Birdman & The Seventh Son

The following group of blogs are going to be out of a little skewed time-wise cuz I'm starting with the movies I watched most recently and going backwards, but there are a lot to discuss. Stay with me. SPOILER ALERT!  Not too much though. In both reviews. You've been warned. :)

The Seventh Son. What to say. It was good enough but it almost felt like a made for TV movie. The cast was good - Julianne Moore as the villain dragon queen was gorgeous but I would have liked to had more depth of feeling from her. A little more of the romantic conflict could have gone a long way. Ben Barnes was yummy. Jeff Bridges was cool. I wish his voice would have sounded like less of an affect. The special effects were decent. I guess it was the storytelling that was lacking for me. I get that it's based on a book (maybe a series... I dunno...) but the plot in the movie was too compressed and so I didn't really buy into  1) the villains being so bad-ass cuz they were beaten fairly easy 2) the romantic twist between Master Gregory and Mother Malkin (weird name that I'd like some explanation for) and 3) the rapid romance between Tom and Alice. Overall - it was okay but I could have waited to watch it on cable.

Now Birdman was cool. Cool and weird and thought-provoking and weird and kind of awesome in this artsy way that I don't normally care for but did in this movie. Michael Keaton is playing Riggan (the main character), Riggan's past-famous superhero character, Birdman, and the character (Mel or Ed or both - I can't remember or have no clue, so we'll stick with 'the character') he is playing in his Broadway play. Keaton is brilliant as this uber-conflicted actor/celebrity.

I saw the movie as a man vs self type tale. Riggan is trying to overcome his celebrity as Birdman so he can be recognized as an actor. A serious actor. But he has demons. Demons that tell him how worthless and useless he is... except as Birdman. And the demon whispering these things is none other than Birdman who doesn't want to be a just a poster on the wall. The persona of Birdman haunts poor Riggan and has him convinced of his superpowers throughout the movie (telekinesis and flying and such). But Riggan is also a shadow of the stage character he is playing. A character who at the end of the play kills himself but not before expressing he doesn't exist, he is nothing.

The character, Riggan and Birdman all want to be more than what they are - loved, acknowledged, validated, respected. It's sad, really, how tortured this guy is in any of his incarnations. And Keaton plays all of them like a virtuoso plays a violin - with grace and crazy mad skill.

The supporting cast is astounding: Zach Galifianakis (who looks great - really, really great in his new slimmer form), Naomi Watts, Emma Stone and the ever amazing Ed Norton, who, as a foil to Riggan, is his own kind of hot mess but brilliant too. And his character's brilliance brings even more depth to Riggan's tortured abilities as an actor.

I found Birdman to be a thinking movie. One you'll be chewing on for a while mentally. An exercise in possibilities of why any of the characters act as they do. I'm still puzzling it over in my head.

WTF?!

I still have movies to talk about - but first - a pause to talk about things that I am baffled by.

Ok... I only read this passage titled "Quick Reads finds snack-reading between meals can refresh the synapses other opiates can’t reach"(initially read on Passive Guy's blog) because I thought it would talk about something like taking short reading breaks throughout the day might help keep the brain cells active or something. What I found was this paragraph:

"Quick Reads declares that: “1 in 6 adults of working age in the UK find reading difficult and may never pick up a book. People’s reasons for not reading are varied but are often based in fear. Some people say they find books scary and intimidating, thinking they are ‘not for them’ or that books are difficult or boring.”

I'm sorry? What? Or more aptly, WTF?! Books are scary? People don't read because they find books scary and intimidating? Who are these people?  What rock did they crawl out from? What kind of ignorant, tragic upbringing did they have? Truly - my head wants to pop off my shoulders like a Ken doll right now.

Granted the article linked to above by Paul St John Mackintosh personally adds this:

"You have to wonder, though, who’s at fault here? A nation that can believe and endorse such bilge? A statement like that implies a bone-deep anti-intellectualism and anti-achievement attitude so embedded in the marrow of a society that it’d need the cultural and educational equivalent of deep radiotherapy more than a course of snack reads to win it round. And you have to wonder about the values and smarts of a society that can only figure out a value for reading by comparing it to a shot of Red Bull."

Couldn't agree more, Mr. Mackintosh! Wow.... books scary? I don't think so. Quick Reads is actually a UK site trying to promote literacy. So, good for them!  They may be fighting an uphill battle if those 1 in 6 UK adults are afraid of books. I mean we're not talking the Monster Book of Monsters from Harry Potter, here. No we're just talking books. Regular old, non-threatening books. If books are scary because they're 'not for them', then go to the library until you find one that isn't looming over you with gnashing teeth. And if they are boring... hello... use the library and find one that isn't. And if they are too difficult? Then grab a dictionary or start at a level that isn't too difficult and work your way up. For crying out loud, people, reading is one of the best things you can do for your brain and your soul. Find a little courage and read something.

My apologies... I know that I am preaching to the choir right now, but I was truly dumbfounded. Rant over.

New rant.

In the same Passive Guy piece, I found this little gem about how Target is selling Fifty Shades of Grey merchandise that includes "specially-marketed massage oil, a blindfold set, lubricant, and a vibrating love ring".  Okay, I was in an adult store (you know, XXX Adult) and saw one of these Fifty Shades merchandise stands and just about laughed myself silly. Really! It had these pitiful little fur-covered handcuffs and tiny little foofy floggers that wouldn't leave a mark on the most sensitive skin under the most intense use. But the 'good' Target shoppers were shocked and uncomfortable by this stuff. Okay. I dunno. It made me laugh. (I know I'm twisted and off the beaten path.. what's new?)

I even tried to read the book. I did. I tried and couldn't get past maybe page 80 cuz it was so boring. How do you make something as titillating as BDSM boring? I'm not sure, but E.L. James did it. I'm glad if this book is the source of people possibly tapping into a lifestyle that will enhance their lives, but for those of us (and I am using the royal 'us' due to the mouse in my pocket) actually in the lifestyle, this is not realistic. I think it's supposed to be a romance. I think it's supposed to be about BDSM. But, I think both are possibly dodgy in the storytelling aspects.  I have to wonder if E.L. James has any kind of experience with real BDSM more than what she may have read online. I dunno. Maybe someone can point me to the part of the book where 'interesting' things are happening and I can read that bit. Maybe that will keep my attention.

Sigh.... okay, rant over again. I apologize but today I guess I'm feeling a little baffled by the world. And tired and worn down from - idiocy? stupidity? - I dunno. Just tired and worn down from things that make no sense to me. Maybe I'm being harsh and it's just my mood talking today, but maybe not. Thoughts anyone?

And Now Back to Our Previously Scheduled Programming

Can I just say the holidays - from Thanksgiving to the end of Janaury (it lingered) - kicked my ass! Seriously kicked my ass. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, one birthday, Holiday parties, my nephew's cross-country move that I assisted with, a surgery, a blood clot, physical therapy, and symphony, opera and theater tickets in abundance. I'm pretty sure I saw my team of doctors and the pharmacy more than my boyfriend. True statement.

Things are settling down at last and I shall resume posting. I have a ton of new movies to discuss.

But first, let me tell you a little about my cross-country road trip and the virtual-tour we took along the way. What is a virtual tour, you ask? It's where you see stuff out the window of your U-Haul and look it up on your smart phone rather than stopping to see it for real. Doesn't slow you down when you're planning only three days to travel the 1857 miles from Nashville to Salt Lake City.

1. It is indeed possible  for two people (one of who just had surgery and is battling a blood clot) to pack an entire apartment and load it in a truck in two days. It may almost kill you, but it is possible.

2. The only thing I saw in Nashville was Jim N' Nick's BBQ restaurant (excellent food) and Lindsay, our server (excellent service).

3. There is a Casey Jones museum in Tennessee. What I learned is that he was a famous railroader known for his punctuality who died a hero trying to stop his train and save the lives of his passengers and crew. I also learned there are a lot of songs featuring Casey Jones - one of which implies he was high on cocaine and that's why the train crashed and he died. I thought that was an unfortunate intimation to put out there.

4. Memphis, TN has the 6th largest pyramid in the world. It used to be an entertainment venue. Now it's a sports shopping type megaplex. You can see it just off the freeway. Not exactly where you expect to see a giant pyramid.

5. I learned that 'Sooners' were the people who cheated and plopped their butts on unsettled land before it was officially proclaimed open to settlement in 1889. They spin it as progressive. I'm going to disagree. Since I don't think this is exactly a complimentary term, I  might take exception to it being a sort of unofficial term for Oklahomans. Just saying.

6. Lucille's Roadhouse is an awesome Route 66 diner in Oklahoma. Food was excellent, the portions generous, the price very reasonable and the decor awesome. If you're traveling anywhere near - stop. You can thank me later.

7. There's a weird bird sculpture over the freeway in Oklahoma City that lights up at night. Not what you expect to see, but kind of cool.

8. The Texas panhandle is stinky from cow waste product. Not all of it. But a lot of it.

9. Mom and pop joints are the best places to eat on the road.  Not always... mind you, but most of the time.

10. Whataburger is as good as I remember. Our one exception to the mom and pop rule because ... hello... it's Whataburger.

11. The Hole-in-the-Rock near Moab, UT is a 5000 sq-ft home carved out of a giant rock. One day I will stop and take the tour. I'll let ya'll know when I do. Might be taking a road-trip this June and that could be the moment. An actual stop to check out the sites!

12. You really can traverse the country in pajama's as long as they're modest. I think when you drive up in a U-Haul, people actually expect to see you enter their establishments in PJ's. Comfort is king. Can you imagine traveling across the country in a negligee? Haha. That'd be funny. We traveled through the bible belt, so that would have totally made me laugh. Someone in a negligee hopping out of the U-Haul. LMFAO.

13. If you have loads of data, then playing trivia on your phone with the driver can entertain for hours. And not all trivia games are created equal. Some are stupidly simple and some are challenging so you feel like you're learning even if you didn't get the answer right.

14. The last 200 miles are the longest. Ever. Longest! Ever!

Surgery, blood clots and bracelets... oh my!

I did not forget ya'll. Really I didn't. I had surgery. So, I had a good excuse.

I had a tear in my meniscus. That's the squishy cuppy thing that holds the thigh bone above the lower leg bone. This is very technical, just go with the flow. So, anyway, they went in and did surgery to smooth it out and everything was fine. Until I went in for my post op visit and they found a blood clot. Now I'm on these industrial blood thinners to dissolve that puppy. So, I'm being very careful not to get all crazy and bruise myself or get a bloody nose or cut or whatever. Because - on blood thinners - it may not stop bleeding.  And I'm under strict orders from my besty to not die. So, I'm trying to be a good friend and follow his direction.

Aside from that, I'm garnering quite the collection of hospital bracelets. Every outpatient test, operation, or ER visit gets its own new bracelet. Good times.

My doctors are all great though and the hospital staff have all been excellent, so that's nice.

This has turned into much less of a post than anticipated. Much less than the witty title might suggest. My apologies.

I'm pretty tired, so I think I shall nap instead. More posts of a more interesting nature to come.
Just not today. :)

Human Rights - Doing What's RIght

OK, I did a silly post this morning and now I'm gonna do a more serious one.

I just got back from a luncheon where USA Network and Comcast were giving a Characters Unite Award to Carla Kelley for her work with the non-profit group The Human Rights Education Center of Utah and for a life of fighting for what's right.

As I sat there listening to the various speakers who are front-line fighters combating hate, intolerance and discrimination, I knew I needed to promote this as well. Not that I don't try to always do that in my daily life any way, but in a more overt way. Publicly. Here.

What kind of things am I talking about - things like sexism, racism, homophobia, intolerance for others' religion, sexual orientation, gender orientation, height, weight, skin color, ethnic heritage, favorite ice cream flavor. Many of you might be saying, 'Ice cream flavor? Why would I condemn anyone based on that?' I'm saying why would you condemn anyone for any of the others any more than that one.

As one of the speakers (Saundra V. Stokes, Executive Director Inclusion Center for Community and Justice) said, "If you know better, do better." Simple and to the point. Not that any of us is ever perfect and that we won't make mistakes, but it's little things that can change the world. Things like saying that's not okay when someone makes a joke or a comment or acts in a way that is not okay.

Prejudice is learned.  Remember in the musical South Pacific when the American lieutenant has to face the fact that even though he loves the Asian girl, he knows he can't take her home to the family and sings the song about prejudice and how you 'have to be carefully taught'? That's what I'm talking. Let's reteach something better, something that says we're all human, we're all going through the same stuff, we all love, we all feel, we all need one another.  As Carla Kelley said during her speech (I paraphrase), we don't have to like every one, but we need to respect everyone's right to be themselves. We are all unique individuals, so let's honor all that cool diversity rather than punish each other for it.  Let's respect our similarities rather than disparage our differences.

Let's do better. Be nicer. Teach patience and respect for everyone. We're all human folks. We all go through what is referred to as the human condition. There are universal truths... they apply to us all. Let's try to remember that. Me included. I will endeavor to do better. Because I do know better. I hope you'll join me in this worthy choice. How we live our lives is a choice. Tolerance and kindness and understanding... these are my choice.

I forgot.... Also - get involved. Wherever you are.  If you're in Salt Lake City, here's Carla Kelley's place: The Human Rights Education Center of Utah.

Go forth and do better :)

Cell Phones... techy little things that they are

So, last Friday I dropped my cell phone. I've dropped it before. It has a protective case that's a little beat up, but it has always come through for me. My Samsung Galaxy s3 intact. But last Friday not so much. I think my s3 was feeling unloved.

I've been doing a lot of cell phone shopping lately. Not for me, mind you. For others. I was perfectly happy with my phone. Loved my phone. In that platonic, machine-loving way. Anywho, my phone, I believe, was feeling unloved because of all this cell phone shopping energy I was putting out. So, Friday - a random slip of my hand and my cell phone goes down in a parking lot. I firmly believe it jumped. I'm not worried until I pick her up and her glass is shattered. She hit right on the corner in the perfect spot to pop the case off and spiderweb the screen. She still worked - thankfully. But she was broken.

I was managing. Using her and getting by. Looking into ways to replace the glass screen, but now her battery was running down uber fast too. Screen replacement was not going to be cheap and if I had to get a new battery too - might as well get a new phone. I told her - my phone - I wasn't shopping for another phone to replace her. I told her I was happy with her, that she didn't need to do that... but it was too late. :(

So, last night I got a Galaxy s5. Now, I'm having to go thru all that initial romance stuff, where you get used to one another, figure out the little things that matter and those that don't. It's early. I really like this phone too. I'll love her soon, but it's early.

There are things I like better already and things that will grow on me. Some are just changing an existing habit since they moved things around. Like the menu button.

The moral of this story is that you need to tell your phone you love them every so often. Reassure them of your affection so they don't commit suicide. Really. Really really. Not kidding!

I did blog... over at the Fictorians

So in an effort to be lazy I shall direct your attention to the Fictorians' website to see my blog post from yesterday. I'm talking about other fiction writing I learn from in both good and bad ways. If any of of you were reading my blog back in the day when I made H read Atlas Shrugged and she made me read a wicked boring book then you'll remember which boring book and author to which I am referring. If not.... where were you? Back in the day?  When I was suffering this book?

I know its a little lazy, but... I am a fundamentally lazy person if I get to be.

I'm still interested in any thoughts any one may have :)