Bueller?

Rest in peace John Hughes. I will forever love you for giving me Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Monday randomness

First off, welcome to Rhiggs. Thank you for your input, I do feel better knowing Gaelic is that hard to learn! But I'm working my way through it.
Second, I watched A Haunting in Conneticut this weekend. For a movie based on a hoax, it was pretty good. They cut out the Warrens altogether (thank GOD), and spiced up the story quite a bit. They also went with making Matt likeable, as opposed to the raving psycho he actually was.
Third, I watched another movie this weekend (can you tell the kiddo was at her dad's?), The Hamiltons. Low budget horror flick. Took it about half an hour to get it's legs, and for the director to get the courage to just do it already, and once it did, it was really quite good. I expected a campy movie, all "serious" but really filled with Bruce Campbell acting even if the actors don't realize that's the note they are hitting. All in all, I was impressed.
Finally, Mother Nature. I live on a ridge, it's decently higher than the surrounding area. When my yard floods? That means there is too much freaking rain. So please stop it already. Please.

Dear BBC America

Umm, well, let's get the bad new out of the way first. First Primeval, now Torchwood. I want to see a new mini series, season, or special out of RTD for Torchwood ASAP. And I don't want to hear about Barrowman's other obligations. Drag his ass into the studio.
Good news is, Planet of the Dead kicked ass. That was brilliant. And was the perfect end to a weekend completely spoiled by Torchwood's finale. I would love to see Christina again, I am in love with her.
Love,
Me

In other news, I finally saw Watchmen. It was... OK. I liked the comic better, but it was beautiful. Of course it was the same director as 300, which would be why. He can make a mean movie.

Percy Jackson and Torchwood

So they are making the first Percy Jackson book into a movie. The casting looks spectacular, though a little odd at points. The funny little thing I am running into is that if they make the second book into a movie they will have to cast someone as one of the goddesses I worship. I haven't run into the problem before. All in all though, I'm pretty excited about the movie. I got all goose pimples when I saw the preview.
And speaking of goose pimples, Torchwood started last night. Brilliant and ended on a major cliff hanger. I was so upset, until I remembered it continues tonight. Whew! But it is quite good, better than I thought. Can't wait to see how it ends.

Harry Potter and the realization Tom Felton can act

I don't usually watch movies for the story. Honestly, if I want a good story I will read one. I watch good movies for special effects, a really good director, or a really good actor.
I love the Harry Potter movies, except for the first two, which fell victim to someone trying to do the impossible (direct a word for word version of a book, that is insane,and it showed. Especially with books in need of a good editing, which the HP books were), and some really piss poor acting on the part of some kids (Rupert Gint. Oy).
Round about the fifth movie Daniel Radcliff had started doing Broadway, and he learned that he could, in fact act. Emma Watson also learned that she could act. They got to work with Gary Oldman, who doesn't so much act, as ACT. I heard someone say that Gary Oldman tries to save movies through the power of ACTING, which is pretty damn accurate.
However, the one person I was always interested in was Tom Felton. He was a pretty decent child actor before he got cast as Draco and then promptly shoved in the corner. He was always solid when he showed up on screen. As a movie watcher you knew what you would get from him.
So I really did wonder what they would do with him in the 6th movie, which was the story of Draco and Snape.
David Yates decided that they should just let him act. And frankly, I mean to write him a letter thanking him for that.
Tom Felton knocked it out of the ballpark.
They gave him more time on screen, writing in scenes that needed to be written in, and subtracting a LOT of stuff that needed to go (thank god they cut that whole damn Lupin/Tonks angst, there is more than enough angst with the kids, thank you). About half way through the movie you can see him changing, see him really having second thoughts, and then finally see him nearing the mini breakdown Draco has at the end. It was brilliant, and the guy next to me in the theater thought so too (mentioning at one point that "Draco is really good this time").
Thank god for Tom Felton, who really did save the movie from Rupert Gint. Oy.

Rediscovering

This weekend I rediscovered a few things...

I rediscovered that Splenda makes me ill. Serves me right for buying something for me without looking at the label.

I rediscovered that I cannot drink any water or tea that is apple flavored because it tastes vaguely off (my brother has the same problem, so at least I'm not alone in this one)

I rediscovered Christopher Eccleston, and why I have such a love affair with him as an actor.

I rediscovered in the same movie why Cate Blanchet bothers me some much as an actress (she hits the same note over and over. She's wonderfully expressive, but is always coming back to home base.)

I rediscovered that taking a kid strawberry picking is an adventure.

I rediscovered Japanese horror movies, and why they are made of win.

Monday randomness

Instead of Friday Randomness, sorry about that folks...

This weekend I got to watch two movies, "Mirrors" and "The Devil's Rejects". I'm a late comer to both, and both were pretty good in their own ways. I liked "The Devil's Rejects" better, I have a soft spot for Rob Zombie's movies.

My brother made it out to CA safe and sound. On the way he saw snow over the high plains. I can't even imagine, snow in June. It's weird when we get snow in April. But snow this late would be too much.

I kept hearing about the Swine Flu over the weekend. Apparently PA had their first death of it over the weekend. I thought it was over. How strange. I either haven't been paying attention or they stopped talking about it. The news has such a fleeting attention span.

I'm very excited about my newest book buys, a biography of Anne Boleyn and one of Henry the VIII. Yay! I loved being able to buy used books online, And while I was there I pre-ordered Lost's Season 5. Also Yay!!

Star Trek

If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and see Star Trek. I know I'm late to the party on this one, but it was awesome.
I have taken to calling it "Star Trek: Why Spock is Awesome". I believe this is totally appropriate.

You know...

I really do just love Tilda Swinton. She's just made of nutty awesome. And she makes some really great movies (and Constantine, which is a guilty pleasure for me because of Rachel Weis).

Thank God that's over!

It's almost the end of the month. Thank God! I hate February to begin with and this one was just rough. I'm not sure if it's a end of the winter, everything is grey and dreary mentality that makes it always so tough, but it does seem to be the worst month.
Tomorrow the kid is with her dad, and I can not find a single thing to do. I was thinking of going to see a movie, but there is nothing I want to see in the theaters. OK Hollywood, I'm a 32 year old woman, can you please make a movie I want to see? Not "He's Just Not That Into You" or any of that crappy sentimental bullshit, how about a good thriller? Oh, or a nice action movie that features cute men taking off their shirts? You know, another Bond movie perhaps? I can always go with shirtless Daniel Craig (I just typed shortless, and yes, I can go with that too, hee!). Stupid Hollywood.
Let's talk books! I'm almost done Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, so I'm about to move onto House of Leaves. I've left my reading schedual clear for that one, I really can't tackle it while reading anything else. Chris is reading Good Omens for the first time and told me the other day what an awesome book it is (which... yeah. I own it. I know. But it's cool that he's getting to enjoy it for the first time). He abandoned the Dark Tower series when he hit the part in the 6th book where King writes himself into the series. I also have just ordered The Watchmen, so I'm excited about adding that to my growing graphic novel collection. Yay!
I really can't think of anything else to talk about. Nothing has really grabbed my attention this week aside from Lost and that really strange hubbub over Michelle Obama's arms. So I guess that will be all.

Manic Mondays

Lovely to be back after my short break. I had an eventful weekend, in that I finished my first commissioned baby blanket and stopped smoking. Yay me! I found it interesting that they were both the same level of ongoing difficulty. I still want to smoke and my hand is still sore after using that damned small crochet hook.
There are a few things I wanted to talk about on Friday, mainly Lost, since I hadn't done so already. So, Lost...
I am kind of in love with the fact that the main crux of the season isn't them getting back to the Island (just like last season it wasn't them getting off the Island). Which is why half way through the season they are back. I'm guessing the crux is getting back to the right time. I'm also guessing that Sun, Sayid, and Ben are in a different time. I hope they find Richard again soon so he can explain what on earth is going on. Assuming he knows, Richard strikes me as kind of mercinary and rather smart but not always in the know about what is going on with the Island.
And one other thing, what the hell happened to Ben? And why on earth didn't anyone say to him, "dude? WTF?" Even if I don't like a fellow if I see him obviously beaten to a bloody pulp I will ask after him. It's just polite. Everyone is guessing he went after Penny, which I would bet, but I'm also betting that Ben had something to do with Sayid being in police custody on that plane.
The Oscars were kind of predictable huh? I mean, everyone picked that. Except for Sean Penn. Everyone kept saying it would be Rourke, but I'm happy it was Penn. I like him more.
That is all for now...

Also...

Umm, Chris Eccelson is in the new G.I. Joe movie? I missed that how?
Will I see it? Yes, more than likely through my enduring love of Chris and my nostolgia of G.I. Joe. Will I like it? I didn't watch the super bowl so I haven't even seen the trailer, so I don't know yet. Probably not.