Thursday afternoon, mellow

[cleolinda]

In case you missed it last night, I did post Cloverfield in Fifteen Minutes at m15m. I feel pretty good about the way it turned out, and then the dogs spent the day at the vet getting baths, so I had a whole day to do whatever I wanted wherever I wanted to do it (bonus!). Of course, I'm glad they'll be home again in about an hour.

Heath Ledger: NYPD: No drug residue found on $20 bill (which, given the crud attached to all our paper money, is pretty impressive); Police find no illegal drugs in home where Ledger died; Is Ledger's Olsen-Calling Masseuse A Felon?; Five Different Prescription Drugs Found in Heath's Apartment (you know, I shudder to think what people would conclude from the prescription drugs on my desk if something happened to me); Lost interview with Heath in which he looked "edgy and uncomfortable" (let it be noted, however, that several sources, including Ledger himself, have said that all interviews made him uncomfortable); Heath Ledger "obsessed" with Nick Drake's music? ("A representative for Drake's estate described the 'gorgeous" and "extremely moving' clip [Ledger directed] as a stark black-and-white composition").

More reaction: 10 Things I Loved About Heath Ledger (really lovely); Heath Ledger Remembered: You Can Learn A Lot In Ten Minutes; Heath Ledger, "A Real Gentleman"; 'It's not fair. It's not right' ("The shock felt by so many at the death of Heath Ledger shows how strongly we identify with great actors, says Joe Queenan," who is kind of an ass. Was it necessary to put down Jude Law? Do you really want Sean Penn up on your ass?); Jack Nicholson Weighs In On Heath Ledger's Death...Sort Of; Charlize Theron On Heath Ledger: ‘We Lost An Incredible Talent’; Bijou Phillips Mourns Heath Ledger And Brad Renfro ("It's got to stop").

Movie fallout: Dark Knight Producer Charles Roven's Statement on Heath Ledger; Warner Bros. Left With A Major 'Dark Knight' Marketing Problem; Heath Ledger's Chilling Final Bow In 'The Dark Knight'; Christian Bale harassed by photographers in LA; Ledger's death puts last films in a bind.

Awwwwwwww: Godfather Jake Gyllenhaal and godmother Busy Philipps to help Michelle Williams with daughter.

Ewwwwwwww: John Gibson Sews Up Heath Ledger Memorial Bad Taste Award. Aaaand this is why I hate that my family uses Fox News as our default news channel.

Hee!: How one group of college students previously dealt with a Westboro Baptist Church protest ("Free government for the colonies!").

Cloverfield: 'Cloverfield' backlash? (I would have prefaced that headline with "inevitable"); Scary movie making viewers sick; Cloverfield Production Notes; No Handycam Here! The Real Camera Behind Cloverfield; Cloverfield Monster Versus Vacuum Bomb (speculation); Cloverfield and Lost; Hud!! Nooooo!! Hud!!!1

(Semi-related: Marvel Comics Get 'Lost'; The Bad Robot Overlord's Favorite Robot Art.)

NARNIA DOLLS! I didn't expect them to be up so soon! (All I want is Queen Susan. I have this figured out. All I want is Queen Susan, and Pirate Elizabeth, and Winter Coat Lyra, and by the time I have robbed enough banks to pay for those, maybe they won't have put out too many White Witch dolls. I will, however, go ahead and rob an extra bank if they put out a Serafina Pekkala.) Also new: the Will Turner doll. I do not so much want him, although if they make his face less scary, I would consider getting him for Pirate Elizabeth.

(If they put out Lord of the Rings dolls, I will probably have to start kidnapping small children for ransom. Please, think of the children.)

More linkspam:

Cassie Edwards update: A Thank-You Note from Defenders of Wildlife.

Roger Ebert Back in Hospital for Surgery.

U.S. man guilty in 'vampire' bombings. "A California man who adopted the name of a fictional vampire..." Guess. No, guess.

Military: Texas UFO reports were F-16 training exercise. Honey, we all watched The X-Files for far too many years to believe that. Even if it's true. Especially if it's true.

Area 51 has a new name. Y'all just never stop trying, do you?

MPAA admits to lying about college downloading.

Celebrities were targeted by Scientologists. Yes, well, duh--I mean, of course they want... "To help them, dedicated Scientologists made clay models of the individuals, Michael Jackson for example, outlining incremental scenarios that would help their planning. By turning the idea into clay, the concept was somehow made 'real.'" Uh.

(Related: Jerry O'Connell Spoofs Tom Cruise!)

$7.1 Billion Fraud Uncovered at Société Générale. Uh.

Professor: Fractions should be scrapped.

Poet arrested over hidden message.

Ishmael Beah’s Memoir Facing Frey-like Scrutiny.

Gamers’ revenge is served cold on Amazon.

Are you an obnoxious patient?

The Fumes Made Me Write It!

Michael Swanwick's one-of-a-kind stories-in-bottles. "The owner of the bottle, whoever he or she is, can either read the story or else possess the object -- but cannot do both."

Artist throws herself at men. Literally.

I Can Has Cheezburger Book Explains The Cultural Significance of Lolcats. Okay, after seeing the "Halp" entry, I really want this book.

This is why we can't have nice people.

Producers reveal title of new James Bond. 'Quantum of Solace'? Quantum of Solace? I don't even know what that MEANS. Okay, yes, I did read what it means, but--can you imagine going to the theater and asking for "two for Quantum of Solace "? (Well, we'd probably just ask for "the Bond movie," who am I fooling?) What kind of flashy title sequence can you do for that? It's not that I don't like the title--it's actually pretty cool. For an indie movie about angsty relationships. Meanwhile: 'Quantum of Solace' - The Press Conference, with photos of the cast.

Star portraits from Sundance; Woody Harrelson Gets Heckled By Batman At Sundance; The Breakout Star Of Sundance 2008 Is ... Steve Coogan?

John Noble Cast In Abrams' 'Fringe'; New Secrets Of J.J. Abrams' X-Files Revamp.

‘Juno’ Star Ellen Page Reacts To Oscar Noms; Greenwood & Vedder's Scores Ineligible for Oscar; 17 Oscar snubs that stung; Christian Bale and other lingering celebrity crushes, or, He Still Didn't Get a Nomination?

Day-Lewis Pays Oscar Tribute to Paul Thomas Anderson; Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Movie Will Be Horror?; Will PTA Make Genre Horror Pretentious?

International Get Smart Trailer & Posters; 'Get Smart' Gets Kinda Dumb; 'Get Smart' Trailer Missed It By That Much.

Ed Norton Wants Hulk Franchise; Edward Norton on 'The Incredible Hulk.' Apparently, he says, there's no connection between this movie and the 2003 Hulk ? Snap.

Must Watch: Wong Kar Wai's My Blueberry Nights Trailer; Another Poster for Wong Kar Wai's 'My Blueberry Nights.'

'The Oxford Murders' Trailer Debut ("Elijah Wood and John Hurt star in The Oxford Murders, a movie about a professor and a grad student that work together to try and stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols. It seems like some sort of odd combination of The Da Vinci Code and a horror movie").

6 '10,000 B.C.' TV Spots Online.

Meirelles, Gosling in Talks for Next Jack Ryan Pic.

Alba on Sin City 2 and Fantastic Four 3.

Thornton, Wilkinson Join 'Duplicity.'

Tyler Bates ('300') to Score 'Watchmen' and 'Earth Stood Still.'

‘Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?’: A Sundance Review; Sundance Interview: 'Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?' Director Morgan Spurlock.

Comments

[last-archangel.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm willing to inhale some toxic fumes if it will overpower my horrid, malignant writer's block.

[swarles.livejournal.com]

Lestat, of course. Crazy attracts crazy, doesn't it?

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

you know, I shudder to think what people would conclude from the prescription drugs on my desk if something happened to me

I know, right? The man had pneumonia, was having trouble sleeping, and was taking anti-anxiety medication, I can only imagine because of the troubles he had playing the Joker. Frankly, I'm impressed there weren't more prescriptions there.

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Gamers’ revenge is served cold on Amazon.
Ha! That's awesome. I read about that news clip this morning. So annoying, that shit.

There's going to be a Fantastic Four 3? Wow.

[greyduck.livejournal.com]

Well, the interview snippet (such as it was) indicated that with the writers' strike and an impending actors' strike (??) any such notion is a long, long way off from being realized. She didn't actually say "it's coming but will be delayed," though. I suspect the question was more speculative than anything else.

[bigeyedrabbit.livejournal.com]

you know, I shudder to think what people would conclude from the prescription drugs on my desk if something happened to me

Amen, girl. A surprising number of happy, well-functioning people are on FUCKTONS of meds.

But then, you know, MSNBC went straight for the "LEDGER WAS FOUND FACEDOWN AND NAKED WITH SLEEPING PILLS NEARBY!" in the first paragraph of their story on Ledger's death, and, um. I don't want to be morbid, but there are a lot of happy, well-functioning people who could die an accidental death and be found in pretty much that position. It's not necessarily indicative of the scandal that some people are wanting this to be.

[/soapbox]

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

Reports are, he had pneumonia? My mom pretty much coughed up a lung when she had pneumonia, and despite knowing nothing about pharmaceuticals I'm thinking high-bore cough syrup + sleeping pills + anti-anxiety meds is pretty much an accident waiting to happen right there.

[vampychick.livejournal.com]

Quantum of Solace.

...well, now we know why they were so reluctant to tell us the title.

[quarantedeux.livejournal.com]

Honey, we all watched The X-Files for far too many years to believe that. Even if it's true. Especially if it's true.

So true. My first reaction was, "Uh, yeah. RIGHT." Especially given the USAF's original story of not having any planes in that area at the time of the sightings. Cover-up, much?

Also? I am so not happy with all of the information coming out about Fringe. As a Phile, I'm not all that receptive to the idea of a show that seems more and more like a XF rip off.

Don't forget Warren Ellis's super classy response!

[kali921.livejournal.com]

Don't forget Warren Ellis' *super* classy response to the news of Heath's death! (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?p=5045058) He issued a second snide statement later in the day once it was reported that Ledger's death may not have been a suicide, wherein he lambasted anyone who criticized him for his first response. Cue pages upon pages oof people calling him a twit on Jinxworld and not a few people calling Ellis a twit on his own Bad Signal mailing list. The whole thing is so sad.

Re: Don't forget Warren Ellis's super classy response!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I'm... just going to pretend I didn't read that.

(What do you think about whichever poster's claim that the first comment was satirical?)

[christwise.livejournal.com]

That Elizabeth doll looks like Celine Deon.

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. I can't even comment on anything else because of PIRATE ELIZABETH. *flails* And the bride Elizabeth is gorgeous, too. I THINK I JUST DIED. Why do Tonner dolls insist on being so expensive?

Will frightens me, though.

Also, Queen Susan is pretty amazing. But I really need an Elizabeth. Where should we plan a heist?

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

In looking at their faces even more closely, how did they manage to do such a good job with Pirate Elizabeth, a decent job with the bride (her gown, too), and the first Elizabeth was so lousy? Damn. I wish they had left it at the court gown. I didn't want her. xD

[poinsley.livejournal.com]

OMG that Cloverfield LOLCat had me rolling!

[kilted.livejournal.com]

I had the same reaction to the Bond flick title- I can't see people asking for tickets to it, haha, and I totally work at a theatre. Last time around, people just asked for James Bond... Lazy.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

John Gibson is the biggest ass EVER. Alternatively, Jerry O'Connell is made of win.

Re: the Elijah Wood movie - I'm delighted he's going to be in something that I might actually want to see, but didn't they have something similar on numbers or symbols with Zodiac? Or am I confused...?

Re: the dolls - I dunno, I think they made Susan's face...too wide, or something. She looks a little angry in the queen version. However, I think they did really well with Wardrobe!Edmund and Queen Lucy. Not that I'd scoff at any of them. Also I want King Edmund's boots.

(Oooh. They did a killer job on Pirate Elizabeth. But the other Elizabeths don't look as much like Keira. And all their male figures look a bit girly. Odd!)

THIS (http://www.tonnerdoll.com/2007Images/TONNER%202007/DCStars/hquinn.jpg) is the doll I want. Also I want the Snape doll if he turns out to be any good...

...XKCD guy clearly reads your LOST recaps. ;)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Eh, I didn't make "This is why we can't have nice things" up. It's kind of an old chestnut--I don't know where it comes from. ; )

And yeah--actually, Oxford Lyra, Court Gown Elizabeth, and possibly Jack Sparrow all got slight facial changes from the original photos they posted. So I have hopes that Susan's face will look a little better in the final version, and that the Will Turner doll will look less freakish. I think Toy Biz Aragorn needs a friend.

[quasievil-bunny.livejournal.com]

Lord of the Rings dolls are available from Sideshow Toys. (http://www.sideshowtoy.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=9211)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I have several of the $20 Toy Biz dolls, and I have a really good Sideshow Anna Valerious... I don't know, though. I think I'm safe until they start putting out the female characters.

[cupcakery.livejournal.com]

As an anthropologist, 10 000 BC makes me cry.

And come on, everyone knows that Armand would've been the one to blow things up, not Lestat.

[viorica8957.livejournal.com]

Or Louis. Though he'd be more likely to set stuff on fire.

[jaded-lady.livejournal.com]

I saw that Westboro Baptist thing on ONTD and it made me want to puke.

These asshats came to Frederick, MD - about 45 minutes away from my college, and hometown of one of my roommates - to protest the appointment of a homosexual priest to one of the churches there. Frederick, in turn, had a counter-protest - which all of my roommates and I attended.

It was seriously hilarious - everyone had balloons filled with mylar ("homophobes hate glitter!") and eventually they freaked out and fled to their car and hid in an alley for twenty minutes.

And then my friend almost got arrested because he threw a big fucking rock at their car and broke their tail light. (but they were too afraid, apparantly, of the glitter balloons, to get out of the car?)

The saddest thing about them is that they bring their small children (one of the kids was obviously like under four years old) to the protests and have them hold their "Thank God For Dead Soldiers" signs and whatnot - it's completely sickening.

But, so yeah, I'm saying - I'm holding out for them getting run over with a car, or something, if they even try to pull anything at Heath's funeral.

I'm thinking it's not possible for them to get that close, anyway? I hope. :(

[pinstripe-bindi.livejournal.com]

The WBC is always threatening to protest this or that funeral, then wimping out. As soon as they found out Heath Ledger's funeral is to be in Austrlia they went back on their threat. I'm guessing either because after recently getting sued for $11 million, they can't afford to go to the other side of the world just to be douchebags; or that the thought of enraging several hundred grief-crazed Australians in a country where they have no 1st Ammendment protection made dear ol' Fred soil himself.

[viorica8957.livejournal.com]

I keep trying to respect right-wingers, I really do. Then another one comes along and does something mind-blowingly nasty. Of course, I might not be one to talk, as my dad probably would have found it funny. <_< Still, at least people like the ones rallying around Michelle Williams are reaffirming my faith in the human race somewhat.

[pinstripe-bindi.livejournal.com]

Remember when Mad Eye Moody turned Draco Malfoy into a blond ferret in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? That's what John Gibson reminds me of. Only uglier, because ferrets are actually kind of cute.

[entropy-and-me.livejournal.com]

Have you seen this video of Jerry O'Connell mocking the infamous Tom Cruise video of late?

http://www.aolvideoblog.com/2008/01/23/take-that-tom-cruise/

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I think that's what I linked to.

[erinya.livejournal.com]

"A California man who adopted the name of a fictional vampire..." Guess. No, guess.

I WIN!

Is there a prize?

Also, I hope there are really aliens. Maybe they can help us stop global warming or something.

a comment on a poor, little less popular link (Tyler Bates)

[ter369.livejournal.com]

I quite loved the soundtrack to 300. Maybe I'll see Watchmen after all.

Re: a comment on a poor, little less popular link (Tyler Bates)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I loved the guitars. It fit the movie so perfectly--I listened to it on a loop while I was writing the thing for it.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Since I'm a serious monster-movie junkie (like you didn't know that after my recent thesis "The Feeding Mechanism of the Giant SpiderLouse and the Resultant Effects on Human Metabolism"...), I managed to score a copy of the press kit off E-bay for $9.99, and it should be here tomorrow.
*does happy-monster-dance*

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hee, yay! Let me know if there are any good pictures on it. I have a ton of hi-res stills, but nothing monstery.

[word-herder.livejournal.com]

My husband said that Heath Legder was quoted as saying he'd been unable to sleep ever since he took on the acting role of The Joker. Has anyone heard that? Because I went looked at several of the trailers and good lord. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I did see that quoted several places. Apparently he'd also been having trouble sleeping while on the Gilliam film as well. At the same time, the OK! magazine correspondent was telling someone on Fox News (I know, I know) that he'd also said he'd "never had so much fun" as on the Batman set. So I don't know that it was anything like, you know, The Joker GOT INTO HIS HEAD (DUN DUN DUNNNN). It either just coincided with some physical problems he was having, or he may have gotten a little high-strung from focusing so intently on what was, let's face it, an extremely risky and already-iconic role to take. Anyone who plays the Joker has got to be aware that the movie will probably live or die based on their performance.

[coolcuban.livejournal.com]

My Uncle gave me The Oxford Murders for Christmas two years ago.

I have to admit that the novel was extremely well done, I had a hard time putting it down, and the ending was something you would never expect.

I'm glad that the movie looks like it will properly live up to the novel's legacy.

Hope you like it!

[msilverstar]

A fair number of UK fangirls were extras in the Oxford Murders, and the director kept a hilarious blog during shooting, and the reviews have been pretty favorable in France and Spain. Here's hoping!

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

and by the time I have robbed enough banks to pay for those, maybe they won't have put out too many White Witch dolls.

This is why they call them "doll-ars," literally, "money for buying dolls." It makes sense now, right?