watchmen.

Its been 6 days since I saw Watchmen.  While it doesn't constantly come to mind like previous movies have (Surprisingly, this is the effect W. had on me), I still find myself thinking about it.

I need to see it again.   Whereas most films i ruminate on based on plot, I think the fixation with Watchmen is a purely stylistic one.  I think a Zack Snyder triptych would be the bees knees (Dawn of the Dead, 300, Watchmen).

Massawyrm says it better than me.

holy geek out, batman!

Things I have done this afternoon:

1) Searched on ebay for various treasures from Comic-Con 2007 & 2008.

2) Which led to.....coveting the Comic-Con exclusive My Little Ponys from 2007 & 2008.

3) Thought about attending Comic-Con 2009.

4) Thought about how that means I'd have to miss Governor's School.

5) Wikipedia'd various elements of the Whedonverse.

6) Been reminded why I love the 3 rising sci-fi director/writer/producers of our time:  Bryan Fuller, Joss Whedon, J.J. Abrams. (Honorable mention: Barry Sonnenfeld)

7) Become giddy at the thought of the new Star Trek trailer that will be attached to Quantum of Solace in T-Minus 4 days.

8) Watched the shiny new-ish Dollhouse trailer.

9) Considered why FOX seems to hate the Whedonverse, even though they keep greenlighting Joss' shows, only to banish them to the Friday Night Television Slot of Death.   (*mini, slightly morbid, TWSS)

10) Embedded the Dollhouse trailer, for your enjoyment:

I am just that cool.

Editorial Mini-Rant:  Of all the new shows that were considered and subsiquently greenlit for the 2008-2009 season, Dollhouse was the one that I was hands down, most excited about, simply from the AICN description I read nearly a year ago.  I was not happy when I heard it wasn't even given a first-run chance; instead being banished to a mid-season premiere.  

I became increasingly annoyed reading about all the rewrites, which eventually lead to the complete revamping of the original first episode. (This has subsequently been pushed to episode #2, with a new episode #1 taking its place.)  All of this messing with the orginal plan scares me, because it is eerily reminiscent of the path taken by Firefly before it even premiered.  (One of the biggest TV exec missteps ever, not unlike by the unnecessary meddling and format change that led to the cancellation of Veronica Mars.)

Friday night is where television goes to die; it takes a lot to succeed in any timeslot.  Dollhouse was originally supposed to be the lead-in for the new season of 24.  (Which, BTW, seems like an odd pairing, but maybe thats just because I don't *get* 24.  I think it would be way better matched with Fringe (which was paired with House....WTF?); arguably the best new show of 2008 and the most traditional mainstream network sci-fi we've seen in a long while. (Parallel question:  What makes geek-friendly shows like LOST and Fringe inspire mainstream audience confience, yet just as geeky shows like Pushing Daisies, Reaper, & Firefly flouder and struggle to stay alive?) I'm hoping this is some major act of anti-counter-programming, because nothing else worthwhile ever shows on Fridays (for reasons listed above), but I doubt it. Can FOX kill Dollhouse in the same manner with which they killed Firefly (and to a much lesser extent, Sliders)?  I hope not.

random.

A) Today online I stumbled upon the trailer for a new film called Slumdog Millionaire. Simply put, I am absolutely in love, even before seeing it. Description lifted from imdb: "Jamal Malik is an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is just one question away from winning 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" Bu when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating. Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together, and of the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions."



If this plays out even partially like I imagine it in my mind, this is going to be a wonderful, wonderful film. I've enjoyed Danny Boyle's work in the past, and the colors from the trailer are beautiful and deep (in a way, the colors in the trailer remind me of the trailer for My Blueberry Nights (which I'm ashamed to say I still haven't seen) and, in a way I can't explain, the trailer for Punch-Drunk Love.)

B) The Big Bang Theory Quote of the Episode: "Forks are for eating, tridents are for ruling the Seven Seas."

C) Like most people, I definitely welcome the "fall back" part of Daylight Savings Time. However, I think this year has been my most difficult transition. Sure, its finally light out when I got to work now, but the sun is long-gone by 5:30pm. (Let's hear it for the northern latitudes! :P) So, this early darkness, paired with the record highs we've had the past few days (Minneapolis-St. Paul hit 74 degrees today, which is a record), has me all confused. Not to worry, there are fluffy flakes forcasted for Friday evening, so I should be in the winter mindset in no time. :)

And finally...
D) I grew up in very small town ND. Population around 2500, graduated with 57 in my class, etc. My mom still buys me a subscription to the town paper because she thinks I need to stay informed. Usually, there's not really anything of consequence in it, but its nice to stay up-to-date on the gossip. :) This week, one of the major articles was about the 12th grade Government class at the high school. Each election year, Ms. M coordinates an mock election. The four parties running for various "offices" are described within the article, and I just wanted to share them with everyone, since you do not have the privildge of reading The Independent yourself. Enjoy the following text, copied directly from the second half of the article:

The first party is called The Redneck Party. Their issues of concern include ending the war in Iraq, lowering the drinking age to 18, no speed limit on the interstate, gun control and lowering gas prices to $2.00 a gallon.
Another party on the ballot is The Pants Party. Some of the issues of concern for The Pants Party are to stop supporting other countries, conserving oil, removing the two-party system, off-shore drilling, preseving wildlife and free medical attention for the critically ill.
The third party on the ballot is The Rock Star Party. Their issues of concern are lowering the drinking age to 19, knocking the school week down to four days, removing troops from Iraq, stopping payments to Native Americans and cap gas prices at $3.00 per gallon.
Finally there is the GPC Party. Their issues of concern include overturning the Roe v. Wade decision, gas prices, placing a ban on gay marriage, creating affordable health care and bringing troops home.

If I ever doubted why I desperately wanted to leave my hometown during high school, I think it all just came flooding back to me. I'm really looking forward to comments on the last point, I really really am.

get down with the sickness.

I am ill. This does *not* amuse me.

Sidenote: I was, overall, very impressed with the Heroes premiere this evening. Its been a long time coming; 9 long months since we had any new material, even longer since we had any material that could be considered above mediocre.

The one problem I have: Okay, so I get it; when her fight or flight response engages, Black Death Tears Girl Mya's power appears. Mohinder comes to the conclusion that adrenaline is the trigger in Mya (and in everyone; adrenaline is the key to the super powers). He injects himself, becomes super awesome (and a beefcake), and they have amazing superhero sex. (Implied off screen, of course.)
The problem I have is this: about 2 years ago, Jason Statham (Transporter badass) starred in a movie about a guy who needs to keep his adrenaline levels high or he'll die. (I know....I really should write movie reviews/recaps professionally, they're so captivating!) He does this in a wide variety of ways: running from the cops, shooting things, and having sex with hot chicks. Unfortunately, the same chemicals that make us excited when we're scared are also the chemicals that make us excited when we....well, you get the picture. So, in theory, wouldn't any suitor of Mya's be victim of the Black Tears of Death as well, even if she was being adrenalized in a good way?

Yes. I do realize what the previous rant says about my personality and extracurricular interests. :)

Best quote from tonight's premiere of The Big Bang Theory: "I've got more nervous tics than a Lyme disease research facility."

I love Geek TV.

geeking out!

Massawyrm's review of Traitor: http://www.aintitcool.com/?q=node/38092
Its no secret that I agree with Massawyrm's reviews 95% of the time. This one also contains bonus cultural commentary.

The. Best. Movie. Review. Ever.
Neill Cumpston reviews 300: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31520
To this day, I cannot read the above review out loud without laughing myself to tears.