The Wildcat's Den

I have a new tag for these movie reviews - came to me in a coming-attraction-preview vision.  During the "Deathly Hallows" trailer, no less.

"Eclipse" Review. Cut for spoilers, but I really don't know why (if you're the type that cares about spoilers for this movie, you'd have read the book about fifty times by now).

But first, here's a Strong Bad video - you'll see why.




( And the Ones Are Always Cold! )

I found this a while back and I've been meaning to post it here.  Can I say that I thought about this the first time I read "Twilight?"  I mean - seriously - woulda spared us the pointless love triangle and the squeamishness in "Breaking Dawn."

(of course Alice is the reasonable one - because, well, she's Alice.  And awesome.  But mostly awesome).

Drat - don't have a Twilight icon... I should get on that.

Well, just came from seeing "New Moon" - the first movie I've seen since I've been home that merits a first-run movie review on LiveJournal.

But before I get that far: To the ornery goth Wal-Mart cashier chick that gave me a crusty when I bought my $1 New Moon Sweethearts - I don't give you nasty looks when you go see your indie porno artsy crap. I'm having fun and I'm not bothering you. In fact, I'm probably paying part of your paycheck.

Okay - on to the review! Spoilers are a given - but if you're really the type who cares about being spoiled on New Moon, you have read the book multiple times and have seen the movie at least once by now. But it's a common courtesy I extend.

( She Who Runs With Vampires )

I'm listening to PotterCast, playing catch-up from the 18-month hole of my fandom life.  I'm to the point where Half-Blood Prince was moved to summer 2009 instead of Thanksgiving 2008, which, I was happy about because it meant I got to see the sixth movie in theaters when I got home, instead of having to settle for waiting for it on DVD.  The non-mission fandom was pissed, with good reason.  I would have been the same if I was home.  But I wasn't and I'm selfish, so I'm glad Warner Brothers made the change.  So there *blows raspberry*

But here's another thing that I'm annoyed about: they just keep ragging and ragging on Twilight!  And I am very upset by it.  In my view, you cannot compare Harry Potter and Twilight in terms of content and story.  Harry Potter is a coming-of-age fantasy story about a kid who has to defeat evil.  Twilight is a semi-clean romance/fantasy novel geared toward teenage and adult females (and their boyfriends or husbands that want to impress them) about a girl who falls in love with a vampire and they have to find a way to make their relationship work.  The only thing HP and Twilight have in common is that they're fantasy.  Hell, they don't even take place on the same frickin' continent! (well - "New Moon" goes to Italy for a short stint, but that's about it).  I personally think they are both very well-written and geared for their audiences, which are certainly NOT the same.  The only reason - and I mean the ONLY reason - they get compared is because they both gained huge fanbases so quickly (and Robert Pattinson was in the fourth Harry Potter movie).  I enjoy both for different reasons and there is nothing wrong with it.

This reminds me of the idiotic "competition" between the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies back in 2001-2003.  It's so incredibly stupid.  You are allowed to like more than one thing - it's not going to kill you.  Honestly, you really don't even have to like anything, but give it a rest already!  Sheesh.

I have to say this: I was initially impressed by Twilight because it was a fantasy/romance (and I am a hopeless romantic-type, so I tend to gravitate toward those things), it was a vampire novel, which I usually eschew because most vampire stories are all about sex (like, graphic, X-rated porno sex.  No. Thank. You.) - but this one WASN'T.  And it was good!!  It also didn't hurt that Stephenie Meyer is a Mormon - REPRESENT!!  I was excited because here was a member of the LDS Church that was having success in a genre related to the one that I want to pursue in my own career and I wasn't sure if I could do it and still keep to my deeply-held values and standards.  But Stephenie Meyer did (at least, as far as I know) and that gives me hope in my own goals and ambitions (not saying she hasn't come into her own share of negativity, but you get that with anything).

PC isn't the only place that I've seen HP fans getting their panties in a bunch over Twilight.  A well-loved HP icon maker on LiveJournal even is on this tirade (or was a few months ago - I was looking at some of her stuff).  And the PotterCast I'm listening to mentioned that one of the wizard rock bands (I forget which one - everyone and their Kneazle has a wizard rock band) made a snide comment about Twilight, saying it was the Hannah Montana of fantasy (idiot - why do you say stuff like that at ComiCon?)  And, as far as PotterCast is concerned, I guess it's just John Noe being John Noe (darn Slytherins).

You know, just because the media are a bunch of blowhards that can't make any kind of substantial comparison doesn't mean we fans have to be at each others' throats.  Both Twilight and Harry Potter tell good stories that haven't been told before.  If one isn't your cup of tea, you don't have to trash it.  Until Stephenie Meyer says something snotty about Harry Potter or until JK Rowling says that Twilight is retarded, I want everyone to keep their inane opinions to themselves.  If anything, just be happy for one another's success.  Good grief, MuggleNet is affiliated with a fansite for Eragon (or they were last I checked) - which, Christopher Paolini isn't exactly Shakespeare.  But, hey, there is plenty of fandom love to go around for everybody.  I for one am willing to give anything a chance (Exhibit A: Philip Pullman - I finished the entire Golden Compass series before I decided that I didn't like it.  And I haven't picked it up since.  But I don't go on fansites or whatever and say "OMG U SUCK!" because that is a waste of my time and energy (and there will likely be people that do that to me if my book is ever published).

Seriously, people - get over it.

I know this is old news, but I want to carp about it because I didn't get to when it first happened.  And it was all over the place, but that's me and my blogging. 

Back in Callao, folks.  Alas - we are without internet, so I have to borrow my cousin's computer for a spell.  However, I have been using my internet-free day to catch up on some movies.  Here's the run-down:

1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Ummm... I should have watch the first three again before I started here (well - maybe just "Raiders" and "Last Crusade")  I'm only slightly confused.  What movie was this Marion chick in?  How many women does Indy have?  I mean - it's not James Bond or anything...

I just have to ask.  Aliens?  And Indiana Jones?  Mr. Lucas - are we just a little desperate for source material here?

Shia LaBeouf is NOT that cute.  I'm sorry - even with the motocycle and the jacket.  He's always going to be Louis Stevens to me.  Weird.

Harrison Ford is amazing as always.  So, I can't really blame him either.

2. Twilight:  I'm talking the movie here.  Not bad, actually.  For the movie (yes, the book is better - 9 times out of 10, it will be).  Quick story:  I wanted to read the first three before I started "Breaking Dawn" (which I have NOT started - any spoilers and I will disembowel you with a plastic fork).  Except I did not have my copy of "Twilight" handy.  So, I watched the movie, figuring that would tide me over until I could find it.  Well - it didn't.  And I had a copy of "New Moon" sitting on the shelf.  So, I figured, what the heck - and I read "New Moon," deciding to count the "Twilight" movie as having read the book (for now - hey, I want to get on with the ooey-gooey Breaking Dawn goodness).

3. Wall-E:  Baby sister's idea - and I need to find "Prince Caspian" (no one in my family had the foresight to purchase it.  Lame).  I quite liked it.  It's a Pixar movie - they're usually pretty good.  Even with the whole "Earth covered in garbage and humans escape it with their retarded-selfish-ideas" tree-hugger premise, Wall-E himself is a cutie.

4. Kung Fu Panda: Umm - lost interest 3/4 of the way through.  Maybe when it's recycled on Disney Channel and there's nothing else on.

5. 24: Dad FINALLY got TiVo and we have the whole season recorded (YAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!)  My theory - the writers looked at the craptastic debacle that was season 6 and - put two and two together and decided "We canNOT have even a halfway decent season of 24 without Carlos Bernard."  Actually, I don't give the writers that much credit - I blame rabid fans (sorry, Keef, love you too, but there's only so much even you can carry.  And Ricky Schroeder is too much of a goober).  Tony - even as a (ahem...) "villain" ... yes PLEASE!!!!! (hee hee)  It almost makes having to watch Janeane Garafalo's ugly feminist mug bearable (almost - Mary Lynn Rajskub, please come to the front office - your Chloe-starved fanbase is waiting)

I'm only halfway through the third episode.  See disclaimer for Twilight for caution on spoilers *polishes supply of plastic dinnerware*

Let's see... my room is a disaster - trying to unpack and I don't have room for even half the stuff I brought (or mailed) home from Florida.  Stupid pack rat tendencies.  I blame my paternal grandma.

And I am on Facebook.  And I still don't get that stupid mess of... stuff.  Too many complicated navigation thingies.  I've never been very social anyway.  Meh...

Oh - and my Lappy died while I was gone *tear* - so I will be getting a new one.  Dad borrowed it for his business stuff, and that's why it is now in a vegetable state (technology and my dad do not mix - it's like vinegar and baking soda).  He said he'd buy me a new one since it's his fault I am Lappy-less, so that is good news.  Once that happens - I will be re-vamping my layout.  It's in need of some redoing.  So, look for that.

Peace out.