Category: tv

got it

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I’m tickled that Expanded Horizons gave me a handwritten check. Hee.

I know it sounds like payment for some legally unsavory services (which might be why the people at the bank kept looking at me funny; they were taking so long with the check that I actually started feeling like a criminal), but really, “Night Out” is a story. Which you can read here, if you feel like it.

EH is also currently accepting submissions for its Fairy Tale issue.

They want stories that

reinterpret well-known (or less well-known) fairy tales and fantasy stories, or tropes. A starting point would be stories told from another character’s viewpoint, for example. (Women, fae, or even otherkin…)

Stories which flesh out the women characters in fairy tales is another possible angle. Stories which thoughtfully reinterpret or relocate “European” fairy tales in non-European contexts are also interesting to us (especially since many of these stories have non-European origins, for example, Cinderella). What happens to fairy tales when cultures collide is another idea.

If you have something – a story, an idea – then by all means work on it and send it in!

* * *

So I’ve started watching BBT‘s Season 2. Some random thoughts:

1. I want Sheldon Cooper’s T-shirt folder.

2. I think Leonard looks like a gay beautician.

* * *

Penny: Has Leonard ever dated a girl who’s not, you know, smart?

Sheldon: Well, once he dated a woman who has a Ph. D. in French Literature.

Penny: How does that not count as “smart”?

Sheldon: Well, for starters, she’s French. And it’s literature.

* * *

The rack where I hang my clothes finally collapsed beneath the weight of my various tops and pants, and so I came home and found my clothes on the floor. Being an enterprising homeowner, I Mighty-Bonded the rack to the door.

Evidently I had applied too much Mighty Bond. I now own a blouse glued to its hanger.

True story.

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Howard: I think I should answer the engineering questions, since I’m an engineer.

Sheldon: If we’re to follow your logic, then I should answer all the anthropology questions since I’m a mammal.

* * *

Sheldon’s sister: Of course I’m proud of you. I always talk to my friends about my brother the rocket scientist.

Sheldon: You tell them I’m a rocket scientist?

Sheldon’s sister: Uh, yes.

Sheldon: I’m a theoretical physicist!

Sheldon’s sister: What’s the difference?

Sheldon: ‘WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE’???

THE BIG BANG THEORY

Social awkwardness, 3D chess, and references to Schrodinger’s cat.  Ah,  nerdvana indeed. I’ve only seen a handful of episodes from Big Bang Theory’s first season (from that episode where Sheldon Cooper gets sick, to that episode where Leonard gets a date), but I’ll definitely definitely watch Season 2 soon. Whee, geeky goodness!

P.S. I think I’m in love with Sheldon. He’s such a bitch.

transformers 2: revenge of the whatchamacallit

The first film was fun, just the right amount of comedy and action and I think just a couple of shots of robots being torn apart (literally, the one with that Decepticon on top of the building; metaphorically, the one involving Bumblebee). This sequel, however, felt like Michael Bay charged at me at full speed and hit me across the face with a folding chair. And I didn’t even watch this at IMAX.

The quiet parts were either cheesy (Megan and Shia kissing at sunset, the sunlight bursting through their lips), or corny (Shia’s mom eating happy brownies and tackling a college boy). Gah.

If you’re planning to watch it, here’s a sneak preview –

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– and by “sneak preview” I mean “the entire film.” Just turn the sand to pavement, add some robots, some explosions, and put Megan Fox on a motorcycle for no other reason than to see her on a motorcycle.

Rainn Wilson’s in it but his character just came across as obnoxious and idiotic, or am I just being a girl? No. John Turturro’s character entered the film (and showed his butt) too late.

Photo from screenrant.com.

Roger Ebert gives the film one out of four stars. Quote: “The plot is incomprehensible. The dialog of the Autobots®, Decepticons® and Otherbots® is meaningless word flap. Their accents are Brooklyese, British and hip-hop, as befits a race from the distant stars.”

Here‘s a fun review by Jessica Zafra. Quote: “Basically this movie was directed by a dick.”

* * *

In other news, I found out that walking aimlessly inside a BookSale branch is a fun activity. I didn’t even plan on buying a book but I saw this and I just grabbed it:

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Mark Vonnegut is Kurt Vonnegut’s son.

* * *

Favorite things: food, books, good movies, 30 Rock and The Office.

* * *

When my sister and I were handed our bus tickets this morning, we noticed that the punched prices seemed lower. My sister thought there was a rollback, while I thought my sister probably told the conductor the wrong stop. Then the conductor came over and said, Isn’t that your father, the one who dropped you off?

Apparently my father is one friendly discount coupon.

nightmares and dreamscapes, 3

Part 1.

Part 2.

Umney’s Last Case

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This one stars William H. Macy, who got nominated for an Emmy for his role in this show. Good, because he’s good.

As for the episode itself:

I enjoyed the 40’s hommage and the conversation between the creator and the created to a point, then things just got so muddled toward the end that I found this adaptation frustrating.

You Know They Got A Hell Of A Band

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An even bigger mess. Yuck.

I remember going Pfft when I finished reading the story Autopsy Room Four is based on, so I didn’t even bother to view the episode.

* * *

Personal favorite: The End of the Whole Mess. Good story, affecting drama. And I’ve always liked Ron Livingston, even when he played that jerk in House.

Battleground, for William Hurt. Fifth Quarter, maybe, but the story isn’t much. Umney’s Last Case, but they should have fixed those final scenes.

Do I want more? Depends on what stories the producers are going to adapt next.

(Photos from Liljas-Library.com)

nightmares and dreamscapes, 2

Part 1.

The Road Virus Heads North

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I’ve had enough of horror stories with evil objects, so I didn’t expect to like this adaptation that much. Anywho, the plot is simple enough to enjoy.

However, from what I recall of the short story, isn’t it supposed to be scary instead of, um,  pensive?

Evil guy says, “I’m not your damn disease. You egomaniac.” That made me laugh.

(Photo from genreonline.net)

Fifth Quarter

Almost mistook it for “Luckey Quarter” from Everything’s Eventual. (Speaking of which, aren’t they going to adapt “Everything’s Eventual”? That’s a good sci-fi story. Or “All That You Love Will Be Carried Away”.)

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I don’t know when the story was written, but to me, it felt pastiche.

Stephen King loves his male relationship stories doesn’t he. :) I love them also.

(Photo from Liljas Library. Photos from the previous entry also came from Liljas.)

nightmares and dreamscapes, 1

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So I finally began watching it. I’ve been avoiding the series because, well, I read Stephen King story collections in bed on gray, lazy afternoons – his pieces are perfect for that kind of weather; translated onscreen, though, I’m not so sure they’ll work for me.

I’ve finished viewing:

Battleground

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Not a silent episode (character still says Ouch) but there is no VO, no spoken dialogue. Interesting.

I’ve read the short story before. Toy Story gone bonkers. It’s okay. William Hurt’s in it.

Crouch End

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Well-acted but blah. I’m into ghost town stories, but not of the Lovecraft kind. Wouldn’t it have been better if they just didn’t show the monsters? Maybe the story’s better on print (I haven’t read this one).

I skipped Umney’s Last Case by mistake, so:

The End of the Whole Mess

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I adore this one. I hate using the word, but yes it’s touching, and also horrifying and very heartbreaking (how’s that for a string of useful adjectives?).

(Random trivia: the guy in the picture without the glasses – Ron Livingston – will play Gomez in the film adaptation of The Time-Traveler’s Wife.)

I’ll watch the rest when I have time.