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December 8th, 2008
11:35 am - avoiding the topic
Saw the 1979 version of Dracula last night. It's not extraordinary (except perhaps for the liberties it takes with the original story) but it has an even-handedness that some more recent versions lack. Frank Langella plays the Count as intellectual, compelling, and charismatic, but not overtly creepy or 'metro'; his seduction of (in this version) Lucy Seward is believable, because he generally seems affectionate towards her and she towards him. (NB there's no poorly played lost-love/reincarnation narrative as there was in Francis Ford Coppola's version.) Because of the civilized of most of the movie, the scenes where it does go over the top are almost comically misplaced; the discovery of Mina Van Helsing (no seriously) as a vampire and the climax between Van Helsing et al. and the Count are happily brief and rely too heavily on special effects.
There are also interesting gender narratives that I can't quite address in brief here, sadly. This version compares favorably enough with the Guy Maddin version from 2002; they have the same sense of swooning romanticism, although Guy Madden's plays much more with silent film techniques and beats one over the head with the colonialist subtext. If you're sick of slick Dracula reimaginings, either of these two films might be your antidote.
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November 13th, 2008
01:37 pm - well that was quick.
The latest Bond movie once again features naked ladies in its title sequence. Thank god, because we were RUNNING OUT OF OBJECTIFICATION.
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May 18th, 2008
10:27 pm - i am that shrill harpy
Just saw Iron Man. On one level, it was hilarious and fun.
On another level, it was so goddamn tired. Summer movies are this universe where men, hot men, schlubby men, smart men, stupid men, walk around surrounded by beautiful women in ludicrous heels who tumble into bed at a moment's notice; I mean, here's Gwyneth Paltrow, for god's sake, an actress in her own right, walking around in 5" ankle-strap heels and a skin-tight pencil skirt taking Robert Downey Jr.'s dictation.
Women are an afterthought in this world. They're a momentary distraction, something pleasant for the eyes to wander across between explosions. There will never be a summer movie about women who are leaders, women who are technical visionaries, women who make hard decisions and fight other women for the fate of the world. There will never be a female Iron Man.
And I hate to be shrill. Because god knows, no one ever listened to some shrill feminist harpy going on about summer blockbusters.
But there's still so much to do.
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April 23rd, 2008
09:39 am - don't let me hear that life is taking you nowhere
The Pod hit 'Golden Years' by David Bowie while I was walking in to school today. That song is one of the few that can right off put me in a good mood; I think it must have something to do with watching A Knight's Tale on TV some time and the one scene where they're all dancing funky to, strangely enough, 'Golden Years'.
Which of course made me sad, because Heath Ledger isn't much of a dancer any more. But it was sunny and 'Golden Years' was on, and somehow one abides.
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February 10th, 2008
12:08 am - an open note to SciFi Original Production Company
Dear Messrs,
In regard to your movie 'Bone Eater,' not to be confused with 'The Bone Snatcher,' which also played last night: never do a monster reveal before the opening credits. While I understand that your opus suffers from many flaws, I believe that correcting this matter would make it bearable for at least the first five minutes.
Most sincerely yrs,
Ursula
P.S. Stop casting Casper Van Dien in all your movies; you're only protecting him from the social Darwinism of the acting world. His failed acting genes must die out in order to allow mankind to evolve.
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December 23rd, 2007
11:39 pm - done in the last two days
Wrapped presents
Read The Keep by Jennifer Egan
Watched Sweeney Todd and Superbad
Slept a bunch
Other than that... a whole lot of bupkiss, my friends. Long, luxurious bupkiss. Freedom has never tasted so sweet.
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March 30th, 2007
06:00 pm - a geek is me
I think the costume designers on the Pirates movies must have the best time designing costumes. I especially love that they've had Kiera Knightley in men's clothes fors the better part of the movies- they suit her, frankly- to the extent that she's effectively more of a leading man than Orlando Bloom. Check out these: 1 2 3
Rowr. I know she's mostly scowly, and as a character she leaves a lot to be desired, but she's more fleshed out than a lot of main characters are.
I'm also super-excited that Tia Dalma (i.e. crazy voodoo lady) will feature more prominently.
Let's see here; the movies that I am excited for this year are:
1. Pirates 3
2. Harry Potter 5
3. Spiderman 3
Help. Somebody, please, help. =_=;;
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March 9th, 2007
06:02 am - Tonight, we dine in a Neo-Nazi eliminationist fantasy!
So, 300. My problems with this movie are simple:
A more perfect example of racist propaganda was never seen. The heroic, eponymous 300 are all strapping, sturdy Spartans, the results of a merciless system of eugenics. Their opponents are dark-skinned, often of ambiguous sexuality or having physical defects. The king of the opposing army, Xerxes, is bald, almost-naked, and has numerous facial piercings. (Miller's work has long presented body modification and non-standard appearances as a code for moral depravity, e.g. the punks in DKR.)
This, I think, is one place where I can break Godwin's law with impunity- yes, it is very much like Nazi propaganda. A small group of racially pure, militaristic men versus the sundry barbarian hordes, racially impure, physically deformed, sexually deviant- it's the kind of narrative one expects from an era of deep racism and prejudice. This movie would have been right at home in a different, darker era. So why is everyone rushing to see it now?
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January 11th, 2007
07:14 am - it's so beautiful outside
Not that it ever isn't. But in Seattle proper we almost never get this kind of snow- the kind that sticks, that piles up on trees and cars and everything else, that settles in footprints. So I'm pulling on layers and a pair of Nick's snowboarding socks and bundling up all proper-like in anticipation of a beautiful walk to the bus stop.
I've got respiratory nasties, so I took yesterday off and stayed home most of the day, then went up to the Hill to mail my UW Law School application and meet ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) joeyknish for a sneak preview of Pan's Labyrinth. I'm sure I've voiced frequently my equivocal feelings towards MirrorMask (mostly because it's derivative and boring and inorganic and BLAH BLAH BLAH); Pan's Labyrinth is, in my opinion, what MirrorMask might have been if it weren't all those things. Go see it go see it goseeit.
Also, BTW happy birthday to lindskaba, who I met over the holidays. Enjoy your karaoke, behbeh.
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November 25th, 2006
04:36 pm - cue holiday crafting
Nothing better than settling down for a long winter's craft with a couple of pine branches, a big jar of acrylic gloss medium and some fake gold leaf.
I'm so excited about having Christmas this year- not so much about the presents, but about decorating the place. I'm working on my wreath right now. Somebody send psychological help. O_O;
P.S. Holy Jesus- Giada DeLaurentis's entire family is frickin' gorgeous. Not fair.
P.P.S. Current girl-crush: Bond Girl of the Millennium Eva Green. I've been wanting to see The Dreamers for a while now- this is just another good reason.
Current Location: home alone
Current Music: Arrested Development
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