Even the dogs are too hot to play

[cleolinda]

Not much news today; spent Friday and Saturday reading Watchmen, which I waited a week or so to do because I wanted to have plenty of time to really stretch out with it. The fact that it's a giant, expensive, five-pound hardback may have had something to do with this decision. Have also been trying to write, but the heat is stupidifying. Can't quite get past that playing-it-out-in-my-mind stage. Throat kind of hurts, which is weird. Today is also Sister Girl's Culinard graduation, but for some reason she's decided not to actually attend, which is something of a relief--we're still having a big dinner for her anyway (and she still graduates, obviously), but now we don't have to sit in an auditorium for three hours.

Merv Griffin dies at age 82.

Italy probe unearths huge Iraq arms deal.

Fly me to the moon: space hotel sees 2012 opening.

Big Ben’s bongs fall silent. ... Heh.

My top ten cat macros, let me show you them.

"Most of you have probably seen The Ring, in which a mysterious videotape kills the viewer in seven days unless they show it to someone else. This video contained horrifying images that seared themselves into the viewer's mind and drove them to insanity before facilitating their death. Which brings me to this video, a documentary about men who fall in love with life-size sex dolls."

New PostSecret Mini-Movie. "Working on this PostSecret Video has been a labor of love. I hope you find the secrets as meaningful and moving as I do. If you do, please consider emailing your friends about it and linking to it from your blog."

"The Lost casting news is as fake as Kristen Bell's teeth." Ouch.

Dark Knight Footage Debuts at Wizard World.

Britain's most powerful, money-making film stars in Hollywood. "Orlando Bloom, 30, who starred in seven blockbusters, including the Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings franchises, tops the list with a combined box office gross of more than £2.6 billion... Sir Ian McKellen, 68, Christopher Lee, 85, Brian Cox, 61, and Bernard Hill, 62, all make the top 10, with an average age for the list of 41. [...] Only six women appear on the two lists. At 17, Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, is the most successful female star, ranked joint fourth alongside her co-stars. Keira Knightley, who also appears in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, is seventh, ahead of Kate Beckinsale and Helena Bonham Carter. Mike Newell, the director of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, tops the list of directors, comfortably ahead of Ridley Scott, whose three separate hits earned him second place." One major criticism of the list in the article: Lord of the Rings has unbalanced the list in favor of actors who have not necessarily done anything else that made significant money, pushing out actors like Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, and Alan Rickman. Of course, Hill was also in Titanic, and Cox and McKellen were in the X-Men movie(s), and Christopher Lee... well, he's Christopher Lee, isn't he?

Kid's Lit Of The Rich and Also Famous: Joan Allen loved Golden Books (from the Piggly Wiggly! That's where I got mine!), Michael Chabon loves Bradbury, Edward Norton loves Dr. Seuss and The Dark Is Rising--oh dear. I have some bad news...

"2008 looks like shit," or, a spate of new movie posters collected for your viewing (dis?)pleasure. Even though many of the movies come out in 2007. Hey, I go to ONTD for the links, not for the accuracy.

The Six Titles of 'Indiana Jones 4.' And the one we've heard rumored all along is still the best one.

'The Nines' poster, and why you should see the movie, from someone who has.

Feldman and Haim Are Returning for 'Lost Boys 2,' Source Says. "And just when you thought things couldn't get any stranger, the horror site also claims Kiefer Sutherland's half-brother, Angus Sutherland, has been cast as the film's vampire villain." Okay, I would go see that.

Comments

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to see what your reaction is to Watchmen. I remember reading a synopsis of it in DC's Who's Who and being absolutely floored by it (yes, by just the synopsis) and had to wait a few months to make it to a comic store where they had it for sale (and one of the original smiley-face buttons). Will be interested in seeing if a very 80's story holds up so well after two decades, if it still has that resonance about it.

And congrats to Sister Girl, and w00t for no auditoriums in this slightly-infernal atmosphere.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I'm not even sure I will say anything else about it. I went in knowing the end, unfortunately, but other than that, it's just... too big to process almost. I mean, yes, it's awesome and I loved it. I'm just not sure I can articulate anything else about it yet.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Although... is the auditorium air-conditioned?

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

Hey, be grateful you can read Watchmen all at once! I first read it when it was coming out and there were huge delays between issues, so it took a very, very long time.

Congrats to your sister on her graduation! Although it's kinda sad--I'll miss you blogging about her cooking experiments. :-) Well, unless she experiments more for the heck of it.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

She still gets a wild hair on to cook random things, so I don't think that'll be the end of that. It probably will be the end of her bringing home boxes upon boxes of pastry, though, which makes me sad.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Wow -- judging from those posters, there are only three movies I want to see next year (or in December for AA consideration): Sweeney Todd, Darjeeling Limited, and Star Trek. Everything else does look like shit.

Wait a minute -- The Dark Knight is next year, too, isn't it? And HBP isn't until 2009, right?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Right, right. Those posters aren't representative of the entire year's slate; it's just whatever that one ONTD poster pulled off IMPA.com.

[fox-gloves.livejournal.com]

Lost Boys 2?? But didn't the old man kill off the head vampire?

This brings about the Apocalypse, you know that right? The Corey's are reunited!!!

[bitchola.livejournal.com]

That Guys and Dolls documentary is freaking me out, largely due to the fact that the dolls look so much like real people. It seems like 1 step away from necrophilia-- especially when they have shots of the men lovinly dressing the dolls or doing their make-up while they just lie there (obviously, because they are inanimate objects).

[heyorion.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the Uncanny Valley: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_Valley

[maliekai.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, Orlando Bloom is thirty.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I know, dude! That's exactly the same reaction I had.

[nekoama.livejournal.com]

There is also a movie coming out called Lars and the Real Girl which is about a man and his real doll. Except that one looks sad and sweet, unlike the horror you've linked. Probably because Lars is fictional with actors and Guys and Dolls... isn't.
Also, the Dark Knight stuff made me cry. With joy

[zrath.livejournal.com]

Yeah, who knew someone would remake "Mannequin"? :\

(Hi Mr. J!)

[ter369.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to Sister Girl, and my commiseration on your local temperature.

[queenthesixth.livejournal.com]

Edward Norton likes The Dark Is Rising? Okay, now I like him even more. After reading that, part of me wishes he'd gotten cast in the film, read the script and made them re-write it or re-wrote it himself. We could have been saved the upcoming travesty.*goes into psychotic fan territory*

And Orlando Bloom is thirty? When did that happen? Sometimes I really hate linear time.

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

Edward Norton loves Dr. Seuss and The Dark Is Rising--oh dear. I have some bad news...
Maybe if we're lucky, once he sees what they've done to it he'll find a way to get the rights and do it properly...

[eofs.livejournal.com]

I saw the Real Dolls doc when it was on over here ages ago. It's pretty compelling, in a slightly trainwreck kind of way.

[londonsparrow.livejournal.com]

With The Ring, there's the whole death thing; with Guys and Dolls, there's just the terror of someone walking in and saying, "What the hell are you watching?"

(Also, having seen Stardust this weekend, I kind of wish you got to see previews for every movie, because the discussions here really influence the mindset I have going into a movie. And of course, I loved it.)

[glass-radical.livejournal.com]

Suckage for 2008? Really? Ok, aside from Dragon Wars, Whiteout, and a few others, most seem pretty good, if not just watchable.
(Sweeney Todd, Watchmen, Death Sentence, Across the Universe)

who says real life doesnt mirror literature?

[platinum-cobra.livejournal.com]

You may have seen this already, but its worth mentioning. Geee, something about this headline and story reminds of The Golden Compass (which is a great f-in book and I cant believe I havent read the trilogy prior to this), but I cant seem to put my finger on it. *sarcasm* lol.


"The race is on to detect dark matter"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070812/ap_on_sc/dark_matter_hunt

who says real life doesnt mirror literature?

[platinum-cobra.livejournal.com]

You may have seen this already, but its worth mentioning. Geee, something about this headline and story reminds of The Golden Compass, but I cant seem to put my finger on it. *sarcasm* lol.


"The race is on to detect dark matter"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070812/ap_on_sc/dark_matter_hunt

[velvet4269.livejournal.com]

Saw previews for "The Darjeeling Limited" and "Beowulf" when I went to see "Stardust" this afternoon. Darjeeling looks "feelgood" and "Beowulf" looks ... well, looks like one I'll probably go see. :)

[kismeteve.livejournal.com]

I still can't believe Orlando is 30.

[tabbyclaw.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to Sister Girl!

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

must confess to be vaguely interested in THE STRANGERS, and how the hell they're going to pull off a SAW IV(Let alone a SAW V- Tobin Bell is contracted to do five films) and I'm honour bound to see MR. WOODCOCK, because of Seann William Scott being my fated future husband and all *g*

What the heck is the Korean thing with the dragons?! Don't they realise you can't make a big flaming lizard film without Matthew McConoughay in it?!!

[quenbolyn.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the heat, and about the throat thing, there have been several times mid-heat wave when I'll get a sore throat for - seemingly - no reason. Hope things cool down for you!

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

I thought you'd be interested to know that the trailers that ran before the Stardust screening I attended tonight in NYC included August Rush (Jonathan Rhys Meters — still yummy), Across the Universe (plot based on Beatles songs…could be cool, could suck), The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (ow ow ow ow ow), The Spiderwick Chronicles (maybe) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Made. Of. WIN.).

[ninepointfivemm.livejournal.com]

Seeing as Across the Universe is directed by Julie Taymor, there is totally no way it can suck. ;) She is so. Cool.

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

My qualms stem from (1) the dreadful Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band film released in 1978, and (2) reports earlier this year that Revolution Studios chief Joe Roth re-cut the film after disappointing early previews, which reportedly so angered Taymor that she threatened to remove her name from the project. I have no idea which version of the film is being released; and even the greatest directors are capable of misfires. We’ll see.

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

*headsmack*

Oh! And Beowulf. Excellent dialogue — “She’s not my curse. Not anymore...”

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

First of all, I saw Stardust and I LOVED it. It's a perfect little fairytale movie.

Secondly...

OHMYGOD, Cleo. The Elizabeth doll has been unveiled.

(http://photobucket.com)

http://www.tonnerdoll.com/pirates.htm

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mentioned it a few days ago. I... kinda don't like it. : (

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

I guess I missed it when you mentioned it. (Wow, that was an obvious statement.) :D

Agreed. I love the dress. I'm not sold on her face, though. It doesn't look much like her, really.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

See, I don't really even like the dress. I'm hoping it's a very early prototype, because it's supposed to look like this. (http://outnow.ch/Media/Img/2003/PiratesOfTheCaribbean/photocall.p/09?w=1472&h=1400) It's too yellow, and they haven't done that great a job with the flat 1700s bodice--granted, a doll's body is pretty unyielding, but they've managed the general era (http://www.tonnerdoll.com/2006Images/TONNER%202006/Kitty/10inch/KT4.jpg) before. Also, they have dolls with slimmer builds (in particular, the NYC Ballet dolls) they could have used. And if I'd had to pick one of the faces they already have, I think I'd have gone with Suzette or maybe Kit. (Dolls: serious business.)

[kookaburra1701.livejournal.com]

Speaking or lolcats, I just ran across this and thought of you!

I can hath cheezburger? (http://houseoffame.blogspot.com/2007/05/i-can-hath-cheezburger.html)

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Watchmen! My bf and I are going to read that soon. I am excited. When we went to the comic book store to check it out (I think I saw the boxed edition you mentioned in your other post) they comic book guy had the same kind of reaction to a girl asking him about it. *sigh*

Have you read/do you have the V for Vendetta graphic novel? I love that one. (I'm currently using up my excess fabric paints by doing a shirt with V on the front and "This Vicious Cabaret" on the back. Heh.)

Also re: your other post, now that you have mentioned that Henry Cavill (squee!) is in Stardust, I am even MORE excited to see it this weekend.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

You know, I keep meaning (and wanting) to read V, but it just hasn't happened yet. When I had a chance to buy one book, I went for Watchmen because it's apparently such a classic (I think it was the only graphic novel on Time's list of great books of the 20th C or something).

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough, I did almost the same thing but the opposite - I went in and looked at V and Watchmen, and ended up buying V (possibly because it was a bit cheaper than the special Watchmen set) and putting Watchmen on the "wish list" for next time I go in. I am sure Watchmen is fantastic, but I think you'd really like V as well if you get it.