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Jul. 4th, 2011 09:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatStill overcast, but it may burn off before 6pm tonight, which would be nice. Have a 4th of July party to attend on the West Side - about three minutes from the river and the fireworks. We'll probably watch them from the roof, then go home asap - since we all have to work tomorrow.
Currently re-watching "You Smell Like Dinner" - which I watched last week on HBO On Demand. Or half-watching, since I was only thrilled by the Tara, Lafayette, Jason, Sookie, and Eric scenes. Also the Jason storyline. Everyone else bores me. And I'm sorry, folks, but I just don't understand the appeal of Jessica and Hoyt. The appeal of that couple is completely lost on me, it's like listening to scenes from a bad marriage with a high-pitched whine. But Jason I find sort of interesting and his story is creepy in a whole deliverance sort of way. Great touch on the gothic horror tales - depicted in flicks such as Deliverance and Southern Comfort. There's a whole slew of really good American Gothic horror flicks out there that I see referenced in Blood.
Favorite lines? (From Tara/Sookie scene) "Psychopathic Frat Boy." and "Motherfucker. He built himself a cubby. He built himself a cubby in my house."
Tara/Lafayette. "We have a thing. A wiccan thing." "Seriously, you are a wiccan now?"
I also adore the Eric/Bill scenes. "There's a new coven in town." "Oh nooo! Witches." (very sarcastic) And "They are necromancers, Eric. (pause) They brought a bird back from the dead." (LOL!)
Last night watched the movie Up in the Air on HBO which basically just depressed me. It's well written - has some great bits of dialogue, but is also slow in places. I get that it's a satire and in some places wickedly so - ie. the concept that there is a company out there that does nothing but fire people. Best bit? The one at the end where the executive in San Fran asks bright young thing why on earth she decided to take a job with a company that does nothing but fire people. (ie. Why torture yourself or are you just that sadistic?) Bright young thing's response? I followed a boy. (To Omaha, Nebreska no less. That may be the moral of the story - don't follow boys, it will end badly. Or at least one of the morals.) Most of the story is about a modern day road warrior who spends his life on the road firing people. Found the road warrior bits to be ha-ha funny. Particularly when bright young thing accompanied the world weary traveler on the road...with a huge clunky suitcase. Which he quickly makes her exchange for a compact carry-on with wheels. I laughed during that scene - because I've had this experience with friends. They bring huge suitcases and multiple bags, I bring a small compact carry-on no matter where I go or how long. Was raised by a father who was a road warrior and taught me how to pack. We always packed economically for trips. Most people pack insanely for trips - trying to carry their entire closet around with them and never wear half of the cloths - at my Granny's funeral - which was maybe three possibly four days tops in KC, my cousin brought two huge suitcases. She looked at my brother and me who had one small carry-on each. All you need is enough clothes for three maybe four different outfits. If you pack separates - this is fairly easy to accomplish. Pack heavy on underwear and socks, everything else you can wear more than once. Two pairs of shoes tops - one causal (on the plane - preferably easy to slip off) and one for formal stuff. The other scene I loved was the exchange of business travel cards - and the comparison of rental car agencies between the two hardened road warriors. Everything else was just depressing. Better than Taken, but not by much. Sigh. Movies. Anyone else miss the 90s? Currently I find television more entertaining. Last really good movie I saw was Winter's Bone.
Oh, last night listening to The Wire commentatory - discovered that they had changed the beginning credits song. Or changed it up a bit. In Season 1 - it's the song as covered by a band, in S2 - its the song as originally sung by Tom Waits.
Currently re-watching "You Smell Like Dinner" - which I watched last week on HBO On Demand. Or half-watching, since I was only thrilled by the Tara, Lafayette, Jason, Sookie, and Eric scenes. Also the Jason storyline. Everyone else bores me. And I'm sorry, folks, but I just don't understand the appeal of Jessica and Hoyt. The appeal of that couple is completely lost on me, it's like listening to scenes from a bad marriage with a high-pitched whine. But Jason I find sort of interesting and his story is creepy in a whole deliverance sort of way. Great touch on the gothic horror tales - depicted in flicks such as Deliverance and Southern Comfort. There's a whole slew of really good American Gothic horror flicks out there that I see referenced in Blood.
Favorite lines? (From Tara/Sookie scene) "Psychopathic Frat Boy." and "Motherfucker. He built himself a cubby. He built himself a cubby in my house."
Tara/Lafayette. "We have a thing. A wiccan thing." "Seriously, you are a wiccan now?"
I also adore the Eric/Bill scenes. "There's a new coven in town." "Oh nooo! Witches." (very sarcastic) And "They are necromancers, Eric. (pause) They brought a bird back from the dead." (LOL!)
Last night watched the movie Up in the Air on HBO which basically just depressed me. It's well written - has some great bits of dialogue, but is also slow in places. I get that it's a satire and in some places wickedly so - ie. the concept that there is a company out there that does nothing but fire people. Best bit? The one at the end where the executive in San Fran asks bright young thing why on earth she decided to take a job with a company that does nothing but fire people. (ie. Why torture yourself or are you just that sadistic?) Bright young thing's response? I followed a boy. (To Omaha, Nebreska no less. That may be the moral of the story - don't follow boys, it will end badly. Or at least one of the morals.) Most of the story is about a modern day road warrior who spends his life on the road firing people. Found the road warrior bits to be ha-ha funny. Particularly when bright young thing accompanied the world weary traveler on the road...with a huge clunky suitcase. Which he quickly makes her exchange for a compact carry-on with wheels. I laughed during that scene - because I've had this experience with friends. They bring huge suitcases and multiple bags, I bring a small compact carry-on no matter where I go or how long. Was raised by a father who was a road warrior and taught me how to pack. We always packed economically for trips. Most people pack insanely for trips - trying to carry their entire closet around with them and never wear half of the cloths - at my Granny's funeral - which was maybe three possibly four days tops in KC, my cousin brought two huge suitcases. She looked at my brother and me who had one small carry-on each. All you need is enough clothes for three maybe four different outfits. If you pack separates - this is fairly easy to accomplish. Pack heavy on underwear and socks, everything else you can wear more than once. Two pairs of shoes tops - one causal (on the plane - preferably easy to slip off) and one for formal stuff. The other scene I loved was the exchange of business travel cards - and the comparison of rental car agencies between the two hardened road warriors. Everything else was just depressing. Better than Taken, but not by much. Sigh. Movies. Anyone else miss the 90s? Currently I find television more entertaining. Last really good movie I saw was Winter's Bone.
Oh, last night listening to The Wire commentatory - discovered that they had changed the beginning credits song. Or changed it up a bit. In Season 1 - it's the song as covered by a band, in S2 - its the song as originally sung by Tom Waits.
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no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 02:23 pm (UTC)Man, what a great show. I need to watch that again. If only Netflix would put it on streaming...
no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 03:04 pm (UTC)I think they did originally, then took it off for some reason. Because my brother and his wife watched the whole thing on their computers.
Agreed - wish they would. It is on HBO-GO - but stupid Time Warner doesn't grant access to HBO-GO.
If I could afford it - I'd buy the DVDs, but at $49.50 a pop...that would put me out $250 -350 (taxes included).
no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 02:45 pm (UTC)Also, it had the funniest Sam Elliot cameo imaginable, so props for that.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 03:01 pm (UTC)Was convinced it would be the last scene of the movie. So was surprised a bit by the ending. (Already knew about the bit in Chicago with his on-air sex-buddy, Alex - my mother spoiled me on that bit months ago.)
And yes, great Sam Elliot cameo - also perfect casting! That is a great scene and typical of the road warrior.
"Where are you from?" Sam Elliot asks him.
"Here." Responds a somewhat broken down George Clooney. (who is actually brilliant in the role.)
Was talking to my Dad - who worked with and was at one point a road warrior of the airlines just a few moments ago. It does really become their world. The suitcase scene - my father actually experienced with a bright young colleague (male) who did exactly the same thing Natalie does - brings a huge suitcase for a one-night trip (in my father's case). The road warrior bits are the best parts of the movie.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 03:05 pm (UTC)There were wonderful performances in that film, but still....
OTOH (on the other hand) I just watched 'The Pianist' for the first time and it was even more depressing than I had thought it would be, but there was real beauty in it too....
And I hear what you say about over packing, but I'm getting ready to drive up to Madison for the Discworld convention this weekend... and I'm bringing costumes (including fancy hats, a full sized scythe, and a witch's broom) so I'm FILLING my car with stuff for just a 4 day weekend! LOL
no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 03:37 pm (UTC)There were wonderful performances in that film, but still....
My parents beat you to it. When it was still playing in theaters, long before the Oscar noms - they both told me not to go see it. Mom even spoiled me on the ending and told me most of the movie. That it would hit one too many of my buttons and I'd most likely hate the bright young thing with a passion. (Didn't hate her, just found her a bit grating and was happy to see her get hoisted on her own petard, so to speak.)
But was admittedly curious...saw it for the same reason saw X-Men First Class - wanted to see what all the hubbub was about. Was predictably disappointed. ;-)
OTOH (on the other hand) I just watched 'The Pianist' for the first time and it was even more depressing than I had thought it would be, but there was real beauty in it too....
The Pianist is a gut-wrenching but truly beautiful film - I'm guessing this is the Jane Campion film? The one with the brilliant bit by a very young Anna Pacquin? If not, forget I said anything.
(It's a 90s/80s film.)
And I hear what you say about over packing, but I'm getting ready to drive up to Madison for the Discworld convention this weekend... and I'm bringing costumes (including fancy hats, a full sized scythe, and a witch's broom) so I'm FILLING my car with stuff for just a 4 day weekend! LOL
Yes, but that's different. You are a)driving - NOT flying. Whole different ballgame. You can bring as much as you want if you drive.
That's the whole point of driving actually. b) you have costumes for a fan convention - so there's dress-up and those take more space than business attire or an evening gown. (having avoided fan conventions like the plague (allergic to crowds)...I'm admittedly bewildered by the desire to go to them).
no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 04:05 pm (UTC)Actually the Discworld convention is NOT one of those huge crowded overwhelming conventions (I've been to Comic Con, which I think is the biggest, and it really was hard to take). This is a smaller (500-600 fans) convention with Terry Pratchett in attendance. The UK fans (at least half of the people there will be from the UK) all ship boxes full of elaborate costumes to wear, so my car load of silliness hardly compares to their commitment. Luckily Madison, Wisc is only a 4 hour drive (it would take longer to fly, seriously). It will be a weekend of panels, games, costume competitions, banquets, and a couple of talks by Sir Terry. Both exciting and laid back (and no lines!).
no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 05:25 pm (UTC)Re Convention? That does sound more civilized and fun. But 500-600 people in one small place is still too many for me. (I hated the American Library Association conventions - and that was 200-300 people if that.) LOL!
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Date: 2011-07-04 05:46 pm (UTC)It does depend upon the space we're in, and I haven't seen the Madison Wisc convention area yet.... Two years ago we (the Discworld Convention) were in Tempe, AZ in a huge convention hotel that had numerous spaces for panels, and a banquet hall that would seat more than a thousand comfortably, so I never felt that it was crowded or uncomfortable (which is, of course, part of the reason I couldn't resist signing up for this one!). I've been to small Buffy conventions (only 300-500 people) which involved standing in way too many long lines, so that I ended up never going back to anything organized by those people again.... I hate standing in lines (particularly if I'm paying for the privilege).
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Date: 2011-07-04 05:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-04 05:46 pm (UTC)He struck me as very much of an anti-hero. Will state there are few actors that could carry off that role as well as he did.
Over-rated movie.
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Date: 2011-07-04 06:53 pm (UTC)Happy 4th!
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Date: 2011-07-04 07:23 pm (UTC)Up in the Air - otherwise known as Evil Marketing People Rule the World take one. ;-)
Happy 4th!
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Date: 2011-07-05 04:56 am (UTC)Oh dear. We really don't share the same views when it comes to movies. Do we?
no subject
Date: 2011-07-05 12:12 pm (UTC)My tast is fairly moody and eclectic. If you want to see what it's like? I did post back in January link to all of my movie reviews.