9 posts tagged “books”

.:What I'm Watching:.

In Bruges. [After accidentally killing an innocent boy in London, Irish hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are sent by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to lay low in Bruges. But, uncomfortable in this foreign city, the two professional killers soon get into trouble. Complicating matters further, when the guilt-ridden Ray falls for a girl working on a film shoot, he finds himself confronting the girl's jealous ex-boyfriend. ~netflix] i actually really liked it. also, i'm finding myself NOT hating colin farrell. 4 stars.

Mad Men, Season 1. [It's 1960, and ad executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm) rules the roost at New York's Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in this sharply written drama. Living a glamorous existence of never-ending cocktail hours, worry-free smoking and ego-stroking power, ladies' man Draper makes numerous conquests both at work and in his personal life. But the world is beginning to change, and Draper will have to use all his smarts to stay one step ahead of the game. ~netflix] this show makes me want to chain smoke. seriously. boy, people smoked a lot in 1960. hehe. it's interesting to watch how they probably treated women back then... but then it pisses me off because, really, not much has changed. watching it just reminded me how it was at work sometimes and it just made me angry. 3 stars.

North by Northwest. [What if everyone around you was suddenly convinced you were a spy? This classic from master director Alfred Hitchcock stars Cary Grant as an advertising executive who looks a little too much like someone else and is forced to go on the lam (helped along by Eva Marie Saint). Hitchcock's sure-handed comic drama pits Grant against a crop duster and lands him in a fight for his life on Mount Rushmore. That's a cliffhanger if ever there was one! ~netflix] i love old movies. they're just so darn cute. and this one is a classic for a reason. 5 stars.

Samurai Jack, Season 1. [A Japanese samurai -- Jack, by name -- is transplanted into a future reality that's controlled by the evil despot Aku. The wayward warrior with a moral code must find a way to survive until he's able to return to his ancient world and rid himself once and for all of Aku. This collection contains all 13 animated episodes from the show's first season, which aired on cable's Cartoon Network. ~netflix] i love the animation style and the story line is super-engaging. not a whole lot of dialogue. definitely more action than anything else. and samurai jack is exactly how i like my men. men who don't talk much but are great with the action. tee hee. 5 stars.

The Spiderwick Chronicles. [When city-raised twins Jared and Simon (both played by Freddie Highmore) move to an old country mansion with their mother (Mary-Louise Parker) and sister (Sarah Bolger), it's quite an adjustment -- especially when they uncover a magical and sometimes dangerous fantasy world. Based on the best-selling children's books, this family adventure populated with all manner of fanciful creatures co-stars Joan Plowright, David Strathairn and Nick Nolte. ~netflix] kinda scary for a kids movie! hell, i was kinda scared! heh. it was pretty good, though. i liked it. 4 out of 5 stars.

Super High Me. [Determined to find out the true effects of marijuana on the human body, stand-up comedian and former Stoner of the Year Doug Benson documents his experience avoiding pot for 30 days and then consuming massive amounts of the drug for 30 days. More than just an amusing story of one man's quest to get superhigh, this documentary also examines the hotly contested debate over medical marijuana use. ~netflix] i was kind of disappointed in this documentary. and i think that for his "testing" they make it seem like oh, he did so much better on his tests when he was high... but i think this guy is kinduva failure and he has so much anxiety that he NEEDS the weed to help him cope. they don't really go into that. kids are gonna watch this movie thinking that it's going to have the same results for everyone and that weed isn't necessarily dangerous. i'm not saying that it IS dangerous. but it just depends on the person. and even though there's a disclaimer in the beginning, i don't know that people will really pay attention to it. also, it wasn't that entertaining either. boo. 3 stars.

Vantage Point. [Moments after he arrives in Spain for a landmark antiterrorism summit, U.S. President Ashton is shot. The 15 minutes leading up to the shooting are rehashed -- Rashomon-style -- from the perspective of various onlookers: two Secret Service agents (Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox), a TV reporter (Sigourney Weaver) and a tourist (Forest Whitaker). This nail-biting political thriller marks the feature directorial debut of Pete Travis. ~netflix] as long as you don't think about it too much, it's all right. and chases always make movies more exciting, so it does have THAT going for it. 2.5 star movie. nothing great, though. i felt like the director was just trying too hard and kind of ... failing. the best part of the whole movie is when matthew fox is speaking in spanish and it's OBVIOUS that they dubbed it over with some other dude's voice. i couldn't stop laughing because it sounded SO ridiculous! that other dude's voice was like, 2 octaves lower than matthew fox's voice. hehe. you'd think they could find SOMEONE in any of the spanish speaking countries that sounded somewhat like matthew fox. man. it was funny. hehe. 3 stars.

The Wild Blue Yonder. [Werner Herzog crafts a thought-provoking exploration of life beyond Earth by blending authentic NASA images with documentary footage shot beneath the Antarctic Ocean by avid diver and experimental guitarist Henry Kaiser. After human beings suck everything valuable from planet Earth -- including all life-sustaining matter -- aliens move in to try to settle a veritable wasteland. Oscar nominee Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) stars. ~netflix] pretty boring. i fell asleep. i want my sci-fi movies to be SCI-FI. not the idea of sci-fi with NASA footage. probably only pretentious wannabe "artsy" people will like this movie. hehe. 2 stars.

Without a Paddle. [Three friends (Seth Green, Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard) leave their home in Philadelphia for a camping trip after their friend Billy's death. Their destination has special meaning, as Billy was fixated on going there to search for a lost treasure. Hoping to find some of the $194,200 of famed airline hijacker D.B. Cooper's money -- rumored to be located somewhere in the wilderness -- the men embark on the adventure of their lives. ~netflix] i thought it was gonna suck, but it was all right. i didn't hate it. 3 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. ["Sesame Street" veteran Elmo gets his own movie when he dives into Oscar the Grouch's trashcan to retrieve his blanket and wakes up in Grouchland. The Muppets mission: To rescue the blanket from the evil Huxley (Mandy Patinkin) with the help of the Queen of Trash (Vanessa Williams). There are lots of fun and songs along the way (including the all-time kids' fave "I'm a Little Teapot") plus Bert and Ernie as hosts! ~netflix] dude, if this movie was made in 1999, how is it that all of the human characters look EXACTLY the same?! sheesh. anyway, it was cute. they had it free at one of the theaters here so i figured i'd take mia to the movies. it was her first time! she had a pretty good time. :)

.:What I'm Listening To:.

The Fratellis: Here We Stand. man, what a disappointment! i LOVED their first album. but their second one, not so much. it was kinda boring and lame.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Quick Reads! they're the best invention ever! i read 1.5 books in less than 45 minutes. the ones i got were:
Doctor Who: Made of Steel
Doctor Who: Revenge of the Judoon
totally fun and totally short... according to amazon UK, they're 112 pages long. i enjoyed them. :)

.: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:.

The Catherine Tate Show: Series 1. [With her vast array of ridiculous characters and her acerbic wit, British comedienne Catherine Tate scored a hit right out of the box with her self-titled sketch comedy show, earning several BAFTA and International Emmy nominations. A catchphrase genius, Tate introduces a variety of popular characters in this first season, including the irrepressible cockney Nan and overly outspoken schoolgirl Lauren. ~netflix] i love her characters... some more than others... unfortunately, the only thing i could think about while watching her show was, "i wish i was watching doctor who!!!" the show's funny... but i love doctor who more. hehe. 3 out of 5 stars.

Confessions of a Superhero. [On Hollywood Boulevard, wannabe stars dress up as superheroes and pose for photos with tourists. Matt Ogens's documentary follows four dreamers who are just killing time until they're discovered. Get to know a Superman who takes the role a bit too seriously, an Incredible Hulk who sold his prized video game system for a bus ticket to Tinseltown, a Midwestern beauty queen turned Wonder Woman and a Batman in need of anger management therapy. ~netflix] it could've been really depressing, but it wasn't. even though you know that they're probably not gonna make it in hollywood... at all... you still feel hope that they might actually make it... probably kinda like they feel. it's bizarre. they did a great job with this documentary. also, makes me wanna visit hollywood boulevard again to see them. 5 out of 5 stars, man!

Death at a Funeral. [The funeral for the patriarch of a wealthy but eccentric British clan is turned topsy-turvy when a stranger appears claiming to be the dead man's gay lover in this dramedy directed by Frank Oz and starring Peter Dinklage, Matthew Macfadyen and Rupert Graves. The dysfunctional family grows wackier as the deceased's sons decide they can't let the rest of the guests get wind of this revelation. But can they get the cat back into the bag? ~netflix] it's pretty funny. also, matthew macfayden and keeley hawes are both in it. and i love them both. oh, also, they're married in real life. hehe. how cute, huh? oooh, and alan tudyk's (firefly) in it. i really liked this movie... 4 out of 5 stars! and here's steve's review. this is probably one of the few times that he and i disagree on a movie.

Enchanted. [Princess Giselle's (Amy Adams) perfect life in the wonderful cartoon kingdom of Andalasia comes to an abrupt end when the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) exiles her to the cruel, real world of New York City, where the naive girl will have to quickly learn some street smarts. Fortunately, a Prince Charming in the unlikely form of a divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey) offers to lend the bewildered Giselle a hand. ~netflix] awww, it was SO cute! i really liked it. :D cute and not too cheesy. :) i'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars in netflix.

• Girls Rock! [This documentary gives new meaning to the phrase "girls rock" by tracking four budding artists on their respective musical journeys at an all-girls rock 'n' roll camp, where they learn how to write songs, play instruments and to just be themselves. Women rock musicians are on hand to teach the girls the practicalities of being a rock chick, lessons they take to heart while working toward their end-of-camp concert. ~netflix] a few weeks ago, i reviewed a documentary about a girls rock camp. i gave it 3 out of 5 stars. read steve's review for more information. :)

• Margot at the Wedding. [When acid-tongued writer Margot (Nicole Kidman) arrives to attend estranged sister Pauline's (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding, she quickly takes a disliking to Pauline's artist fiancé (Jack Black). Now, Margot's caustic comments threaten to undo the siblings' relationship as well as the upcoming nuptials. Oscar-nominated writer-director Noah Baumbach helms this wry comedy exploring the often infuriating but enduring connections of family. ~netflix] steve didn't like it. but i kinda did. i mean, it was pretty pointless, but i liked it... i'm not sure why... it's not like i could relate to any of the characters or situations... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars, though.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. [When the 243-year-old Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) discovers his health is failing, he turns over his fantastical toy store to the quiet, depressed manager, Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman). Since the store reflects the energy of those who run it, Molly must work to lift her spirits and help the shop recapture its magic. Screenwriter Zach Helm (Stranger Than Fiction) makes his directorial debut with this charming tale, also starring Jason Bateman. ~netflix] another movie i reviewed a few weeks back. i gave it 3 outta 5. steve's review is better than mine. :)

The Place Promised in Our Early Days. [In this animated film, Japan is under two regimes after the country's loss in World War II. Hokkaido remains under Japanese rule while America holds the rest, a bitter division that's wrenched the nation and left its citizens confused. Curious, Sayuri and her pals decide to build a vessel that would help them investigate a looming tower in Hokkaido, a plan they abandon when Sayuri falls ill. Is there a connection between her coma and the tower? ~netflix] brought to you by the man who did Voices of a Distant Star. (he did the 30 minute Voices by himself. on a mac, i think. yeah. so if anyone deserved to get a feature-length anime, it was THIS GUY.) anyway, i thought it was really good. i enjoyed it. but i like anime, so you may not like it if you're not a fan. 4 out of 5 stars.

Pucca: Ninjas Love Noodles. [Cute-as-a-button Pucca is back with more adventures in this collection of shorts starring the 10-year-old whose Internet fame led to a gig on Toon Disney. The spunky charge of noodle house owners, Pucca is forever chasing her ninja knight, Garu. There's plenty of high-kicking martial arts action, scrumptious noodles and amour in the 13 shorts here, which include "Noodle to the Stars," "Ninjitsu for Dummies," "Sooga Size Me" and many more. ~netflix] it's so silly and cute and funny. oooh, and in the dvd, there's an honest-to-goodness ninja license included. hehe. i thought it was really cute. i gave it 4 out of 5 stars on netflix. check out steve's review. he liked it, too! :)

.:What Mia's Watching:.

DuckTales, Season 2. [When Donald Duck leaves his nephews in the care of millionaire miser Uncle Scrooge McDuck, the ducklings are soon off on a quest for treasure that takes them to the Andes and Antarctica -- and that's just in the pilot! The far-flung adventures continue as Huey, Dewey and Louie follow Scrooge in his pursuit of new wealth while protecting his existing fortune from the villainous Beagle Boys in this animated adventure series from Disney. ~netflix] i have fond memories of duck tales because my sis and bro used to watch it when they were little. steve hates duck tales and hates the theme song. hehe. but i love it. mia likes it, too. :)

My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Friendly Tails. [Join Pooh, Tigger, Darby, Buster and the rest of the gang as they investigate a variety of mysteries in and around the Hundred Acre Wood, from rumors of buried pirate treasure to the disappearance of one of their very own. Included in this compilation is the never-before-aired episode "Darby, Solo Sleuth / Doggone Buster," as well as the play-along game "Darby's Super Sleuth Challenge." ~netflix] it's really cute. pooh and tigger are "super sleuths" and instead of christopher robin, they have a little girl named darby. anyway, it's cute and well-done and mia really enjoys it. she loves that silly ol' bear. :)

.:What I'm Listening To:.

• Global Underground 33 - Rio de Janeiro: Layo & Bushwacka. while i normally really love layo & bushwacka, i wasn't feeling this installment of global underground.

Groove Armada: Late Night Tales. i really liked this album. and i definitely liked it more than Fatboy Slim's edition of Late Night Tales.

• Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts I-IV. i could just tell by the title that it would be all instrumental. and i was right! hehe. some of it is genius. and other parts are just monotonous and i just felt like it went onandonandonandon. drops april 8.

Nine Inch Nails: Still. mellow. but really good.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Fevre Dream - George RR Martin. i love me some george rr martin. it's about vampires. sorta. anyway, it's really good. and i loved it. but i could be biased... his next book in the ice and fire series is coming out in the fall. and i can NOT wait. it can't come out fast enough!

With the Light: Raising An Autistic Child 2 - Keiko Tobe. yes. a manga about raising an autistic child. it's absolutely amazing, though. i loved this one as much as the first.

.:What I'm Watching:.

American Gangster. [From director Ridley Scott comes this tense crime thriller starring Denzel Washington as true-life Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas. Russell Crowe co-stars as the dogged outcast NYPD cop charged with bringing Lucas down. Ruby Dee (in an Oscar-nominated role), Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead the supporting cast in this powerhouse tale penned by Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List). Both the theatrical and unrated, extended versions are included. ~netflix] i really liked it. and not just cuz denzel's so beautiful. hehe. but, really. denzel was awesome. oh, and russell crowe. wow. he was amazing. the last two movies i've seen him in (3:10 to yuma and this one) reminded me that he could act and that i used to really like him a lot. i guess i've just forgotten how good he could be.

The Hours. [This gripping drama follows the parallel lives of three 20th-century women. The incomparable Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman, in an Oscar-winning performance) is hard at work on the classic story of Mrs. Dalloway while battling depression in the 1920s; Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) is an unsatisfied 1950s housewife who finds solace in Woolf's novel; and Clarissa Vaughn (Meryl Streep) is a modern-day book editor who's losing her former lover to AIDS. ~netflix] i wasn't sure if i was going to like it. i gave it a shot, though. and surprisingly, i actually DID like it. i guess i also forgot that nicole kidman could act... i asked steve if i was just fooled because of her prosthetic schnozz, but he said no. he said she was really good in it. and he wouldn't lie to me! hehe...

Long Way Down. so, this time, instead of going around the world on their motorcycles, ewan and charley are going from scotland to cape town. seriously, how sweet is it to be ewan mcgregor? spending 3 months riding around on your motorbike, traveling all over the world... wait. it might even be sweeter to be charley boorman! you can just ride along on ewan's coattails! :P hehe. okay, so i looked up ewan's wife on imdb and she's 5 years older than him, but she looks at LEAST 10 or 15 years older than him. jeez. and NO. i'm not just being a hater! hehe. okay. and she annoys me. i liked Long Way Round better, but this installment was still pretty good. :)

Run, Fat Boy, Run. [Five years ago, Dennis (Simon Pegg) left his pregnant fiancée, Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar. Now, he realizes it was the worst mistake of his life. Run down and out of shape, Dennis begins training for a marathon, hoping to win Libby away from her sleazy new boyfriend (Hank Azaria). Will losing the pounds and catching his breath be enough to get her back? Dylan Moran co-stars in David Schwimmer's feature directorial debut. ~netflix] simon pegg's new movie. it's not GREAT... but it's still pretty good. there were quite a few times that i laughed out loud. hehe... oh, and this is the movie i got my previous blog headline from... you know... "i'm not fat, i'm just un-fit." hehe... i guess it's just funny in the movie. not when i put it as my blog headline without any context around it. hehe. anyway, don't let the fact that it's david schwimmer's first time directing make you not want to watch it. it's cute. really.

The Ten. [An all-star cast that includes Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder, Jessica Alba, Oliver Platt, Liev Schreiber, Famke Janssen, Rob Corddry, Adam Brody, Ken Marino and Gretchen Mol, among others, takes part in this amusing collection of 10 irreverent tales inspired by the Ten Commandments. Nothing is sacred in this comedy anthology written by Ken Marino and director David Wain, formerly of the comedy troupe the State. ~netflix] i think they were trying too hard. it was all right. i kinda liked it, i guess... but i wasn't really feeling it.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Go Fug Yourself: The Fug Awards - Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. dude. her last name is cocks? wow. that's gotta suck when you're growing up to have that last name! anyway, love the book. i'm not done with it yet... but that's because i'm savoring each deliciously evil page. hehe. i love their site, too. i'm totally hooked. i can't help it. one of my guiltiest pleasures.

.:What I'm Watching:.

3:10 to Yuma. [Rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) agrees to transport the captured outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to the nearest town with a rail station, where they'll wait for a train to court in Yuma. Holed up in the hotel near the station, Wade wreaks psychological havoc on Evans, while Wade's henchmen plan their next move. Director James Mangold's suspense-filled Western is a remake of the 1957 classic starring Glenn Ford and Van Heflin. ~netflix] the end of the remake makes less sense than the original. while the original seemed hokey, it kinda made sense. not so much with the remake. that's okay. christian bale and russell crowe were both really good in it. while the remake looked better and the acting is better, as far as the actual storyline and flow of the movie goes, i liked the original better. hey, isn't it funny that in this western, neither of the two male leads were american? heh :P

Dune. [Frank Herbert's wildly popular sci-fi novel gets a mesmerizing treatment from director David Lynch. It's the year 10,191, and the world is fighting for control of the desert planet Dune -- the only place where Spice, a time-travel substance, can be found. When one leader relinquishes control, it's only so he can stage a coup with some very unsavory characters. Fans of rock musician Sting will love his turn as the villain Feyd. ~netflix] 3 hours of sci-fi goodness. i really liked it. and dude, kyle maclachlan looks SO young. and how is it that patrick stewart looks the same now as he did 20 years ago?! it's crazy. sting is awesome in it. man, he looks so young, too... oh! and toto does the music in it. how freaking AWESOME is that?! god bless the 80s.

Eagle vs Shark. [Lily (Loren Horsley) is reserved and awkward. Jarrod (Jemaine Clement) is an introspective oddball completely oblivious to Lily's affection for him. A celebration mixed with a strange plan to exact revenge on Jarrod's high school foe brings the two raging misfits together to face their mutual life challenges. Academy Award-nominated director Taika Cohen also penned this dark romantic comedy, a 2007 Sundance Film Festival entry. ~netflix] jemaine [from flight of the conchords] is the lead. :) the main character really reminded me of napoleon dynamite. if you didn't like napoleon dynamite, you should probably stay away from this movie. please read steve's review :D i agree with everything he says in it. it's the review i would've written if i were half as articulate as steve. hehe.

The Ex. [Thirtysomething slacker Tom Reilly (Zach Braff) is somewhat of a career underachiever. When his pregnant wife, Sofia (Amanda Peet), decides to quit her demanding career as a well-paid, high-profile attorney and become a stay-at-home mother, Tom is forced to step up to the plate and become the family breadwinner. Unfortunately, Tom's employer fires him, and his only option is to accept a job from his backbreaking father-in-law (Charles Grodin). ~netflix] not great, but better than i thought it'd be. there were some entertaining moments. all of the characters are really one-dimensional. but jason bateman steals the scene every time he's on screen. really. he is SO awesome.

Nighty Night. [Boasting a noteworthy cast of English comedians, this popular BBC series stars Julia Davis as Jill Tyrrell, the self-absorbed proprietor of a small-town beauty salon. Fixated on neighbor Don Cole (Angus Deayton), the incorrigible Jill will stop at nothing -- even pretending that her spouse is dead -- to steal Don away from his ailing wife (Rebecca Front). The collection includes all six debut season episodes, plus outtakes and deleted scenes. ~netflix] funny and uncomfortable. really. you just want to hate her, but you just can't. she's just too funny. hehe. and you know you know someone like this. someone who is just so supremely selfish and self-centered but thinks s/he is a giver... this character is just an exaggeration of that person you know. and it's just really funny to watch...

Once. [In this charming contemporary musical helmed by John Carney, a street musician (Glen Hansard) in Dublin, Ireland, strikes up a friendship with a migrant street hawker (Markéta Irglová). Over the course of a busy week, they compose, rehearse and record a series of songs that mirror the duo's burgeoning romance -- and help the young busker release his musical passions. The actors wrote the tunes they perform in this film that was recognized at Sundance 2007.  ~netflix] this was my review from a couple of weeks back:  i thought it was charming and interesting. and i really liked the songs in the movie. they are actually quite catchy... and something you could sing along to. here's steve's review to the movie. hehe.

Resident Evil: Extinction. [Milla Jovovich returns as zombie-killing soldier Alice, who's obsessed with bringing down the Umbrella Corp. When a series of viral outbreaks nearly wipes out all of mankind, Alice and a small band of survivors are left to roam the ruins of Las Vegas, battling the undead … and their own extinction. Oded Fehr, Mike Epps, Ali Larter and R&B singer Ashanti co-star in this final installment of the sci-fi trilogy. ~netflix] i haven't watched the first two movies in the series, but i will. it's kinda fun in a turn-your-brain-off sorta way.

Stage Beauty. [Edward "Ned" Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is England's most celebrated leading "lady" (circa 1660), using his beauty and skill to make the great female roles his own. But when Charles II tires of seeing the same old performers, the ruler allows women to tread the boards and decrees that men may no longer play women's parts. Overnight, Ned becomes a nonentity -- that is, until his ex-dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), helps him become a real man again. ~netflix] i don't know about this movie... i think i just was not in the mood to watch a romantic drama period piece. in fact, i very rarely am. i don't even know why this was in my queue. i really have got to be more selective about what i add to my queue. and i should be paying more attention to the movies that get to the top. i didn't like it... but that's not to say that it's not a good movie. maybe it is. i don't know. it was all right, i guess. i just didn't really feel like watching it, i guess.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Owly, Volume 4: A Time to Be Brave - Andy Runton. i can not say enough good things about this series. you may not really think that it's a REAL book because there are hardly any words in it at all, but that's part of its charm. it really is all ages, but it's not just for kids. it's sweet without being saccharine. the art is simple, but really good. and andy runton is one of the nicest guys around. i met him at his booth at comic-con a few years back and he's just super nice. also, he loves morrissey. he is awesome. hehe.

.:What I'm Playing:.

Magical Starsign. [DS] i gotta be honest... the whole starsign thing is a tad confusing. then they have the whole planets aligning thing and all that. i was like, "whaaaa???" but i do love me some RPG action. so i guess i'll play this for a bit...

March of the Penguins. [DS] yes. there is a game based off the movie. and it's actually surprisingly kinda fun. i was expecting it to suck, but so far i'm having fun. don't get me wrong. it can be as frustrating as all hell. and the graphics aren't exactly good. but it's educational! they give you little factoids about penguins. and lawd knows i can't get enough of penguins. :D so, you have to figure out how to get penguins from point A to point B. and there are time limits. GAH! i hate time limits. it says it's for everyone, but damn, it's kinda hard. hehe. uhm, let's call it challenging. i don't want to sound stupid. :P

.:What I'm Watching:.

Arctic Tale. [Following the epic struggle of a tenacious young walrus and polar bear, this saga of survival amid the rapidly changing Arctic wilderness comes from the creators of March of the Penguins and An Inconvenient Truth. Queen Latifah narrates the life journey of Seela the walrus and Nanu the polar bear, from birth through maturity and parenthood, where the cycle begins anew and they pass what they've learned to the next generation. ~netflix] done by the creators of march of the penguins, but not nearly as good. that's probably because the script was pretty bad. while i wasn't really a fan of the script, the footage was amazing. and my goodness, those polar bear cubs are ridiculously cute! hey, just read steve's review.

Dane Cook: Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden. [dane cook's live show from NYC.] seriously, how lucky is dane cook? his job is to spaz around stage and basically be himself. hehe. i didn't like it as much as the last one, but it was entertaining. and i swear that in the beginning, he recycled an old joke. but i can't remember from where. all i know is that it was really familiar.

Doctor Who, Season 3. [The BBC's hit sci-fi series returns starring David Tennant as the time-traveling Doctor, with Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones, a medical student who joins him on his journeys as they traverse the centuries to solve mysteries and right wrongs. In the show's third season, the adventurous Doctor and Martha cross paths with William Shakespeare, get trapped in the past and take on their most formidable adversaries, the Daleks. ~netflix] see what steve says about it. :D i only disagree with steve on one thing... i thought that the second season was great because of the great chemistry between the doctor and rose and that the third season was a little bit weird because of martha. i didn't like martha. she just annoyed me. i'm glad that it appears that she is gone at the end of the season. huzzah!

The Hobart Shakespeareans. [Mel Stuart's documentary follows Rafe Esquith, a passionate educator who inspires his students from Central Los Angeles to achieve the best that life has to offer. Mixing Shakespeare, Mark Twain and mathematics, and touring his young charges around Washington, D.C., and college campuses, the elementary school teacher makes learning exciting. For the finale, actors Ian McKellen and Michael York help the kids stage a production of "Hamlet." ~netflix] this netflix synopsis makes it sound like ian mckellen and michael york are all hands on helping the kids. but they're not. really, all the credit goes to their teacher. rafe esquith is an amazing educator. i wish i had him as a teacher. he's one of those teachers that really make a difference and that if you had him, you would remember him your whole life. and he probably set you on the right path. he's amazing, those kids are amazing. i was astounded at how they were performing, but not only performing... they knew what they were reading. they actually comprehended everything. man, i don't even understand all of shakespeare. i only hope for great things in their lives. it's so obvious that they are capable of so much.

Shrek the Halls. [Shrek holiday special. it's Shrek's first Christmas and he learns how to celebrate it, basically.] except for the one stupid and uncomfortable moment with the dancing roasted turkey, it was pretty cute. :)

Superbad. [40-Year-Old Virgin veterans Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen team up again as producer and co-star/co-writer (respectively) of this high school comedy starring Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as best buddies facing separation anxiety as they prepare to go off to college. Attempting to score alcohol for a party (believing that the babes will follow), the boys' evening quickly dissolves into chaos. Bill Hader ("Saturday Night Live") co-stars. ~netflix] we watched the unrated, extended version. holy shit. i was laughing so hard throughout pretty much the whole thing. judd apatow is a goddamned genius. the extras are hilarious, also. it's not often that i go through all of the special features on a dvd because usually, it kinda sucks. but these were all great. i LOVED this movie!!!!

.:What I'm Reading:.

With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child, Vol. 1. yes. there is manga about everything. manga's not just big robots and schoolgirls with enormous breasts. i almost cried several times while reading this book. considering that it's fictional, they did a fantastic job of explaining autism and showing how it might really be if one raised an autistic child. and they really caught the love and frustrations of a mother on paper. it was amazing. it was so good... 528 pages and i did it in a couple of hours. (of course there are lots of pictures. BUT STILL! i never have time to read anymore, but i really couldn't put this down.) i learned a lot about autism. i obviously still don't know very much about it, but at least i know a little now.

check out this link.

on the sidebar, anytime there's a video, that's one that steve took at the con. watch them. they're interesting and informative.

also, i wanted to pimp out the comics2film site.

it's run by rob worley who also wrote this cool book. it's DEFINITELY worth a read. and i'm not just saying that because i know him. i mean, i kinda know him. but not really. i haven't actually met him in person. but we have a lot of mutual friends.

so anyway, yeah. that's my PSA for today. heh.