No Comment!

After many failed attempts my homo sapian brain has learned that I cannot post comments on non-beta blogs. Classical conditioning has finally worked; I have associated commenting with not-working. So all y'all out there with just Blogger blogs, that's why I haven't been commenting. I thought it was a log-in problem, but I can't seem to get it working even when I'm logged in. Its very annoying as I've had many a thing to say in a few blogs. I think Blogger are working to fix it.

Bloody Google! I'm totally, like, a part of the Matrix now. Better watch my bank accounts.

In other news, I have lots of work to do. I've been spending too much time with a certain person I probably should not be seeing (although I've been relieved of their presence for the next two weeks, phew!) and I've been watching too much Australian Idol. Bobby Flynn...jury's still out. Still, I agree with most that the allowance of older-singer-songwriters into the comp has meant a higher standard of talent. This year's better than last year, which I barely watched it was so bad. Actually, I might start an Aus Idol round-up each week. I love my opinions on Idol. I'm fucking ON when it comes to Idol, man. Its my time to shine. <--- Please note the new low, people.

Although, for the next two months I think I'll be fairly scarce on my blog. Thesis crunch time is setting in.

So my apologies to Steph, Susanne, DelightfulJen, Audrey etc...everyone on my links list, for not commenting. I'm sure if I put more effort in I could figure out a way of commenting, but its probably best for my thesis if I don't. I'll be around.

There's a Boost Juice boy at Melbourne Central who flirts with girl customers. Much like the girls who work there flirt with you. Yesterday he went off on his break while I was waiting for my berry-crush-without-apple-juice-with-watermelon-juice-instead-if-that's-alright-please, and he came back to the counter, took the lid off the straw dispenser thing and CHECKED HIS HAIR IN THE REFLECTION OF THE LID. He then asked me "Is this ok?" I said yes, it looks fine. Except it wasn't fine. The hair looked crap and he'd just checked it in a Boost Juice straw dispenser. It was pretty far away from fine.

Finally, check me out. Its pretty scary when an informal e-mail I sent gets quoted as my "argument." It is essentially my argument, but it's so casually written it's a bit embarrassing. I never thought it would be picked up like that.

Even though no-one tagged me...

I haven't been tagged, so chances are you don't care, but I haven't written about myself too much. These things are far from being truly illustrating, but they're fun to read, I guess.

So, for a bit more about me:

Three things that scare me:
Whales
Rejection
Loosing my family

Three people that make me laugh:
My friend Becky
GOB from Arrested Development
Trumpet

Three things I hate the most:
Middle age men who patronise me
Feeling boxed in a slow moving crowd
Environmental damage

Three things I don't understand:
How somebody could actually kill someone else intentionally
Other languages
Foucault (shhhh! Don’t tell anybody!)

Three things I'm doing right now:
Not feeding my nagging cat
Listening to the radio
procrastinating

Three things I want to do before I die:
Live somewhere else, preferably alone
Have children
Watch the sunset with someone I love, spend the whole night with them, then watch the sunrise (I know, I know, indulge me this one thing please)

Three things I can do:
Play the euphonium
Public speak
Read maps, know where I’m facing and direct people places

Three ways to describe my personality:
Outwardly confident, inwardly insecure
Very warm and affectionate one minute, very reserved and blunt the next
Over-analysing over little things, impulsive and laid-back over big things

Three things I can't do:
Paint or play as well as I’d like
“Pick up”
Be “cool” - although I think through accepting this I get cooler

Three things I think you should listen to:
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Bach
Marvin Gaye

Three things you should never listen to:
current affair programs
Wagner – ugh
Anyone who doesn’t listen to you

Three things I'd like to learn:
the guitar
How to fix my guy problems
To make the most of my hair

Three favourite foods:
anything berry
Anything fried
I dunno, chocolate. I hate this question, I like all food.

Three beverages I drink regularly:
coffee
Water
Beer

Three shows I watched as a kid:
You can’t do that on television
Fraggle rock
Full House


Last thing you burned while cooking?
Sometimes I burn the coffee in the percolator…

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Affectionate, reserved, insecure

How long does it take you to get ready for your day?
Generaly 15-30 mins. Never more than 45 mins. If I’m getting ready for a very special occasion, then maybe about an hour.

Are you a health freak?
Not at all.

How many people have you thought were The One?
None, and I’m not sure I believe in that whole thing. But I fall in love easily. Quite deeply. Commitment is anther issue.

What turns you off about the opposite sex?
Ignorance, dullness, no connection, too much effort into following fashion trends.

What kind of car do you drive?
My mother’s Toyota. I had a corolla, but I totaled it. One of the worst moments of my life.

Favourite thing to toast to?
Another person.

What celebrity would you have coffee with?
John Mayer. I’m so his bitch. Or maybe Steve Martin. Older flirty me love me.

What celebrity would you not have sex with?
I dunno. Puff Daddy? Or maybe Oliver Stone. Ewwe!

What is the main ringtone on your mobile?
The Goonies R Good Enough. I’m NOT joking.


What were you doing at midnight last night?
Watching Ch 10 Sex and the City Rerun.

Last tv show you watched?
Oprah was just on, and it was one of her “favorite things” episodes. She was giving away new washer and dryer sets to the teachers in her audience. Oh, and cute cute CUTE track suits for them to look cute while they do their washing. Soooooo GRRRREEEATTTTT!!!!!!

Who is your best friend?
No one person. I have favorite people and people who know me very well and love me. I’m very close to my brother, mother and father. I have a close group of about 4 girls, and my ex, who I’m very open with.

Who in your family do you get along with?
See above. I have a large extended family, I’m close with one of my uncles and my two aunts.

What is your top 5 hollywood hottie list?
Easy: Kiefer Sutherland, Mos Def, Christian Bale, Joaquin Phoenix, and Nick Stahl. Runner up? Jake Gyllenhaal.

Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
Michael, you don’t know him

When/where was the last place you travelled?
Easter, BrisVegas

Sinful snacking weakness?
Hmmm, probably chocolate or chips. I love chips. Pretty un-weird

Best clothing style?
I wear a lot of skirts, but I’m quite un-stylised.

Ever run out of gas?
No

Worst date ever?
We went to see “The Aviator,” but accidentally walked into “Meet the Fockers,” which he’d already seen.

Personal records?
Most “likes” in a sentence, I guess.

What would you do if you could be the opposite sex for a day?
Hmm, be arrogant and a slob and get away with it. Sounds terrible, but it would be great to not feel under so much scrutiny.

Total jail time?
Well, there was that time in Mexico...

Have a crush on anyone you work with?
No, no cute boys at any job.

In your cd player right now?
Nothing, I tend to listen to the radio. Wynton Marsalis I listened to the other day.

What is something you believe in?
Myself, ultimately, I know nothing else for sure.

What is something you fear?
Whales, quite badly.

Big or small?
What? Big. Whatever.

Worst physical pain you ever experienced?
Physical pain? Coral poisoning in my foot. Pain shuddered up my leg, terrible.

Tell us something about your childhood?
I would torture my poor brother. The worst thing was not playing with him. He used to beg me to come play legos with him. I’d go and start something, then get bored and just walk away. He’d be so devastated. Now I compete for his attention.

Best time to catch you in a good mood?
Honestly don’t know. I could be having a shitty day and still be upbeat. I generally try to be cheery all the time.

If you could be anything for a day, what would it be?
A great musician

Most prized possession?
My eupho, this computer

Would you ever sell it?
Yes, yes

What is one of your pet peeves?
Slow walkers taking up footpaths.

Favourite actor/actress?
Nup, don’t do favorites. I hate a few though. Like Natalie “I went to Harvard, listen while I use big words ever so quaintly” Portman.

What song are you listening to right now?
Madonna’s on the radio. Crappy.

If you could sucker punch someone right now who would it be?
Who cares?

Any secrets?
Yes, plenty.

Unhealthy addictions?
Nervously biting my nails. Saying “sorry.”

Unhealthy fascinations?
Yes, but that’s a secret.

Favourite sexual position?
Depends on the type of sex one is having. What works best physically is not always what you want all the time.

What do you notice first about the opposite sex?
Centre of circle, part of circle, or out of the circle. Out of the circle is the best.

Favourite physical part of the opposite sex?
The neck, hands and upper chest.

What physical part would you change about yourself?
I’d like my legs and torso to be a bit longer. My shoulders less round, and my boobs just slightly smaller so I can wear singles without big bras in summer and shirts don’t gape.

Soft sensual sex or porn star sex?
Both.

Would you go on a date with someone you met online?
No, I can barely go out with someone I know for real.

Work attire?
Currently don’t work, but it wouldn’t be grey suits. Boring.

What is your best physical feature?
Depends who you ask. My hair, boobs and eyes tend to be the frontrunners. One of my girlfriends envies my legs, but they’re a bit chunky on top.

Do you think anyone actually has read this far?
Yes, because people are idiots.

THANKS FOR READING KIDS! YOU THE GREATEST!

Ways to know you're uncool...#54

Your mother offers you her __________, insisting she really really doesn't mind if you have some. Really.

Quick Update

Feeling pretty good this week for no particular reason, thought I'd do a quick check-in with my blog.

• School - Still procrastinating, have postponed my supervisor meeting till next week so I can give her more to slam. But feeling good about the little I have written. Gave a presentation in one of my classes this week that seemed to go down well.
• Fancy dress party was ok. It was cold and outside so I stood by the fire. The old Eltham crowd and a few bogans. I ended up putting on my grandma's old velvet cape, some too-light foundation, very black eyeliner and dark red lippy and went as a goth. I thought I looked hot. Kinda Suicide Girls but without the airbrushing. I bought my friend a Toni Childs CD, as part of an ongoing joke CD gift tradition we've got (I bought it from the used CD stand at uni along with The Best of The Supremes and george's Polyserena; the former because I dig old Motown stuff, the latter because the person at the centre of my next dot point is involved with that album and I figured it would be a cool memento).
• Received last Thursday night a (in my own words) "glorified booty call," which consisted of being invited to the Great Ocean Rd to "be free" with him. Apparently I need to lighten up because I work too hard, and a romantic weekend away with him is what I need. Yes, what a lovely thing to do IF I WAS STILL HIS GIRLFRIEND! Don't worry, he got yelled at big time on Friday...but we parted on good terms. Sneaky monkey.
• The best news this week: walked into Esprit (shut up, I hate shopping and I don't have time to go anywhere cool) to buy some jeans...spotted a cute black skirt I had eyed months ago but they was too pricey. It was now half price and I fitted (comfortably) into a size...6!!!! Oh. My. God. I was excited when I went down to a 10 in jeans earlier this year. I don't feel like I've lost that much weight, but maybe sizes have gone crazy because the population is getting fatter. Who cares, the tag says 6. I bought a stripey light cotton knit as well.
• I think David Tench is voiced by Tim Furguson. You know, the one from DAA who was actually kinda cool because he had a kind of Steve Martin thing going on and 1) Didn't EVER sing "Throw Your Arms Around Me" badly, or 2) Didn't play the guitar.
• I love Chas from The Chaser so very very much. He's my second favorite after Chris.
• Djoymi was my tutor two years ago. I love how the mainstream media think that us crazy media/film/cultural studies people are an oddity. We just write about contemporary texts, big deal.

Hope all you bloggers out there are kickin' it. See ya!

Snakes on a Plane - Review

Last night I went to see Snakes on a Plane (SoaP).

"Hello ladies..."

At the risk of sounding like Harry Knowles, I'm going to give a quick back story: I'm doing my thesis on the Internet phenomenon of SoaP and I've been waiting for it to come out forever. I was actually getting quite over the whole thing. What I think about the film doesn't actually matter, but its fun to write about. My brother, his gf and I went to dinner and then went to a 9.30pm session at Melbourne Central. Thankfully, we got good seats.


It was one of the best cinematic experiences of my life. The audience was rowdy and raucous and completely appreciative of the cheese they'd been given to eat. It was just so silly.


Yes, it was cheesy, B-turned-A movie that very nearly wreaked itself from too much hype...but it was a good cheesy B-turned-A movie. I had a blast.


First of all, it was scary. The first "Snake Attack" scene in the major cabin area was incredibly violent, graphic, claustrophobic and distressing. I was quite scared. THE SNAKES WERE CRAZY!


Second of all, the actors were all really, really good. Julianna Margulies, Bobby Cannavale, Todd Louiso, David Koechner, Rachel Blanchard - these are the best of the best B-but-should-be-A actors out there!!!! I mean, Todd Louiso and Bobby Cannavale doing the whole cop/expert thing - please, I would've seen it just for that scene!


Third of all, Samuel L. Jackson owns. His three best moments:
3) Picking up that yellow snake and just slapping it on the railing.
2) Taking the gun calmly off the crazy rapper. Very Jack Baur.
1) I'm not even going to say the line....you all know it. It was awesome. The theatre erupted.


I'd like to praise the filmmakers for not letting the hype carry the film too much. Sure, it was still a B-level script, but it could've been a C-level script with the amount of hype. There were genuine moments of humour, suspense, action, and a few attempted moments of pathos that weren't too cringy. There were a few missed opportunities. I would've loved to see the kick boxer guy kick some snake ass. I thought the cinematography could've been a little better, but I was still in the space created.


It played very predictably, but since the surrounding kerfuffle of this movie has been anything but predictable because we've never seen anything like it, that's ok.


If you go in wanting a thrilling action horror - you will be adequately fulfilled.
If you go in wanting camp tongue-in-cheek - ditto.


Have fun with it, kids.

Sequel idea: Cheetah on a Bus. I wouldn't want to meet one.

Man, I really suck at writing reviews.

Snakes on a Plane!!!!

I'll be seeing SoaP tonight with my brother and his lovely gf. I'll report on my thoughts on the film once I've seen it.

I'm actually writing my thesis on Internet Movie Fans, the websites they visit and the phenomenon of SoaP. This week I wrote to Henry Jenkins, the major theorist regarding convergence culture and consumer groups, about the film's response on the internet and he has quoted me on his blog:
http://www.henryjenkins.org/2006/08/snake_eyes.html

Needless to say, I am quite chuffed! Check out Henry's blog, its really quite interesting for anyone interested in media studies.

Intimate Conversation...Ooh La La!

Oooh, I can't wait for the "intimate conversation" between Jessica and Karl...HAWT!

I bet it goes something like this:

J: You know Karl, IVF treatment was...*weep*...so hard.
K: I know Jess, I know...
J: As the woman, you feel so bad...."is there something wrong with me?" That's what you think.
K: No no Jess, there is nothing wrong with you....I bet it's your bastard husband Peter who's shooting blanks.
J: You think?
K: Yep. Absolutely! He's as barren as the Sahara! Look at you! Look at your feminine soft features, child-baring hips, and soothing cooing voice! I'm surprised you haven't already got up the duff from just using the toilet after him or something just as seemingly nonsexual.
J: Oh Karl! Peter an I are rarely...sexual.
K: WHAAAT!?!?!
J: He can't stand to touch me!
K: That bastard! What a fool! Why, even Eddie said he'd "bone" you. That's quite an endorsement!
J: Oh! I'm hideous! I'm a failure! Everyone hates me! Eddie wants to bone me, Ten want to sue me, everyone hates my laugh, I stuffed up that interview with the general, I fell down the stairs, my Mum has bipolar, I'm married to a nuff-nuff,...and now I can't get pregnant! Everyone hates me!
K: No!
J: Yes!
K: No!
J: Yes!
K: No!
J: Yes!
K: No!
J: Yes!
K: No!
J: Yes!
K: I'm telling you woman! I like you! Richard Wilkins thinks you're ok-ish. You're hot!
J: Oh Karl, this is quite...intimate.
K: Yes, it is quite...intimate.
*End of hour long interview*

Meanwhile, Meerkat Manor is starting on Ten this week. YES! Ten continues to be the only network with their priorities straight.

Its a great time to be alive, people. Great time.

Yes, I have gone quite insane. Its great!

Emo angst time has begun...

"Hellllllo?"
"Hi. Where are you? Are you at home?"
"No, I'm at work."
"Oh..."
"I thought you weren't speaking to me?"
"I...I think I'm having an anxiety attack."
"What?"
"Yeah. Yeah...I think..."
"Where are you?"
"Umm...Brunswick St."
"How are you getting home? Are you driving?"
"No."
"Tram?"
"Uhh, yeah. It doesn't matter..."
"Why don't you call your brother and get him to come get you?"
"No no no no....I'm alright. Don't worry about it, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to have rung you at work..."
"No don't go. What did you do today?"
"I was at Uni. I was at Uni all day. I was at Uni."
"Oh good. Did you get lots of work done?"
"....ahhh yeah. Look, it doesn't matter. Don't worry about it, don't worry about it...I'm sorry to ring you at work....Bye."
"...Bye."

I feel I'm constantly resisting cliche, and constantly failing and then rearranging the situation so it all looks intentional.

Fancy Dress

One of my closest friends is having her 23rd next Saturday and is insisting on a fancy dress party. Not really like her, but whatever.

What should I go as? Do I take the easy route as hooker/slut/"promiscuous girl", which is a stable for most girls these days? Its an easy look for me too because I have kinda big kajungas.

But so many girls do that! Its boring! I want something original. But I don't want to actually put effort into it either.

Seeing how my blog is overrun with comments lately (!!) I thought people might have some ideas. My friends are not really "fancy dress" regulars and I'm a bit out of the loop.

Any suggestion is a good suggestion. Thanks!

RIP Bruno Kirby

Familiar character actor Bruno Kirby died on Monday from leukemia.

Here's a link.

Its weird, these actors who we know from those pivotal character roles in films; I don't consciously remember them but when I know that their face will be gone forever, I get really sad. Kirby often played obnoxious, smarmy characters and I often didn't like him in films, but that's a sign of a good actor. And here's a sweet story from a talkbacker at AICN:http://aint-it-cool.com/tb_display.cgi?id=24175#1248480 So he was a good guy.

He was very funny too. He was great in This is Spinal Tap (one of my very favorite movies) especially the deleted scenes. And he has some of the best lines in City Slickers. Like when Billy Crystal is trying, very patiently and considerately, to explain how to work a VCR to Daniel Stern, and then Bruno interrupts with great intensity:

Kirby:"Shut up! Just shut up! He doesn't get it! He'll never get it! It's
been 4 hours! THE COWS CAN TAPE SOMETHING BY NOW! Forget about it please!"

*Beat*

Daniel Stern: How do you do the clock?

Kirby: You're dead. You are dead.

That brought on a lot of laughs to my early viewings. If you have any favorite stories to share, please do.

Yikes!

Sagittarius
Nov 23 - Dec 22
Your big challenge now is to integrate your faith with reality and to do it in a pragmatic positive way. It is time for you to make the commitment to whatever education is necessary for your professional aspirations. Get clear about what you want from the privilege of this life. Get clear about the order of your priorities. Get away from people, places and things that aren't any good for you.

Yikes... I'll say.

Meanwhile I just watched Animal House for Cinema Studies and laughed WAY TOO MUCH at all the wrong places. Tom Hulce was such a cutie.

Booked!

On Thursday I made the spur of the moment decision (the only way to properly decide something) to accompany one of my dearest friends on the first leg of her Asia trek - 3 weeks on Koh Phangan!!!!!! That's a backpacker paradise island in Thailand!!!!! My friend and I are very excited, as we will be there for New Years and their famous Full Moon Party.

I can't remember the last time I had a proper holiday, and seeing how this year is turning out super stressful, I will really have a relaxing, fun time. Culture, parties, beach...Yay!

Nothing much else to report: thesis still crap. Went out for drinks with a friend I haven't seen for a while last night, and that was lovely. Then caught up with my ex, he wanted to see me, who is really stuffing me around. You don't want the story...yes you do! what else are blogs for??!! Shut up!
******You know, I posted it all, what happened and how I felt, and then felt instantly bad. So I deleated it. It wasn't that it was really defamatory or anything. Just...nah, it's not right to post. I never wanted this blog to be that. Sorry everyone. I must have some Libra in my charts or something. I change my mind a lot.*********

In movie news:

The much anticipated Halo movie being produced by the hobbit from Down Unda, Peter Jackson, has been given a director. He's untested, but the geeks are still excited.

An early (I don't think it's the first, but one of) test screening review of The Departed has been released. Its a remake of Infernal Affairs, directed by Scorsese and starring Leo and Matt. I'm really looking forward to it. Props also to Harry for the "foaming out the ass" comment. Nice. Pics.

Finally, this is kinda old (like from the comic con), but its fun. I'm linking to a Glorious Quicktime file because its better, but its also at YouTube if you want.
Do Snake on a Plane deserve to die? Anything Sam Jackson has ever said becomes a catch phrase. I love it. (The link wasn't working, so I linked to the JoBlo page, scroll to the bottom.)

Peace out bitches. Yay Thailand!!!!! New bikini!!!!

Gah!

Makes. Me. Angry.

Note to Lindsay: Before Marilyn became a sex kitten pin-up (a wise career move that was purely her choice, of course, and didn't fuck her up at all either), she had a little thing called attractiveness. That doesn't include limp hair, squnity-eyes and malnourishment. She oozed sex appeal, not syphilis. Go snort some more coke. A lot in one sitting combined with alcohol, dehydration and, of course, some of your "asthma medicine" I hear gives you a real mellow high.

Lindsay's crew seem to think she's "talented" and will one day win an Oscar. The really sad thing is she probably will in 5 years for playing some junky hooker in her "brave" role.

So much crap, so little time

So...yeah. What's been happening? I'll tell you...

- I AM PROCRASTINATION QUEEN! ALL MUST BOW IN MY EVER-PRESENT GLORY!!!

- My bro's GF's 21st on Saturday was not too painful for my mother and I. She LOVED the gift we bought her (a faux fir pink stole - it even worked with her outfit and she wore it all night) and seemed to have a good time. There was free sparking red and food so all was good. Although being the accommodating chatty soul I am I got to talking with an older generation woman, the type who's always smiling and sunny to people. These oldies always seem to talk to me, and then I hear them behind my back saying things like "Isn't she gorgeous! What a delightful young woman!" (I shine when arse-kissing baby boomers). Anyway I get the obligatory "And do you have a boyfriend?" Sigh. I don't know what to say. Do I say through a tight grin "No, no, single as an albatross! Ha ha! Yes, too busy for boys," or "Actually I just broke up with someone I love WHO KEEPS PLAYING GAMES WITH MY HEART"??? *cue Backstreet Boys* To top it all off when asked "what do I do" I have to also give the thesis story to people who don't even know what the internet is, let alone new media, convergence studies and film review sites. GAH! Idiots!

- Speaking of my thesis, did I mention I'm more fucked than Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct? In case you didn't know, that's pretty fucked.

- And as if my life wasn't complicated enough, Australian Idol has started. Like all programs it jumped the shark, but I'll still watch. Why? Because like my Jewish sugar daddy from my old work said: we're all shmucks. And I love idol. I love James' bug eyes and Marcia's total irrelevancy. I love Kyle's ugliness and Mark's completely staged "wackiness." The only time I've ever voted in a reality T.V. show was just once, in the season 1 final, for this guy:

Why? I'll tell you why. Because that little Christian can fuckin' SING GODDAMNIT! And because even though he's got the biggest tool potential since Paul McDermott, this kid is IMPOSSIBLE to hate. Because he doesn't care. Guy doesn't give a shit what you or I or anyone thinks about him, his virginity or his hair. This kid is the shit. It was the best text message I've ever sent.

Bring on season 4! Maybe it will be good!!!

Gretel's Time to Shine...Literally!

Thoughts on Gretel's big night (Pictures are causing me troubles!!! I wanted pictures! Sorry!):

- There seemed to be an emphasis on the program's "social importance". The housemates (and the viewer) seemed to be reminded on more than one occasion that their bravery to appear on national television on a program that deliberately "confronts their fears and insecurities" and forces them to "reflect on themselves and their relationships with others" is highly commendable. This is because they, apparently, effectively act as a mirror for the wider society and so their confrontations and causes reflect our confrontations and causes. They were doing society a service. Big Brother showed clips of this occurring: Through David all gay citizens had their say on their right to have their relationships legally recognised by the state!!! Through Ash all...people with....lost siblings....got to...say how sad they were....yeah! Though Camilla all highly opinionated semi-intelligent red heads got to be "happy with who they are!" Through Anna all moles got their "game on!!!" Through John and Ash and Camilla all consent-shady sexual encounters got their due representation!!!

What a wonderful year!!!! So much social consciousness these seemingly simple housmates had. And here I thought they were all dudes and moles...


- Gretel looked like a character from Doctor Who. An inter-galactic queen.

"We meet again Doctor..."

"Yes...yes we do...What have you been up to, evil Queen Malmorga? Release your prisoners, your concern is with me."

- Gretel also seemed to speak for every viewer who was not a 15 year old girl when she constantly and relentlessly praised Camilla for being a wonderful housemate. It is a source of predictable dismay for me when I think that the only non-bland male to win this show was a lovable idiot who everyone loved to laugh at.

- I can't wait for Jamie and Katie to really get married a-la Marty and Jess. One word people: class.

- There was a point where Jamie was watching himself back and said to Camilla: "Listen to me speak! I sound like an idiot!" I have to admit, he endeared himself to me then. He also seems able and willing to laugh at himself. The boy's alllllright.

Not Dead Yet!

To all my loyal readers (yes, all 6 or so of you):

This post is here to inform you that I , Stef, am not dead.

I have been neglecting this dear old blog (and by "dear old" I mean "crappy new") lately. This is due mainly to my full load of school and life and stuff and my general lack of motivation to reflect on any events that have occured. Lots of stuff has been happening (thesis, movies, news items, funny stories, life events) but I really haven't had the energy to write in a blog.

I can report though that I think I'm back on track. Being back at school I think is a good thing...being around other students is motivating. I'm feeling pretty good about myself again and am trying to build momentum back again after the rut I fell into a little while ago. Hopefully I can get my enthusiasm back (that's one of my strengths, I think, that I can be quite positve and pro-active when I feel excited and enthusiastic about something - not much can stop me once I get in that head space) and run full steam for the next few months.

So no, I am not dead. Just preoccupied. I wouldn't be expecting too many posts for a little while, but I will continue to follow my fellow bloggers lives intently and post the odd comment.

I shall return! Just like Superman, only hopefully with better pacing.

Bye bye for now.

Cheer up

These past few weeks have been so up and down, I'm feeling so incredibly tired and rotten half the time. I got my arse royally kicked yesterday by my supervisor and really need to get back into my life.

To cheer myself up I've been watching Arrested Development clips on YouTube.

Here's one that should keep us all happy. Everyone's favorite illusionist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyyIVzX4l1w

"I will become my dead father's body!"

More here. Go nuts.

Round Up #1

So I think I'll start a weekly round-up of events that capture my imagination. Hell, they capture the imagination of the nation. Yes, yes they do.

Sandi Thom's debut single I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)

Video: http://www.video-c.co.uk/videovaultwatch.asp?vidref=sand001
Lyrics
Chorus:
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair
In 77 and 69 revolution was in the air
I was born too late and to a world that doesn't care
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

When the head of state didn't play guitar, Not everybody drove a car,
When music really mattered and when radio was king,
When accountants didn't have control And the media couldn't buy your soul
And computers were still scary and we didn't? know everything

Chorus

When popstars still remained a myth And ignorance could still be bliss
And when God Saved the Queen she turned a whiter shade of pale
When my mom and dad were in their teens and anarchy was still a dream
and the only way to stay in touch was a letter in the mail

Chorus

When record shops were on top and vinyl was all that they stocked
and the super info highway was still drifting out in space
kids were wearing hand me downs, and playing games meant kick arounds
and footballers still had long hair and dirt across their face

Chorus

I was born too late to a world that doesn't care
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

Oh Sandi, Sandi, Sandi...Sandi

So. Annoying. At high school Sandi overheard a "bad boy" she had a crush on say that "rock was dead", and something disparaging about The Smashing Pumpkins and Westlife. She then went home and dug up her parents old Sex Pistols record. Fast forward 5 years, now a music school graduate, and Sandi writes catchy songs about a "world that doesn't care" in her basement. She uses MY FUCKING SPACE to gain exposure and is signed because, boy, she's got spunk, she's pretty, and she can sing. So they release her song, film her in PROBABLY THE MOST GENERIC FILM CLIP EVER, the classic "walking towards the camera with cool hey-isn't-he-a-model followers". Yeah, you're one of a kind Sandi. Die now.

Hey so Big Brother is on this year, yeah?

Not much is happening on it, right? Honestly, I remember LOVING the first season of that show. Remember? Those were the days; with Sara-Marie, and Blair, and Ben, and Chrissie and Peter's "doona dancing". Sigh. Meeeemmmorrriiiess! Now, just...shit. Gretel is a complete embarrassment, what happened to her class? When she started to dress like an idiot I was OK, I though: Good for her, who says we should always look sober? Then she went out with that weasel-boy...name escapes me, must have repressed that. And I gave her the benefit of the doubt again.
The house is full of drop-kicks and the host is a witch. And yet I still watch it when I can. Who is the pathetic one? Me, yes.

TURKEY SLAP!

Number of times I felt like a slut this week:

1. While watching The Glass House, Elka "I'm a 'strong Christian'" Graham says to Corrine Grant (whom I'm not a fan of either, she's about as funny as Martin Lawrence on a good day, but I felt for her here) "is that how quickly you start sleeping over? Two months?" Ahhh...ahem. Shut up Elka! You were never a good swimmer either, so there! I wonder what's worst for the psyche? Being a slut or being a Christian?

Superman Returns


Cute!

Saw Superman Returns. The fact that this movie's plot and story weren't strong enough to really justify itself for existing, it counts as a failure overall. But there are some nice aspects of Bryan Singers "re-imagining" of Richard Donner's uneven 70's franchise. I thought Brandon Routh was really quite entertaining and charismatic. And my friend and I agreed that he's a cutie, despite enough make-up to make Dolly Parton blush. The plane set-piece was thrilling, and Sam Huntington and Kevin Spacy earned their pay cheques. Kate Bosworth was supremely miscast and, as I said, the plot was way too weak to warrant production. The film has relatively underperformed at the U.S. Box Office and I'm not surprised. The modern pre-existing fan base blockbuster is, I suspect, on its way out. All the best stories have pretty much been told and, aside from sequels, the films on the way are all fairly boring regarding subject matter. While I do like the Superman character - I guess the idea of an angel watching over us is incredibly uplifting - he's never had the best world to operate in. His love-life and alter-ego stories are boring. His villains are generally weak and Metropolis is a pretty "nothing" city. Batman and his world has always been way more interesting. Plus, Superman Returns had a pretty weak marketing campaign. So overall not too successful but you could do worse, especially on cheap arse Tuesday.

Ain't It Cool News turned 10 this week

Congratulations to Harry and Moriarty and the whole gang over at the geek centre of the universe. What an amazing institution that site is. They've grown from a little-read site for movie news and scoops to a full-on influential network of fan power. Go you sexless boys! GO! I've been reading that site since...I guess 2000-2001, and it has (along with other sites) kept me up on everything I need to know, and provided me with some of the funniest things I've ever read. Like the many talkbacks and Harry's revolting reviews. And don't say I didn't warn you.

Don't go changing boys!

Thing to ponder of the week:

Chris and Craig, Hamish and Andy, Merrick and Rosso, Martin Malloy, Adam and Will, or Jay and the Doctor.

I've had no sex dreams about any of these men. But I have a friend who has them frequently about Hamish. I went to a Today Today live recording in Melbourne last year and I SWARE TO GOD CHRIS WAS STARING AT ME IN THE CROWD. I MADE EYE CONTACT! BITCHES! BOW DOWN TO YOUR SUPERIOR!


C u losers la8er. :)

Be My Ex...But I don't wanna be an EX!

There's a new movie coming out called My Super Ex-Girlfriend, starring Luke Wilson as a "regular guy" who dumps his clingy girlfriend (Uma Thurman, man, she would have to be PRETTY BLOODY CLINGY to dump) only to find out that she is in fact a superhero. She ends up making his life hell. It seems this film is part of the emerging canon of "original" comic superhero films being produced by Hollywood as a response to all the real ones. I'm talking about The Incredibles, Sky High, the upcoming Zoom, and the new drama on NBC this coming fall: Heroes.

Anyway, Fox has launched a sister mock-help site as part of the whole conglomorate advertising, interactive marketing deal, Be My Ex:

http://www.bemyex.com/

Now, if you read my last post you would have gathered that I am kinda going through what seems to be a break-up. I'm not enjoying it, and while the whole incident is still kinda occuring and (I guess) there was no official instigator, I certainly feel more like the dumpee than the dumper. Bemyex.com is parading as a break-up school. A how-to of breaking up with your partner. I read this site with interest, obviously, and I have to say it hasn't helped me. Firstly, according to the site's quiz, my relationship was in a pretty positive place, it says there's no chance of a break-up. Which is what I thought, which is why I'm so upset, which is what HE BLOODY WELL AGREED WITH! He said, after he told me he "thinks we're better as friends" that (this is not in order, but he did say all these things at some point) "we would've been great for each other", "I love you" and "I had a great time with you last night." WTF!???!!! I KNOW! THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT TO END IT!!!!! Ahem. Excuse me. Secondly, in lesson 1 of the video lessons it outlines the normal relationship cycle. By this cycle I should've been in the "honeymoon period". The break-up was not due until the "twilight period" of the relationship.

Bemyex.com assumes a certain type of relationship, and I'm starting to think my relationship was never that normal. Therefore it is of no use to me in dealing with this most unpleasent experience. But it does have a few laughs, and is a fun way to advertise for a movie.

OK, bye bye now.

P.S. Uma Thurman is one hot mumma. I loves her, precious.

All Kinds of Mental Pain...and SPIDER-MAN 3

I'm in all kinds of mental pain. It's romantically inclined pain, so I'll spare you all the sob story. I'm already dangling way too close to blog cliche to get into break-up stories. But I will say this: angry, pain-filled argument, bickering break-ups are better than weird loving-but-angst-issue-filled discussions about feelings. I wish we had fought, because then I might actually be able to understand what happened and I would want to get over it. As it stands now I don't know what to feel or what to do, all I feel is this weird loss. Its pretty bad. Not what I need right now.

Nevermind. Sigh.

Anyway, the Spider-Man 3 teaser has been released at Apple.com

http://www.apple.com/trailers/Sony_pictures/spider-man_3/ Ohhh! BLACK Spider-Man!

The Spider-Man Franchise has never been my favorite. I'm more of an X-Men girl (RIP quality X-Men films). The character of Spider-Man/Peter Parker is important in the history of superheroes as he was the first major hero that readers of comic books could directly identify with: a geek. Up until then heroes, like Superman and Batman, were these mythic visions of unattainable stature. The best a teenage boy could do was be a sidekick, like Jimmy Olsen or Robin. Spider-Man was a teenage boy. With teen angst issues and superpowers. This factor had a lot to do with that character's popularity and longevity. He's a classic for Marvel, so a film adaptation was inevitable. The films were widely well-received by fans, but not so much by me.

Sony played it safe, hiring an adept and popular filmmaker, Sam Raimi (mostly known for his Evil Dead horror/comedy series of films), which lead to comparisons to Peter Jackson, but I don't think he is anywhere near the quality of other big blockbuster directors like Jackson, Spielberg, or Cameron (shudder). Hired a predictable and uninspired cast, led by the wildly uncharismatic Tobey Maguire (and don't even get me started on the insipid Kirsten Dunst, whose publicist should be given a Nobel Prize for...Achievement in... publicising. OK, that joke bombed, my heart was never in it). Sure, they looked good on paper, but they're not that good at acting, and let the script dictate their enthusiasm. See Depp in Pirates for an A-List actor taking responsibility for entertaining a wide audience, or Jackman in X-Men, or Kilmer (he'll always be A-list to me) in Tombstone, or Pfeiffer in Batman Returns. Anyway, my point is Maguire phoned it in, should stick to support/occasional leads in indies, and Dunst should stop fooling herself in general.

The first film was OK, it got the job done. I thought the series might improve but I was supremely disappointed in Spider-Man 2. Honestly, why did Dunst and Maguire sign on if it makes them so miserable? They looked like they were delivering lines with guns to their heads. And the effects never really sold it for me.

So we come to the first glimpse of Spider-Man 3. The geeks are happy with it. The inclusion of Venom, Sandman, Gwen Stacy, and a new Green Goblin should make for an exciting (if cramped) drama. Looks like Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church) will be the main villain for Spider-man, with the Venom/Black Suit/Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), Peter/Mary-Jane/Harry Osbourne (James Franco)/Gwen Stacy (Bryce Dallas Howard) love-square, and the emergence of Harry as the Goblin are the sub-plots. I could probably guess the plot right now, but you don't care. Church, Grace and Howard are all good actors (although, again, safe) and Franco was always ok, hopefully I can just watch them and ignore the boring twins.


Topher looking very Anakin Skywalker with his Eddie Brock blonde locks


The redhead playing the blonde who steals Peter's heart away from the blonde playing the redhead. Confused? Yes, why did they cast Dunst? Why?


Church as Sandman. Talk about comeback.

So yeah, bottom line: it looks ok because of the new bigger cast and interesting storyline with Venom, but I'm not holding my breath.

Saw Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, last night (after "honours drinks" which ended up being Amy and I bitching about various things, but it was cool to catch up) Very, very funny. Steve Coogan. He takes the piss out of himself often for being a brilliant-comic asshole, and so you think, "he must be pretty cool". But then you look at him and read some stuff and then you think, actually, maybe he is an asshole. He does kinda give off that vibe. But Rob Brydon was also super-funny. It cheered me up a lot.

I then went to see my bro play at the Paris Cat jazz club. It had a pretty old vibe. Not overly impressive. But bro played well.

Better get back to the thesis. Man, life sucks for me right now. I just wrote a whole post about pretty much nothing.