Saturday, November 29, 2008
hehe random Twilight moment
Edward's angel wings in Biology were interesting (they were really owl wings).
Twilight reviewed
Well i finally saw Twilight at the theater on Thanksgiving Day. It was a bit distracting because of who was sitting behind me and down the row on my right. Both groups were very vocal. The women beside me were bemoaning the fact that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is so far away, and were prone to make appreciative noises while Edward was gracing the screen. The guys behind me were less appreciative (lol), most noticeably when Bella is freaking out about Edward leaving her at the hospital, and is rendered heart wrenchingly speechless as a result.
Let me start by saying that the music and casting in this film was for the most part excellent. I have no major complaints about the movie, but the book is sooooooo much better. In fact, my biggest complaint about the film is that they condensed it too much, leaving out really, really good dialogue and handling the exposition poorly as a result. The movie felt like it was on fastforward, and probably slightly confuses people who don't know the books in some ways.
So i guess i feel compelled to list what my complaints are, along with what i liked about the movie. In a very minor way, Bella's house, father, and the Cullen's house is nothing like what i pictured, which isn't necessarily bad, it's just different. James was very weak, and also annoying. The scene in the ballet studio was too short, and also a bit campy with the dancing around the fire. There were many things that were slightly changed, that left me feeling wrong, such as the way Bella's leg is broken, how James doesn't feel any bloodlust when Bella is bleeding, and how he bites her on the forearm, not her hand. Carlisle having to order Edward to stop because Bella's blood is clean and he's killing her was also just wrong. There are lots of little things in the film like this that they just did not need to change and weakened the film. In fact, the movie ended up feeling like a rough draft with large parts left out, nowhere near ready to be filmed, let alone on the screen.
My biggest complaint, i think, is the accident in the school parking lot. TPTB didn't make it obvious that Tyler's van had slid on ice and Charlie was sort of over the top with how hostile he was. More importantly, they changed details far too much; in the book, Edward not only stopped the van, he lifted it off Bella and adjusted her position so it wouldn't pin her beneath it. She also hit her head, and he didn't abandon her. As the scene stands in the movie, it is completely inexplicable how she could have survived from the perspective of a bystander, because Edward didn't "push her out of the way;" the van apparently miraculously stopped just short of hitting her and inexplicably acquired a dent in the process. In other words, movie Edward majorly botched things, while book Edward actually handled things more smoothly.
That said, there were things from the movie that i enjoyed, and of course wanted to see more of. The Cullen household is a good example, despite campy repeatings of "we'll tear him apart and burn the pieces." Alice, in particular, was awesome, from start to finish: dancing with Jasper in the cafeteria, walking on the branch and stepping into the kitchen, pitching the baseball, seeing the vision in the hotel and fighting the urge to drink Bella's blood in the ballet studio. Ashley Greene is perfect in Alice's shoes, i really regret that they totally cut large parts of her story out, though i will admit that her backstory wasn't integral to the plot. i definitely would have loved to see more of the Cullens.
There was so little character development in the film that i'm afraid that people who haven't read the book aren't going to understand at all the depth of the bond between Edward and Bella, or his bloodlust, nor Carlisle's full history. The biggest complaint i have read from reviewers is of course the usual one, that the Cullens are too perfect to identify with (rather like complaints i have heard in the past about Lost in Space). i do not struggle with this at all... i mean, if i was by some "accident" turned into a vampire, would i just surrender to my "nature" (as most vampires do in vampire stories)? No, i would be like Carlisle and the rest of the Cullens, i would be at odds with and fight against those urges. Which is why i don't generally like the vampire genre, to be perfectly honest: Van Hellsing stunk for the most part and MSC's production of Dracula was horrible, i was so glad after seeing it that i hadn't been cast in it, i would have been so embarrassed to be in such a lame play. i guess the trouble is that most people don't fight against their sinful nature anymore, but from a Christian (or Mormon) standpoint, the Cullens are much more realistic than any other vampires we've ever read about or seen. That's in part why i like the Underworld series as well, Selene is not a mindless killer, she doesn't want to murder humans, she quenches her thirst by visiting a blood bank, etc.
The whole diner bit was annoying, but i liked Stephenie Meyer's cameo. i hadn't been expecting it at all. i have no idea why they made Bella go in that stupid bookstore (again, not what happened in the book) instead of letting Jacob tell her that the Cullens are vampires like he was supposed to. Edward revealed far too much to Bella far too early as a result, it makes much more sense in the book when she knows what Edward is when she gets in the car and guesses that he can read minds, etc. For some reason TPTB forgot that Edward and Bella were supposed to be tucked into a secluded corner of the restaurant, left them smack dab in the middle, and cut out lots and lots of character development that really would have helped the film so very much. The meadow scene, while okay, just turned out to be a bit lame as a result. In fact, Bella's angry walk into the woods, when Edward cannot read her mind, just doesn't really make sense. The planned date to the meadow (in the book) does... in fact, it is perhaps the most integral scene in the book because it was Stephenie's dream of said scene that inspired her to write Twilight.
They did capture Edward's self loathing, but he just seemed a little too much of a whiner. i was really relieved that they didn't cast Hayden Christensen but it still felt like Rob Patterson was trying to channel him (a la Ani in Star Wars II and III). Ugh, my review is coming across really harsh. So... in conclusion, great casting for the most part, sub par script, slightly jarring cinematography, excellent music, overall it was okay, but could have been so, so much better.
It doesn't surprise me that people who haven't read the books think that the movie stinks, i would too, would shrug it off as yet another lame teen chick flick. Stephenie Meyer's is such a better writer than that, she doesn't deserve her incredible book being hacked up like this. i'll write more if i see the movie again, but right now i'm just feeling a bit let down and complained more than i meant to as a result.
Let me start by saying that the music and casting in this film was for the most part excellent. I have no major complaints about the movie, but the book is sooooooo much better. In fact, my biggest complaint about the film is that they condensed it too much, leaving out really, really good dialogue and handling the exposition poorly as a result. The movie felt like it was on fastforward, and probably slightly confuses people who don't know the books in some ways.
So i guess i feel compelled to list what my complaints are, along with what i liked about the movie. In a very minor way, Bella's house, father, and the Cullen's house is nothing like what i pictured, which isn't necessarily bad, it's just different. James was very weak, and also annoying. The scene in the ballet studio was too short, and also a bit campy with the dancing around the fire. There were many things that were slightly changed, that left me feeling wrong, such as the way Bella's leg is broken, how James doesn't feel any bloodlust when Bella is bleeding, and how he bites her on the forearm, not her hand. Carlisle having to order Edward to stop because Bella's blood is clean and he's killing her was also just wrong. There are lots of little things in the film like this that they just did not need to change and weakened the film. In fact, the movie ended up feeling like a rough draft with large parts left out, nowhere near ready to be filmed, let alone on the screen.
My biggest complaint, i think, is the accident in the school parking lot. TPTB didn't make it obvious that Tyler's van had slid on ice and Charlie was sort of over the top with how hostile he was. More importantly, they changed details far too much; in the book, Edward not only stopped the van, he lifted it off Bella and adjusted her position so it wouldn't pin her beneath it. She also hit her head, and he didn't abandon her. As the scene stands in the movie, it is completely inexplicable how she could have survived from the perspective of a bystander, because Edward didn't "push her out of the way;" the van apparently miraculously stopped just short of hitting her and inexplicably acquired a dent in the process. In other words, movie Edward majorly botched things, while book Edward actually handled things more smoothly.
That said, there were things from the movie that i enjoyed, and of course wanted to see more of. The Cullen household is a good example, despite campy repeatings of "we'll tear him apart and burn the pieces." Alice, in particular, was awesome, from start to finish: dancing with Jasper in the cafeteria, walking on the branch and stepping into the kitchen, pitching the baseball, seeing the vision in the hotel and fighting the urge to drink Bella's blood in the ballet studio. Ashley Greene is perfect in Alice's shoes, i really regret that they totally cut large parts of her story out, though i will admit that her backstory wasn't integral to the plot. i definitely would have loved to see more of the Cullens.
There was so little character development in the film that i'm afraid that people who haven't read the book aren't going to understand at all the depth of the bond between Edward and Bella, or his bloodlust, nor Carlisle's full history. The biggest complaint i have read from reviewers is of course the usual one, that the Cullens are too perfect to identify with (rather like complaints i have heard in the past about Lost in Space). i do not struggle with this at all... i mean, if i was by some "accident" turned into a vampire, would i just surrender to my "nature" (as most vampires do in vampire stories)? No, i would be like Carlisle and the rest of the Cullens, i would be at odds with and fight against those urges. Which is why i don't generally like the vampire genre, to be perfectly honest: Van Hellsing stunk for the most part and MSC's production of Dracula was horrible, i was so glad after seeing it that i hadn't been cast in it, i would have been so embarrassed to be in such a lame play. i guess the trouble is that most people don't fight against their sinful nature anymore, but from a Christian (or Mormon) standpoint, the Cullens are much more realistic than any other vampires we've ever read about or seen. That's in part why i like the Underworld series as well, Selene is not a mindless killer, she doesn't want to murder humans, she quenches her thirst by visiting a blood bank, etc.
The whole diner bit was annoying, but i liked Stephenie Meyer's cameo. i hadn't been expecting it at all. i have no idea why they made Bella go in that stupid bookstore (again, not what happened in the book) instead of letting Jacob tell her that the Cullens are vampires like he was supposed to. Edward revealed far too much to Bella far too early as a result, it makes much more sense in the book when she knows what Edward is when she gets in the car and guesses that he can read minds, etc. For some reason TPTB forgot that Edward and Bella were supposed to be tucked into a secluded corner of the restaurant, left them smack dab in the middle, and cut out lots and lots of character development that really would have helped the film so very much. The meadow scene, while okay, just turned out to be a bit lame as a result. In fact, Bella's angry walk into the woods, when Edward cannot read her mind, just doesn't really make sense. The planned date to the meadow (in the book) does... in fact, it is perhaps the most integral scene in the book because it was Stephenie's dream of said scene that inspired her to write Twilight.
They did capture Edward's self loathing, but he just seemed a little too much of a whiner. i was really relieved that they didn't cast Hayden Christensen but it still felt like Rob Patterson was trying to channel him (a la Ani in Star Wars II and III). Ugh, my review is coming across really harsh. So... in conclusion, great casting for the most part, sub par script, slightly jarring cinematography, excellent music, overall it was okay, but could have been so, so much better.
It doesn't surprise me that people who haven't read the books think that the movie stinks, i would too, would shrug it off as yet another lame teen chick flick. Stephenie Meyer's is such a better writer than that, she doesn't deserve her incredible book being hacked up like this. i'll write more if i see the movie again, but right now i'm just feeling a bit let down and complained more than i meant to as a result.
Monday, November 10, 2008
size 12 and super sexy
i admit it, i started wondering what size Sara Ramirez (Callie Torres) is on Grey's Anatomy, and found: Getting Over Myself. It turns out that she's 5'9" and wears a size 12. i personally don't think of size 12 as plus sized, unlike this blogger. In fact, i've never really felt she was that fat at all; being size 12 again is my goal. i have big bones and wouldn't mind looking as sexy as Ramirez. i remember her dancing in her underwear and thought she looked hot, but then, i'm not a guy.
Incidentally, i've been thinking about Callie's realization that she's bi... or is it that she feels that she can choose where her sexual preferences lie? i respect her for standing up for herself, and am surprised that Hollywood has taken this relationship in this direction. i have to admit that at first i was groaning, "Not another token lesbian relationship!" but tptb on Grey's seem to have decided to push the envelope, not buy into the hype that people are born that way. At least, that's the way it seems. i guess only time will tell where the show is really going.
Incidentally, i've been thinking about Callie's realization that she's bi... or is it that she feels that she can choose where her sexual preferences lie? i respect her for standing up for herself, and am surprised that Hollywood has taken this relationship in this direction. i have to admit that at first i was groaning, "Not another token lesbian relationship!" but tptb on Grey's seem to have decided to push the envelope, not buy into the hype that people are born that way. At least, that's the way it seems. i guess only time will tell where the show is really going.
Friday, November 07, 2008
caught up on Terminator
Yeah, i had two eps to watch, and they were easy viewing. Riley seemed strangely absent in the first, and then was barely in the second. i liked the psychiatrist, and the Terminatrix' daughter actually got to talk! The pregnancy video was a good addition, showing that the woman she replaced was very different. i don't think i trust Reese's new love interest (she had some photos of John, and killed that guy before he could). Anyway, not much to say really, i'm a bit tired.
caught up on Heroes
You know, i wasn't sure that i liked the direction this season was going in at first, but atm i am relatively content with it. i have always a bit overly sympathetic towards Sylar, and now he seems to be stepping up and trying to change. They are actually describing him in what can only be seen as Vampire like terms: his overwhelming hunger and attempt to resist what he is.
Peter's loss of power is astounding. The fact that his power is (was) so similar to his father's, when compared to the power of the Matt and his father, makes me wonder if Peter could (can?) not only absorb powers, but steal them as well. In a way, Peter has always had one of the strongest powers, because it does not rely on touch or others reactions for it's strength. He copies someone else's power, and they are not harmed because of it, and then he must learn and adapt in order to use said power.
In closing, how do we know that the absorbtion is irreversible? A part of me refuses to believe that Adam is dead, that Peter cannot regain his power. We have seen the future so many times, the entire show is about fighting against it, and there has never been a Peter that had no powers. This show doesn't really address the same things that Sarah Connor Chronicles does, the question of whether the future is written in stone or if it can be fought. In fact, this show is almost entirely about fighting the future with the hope that it can be changed, whether by Hiro or Peter. Our faith in Peter was not even questioned until this season, and it was an astonishing change. There are definitely a lot of questions here, and i look forward to discovering the answers.
Peter's loss of power is astounding. The fact that his power is (was) so similar to his father's, when compared to the power of the Matt and his father, makes me wonder if Peter could (can?) not only absorb powers, but steal them as well. In a way, Peter has always had one of the strongest powers, because it does not rely on touch or others reactions for it's strength. He copies someone else's power, and they are not harmed because of it, and then he must learn and adapt in order to use said power.
In closing, how do we know that the absorbtion is irreversible? A part of me refuses to believe that Adam is dead, that Peter cannot regain his power. We have seen the future so many times, the entire show is about fighting against it, and there has never been a Peter that had no powers. This show doesn't really address the same things that Sarah Connor Chronicles does, the question of whether the future is written in stone or if it can be fought. In fact, this show is almost entirely about fighting the future with the hope that it can be changed, whether by Hiro or Peter. Our faith in Peter was not even questioned until this season, and it was an astonishing change. There are definitely a lot of questions here, and i look forward to discovering the answers.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
re: Hunting Party
Well if you look at the comments on WoWHead, it looks like this talent doesn't give you a specific amount of mana, rather it increases the mp5 of the 10 party members that have the least amount of mana based on their buffed mana pool. i think that i'm going to respec Surv and test it out, along with Explosive Shot, because it now feels weird for me to be fully MM (how quickly i reverted back to a Surv hunter... i really think i will probably end up hybrid again).
Anyway, i should be going to sleep, but i'm wide awake. ): Class tomorrow, then election results. SNL tonight was great.
Anyway, i should be going to sleep, but i'm wide awake. ): Class tomorrow, then election results. SNL tonight was great.
Monday, November 03, 2008
will this semester ever end?
i should be doing homework or running, but i'm not. i'm listening to Lock and Load, the new podcast from More PewPew Less QQ and the Hunter's Mark. i found a new macro (courtesy of the former) that automatically changes what you're tracking (yay!) but am perplexed about the Talent changes to "Hunting Party":
Last night i finished reading Brisingr: excellent, i think Arya is coming around, my only complaint is (highlight to read) how easily Oromis and Glaedr died, though i can's say i didn't see it coming. i couldn't sleep, so i also watched two episodes of Heroes (i now need to watch two more eps to catch up, though i guess it will be three as of tonight). Things are finally starting to make a little sense. i like where they're taking Sylar (though i am wondering... who's the mommy (of his doomed son)? For some reason i thought of Claire), but not Matt. Is everyone a bad guy this season? Was not expecting the plot twist with the Petrelli and Parkman seniors alliance. More David Anders, please. Someone please put Suresh out of his misery (i actually thought he was going to be a cockroach hybrid, /shudder, since tptb clearly have a roach fetish).
Next i need to catch up on Sarah Connor Chronicles and Ugly Betty, i've been too busy to watch it, and i've given up so much; i'm not watching Samantha Who? or Pushing Daisies anymore.
Your Arcane Shot, Explosive Shot and Steady Shot critical strikes have a 20/40/60/80/100% chance to grant up to 10 party or raid members mana regeneration equal to 0.25% of the maximum mana per second. Lasts for 15 sec.WTH?!? So, no more rage/energy/runic power regen. What is the maximum mana per second, and how does that compare to mp5? Does this stack if your Steady Shot crits every 2s? What good is it to put 5 talent points into this when it gives less than 4% mana regen (0.25% x 15s = 3.75%)? This is what we lost the Expose Weakness buff for? Someone has some 'splaining to do.
Last night i finished reading Brisingr: excellent, i think Arya is coming around, my only complaint is (highlight to read) how easily Oromis and Glaedr died, though i can's say i didn't see it coming. i couldn't sleep, so i also watched two episodes of Heroes (i now need to watch two more eps to catch up, though i guess it will be three as of tonight). Things are finally starting to make a little sense. i like where they're taking Sylar (though i am wondering... who's the mommy (of his doomed son)? For some reason i thought of Claire), but not Matt. Is everyone a bad guy this season? Was not expecting the plot twist with the Petrelli and Parkman seniors alliance. More David Anders, please. Someone please put Suresh out of his misery (i actually thought he was going to be a cockroach hybrid, /shudder, since tptb clearly have a roach fetish).
Next i need to catch up on Sarah Connor Chronicles and Ugly Betty, i've been too busy to watch it, and i've given up so much; i'm not watching Samantha Who? or Pushing Daisies anymore.
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