Tagged!

Serena tagged me with a movie meme. I've never been tagged before, and probably don't know enough bloggers to tag five more, but we'll see how this goes!

1. Last movie you saw in the theater, and current release you still want to see:

Last movie in the theater was my third viewing of X3. Yes, I know, it's the weakest of the three movies in the franchise. Can you see me caring? I care all the way into the theater, I care all the way into my seat, I care as I'm making fun of everyone for not caring that a character has disappeared until a third of the movie is over, I care as I'm watching Phoenix telepathically strip Logan, I care as I'm rolling my eyes at "I'm the Juggernut, Bitch!" I just don't care enough not to watch it, because Things Go Boom and It Is Pretty.

The next movie I really want to see is The Prestige, and that doesn't open until October 20th. I don't see a lot of movies in the theater, because I often feel cheated when I do.

2. Last movie you rented or purchased for home viewing:

E&M brought over their Netflix copy of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights the other night. I've seen it before, and love most of the music in it, and am obsessed with dance movies generally. My obsession is such that I will watch them without heed for the awfulness of their plot (or lack thereof) -- so long as they're renters, and I haven't paid $8.50 to see them.

3. A movie that made you laugh out loud:

I laugh out loud at everything. Most recently, my friends thought Snakes on a Plane had broken me.

4. A movie that made you cry:

Finding Neverland. I don't usually cry at movies anymore, but that one got me.

5. Movie critics loved but you were unimpressed by:

Most glaringly, American Beauty. I. Hate. This. Movie. I thought the "stunning visuals" were overblown and ham-handed, the characters ridiculous and the plot vapid. Of course, I usually think this of real-life suburbia as well, so perhaps the movie did it's job and I was just destined to hate it.

6. A movie you thought was better than the critics said it was:

Titan AE. It bombed entirely, and I loved it.

7. Favorite animated movie:

Meh, don't really have one. I don't dig anime, and I don't dig Disney, and I don't dig cutsey talking animals (though The Lion King is an exception to the last two, it was ruined for me by a documentary on the portrayal of race and gender in Disney films). I guess Titan AE, but it's more a movie that I really like that happens to be animated.

8. Favorite Disney Villian:

Scar. There are others?

9. Favorite Movie Musical:

West Side Story. It's all the best parts of the stage show without the crappy ballet, and with soem really bizarre changes made to suit the decency code of the time. (NB "I feel pretty" only became a queer anthem because they weren't allowed to say "I pity any girl who isn't me TONIGHT," which apparently implied sex. Hence, Instead of feeling pretty, witty and bright, our heroine feels gay. In the day. When no one ever does the nasty. Yeah, it makes my brain hurt, too.)

10. 5 Favorite movies of all time:

I think of this more of a sampling of my favorites than an inclusive list.

Silence of the Lambs
Casablanca
Pirates of the Caribbean
American History X
The Princess Bride


And now for the fun part: I tag Jon (yes, you have to), ELW (normally known around these parts as E), kanedax (may I associate your real name with your blog? I can't remember if that's OK with you), and anyine else who wants it -- comment if you're tagging yourself, so I can come read!

Flogging Molly at Coffman

Flogging Molly is playing at the U, which presents an interesting dilemma: go for the good music, or RUN LIKE THE WIND from the piles of college hipsters who will drive me fucking nuts?

Anyone up for it? I can snag tix on my lunch hour. Or, tell me I'm crazy and should stay the fuck away.

ETA: E&M and I are totally going. *dusts off stompy boots*

Heroes Premiere

I've already given my thoughts, so now I'll just reiterate one point: the whole show is worth it for Hiro. Dude name checks Kitty Pryde in a reference to Days of Future Past. That's some good dorkery, and dorkery usually gets a bum rap on network (thanks ever-so, procedurals; not everyone goes psycho when living in their mom's basement). But Hiro? He's just SUPER!

ETA: Also, since I'm being unbearable, and am somewhat on the subject, I thought I'd thank everyone for participating in our insanity the otherday. Thinking of Days of Future Past brings me back to my one "why Wolverine just fucking wins": so far as I know, at least once suse has regenerated from nothing but a metal skeleton. A whole body, dead or alive, seems a lot easier for his healing factor to fix.

Good god. This insanity has now spread to a second post.

Bride of ETA: Between the preview for upcoming Heroes episodes, and the RAWK that is Studio 60, NBC is trying to seriously injure me on Monday nights. Which is fine, because what else is Monday good for? But really, did you SEE those previews?! I won't go into detail, but it looks like there's a serious Reality Fuck about to be going on (I mean about the nature of the reality within the show; yes, I know Super Folk do not actually exist), and that is all kinds of OK with me.

And if you're not watching Studio 60, check it out. Whitford and Perry have mad skillz, yo, and speak Sorkin's occasionally... trying speach positively trippingly. (NB that is the second time in a week that I have referenced Hamlet in discussing something vastly divergent from Shakespeare. Somebody stop me before I dork again!!!)

Weekend Roundup

1. RenFest: drank caffeinated coffee for the first time in a very long time.  Also drank mead.  Hijinks ensued as usual.  Fed a mime chocolate.  Stayed late for after-hours party.  Stayed mostly dry despite Info Booth canopy's best efforts to leak on us.  Wore felted purple tricorn hat.  Had Irishman molest my sheep.  All-in-all, fairly typical day at fest.

2. Fiber: went to sunday afternoon knit-together.  Started skinny scarf with scrummy handspun (yellows, oranges, reds; I dyed the roving with kool-aid before spinning).  Went on spindle-making adventure with Sue to create something similar to the Rakestraw Spinner (you'll have to google it, I'm posting via email).  Sue's basement is a thing of wonder, as is the spinner (as is, for that matter, the yarn produced: more control of the twist than a regular drop-spindle affords.  as soon as thirty extra dollars present themselves, I'll likely order the Real Thing.

3. Super Powers: manifested eerie telepathic connection with E at Fest.  Someone muttered some nonsense about "knowing each other too well," but I know the Truth.  Still no prehensile tail, though.

Polling the Audience

Burning questions have arisen in the basement this evening. At issue: Harry Potter versus Wolverine. Yep, it's random crossover night!

1. Can Wolvie regenerate from a dose of the old Avada Kedavra?

2. Would Harry be able to toss off so much as a tarantellegra before meeting his adamantium-clawed doom?

3. More likely, once convinced to help exterminate that pesky Dark Lord, who's less mortal: Wolvie or Voldie?

4. Which of our two heroes is most likely to be distracted by the closest convenient red-headed woman?

5. Could E&M and I possibly be bigger dorks?

Dear Weird Al,

Have you been reading my blog?
Your Eternal FanTurtle,
CJ

Overheard At Work

Student: Is Professor X* around?

Coworker: I'm not sure... wait...

[whistle from down the hall]

Coworker:That sure sounds like him.  He's getting further... sounds like he's gone to the men's room.

Student: ... I guess he's not teaching a class right now then...

 

*If ya gotta use pseudonyms, might as well make them fun!

Upside

Yesterday the internets annoyed me mightily; today they provide much amusement. Most notably:

1. Best Civil War "side" ever. I'll be in Jayne's bunk, too. Er... I mean, I'm with stupid. Er, no, that's not right either. Whatever.

2. Pirate songs! That's more cool than should be legal!

Now if only I can convince the tiny dude with the tiny icepick to leave my eardrums alone.

Empty to Disgusted in Five Years Flat

"You know how I feel whenever this day rolls around again? Annoyed. I resent the oblivious flag-waving and trumpet-blowing. It's always the loudest when it comes from those with no context for the attacks -- the T-shirt-wearing contingent, who seem to think that the World Trade Center was a big shopping mall and that their mall could be next, unless they paint their own feces red, white and blue, then show it off to their neighbors. Towers that they never knew existed are now dry wood for their stoves of warmongering rhetoric."

What he said.

I'm sick of largely unaffected politicos using my former home to fuel their fear-based attacks on civil liberties. Hell, I'm sick of living amongst the sheep who buy it. Legislation does not prevent terrorism; a refusal to be afraid prevents terrorism. War does not kill terrorists; humane treatment of all people in political, social, and economic exchanges removes the desire to create terror. And wearing a t-shirt, or a fucking rubber-band bracelet does not show that you've "remembered" the fallen; refusing to be afraid, refusing to dehumanize our "enemies" is the only rememberance that does them any justice.

I wasn't gonna post today. I'm completely annoyed by election year fear-mongering on all sodes, and I was home sick with a sinus infection that made me even crankier than usual. I don't want to "tell my story;" if you've heard it you know it, and if you haven't you've heard a million like it. I used to live there; I don't any more. I started being annoyed the minute a friend told me, three days after the towers fell, that he didn't get why I was "so affected" by this. Because clearly someone living in the middle of Minnesota shouldn't give two fucks about that old island. My annoyance has slowly devolved into disgust over the past five years, and it's hard to get beyond that now. You want rememberance, turn on your TV; I'm done making a spectacle of my grief.

Water Problems

It rained at Fest yesterday. This is not actually the problem that the title refers to, as we stay nice and dry (mostly) under our waterproof (mostly) canopy. We even have a a little overhang outside the info booth, so we become quite popular when rain sets in. THAT'S where my difficulties began.

Festie: *is vaguely handsome, posessed increadibly sexy leather gauntlets, and begins flirting with me.*
Me: *is flummoxed, socially inept, and not in a very "fest" mood; reaches for mug to take a sip of water, buy some time, think up vaguely flirtations response.* *SPLASHES WATER OUT OF MUG ONTO VAGUELY SEXY FESTIE IN FAILED ATTEMPT AT DRINKING* Well, and here you were trying to keep from getting wet!
Festie: 'Twas more an excuse to talk to the beautiful maidens of the realm.
Me: Even if they have drinking problems?

Understand, this was witnessed by several people, including E's folks. They very kindly do not make fun of me. Until the festie walks away, I try to take another drink, and nearly aspirate it because I start laughing as soon as the mug hits my lips. So I'm laughing and choking, and E's mom asks what's funny, and I explain. And then I do it AGAIN. I swear, I could not take a drink of water for the rest of the afternoon without nearly killing myself.

The moral of the story: I really am That Bad.

Remote Blogging

Channel 29 has a blogging station set up, so I couldn't resist. We're here for the live taping of "Prairie Home Compagion" tonight. Very Minnesoooooootan.

Still busy! Still not dead! Might get to sleep in on Monday! Maybe a real post then.

EDIT: I have to be up in six hours. Realized upon getting home at 11:30 that I still needed to wash out my costume from last week for fest tomorrow. Feet feel like they've been through a meat grinder, especially after being on my feet all week as substitute copy monkey. Can barely hold eyelids open.

But Garrison was freakin' awesome.