5/5 Gory Stars

Everything that Willem Defoe’s bony hands touch, turns to gold.

On Friday night, John, Dan and I ventured out into the cold, smell of snow in the air – and drove to Somerdale, NJ – the last theater playing Daybreakers in a 50 mile radius. We ate at a nearby On the Border where I imbibed too much Tequila, and then were off to the theater with the snow flurries steadily falling. The only people inside our theater were, well, us. So lots of snickering and comments without holding back occurred.

The long and short of it is this: Daybreakers takes place in the year 2019. Vampirism is the way of the world after a plague ravages the population, and brings the human species to the brink of extinction. Scientists search for an artificial alternative to blood while vampires in the streets at best live on rationed blood, and at worse, devolve into raging mutants with a slice of bat on the side. When a band of humans with strange evidence of a cure meet Emo-Vamp-Hematologist Edward Dalton(Ethan Hawke) the race is on to turn back the evolutionary clock before mankind is wiped off the map.

The cast is cool – the special effects were solid – the whole thing had a great, edgely… noir feel to it that any vampire buff will likely appreciate. It took something that in recent years has been overdone (…sigh…Twilight) and made it new again. With a total open door for a sequel (which will likely never reach production, just like the 30 Days of Night sequel I’ve now accepted will never come into being…) Daybreakers had laughs, shock moments, gore, and didn’t always take itself too seriously… and apparently its quirky resolution on how to spread a cure even elluded 1/3 of its viewing audience (Sorry Dan… really? You didn’t see that coming?) which means, maybe other people missed it too and got a wonderful surprise!

When we emerged from the theater, there were several inches of snow, and a hilarious drive to Germantown to look forward to, where we spent the weekend snowed in with friends. (And I, lacking my seemingly necessary dose of caffeine combined with alcohol…in addition to tequila… seem to have exhausted my memory around 3something… though I was up till…4something?) Oh, and I fell into a tub while entering the bathroom. Just in case anyone else hadn’t heard…

So – I definitely want to track down the Spierig Brothers’ other films to check out. Particularly their zombie flick Undead. I really hope they continue to work their way into the mainstream without losing their creative integrity. In the meantime… Daybreakers 2 is a nice daydream.

4/5 Stars

 

This is not a Daneil Day Lewis swoon-fest, I’m sad to report. In the Name of the Father is from what I can tell, very loosely based on the real life story of Gerry Conlon. 

The film begins explosively, with a riot in the streets of Belfast as British search for Conlon, mistaken on a rooftop for a sniper, while he’s actually (illegally) scrapping metal. The manner in which the riot is filmed is exceptional – bringing the anger and resentment felt by both sides to life vividly onscreen. I’ve heard it mentioned before, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. 

From this point, things only get worse for Conlon. Through a series of events, he is arrested, and tortured into confessing for bombing a pub in Guildford, and is wrongly imprisoned for 15 years, along with two friends, and his father Guiseppe who is later rounded up as the police cast their nets wide for collaborators in the bombing. These groups become known as the Guilford Four, and the Macguire Seven – as Conlon’s aunt and cousins are also rounded up under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts, which enabled them to hold suspects for up to 7 days without seeing a lawyer.  In the Name of the Father follows Conlon’s life and struggles in prison – and it is an extremely moving example of the atrocities that can be committed by governments when they’re under pressure by citizens to put the blame on someone, anyone, so that they might exact vengeance. It can be very sad, and brutal at points – watching the interrogation scenes was like watching a train wreck. Definitely not for the weak of heart. Another great film to admire Daniel-Day Lewis’ acting… he’s a little dreamy in this… but search for real swooning elsewhere!

5/5 Stars

When its last dialogue title card graced movie theaters across America in 1936, Modern Times brought the era of silent films to an end. Aside from it being chock full of historical significance and underlying themes (which I always enjoy learning about), the last of Charlie Chaplin’s films involving his beloved character known only as ‘The Tramp’ was truly delightful to watch!

In Modern Times the Tramp is first heard on screen via a jibberish version of a popular Italian song. Modern Times also helped spur the Un-American Activities Committee  to investigate Chaplin as a Communist. So affronted by the accusations, Chaplin left the US for Switzerland, only to ever return once in 1972 to accept an Honorary Oscar. In addition to directing, producing, and writing the film – Chaplin also composed the score himself.

Modern Times follows the lovable Tramp who starts out the film working on an assembly line in a factory. He works at a frantic pace screwing nuts at his workstation, and eventually endures a test-run of a ‘feeding machine’ the boss wants to see in action. The Tramp suffers a hilarious nervous breakdown and from there, his life is ruled by chance. He encounters another down-on-her-luck character known as the Gamin – and together they try to beat the odds and thrive in the Depression Era.

Any fans of older, or silent films have probably already seen Modern Times - so it does no good to suggest it to that crowd! However, anyone interested in the origins of comedic film, holds curiosity towards Chaplin or  just could appreciate the grand scale of this classic would probably really enjoy the film. I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more of Chaplins films…

3/5 Stars

Longstanding family conflicts resurface when drama queen Kym (Anne Hathaway, in her first Oscar-nominated role), a former model who’s been in and out of rehab for 10 years, returns to her parents’ home just before her sister Rachel’s (Rosemarie DeWitt) wedding. Debra Winger co-stars as the girls’ emotionally distant mother in director Jonathan Demme’s critically acclaimed portrait of family angst and unrest.

So that’s what Netflix says about Rachel Getting Married. What it doesn’t say is that the movie is chock full of very weird, awkward moments that ring true to life when dealing with ones family on the topics of forgiveness, remorse, and longstanding guilt or grudges. It also neglects the past tragedy that has torn the family apart and the fact that while watching, you might begin to feel like you should get up and let this family have some privacy while they air their laundry. It’s that awkward.

It’s absolutely refreshing to see Anne Hathaway in such a different kind of role. She does very well. My favorite part of the movie? The wedding itself. Rachel’s got possibly the most varied and quirky friends in existence. The wedding is unique from the pre-wedding dinner through the ceremony and reception. Bohemian to the extreme.

Me on Saturday. For Realz.

072. Learn to play poker. No, really.

So, Saturday afternoon had me too sick to go skiing — but I was not too sick for Poker. Dan, my poker guru set up a game of Texas Hold’em – a group of five sat down in a den of blankets and pillows on the living room floor of my parents house in the Poconos and had hot chocolate spiked with Frangelico.

Word to the poker newbies. Cheat. (Ie. Use the card that comes in the pack of cards that explains the hands that can win, in hierarchy format so you know what the heck you’re doing. It helped a LOT.) Also — play for money. Even if it’s just $5.00.  Our group did not play for money, and it led to more darily behavior from certain players in our group because he had absolutely nothing to lose.

I won several hands throughout the game – once quite accidentally. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to bluff against my friends again easily… I think its harder when you know the people you’re playing against.

But I’ve got the basics down – I’ve got the little hand gestures going on, and am starting to remember the winning hands and think about behaviors of fellow players.

I’m totally on the road to knowing what I’m doing! Next time – cash game… We’ll see how I do.

5/5 Swoony fan-girl Stars!

I will confess that throughout this film I was flying higher than a kite. (Despite being sick, and having some antihistamines in me – this sensation was a purely natural state, I assure you.)

I enjoyed the everloving shit out of this movie. I realize that in retrospect – it’s technically a fluffy piece of fangirl fodder that completely wanders into the bad ‘Mary Jane’ territory of Fan Fiction… but it can’t be helped. I loved it! After an argument with her boyfriend, Amanda lands in the 19th-century world of author Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. While helping the Bennet sisters find husbands, Amanda accidentally causes problems that could alter the course of the tale. She must balance her feelings for Mr. Darcy with her responsibility to the one of the world’s greatest love stories.I realized in the first few moments that Amanda was played by Jemima Rooper – which started as a huge buzzkill for me, as the only film I’ve ever seen her in was Kinky Boots (which I adore) where she played a heinous girlfriend of the lead character. As my pouting abated, I began to enjoy Jemima in the role, and chalked up her turn in Kinky Boots to great acting.

Many people might have issues with the liberties taken with Austen’s famous tale. But I am a diehard fan and simply enjoyed the ride. Certain characters have new flaws, new secrets – or slightly different reactions in situations that some might argue are plain wrong. But in the newly created world of Lost in Austen *I* think it works perfectly. My favorite twists would be Wickham’s role in the story, and Mr. Darcy’s harsher moments….Elliot Cowan as Mr. Darcy is just plain steamy. (His portrayal has a completely different feel from Colin Firth’s 1995 BBC characterisation, but is excellent nonetheless!) There’s even a hilarious tip of the hat to the BBC version, with references and homages throughout.

No one gets hurt in playing this story to a new, younger audience that will hopefully be interested in reading the original tale! Finding similarities with Amanda, or simply basking in the dreamy fantasy of the whole concept are a wonderful way to bring Austen to the next generation of high school girls.

All in all, a strong cast, a fun and fanciful concept that had me grinning from ear to ear before bedtime on a night when I should have been wallowing in misery due to an awful awful cold.  5 out of 5 Swoony fan-girl Stars!

 Ever since my return from Australia, I haven’t found a dance studio that offers Belly Dancing that I’ve been I’m satisfied with (BTDubs, if anyone is in the Sydney Metro Area, I HIGHLY recommend Dance Central. They’re fantastic!) There are several that offer American Tribal belly dance around here – but I’m not into it at all. I’ve been trying to find a cabaret or middle eastern style studio with no luck.

I found a small studio just off of South Street, however – that I wound up going to last night! They just started back up their class cycle yesterday, which runs for eight weeks. It’s called Habiba Studio, located on South Leithgow Street in Philadelphia. I decided to pop in and check out their 7:30 Advanced Beginners Class. (Perfectly designed to have me out the door at 8:30 and in short walking distance of Quizo at Dark Horse.)

It was great! Really nice group of ladies taking the class - all ages, races, shapes & sizes. Habiba herself was welcoming and clearly an amazing dancer. She had us doing a short routine by the end of class, had us moving around the studio — everything I’ve been hoping to find!  I can’t wait to go back next week!

Tomorrow night I’m also going back to the firing range with some folks from work. I will bring a camera with charged batteries this time for photos!

“In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry,
and been widely regarded as a bad move.”

For all you fans of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – these words are familiar to you. My close friends know I use this as my signature tag in emails! So how excited was I to find out that Tara over at 25 Hour Books is GIVING AWAY not only a copy of said amzing book, but a ‘Don’t Panic’ coffee mug (featuring everyone’s favorite and very unfortunate whale.)

Head on over to try and win!
All you need to do is leave her a comment to enter!

And all I can say is – Ouchees.

Tuesday night before I showered I decided to go to town with flossing. For me its a dramatic production, because A. My mouth is tiny, and B. I get toothpaste and everything everywhere. 

I’ve got a good stock of those hand floss-on-a-stick miniature contraptions, and mouth wash. So I’ve been brushing, flossing, brushing gently, and then flossing.

By the end of this debacle, my hands are covered in toothpaste and saliva, the sides of my mouth hurt from trying to get in the back, and I probably look like I’ve got rabies….  But it’s done.

I’ve been doing it every morning and evening since Tuesday night.
My gums aren’t bleeding – except in one spot that’s in the back on the upper right side… that was minimal today though.
 
I just know I’m going to still bleed when I go to my dentist, because the man’s about as gentle as a hand grenade. ::Whimper::

I’m headed up the mountains tonight for some crazy times… so I’m going to allow myself a free pass for this evening, and tomorrow morning — but tomorrow night it’s back to business.

In the meantime… I’m on the prowl for one of those long floss sticks for my back teeth. I figure it’ll get easier as I go along to get the floss in there – and it might be less annoying than my fist in my mouth…
If anyone can recommend a brand for one of those (or for your favorite/effective mouth wash, tooth paste while we’re at it) let me know!

Take that, N64!!!

Monday night my cousin Craig (or, Jigga) and I not only beat the video game Space Invaders (a second time after our epic battle over the weekend) but he graciously gave me a LOT of music! He also gave me Photoshop. I’m very excited about that. Hopefully I’ll be able to get #055 accomplished fairly soon!
But anyway – the music! We’re talking tons of songs. I’ve picked 7 highlights to add to my 101 Tracks list, as they were particular recommendations by Craig, or songs I’d forgotten that I didn’t have (and really should own!)

Clair de lune - Claude Debussy -5/5 Stars

Untouched – The Veronicas – 3/5 Stars

Mario Kart Love Song – Sam Hart 4.5/5 Stars

Flashing Lights – Kanye West – 4/5 Stars

Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears For Fears – 4/5 Stars

Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon – 4/5 Stars

Just Dance – Lady Gaga – 3.5/5 StarsI’m particularly fond of Mairo Kart Love Song. Any video game nerd would fine this song very sweet.
With lyrics like this, how can you go wrong?

A blue shell is coming so I’ll go ahead
If you hang behind it will hit me instead
Never look back ’cause I’m down but not dead
I’ll catch up to you…