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shadowkat1. Saw Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part II today. Realized why I don't like going to movie theaters any more. The damn cell phones. They tell them five different ways - to shut the stupid things off. But a couple of idiots are so self-absorbed they don't listen - invariably a phone goes off or someone text messages (akin to shining a flashlight). To add insult to injury - one of the ushers decided he had to figure out how to get out of the theater through the employees only exit door next to the screen, which required shining a flashlight to figure out the combo to get out that door. (I wanted to strangle the dude.) Oh and a family of five decided to plop down next to me - forty-five minutes into the movie. Were movie theater audiences always this rude? OR is it just me?
Regarding the movie? Quite entertaining. But disappointing in one respect - They didn't explain the Albus Dumbledore story or the Deathly Hallows Story. (Okay make that two things). Understandable - considering quite a bit of time had to be spent to explain the whole wand bit - which was confusing in the books, and required re-reading the last five chapters of Half-Blood Prince to figure it out. I will give them credit for the wand bit - at least that was well done in the movie. So was Snape's story - which was skimped on in the last two movies - but played out exactly as it happened in the book in this film. But I was disappointed that they didn't tell us either the Deathly Hallows story or the Albus Dumbledore one - which are connected and I'd forgotten most of. Was reminded of it by a couple of people chatting in the line to the bathroom after the movie.
In short - it's a good movie, but not a great one. Favorite bit was the Snape bit or Harry seeing things from Snape's pov - which made me cry. I rarely cry at things. Didn't cry once during The Wire (noir doesn't make me cry - I know ahead of time that it is tragedy, so am somewhat desenitized to it. I don't cry watching Hamlet either.) Deathly Hallows Part I is no where near the level of Prisoner of Azkaban - which continues to be the best of the movies and by far the most memorable. That said? It is better than Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part I. And like I said above, it made me cry - twice. That's something, I guess. But I also cry at Grey's Anatomy....I don't understand it either. Maybe I just identify more with whiny female surgeons and boy wizards than murderous and occasionally whiny drug dealers and addicts? (Probably doesn't help that I actually defended a murderous drug dealer once upon a time, does it?)
2. Also watched the final episode of The Wire, 30 - which was nominated for an Emmy. It's a shame the acting wasn't nominated - it is quite brilliant. Amazing...Lost, 24, and Grey's Anatomy were both nominated instead - neither deserved it. Sorry, I've watched all three, enjoyed all three, and The Wire is a lot better. But this is nothing new, my favorite tv shows - the one's I buy on DVD or write extensively about? Rarely if ever nominated for Emmy's. While TV shows I find enjoyable but tend to forget about are nominated a lot. (shrugs)
The best bits...
The best bit - is the beginning of this episode, which is truly hilarious. Particularly Norman - who states: "I wish I still worked for the papers...because this is too fucking good."
Mayor: It's not funny, Norman.
Norman: I'm sorry, but I'm appreciating the charm...we manipulated an event to get you made Mayor and they manipulated an event to get paid....
Prior to this - upon hearing the lie about the serial killer, the Mayor is rendered speechless. Which is rare.
Of course they have to cover it up. Otherwise they'd all go down for it. I guess I should feel sorry for them...but I don't really. Okay, maybe Pearlmen...and to a degree Daniels, although Daniels in some respects enabled it by bringing both Lester and McNulty back to the Wire and being unable to support either - also, again Daniels is hardly one to throw stones. His self-righteous rage - while completely in character, grated on me a bit - so I actually enjoyed it when the tables got turned on him later. Poor Daniels - he's been trying for five seasons to do the right thing - and the right thing turns out to be leaving the police force and becoming a defense attorney or prosecuting attorney (not clear which). And he does it for Pearlmen - he can't turn in the gang, without destroying her life.
Pearlmen - I do feel sorry for.
McNulty realizes what he's done and sinks visibly into himself under a wall of shame. The only way out is to resign - which he does. Is it the best thing for him? You can argue it either way. I think it is - he's a high-functioning alcoholic and police work unfortunately brings out the worst in him - he's almost too sensitive for the job. He can't turn off the emotions. He cares about the people too much. I identify - that's why I couldn't be a criminal attorney or legal aid - cared too much. Emotions in certain fields are weaknesses. Which is ironic and sad.
The exposure of the lie...is similar to the Bunny Colvin bit in S3. And it echoes it in many ways.
Both are exposed by another cop - in S3, Herc, in S5, Herc and Kima. Herc blows the whistle on the wire tap - exposing it to Levy, which results in Marlo's release.
Love the new players to the game - or the people who take on the old roles, the true nature of tragedy is the feeling that while things change, they don't really change at all...it circles back on itself. Noir is when the hero realizes he can't change the world or save it, he can only change himself. By trying to fix the world or others...he drowns. Falls into the abyss. It's pointless.
*Michael becomes Omar, complete with Hoodie and shot-gun, robbing drug-dealers.
*Marlo becomes a reluctant Stringer Bell - a role he never wanted and considers a fate worse than death, he wanted Avon Barksdale's crown not Stringer's.
*The Coalition starts up again with the Greeks.
*Chris becomes Wee Bay in jail.
*Sydnor becomes McNulty - disgruntled and determined to buck the system
*Valcheck becomes Burrell...
And
*Carver becomes Daniels...while Dukie becomes either Sherrod or Bubbles.
The bright spots are Greggs...now Bunk's partner on Homicide, Lester making toy furniture happily retired, Bubbles sitting down for dinner finally at his sister's table - clean and sober.
And we see it all, including Baltimore through the lense of McNulty, who in the end chose Beadie and gave up police work or attempting to even hang on to it - not that he had a choice, as Rhonda states - we can't let you ever do police work again, either of you. They are gone and the cops hold a true wake for them both.
I agree, particularly after watching the documentary and commentary, that the one flaw in the series is a tendency towards soap-boxing or preachiness...but it is real. The paper bit...was a bit flawed and felt sketchy to me. I think it was a bit too close to the writer's heart and he had an ax to grind, just as Season 4 - the Schools' had that problem - Ed Burns clearly had an ax to grind and you could tell. From that perspective - I think S1 and S3 may have been the best seasons, objectively speaking - if such a thing is possible. They certainly had the best villains, although the Wire really is never that clear-cut or simple.
Favorite characters? Bubbles, D'Angelo, Beadie, Norman, Bunny Colvin, Omar, McNulty, Lester, Bunk, and Kima.
Favorite Villain? Stringer Bell, Avon Barksdale, Brinna Barksdale, Clay Davis, Prop Joe, Bill Rawls, Mayor Carcetti, Burrell, and Snoop
Favorite Seasons? S1, S3, and S4
Least Favorite Characters? Ziggy, Valcheck, and the Sobotkes, also not crazy about Marlo
Least Favorite Season? S5 (I liked S2 better...in some respects).
3. After seeing Harry Potter, I went to B&N and bought stuff : 1) Dance of Dragons by George RR Martin (yes, I know I have a kindle, but some books work better in hardback - although this buy makes no logical sense - I have yet to make it all the way through Feast of Crows and only vaguely remember the first two books...also, as you know, I keep whining about the grimness of the story and the fact that Martin doesn't resolve anything - so, I'm either a masochist, or I've fallen hopelessly in love with Martin's Dickens meets Shakespeare meets Tolkien meets Dorothy Dunnett story-telling style.), 2)Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (it has funky photos that are vintage photographs and real - can't get that on kindle and it reads like Ronald Dahl meets Neil Gaiman.), 3)The Paris Review - has an interview with William Gibson, and 4)The Doctor Who DVD of S6 - (Impossible Astronaut to A Good Man Goes To War - couldn't find last season - S5 and well, it was cheap.) I don't know what it is about book stores. I'd fully intended to just buy Ms. Peregrine's Home. Or just Dance of Dragons, or maybe just both. But somehow...I talked myself into not only buying BOTH books, but also a literary magazine (since there weren't any Entertainment ones - I really miss Premiere) and a Doctor Who DVD too. I shouldn't be allowed in book stores any more than I should be permitted in chocolate stores, gourmet grocery stores, CD or DVD stores - I can't control myself. I go nuts. Maybe this is how shop-a-holics feel?
Now - I just have to get around to reading all these things. Been somewhat lax in my reading of late, also for some reason - I don't know why - I seem to read slower now. In college - I could read a 1500 page book in less than two weeks (Clarissa...ugh), but now, it takes me four months to read them. Heck it's taking me two weeks to read Butcher's latest. This is just pathetic. I'm guessing it's because I had more time to devote to reading back then, and my attention could be more focused on it. Work has a nasty way of getting in the way of quality reading. Needless to say - I do appear to still be on a fantasy/horror/sci-fi kick reading wise. Not sure why that is either. I'll get sick of the genre eventually, I burned myself out on the romance, mystery, and spy thriller genres in the 1990s. Historicals in the 1980s (one can only read so many Jeffrey Archer, John Jakes, Gore Vidal, Maeve Binchy, Marge Piercy, Pat Conroy, etc). So it's only a matter of time.
4. It's raining right now and according to NY1 over 100 people are lined up outside the Met to see the Alexander McQueen exhibit - still. It closes at Midnight. They've been in line up to 5 hours. Mind-boggling. Granted he is an innovative avant garde fashion designer. But...I wouldn't stand in line for up to five hours for the Mona Lisa either (which was the last time this happened at the Met). Apparently it's a traveling exhibit...and that's the reason it's only available for a limited time. People want to see the six foot tall shoes that Lady Gaga wore and tripped in. Actually - I can't think of anything I'd stand in line for five hours for at the moment...last time I did that was in England, for Phantom of The Opera - and I was incredibly disappointed. (Had a crush on the guy who came out and admitted people to the theater for seats that people failed to show up for or canceled at the last minute. I was 19-20 at the time...you do crazy things like that when you are in your twenties. Actually, people still do crazy things like that...I know 60 year olds who waited five hours in line for an autograph from James Marsters or George RR Martin.. So, it's all relative, I guess. Plus, you can meet some cool people while standing in line...or so I've been told.)
Regarding the movie? Quite entertaining. But disappointing in one respect - They didn't explain the Albus Dumbledore story or the Deathly Hallows Story. (Okay make that two things). Understandable - considering quite a bit of time had to be spent to explain the whole wand bit - which was confusing in the books, and required re-reading the last five chapters of Half-Blood Prince to figure it out. I will give them credit for the wand bit - at least that was well done in the movie. So was Snape's story - which was skimped on in the last two movies - but played out exactly as it happened in the book in this film. But I was disappointed that they didn't tell us either the Deathly Hallows story or the Albus Dumbledore one - which are connected and I'd forgotten most of. Was reminded of it by a couple of people chatting in the line to the bathroom after the movie.
In short - it's a good movie, but not a great one. Favorite bit was the Snape bit or Harry seeing things from Snape's pov - which made me cry. I rarely cry at things. Didn't cry once during The Wire (noir doesn't make me cry - I know ahead of time that it is tragedy, so am somewhat desenitized to it. I don't cry watching Hamlet either.) Deathly Hallows Part I is no where near the level of Prisoner of Azkaban - which continues to be the best of the movies and by far the most memorable. That said? It is better than Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part I. And like I said above, it made me cry - twice. That's something, I guess. But I also cry at Grey's Anatomy....I don't understand it either. Maybe I just identify more with whiny female surgeons and boy wizards than murderous and occasionally whiny drug dealers and addicts? (Probably doesn't help that I actually defended a murderous drug dealer once upon a time, does it?)
2. Also watched the final episode of The Wire, 30 - which was nominated for an Emmy. It's a shame the acting wasn't nominated - it is quite brilliant. Amazing...Lost, 24, and Grey's Anatomy were both nominated instead - neither deserved it. Sorry, I've watched all three, enjoyed all three, and The Wire is a lot better. But this is nothing new, my favorite tv shows - the one's I buy on DVD or write extensively about? Rarely if ever nominated for Emmy's. While TV shows I find enjoyable but tend to forget about are nominated a lot. (shrugs)
The best bits...
The best bit - is the beginning of this episode, which is truly hilarious. Particularly Norman - who states: "I wish I still worked for the papers...because this is too fucking good."
Mayor: It's not funny, Norman.
Norman: I'm sorry, but I'm appreciating the charm...we manipulated an event to get you made Mayor and they manipulated an event to get paid....
Prior to this - upon hearing the lie about the serial killer, the Mayor is rendered speechless. Which is rare.
Of course they have to cover it up. Otherwise they'd all go down for it. I guess I should feel sorry for them...but I don't really. Okay, maybe Pearlmen...and to a degree Daniels, although Daniels in some respects enabled it by bringing both Lester and McNulty back to the Wire and being unable to support either - also, again Daniels is hardly one to throw stones. His self-righteous rage - while completely in character, grated on me a bit - so I actually enjoyed it when the tables got turned on him later. Poor Daniels - he's been trying for five seasons to do the right thing - and the right thing turns out to be leaving the police force and becoming a defense attorney or prosecuting attorney (not clear which). And he does it for Pearlmen - he can't turn in the gang, without destroying her life.
Pearlmen - I do feel sorry for.
McNulty realizes what he's done and sinks visibly into himself under a wall of shame. The only way out is to resign - which he does. Is it the best thing for him? You can argue it either way. I think it is - he's a high-functioning alcoholic and police work unfortunately brings out the worst in him - he's almost too sensitive for the job. He can't turn off the emotions. He cares about the people too much. I identify - that's why I couldn't be a criminal attorney or legal aid - cared too much. Emotions in certain fields are weaknesses. Which is ironic and sad.
The exposure of the lie...is similar to the Bunny Colvin bit in S3. And it echoes it in many ways.
Both are exposed by another cop - in S3, Herc, in S5, Herc and Kima. Herc blows the whistle on the wire tap - exposing it to Levy, which results in Marlo's release.
Love the new players to the game - or the people who take on the old roles, the true nature of tragedy is the feeling that while things change, they don't really change at all...it circles back on itself. Noir is when the hero realizes he can't change the world or save it, he can only change himself. By trying to fix the world or others...he drowns. Falls into the abyss. It's pointless.
*Michael becomes Omar, complete with Hoodie and shot-gun, robbing drug-dealers.
*Marlo becomes a reluctant Stringer Bell - a role he never wanted and considers a fate worse than death, he wanted Avon Barksdale's crown not Stringer's.
*The Coalition starts up again with the Greeks.
*Chris becomes Wee Bay in jail.
*Sydnor becomes McNulty - disgruntled and determined to buck the system
*Valcheck becomes Burrell...
And
*Carver becomes Daniels...while Dukie becomes either Sherrod or Bubbles.
The bright spots are Greggs...now Bunk's partner on Homicide, Lester making toy furniture happily retired, Bubbles sitting down for dinner finally at his sister's table - clean and sober.
And we see it all, including Baltimore through the lense of McNulty, who in the end chose Beadie and gave up police work or attempting to even hang on to it - not that he had a choice, as Rhonda states - we can't let you ever do police work again, either of you. They are gone and the cops hold a true wake for them both.
I agree, particularly after watching the documentary and commentary, that the one flaw in the series is a tendency towards soap-boxing or preachiness...but it is real. The paper bit...was a bit flawed and felt sketchy to me. I think it was a bit too close to the writer's heart and he had an ax to grind, just as Season 4 - the Schools' had that problem - Ed Burns clearly had an ax to grind and you could tell. From that perspective - I think S1 and S3 may have been the best seasons, objectively speaking - if such a thing is possible. They certainly had the best villains, although the Wire really is never that clear-cut or simple.
Favorite characters? Bubbles, D'Angelo, Beadie, Norman, Bunny Colvin, Omar, McNulty, Lester, Bunk, and Kima.
Favorite Villain? Stringer Bell, Avon Barksdale, Brinna Barksdale, Clay Davis, Prop Joe, Bill Rawls, Mayor Carcetti, Burrell, and Snoop
Favorite Seasons? S1, S3, and S4
Least Favorite Characters? Ziggy, Valcheck, and the Sobotkes, also not crazy about Marlo
Least Favorite Season? S5 (I liked S2 better...in some respects).
3. After seeing Harry Potter, I went to B&N and bought stuff : 1) Dance of Dragons by George RR Martin (yes, I know I have a kindle, but some books work better in hardback - although this buy makes no logical sense - I have yet to make it all the way through Feast of Crows and only vaguely remember the first two books...also, as you know, I keep whining about the grimness of the story and the fact that Martin doesn't resolve anything - so, I'm either a masochist, or I've fallen hopelessly in love with Martin's Dickens meets Shakespeare meets Tolkien meets Dorothy Dunnett story-telling style.), 2)Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (it has funky photos that are vintage photographs and real - can't get that on kindle and it reads like Ronald Dahl meets Neil Gaiman.), 3)The Paris Review - has an interview with William Gibson, and 4)The Doctor Who DVD of S6 - (Impossible Astronaut to A Good Man Goes To War - couldn't find last season - S5 and well, it was cheap.) I don't know what it is about book stores. I'd fully intended to just buy Ms. Peregrine's Home. Or just Dance of Dragons, or maybe just both. But somehow...I talked myself into not only buying BOTH books, but also a literary magazine (since there weren't any Entertainment ones - I really miss Premiere) and a Doctor Who DVD too. I shouldn't be allowed in book stores any more than I should be permitted in chocolate stores, gourmet grocery stores, CD or DVD stores - I can't control myself. I go nuts. Maybe this is how shop-a-holics feel?
Now - I just have to get around to reading all these things. Been somewhat lax in my reading of late, also for some reason - I don't know why - I seem to read slower now. In college - I could read a 1500 page book in less than two weeks (Clarissa...ugh), but now, it takes me four months to read them. Heck it's taking me two weeks to read Butcher's latest. This is just pathetic. I'm guessing it's because I had more time to devote to reading back then, and my attention could be more focused on it. Work has a nasty way of getting in the way of quality reading. Needless to say - I do appear to still be on a fantasy/horror/sci-fi kick reading wise. Not sure why that is either. I'll get sick of the genre eventually, I burned myself out on the romance, mystery, and spy thriller genres in the 1990s. Historicals in the 1980s (one can only read so many Jeffrey Archer, John Jakes, Gore Vidal, Maeve Binchy, Marge Piercy, Pat Conroy, etc). So it's only a matter of time.
4. It's raining right now and according to NY1 over 100 people are lined up outside the Met to see the Alexander McQueen exhibit - still. It closes at Midnight. They've been in line up to 5 hours. Mind-boggling. Granted he is an innovative avant garde fashion designer. But...I wouldn't stand in line for up to five hours for the Mona Lisa either (which was the last time this happened at the Met). Apparently it's a traveling exhibit...and that's the reason it's only available for a limited time. People want to see the six foot tall shoes that Lady Gaga wore and tripped in. Actually - I can't think of anything I'd stand in line for five hours for at the moment...last time I did that was in England, for Phantom of The Opera - and I was incredibly disappointed. (Had a crush on the guy who came out and admitted people to the theater for seats that people failed to show up for or canceled at the last minute. I was 19-20 at the time...you do crazy things like that when you are in your twenties. Actually, people still do crazy things like that...I know 60 year olds who waited five hours in line for an autograph from James Marsters or George RR Martin.. So, it's all relative, I guess. Plus, you can meet some cool people while standing in line...or so I've been told.)
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 02:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 02:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 08:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 07:54 am (UTC)No, it's not just you. ANd years ago, the ushers would have tossed you out for behavior like that - now they just let it go.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 12:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 08:35 pm (UTC)Bubbles turning his life around, Namond on the debate team, Pryz has become a good teacher, McNulty does the right thing and finds the homeless man that he used (not sure wronged...is the correct term). I found it hopeful. And it shone a light on the complexity of Baltimore - a city of light and shadows, and everything in between.
The show ultimately was an exploration of the Angel quote, if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do, except that The Wire turned that on its head by showing that everything we do matters, even the smallest thing that we're not aware of can have repercussions for other people, because, of course, it's all connected.
Yes. This. Exactly. Everything we do matters...it just doesn't always result in what our goal or aim or objective is, nor do we always see the results - and as a result, we assume based on our limited perception (we didn't get the carrot, Angel didn't get the shanshue or the girl, McNulty didn't catch Stringer Bell or Marlo Stanfield) that nothing matters. Ironic. And oddly childish..when I think about it. ("I did all this, caused all these things to happen - and Marlo Stanfield still walks! Then nothing matters!")
Or often we are so focused on what we think we desire - this proverbial carrot hanging out there (Stringer Bell in jail, Angel's shanshue)...that we miss what would make us the most happy. As Beadie and Lester tell McNulty at different points. McNulty gets so tunnel visioned, that he loses sight of all the other bits and pieces...and the other people whose lives we've changed for good or ill and often both.
Ratings
Date: 2011-08-07 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 10:52 am (UTC)Was so pleased that Pearlman and Daniels got a happy ending (I think it was a happy ending), and Bubbles too, of course. Will always be sad about Omar.