WRONG. BAD WORLD, BAD.

This is just plain unacceptable.

My Dad said something about Morgan Freeman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Tom Hanks being involved? I can't even imagine who each of those men would play.

Back to fume in my little hidy-hole.

Meaningless memes to come later.

From mondaysabitch: Hot Rod

1. Have you ever been in a car accident? Yep. No comment.
2. What's the longest road trip you've ever taken? NorCal to the east coast of Florida. At least, I'm pretty sure we drove. I was young. I think we took the RV.
3. What's the best song to cruise to? No contest. The Passenger.
4. What's your dream car? I want a little white Karmann Ghia. I would call him Bob. We'd be very happy.
5. What's your favourite movie about cars? About cars? Hmm, none. With cars in it? Let's go with "The Americanization of Emily." I think part of his job is to procure cars for people, right?

Also, from afrocurl:

1. It begins with a list of all 26 letters of the alphabet.
2. Comment with something for me to talk about that starts with one of those letters. Make me babble about anything -- TV shows, actors, actresses, food, idk, be creative.
3. One topic per letter -- it's like a claims list! I will cross off letters as topics appear.
4. I will post a new post talking about all 26 topics given to me!

Really, I will try. We'll see what happens, at least.

You're not even getting those. Basically, all I've got for you are movie updates and memes. Because I'm exhausted.

2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - I liked it, but not nearly as much as Meet John Doe. That was just a better movie all around. This is a little too sappy, too self-consciously sweet, too naive. Did an America ever actually exist where this was at all possible? I can't believe people were ever this trusting and simple and singular, even in 1939. It's all too black and white. And I get that Capra never really went for realism and everything to him was one huge allegory and he always had a very idealized view of the world, but I guess this one just didn't work for me. Watch Meet John Doe instead. I know I've said that before, but it bears repeating. That's how good it is.

3. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) - Not so much about war, as it is human nature and obsession. And men. Whoo boy, y'know so-called "chick flicks?" This is the exact opposite. There are a grand total of five women in this movie. Two are there solely to gaze longingly at William Holden, one to gaze longingly at the young kid on the mission with him, and the other two just carry the guns. It's good, and I love David Lean more with every movie I see by him, but I don't see myself watching this over and over again. It's all about power plays and stubborn priciples and other things I'm not fond of. And building a bridge. Maybe the end would have meant more to me if I hadn't already seen it hundreds of times in various GREAT FILMS MONTAGES, but oh well.

4. The Last Picture Show (1971) - Wow, there's a lot of sex and nudity in this movie. Not much goes on, so my brain had plenty of time to think that throughout this. Y'know how Hitchcock made "Psycho" in B&W on purpose to undercut the gore and make it not quite so graphic? I really think that's why this was in B&W, too, cause I don't know if they would have gotten away with all this in color back then. It's good, but sloooooooooooooooow. Not much happens, but you get to know the characters well. Goodness knows you're given more than enough time for that. This movie is a total downer. There is no comic relief, there aren't really any sympathetic characters, and it's a dreadfully dismal view of smalltown life. Make sure you've got a comedy to watch after this.

Man, I hope I start liking these movies more. I've got 13 left and only nine days in the month. I really don't think I'm going to make it, but I'll give it the old college try.

( 80s meme from king_duncan: )

( Meme of Four from King_duncan: )

There was an Oscars meme from mondaysabitch but I cut it cause I realized I've only seen one or two movies in each category if that. I'm not even planning on watching them. I'll be at Disneyland. I'm a bad moviegoer this year.

Recently Defective Yeti featured last year's revised AFI Top 100 Films of All Time list and made watching every single film (that he hadn't already seen) on the list one of his new year's resolutions. Ambitious? Focused? Admirable? All three. Worthy of emulating?

Hmmm...

I was thinking about putting this off til April, cause I believe it was April of last year that I did my big 30 in 30 challenge, and hey, I could just continue the movie theme for that month and pretend like I plan these things out on some kind of grand scale, but I think I want to tackle this one now.

So. FOR FEBRUARY: I will make sure I have watched all 100 of the AFI's top picks.

Really, it's my duty as a filmgoer.

( AFI 100 Greatest Movies of All Time (For Keeping Track Of) )

FOR THE ROOM: That pile of boxes in the corner by the bathroom. GONE. Must clear that out. And figure out if that space is getting an armoire or shelves.

I am thankful for:

1. Extra steak at lunch today. Thanks Commissary Dude!

2. I GOT THE CAR LOAN!

Oh, I didn't tell you Cesar Jose Lima died? Yes. It was sad. And not a little scary. Three hours of non-fun at a 76 just off the 5. But! I got a loan! For a new car! The one that I want is pretty! With features! I would say 'mit funktionen' but I think the only person who would get it no longer reads this. Still! I got the loan!

3. NEW CAR. I KNOW I ALREADY MENTIONED IT, BUT IT DESERVES ITS OWN LINE.

4. I now like "Chinatown." That makes two Polanski movies that don't bore me to tears. But don't worry, I didn't drink all the kool aid, "Rosemary's Baby" still sucks.

5. The mere fact that this exists:



Seriously, is it not awesome? Also the toothpick holder. I would enjoy looking at him on my table while I eat dinner.



PS-- I really really like Chinatown. It's beautiful. What can I say? Sometimes you just grow up.

Man, was I bored last week. Stayed in every night to get over being sick as quickly as possible. And it worked (for the most part.) This week:

Monday-- Impromptu shopping and dinner with jenn_ness. Thanks Borders, for sending me an awesome coupon I had to use to put it all in motion. Unfortunately the Ninth Doctor was not in residence at the Glendale Borders, so I got "My So-Called Life" instead. Watching it again is like a big ball of curly-wurly time stuff curling in on itself and being able to talk to my fifteen year old self: painfully moving, not quite as good as I remembered (imagined?) it would be, and almost impossible.

Tuesday-- Company Christmas party at Disneyland. Great, fun, too short! Got down there a bit late as a school bus clipped our bus while getting on the freeway, resulting in half an hour by the side of the road and accident reports for all. Still, ran all over the park, went on lots of rides, had fun. We were both amazed when midnight came. Could have sworn it was only 10.30 or 11. Of course, once my body knew what time it was, I was exhausted and slept most of the way home.

Wednesday-- As B just pointed out, I need to get some sleep. I'm a wee bit cranky today and my pet peeve (repeating myself) is coming into play A LOT. Christmas tree shopping with the roomie and an early night. Thank goodness.

Thursday-- SWEENEY TODD SNEAK PREVIEW! Which is great, cause I really really want to see it, and I'm really really sure I'm probably going to hate it so I very much didn't want to pay for it. Win-win!

Friday-- Christmas tree lighting and holiday carnival here on the lot. Should be fun, and then an early night to rest up for the weekend o' Disney.

Saturday-- Disneyland with playmayt in the morning, holiday party afterwards.

Sunday-- Disney games and movies with playmayt, including Song of the South! Should be fun.

I thought scheduling the ever-loving life out of the next two weeks would snap me out of this funk. It did well enough for the weekend but today is grey, blue, and various shades of ugh.

Friday-- Dinner at Pitfire and four one-act plays by Noel Coward: Well, dinner was kind of the highlight of the evening. The plays were alright, actually kind of reminded me of Roald Dahl's surprisingly dark short stories. Some humor in the dim bits of life, but mostly lots of unhappiness. Yay? The Unintentionally Hilarious award goes to the waltz sung in the last play. Anybody seen All That Jazz? Remember that awful sexy sex airplane sex musical number with the song "Take off with us/ Take off with us...?" The first two lines of the waltz had exactly that beat, tone, count, everything but the words. It was all I could do to not giggle.

Saturday-- SoCal Games Day! Arrived a bit late, but played lots of fun stuff and stuck to my no fried foods pledge despite the delicious onion rings at Everest. Met up with playmayt for the all-star cast of the year: Eddie Izzard, Tim Curry, Billy Connolly, Emily Mortimer, Jane Leeves, Tracey Ullman, Jim Piddock, and Eric Idle in Idle's new play, "What About Dick?" How did all those names fit in one little paragraph, much less on the same stage? It was a staged reading of Idle's "film for radio," presented as a radio program with actors sitting at the back of the stage when quiet and sharing three microphones to speak their parts. It was funny, it was filthy, and Tim Curry's voice is the single most beautiful sound I have ever heard in my life, but the play itself wasn't that good. It felt very disconnected and patched together and the extended EM Forster/Howard's End/films of Emma Thompson & Anthony Hopkins parody just didn't work for me. The people watching was fun, though. Lots of Brits, movers & shakers and stars and such, and I'm pretty certain I saw Jeff Lynne striding up the aisle wearing sunglasses during intermission (really? 9.30pm inside the theatre and really? O... K...) Billy Connolly was the hit of the night with an incomprehensible Scottish detective, and Eddie Izzard was very cute while dropping things and being silly, and, well, everyone was excellent, but. It's no Spamalot.

Sunday-- Din Tai Fung! More Games! Agricola, which is unbelievably amazing. But I was hitting my MustHaveProtein wall so bailed, only to find that I'd left my lights on and my car was dead. Chris was very kind and as he put it, jumped me outside. Made it home safe, toasted up a little dinner and happily watched Torchwood.

Monday, today-- Awful migraine kept me home this morning and I've felt sick all day, but cannot stay home tonight as I have Spoon tickets. Any other band... any less money spent... and it would be me and my jammies and the Doctor Who S2 disc 6 of special features, fer sure. As it is, I will rally. I must. "Anything You Want" demands it.
( Rest of the schedule for this week and next back here: )

Like many awesome things in this crazy world, this comes from stepliana:

Comment on this post. I'll choose seven userpics from your profile and you'll reply here (or you know, your own journal, whichever), explaining what they mean and why you're using them. Post this along with your answers in your own journal so others can play along.

The 7 icons she asked me about:

1. Mary Blair girl:
I <3 Mary Blair. Despite my overwhelming love for Frank & Ollie, Blaine Gibson, Bob Gurr, Eyvind Earle, and hundreds of other animators, artists, and imagineers who have shaped, colored, influenced, and built the Disney look over the years, her round world and use of color has really stuck with me. I believe this little girl comes from concept art she did for Three Caballeros. She's just darling. She usually comes into play on basic posts for which I have no real theme. She's just sorta me.

2. Fincher:
This is a quote from a movie I absolutely hated. It's on Brad Pitt's Tshirt in the photo on the cover of a magazine in Full Frontal, undeniably the worst movie by Steven Soderbergh. This waste of celluloid was made pretty soon after Joe Mechanic lost his job over the whole David Fincher's Fight Club not making a dime debacle, and this T was apparently Soderbergh's/Pitt's take on the deal. Or something. Maybe? At any rate, I have loved the quote ever since, say it all the time, and it's the only good thing in the movie. Seriously, don't watch it. It will make you question humanity. I use this when talking about movies or being kinda ranty.

3. My OTC:
If you've spent any time in any of the many terrifying TV fandoms, OTP means One True Pair to you, or the couple the show should never screw with. Likewise, OTC means One True Crack, as in the single substance I could never live without. This is a picture of a Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuit. I cannot live without these, even if all I can do all too often is dream about them. This is my One True Crack. I have another icon I use for all posts and comments to food comms, and use this when talking about food in my own lj or other people's personal ljs.

4. Cluedo:
I game, therefore I am. Clue is one of the first boardgames I remember playing when I was little. My wonderful and ever-patient babysitter Katrice used to play Clue with me for hours when I was six. I don't know how she did it. But I love boardgames still, and this usually pops up when I post about them.

5. I will cut you:
This kid is pissy. This kid is in no mood. This kid is not playing around. This kid will cut you. When I feel like that, he comes out to scowl. Think of him as an early warning detection system for when not to screw with me.

6. My Steve w/chopsticks:
My Steve! With chopsticks! One of the coolest men in the world, using the best eating utensils ever devised. Really, they are so useful, I am not even kidding. All the noodle problems presented by pasta, soup, all that? Dangers of being rude in not eating everything on your fork when attempting to enjoy dumplings and such? Solved by chopsticks. Also, he's cute in this and I really liked the colors and the whole look. That green by his arm is great. I use this when talking about food (I have lots of food icons cause I talk about it a lot, duh) or the overall awesomeness of My Steve.

7. Woo Woo for Lloyd:
Another Woot! icon, so we don't all get sick of OMFG YAY or Oh the thrills! Except I don't use this very often. Actually, I forgot I even had it. Thanks for reminding me. I'll have to use this more often.

That's it. Let me know if you want in on this kooky action.

The Fountain has been on top of my TV since August 15th. That is not good. I have to watch it tonight. Or send it on. Something. Almost two months. Not cool, self. Not cool.

But I did enjoy my TiVo's latest offering, Please Believe Me, last night. Yummy semi-early Deborah Kerr mistaken identity farce-ish love fluff. With an extremely young and tall and skinny Peter Lawford, who for some reason does not have much of an accent in his first couple scenes, but definitely grows into it later in the film. She looks barely 20 in this instead of almost 30. B&W really is more flattering. (MOM: Just go to OnDemand, it'll be there under free movies cause it was on TCM and they're cool like that.)

And I'm glad I did it. I'm overjoyed, actually!

I've been wanting a TiVo of my own for quite a while. Oh, about ever since I ordered my roommate's. But I wanted a bigger machine so I was going to save for it. Well, if I wait til I have $300 together for that, I'll always find something else to spend the $300 on. So that's not worth it. The regular old Series 2 80 hour is working pretty well in the living room, and for $100 that's not bad. But that $100. Wouldn't it be better spent on the trip to Dallas I have planned for November, or towards the car I need, or towards Houston in Christmas, or towards the laptop that would be nice to replace the 2002 relic I have right now? Probably.

So I indulged myself in one of the few spoiled only child moments I (rarely) have. I remembered that my parents are always asking what I want for Christmas. And this time I really know. And it would be nice to have it now (should have had this thought a couple weeks ago so it could be all set up well before the new season, but I digress) instead of at Christmas when the season's half over. So I called. I asked for some Christmas money early, told them exactly what I wanted it for. And they were cool with it. Happy about it, actually. Cause this time I'll really love and use what they gave me. Every day. With joy and reverence. I have a feeling I'll write poetry and songs about it and never leave my room again.

I'M GETTING TIVO!

I'm gonna have Moonlight and Friday Night Lights and Chuck and Reaper and HBO stuff and everything Steve Martin does that passes TiVo's little eye and Night Court and The Wonder Years and Benson and Alton Brown and probably Ewan McGregor and Colin Firth and Kenneth Branagh and Gossip Girl. All at my fingertips. Whenever I want. Swoon.

Oh, another reason I hadn't gotten the TiVo yet is because the TV cabinet I bought almost a year ago is still sitting in my car while my TV sits on the floor of my room with the cable box and DVD player on top of it. Shut up, the cabinet pieces are heavy. And I haven't really had anyone to help me carry it all in and build it, unless I want to impose on my roommate. So this weekend Kevin will help me cart the suff in and build the damn thing Sunday afternoon so the TiVo box will have a place to go. I'll also redo the light fixture so the cord doesn't threaten to decapitate people me everytime they I pass it. Too short cord for where I hung it from the ceiling.




PS-- Kevin doesn't know yet that the weekend includes a construction project. It's a surprise?

PIZZA IN A CUP. I KID YOU NOT.

Well, a cone. But still! Navin R. Johnson would totally dig this!



I will be trying this as soon as is humanly possible. Also, I recommend Biggest Menu to everyone, but especially those in the LA area. New obsession!

Four minutes! 11 screenings on one night, at the Arclight, so at least 50 seats a theatre, so that's what? At least 550 tickets sold in four minutes? Every screening sold out four minutes after they went on sale?

WHAT THE HELL, LA?

I hate this town.

Sigh. Oh well. Check out what I won't be going to here.

I spent last weekend effectively out of town at a game convention. Yes, I totally was that geek playing Eurogames for three days with hundreds of other geeks at a hotel near LAX. It was great, except for the whole no sleeping thing. I ran my first game of Werewolf (of course I've played before, first time modding) with a truly excessive 26 participants. If there's a great big HUH on your face right now, I'm just saying, you need to play. This game is much fun.


Daniel vanquishes a foe in the swordfighting pit at Gateway2007

I've spent the last week recovering from the long weekend, which for me means passing out long before midnight every night, no matter how loud the rap/video games/stand-up comedy is blaring next door.

Last night a few friends and I saw The Jungle at the El Capitan! They're just showing it for a month to publicize celebrate the 40th anniversary special edition DVD coming out soon. Richard Sherman wandered out of the theatre before the show and stood around outside for a moment but I was way too shy to go up and introduce myself. Oh well. If the DVD transfer is what we saw last night, it's gorgeous and I can't recommend it highly enough. ( Far more information than anyone wants back here. )

Flying up to SF tonight for my cousin's wedding tomorrow. Giants game with my parents Sunday (YAY!) then back Monday morning just in time for work. Next weekend is the only weekend this month I'm really in town-- and all I've got going is Avenue Q Saturday afternoon, games Saturday night, film festial screenings Sunday afternoon and Pink Martini at the Bowl Sunday night. The weekend after that Kevin's in town! The weekend after that I'm in Houston for my 10 year high school reunion. The weekend after that is October. Good grief. Where has the year gone?

PS-- One more video from The Jungle Book screening (mostly for my parents:) a pencil test of Baloo & Mowgli animated entirely by Frank Thomas according to Don Hahn. Apparently he and Ollie animated over half of the finished film themselves. Wow.

This could be good or it could be horrible. Scott Rudin just bought the rights to I, Claudius. Great book, great miniseries. Nothing is set up, nothing else is signed, but apparently Leonardo DiCaprio is sniffing. Claudius? Hmmm. Gauis Caligula, maybe. That could work. Either way, I'm excited! If you've never read it, I highly recommend it. I was surprised at how not-dry and very very accessible, fun, and entertaining the book was. Much better and easier than I thought it would be. And the miniseries with Derek Jacobi... once you see it you'll know where HBO's "Rome" came from. Apparently there's also a 1930s movie directed by Josef von Sternberg starring Charles Laughton. Must find that...

PS-- watched my very first Doctor Who episodes last night. The first ones, actually, from 1963? 64? Interesting, not yet all-consuming, but I'll keep going. Getting all the way up to the new Christopher Eccleston series (well, not so new anymore as there's now a later Dr. Who than him) is going to be a real treat and quite a journey through 40 years of BBC television. Woo-hoo!

Just got off the phone with very nice El Capitan group sales lady. She called to let me know that there'll be a panel discussion on opening night of The Jungle Book at the El Cap, Thursday, September 6th. Ah, yes. The night of the infamous Boris Gudonov concert no one wants to come to with me. That's why I don't have tix to this. Panelists still being determined, but so far Don Hahn and Richard Sherman are definitely on board. We talked a little bit about how very very awesome Sherman was at the Mary Poppins sing-along, and I managed to refrain from telling her that I had some great video of him from that night because I enjoy my job and would like to keep it. Hello, copyright infringement! So if anyone would like to go to the Jungle Book night, let me know cause I can get tickets through work for $8 each. I'm seriously considering dumping the Boris seats and going to this instead. Thoughts? Anyone? Y'all wanna?

From mondaysabitch:

Metallics

1. Gold or silver? Which looks better on you? Hmm. I suppose gold does, but I've always liked silver better. Though I am becoming more fond of gold.

2. What is your favourite Olympic sport to watch? Ice skating. Toe pick!

3. "Goldfinger" or "Goldmember"? Would you rather watch a James Bond movie or a Mike Myers comedy? This one was a little hard, but James Bond movie. No doubt.

4. Have you ever won a trophy? Yep. Dance contest? Trivia contest? On the cruise when I was five.

5. Do you set off metal detectors in airports? Not usually.

Oof. So. Tired. OC Fair fun, but oof. So. Tired.

PS-- Donuts make good sandwiches.

From mondaysabitch:

Walt Disney

1. What is your favorite Disney movie? Mary Poppins. I think. Wait. Sleeping Beauty. Mmm, Peter Pan. But Robin Hood is really good, too. Also Bedknobs & Broomsticks. But no, I think Mary Poppins wins. AT EVERYTHING.

2. Have you ever dressed up or attempted to as a Disney character? I don't think so. I think not even at Halloween when I was little. But I do have grand plans for a Small World Holland kid sitting in a tulip costume that will involve papier mache and a small engine. You should see Halloween here on the lot. It is madness.

3. Which Disney song do you know all the words to? The nanny ad from Mary Poppins. "If you want this choice position, have a cheery disposition..."

4. If any Disney character could be your BFF, which one would it be? Dude. MARY. Have we not already discussed how she wins at everything? If she's taken, Mulan, I guess. Or Jiminy. Mulan gets it done, and Jiminy's handy in a pinch.

5. Name as many dwarves as you can in 20 seconds. Time yourself. Are you kidding me? Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, Bashful, Dopey, Grumpy, and Happy. I think that was about 10 seconds. Including the "Are you kidding me?" Next.

See? I could not skip that. It was not physically possible. Also this just in, again from stepliana:

Name up to three aspects of my life you want me to photograph. They can be specific (my bedroom), or not so specific (something red).

Coen brothers!

Guns!

Texas!

YESSSSSSS!

Watch it.

Mark the date in your calendar: November 9th.

Start looking forward to it now.

When I uploaded the other Richard Sherman bits I taped at the Mary Poppins sing-along at the El Capitan in January, youtube wouldn't accept my favorite one because it was 7 KB too long. Then awesome Davebo led me to this awesome site which would make awesome shorter conversions of videos and I was awesomely able to fix it so youtube would accept it! Take that youtube! You will take my Richard Sherman videos and you will like it!

Very quiet weekend. Hollywood Bowl was fun, post with pics and vid later if I can ever get the media convert site to work again.

Woke up much earlier than I wanted Saturday morning. Tried to roll over and go back to sleep, cause up at 8am on my day to sleep in just not cool, but then I realized hey... I could go to Target... and there wouldn't be a line or crowds... and I need milk, toiletries, and HARRY POTTER... and Target has all three!

So yes. I bought the Harry Potter book. But Liz bought it off me the very next day, so does it really count?

I read the whole thing in one day. I settled into bed with Harry at 10.30 Saturday morning, and despite cooking a big pot of saffron rice with linguica and peas for lunch, chatting with my mom, venturing online, and doing three loads of laundry, I finished the book at half past midnight. It was the only way to stay unspoiled. It was a wonderful send-off to the series. I think now that it's all over I'll start collecting the British editions off ebay or something. I'd like to read those.

Din Tai Fung with playmayt and benhsu Sunday morning, where I ran into my friends Chris and Shannon! LA really is home now, because I also ran into three people I knew at the Hollywood Bowl Friday night: an old regular of mine from the video store in Santa Monica (yes, a man who came into a store where I worked three years ago so often that I recognized him. I became friends with many of my regulars at the big bad evil video store. They kept me as sane as I could be at that time in my life and were probably a big part of how I was able to stay as long as I did,) a friend from MyPC, and a guy who works here in animation who's also an exroommate of a friend of mine. That's it. I'm officially an Angeleno if I'm running into people I know at the Bowl.

Root beer floats party in the park Sunday afternoon seemed to go well and there'll probably be another one soon.

Potter madness continues behind the cut with this week's specially themed mondaysabitch questions and a recipe for butterbeer that I can't wait to try. ( Check it out! )

NO SPOILERS HERE, DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF A CUT. THE CUT IS ONLY FOR LENGTH. NO SPOILERS. NO!