5 posts from May 2008

.:What I'm Watching:.

The Awful Truth. [This captivating screwball comedy stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as Jerry and Lucy Warriner, a married couple who mistakenly suspect each other of infidelity and file for divorce -- but then go to ridiculous lengths to make each other jealous. Ralph Bellamy is hilarious as Dunne's new suitor, Grant and Dunne have rarely been better, and a scene-stealing pooch provides some hearty laughs. Leo McCarey won an Oscar for his sprightly direction. ~netflix] cute classic. i really liked it. then again, maybe it's because i really like cary grant. love the chemistry between the two stars. 4 stars.

Cloverfield. [A going-away party in Manhattan is interrupted when a mysterious, giant-sized monster launches an attack on New York City. With camcorder in hand, a small group of friends make their way out into the chaotic streets, scrambling to stay alive. Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, Michael Stahl-David, Odet Jasmin and T.J. Miller co-star in this action-thriller produced by J.J. Abrams, creator of the hit television series "Alias" and "Lost." ~netflix] i couldn't even get halfway through it without wanting to barf. all that motion totally made me ill... it's pretty good, but... JEEZ. i just got so sick. and i didn't even watch it on a big screen! i watched it on my computer. in a small window! and i STILL didn't feel well. dude, i don't know how anyone watched it in the theater without puking. i had to stop the movie twice to keep from hurling. turning on the subtitles and focusing JUST on the words helped... of course then i didn't really know what was going on or anything. hehe. i still liked it, though. 3 out of 5. i might've given it a higher rating if i didn't feel all pukey. well, probably not. it wasn't really THAT good.

Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out. [In this absorbing documentary, drummer Stewart Copeland shares his Super-8 footage from his days with the Police -- one of the world's biggest bands in the 1980s -- and muses about what it was like to be rock royalty. Highlights include early performances in London before the group found an international audience, plus vintage studio footage of the moment that Sting came up with the classic baseline for "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da." ~netflix] got me in the mood for the concert the next night. :D so interesting to see the members of the police paying their dues, playing crappy gigs and staying in crappy motel rooms. stewart copeland comes across as so normal and cool... and sting seemed so down-to-earth... i guess superstardom messes a person up. 4 out of 5.

The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You. [The League Of Gentlemen Are Behind You is a pantomime themed stage show by The League of Gentlemen. It was their second major UK tour and premiered in 2006. The show was a departure from the Gents' trademark dark humour, thanks to the whimsical pantomime nature of it. Almost all the material performed was new and original. ~wikipedia] i love these guys. it's amazing how fast they change outfits and characters! they just jump from being one person to the next. it's awesome. and they are funny. awesome live show. 4 stars.

Mr. Brooks. [Kevin Costner stars in this psychological thriller chronicling the downward spiral of a man (Costner) at war with his own alter ego (William Hurt). Demi Moore co-stars as a sharp-witted police detective whose passion for her job attracts the attention -- and respect -- of the very serial killer she's tracking. The film was penned and helmed by talented writer-director team Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon (Stand by Me). ~netflix] better than i thought it would be. i actually liked it a lot. you have to suspend your belief about a lot of stuff, but that's no different than most movies out there, right? and look! demi moore is working again! dane cook's in this, too. he's still kinda spazzy but not as much as usual. really though, this movie is all kevin costner and william hurt. i am not normally a kevin costner fan, but he surprised me in this movie. 4 stars. i'm not sure if i gave it a higher rating because i wasn't expecting ANYTHING and it pleasantly surprised me or what...

The Restless. [In fictional ancient Korea, Yi Gwak is a demon hunter who lost his lover, Yon-hwa, and colleagues of demon hunters in the past. He enters the Midheaven, a transitory place for spirits, only to find the spirit of Yon-hwa who has forgotten about him. His deceased former mentor, Ban-chu, masterminds a demonic rebellion in Midheaven, wishing to invade the living world. ~wikipedia] i enjoyed it! i thought it might really suck, but it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought it was going to be. maybe if you go into it with absolutely no expectations you'll enjoy it... i did want to choke the lead actress though. seriously. she was so annoying and weak and pathetic and i wanted to beat her ass. and the main guy's hairdo was annoying. heh. what? it was. but for the most part, it was engaging and interesting and the special effects and fight scenes are pretty fun. not the best ever or anything, but it's a fully decent flick. 4 stars.

Thundercats, Season 2. [After fleeing the planet Thundera, a small band of survivors dubbed the Thundercats makes its way to Third Earth, only to be met by Mumm-Ra, a centuries-old embodiment of evil! In this collection of episodes from the show's second season, Lion-O anoints three new Thundercats -- Bengali, Pumira and Lynx -- who had been left behind on Thundera. Unfortunately, Mumm-Ra retaliates by unleashing the destructive Luna-taks. ~netflix]  seriously, that first disc was AWESOME. i loved the thundercats as a kid. i'm still waiting to get disc 2 in the mail... 5 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Bear Snores On... and more stories to celebrate the seasons. [No matter what the season, children will find special things to cherish in these classic stories. In "Bear Snores On," Bear sleeps all winter long in his cozy lair; surprise guests stop by to warm up, brew tea and pop corn, but Bear still snores on. In "Waiting for Wings," butterflies bloom as delicately as flowers. And in "Come On, Rain!" Tess knows that the only thing that can fix the endless summer heat is a good, soaking rainstorm. ~netflix] "Bear Snores On" is a really cute book. but they didn't exactly animate it on this disc. this DVD was really lame. also, the narrator made me want to kill someone. she was awful and annoying. also, the other shorts weren't exactly animated either. the production was TERRIBLE. and have i mentioned that it's pretty lame? in case i haven't made it totally clear, let me put it to you this way: it was a total suckfest. of course my daughter's a couch potato so she sat still for it and watched it. heck, she'd probably even give it 3 stars out of 5. but I'm giving it 1. oh, and not only did the extra stories have poor production, but they were just straight up lame. blah. read your kid the book. don't bother getting the DVD. save yourself.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

Andy C: Nightlife 4. i have a feeling this is gonna be on heavy rotation this summer. especially since mia likes it too. yeah, we have the coolest toddler evah.

Atmosphere: When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold. pretty good. some songs i didn't really care for, but for the most part, very solid album.

Madonna: Hard Candy. there are some songs that just SCREAM timbaland and timberlake. and others that sound Madonna... there are some songs that are pretty cool and others that are just pretty boring, filler-type material. it's decent.

.:What I'm Watching:.

Bandidas. [With a ruthless despot terrorizing their tiny Mexican town, a pair of oddly matched women -- one a European-educated lady (Salma Hayek) and the other a rough-and-tumble peasant (Penelope Cruz) -- join forces to become two of the most celebrated bank robbers of their time. The bad guys never looked so good -- but their night-and-day backgrounds are bound to clash. Steve Zahn, Joseph D. Reitman, Sam Shepard and Dwight Yoakam co-star. ~netflix] wet cat fights and heaving breasts. what's not to like? it was a pretty silly movie, but it was fun. steve zahn must've been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO pleased to get that part in the movie. he gets to kiss salma AND penelope. multiple times! at the same time, practically! anyway, i'll give it 4 stars. it's generous of me, i know. hehe. anyway, it's not art. trust me. but it's good to just turn off your brain and watch it.

The Big One. [Another subversive journey from documentarian / provocateur Michael Moore poses this question: At a time when corporations are posting record profits, why are so many Americans still in danger of losing their jobs? Searching America's heartland, armed only with a camera, tons of sarcasm and a heartfelt sympathy for the American worker, Moore embarks on a one-man campaign to persuade Fortune 500 companies to reconsider their downsizing decisions. ~netflix] while i know a lot of his stuff has to do with editing, he sure does a good job... it's an older documentary (11 years old), but still relevant. 4 out of 5.

Gamers. [Since high school, a group of friends has been playing the game Demons, Nymphs and Dragons, and they're finally about to break the world record for total hours played. A documentary crew follows this set of geeks as they prepare to make history. Kelly LeBrock, William Katt, John Heard and Beverly D'Angelo co-star in this send-up about fantasy nerds from writer and director Christopher Folino. ~netflix] pretty funny mockumentary. i thought it was pretty funny, anyway... i don't know... but i love nerds. hehe. they amuse me. and i can say that cuz i'm a nerd, too. i'd give it 3.5 out of 5 if i could, but since i can't, i gave it 3 out of 5 stars on netflix.

The Glenn Miller Story. [One of the most profitable biopics ever filmed, The Glenn Miller Story traces Miller's rise from pit-orchestra trombone player to leader of the most successful big band of his era -- the early 1940s. Girl-next-door June Allyson plays Miller's wife, Helen, who learns the value of patience while Glenn searches relentlessly for "the sound" that will put him on top. Louis Armstrong and Gene Krupa pop up in cameos. ~netflix] i love me some jimmy stewart. really good for its time, but doesn't really hold up all these many years later. 3 out of 5.

Human Nature. [Talk about bizarre love quadrangles... This one involves a woman (Patricia Arquette) covered with body hair, a behavioral scientist (Tim Robbins) who's trying to teach mice table etiquette, his French laboratory assistant (Miranda Otto) who harbors a secret, and a feral man-creature (Rhys Ifans) who was raised in the wild like an ape. Eccentric doesn't begin to describe this movie -- better get out the tapering shears! ~netflix] as much as i thought to myself, "WTF?!" while i was watching it, the more i thought about it later, the more i liked it. written by charlie kaufman and directed by michel gondry. so yeah. it's gonna be a little weird and freaky. hehe. anyway, i really liked it. 4 out of 5.

The Opposite of Sex. [At 16, Dee Dee Truitt (Christina Ricci) is a full-blown force of nature. When she moves in with her brother and his lover, she quickly seduces her way into a gender-bending love triangle. Lisa Kudrow plays against type as the straight-laced single woman with designs on Dee Dee's brother, but Ricci's bodacious performance steals the show, and her spunky narration keeps the film fresh and unpredictable. ~netflix] the narration got kinda annoying sometimes... like they were just trying too damn hard. lisa kudrow's character was annoying me, too. like, what, she can't be happy unless she's getting laid? jeezus, how lame. i wanted to beat her ass. 3 out of 5 stars.

Sin City. [Murder, corruption and cover-ups are all part of Sin City's daily routine in this dark film that weaves three tales from Frank Miller's graphic novels. Marv (Mickey Rourke) is a psychotic outcast who seeks vengeance for Goldie's (Jaime King) murder; Dwight (Clive Owen) kills a cop and must cover it up; and nearly retired cop Hartigan (Bruce Willis) is accused of a crime he didn't commit. Benicio Del Toro, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson co-star. ~netflix] soooo awesome. i love this movie so much. i'd give it 6 stars if i could...

Typhoon. [Still seething over the killing of his family as they tried to defect from North to South Korea when he was a child, Sin (Dong-Kun Jang) schemes to nuke all of Korea. Now, naval Lt. Gang Se-jong (Jung-Jae Lee) must track Sin down before he carries out his nefarious plan. But while he can't run the risk of having personal feelings interfere with his mission, as Gang learns more about the man he seeks, he begins to feel sympathy for his plight. ~netflix] much worse than i thought it would be. and i didn't think it was going to be very good. it wasn't even one of those so-bad-it's-good movies. how was this a box-office smash? man, throw in some north korea stuff and non-korean actors and korean people will just eat that shit up, i guess. 2 out of 5 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

The Book of Pooh: Fun with Make Believe. mia sure loves winnie the pooh. this is done with the bunraku style of puppetry. i don't know what it is about it that mia loves... maybe because it's a gentle show (she loves oswald and kipper which are also gentle shows) but she really enjoys this DVD.

The Muppet Show, Season 3. we watched the first three episodes. mia is absolutely enamored with the muppets. then again, who isn't??? :D

.:What I'm Listening To:.

Saul Williams: The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust! the name is obviously based off of david bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. he worked really closely with trent reznor on this album... and i have to say that it doesn't sound like saul williams at all. not that it's necessarily a bad thing. it's just... different. i must've listened to it 3 times or so already and i'm finding that i like it. i prefer his previous albums, but this one is all right... he had it available for download on his site, but there is now a physical release date for it... 6/24.

.:What I'm Watching:.

I'm Not There. [Six actors portray six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes depicting various stages in the musician's life. Chronicling Dylan's rise from unknown folksinger to international icon, the film reveals how he reinvented himself many times. Todd Haynes directs this stylized portrait, the first biography approved by the singer-songwriter. Marcus Carl Franklin, Ben Whishaw, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett (in an Oscar-nominated role) star. ~netflix] i think i would've liked this movie more if i actually gave two craps about bob dylan. what? i'm just being honest here. but it was worth a watch just to see cate blanchett work her magic. she was amazing. 3 outta 5 stars.

A Man Named Pearl. [A Man Named Pearl tells the inspiring story of self-taught topiary artist Pearl Fryar. It is a subtle and intriguing film that is certain to open hearts and minds. It offers an upbeat message that speaks to respect for both self and others, and shows what one person can achieve when he allows himself to share the full expression of his humanity. ~imdb] i saw shrubs in a whole different way. hehe. he truly is amazing. if i ever find myself in bishopville, south carolina (or somewhere thereabouts) i'm definitely making a stop to check out his amazing garden. 4 out of 5 stars.

The True Story of Charlie Wilson. [Charlie Wilson was a Texas congressman who became part of an unbelievable stunt in which he helped funnel more than $300 million into a covert effort to fund Afghanistan's war against the Soviet Union. Going beyond the Hollywood dramatization Charlie Wilson's War, this eye-opening film details the whole shocking story of Wilson's involvement in the scheme, along with CIA agent Gust Avrakotos and socialite Joanne Herring. ~netflix] since i watched Charlie Wilson's War a few weeks ago, i felt like i should watch the documentary. it's still a fascinating story the second time around. i guess it just goes to show you what you can do if you set your mind to it... 4 out of 5 stars.

.:What I'm Reading:.

House of Chains (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 4) - Steven Erikson. i am a fantasy dork. i love me some thick ass fantasy books. that continue on and on... through different books that go through the entire history of some fake civilization. hehe. while i'm waiting for george rr martin's new book to come out (supposedly in the fall) i figured i ought to get caught up on steven erikson's books. i'm several behind now. i am about a quarter of the way through with this one... i'm not sure when i'm going to finish it since i'm just reading it while the kids nap... and i'm not reading it straight through their naptime. maybe i should... then i could finish it faster and tackle the next one... ANYWAY, the series is even better than i remember it being (the last time i read one it was a WHILE back) and i thought it was pretty good back then! i'm really enjoying it.

.:What I'm Playing:.

Mah Jong Quest Expeditions. [DS] yay! a new puzzle game for me! i'm really enjoying them. kinda like your old computer mah jong game that you'd play when you were bored at work... oh, was that just me? heh. anyway, it's like it, but they add new twists to keep it fresh and interesting. i'm really digging it.

.:What I'm Watching:.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 3, Volume 3. [As the third season of this Emmy-winning animated series unfolds, Aang wakes up to two significant surprises: The first is that he's trapped aboard an enemy ship of the Fire Nation, and the second is that he has a full head of thick, black hair. Meanwhile, as Aang's fellow prisoners Katara, Sokka and Hakoda explain the series of events that brought them to their current circumstances, Prince Zuko journeys home to face his father. ~netflix] seriously one of the best shows ever. it's in its 3rd (and i guess final) season. it is SO awesome. i loooove it. 5 out of 5 stars. also, steve got me a second plushie to go with my appa. it's MOMO!!! :D i love them both. hehe.

Bee Movie. [Comedian Jerry Seinfeld stars in this animated comedy as recent college grad Barry B. Benson, a worker bee stuck in a dead-end job making honey who files a lawsuit against humans when he learns they've been stealing the bees' nectar for centuries. Renée Zellweger, John Goodman, Matthew Broderick and Chris Rock are among the all-star cast members who contribute their vocal talents. ~netflix] cute and some lines made me laugh out loud. i think i liked the movie previews of it more than the actual movie. you know... when the people are dressed up as bugs... no? doesn't ring a bell? anyway, 3 out of 5 stars.

The Hitman. [Fu (Jet Li) is a down-and-out ex-soldier trying to scrape together a living in Hong Kong, all the while supporting his mother in mainland China. When an elderly business tycoon is murdered by "The King of Killers" -- and posthumously offers a sizable reward for anyone who brings his killer to justice -- Fu is recruited by slippery cop Norman Lu (Eric Tsang). Together, they track down the elusive villain using drop-dead martial arts maneuvers. ~netflix] it was all right. nothing special at all. gosh, but jet li looks young! the DVD cover makes it look like it's supposed to be a comedy, but it's not. 3 outta 5.

Iron Man. [After ultrarich inventor and weapons maker Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) escapes from kidnappers using makeshift power armor, he turns his invention to good by using it to fight crime. But when he must face the evil Iron Monger, his skills are stretched to the limit. Based on the Marvel comic, this captivating superhero tale from director Jon Favreau co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard. ~netflix] LOVED it. hey, was terrence howard's speaking voice always that annoying? or was it just for the movie? oh, and jon favreau's a genius! how'd he make gwyneth NOT annoying?! amazing!!! hehe. 5 out of 5 stars. looooved it.

The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse. [Royston Vasey is in danger of being annihilated. The inhabitants must find the creators of the show in the real world in order to save it.] i didn't like it as much as the other League of Gentlemen shows. it was still good, though. 3 out of 5 stars.

Lion King 1 1/2. [Timon and Pumbaa are best pals and the unsung heroes of the African savanna. This prequel takes you back -- way back -- before Simba's adventure began. You'll find out all about Timon and Pumbaa (where they came from, how they met, etc.) and tag along as they search for the perfect home and attempt to raise a rambunctious lion cub. Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Ernie Sabella provide the voices in this entrancing musical tale. ~netflix] i guess it was all right. nothing new and original. they make it sound like it's an all new movie, but it's really not. it's like they just used the lion king's stuff and just added pumba and timon into the animation cels or something. kinda lame. but i love me some disney, so i'll give it 3 out of 5 stars, anyway. what? i'm biased.

• Living Goddess. [Filmed in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, Ishbel Whitaker's documentary examines the lives of three girls thought to be reincarnated goddesses whose story unfolds amid the country's political and religious strife. Worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists alike, the three share a common divinity, but while Chanira and Preeti are sheltered from the outside world, Sajani's parents strive to create a normal life for their daughter. ~netflix] this netflix synopsis is totally misleading. first of all, i don't recall there being 3 goddesses. i only remember there being 2. if they did show a 3rd, they sure did her an injustice because i don't know who it's supposed to be. while the subject matter is fascinating, the execution was well... to be honest, not so good... the direction was kinda messed up. screwed with the flow of things. this could've been such an amazing documentary, but instead it just came across as just... ordinary and uninspired. 2 out of 5 stars. mostly for the poor execution.

Made. [In this comedic crime drama -- Jon Favreau's directorial debut -- aspiring pugilist Bobby (Favreau) and pal Ricky (Vince Vaughn) head to New York as representatives of Los Angeles mob boss Max (Peter Falk). Things aren't going well with Bobby's job, his boxing hopes or his girlfriend (Famke Janssen), and he hopes that helping out Max will fix it. But trouble hits when the two meet up with Ruiz (Sean Combs) and the gangsters of New York. ~netflix] it was all right. but vince vaughn's character? i have never wanted to punch a character in the face so many times. i used to like vince vaughn, but the older i get, the more he annoys me.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Kipper: Kipper Helps Out. [Kipper, that agreeable dog with the sunny smile, learns some valuable life lessons in a series of six animated films in which he helps out various friends, both new and old. Episodes include "The Visitor," "Pig's Present," "The Butterfly," "The Bleepers," "Pig's Cousin" and "The Little Ghost," in which Kipper prevails over a fearsome haunted house. Great stuff for toddlers. ~netflix] it's a really gentle cartoon and very sweet. and mia and i really like it a lot. i would definitely recommend this for toddler viewing. 4 out of 5 stars. :)

The Wonder Pets! Save the Unicorn. [Linny the guinea pig, Ming-Ming Duckling and Turtle Tuck join forces to save a new crop of animals in distress in this family-friendly program that employs the fascinating technique of "photo-puppetry." In this collection of exciting rescue episodes, the Wonder Pets jump into a storybook to help a unicorn whose horn is lodged in a tree. Later, they head to the South Pole to save a baby penguin who's stranded on an ice floe. ~netflix] this has the episode Save the Penguin! yay! hehe. it's cute as usual. and mia loves the wonder pets... if she was rating it, she'd give it 5 stars, i'm sure. but she's not rating it, i am. hehe. and with the exception of the penguin episode, i'm only giving this one 3 stars.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

DJ Icey: Y4K. one of my early mother's day gifts! loved it. mia and i especially enjoyed our "dancey dance" time with it.

Supreme Beings of Leisure: 11i. SBL is music to chill out to. they've still got their trademark sound (which is a little like morcheeba) but this time around, it's a lot less trip-hop and a little slower. there are some tracks that i wasn't that fond of, but overall, it's a pretty good album. better than their second, but not as good as their first.

.:What I'm Watching:.

• Bloodrayne 2: Deliverance. [Things get even wilder in the already Wild West when Billy the Kid (Zack Ward) and his band of cowboy buddies -- vampires one and all -- arrive in Deliverance, Mont., to establish their kingdom. Now, it's up to the half-human, half-vampire Rayne (Natassia Malthe) to use her fearsome powers to stop them. Along for the ride is reporter Newton Pyles (Chris Coppola), whom Billy spares so he can tell the bloodsuckers' story. ~netflix] oh, yes, i did. i got me the sequel. because i'm a masochist! natassia malthe = the worst actress ever. ever. ever. on her imdb page, it says that she's a professional model. she REALLY should stick with that and STOP ACTING. for the LOVE OF GOD, STOP ACTING. she was in DOA: Dead or Alive. that movie was campy fun. but i HATED her in that movie. i wanted to BEAT HER FACE IN. there's just something about her that bugs me. GAH! anyway, this movie is AWFUL. uwe boll (the director of both bloodrayne movies) should jump in a lake of sulfuric acid and die. one of the WORST movies i've ever seen. and not in that "so bad, it's good" way, either. it's just painful to watch. vampire cowboys... uhm. no. do yourselves a favor and never pick this movie up. oh, and i gave this movie 1 star. but only because there's no such thing as ZERO stars. heh. look, i know i did this to myself... the first bloodrayne was bad. no question about it... so i figured that this would be more of the same... and that at least i could make fun of it and it would be funny. no. it's just uber-painful to watch. blurgh.

• Classic Caballeros Collection: Saludos Amigo & The Three Caballeros. [Classic Disney cartoons take on a spicy Spanish flavor in this pair of animated features set south of the border. The travelogue Saludos Amigos (1943) finds Donald Duck, Goofy and a parrot named Jose Carioca exploring Lake Titicaca, the Andes mountains, the Argentine pampas and Rio de Janeiro. Then, in The Three Caballeros (1945), Donald Duck serves as a tour guide for a virtual trek through Latin and South America. ~netflix] hey, did you know that they did a LOT of acid back in the day? no? watch any disney movie from like, the 1940s and 50s. so.much.acid. anyway, this particular collection is definitely not in my essential-disney collection. it was all right, but i certainly didn't love it. 3 outta 5.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. [In 1995, author and Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a stroke that put him in a coma; he awakened mute and completely paralyzed. Mathieu Amalric stars in this adaptation of Bauby's autobiography, which he dictated by blinking. Julian Schnabel was nominated for the 2008 Best Director Oscar and won the Golden Globe in the same category for his poignant film about the strength of the human spirit. ~netflix] i was surprised at how good it was. i expected it to be reeeeeeeaaaaaally boring. i mean... how many times can you hear someone recite the french alphabet? hehe. but it wasn't boring. it was utterly fascinating. read steve's review. it's better than reading one of mine. hehe. 5 outta 5 stars.

The Golden Compass. [After overhearing a shocking secret, precocious orphan Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) trades her carefree existence roaming the halls of Jordan College for an otherworldly adventure in the far North, unaware that it's part of her destiny. Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig and Sam Elliott co-star in this fantasy-laden family adventure based on the first book of the Philip Pullman trilogy His Dark Materials. ~netflix] 4 stars. except, i was annoyed by the ending. they may as well have put "to be continued..." at the end of it. blah. except... apparently, it's not gonna be continued. damn it. i'm probably gonna need to read the books. maybe with mia when she's a little older. i thought the effects were pretty well-done. and i liked the talking animals... but i guess not a lot of people did.

The Guatemalan Handshake. [A man's disappearance in the wake of a widespread blackout ignites a chain reaction of oddball events in this award-winning independent feature from writer-director Todd Rohal. No one's sure what happened to derby driver Donald Turnupseed (Will Oldham), but his absence has had a definite effect on those around him, including his pregnant girlfriend (Sheila Scullin), his father (Ken Byrnes) and his best friend, Turkeylegs (Katy Haywood). ~netflix] quirky. 4 stars. then 3. then 4. finally settled on 3 cuz i felt like if i had to think about it that much, it should probably be 3. it's ... really off-beat. that's really the only word i can think of to describe it. oh wait. i used quirky before. okay. fine. quirky AND off-beat... forget it. here's steve's review.

• I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With. [James (Jeff Garlin) knows all too well that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. He's an overweight yet starving comedian in Chicago looking for love and weight loss in all the wrong places. After failed relationships and career mishaps, James turns to the one thing that won't let down (but fattens him up): food. Sarah Silverman, Amy Sedaris and Bonnie Hunt it was all right. while i didn't hate it, i probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. jeff garlin was just trying waaaay too hard. i guess i should give him props for writing, directing and starring... wait. maybe i shouldn't. i don't know. anyway, only 2 out of 5.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Oswald: Welcome to Big City! [Follow gentle Oswald, the titular star of Nickelodeon's popular children's animated series, as he navigates life in the big city with his good-natured pals, Henry the waddling penguin and Daisy the friendly flower, and his loyal pet, Weenie the pup. Includes eight episodes featuring the bouncy, blue-hued octopus. ~netflix] oswald is really cute. in a weird, quirky sorta way. but mia can watch him for a long time. therefore, i love him. hehe.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely. finally got a chance to listen to this... it's a really good album. i'm always wary of sophomore albums, but this gets my thumbs up. hehe.