The Ramblings of Rev. Karl

Last weekend I got to go see the new Coraline movie and thought it was most excellent. I loved the book and thought the movie successfully captured the spirit and was wonderfully creepy. I didn't mind the changes from the book and would recommend both :-)

Yesterday I saw Avenue Q at the Warner theater which is there until the 15th - it was also most excellent. I'd heard most of the music but never seen the play, I laughed my ass off. Among the humor I think there is a lesson there to enjoy life as it comes and that not everything has to be perfect - also, invest in porn.

This weekend I'll be on St. Thomas, busy sitting on a beach in the sun, drinking rum. Enjoy your snow :-)

P.S. LJ valentine's can be found at valentines_09, hope everyone has a happy Valentine's Day.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998641.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

It gives me a perverse pleasure when they use Chicago for Gotham - though it also has my brain wanting to do a Batman/Blues Brothers crossover.

Edit: It was the chase scene though Lower Wacker Drive that did it.

Stardust is awesome. I had very high expectations for it and was not disappointed. In interviews Gaiman has said they was aiming for the tone of Princess Bride and I think they succeeded admirably, most of the changes from the book served to lighten it and add more humor which I think is a good thing. Go see it, I will go see it again soon.

Today is a great day for Volgoslavia!

Original trilogy to be released on DVD.

Thanks to dwarfrage for the link.

For those of you in the DC area, divalion and wylddelirium are participating in the DC 48 Hour Film Project. In preperation they are trying to line up people and resources that they might be able to use in their film - if your interested and willing to help then take a look at http://divalion.livejournal.com/219031.html (you performers and musicians on my friends list especially - I'm looking at you).

In other news Isaac Hayes quits South Park because he's a Scientology whack job.

For those of you that like weird movies, you know who you are, I highly recommend The City of Lost Children - it is absolutely whacked. Sort of a combination of A Series of Unfortunate Events and Brazil, only more surreal. The setting is very steampunkish. I won't attempt to describe the plot, but I will tell you that all the characters are either a) children, b) carnival workers, or c) insane - makes for a great combination. Those of you that like your movies to make sense may want to skip it though.

The Wallace and Gromit movie is most excellent. Go see it. I need a cheese icon.

Excellent film, it felt like walking into a Gaiman comic. Visually stunning, with a plot sort of similar to Labyrinth, very Changeling-esque. If you like Neil Gaiman's other work (or you liked Labyrinth) you'll probably like this, if not you probably won't.

Non-spoiler review:

Wow. Leaves one feeling kind of stunned.

For the folks that have seen Firefly:

Definitely a different feel. Less humor/snark, and characterization, more focused on the action/adventure. That said I think it's the best action/adventure sci-fi movie I've seen in, well, ever.

For the folks that have not seen Firefly:

I think the movie will stand on its own, but it will be enhanced by seeing the series first. There is very little exposition in the movie, so you are missing alot of the "who are these people and why should we care about them." You don't really need to know that to enjoy the movie, but it will be alot more powerful if you do. If you don't want to spend the time watching the entire series, try to see "Serenity" (the pilot), "Out of Gas," and "Ariel" for a crash course on the bits most relevant to the movie.

Regarding certain spoily things:

Joss Whedon is a bastard. Please no spoilers in the comments.

Confirmed going to see it tomorrow at 10:15 at the Phoenix Worldgate in Herndon with zammis, liakela, valancy17, and blairhippo. Anyone else is welcome to join us. Note the slight change in time.

Looking to be an excellent fall for sci-fi/fantasy films.

In addition to Serenity I also want to see Corpse Bride and Mirrormask. And then Wallace & Gromit opens next weekend. Also before the end of the year we have new Zorro, Harry Potter, Aeon Flux, King Kong, and Narnia to look forward to.

Looks like Mirrormask is only playing at E St. - I could maybe see it Sunday, or play hooky from work sometime next week and go during the day.

Speaking of Gaiman I finished reading Anansi Boys in a day and it is excellent as expected. I need to do a book post as I've read a bunch of good stuff recently. New George R.R. Martin this fall as well. *bounce*

Because I can't do just one.

( Firefly quotes )

update: I'll probably be doing a late showing Friday and it'll probably be in NoVa somewhere rather than Frederick.

Firefly/Serenity comic to cover the time between the TV show and the movie.

I think my review for every movie from now on will be "not enough wookies."

For Babylon 5 and Star Trek fans:

First read this.

Done?

Then read this.

Ok, this is funny.

Thanks to dawntreader90 for the link.

"Shaun of the Dead" is sick, twisted, and very wrong. You should all go out and see it immediately.

Now I need a cricket bat.

Name a CD you own that no-one else on your friends list does:
"Hanky Panky" by The The or failing that the Vampire Princess Miyu OVA Soundtrack.

Name a book you own that no-one else on your friends list does:
"Estonia and the Estonians" by Toivo Raun

Name a movie you own on DVD/VHS/whatever that no-one else on your friends list does:
I don't think I have any movies that no one else would have. Closest are Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter which liakela shares and Lord of the G-strings that zammis found somewhere.

Name a place that you have visited that no-one else on your friends list has:
Probably many places, but maybe most memorable is Chatham, Michigan - was stuck there for 3 days during a blizzard. Probably not many of you have been to Hermosa, South Dakota or French Glen, Oregon either, but if you have I'd like to hear about it.