My brother, his family, and my mother joined my family today for a belated Thanksgiving celebration. I thought I'd share our day with you with this slide show.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
12 hours before crew will be unable perform complex tasks. 14 hours before crew will be unable to perform basic tasks. 16 hours until death.
No 355 - Sunshine
Director - Danny Boyle
Sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine - Bom diddy deedy.
I do so enjoy that song. It is groovy cool.
But now... to business.
It seems that Danny Boyle may be trying to be a modern Stanley Kubrick.... tackling all the genres. Just take a look at his directorial back catalogue:
Trainspotting
The Beach
28 Days Later
Millions
Sunshine
Slumdog Millionaire
There seems to be real diversity in his film ideas - so let us take a look at his Sci-Fi...
Sunshine is an odd film as it seems to be in two parts, and whilst the first half is brilliant and really interesting, the second half is fundamentally flawed. In fact, whilst we're on the subject of the fundamentally flawed, lets begin by looking at the premise of the film.
This film is set in a future where the sun is going out so a crew is asked to fire a massive nuclear warhead into the sun and reignite it....
Let us look at some of the key flaws with this simple premise.... (and you can call me nit picky if you so desire.... but there is the occasional moment where you have to question your own suspension of disbelief)
1) Firstly the sun is going out.... now the sun will be going out in about 3 billion years, that is what science has told me.... now although they never tell us how far into the future this is supposed to be, I'm pretty sure it is not 3 billion years time (unless technology has moved really rather slowly....)
and 2) THIS FILM IS SET IN A FUTURE WHERE THE SUN IS GOING OUT SO A CREW IS ASKED TO FIRE A MASSIVE NUCLEAR WARHEAD (the size of Manhattan) INTO THE SUN AND REIGNITE IT.... I know that Sci-fi is a pretty forgiving genre when it comes to outlandish plots but that is utterly bonkers.
However, once you get over the essential bonkersness, you face a very interesting film. The crew have been on a ship for years and face being on the same ship for years to come. Not only that but it is not even certain that they will survive the mission:
To quote Mace, the second in Command of the Icarus II (the ship that is delivering the nuke)
Do I have to spell it out for you? We have a payload to deliver to the heart of our nearest star. We are delivering that payload cause that star is dying and if it dies, we die, everything dies. So that is our mission, there is nothing, literally nothing more important than completing our mission. End of story.
So all of a sudden the rather trite set up for the film provides the framework for an interesting exploration of Team work, sacrifice, the greater good. It is also an exploration of death as people come to terms with their mortality and have to sacrifice themselves for The Greater Good.
So it comes as a bit of a disappointment when the second half of the film becomes a bizarre slasher film as the crew are chased by the captain of Icarus I, a man who gets so close to the surface of the sun only to decide that God has chosen the time for Earth to die, and he shouldn't interrupt. So when a second Icarus arrives 7 years later he decides he has to stop it.... This is where the third massive flaw in the film comes into play. The captain of the Icarus I has been hanging around the surface of the sun for 7 years. The ship has turned off any filtering of the sun's rays (we know this to be true because the viewing gallery is full of the ashen corpses of the ship's crew - who have been ashed up by the mighty mighty sun) so, he has been crisping away in direct sunlight. Yet, he appears to be fine. I mean he is very burnt but it is only 3rd degree burns, not powdery ash. He also seems to be very strong and very fast.
The insane crispy pursuer slightly detracts from the meaningful nature of the first part of the film which is a bit of a shame....
But let us talk about other aspects of the film. Namely, the casting. There are 3 characters who I wish to speak about. Firstly Captain Kaneda who deserves a special mention solely because he played Ryuji in Ringu. Which is my second favourite film of all time and which isn't in the list.... a terrible terrible loss....
Secondly Cillian Murphy. I really like Cillian Murphy because he looks unhinged all the time and he could snap at any moment (Batman Begins and 28 Days Later being two prime examples).
And thirdly and finally Rose Byrne. She is so very very pretty. I mean.... that is all I have to say on the matter. But she is.
Being shallow makes cinema fun!
Director - Danny Boyle
Sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine - Bom diddy deedy.
I do so enjoy that song. It is groovy cool.
But now... to business.
It seems that Danny Boyle may be trying to be a modern Stanley Kubrick.... tackling all the genres. Just take a look at his directorial back catalogue:
Trainspotting
The Beach
28 Days Later
Millions
Sunshine
Slumdog Millionaire
There seems to be real diversity in his film ideas - so let us take a look at his Sci-Fi...
Sunshine is an odd film as it seems to be in two parts, and whilst the first half is brilliant and really interesting, the second half is fundamentally flawed. In fact, whilst we're on the subject of the fundamentally flawed, lets begin by looking at the premise of the film.
This film is set in a future where the sun is going out so a crew is asked to fire a massive nuclear warhead into the sun and reignite it....
Let us look at some of the key flaws with this simple premise.... (and you can call me nit picky if you so desire.... but there is the occasional moment where you have to question your own suspension of disbelief)
1) Firstly the sun is going out.... now the sun will be going out in about 3 billion years, that is what science has told me.... now although they never tell us how far into the future this is supposed to be, I'm pretty sure it is not 3 billion years time (unless technology has moved really rather slowly....)
and 2) THIS FILM IS SET IN A FUTURE WHERE THE SUN IS GOING OUT SO A CREW IS ASKED TO FIRE A MASSIVE NUCLEAR WARHEAD (the size of Manhattan) INTO THE SUN AND REIGNITE IT.... I know that Sci-fi is a pretty forgiving genre when it comes to outlandish plots but that is utterly bonkers.
However, once you get over the essential bonkersness, you face a very interesting film. The crew have been on a ship for years and face being on the same ship for years to come. Not only that but it is not even certain that they will survive the mission:
To quote Mace, the second in Command of the Icarus II (the ship that is delivering the nuke)
Do I have to spell it out for you? We have a payload to deliver to the heart of our nearest star. We are delivering that payload cause that star is dying and if it dies, we die, everything dies. So that is our mission, there is nothing, literally nothing more important than completing our mission. End of story.
So all of a sudden the rather trite set up for the film provides the framework for an interesting exploration of Team work, sacrifice, the greater good. It is also an exploration of death as people come to terms with their mortality and have to sacrifice themselves for The Greater Good.
So it comes as a bit of a disappointment when the second half of the film becomes a bizarre slasher film as the crew are chased by the captain of Icarus I, a man who gets so close to the surface of the sun only to decide that God has chosen the time for Earth to die, and he shouldn't interrupt. So when a second Icarus arrives 7 years later he decides he has to stop it.... This is where the third massive flaw in the film comes into play. The captain of the Icarus I has been hanging around the surface of the sun for 7 years. The ship has turned off any filtering of the sun's rays (we know this to be true because the viewing gallery is full of the ashen corpses of the ship's crew - who have been ashed up by the mighty mighty sun) so, he has been crisping away in direct sunlight. Yet, he appears to be fine. I mean he is very burnt but it is only 3rd degree burns, not powdery ash. He also seems to be very strong and very fast.
The insane crispy pursuer slightly detracts from the meaningful nature of the first part of the film which is a bit of a shame....
But let us talk about other aspects of the film. Namely, the casting. There are 3 characters who I wish to speak about. Firstly Captain Kaneda who deserves a special mention solely because he played Ryuji in Ringu. Which is my second favourite film of all time and which isn't in the list.... a terrible terrible loss....
Secondly Cillian Murphy. I really like Cillian Murphy because he looks unhinged all the time and he could snap at any moment (Batman Begins and 28 Days Later being two prime examples).
And thirdly and finally Rose Byrne. She is so very very pretty. I mean.... that is all I have to say on the matter. But she is.
Being shallow makes cinema fun!
Who's the enemy?
The mail from Deccan Mujahideen was traced back to Russia. The terrorists had Mauritian identity cards. Two of the terrorists were British-born. Their ship started from Karachi. They killed a Jewish Rabbi.Lashkar has it's camps in PoK, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
For all you know, every country in this world as I'm writing this, has at least one person who's sitting back in his chair and smiling at the success of these nefariously gruesome attacks.
This was not how the world used to be, when I was in school. This was not the India, I thought, I would grow up to live in.
For all you know, every country in this world as I'm writing this, has at least one person who's sitting back in his chair and smiling at the success of these nefariously gruesome attacks.
This was not how the world used to be, when I was in school. This was not the India, I thought, I would grow up to live in.
Quote of the day
Quote of the day.
Two and a Half Men
Evelyn Harper's fiancé: It makes me sound a little fruity.
Evelyn Harper: You're in love. Love makes everyone a little gay.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thematic Photographic 26: Sweet
Kayla Sneaks a Treat
The theme this week at written, inc. is "Sweet".
I didn't take this picture, but I couldn't think of any picture that I could have taken that would be sweeter than this.
This is my granddaughter, Kayla. Her Mom found her sitting on Wrigley's (their Lab) pillow between the couch and bookcase with a jar of Nutella that she found on the dining room table.
Sweet treat. Sweet girl.
Went to see RocknRolla
Sunday November, 23, 2008. Went to see RocknRolla (Guy Ritchie, 2008). Yipee, Guy Ritchie is back. Forget Swept Away and Revolver, remember Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels; he's back! I wonder why, ha ha...
Watching DVDs: Dirt
October 2008. Watching Dirt. Perez Hilton guest stars. Courteney Cox-Arquette is very good indeed as Lucy. Have just marked an MA paper on Dirt.
Quotes:
Don Konkey (Ian Hart): It's in Oregon. It's like prison, with trees.
Unhappy guy: You told me you had feelings for me.
Lucy: I didn't say which feelings.
Went to see Two Lovers
Wednesday November 26, 2008. Went to see Two Lovers with Charlotte, Jamie, Laetitia, Siobhan and Timmy (James Gray, 2008). The only good thing about this movie is Gwyneth's hair. Slow like a French movie. She and Joaquin are not to blame.
Friday, November 28, 2008
How to make venison sausage
1. Move 1500 sqare feet of stuff you (and he) have been collecting (separately) for the last 50+ years from Southern California to Central Montana. $23,000.00
2. Buy non-resident hunting license $75.00
3. Purchase a Remington Model 700 Mountain LSS Rifle, 6285, Stainless: $798.99
4. Purchase jackets, long-sleeved shirts, long underwear, ear muffs, hats, gloves, boots and other miscellaenous cold weather clothing $364.58
5. Purchase knives, binoculars, scope, ammo, gun cleaning equipment, game carrier and other miscellaneous items $421.53
6. Awaken at 6:00 AM.
7. Pack ice chest with sandwiches, water and sodas.
8. Carry hundreds of pounds of gear to vehicle.
9. Buy gasoline for traveling to find deer $63.20
10. Shoot deer and walk for miles looking for it in tall grass.
11. Field dress deer.
12. Return home at 6:30 PM.
13. Skin deer. Butcher deer. Package meat. Carry 30-40# packaged meat to freezer.
14. Grind meat for sausage. Add seasonings. Look for sausage stuffer that was misplaced during move from California to Montana.
14. Grind meat for sausage. Add seasonings. Look for sausage stuffer that was misplaced during move from California to Montana. 15. Go to WalMart for more vaccum pack bags. $19.74
16. Feed casing onto sausage maker.
17. Feed ground and seasoned venison into sausage maker while another person ties off sausages.18. Pour another beer & Clamato. Take a break to relieve back pain from standing for hours.
19. Wash knives, grinder, pots, pans, counter tops, floors and walls.
20. Pour another beer & Clamato.
21. Package and take sausages to freezer. The next day, repeat from #6.
Cost per pound: $47.53
Happy Tofurkey Day!
We went to the Triangle Vegetarian Society's annual Thanksgiving Day Feast! We ate ourselves sick on vegan cuisine then came home to pass out in front of the fire for awhile. Fun day for all!
Except the poor turkeys....
I swiped this image from RedYoda. You can check out his blog here
http://kaijuart.com/
Happy Thanksgiving (one day late)
On Break For Just a Bit
I'll be working at the library all day today and tomorrow, and on Sunday company is coming. I'll be cooking a belated Thanksgiving feast for 13 that day, so I won't be blogging for the next couple of days.
In the meantime, you might be interested in reading some of my older posts. Here's one about Pippi Longstocking
and here is another you might enjoy about a Silly Elephant Symphony.
I hope you all have a good weekend, and I'll be back to blogging next week.
In the meantime, you might be interested in reading some of my older posts. Here's one about Pippi Longstocking
and here is another you might enjoy about a Silly Elephant Symphony.
I hope you all have a good weekend, and I'll be back to blogging next week.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Gossip Girl Thanksgiving Fashion Guide
Thanksgiving is the time of the year to spread love and gratitude by getting together with loved ones and pigging out on turkey and potatoes with gravy. With Thanksgiving around the corner, we need to gobble up some thanksgiving fashion with this season's latest looks.
For the hippest and hottest Thanksgiving fashion let's consult the hottest TV Series, Gossip Girl, and review the previous episode (The Magnificent Archibalds. Join me as I check on Gossip Girl's Thanksgiving fashion guide.
Serena and Lily van der Woodsen
Even though she's a mother of two Gossip Girl's characters namely Serena and Eric, Lily van der Woodsen stayed to be a fashion-forward mom. For the Turkey Day, she wore a dress from Hugo Boss with her Brunello Cucinelli trench. Serena sported a top and skirt from Porter Grey and Nine West shoes.
Serena van der Woodsen
Serena stops by the Waldorf household, where Blair's Thanksgiving traditions are not being properly followed. She wears a Mayle coat and carries a Chanel bag.
For her school dressed-up look, Serena accessorizes her French Toast uniform with a leather vest (shop an option from Mike & Chris for Ron Herman) and boots from Ralph Lauren.
Blair Waldorf
For her favorite holiday, Blair opted for intricate, backless, forest green dress designed by Alexandra Vidal. The pleated bib front is just as cute, as are the Jimmy Choos she chooses. In a later scene, Blair wears a Sretsis coat dress over this look.
Jenny Humphrey
Jenny rocked a plaid dress from Dolce and Gabbana and Nine West boots.
Jenny gets ever-so-casual, but ever-so-fashionable, in a cute tee from Kova & T with cameo ring (Tarino Tarantino) and necklace is (Alexis Bittar).
Vanessa Abrams
Vanessa wears a mixture of high and low with a coat from Forever 21 and a silk printed dress from Anna Sui.
Source
For the hippest and hottest Thanksgiving fashion let's consult the hottest TV Series, Gossip Girl, and review the previous episode (The Magnificent Archibalds. Join me as I check on Gossip Girl's Thanksgiving fashion guide.
Serena and Lily van der Woodsen
Even though she's a mother of two Gossip Girl's characters namely Serena and Eric, Lily van der Woodsen stayed to be a fashion-forward mom. For the Turkey Day, she wore a dress from Hugo Boss with her Brunello Cucinelli trench. Serena sported a top and skirt from Porter Grey and Nine West shoes.
Serena van der Woodsen
Serena stops by the Waldorf household, where Blair's Thanksgiving traditions are not being properly followed. She wears a Mayle coat and carries a Chanel bag.
For her school dressed-up look, Serena accessorizes her French Toast uniform with a leather vest (shop an option from Mike & Chris for Ron Herman) and boots from Ralph Lauren.
Blair Waldorf
For her favorite holiday, Blair opted for intricate, backless, forest green dress designed by Alexandra Vidal. The pleated bib front is just as cute, as are the Jimmy Choos she chooses. In a later scene, Blair wears a Sretsis coat dress over this look.
Jenny Humphrey
Jenny rocked a plaid dress from Dolce and Gabbana and Nine West boots.
Jenny gets ever-so-casual, but ever-so-fashionable, in a cute tee from Kova & T with cameo ring (Tarino Tarantino) and necklace is (Alexis Bittar).
Vanessa Abrams
Vanessa wears a mixture of high and low with a coat from Forever 21 and a silk printed dress from Anna Sui.
Source
Mexican Chicken Soup - Barefoot Bloggers
Barefoot Bloggers is a group that cooks all things Ina. Judy from Judy's Gross Eats chose this recipe. Thanks, Judy... we love having soup often since the cold weather has set in!
Chop onions, celery and carrots and saute.
Cut up some corn tortillas, a seeded jalapeno and dice some garlic.
Add tomatoes, tortillas, garlic, jalapenos and chicken broth. The corn tortillas disappeared into the soup and thickened it to just the right consistency.
Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese and broken tortilla chips. I've had chicken tortilla soup in the past and remember not caring for it much, but this was very good and hearty soup, and a recipe I'll make again! You can find Ina's recipe for this Mexican Chicken Soup here.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Marusan Originals Wishbook
In the spirit of the Sears Christmas Wishbook, I've crafted a crappy little Marusan Originals Wishbook page. So if any of my tens of readers comes across these somewhere, I'd love for you to let me know!
I've fallen in love with these fun, crude sculpts... they remind me so much of the drugstore toys I used to crave as a kid.
No priority here... the numbers and letters are simply for reference. Even if you don't know here to find them, perhaps you can just enjoy the little blurry pics and how many of these there actually are. I swiped the images from the scan of some sort of Japanese catalog.
I've fallen in love with these fun, crude sculpts... they remind me so much of the drugstore toys I used to crave as a kid.
No priority here... the numbers and letters are simply for reference. Even if you don't know here to find them, perhaps you can just enjoy the little blurry pics and how many of these there actually are. I swiped the images from the scan of some sort of Japanese catalog.
A Thanksgiving Day Dance Feast
I have not had you out of your chair from behind the computer and dancing for a while, but I'm going to make up for that today. I know today is the day many of you will be dining on turkey and all the trimmings. Like me, you will probably eat a few extra calories that you wouldn't ordinarily consume. No need to worry, though. If you dance along to this blog post, you will burn off those extra calories in no time.
I have prepared a complete Thanksgiving dinner day dance feast for you. Before we get started on the feast, though, first we must give thanks. It is much easier to dance if there is music in the air, so let's say thank you for the music.
Now, how about a bit of turkey?
And, just in case you don't know how to do the turkey trot, here are some youngsters who will show you how.
Pass the mashed potatoes, please.
May I offer you a Yam?
And what would Thanksgiving be without dancing carrots?
Might as well finish up with some pie. Would you like apple, peaches, or pumpkin?
Or maybe you prefer sweet potato pie?
Happy Thanksgiving to all my dancing partners! Thanks for putting my name on your dance card. I hope you have so many blessings to count that it makes you feel like dancing.
I have prepared a complete Thanksgiving dinner day dance feast for you. Before we get started on the feast, though, first we must give thanks. It is much easier to dance if there is music in the air, so let's say thank you for the music.
Now, how about a bit of turkey?
And, just in case you don't know how to do the turkey trot, here are some youngsters who will show you how.
Pass the mashed potatoes, please.
May I offer you a Yam?
And what would Thanksgiving be without dancing carrots?
Might as well finish up with some pie. Would you like apple, peaches, or pumpkin?
Or maybe you prefer sweet potato pie?
Happy Thanksgiving to all my dancing partners! Thanks for putting my name on your dance card. I hope you have so many blessings to count that it makes you feel like dancing.
Count Your Blessings--Thanksgiving Week Continues
Bing Crosby starts us off today to remind us to count our blessings.
This next song is one I can remember singing in church on Sunday morning as a child. This one is sung by The Statesmen.
While you are counting your blessings, listen to Johnny Cash sing a Thanksgiving Prayer on an episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
This next song is one I can remember singing in church on Sunday morning as a child. This one is sung by The Statesmen.
While you are counting your blessings, listen to Johnny Cash sing a Thanksgiving Prayer on an episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Green Beans in a Snap
I needed a green vegetable for dinner last night but didn't have any fresh vegetables that weren't planned for Thanksgiving. I didn't want to dip into that stash and have to go to the grocery store again before Thursday!
I don't buy many canned vegetables, but I had a can of green beans on hand. I chopped two strips of bacon and fried them up. This bacon was so meaty there wasn't much grease in the pan afterwards. After frying the bacon, I just wiped the pan out and put the bacon back in with some chopped onions.
In went one can of green beans (drained) and some freshly ground black pepper. A few minutes on the heat and they were ready to serve! Quick, easy and good!
Corn Pudding
Remember when we picked corn a few months ago? You missed it? Well take a look here!
Corn pudding may be one of my favorite things to eat.
Slice the corn from the cob and saute with a little onion in butter...
... whisk together eggs, milk, half-and-half, parsley, salt and pepper. Add the cooled corn mixture and pour into a baking dish. 
The baking dish then goes into a bain marie, or water bath. Put the baking dish in a larger pan and add hot water to the pan until it's about half-way up the side of the baking dish. This will keep the edges of the custard from cooking much faster than the middle of the casserole.
Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes until the top begins to brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
The corn is so delicious surrounded by a soft, delicate custard that just melts in your mouth. If you like corn and custard, you're going to love this dish! You can find the recipe here!I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time, I'd rather not spend the rest of this winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!
No 289 - John Carpenter's The Thing
Director - John Carpenter
So I had taken out 3 films from the Library and was planning to watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford... because i was impressed by the lengthy title. However it skipped and jumped and leapt like a professional ballet dancer. Only with considerably less grace....
I will try and find a different copy of it somewhere and until then I will move down the pile... to The Thing!
Now you know a film is going to be good with a title like that. Any film where they can't specify what the threat is is bound to be brilliant. Them!, The Stuff - they evoke that marvellous sense of B Movie nonsense. However, this film is very different from the promises made by the ridiculous title and the pulpy sci-fi title sequence where a spaceship crashes to Earth.
After the title sequence, the film focuses less on the Alien. It instead seems to use the appearance of the Alien to explore the paranoia and cabin fever which grips the group within their isolated base. The film is more interested in the character developments and the alien sort of pops up every now and again to kill people in hilarious ways...
Let us discuss the Alien. The Thing, so to speak. Although this is a very dark, very bleak horror film, the sequences with the Alien are comedy gold. This does not include the first Alien appearance where a dog essentially turns itself inside out and sprouts tentacles and faces. I have gotten slightly obsessed in recent weeks with Fallout 3 on the Xbox and seem to be spending long hours wandering through post apocalyptic DC getting all jumpy and shooting big monsters and mutants to death. With lasers. Maybe I had it slightly on the mind, because slimy tentacle inside out dog made me think of The Centaurs, which are weird radioactive monsters which feature in the game. Despite getting used to that kind of monster, the first Alien transformation sequence is pretty horrific, and a very impressive use of 1983's special effects. Especially if we compare them to the shit ones in Big Trouble in Little China... which I have mentioned before in this blog.
Once you have survived the horrific dog mutilation, there is the sublime ridiculousness of the Thing's other appearances, the Thing certainly has a sense of the dramatic. And a rather surreal sense of humour. Let me list my favourites, in some sort of descending order.
Director - John Carpenter
So I had taken out 3 films from the Library and was planning to watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford... because i was impressed by the lengthy title. However it skipped and jumped and leapt like a professional ballet dancer. Only with considerably less grace....
I will try and find a different copy of it somewhere and until then I will move down the pile... to The Thing!
Now you know a film is going to be good with a title like that. Any film where they can't specify what the threat is is bound to be brilliant. Them!, The Stuff - they evoke that marvellous sense of B Movie nonsense. However, this film is very different from the promises made by the ridiculous title and the pulpy sci-fi title sequence where a spaceship crashes to Earth.
After the title sequence, the film focuses less on the Alien. It instead seems to use the appearance of the Alien to explore the paranoia and cabin fever which grips the group within their isolated base. The film is more interested in the character developments and the alien sort of pops up every now and again to kill people in hilarious ways...
Let us discuss the Alien. The Thing, so to speak. Although this is a very dark, very bleak horror film, the sequences with the Alien are comedy gold. This does not include the first Alien appearance where a dog essentially turns itself inside out and sprouts tentacles and faces. I have gotten slightly obsessed in recent weeks with Fallout 3 on the Xbox and seem to be spending long hours wandering through post apocalyptic DC getting all jumpy and shooting big monsters and mutants to death. With lasers. Maybe I had it slightly on the mind, because slimy tentacle inside out dog made me think of The Centaurs, which are weird radioactive monsters which feature in the game. Despite getting used to that kind of monster, the first Alien transformation sequence is pretty horrific, and a very impressive use of 1983's special effects. Especially if we compare them to the shit ones in Big Trouble in Little China... which I have mentioned before in this blog.
Once you have survived the horrific dog mutilation, there is the sublime ridiculousness of the Thing's other appearances, the Thing certainly has a sense of the dramatic. And a rather surreal sense of humour. Let me list my favourites, in some sort of descending order.
- When Windows is revealed to be the Thing, his head opens up in the middle like a Venus Flytrap and bites the head of one of his attackers.
- When doing a Blood test, Kurt Russell's MacReady drops a hot piece of metal into a petri-dish, only for the blood to scream and make a leap for freedom.
- When attempting to defibrillate one of their dead colleagues (who's name I can't remember....), the chest opens up to reveal a mouth full of huge jagged teeth which bite off the doctor's hands.
- And finally.... The best Thing moment (and one of the most famous moments), the head of one of the Alien's victims falls off, grows legs, and scampers of squealing. It is utterly ridiculous and brilliant.
Whilst not being the central theme of the film, the Thing is certainly the star and the most entertaining character in the film. Although a close second is T K Carter's character of Nauls the chef, a jive talking, rollerskating chef who is endearingly and almost rascistly of his time as a stereotypical wise talking black man. But I think that's what makes him such an endearing and hilarious character (and it is sad when he wanders off... and, one would assume, dies).
The other characters to talk about are Wilford Brimley's Dr Blair who realises the devastating damage the Alien could cause and becomes paranoid and essentially insane. He spends the majority of the film in a tool shed where he toys with a noose and attempts to build his own space craft.
And finally... Kurt Russell with his character of MacReady. This is the kind of character that I see Kurt Russell as, the grizzled loner who doesn't give a shit and who doesn't play by the rules. We know about these character traits from the off.. because the first time we see him he is alone in his room (oooh what a loner) who loses a game of chess to his computer and repays it by pouring bourbon into it (oooh what a rebel). Even his character is not the obvious hero though, this is not your standard horror film, and the characters are far, far more flawed than the average list of horror victims. After taking control of the group (by force I should add) he becomes more paranoid that the group are trying to kill him, ending up shooting one of the group (a HUMAN I should add) in the head...
By the end when we are unsure who is human and who is Alien, he finally realises the futility of his paranoia and drinks his whiskey, awaiting death from the bitter, bitter cold as the station burns down around him. It is a very very bleak ending as both survivor eyes up the other trying to figure out if they are the Alien. We are never given any answers and the film ends with two people waiting to die so that the Alien virus can't spread....
Burning, is an important theme it seems. It is the answer to everything. "Quick" people say "Burn him. Burn him" - It is like we're hunting witches in medieval England or something. But the best way to kill the Thing is to Burn it up. Burn it right up. I just wanted to say that I found it very strange that whilst Windows was being thoroughly burninated he emitted little sex cries. But they sounded like the sex cries of a lady... I think my mind may have been wandering at this point but it did make me see the Alien in a whole new light.
I am aware that I have spoken a lot about the cast, but that is the important thing about this film. It is a group of people in an isolated community, so the cast at the start of the film are the cast for the entire film. With the exception of a Norwegian guy who gets shot (and that reminds me.... if a Norwegian helicopter flew into your camp trying to shoot a fleeing dog, would you kill the pilot and keep the dog? Seems a bit short sighted to me!) the rest of the cast is solely the 12 members of the research centre... so you are almost forced to relate and form relationships with them, due to the lack of other people to distract you. Then, once you have made your bonds and connections, they gleefully kill them all off.....
The most confusing aspect of the cast was that I spent the whole thing trying to work out where I knew Palmer from. Then IMDB helped me out by telling me he was also in Being There... which was the last film I had seen.
My memory is appalling.
Thankful For Family and Friends: A Week of Thanksgiving Continues
Like most people, I suppose, I am very grateful for my family and friends. Where would we be, and even, WHOM would we be, if it weren't for our family and friends. We are shaped and molded and helped along by our family and friends from the moment we are born until we die. We laugh together, and we cry together. We face the world together: sharing joys and concerns, solving problems, encouraging one another, lifting one another's spirits, comforting one another, and very simply caring for one another and about each other.
The three songs I am posting today are with great gratitude to my family and friends as I continue this week of Thanksgiving. Thank you to those who I have shared so many memories with, thank you to those who have loved me and have allowed me to love them in return, and thank you to all those who have been my friend,whether we have shared only a moment or two or whether we have shared many. This expression of gratitude goes out to those I have met personally in my life, as well as, to all of my internet friends, both old and new, whom I know only through this computer. I am thankful for all of you. I feel very blessed to know you and to count you among those who care about me and whom I care about in return. Thank you for being there.
Thanks For the Memory- Bob Hope (lyrics--These lyrics may differ slightly from the ones in the clip above. It became common for Bob Hope and his writers to change the lyrics of this song to fit the occasion, events of a show in which he was performing, and/or political nature of the time.)
Thanks for the memory
Of candlelight and wine, castles on the Rhine
The Parthenon and moments on the Hudson River Line
How lovely it was!
Thanks for the memory
Of rainy afternoons, swingy Harlem tunes
And motor trips and burning lips and burning toast and prunes
How lovely it was!
Many's the time that we feasted
And many's the time that we fasted
Oh, well, it was swell while it lasted
We did have fun and no harm done
And thanks for the memory
Of sunburns at the shore, nights in Singapore
You might have been a headache but you never were a bore
So thank you so much.
Thanks for the memory
Of sentimental verse, nothing in my purse
And chuckles when the preacher said "For better or for worse"
How lovely it was
Thanks for the memory
Of lingerie with lace, Pilsner by the case
And how I jumped the day you trumped my one-and-only ace
How lovely it was!
We said goodbye with a highball
Then I got as "high" as a steeple
But we were intelligent people
No tears, no fuss, Hooray! For us
So, thanks for the memory
And strictly entre-nous, darling how are you?
And how are all the little dreams that never did come true?
Aw'flly glad I met you, cheerio, and toodle-oo
And thank you so much.
Thank You For Loving Me- Bon Jovi (lyrics)
It's hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There's no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words tonight
[Chorus:]
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky's a different blue
Cross my heart
I wear no disguise
If I tried, you'd make believe
That you believed my lies
[Chorus:]
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me
[Solo]
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words tonight
[Chorus:]
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
When I couldn't fly
Oh, you gave me wings
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank You For Being A Friend- Andrew Gold (lyrics)
Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant
I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow
And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you knew
You would see, the biggest gift would be from me
and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
If it's a car you lack
I'd surely buy you a Cadillac
Whatever you need, anytime of the day or night
I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow
And when we both get older
With walking canes and hair of gray
Have no fear, even though it's hard to hear
I will stand real close and say,
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Let me tell you bout a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
And when we die and float away
Into the night, the Milky Way
You'll hear me call, as we ascend
I'll see you there, then once again
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
Whoa, tell you about a friend
(Thank you right now, for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend
(I wanna tell you right now, and tell you again)
Thank you for being a friend
(I wanna thank you, thank you, for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend
The three songs I am posting today are with great gratitude to my family and friends as I continue this week of Thanksgiving. Thank you to those who I have shared so many memories with, thank you to those who have loved me and have allowed me to love them in return, and thank you to all those who have been my friend,whether we have shared only a moment or two or whether we have shared many. This expression of gratitude goes out to those I have met personally in my life, as well as, to all of my internet friends, both old and new, whom I know only through this computer. I am thankful for all of you. I feel very blessed to know you and to count you among those who care about me and whom I care about in return. Thank you for being there.
Thanks For the Memory- Bob Hope (lyrics--These lyrics may differ slightly from the ones in the clip above. It became common for Bob Hope and his writers to change the lyrics of this song to fit the occasion, events of a show in which he was performing, and/or political nature of the time.)
Thanks for the memory
Of candlelight and wine, castles on the Rhine
The Parthenon and moments on the Hudson River Line
How lovely it was!
Thanks for the memory
Of rainy afternoons, swingy Harlem tunes
And motor trips and burning lips and burning toast and prunes
How lovely it was!
Many's the time that we feasted
And many's the time that we fasted
Oh, well, it was swell while it lasted
We did have fun and no harm done
And thanks for the memory
Of sunburns at the shore, nights in Singapore
You might have been a headache but you never were a bore
So thank you so much.
Thanks for the memory
Of sentimental verse, nothing in my purse
And chuckles when the preacher said "For better or for worse"
How lovely it was
Thanks for the memory
Of lingerie with lace, Pilsner by the case
And how I jumped the day you trumped my one-and-only ace
How lovely it was!
We said goodbye with a highball
Then I got as "high" as a steeple
But we were intelligent people
No tears, no fuss, Hooray! For us
So, thanks for the memory
And strictly entre-nous, darling how are you?
And how are all the little dreams that never did come true?
Aw'flly glad I met you, cheerio, and toodle-oo
And thank you so much.
Thank You For Loving Me- Bon Jovi (lyrics)
It's hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There's no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words tonight
[Chorus:]
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky's a different blue
Cross my heart
I wear no disguise
If I tried, you'd make believe
That you believed my lies
[Chorus:]
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me
[Solo]
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words tonight
[Chorus:]
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
When I couldn't fly
Oh, you gave me wings
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank You For Being A Friend- Andrew Gold (lyrics)
Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant
I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow
And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you knew
You would see, the biggest gift would be from me
and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
If it's a car you lack
I'd surely buy you a Cadillac
Whatever you need, anytime of the day or night
I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow
And when we both get older
With walking canes and hair of gray
Have no fear, even though it's hard to hear
I will stand real close and say,
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Let me tell you bout a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
And when we die and float away
Into the night, the Milky Way
You'll hear me call, as we ascend
I'll see you there, then once again
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
(I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
Whoa, tell you about a friend
(Thank you right now, for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend
(I wanna tell you right now, and tell you again)
Thank you for being a friend
(I wanna thank you, thank you, for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend
Monday, November 24, 2008
Cast of Twilight Movie in December's In Style
Today, the much anticipated Twilight movie premiered here in the Philippines. I can't wait to watch the movie this coming weekend and so I ended up surfing the world wide web for some Twilight goodies.
Thanks to Instyle magazine for featuring the most talked-about cast of Twilight movie in their December issue which are probably out in the newsstands today.
Here's some of the photos taken during their photo shoot and an excerpt of their interviews.
Robert Pattinson
"I don’t want to look trendy, so I try to find clothes where somebody wouldn’t be able to say, 'Oh, you’re a cool guy,’" says Pattinson. The actor also admits, "I do like the 'expensive but disheveled' thing if I am going out."
Kristen Stewart
"I love women’s clothes fashioned after men’s clothes," said Stewart of her Helmut Lang tuxedo jacket and Zac Posen shirt. "You definitely feel more feminine because you look better in the clothes than the guys do!"
Rachelle Lefevre
"I feel like there is something about having wild hair that makes people assume that I might be fierce and cool," says Lefevre of her mane. "So I can just let that do all the work and be my regular intimidated self!"
Nikki Reed
"They put me in 12-inch stilettos [in the movie] because I am supposed to be taller than my sister... It was the running joke that we might not be able to shoot because I might not be able to walk. I was like, 'Can you just have us sitting and put me on a pillow?'"
Kellan Lutz
"I love wearing old-fashioned stuff, like top hats and bow ties and striped suits."
Source
Music Monday: A Week of Giving Thanks
This being the week of Thanksgiving, I wanted to start off today keeping the attitude of gratitude in the forefront. With that in mind, here are "Thankful" by Josh Groban and "Gratitude" by Nichole Nordeman.
Thankful (lyrics)
Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's light
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for
Gratitude (lyrics)
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are strictly for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.
Thankful (lyrics)
Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's light
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for
Gratitude (lyrics)
Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain
Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread
Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need
So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace
But Jesus, would You please . . .
