keep it a state function with no threats to religious freedom or institutions, and you'll win! Fair and Square! I would love to see some of my friends walk down that isle and marry their partners. Their relationships are even more strong then some hetero ones I know.

So please, before you start saying "haters!" "bigots!" and shit like that, stop and think about being open minded. Doesn't it mean being open to all things and respectful of another's opinion? I thought closed minded people were the ones who didn't look at all the perspectives... Just the phrase "I will never know how you can think like that" is closed minded and you basically outed yourself and shown your ignorance. Knowing both perspectives helps greatly.

50 Movie Packs...

2008-11-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

I actually want to "talk" about a really good deal/item that I think people who love horror movies should look into getting, especially if you want to expand your palate. I saw someone on another blog post a comment about it and then on Halloween I spoke with a friend who loved it, too. I'm going on about the "50 Movie Packs" that have been popping up in my Best Buy or DVD Planet, wherever I got mine from (seen it at both places). I was browsing for new movies when the Horror one caught my eye.

Here is the list of the films that it includes:

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde starring John Barrymore
Blue Beard starring John Carradine
The Corpse Vanishes starring Bela Lugosi
Night of the Living Dead starring Judith O'Dea
Doomed to Die starring Boris Karloff
The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney, Sr.
The Indestructible Man starring Lon Chaney, Jr.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Lon Chaney, Sr.
Nosferatu starring Max Schreck
Swamp Women starring Mike Connors
The World Gone Mad starring Pat O'Brien
The Little Shop of Horrors starring Jack Nicholson
Tormented starring Richard Carlson
The Monster Walks starring Rex Lease
Monster from a Prehistoric Planet starring Tamio Kawaji
The Gorilla starring The Ritz Brothers
A Shriek in the Night starring Ginger Rogers
Bloodlust starring Robert Reed
The Amazing Mr. X starring Turhan Bay
Last Woman on Earth starring Robert Towne
The Bat starring Vincent Price
The House on Haunted Hill starring Vincent Price
The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price
Dementia 13 starring William Campbell
Phantom from 10,000 Leagues starring Kent Taylor
Carnival of Souls starring Candace Hilligoss
Atom Age Vampire starring Alberto Lupo
Creature from the Haunted Sea starring Robert Towne
Nightmare Castle starring Barbara Steele
Black Dragons starring Bela Lugosi
Invisible Ghost starring Bela Lugosi
One Body Too Many starring Bela Lugosi
White Zombie starring Bela Lugosi
Attack of the Giant Leeches starring Ken Clark
The Screaming Skull starring John Hudson
Beast of Yucca Flats starring Tor Johnson
The Terror starring Boris Karloff
Revolt of the Zombies starring Dean Jagger
The Giant Gilla Monster starring Don Sullivan
The Fatal Hour starring Boris Karloff
Dead Men Walk starring George Zucco
The Mad Monster starring George Zucco
Maniac starring Bill Woods
Metropolis starring Gustav Frolich
The Vampi

Really, if you were to buy all of this separately, it would kill your wallet and send it to hell. I've seen some of these movies solo for more than what this pack is worth! Ok, I will fess up and say that the transfer quality is lacking and some of the sound is awful, but if you don't care if the movie is in HD or 5.1 surround sound (or whatever), then this is for you.

This is a good start for a person starting out their horror journey. You have a lot of classics mixed with the random and bizarre. My favorite films on here have to be "Nosferatu," "Phantom of the Opera," and "The Last Man on Earth." I wish they included more of Karloff's movies but I know it's because those sell very well separately. "Carnival of Souls" will creep you out. "Atom Age Vampire" will make you laugh. "Metropolis" is a good study in special effects, plus I know every film student has to watch this at least at one time or another. I haven't watched all of these yet, but I'm working on it.

Anyway, anyone know when/if Lon Chaney's "Wolfman" will be out on DVD? I heard that there has been trouble getting the rights and bargaining with his family... It's a shame it has not be released.

"Trick R Treat" Book Review

2008-11-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

I finally realized that if I can't see the film, I'll read the book (though why I didn't think of this first amazes me). Here's my thoughts.

1) Warner Bros. are idiots for not releasing this film.
2) Michael Dougherty is a man after my own heart.
3) All that is Halloween is represented by the stories interwoven in the movie.

Really, I loved everything. I did cheat and head straight to the stories and then read about the production, but can you blame me? Nothing is what it seems in the stories. The black humor comes out in waves and then lets terror wash over once you realize what you're laughing at. After reading it last night, I truly know that I missed out when the movie screened at ScreamFest and then again by AINC. This would have been the perfect movie for the holiday.

I absolutely hate how studios feel they have an obligation to "protect" the public. I can tell you after reading the stories, I knew more to why the studios didn't release it. Killing kids and stories about tainted candy are horrifying, but it's a movie! Worse is happening all around the world! Where they afraid of some crazy turning into a copycat by poisoning candy or sinister bus drivers thinking of driving a group of kids off a cliff? Believe me, not even 80% of Americans are that creative. There is a simple solution for the studios to remedy their fears: place a warning before the movie and let the audience have a minute to decide whether to walk away or stay at their own moral peril. No one twisted their arm to be there. Now WB has no excuse not to release this film.

You Can't Kill The Boogeyman...

2008-11-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Halloween. Wow. First off, random dance parties that involve nothing but good tunes and strobe lights with people you love are the best. Waking up early after said parties is something that only crazy people do (especially when the party started at midnight...).

Anyway, I went on the bus tour for Halloween's 30th anniversary. It does not seem like the movie is 30 years old. It is still the essential horror movie. After much needed coffee my friend and I headed over to the convention. The tour was great and it felt so awesome to just stand out in front of the house. I shivered when I first laid eyes on the Myers House. We were not allowed to go onto the porch because it is now a private business. The owners painted it blue with pinkish trim. I would have left it white. The owners did not even put any decorations. Didn't they know whose house they owned?! I would have decked that place out with all manners of horrors along with my own Michael walking around, going from window to window, and occasionally walking out onto the porch. Blood would have been everywhere. Yes, they sucked. We were allowed to take photos. Brian Andrews, actor who played little Tommy Doyle, was walking around, happy to pose with fans. My friend has that photo on her camera so I might post it here if I get it soon.

We walked around South Pasadena for what seemed like hours and saw the other filming locations and headed to the schools where they filmed. At the end of the tour we were in Sierra Madre where they filmed the cemetery scene with Dr. Loomis and then some shots from III and IV. We went to the church where "The Fog" was filmed, but at that time, I was dying. A salad and large margarita set me to rights but then we ran out of time to see the Doyle house and also the "Nightmare on Elm Street" house in Hollywood. Photos of our adventure can be seen HERE.

We never made it out to the New Bev because our tour ended at 6 and we were dead tired. Traffic would have been horrendous, too. I was running on two hours of sleep and crashing fast. We did sleep for 3 hours and tried to decide where to go when we woke up. I could have really slept the rest of the night, which after driving back to my house, I did. I'm still beat from the mixture of midterms, papers, parties, and reponsibilities in between so I'm apologize that I'm not more detailed here. I just really wanted to get something out before I forget. More to come soon.

And In Other News...

2008-10-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

I cannot concentrate worth a damn at the moment. I have a midterm paper that is due at 5 o'clock this afternoon but I can't seem to finish the second part. I have plenty of time since the first part didn't take me more than an hour to do, but I just really hate procrastinating. The thought of being in "Haddonfield" tomorrow has me excited and apprehensive. I'm stoked to be going to the New Bev tomorrow to kick off Halloween with Edgar Wright (unless one of my friends throws a party...). He's always a good guy to listen to and always has good presentations. "Shaun of the Dead" is going to be a riot with the kind of crowds the New Bev brings in. I can't wait to see the original cut of his trailer, "Don't!" that was shown before Taratino's "Death Proof." I freaked in the theater when I saw it when "Grindhouse" opened. Jason Isaac's cameo was the best. I haven't seen "Riki: The Story of Rick Oh" so I'm looking forward to that.

This might seem weird, but I'm sad Halloween is tomorrow. All the time leading up to it, has been wonderful and the thought that it'll be over at midnight tomorrow is depressing. Another 365 days in which to wait again. Another 365 days of sorting through movies to find the diamond in the rough. The only thing that gives me a glimpse of hope is the "maybe" release of "Trick 'r' Treat" sometime next year. I'm still sore about not getting to see it. I guess I'll have to keep Halloween in my heart and be satisfied with that till next year.

Photos of the Myers house should be up Saturday afternoon or whenever I decide to rejoin the real world.

Rob Zombie's Halloween-Review

2008-10-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

I started watching Rob Zombie's "Halloween" during class but then decided against it because the people behind me where already watching over my shoulder (giving me pointers on solitaire [they thought I was playing freecell]) and because the movie starts off extremely crude and violent in true Zombie fashion. It actually levels off though. I thought the movie was going to be more violent and stomach lurching, but it wasn't. Argento's "Third Mother" is much more violent and graphic than "Halloween 2007." I loved it though. It kept with the spirit that is "Halloween" and added a whole other layer of intrigue and humanity into the characters. I was almost heartbroken at the end in a really odd way.

I've noticed Rob Zombie has really creative ways into how he develops his characters. He uses different devices and characters to help others grow instead of it just being one whole gore fest. For this film, he wanted everyone to feel that it was real. There wasn't that much blood or feats of superhuman strength. The supernatural was kept at bay, but still there in essence. He achieved his goal.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the original better still. The original was much scarier. Not knowing why a person is after you, is frightening. There were more suspenseful moments and eerie scenes. I will never forget the "doorway" scene and the scene where Michael sits up with Laurie Strode unsuspecting. That has been ingrained already. When John Carpenter was involved, the series was golden.

As a criminologist-in-training, I was really surprised at the beginning. Instead of going for the whole, "he's just evil and let's leave it at that" kind of stuff, Zombie brings in Dr. Loomis immediately. You see all the elements that dragged Michael into madness. (Killing small animals at a young age is a warning sign of psychopathy in real life including fire starting and bedwetting.) One of the deleted scenes has Dr. Loomis speaking about "nature v. nurture" theories. It's interesting stuff. To me though, it humanized Michael too much. People don't scare me; Monsters do. I felt pity for the big guy instead of being horrified.

Tyler Mane was great as the adult Myers. Zombie wanted someone who was extremely large and who had screen presence. He definitely choose the right person. At 6'10" Mane is the tallest Michael to date. When he's in the jump suit though, he's proportional. He doesn't look bulky or way too muscled. He didn't change like Jason Voorhees who went from a regular man into this WWF (or whatever it's called now a days) wrestler with beyond superhuman strength.

Other cast members that I loved seeing was Udo Kier, Clint Howard, and Brad Dourif. Malcom McDowell gets an honorable mention because he was almost as brilliant as Donald Pleasence. I wished they had released an extended version of the film with all the deleted scenes. Some were really good. They cut the "Death has come to your little town, Sheriff" scene! That's the line of the franchise! Oh well, I can't complain, too much...

The alternate ending was better, but I understand why they went with the one they did. The alternate was way too emotional. I'm a closet romantic so I wanted him to have a good ending. If you haven't seen it, I won't give it away, but let's just say you'll be rooting for Michael instead of the cops. The original ended violently and abruptly. I liked it, too. It makes you wonder if the whole Myers clan is as fucked up as everyone thinks they are.

Rumors are flying that Zombie is working on a "Halloween 2" and "3." I think he could keep up the good work and do the franchise justice.

To OG

2008-10-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

If you subscribe or read Entertainment Weekly, he writes some of the movie reviews. I don't recommend reading his columns either.

Mr. OG,

Please tell me you are not serious about the recent review of "Let the Right One In." Are you so thick headed and dull that you can't catch the subtle inferences? Can you not add 1 and 1 together to make 2? It's a vampire movie, first off. That should help you and explain away a couple of complaints you had. The older man in the film was not Eli's real father of course. He was a mortal man who traveled with her. The reason why he was going off to kill people in the woods? As Eli's keeper, he drains people for her! That would be why he hangs the people upside down and puts buckets underneath them to collect the blood. Oh! That's clever! And why is Oskar so lonely and infatuated with violence? Let's see... Could it be that he is the outcast who is constantly bullied? Couldn't be, could it? And not to mention his father is mostly out of the picture... Hm... what else? The title of the movie you ask? Oh for the love of... Do you not have an inkling of vampire lore and legend?! Any kid who has seen Looney Tunes' Halloween specials can tell you that! You have to invite a vampire into any private home. They can enter against your will but if they do, they're powerless and usually have their blood start pouring out of every orifice. Not a pretty thing to gaze upon as I'm sure you'll agree if you remember that scene from the movie (if you watched it at all).

It's people like you, sir, who are the travesties of Hollywood and contribute to the "dumbing" down of films. When an intelligent film comes along and makes you think, you pass it off as "confusing." If the film is subtitled, it is presumed not worth the time and effort. No wonder common sense is not so common. Your review makes you out to be a xenophobe and a very incompetent writer. At the very least, if you do not know the core subject of a film, the prime example being vampires, do a little research before seeing it. It will help.

~A

5 Days...

2008-10-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

I am so excited at the moment. For a horror movie lover like myself, Halloween is the ultimate day. It's the Superbowl equivalent. I have already gotten in really good scares along with being scared to death. My Dad owns a Michael Myers mask so I've been frightened a couple times already. After I did my make-up (see profile photo), I went down and scared my Mum. I had yellow contacts on with my fangs, too.

Now, I've been trying to watch a movie a day or at least get in some horror documentaries just to brush up on my horror smarts. This weekend I thought I was going to have a whole day to just take in all the blood, gore, suspense, and over-kill violence; however, stuff comes up and I'm busy until I'm back at my own place. I did watch two movies.

"Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" was ok, but the change in Myers's mask had me annoyed mostly the whole time. The movie poster is misleading since it has the original Myers in the photo. Danielle Harris plays Jamie, Michael's niece and new victim since Jamie Lee Curtis's character supposedly died in a car crash. We all know this isn't true since they created 7 and 8. The one who again does an excellent role in this franchise is Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis, Michael's Nemesis. I can't wait to see the rest of the series to see how his character develops.

The second movie I watched was "Freddy vs. Jason." I have to say this was extremely entertaining and had me laughing at all the dark humor spread across from it. I only jumped once throughout the whole film. Robert Englund reprises his role as Freddy Kruger, the right-knife-handed, burned, child murderer. I really love how the writer included an overview of Freddy's life when he was still alive at the beginning of the movie. I think this is the first time Englund appears as Kruger without the burns and pounds of prosthetics. He's just sick. The premise of the movie is that Elm Street has forgotten about Freddy. Freddy is trapped in Hell and looking for a way out. He finds Jason slumbering and uses him to travel to Elm Street so Jason could kill a couple of the locals in a kind of Freddy fashion. Of course, one of the kids starts to remember Freddy and then dooms the rest of them. It all leads to a huge show down at Camp Crystal Lake (Jason's home field advantage) with Freddy being brought over to the real world. I won't say who "won" the fight, but it is a bit a fluffy moment. The most ridiculous thing in the movie that had me questioning my sanity is when the typical token stoner is smoking a bunt and sees Freddy's worm version enter the room. Freddy pulls out a bong and lights up with the kid before leaving the room. What? Why did that have to be in there? Beats me.

Anyway, I got a couple new movies to get through before Halloween. My DVDs of the last Halloween movies haven't come in yet so I'm hoping they're in by Wednesday... I will be watching "Salem's Lot (1979)," "John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns," "Stuart Gordon's Dreams in the Witch House," and "Frankenstein (1931)."

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

2008-10-24T10:29:00.001-07:00

"Poison, Drowning, Claw or Knife...
So Many Ways to Take a Life."

News Flash! Warner Bros. screws up again! Last night the lovely Tasha and I myself were jibbed out of a very good movie, but that didn't really ruin our night. "Trick 'r' Treat" was screening at the Grauman's Chinese Theater (I'm becoming quiet accustomed to that one) but I wasn't able to get on the guest list. [And before anyone starts telling me I spelled "or" wrong, it's supposed to be spelled that way.] Thousands of people showed up supposedly. Well, the problem with the WB is that they are not going to release this film nationwide. They are sending it straight to DVD. I have no clue why when this is the season to be putting these kinds of films on the silver screen! Normally I don't take reviews seriously because I like to judge for myself, but from the clips and trailer of this movie, I think it is perfect for Halloween! Just the trailer alone had me sold on seeing this film anyway I could. I'm really hoping that they at least do a limited release. That would satisfy me.

The film has a strong cast and great stories. Everyone needs a little reminding of what Halloween is about and how it started, every now and then. It appeals to me because it just has classic written all over it. "Sam," the main character pictured above, is going to give me nightmares for sure. Little kids in burlap masks are just plain horrifying.

Dracula (1931)

2008-10-22T12:03:00.001-07:00

"To truly die... That must be glorious!" The Count.

Last night my class was more than unbearable. The professor made so many tangents and reviewed topics we've already covered, more than three times... I thought I was going to perish in my seat from shear annoyance. I was sorely tempted to leave at break and make my evening a little more productive; however, attendance is mandatory and I didn't want to have any points taken off my grade. Luckily, I prepared for such a case in advance. At the break I slipped in my DVD of "Dracula" staring Bela Lugosi, clicked on the subtitles, and was alright for the rest of the class. The trick is to look up at the professor from time to time and nod or look slightly curious (too much curiosity and the professor will wonder if you're sick or call on you to ask if you have a problem).

The movie was an excellent pick on my part, if I may say so. Every time Lugosi is on screen, your eyes have to follow him. He radiates seduction and danger. He steals this movie from every actor in it. I think Tod Browning, the director, was also a genius for not showing fangs and bites. Throughout the whole movie you never see anyone actually bitten nor do you see bite marks. I know it wasn't his full intention since it was the 1930s and such things were not seen on screen, but the sexual tension is there in full force! I had to look away from my laptop screen a couple times or I would have blushed in class! The way the actors moved and interacted with each other was stunning. Lugosi could just stand in the forest with his silk cloak over one shoulder and look positively confident and virile.

The movies tries desperately to hold onto the original story but it doesn't quiet make it. It's close but no cigar. If "Dracula" were made according to Bram Stoker's novel, he'd look more like Max Schreck's character from "Nosferatu." There would be no Transylvanian prince.

After I finished watching the film at my apartment, I thought of how sad Bela Lugosi's life was afterwards. He didn't go into obscurity right away. He did land other roles as great villains, but people always cast him in the hopes of seeing Dracula. It was a travesty. He died a drug addict (painkillers) with no money in 1956. Frank Sinatra actually quietly paid for his funeral. Lugosi was buried wearing coat and tails, along with the same silk cloak he wore in Dracula. Vincent Price actually recalls Peter Lorre turning to him at the funeral and saying, "Do you think we should drive a stake through his heart just in case?" This statement shows how prolific Dracula was on Lugosi and even after being dead for more than 30 years, is still immortal in cinema.

"This is only a dream!" Nightmare on Elm Street Review

2008-10-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Sure! It's all in your head, but like Dumbledore said, even if its in your head, does that make it less real?

I can't believe I've been afraid of "Nightmare on Elm Street" for years! I had made my excuses and only watched certain scenes trying to get at least the gist of the film. I did have really bad nightmares when I was little so just the thought of this movie made me weary [that was my own doing since I was reading any kind of horror novel I could get my little hands on]. For 1984, the graphics were excellent (well, except for the extended hand/arm scene, but I forgive that).

The first scenes are perfect and set off the confusion on whether people are dreaming or if they were still awake. The use of an old boiler room was an excellent plot device. That actual place was in the jails in North Hollywood so maybe someday I'll be able to walk down there... The actors were all pretty good except for the guy who played the trademarked "bad boy." He annoyed me throughout the film and I wasn't sad to see him go. Johnny Depp has his first role here and I must say that you could see that spark that he has. The shot of his character death was intense. I'm thinking they had to use some upside down sets in order to make the blood flow across the "ceiling" like that. It was great effect.

Now, I've always loved Robert Englund in his other films. He's just creepy. People would wonder how I would know those films, but not these. I like how Wes Craven, the director, chose to have Freddy be almost mute like the likes of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. In the sequels I understand he developes a sense of black humor so I can't wait to see them. I'm even thinking of skipping to "Freddy v. Jason" to see how a child murderer fights with a drowned guy in a hockey mask. Probably tonight I'll work on watching "Nightmare 2" or I'm thinking of "Dracula" with Bela Lugosi. I haven't seen the latter in a long time. Halloween is the best season for movies.

Good Luck.

2008-10-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

So I'm posting this early since this is really good news for a certain acquaintance of ours who shall remain nameless. Let's call him C. C hates the internet with a passion since it does not allow him privacy so he has never had a myspace/facebook/any social networking thing or blog and has even barred me from posting photos of himself. Also, he believes it has contributed to the lowered intelligence of humanity, and in a sense he's right.

Anyway, since working for Sundance he's been introduced to numerous people and he's played his cards right. I don't like Sundance as a company myself but if it helps him, good. He's filming at the moment and only letting a little information leak every now and then through another source of mine. My source forgot the name of the movie, but when I hear back from him I'll post it.

He's aiming for a release in the 2010 Sundance Film Festival since the deadline for the 2009 one has already passed. Let's just hope this is his chance through the door and offer the support I'm sure he'll need.

Parasomnia

2008-10-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

"There are two things a man always wants... danger and play. So what could be more dangerously playful... than a woman?"-The Villain, Byron Volpe.

Last night I went to the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Traffic had been good so I was in a very good mood from the start. Tourists were milling around outside and taking photos. The usual costumed people were walking around in Halloween themed costumes. I had to crack up when a little person dressed as Chucky came and pretended to stab me when he noticed I hesitated in my walk towards him. He was pretty scary since I stood as tall as my waist.

I have never been inside the theater, but it was nice. I think I still like the set-up of the Arclight better though. In the middle of the lobby they had set up a table where fans were lined up and getting free movie posters. The cast was happily signing each one. I first recognized Dylan Purcell. He's a very young actor with a smile that can rival Efron's. He really was loving the fact so many people were in the lobby to see the movie. I glanced about, taking in everyone in the room. A recognized a man with very long white hair and a beard. He owns a bookstore in Burbank that I've been dying to go to, but haven't had to excuse to drive up to since it's a bit far. Dark Delicacies is a self-proclaimed vampire haven and welcomes all kinds of books about the occult. The owner was a very nice, older gentleman with a wicked sense of humor. I read about them in a "special" encyclopedia I own. I asked him to be sure this was the same man (I'm hardly wrong on faces though) and introduced myself as a future patron. He asked whether I had gotten a poster and autographs and personally came with me to the table. He was on first name bases with the cast and crew.

Dylan signed my poster first and handed it off to Jeffrey Combs. He's a legend in the horror movie genre because of one movie: Re-Animator. Then they handed it off to Patrick Kilpatrick who had just arrived. Now, I have to say Patrick was the nicest of the lot when you got over his physical presence. He's 6'2," very broad shouldered, and fit enough to be a pro-football player.
Now, for me, he was everything how a man should look like. He was also the only one who personalized the poster by asking for my name. Ha! I swear I didn't blush but held my head high and thanked him before moving onto the director. William Malone was in high demand with other writers and horror movie sites making videos. I recognized a couple of the Fangoria people since I've seen them before at the New Beverly. I was tempted to ask them why in holy Hell they didn't hire people who live in California? I bit my tongue and waited until the ushers announced our theater ready.

Patrick Kilpatrick

Right at 6:50pm, they started taking tickets and letting people slowly trickle in. I almost got to sit in VIP because my ticket was silver, but when asked if I was part of the cast, I didn't have the face or urge to "edit" my story. I sat with the plebeians which weren't many in number. It seemed like the cast wanted to get reactions directly from the audience. Purcell sat in the middle. Cherilyn Wilson sat directly across from me. Janet Keijer sat next to me. I recognized other people who wrote from different sites and newspaper. There actually weren't that many genuine curious people such as myself. Everyone seemed to know one another.

William Malone introduced the movie and warned that this was not a final cut.

"It's almost there, but we're still fixing some scenes." Then the movie started.

I really hope this movie finds a distributor because it is very good. The characters were real even though the story could not be possible in reality. Filpatrick's villain, Volpe, was evil. Volpe was a former bookstore owner who specialized in selling anitque and rare editions. He was also a mesmerist. His eyes were as black and cold as his soul. He reminded me of Hannibal Lecter but an even better manipulator since Volpe could force his victims to do anything he wanted. The main character though was Danny (Purcell) who was an art student helping out his friend in rehab. His friend tells him to check out the resident serial killer in the psyche ward and that gets the story running. He sees Volpe in his cell and notices the sleeping girl in the room next to it. The girl, Laura, has been asleep for most of her life. She had never been out of a hospital.

To not give anything else away, the film is full of action and suspense. The characters are real. The CGI is incorporated brilliantly. Laura's dreams are fascinating. The end fits just perfectly. I'd love to see what scenes they'll be incorporating into the final shots. I did see a bit of the rough scenes Malone was talking about.

Anyway, I really liked this film. I wish I got to see more of Kathryn Leigh Scott who played Laura's nurse, but seeing her in something new was a pleasure. Malone is looking for distributor's of the film so we may get to see a theaterical run of it. I surely hope so!

The Mother of Tears-Review (Not for the Squeemish)

2008-10-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Argento's movie, "The Third Mother" is just disturbing and a joy ride through Purgatory and the gates of Hell. Not my favorite of his, but this movie still hit the mark when it came to giallo.

Essentially the movie is about a museum curator assistant, played by Asia Argento (Dario's daughter), who opens a mysterious urn. You can probably guess this urn held the spirit of the Third Mother, the Mother of Tears. I love the shot. Asia's character goes into the other room while the curator is still in the room with the urn. Quickly, probably 2 seconds if that, you see a black figure with a greenish yellow eye. The whole room shakes and then three demons and a monkey (really creepy, seriously) descend upon the poor curator. Now this is the true start of the giallo. The demons disembowel her and choke the rest of the life out of her with her own intestines. A truly gruesome shot. Asia returns to the room but sees the demons and runs. The demons didn't see her but the monkey chases her through the corridors. That damn little monkey is really the scariest live creature in the film. It was brilliant! It was an even better actor than some of the humans in there. It just reeked of evilness with its facial expressions.

Anyway, the rest of the film is about Asia's character running from the witches from all around the world who are coming to see the Third Mother in Rome. With the arrival of the Third Mother, Rome is in a state of chaos. You hear a news anchor say there were over 50 suicides in the city. The next scene cuts to a mother walking with her baby in the stroller on a bridge. The mother picks up her baby and then flings it over. Before you register what you saw, it cuts again to a busy street with people beating each other and destroying cars. It cuts one more time with the Third Mother sitting at a table. A young boy is laid across it, dead. She reaches into his stomach and pulls out an organ and bites into it. I choked.

Rome was a good choice for the setting. The city is beautifully shown along with some of its countryside. Udo Kier, who I mentioned in an earlier blog, plays a priest who is also an exorcist. People possessed lined the courtyard where he lived and he says he's never done as many exorcisms as he's done that day in his whole life. Poor Asia sees one of the possessed attack him with a meat cleaver and mutilate his face before she slits her own throat.

Udo Kier in his last moments in the film.

Really, the whole movie ends in that vein (no pun intended). There were a lot of shocking moments that made me jump and avert my eyes. This movie is not for the squeemish and easily grossed out. Extreme violence is the norm in any giallo film. The only thing I wished for was better CGI and the more surreal look that "Suspiria" had. "Mother" was the most realistic of the three. It didn't convey that feeling like you were in Wonderland with demons and evil people chasing you because they were going to torture you and eat you alive.

I liked this one though. It was a good film to see before Halloween.

Ash v. Freddy v. Jason v. Michael Myers? Bring it on!

2008-10-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

This month has bought with it an abundance of new movies along with special releases of classics. Recently I've acquired the first four "Nightmare of Elm Street" films, "La Terza Madre" (The Third Mother) by Dario Argento, and Halloween 4 through 8. I plan to watch every movie until Halloween itself sneaks up on me. I can't believe we're already halfway through the month.

Why all the movies you ask? Why not? Plus, since it is spook season, a lot of places are having deals and major discounts. I bought the "Nightmare" movies for 3 bucks a piece... If that's not a steal, I don't know what is.

I have never seen any of the Freddy movies to their completion. I couldn't. I would always stop at the "boiler" scene or try to continue but be way too freaked out and skittish to watch the rest. There's just something about a monster who can kill you in your dreams or while you're sleeping. It's been years since I've tried to watch it so hopefully I won't be as terrified.

Finally "La Terza Madre" comes out on DVD! It's Argento's latest release and part of his classic "Suspiria" trilogy. If you haven't seen "Suspiria" or "Inferno" you are doing yourself a major disservice. Those movies are what Argento is essentially about. They are giallo. "Suspiria" was so good because of the surreal feeling of the story and gore. The use of vibrant colors and just weird looking sets was reminiscent of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." Blood was a reddish hot pink that oozed too thickly, but had the brilliant effect of slow motion to make every one's skin crawl. Using a witch as a villain successfully in the film is a major accomplishment in and of itself. Not many (and I don't recall any at the moment) have used the plot of an evil witch effectively. My favorite scene is where the heroine finds the witch. Joan Bennett plays the villain and to hear the profanity coming out of that dainty, elegant, beautiful woman will leave you in awe if you're familiar with her other works. It's like hearing Carol Brunette yelling, "Fuck you!" to the crowd if asked to do the Tarzan yell. I get shivers just thinking about it. I'm going to watch "Madre" tonight so tomorrow look for the review.

Halloween can't be Halloween without watching John Carpenter's classic film at least a dozen times. I've seen it four times in the past week. I watched the second one again the other night. I ordered 4-8 and plan to see those once they come in. What about 3? "Halloween 3:Season of the Witch" is not a Halloween movie!! Even on DirectTV they show it in the guide as "Season of the Witch" sometimes. Michael Myers is not in the movie so forget about it. It never should have lived. Of the movies I ordered, I've only seen H2O (Halloween 7) and bits of "Resurrection" (8). The others I will spend a whole day on my parent's 46' getting the best sense of Myers that I can.

In other news, I just saw that studios are thinking of another "X-Files" film (please, do it justice this time) and "Die Hard." Let poor John McClain retire! Die Hard 4 was ok, but it didn't have any of the grittiness of the first and best film. If they do a 5, I say cast Alan Rickman as the bad guy and just give him a new name and a new edge. He'd rake in the crowds while making the ultimate villains list again. Leave him as an older, silver haired villain. He's gorgeous just like that.

Ok, I'll stop blabbing.

Everyone knows Udo Kier...

2008-10-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

Again another random writing exercise to not be bored so bare with me. I promise I'll have something substantial in the next few posts which I'll explain below.

First off schedule for the rest week: class, work, class, discussion, debates, more work, and then fun stuff. Fun stuff consists of seeing friends who live out of state as well as me going to a place I've never been before but have been there a hundred times. On Friday night I'll be going to the Grauman's Chinese Theater to see "Parasomnia." I've been to the theater a million times but have never watched a movie in there. I almost did over the summer, but well, due to time restraints and not getting a sacred black bracelet... It still hurts to think about. Anyway, I'll be busy in a good way.

These past couple days have been horrible! My poor car is in the shop again for more replacements. This time the throttle cable broke (which hardly ever happens but I hit the one in a million chance). Then after picking up my car, my axle broke. I wasn't a happy camper. It's 13 years old with over 217K miles on it so I can't be too mad at it. It has been a really good car. I'll probably tear up when I sell it or watch it go to the big parking lot in the sky.

Also, two midterms in one day should be illegal. That's all I'm saying.

The reason why I mention Udo Kier in my title because it's true (and also it was his birthday yesterday). Everyone has seen this man in hundreds of movies but really don't know his name. He usually plays extremely intelligent, sinister, scary characters. In the first "Blade" he's the vampire who gets his fangs pulled out and zapped by the rising sun. He played in Rob Zombie's "Halloween." He's done a cameo in Quentin Taratino's grindhouse (look for him in the "Werewolves of the SS" trailer). Any really weird, scary, thriller he's probably in it. Hell, you just have to look at the man to know he's awesome.

Debate and Challenge

2008-10-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

Damn it! I'm missing the debate. Again. This is the only reason why I hate night classes; I miss all the good programming. I have seen the first debate thanks to the power of tivo, but I still have to see the VP one.

My assessment of this whole crazy situation: Both are spouting the same rhetoric that their political parties stand for, though McCain does uphold economic regulation which most of the Republicans are against. Change? I don't see it. Let's face it, people, "change" has as much meaning as "family values" in the political arena. No one can define those terms. They are abstract concepts. You're a fool if you think change will come in the form of a politician. They're almost as useful as lawyers, but are certainly easier to buy.

Another thing: Celebrities need to stay out of the political arena. Let the grown-ups take care of business, guys. It always amazes me that people will actually listen to celebrities whose lives are in total disarray and have no concept of normal hardships. Yeah, they might have at one time, but they don't anymore. Actors are narcissists who use the world as their stage. They wouldn't be famous if they didn't have that drive to be the best or the charisma to charm their way into the business. Don't be a sheep.

So here's my challenge, tell me why your candidate should win, Obama, McCain, hell even Ralph Nader if you're so inclined. Here's the tricky part... Explain the policies and don't give me short-shit answers like "Just Because" or "He's awesome." That just shows how mature you are and proves my dog, Penelope, has more intelligence.

[Whew, the passion is addicting...]

"That sly come hither stare...

2008-10-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

...that strips my conscience bare. It's witchcraft."-Frank Sinatra

Well, folks, it's been a stressful past week and it doesn't look like this week will be any better. School has always been a stressor for me, but I think I'll have all that settled tomorrow morning. I really hate the bureaucracy of the University infrastructure. It's ultimate goal isn't to create bright minds of America's future. It's money, people! Professors don't care about students or what they'll do in their lives. I've only met 3 professors that have pulled their neck out for students, 2 whom I still talk to from time to time or recieve emails from. I'm dying to get out of school and actually have a life. There's not even anything interesting in Irvine (and if there is, it's very expensive and not worth it).

Lake Forest and Mission Viejo are a little better. I rent a room now from one of my co-workers during the week. I'm hardly there except to sleep and maybe catch the news at night. Lake Forest had some hidden gems. There's a man-made lake a couple miles north of me. The metrolink station for that area is only separated by a brick wall from my neighborhood. There's wild trails along the roads and small forests. All the shops, malls, grocery stores are closer. It's quaint and quiet, totally different from living on campus. Also, I've lived near airports my whole life, so I love how I can hear the planes and helicopters landing at the base northwest of my place. I didn't know it was there until I did a Google map. Now I know why my windows shake as I hear them landing.

Haha, I almost went to see Neil Diamond. I like Neil, don't get me wrong. I just don't like when people try to turn fun events into serious dates. I wonder why my generation is so serious about relationships? I mean, I'm only 21. I want to live first before I get attached to someone. I don't want to worry about people getting jealous or having to explain myself on who I talk to or where I go. I refuse. I'm not ready to settle-down. That phrase leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Let me clarify here, I'm not anti-boyfriend or don't think down of people who are ready for that next big step. If you're ready, good for you and I wish you all the happiness in the world. Just don't tell me to settle. I'll probably chew you out if you even start to try. Believe me, I've done it before. I hate when people ask why I do not have a boyfriend, as if it's some sort of moral deficiency. Frankly, it's an insult to independent women. It's the whole "Bachelor vs. Spinster" way of thinking.

Ok, enough ranting for now. Interesting, sad fact of the day: If you make over $150,000 a year, you are considered in the top 5 or 10% of wealthy Americans. When I start working I'll automatically be in the top 25%. That is extremely sad considering 150k is not really that much compared to the super-wealthy.

The End of DB or how Fox is putting out another crappy movie.

2008-10-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

AH! First let me get this out of my system. Fox (insert whole body shutter) is making the live action version of "Dragonball." As a child of the 90s I watched DB in both English and Spanish. My Mum watched the anime in Spanish with me and still knows most of the characters. I have episodes on both VHS and DVD. I was hooked on DBZ and watched it religiously after school or practice. I found the movies and watched those. Cartoon Network was kind of late on bringing over DB GT so I didn't get to watch it there, but thanks to the internet, I watched the English dubbed verisions or read up on episode summaries.

I found out Fox wanted to do a live action movie about 6 or 7 years ago. Yes, it has been that long. I was stoked. After not hearing any news for about a year, my ethusiasm faded and I moved on to the next obsession.

Just recently photos and now a teaser trailer have appeared on the net. Not pleased at all on how they look. The casting in my opinion is crap. Goku is suppose to be like 7, not 25, and a chunky kid. He doesn't get ripped until he's an adult. Oh, and since Goku isn't human, he has a tail. Saiyans have tails people! They're were-monkey's during the full moon! I think I cracked up so hard the first time I saw Goku transform. Monkeys are so fierce, right?

The number one reason this movie will suck: If the rumor is true, Goku goes Super-Saiyan. No. No. NO! Wrong series, wrong timeline, just plain wrong! I would rather this movie not be made, than made like this.

October!

2008-10-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Happy October! I love this month so much. All of my favorite movies are played, and played often. There is a coolness to the night air that forewarns of winter (or as much a winter as we can get here in Southern California).

October is all about the night life, both real and imagined. Don't you feel the hairs at the back of your neck stand on end when walking down a dark path? Don't you feel that shiver that makes your skin crawl when you're alone but you hear a creak or even a door close? Don't you think twice about walking by the man in flannel wearing a low slung baseball cap? This month is all about fear, mischieviousness, pranks, horror and terror. Even the most hardened person quakes at the unknown terror waiting for them at the end of a dark corridor. Fear grips the heart and doesn't hestitate to whisper in your ear of all the creatures waiting for you...

So here are some survival tips.

Ignore that scratching at your window. Tis' nothing but the sharp claws of a vampire requesting entrance. He/She cannot come in and if they do, are stipped of their power. Ignore that creaky floorboard. It's only Michael trying to find his way home to Haddenfield. Camping isn't wise especially if you are invited out to Camp Crystal Lake. Head towards 1313 Mockingbird Lane instead of Elm Street if you want milder nightmares. Kindly turn down gifts of dolls. Pentagrams are good to use when you know a werewolf and don't have the heart to get rid of him/her... in all other cases, silver is your best friend. Never, NEVER, go investigate a noise coming from total darkness. Don't be stupid so use the front door!

Ok, I hope I at least made people a little nostalgic. If you don't know any of the references above, your horror movie knowledge is lacking! I went last night and bought a couple movies from the best store ever, DVD Planet, so I need to get on those. I heard "Phantom of the Opera" by Dario Argento isn't his close to his best, but a good view. I did watch "Evil Dead II" with friends at our weekly movie night. Bruce Cambell is always a pleasure. I also bought "The Howling" which I've actually seen parts from. I wanted to get the sequel, but I held off. Christopher Lee stars in that one.

More to come soon!!

Rumors I hope may be true...

2008-09-23T10:21:00.001-07:00

So practically everyone knows that Fox is filing a suit against Warner Bros. for the rights of the "Watchmen" movie. Fox does own the rights. I think the Executives at Fox must have been sorted into Slytherin if this rumor is true: Fox will allow Warner Bros. to release Watchmen if Warner Bros. allows Fox to release the original Batman series (with Adam West) on Dvd.

Warner Bros. has the rights on the "Batman" character (they own everything DC Comic related) so it controls everything related to Batman even though Fox was the original network who aired "Batman" nearly four decades ago. I've seen nearly every episode of the original series with Adam West, Burgess Meredith, Eartha Kitt, and Ceasar Romero. I'm a sucker for the classics. If they released the whole series on Dvd, I'd go out and buy it!

So hopefully Fox and Warner Bros. come to an amiable agreement so these projects could commence. I haven't mentioned "Watchmen" all that much since I still haven't decided what I feel about it. All of Alan Moore's work that has been made into films have not been good. The timelines of "Watchmen" will make continuity difficult also unless the director changes it... The teaser trailer looked good, but then again, so did "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" before I read the reviews...

Ghost Town and other Movies!

2008-09-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

Bored and anxious for a real, good laugh, I went to the movies with my Mum and saw "Ghost Town." It wasn't bad at all, but I did expect more laughs from Ricky Gervais. Plus, realistically, he'd never be a leading man to Tea Leoni's lead woman in any normal sense of romantic comedy. It felt like the director was trying to lead it that way, but still maintain that awkwardness that Gervais is so well known for. I still giggled and "oh-ed and aw-ed" but that's it. It's a cute movie.

Finally, FINALLY, "Parasomnia" is being debuted here in Los Angeles on October 17 at the Grauman's Chinese Theater. ScreamFest is the organization who has brought this film to town. I've been waiting for this film to make its way out West for a while now. William Malone directed and produced, funding the whole project himself. It is truly a "labor of love" as he has reportedly said. I've loved everything I have seen so far and am very excited to finally (sorry, last one) see it on the silver screen. The lovely Kathryn Leigh Scott I was surprised to see is actually credited with the main cast. Unfortunately too often former Dark Shadows alumni are secondary cast members, probably because older actors are not given the kind of screen time as young ones. Also, and I absolutely love Malone for his unintentional "nod" to DS, her character name is Margaret Evans. "Maggie Evans" was Mrs. Scott's first role (since she played other characters later on [Thayer David played the most with 12 different characters]). Malone in an interview with HorrorFest didn't realize what he had done until, of course, the interviewer asked him about it. He takes full credit now.

What I like most about this movie, is that it is not funded by nor under any big studio "guidance." It is truly an independent film. You don't have the execs demanding scenes cut because of their nature or because they thought it was too scary or too sophisticated for the audience. That's a major problem with movies today. They are geared for the "uninformed, unintelligent" audience. As an audience member I'm offended by that way of thinking although it saddens me to admit that most people are not the brightest crayons in the box (thus spending their money on movies that should never have seen the light of day or rather, the darkness of a cinema). Hollywood is slowly dying. More productions are coming from overseas and across the border. Mexican filmmakers have been setting the bar pretty high for their American counterparts. Europeans like "Let the Right One In" Swedish director, Thomas Alfredson, are making their way into the States and showing that creativity and imagination are well and alive. I'm happy to say that a lot of critics are saying that "Let the Right One In" is the best genre movie for 2008. I have to agree it has been the best film I've seen so far this year.

Now this next movie, I can guarantee you that it will not be widely publicized nor shown for long in theaters because of it's nature and politics. "An American Carol" comes out October 3rd but I haven't really seen any coverage for it... Hm... [insert sarcasm]. Oh, you bet Hollywood is annoyed a group of Republican actors have banded together to create a satire film. Come on, people, it's suppose to be making fun of how our politics work now a days, not a hate fest. Hollywood has such a blatant double standard when it comes to conservative politics. It's ironic how they preach intolerance as an evil, but censor those who they do not agree with. Way to go to be "open-minded" people, guys.

Random and Randomer

2008-09-19T09:50:00.001-07:00

I just have a ton of thoughts running around in my head so instead of trying to make whole paragraphs of a topic that can be summed up into a sentance, I thought I'd just lump everything onto one blog and be done with it.

First off, I hate when a good oportunity comes right up to you and makes you stare as you watch it walk away. My dream bike is to own a 1951 Vincent Black Shadow which now a days are antiques and, unlike other cars and motorcycles, appreciates (increases in value). People who have these rarely sell. I've only found two ever since I've started looking for them years ago. One was sold over a year ago for over 50,000 dollars. Another is being sold at the momment with the current bid at 30,000. I am in love with the style and sleekness of the bike. Honda had similar styles in the 60s and 70s and I found a 1970 Honda for under 600... I guess I'll wait until I can afford my rebel since I don't really want to work on a bike after practically rebuilding my own car.

Seriously, my car is my monster. The only things not new in that car is the frame and apolstry. The apolstry is going to be my next big project since I'll have it for another year or so and the padding in my seat is non-existant. I don't know about the other seats since... um... I'm never a passenger in my own vehicle. When I first got him (since my car was a guy first [shotout to the Master]), He was in pretty good shape. I changed the oil and the timing belt, replaced a couple of the filters, and he was almost ready to go. It needed a stereo. I had Sear's do that for me. The second thing I had to do came when my Civic totally died on me. The engine which was faithful through over 210,000 miles and countless trips throughout Southern California decided it had had enough. I had the choice to rebuild it or buy a new one. A new one was cheaper and I got to put a 2002 or 03 engine in instead. I actually almost cried when the mechanic suggested to get a new one. I think he thought he was doing me a favor, but that car has a lot of memories. Thanks to Chaffey College and it's never ending building, all the tires are new. The window is a couple years old now but still pretty good and not peeling. I'm going to paint him next time I get a good discount. I thought it'd be really expensive, but it's really not. And finally thanks to gas prices, Civics are the highest sold cars right now, even the older models like mine. I've had random people offer cash for mine, mistaking it for my brother's car. I think I'll have a very nice down payment for when I buy a new Civic EX Coupe next year (or a Camaro if they ever get back on the market [I don't care if they're gas guzzlers, they are the sh**]).

To take a 180, I think Robert Pattinson would make an excellent Quentin Collins if that character is in the next Dark Shadows movie (click for good photo). I was reading in bed when I decided to give my eyes a rest and stare at all the posters on my closet. I had "moon" eyes for Duchovny staring right back at me, appreciation for Lon Chaney Jr. in full werewolf makeup, "I Want to Believe" filled me with nostalgia, and then my eyes moved to my Twilight poster of Edward and Bella. I had to do a double take at Robert. I then moved my eyes to my framed photo of David Selby. I looked back at Robert. I did this probably four more times until I practically shouted "Eureka!" I did a test with one of the only DS fans I know, my Mum. I found the poster online and asked her to look at it and think of Dark Shadows at the same time. She looked me right in the eye and said, "He'd be the perfect Quentin." Here's my poster and compare it to this photo. Wouldn't it be great to have "RPatz" and Depp in the same movie?

So to end this, I want a clock like this one.

Everybody Scream!

2008-09-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

I know this is extrememly early, but I can't wait for Halloween. I love Halloween with a passion. I guess the thought of dressing up and pretending to be something else for a whole night has a great appeal to me. Also, since I was jibbed last year (with the disasterous classroom incident), this year has to make up for it.

Last year was the first time I had dressed up as a vampire. I won't count it since only a couple people saw me and I only went from Upland to Irvine and then to class and apartment. That was it. No parties, no walking around with other people to see the other costumes. Plus, I really put my costume together in a week.

I've already started slowly assembling mine this past weekend.

I started a whole month and a half early because 1) I buy most of my stuff online therefore need time for it to ship and 2) most Halloween makeup is on sale. I saw fangs and make up I had purchased online at a Hot Topic for almost 10% more than what I paid. VampFangs.com keeps sending me coupons and discounts. I'll probably buy a new pair of contacts, but haven't decided whick ones. I'm feeling glow in the dark ones.

Anyway, what is everybody dressing up as?! I have a million ideas flowing through my head!

It Started with One: A Short Essay.

2008-09-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Vampires. Yes, thanks to a Mr. Edward Cullen, vampires in the media are once again getting into the limelight. Since 1897 (the publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula), vampires have been fascinating and horrifying people, all around the world. There are times when it looked like they wouldn't rise again, especially when production studios such as Hammer Films in Britain and Universal here in the States were going out of business or weren't making a profit anymore. It would take a theatrical Hungarian actor to bring the Count to life on stage and eventually in 1931, to the silver screen. These adaptations of Stoker's novel weren't accurate, but were entertaining. Bela Lugosi went on the reprise his roll in several movies and spin-offs. A little known fact was that when Lugosi died, he was buried in full Dracula suit and cape. The part was his legacy.

Vampires in literature were fairly quiet during that time. Some scholars who were interested in such things found other early works like Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan le Fanu or the comic serial "Varny the Vampire." The Vampire in Europe was published by Montague Summers in 1921 and became a handbook on vampire legends. There would not be a major break through in literature for many decades.

The film industry went quiet also, maybe because no one wanted to see horror movies when true atrocities were being committed everyday in Europe. Horror movies started to make their come-back in the late 1950's so it was no surprise when it was announced that "Dracula" would be back in theaters. What would surprise people was the 6'5" tall, very handsome lead and the story taking on a much darker, sexually charged plot. Christopher Lee would then go on to beat Lugosi's record of playing Dracula in more movies and also in the theater. Peter Cushing must have an honorable mention since he has been the archetype "Van Helsing" and, in my ever humble opinion, the best. His most noted role though would be one of his last, as the fierce General Tarken in Star Wars. For the 50's and early 60's, the stories undertones were ahead of the times and people loved them.

In all of this history, however, no one had even thought of a so-called "good" vampire. They were evil incarnate. They were portrayed as people, neither living nor truly dead, glorifying in their damnation and servitude of darkness. From the earliest known texts of scholars, vampires were always omens of evil; creatures to be loathed and killed when found. Vampires shied away from churches and crosses. In some obscure pieces of literature, mostly short stories, vampires elicited some pity for their condition, but a victim too many always changed the minds of readers. Vampires were beasts to be feared; beings who did not deserve compassion.

All that would change with a failing television show and a very pompous man.

In 1966, a British Canadian was packing his bags in his NY apartment in order to travel to California. He was going to become a drama professor for Yale University. Jonathan Frid had excellent credentials, having a masters degree in direction and numerous stage credits. I believe he felt that he could achieve more at the University instead of on Broadway. According to his tale, it was almost the moment for him to leave when he received a phone call from his agent. His agent wanted to know if he wanted a role lasting 13 weeks on a soap opera. He thought that would be a good, short role to take and it would provide him with more income for the trip.

The 13 weeks turned into almost 5 years. Mostly because the creator had the craziest idea at the time...

Dan Curtis was a pioneer already of television. He's the man responsible for having commentary improve the boring sport of golf and even having the players wear microphones. As a producer, he was always looking into his next gig, the next big break-through to make him money. He had created a soap opera, "Dark Shadows" that was not doing well in the ratings. When it looked like the show would be cancelled, he threw in a ghost to see how the audience would react. The ratings jumped. Once that storyline was finished, the show looked as if it would be cancelled once again. Dan Curtis was going to scrap the show. One of his children told him to make it scarier. Curtis then decided to add the vampire.

The character of Barnabas Collins began like every other vampire in media and television. He was evil. A not-so-bright crook thought he was grave-robbing his way to fortune until a hand reached out and almost strangled him. Collins preyed upon the women in his family's small town first and eventually moved to biting his own descendants. He lied his way into the elite social circles of Collinwood and charmed everyone he met. His crimes during the supposed 13 week run included slaughtering farm animals, murder, kidnapping, torture, and stealing. The storyline was gearing up for the eventual steak in the heart.

Dan Curtis wouldn't hear the word "End." The ratings had soared and ABC was willing to let the show continue. The only problem would be on how to keep the character of Barnabas Collins interesting. One couldn't have him evil all the time; it would get boring, fast.

"Let's make him reluctant!" Dan Curtis was reported to shout at a writer's meeting. "A person who hates himself is always interesting!"

And that led to the story of a 175 year old vampire who knew he was damned, but was still trying to fight his baser instincts to help his new family and to find the love that was lost to him. In one storyline, Barnabas is made to recount his whole story to a writer who sells his book as a work of fiction. This would influence a woman to write probably the second best known vampire novel and series of all time. Barnabas Collins sadly never found his peace of mind nor his lost love, but in the end he did gain his humanity... how long, no one knows.

The woman I mentioned above is an Irish Catholic from New Orleans. She was living in San Francisco, where the story starts, when she finished her novel. Anne Rice completed Interview with the Vampire in 1973, just two years after Dark Shadows went off the air. She didn't think it was good so she stuck it in a drawer and forgot about it for three years. In 1976, Rice changed her mind about the manuscript so the book was published and became an instant hit. Her only rival during that era was possibly Stephen King with his release of Salem's Lot. In 1985, Rice released The Vampire Lestat and started the Vampire Chronicles. Movies were spawned but the only one that did well was "Interview with the Vampire," probably because of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in the lead roles.

There was another quiet period that was short lived for vampires. Hollywood was getting into the comic book adaptations so it decided to release one about a dhampir, a half human, half vampire. "Blade" was a good start, but the other movies didn't fair that well. Other movies were released, but there was nothing new to them so they bombed at the box office. I have to say that I did enjoy "30 days of Night." It was a very good film that should have gotten more attention, especially for bringing back the raw, animalistic, actually horrifying vampire. "I Am Legend" brought vampires to the forefront, but they were not the pitiful people of Richard Matheson's classic novel. The only movie to achieve that feat was "The Last Man on Earth" with Vincent Price. The last vampire movie I saw was "Let the Right One In" which is the best I've seen in a while. Even if you don't like vampires, see it because it's just a beautiful and thrilling story. The English version (since the one I saw is actually in Dutch) of the movie will be coming out in 2010. Let's hope they don't mangle it.

Anyway, the public was lukewarm about bloodsuckers in general. The literature had become redundant. As of now, there are several projects showing, in production, or pre-production that have sparked a new interest in the undead.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers is a book and series that has gotten millions of people to read about Bella Swan, ordinary human, and her Adonis-like, vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen. Meyers has put a new spin on these legendary figures, creating new laws that these vegetarian vampires follow. Really though, they follow the relunctant vampire model with a touch of teen angst mixed in for good measure.

"True Blood" on HBO is a pleasant surprise. I actually wrote most of this last week, but wanted to post it after seeing the show. Southern folk and vampires fighting for their rights, make for a new change and an amusing show. The southern accents are horribly done, but add to the campy quality of the series. Definitely not for the kiddies and squemish. The series are based on eight novels which I'm thinking of picking up once I actually have cash in my bank account (Damn you,Terminus and Fun!).

And once again, I'm hoping Johnny Depp makes the best damn vampire movie of the decade with the "Dark Shadows" movie. I found out about Tim Burton directing from current DS producers and beat out my movie sources. I hope Burton can return to his former glory since lately he hasn't done well at all. A closet fan-my brother (who probably became interested when he was forced to watch hours of the show since I hogged the tv and talked about it constantly)-argued with me that it'll be good, siting eras of the show they'll probably focus on and which haven't been seen on a screen in a while. One can only hope.

Politics

2008-09-03T10:33:00.000-07:00

I told myself not to write this. I detest politics in all its forms though it is necessary. Right now, I'm probably a minority on Facebook, too, since I've been getting flair that I'll never use.

There is not a chance in hell I'd ever vote for Obama. He can posture and give pretty speeches all he wants, there's no changing the fact that he hasn't really done anything. Hitler was a good orator, too, and look where it's gotten Germany. People are starting to target Sarah Palin now because of the "no experience." If "no experience" includes actually facing and getting rid of corrupt fellow Republicans while managing the state of Alaska, then I guess she has none. Something tells me that Obama will not even think of turning in any corrupt democrats. Being a Governor is very different than a Senator. Governors are actually active within the state.

I bet most people know who there Governors are instead of their Senators. Also, there's two Senators to every state. They don't worry about emergencies or anything that really effects the people. In CA, who do we first blame? Schwarzenegger. Who's in the background doing nothing for us? Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

Now, I don't care for McCain, but at least I've heard of him for years. He has a track record. I hadn't heard of Obama until the Dems started pumping up the media for this savior. Go ahead and vote for him if you like people telling you half truths. I loved how he said he would get troops out of Iraq in a "respectable time." Um... Didn't we sign an agreement with the Iraqi government about troop withdrawal to be finished in 2012 a couple weeks back? I don't remember the media covering that. Oh! But everyone does know 2012 is another election year so how perfect for him to be seen as the one who got us out of that Hell! What a great guy! Wait... his name isn't on the paperwork? Oh well, the Public doesn't pay attention to details like that.

McCain is no angel. His skeletons are hanging out for people to view and read up on. I was suprised at his nomination since he is one of the most liberal Reps out there. The "Maverick" is the nickname. He has issues that need to be addressed.

I'm not endorsing anyone here. You pick for yourself. The internet is ripe with information on both canidates. Read between the lines though because every site has it in for one canidate. CNN and FOX can preen all they want about being fair. The Media is never fair.

Remakes Need to Perish.

2008-09-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

It just came to my attention that some idiot studio is planning on remaking "Rocky Horror Picture Show." NO. Don't you dare do it! How can anyone touch a classic like this and make it half as decent as it is?!

As a cult classic, it's near impossible to replicate. Plus, it wasn't even a mainstream movie to begin with. "RHPS" began as a midnight movie and grew it's following from there. It's Tim Curry's best movie!

Other remakes that are already in the works (unfortunately): Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Child's Play (ugh, another Chuckie movie? Really?), Clash of the Titans, The House on the Left, The Ten Commandments (I can't think of how anyone can replace Charlton Heston), and countless others.

These movies are all classics! Leave them the hell alone! Isn't there any original material out there for studios to use? Aren't there any scriptwriters with an imagination? Are we, the audience, doomed to sit through remakes and "adaptations" for the rest of our lives?

I'm even leery on seeing "Star Trek." First of all, I don't care for any of JJ Abrams stuff. I give him props for being original (kind of), but he just hasn't sucked me in. Second, after seeing Chris Pine (actor to play Capt. Kirk) act on the silver screen... I wanted to grab him by the hair and tell him not to be so damned wooden and egotistical. He's in "Bottle Shock" and his screens would have done better on the editor's floor. Oh, I loved the movie. Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman were marvelous! But Chris Pine annoyed me to death. I'm no actor and I could point out all of his errors. It was shoddy work. Mostly everyone who's seen the movie, will agree. For some, he ruined it for them sadly.

Anyway, same old rant but with some new details. I hate remakes with a passion. Why doesn't a studio just release the movies? It worked for Star Wars...

Added at 12:04: I just found out that they are remaking "Casablanca" and "True Grit." The later is beind directed by Michael Bay... This really is a sick world.

The Enemy

2008-08-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

In this note, I have changed the names of persons and locations in order to protect their privacy and their safety. The people who I spoke to are fearless and brave individuals who deserve more recognition for the extremely dangerous job they do in protecting the public from the most evil people in the State. Most of you know where I went so I'm not even going to mention the name of the Prison.

The Lieutenant I spoke with called this particular prison the "railway." Most inmates are only suppose to be housed for 3 months and then are transferred to permanent prisons all across California. In reality, inmates stay from 6 months to almost 2 years because of paper work, hearings, etc. When I walked into the reception center, I knew this was going to be a good "tour." Our I.Ds were checked and double checked. We were told not to wear jeans so I went in black slacks and a black button up shirt. For us females, we were told not even to wear an underwire bra because the metal detectors were extremely sensitive. Well, I thought I didn't have wire in mine but found out there that I did. A female officer let me through after checking I wasn't sneaking anything in. The receiving officer, A, was a very talkative person. Our professor encouraged us to ask them anything so we struck up conversations on random things to break the ice. The conversation eventually steered toward the law suits against the prison by inmates, and here is where light shown through the veil.

"I have to wait three weeks to see a dentist. These guys get two days."

The bitterness and resentment was kept to a minimum, but his view was shared universally by all employees. The State of California is under a federal mandate to update its system to the federal minimum requirements especially in their medical care. The legislature has failed to pass a budget because democrats and republicans are being petty and cannot agree on a single issue, most especially the prison system.

A. gave us his opinion very openly and honestly I thought. I was appalled in learning certain details of the system that not even my professors have spoken of (and if they knew these details, it is a serious ethical violation, in my opinion). Also, and here is where my feelings interfere with being only an observer, what liars politicians, namely liberals are. I consider it lying when a politician doesn't disclose all that he knows but sways the public to a "popular opinion."

A. told us of a call he received from a distraught mother of an inmate. She was worried that he had not gotten released. Or so it seemed. He checked the file for her and let her know he had received another year in the prison for assaulting another inmate. She was relieved because now he could get the medication he needed even faster inside the prison. The silence of our group confirmed my suspicions that most of these students had never spoken with prison officers.

Everyone was checked in at that point so our professor escorted us into the minimum to medium security building. Men in blue shirts stared at us while they mowed the lawns or swept the sidewalks. The building was a dingy gray with birds' nests and leaves settled along the ledges of windows or sticking out of the vents. The prison was built in the early 20th century and showed its age. The Professor told us that inmates wearing blue were low-risk inmates who worked for the prison. Our group was made mostly of females so it was plainly obvious why they leered.

Once inside the building we were greeted by an Officer X. Again, our I.Ds and now our gate passes were checked. Hearing the bars close behind you is a pretty scary sound. Once you are inside, you are there at your own risk. The State of California does not recognize the use of hostages in negotiations.

"If an inmate has a shank to your throat, we ask him nicely to let you go, but for no reason is he going to make one step out the prison. If he wants a pizza, we'll order him and you one, too. [Other than that you are S.o.L. Public safety comes first.]"

We were escorted into the chapel and told the rules and procedures during the tour and in case of an emergency. Officer X then told us about the inmates, which sections of the prison we'll be going through and how to act.

"Don't talk to anyone. They're all liars and manipulators. GP's (general population) are trash. PC's (protective custody) are the trash of the trash. These people are murders, rapists, pedophiles, the scum of the earth. You'll come into contact with every one so be vigilant and careful. They don't care about you. They have no regard for human life. They'll spit on you. They'll "gas" you."

Gassing is when an inmate collects urine and feces into a cup or storage container, lets it ferment for a couple days, and then tries to engage you in conversation in order to throw the mixture into your face and mainly in your mouth.

To add in here for those who are not familiar with the prison system. PCs must be separated from the GPs because the GPs will kill them. GPs have their own "honor among thieves-like ethics." Any person who commits a crime against children will be killed by the GPs. Any crime against a women is up for debate. The MA, Mexican mafia, will sometimes kill rapists depending on the situation and who was raped.

X then led a very quiet group into the processing center. "Blocks" or large cages lined the walls. Here they would strip the inmates and check them for contraband. Two inmate workers were seated behind a desk and were busy throwing/sorting out clothes.

"Be careful," one warned with a smile on his face. "They arrested me for walking across the street. I didn't do nothing wrong."

"Yeah, you never do anything wrong, do you?" our officer joked back. A hint of disgust showed on his face.

While we were walking out of that section, the emergency sirens and lights went off. We rushed to stand against the walls and watched as officers ran up the hallways to the source. The blaring siren only lasted a minute. It was a false alarm. X was in full officer mode. He had one hand on his pepper spray (that looked like "pepper spray on crack") and the other on his baton. The adrenaline was almost palatable. They signaled the false alarm over their radios and our tour continued on to the kitchen.

A couple things piss me off. First a nutritionist comes in and plans the meals for the inmates a week in advance for them. They know exactly what they are getting. A meal consists of main course and dessert. These guys eat better and healthier than I do.

"And God forbid we forget to give them their fucking cookies or they'll lodge a complaint."

X led us into the medium security dorms. One cell was emptied for the group to walk in. The cells in these rooms were all made up of steel doors with small glass windows. As we filed in, most of the inmates peered out at us through the small windows. The ones in the highest cells cat-called and screamed, but I couldn't make out anything. The doors were pretty solid. We then went into a dorm where they kept the PCs.

Tension filled the faces of some of my classmates. Here we were standing next to pedophiles and rapists, rats and extremely mentally deranged people. One of the inmates had raped his grandmother. Others had sexually assaulted women as their boyfriends or husbands watched, helpless. This dorm they were all walking around freely. Bunks lined the walls and the middle of the room. They stared at us. Some stood up on their beds to see us better or to intimidate us.

"Are those high school students?" one older guy asked.

"No," replied X. And to us, "You can always find the pedophiles by them asking how young a person is, the sick son of a bitch."

X couldn't stand to be in there as much as we couldn't. They were men who were beyond sick and instinctively we knew. My flesh crawled and I desperately wanted to shower after I walked out of there.

We were suppose to tour the administrative segregation section, better known as Ad Seg, but due to some trouble, we weren't permitted to go in there. We headed to the mental hospital instead.

The hospital was the only building with air conditioning. Naturally, all the inmates wanted to go there. I was surprised the main prison wasn't that hot. Fans lined the end of the halls so it didn't even smell in there. Our professor told us that 1/3 if not more of the people in there shouldn't be. They're faking to get the better accommodations. The staff cannot turn away fakers though because of the fear of being sued. They have to see each and every one inmate who complains.

No wonder the system is going to hell. All the money is being wasted.

The psyche ward was interesting. Some inmates were babbling to themselves. Others sat staring at the pristine white walls. One man was yelling for his dog. He had been having sex with a Rottweiler for three months before he was arrested (wearing a dress, I might add).

Our tour ended after walking through the minimum security area. Men in blue shirts just walked around, ambling aimlessly. We went back to the main reception center and turned in our badges. The Professor was really pleased with the tour and its impact on most of us. I have to say I was, too.

My opinion of Prison stays the same. These guys do not suffer at all. Boredom, maybe, but that certainly doesn't count. I am constantly hearing the "deplorable" conditions of prisons. Did you know inmates only get the best medication? They refuse taking generics which are really the same and the only difference is the price. We're paying top of the line hospital care for these scum. My own Mum has two diseases she takes medications for. She takes generics since they are what we can afford. If it wasn't for that, she'd be crippled. 30% of the men's population is HIV positive, also. Did you know they take drugs that rival Magic Johnson's cabinet? And that when they are paroled they leave with a three month supply plus cash to get them on their feet? Most of the meds are sold and that money is used for more illegal drugs even before the bastards get home from the prison!

Rehabilitation is a joke, folks. There's no rehabilitating going on whatsoever. How can you rehabilitate a person who does not want it? Inmates told us, face to face, crime is their career. They love it. They're animals. They stomp on the bleeding hearts who listen to them and cater to their every whim. If a liberal for the rights of inmates were to go there, they'd be laughed at and ridiculed. "What a sucker," most are thinking. When are politicians going to stop being chickenshit and treat these guys like inmates? If they reallocate the money they have right now, they'd have a better budget. The 7 billion dollars the State of CA is being sued for is a joke. If the inmates win, the State is going to the dogs and criminality will worsen. They are manipulating the system so in the end, we, as taxpayers and good people, are suffering in their stead.

To them, since I'll be wearing green and tan soon, I'm fair game. If they see me on the street, they will have no problem taking me out. X told me to be ready. I'm already their enemy.

Because I'm a Creep.

2008-08-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

Damn it! Of all the songs, I wanted to hear, "Creep" was the main one. It's ok though. Radiohead was thoroughly forgiven with the mind blowing show they gave. I sat enthralled for two wonderful hours. The choreography of the music with the light show was excellent. I haven't seen too many bands at their concerts put as much effort into making it a "show" instead of just a "performance."

I'll write more later. I can't do it justice on just a couple hours of sleep and several cups of coffee. I'm already falling asleep right here at my desk.

Till next time, folks.

Why NBC Bites. And the death of Baseball and Softball.

2008-08-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

So who got the medal for wrestling? Huh? They had an event? Or how about for Shot Put and Disc Throw? I didn't see anybody throw...

NBC's coverage of the Olympics, to say it bluntly, blew. Who really wants to watch the 1600m rowing? Or people bouncing on a trampoline? And did you know the IOC is not having softball and baseball as an Olympic sport anymore, but table tennis, aka ping pong, is staying in?

I didn't watch much of the Olympics because of the place and because NBC is the worst network out there. FOX beats NBC and they're not even top-notch. Not even close. If NBC wins the bid in 2012, sorry, London. I wouldn't be able to stand it.

One more thing...

As a jock I am in serious doubt of the Olympics. Why you ask? Because of baseball and softball being discontinued. I'm not too fond of these sports, but they are sports. Ping pong is not a sport. Bouncing on a trampoline is not a sport. I have no clue how Ping pong made it past the IOC. As for the trampoline, don't we have gymnastics? Now that is elegant and a test of strength. I would have loved to see more sports on the damn telly. I'm a track enthusiast and was sorely disappointed I couldn't even tivo pole valuting, high and long jump, or my beloved throwing.

NBC can bite me.

Nostalgia

2008-08-21T13:09:00.001-07:00

These are all the good memories that keep replaying in my mind at the moment after looking at all the photos people are putting up. Read and see if I'm talking about you! Enjoy!

Remember the time I spelled your name wrong and hence began calling you by that name? And later I found out it was a nickname of yours since elementary but I still like to take credit from time to time.

Remember the time we were all having an honest talk and you told me you never talked to me till senior year (when we found out our mutual love of Harry Potter) because you thought I was scary looking and might beat you up? Now we beat each other up lovingly. Hee hee.

Remember the time we always had at least one class together since freshman year but didn't become best friends until senior year when we both ditched our other groups and finally got our heads straight?

Remember the time I went to a frat party with you, but wore my own school shirt? I'm not doing that again. AND I'm going looking hot instead of the hobo I looked then, too.

Remember the time you walked up to me and asked if I was the Lucy girl? I didn't know at that moment I'd made an awesome friend and had plenty of parties ahead of me.

Remember the time I was dancing next to you and you offered me your gin and tonic? I didn't know anyone, but I had an awesome time at your Myspace party and I felt loved. Like Mikey and I like to say, you corrupted me at that point. I still love you for that!

Remember the time we met the Phelps twins? I think that started off our celebrity photo taking/ stalking. We saw James Marsters, Stan Lee, Edgar Wright, Matt Stone, and others after that.

Remember the time you fell out of an SUV's front seat on the 91? Marisa and I looked at each and laughed until we choked. I'm still laughing about it.

Remember the time we all stood in the sun for hours waiting for Harry Potter actors? Yes, we are hardcore.

Remember the time you crawled around my apartment? And then you crawled to the bathroom and came out with no pants and drooled on my floor. It still brings a huge smile to my face. Those photos are priceless (and no one would believe me if I didn't have them).

Remember the time we were all sitting around a table, playing Kings, laughing, and your chair broke? And then a pound of rice tried to attack you and we blamed you for it. Darn gryffindor heartthrob.

Remember the time I made a U-Turn when I should not have? And you were almost in my lap. And I another person scream in the backseat. That was scary at the time, but it's hilarious now. We all know to have GA take a day of rest in order to function and drive home.

Remember when we were on a plane and the attendant announced kissing a soldier and we bothe teased each other? And then we found out they were sitting behind us. Fun times!

I'm out of time now, but I just want to say I love you guys. Life would be boring and cold without you. Haha! I left out a lot of stuff so don't feel left out! I'll post more later!

Annoyed.

2008-08-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I'm happy that the US has won so many medals, especially gold medals in swimming. I don't care for Michael Phelps as a person for several reasons, but I am happy we have him. This note is going to sound annoyed with him, but I know it is not his fault people follow.

Yesterday I was feeling really restless so instead of doing my usual "jailhouse" workout I decided to go to UCI's gym, the ARC. The sun was shinning and the sky was perfectly blue and clear. What a good time to put in some mileage in the pool and work on my semi-tan.

The first thing to catch my attention is that the ARC had half of their parking lot closed for construction. I have no clue what they are doing, however UCI (Under Construction Indefinitely) is living up to their name. I parked and walked into an almost empty building. They were renovating the inside. Again. I went and put my stuff in the locker room and then decided to do a quick warm up on the track upstairs. That was pretty nice even though you had to run 16 laps in order to do a mile. I perfer to do the 4 laps on a standard track. Makes me feel like I'm going somewhere.

I went back down to the locker to change into my suit and stretched out a bit. Stretching is extremely important to me especially since my left hemstring was pulled and still gives me trouble from time to time. I grabbed my SD Chargers towel and walked out into the sun... to see a ton of people in the pool. I usually swim in the deep end but I only found room in the 3'6" end. Zip Turns were out of the question. I tried one and literally had my stomach on the floor. If I wouldn't have pushed off with my hands, I would have smacked into the fiberglass or whatever that pool is made of. At Chaffey I had done that once and knocked myself silly.

To continue... The guys next to me were comical. I was greatful that they shared their lane, but they were the kids inspired by the Great Michael Phelps. They were no swimmers. Since Phelps has been very sucessful at the Butterfly, they were working on that. The Butterfly is the hardest stroke out there. It consists of "pulling" with both arms while dolphin kicking with your feet. Imagine someone doing the Worm and that's how it's suppose to look in the water. Did I mention for every pull you're suppose to kick twice, too? Most people who don't practice can only kick once. It's a mental thing. The Butterfly feels very weird if you do it right. Watching these guys do alternating kicks while pulling had me shaking my head. They weren't even extending their pulls in their freestyle. For every one they did, I did two. And it's all because of a longer reach instead of "muscling" it.

It's wonderful that more people are coming into the water and watching more water events. Once the fever cools down though the pool will be lightly populated again until Phelps shows up in London in 2012. Hopefully by then I have my own pool to do with as I please.

Voltron; BottleShock and Theater; and Remakes that should never see the light of Day.

2008-08-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Someone is releasing a Voltron movie in 2010?! As a child of this kind of cartoons, or rather early anime, I'm freaking out. Voltron is actually the earliest cartoon I can remember. Originally aired in 1984, it ran on television for almost a decade. Hell, I'd even say that Power Rangers wouldn't have been made if it wasn't for Voltron (they are from the same producers). I just hope they don't make it too cheesey or it'll bomb.

"BottleShock" is another movie I've been dying to see. I've read mixed reviews, but all of them have one thing in common: Alan Rickman just dominates the screen whenever he's in view. Again, I'm biased towards this gentleman. I'll probably go see this tonight since I've been trying to see it for two weeks because people keep telling me to wait for them. No more! It'll be another month until I see this if I wait. I haven't even seen "Gonzo" since a couple people have told me to wait for them. I'll wait for the DVD now for this one. Anyway, Rickman always impresses me by his demeanor and his love of theater. In a recent article, he says its a shame Americans don't value theater highly if at all. I agree. Ask any regular Joe on the street and they probably can't tell you what's showing at the Pantages ("Wicked") or the Mark Taper Forum (nothing until it's opening gala for the new season [trick question, sorry]) It's much harder to be a theater actor than a screen one. If I get the chance for a quick trip next year, it'll be London for sure because of two plays: "A Doll's House" starring Gillian Anderson in the lead and "Hamlet" by the Royal Shakespearan Company starring David Tennant. I adore the West End. I wish LA would advertise and endorse more theater.

In other recent horror news, the new Jason movie, a remake of "Friday the 13th" is going to blow. The production photos look horrible. Camp Crystal Lake looks too fake. Ugh, when will Hollywood stop with the remakes?! Another remake I just found out about is "Nightmare on Elm Street." Why remake these classic horror franchises at all? The originals are perfect! To top it all off, Billy Bob Thorton is rumored to play Robert Englund's prized role. I'm hoping the whole remake of "Nightmare" is false since IMDB doesn't even have a page for it yet. They might just be delaying it, but I can still hope for a miracle.

"Parasomnia," as I've mentioned already, has released their trailer for its upcoming, but still unknown debut later this year. There's a couple words to describe what I saw: frightening and beautiful. Horror movies usually go straight for the vein (literally), but this one feels like it has more depth to it. I can't wait for this one to come out.