Watchmen, Hellboy II, The Duchess

I don’t know why I decide to "review" some things and not others…

Watchmen –Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
It’s probably important to note that I don’t read many comics/graphic novels/manga…books with pictures and captions…so it’s really hard to give this award winning piece the review it deserves (besides the fact that I’m not qualified to begin with!). Anyway when I first got my hands on it, Justin had given me his copy at ComicCon San Diego last summer. I only got through a few pages before sitting in on the Watchmen panel (cast/director/writers/special trailer). So of course, I was completely pulled in by the trailer (which Hollywood is getting really good at I’ve noticed). However I didn’t really get around to reading the book till later, and when I started I stopped, probably because I got chewed up by vampires and that whole universe. Anyways now I’m reading it. I’m like halfwayish, and let me say right now I really love it! Although because of my lack of comic book digestion, I kind of got indigestion at first. It’s really hard to take in, very very layered. But those layers, each one is another theme, or lesson, or social commentary, so it sort of appeals to my philosophical mind. I’m not really keen on the art, but that might be because I’m so used to Disney characters, and anime, where lines and colors are clean and well “pretty”. Otherwise, I really recommend at least trying to read it. Giving it a chance. I guess I you have to read one graphic novel in your lifetime, you should read the “industry changing”, “challenges the medium” one.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army
So I watched the first “Hellboy”, and remembered not thinking “wow why am I wasting my time?”, so when my mom rented the 2nd one, I was like hell, I got nothing better to do. I can’t decide if they got a little too sophisticated with the art for the story. The “feel” is the same as “Pan’s Labyrinth” (same people) that came out a few years ago. Let me tell you the concepts these folks came up with, is beyond fascinating. I was never board with the background, and wished the actors would shut up so I could just look at their make-up, costume design, and sets. The storyline was crap and kind of cliché, I’m sure they butchered the comic, and the acting was even worse. But the concept of this universe is great, and the visual representation of it is astonishing, so for no other reason, it made it worth the watch.

The Duchess
What’s that you say? This movie came out in 2006 and starred Kirsten Dunst? I think not! However I never really saw that flick, and that’s probably a good thing, since Kirsten can’t seem to get that “I’m stoned and talk like this”, look off her face. Anyway are we talking about The Duchess or what? So Kiera Knightly keeps getting period piece type-cast, and maybe that’s good. I don’t know. I think she’s “okay” at acting. It’s probably because she keeps getting the same part that she is the same in every movie? Not sure. Of course the dresses were outstanding! And Ralph Finnes is terrific in anything he puts his hands on. I don’t know about this Dominic Cooper fellow. Absolutely no chemistry between him and Knightly, and I think it was his fault. The last movie I saw him in was Mama Mia! In which he was not memorable. And before that the BBC Sense and Sensibility, where he actually was quite good as creep slimy Willaby. The story was more compelling then the movie. I guess cause I’m into vernacular history and nonsense like that, learning about English court society (and all its rules and norms and whatnot) is fascinating. So meh, watch this one on TV. Note: The Duchess of Devonshire (Georgina) was actually friends with Mary Antoinette in real life apparently, makes sense to me.

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I wonder if I'm fooling myself.

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Disneyland:
I truly believe that if I had not grown up with Disneyland, I would hate going. I would be insurmountably angry that stuff such as how they use gas engines on Autopia, charge an arm and a leg for crap food, waste shit loads of water etc. Maybe not now, but in its hay-day Disney could afford to put all its damn time in to updating amenities to be very green-friendly. And even last year before the economic crisis, when being green was trendy, they could have advertised that. Hell I wouldn't feel as guiltly going, if I knew they installed eco-toilets, solar panels, recycled water, even offering recylcing receptacles for your damn $3 plastic water bottles. etc. (Although I have done no research on whether Disneyland as its own entity, does any of these things already.) I have to remind myself that its a children's park, and sadly accept the obnoxious brats screaming ear piercingly into my ears on Star Tours. Try to convince myself that Disney's moral messages aren't comprimised. After I give up on all those things, which is such a mental work out, I let go and enjoy myself. And since I've been so many times, I know the park in and out, and I can do it all: eat, skip lines, avoid kids etc. without the mishaps of being a noob.

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Coming to terms with being a Girl and Silence.

I know I'm a girl, so what is my problem? Well maybe it's my hormones, maybe it's maturity, or maybe its location. Of course with everything there is no singular answer, its always a combination. I've never been a shopper, until now. I've never cared much about my haircuts, until now. I've never been so worried about my skin, until now. I guess as I get older, I feel like my biological clock is starting to chime in. I'm exhibiting all the symptoms of an adult, without really acknowledging them. Lamely 'searching' for the American Dream, or in my case pretending I'm still a cool kid with no responsibilities and the ability to pick up and go anywhere, when really I'm a college grad with no prospects.

I enter that stupid HGTV home, imagining myself in it. I troll sites looking at "hobo bags", since I'm suddenly really attracted to clothes, and accessories, and shoes. I never used to be like that. In high school, I was probably too much of a dope to notice. Or maybe I was, I just don't remember, or was so self-loathing I already gave up. But when I moved away from the urban environment, to a place where boots jeans and a sweater were perfectly acceptable at bars and parties, I stopped caring completely about it. Then of course I moved back to LA. Suddenly I'm turning into a girly girl. I want to shop, and wear dresses and fix my stupid cow lick bangs. I don't really know what I'm writing, because I don't really know what the real deal is. Maybe I was like this all along.

It's occurred to me that certain silences are painful and others aren't. For instance, Im begging for silence when Jordan is snoring, but can't stand the silence when he's not in the bed next to me. I don't like sitting around in my room at night without noise, but can imagine the blissful extreme quiet of a still day in the high desert. I used to hate sounds when trying to go to bed, but have become so accostomed to heaters clicking on or computers humming away, that need something electrical to lull me to sleep.

It's like I'm changing and getting old, and realizing it. I feel like I'm a goddamn 40 year old, thinking the glory days are over. Now I'm going to be wrinkley and to mishapen to look good in jeans and a sweater, and should start thinking about retirement.

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These are my answer to the facebook thread that is going around.

25 Things. Here you go you Mother F***ers. I did it, are you happy?
So as I understand it, “Rules:” Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO do diddly squat if you don't want, so there.

1) I’m already worrying about finding 25 people to tag for this thing, so sorry I if I randomly picked you for no reason.
2) I don’t even think I can come up with 25 things, without bull shitting half.
3) Sometimes I really want to drive away, far away and never come back.
4) I’m anxiety riddled, needy and clingy.
5) I did a quiz the other day, and it said I would be a blue dragon.
6) I’d probably be happier moving for the rest of my life, then living in one place.
7) I’m turning into a girly girl the longer I live in LA.
8) I made a list of 100 things to do before I die, but I’ve only done like 15 (some are circumstantial), and I can’t remember where I put the list.
9) The only thing I’ve committed to for more then two years (that wasn’t forced upon me i.e. school) is writing, and posting some of it on a blog.
10) My favorite Food Network chef is Tyler Florence, based soley upon his food.
11) I’m truly frightened when I realize I’m slowly turning in to my parents.
12) Brian Froud is a big favorite.
13) I love geography and am so happy I majored in it.
14) Food makes me happier then most everything, except for maybe sex and sleeping.
15) I wish I had a fully loaded kitchen and could spend all my money on food and cooking it.
16) Whether you ‘believe’ in global warming or not, it doesn’t mean we should go around shitting on nature.
17) I’m kind of a poser when it comes to red hair, but I love it.
18) I have a lot of opinions, but I’m very open minded.
19) The less I care, I swear, the more things end up going my way.
20) My favorite kind of weather is right before and after a storm, when the clouds are tall and moving quickly.
21) Meh I don’t want to think of anymore.
22) I don’t have many secrets, because I’m bluntly honest, ask me anything.
23) I’m a lazy ass.
24) Wonders how Obama can cope with all the expectations and pressure, because I would die.
25) I iz addicted to zee interwebz!

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The weather today reminds me of more high latitudes. Why didn't I turn north on the 101 instead of south when I was leaving Jordan's house? I could have driven right on up, and be guaranteed a green landscape in every direction. In California, you only get that short window of bright green for a couple weeks after a hard rain. Then its gone, and you forget that the brown and gray scenery ever had beautiful qualities.

Why is writing a Valentines letter to my sweetheart so damn hard? Everything I say, I laugh at. It never used to be like this. Oh how things change. It's not that I don't feel everything, it's that my approach is so different. It's not that he doesn't deserve the words, its that they seem cheesy, cliche and almost childish. Exercising my creative love muscle is hard! Does that mean I'm a bad lover, it's so weak because it's under used?

I love looking over at the box of beer Jordan bottled last week. The caps are so silvery and shiny, and the neat rows appeal to my anal retentive nature. I'm so glad that it's only ridiculously 'hoppy' and not horrific, pretty damn good for a first time home brew. I guess I could add that to my love letter?

Dear Jordan, you're hoppy beer makes me feel warm and gooey inside. I'm so proud of you for doing what you always do when you want to do something, and that is actually doing it.

Okay, joking joking, the letter writing problems aren't that bad, and that last sentence doesn't even make sense. In other news, Yelp continues to pay off. I had written a review about the last hair cut I got at a place in Venice. Unfortuneately I accidently undertipped my stylist, and so in the review I wrote how great she was, but that I was embarrassed to go back there. Just this morning, I get a "compliment" from her, stating that she didn't notice and that I should come back in for a discounted cut soon! Ahhh the rewards of yelp.

Okay enough of this nonse, I need to get back to transcribing away.

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I've been writing! Actually, technically it's Yelp-ing. First I started with Facebook, trolling over that site when I sit down at my laptop for the first time in the morning. Then I added the HGTV Home I discussed earlier, and now I've added Yelp.com. Here's what the setup is.

It's a terrible waste of time, because now I just troll the site, looking at reviews regular people give to a wide assortment of establishments: car shops, bakeries, pet stores, etc. The problem is, the setup leaves a lot of room for issues, and misguided judgements about a place based on the reviews. See what one person likes about a restaurant, another may hate. Such as music, having nothing to do with the food or service. One person may love listening to music while dining, another may hate it. These people could base their "stars" entirely on that concept and thus mislead anyone reading quickly scanning the "star rating". Anyway at least I may have found an honest and cheap car mechanic in LA.

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