Monthly Archives: July 2005

Howl’s Moving Castle

Posted on 2005.07.31

I just finished reading Howl’s Moving Castle, which was quite a bit different from the anime. In fact, the only way the two were really similar is that they shared 80% of the book’s characters and had roughly equivalent start and end points.

Anyway, pretty much all the flaws I’ve heard others mention about the anime seem to have been solely introduced in the anime- the book is much more in depth and in it the characters seem to have more logical reasons for their actions.

Don’t get me wrong- I still love the anime. I’m just going to have to take it as something nearly entirely removed from the book, which I also loved (but for different reasons).

March of the Penguins

Posted on 2005.07.31

I just saw March of the Penguins. Although it was an enjoyoable film, something just doesn’t sit right with me about going to the cinema to see a documentary. I think I would have enjoyed it more were I watching it curled up on the couch in my living room, stuffing f***ing junk food in my mouth.

Oh well.

I give it 4 out of 10 herring.

!vegetarian

Posted on 2005.07.30

Since I’ve eaten chicken every day for the past three days, I think it’s official now- I’ve fallen off of the vegetarian wagon (that didn’t last too long). I’m still holding to my mammal-free diet, though.

I can’t help that it’s so tasty… and when even other vegetarians say I should probably eat meat, given my specific dietary restrictions I feel kind silly for not eating poultry.

Anyway, it’s not quite as environmentally harmful as eating beef, and I don’t feel quite so bad for the treatment of birds as I do for the treatment of mammals.

I know, I’m a bad person.

Bike stats, and Stoutmen

Posted on 2005.07.29

Today I rode the longest (though not the hardest) bikeride byklride I believe I’ve ever gone at a stretch- about 13 miles. I biked bykled out to Freeville to pick up a water filter that was being freecycled. If you combine that with the rides to and from work/campus, I’ve biked bykled approximately 18.5 miles today, which leads me to believe that I can manage at least a 20 mile ride, provided the hills aren’t too brutal. (I suppose I’ll have to scope that out first, but I think that they may indeed be too brutal).

Between riding back from Freeville and riding home, I caught a free outdoor concert, which had its high and low points, but overall was very good.

My legs didn’t feel tired until I biked bykled home, a ride that took longer than it normally does.

It seems that my bike Roheryn weighs in at a portly 40 lbs, which explains why going uphill is such bleeding murder. Likewise, it explains how I manage to accelerate to 30mph while going downhill without even trying, while Beth putters behind me (she gets revenge on the uphill, where I might as well be stopped entirely). That and the 30-40 lbs. I probably have on Beth, of course (all of it muscle! [shuddap]). I’ve been jonesing to get my old racer up here for a while now- this weight revelation just exacerbates things. Next weekend when I head on back to Jersey I plan on fixing it up a bit in preparation for it’s un-retirement :)

Anyway, here are this week’s stats.

Humour, me?

Posted on 2005.07.28

I done stoled this form Beth.

the Ham
(47% dark, 43% spontaneous, 33% vulgar)
your humor style:
CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT

Your style’s mostly goofy, innocent and feel-good. Perfect for parties and for the dads who chaperone them. You can actually get away with corny jokes, and I bet your sense of humor is a guilty pleasure for your friends. People of your type are often the most approachable and popular people in their circle. Your simple & silly good-naturedness is immediately recognizable, and it sets you apart inthis sarcastic world.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Will Ferrell – Will Smith

dumb graph

Did I ever mention how much I dislike Will Ferrell? I suppose that since I did get 47% ‘dark’, this may be more accurate than it would appear at first glance.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Posted on 2005.07.27

I just got back from seeing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Surprisingly, I liked it just as much as, and possibly even more than, the previous adaptation (which, as a disclaimer, I haven’t seen in several years [though I saw it many times as a mini me]). I hear tell that this version is closer to the book, but as I haven’t actually read the book (yet!) I’m going to try to refrain from commenting further on that. This version definitely had more of a Dr. Seuss feel, which, IMHO is a really good thing, as it seems really fitting to the idea of the factory filled with strange contrazamgizzits and oompa loompas.

Just comparing the two movies, I find the general plots much more similar than I expected, with any changes being in the favor of the newer movie. For instance- the bubble scene was missing from this movie, but as I never felt it really “fit” in the older movie, I think that’s a good thing (I never found it fair that Charlie ends up “cheating” like all the other bad kids, yet still ends up winning). In addition, the fact that Wonka was shown more as a human with problems made me care more for the outcome, and the ending felt more… well, existent, I suppose.

I’ve heard some people complain about the “creepiness” of all the oompa loompas being played by the same actor, but I just found it rather funny (specifically, in administration). Personally, I thought the oompa loompas in the last version were much creepier, as they seemed to defy the laws of physics at will whilst having no point to the movie other than to mock bad children. Also, the greater variety in songs in this version kept the whole singing thing from getting old too fast.

As for the actors, I felt they all did quite a good job, but Veruca Salt, Willy Wonka, and Dr. Wonka were especially good.

I also really quite enjoyed the idea of trading livestock for chocolate, the 2001 bit, and the teenagers in the theater who started cracking up when Veruca Salt announced her name. Obviously, they weren’t aware that the band got their name from the first movie (or possibly, the book), and not the other way around. As I was telling happicow, five years ago this would have been a really good bit of trivia but now it’s probably been plastered all over VH1 (I wouldn’t know, as I’ve watched approximately one hour of TV in the past month) and is therefore old news. Le sigh.

Anyway, I give it 6/8ths of a bar of chocolate, just in case my inane ratings mean anything to anyone ;)

Weather

Posted on 2005.07.27

Today: Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. High 72F. Winds NW at
5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

This forecast is so much preferable to the zillion degree temperatures we’ve been having recently that I’m tempted to say it’s too good to be true. Since the temperatue this morning (at 0700) was already 72.9°F (22.7°C), I’d probably be right, should I actually say such a thing.

We don’t need no more stinkin’ multiplexes!

Posted on 2005.07.25

I just found out about this via my weekly Cinemapolis mailing, and thought it might interest other locals. At the very least, locals will probably wonder where they’re planning to stick such a thing (I know I am)

We are deeply concerned about the negative impact that the proposed downtown multiplex, when added to the forthcoming expansion of the Regal multiplex at Pyramid Mall, will have on our ability to continue to offer these services.

We are able to bring art films to Ithaca because we rely upon a handful of more popular crossover films for financial viability. In 2004, 10 of the 86 films we screened (e.g., Fahrenheit 9/11, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Garden State, Lost in Translation) provided 60 percent of our revenue. Those more popular films floated all the rest of our offerings, which, though less well-attended, were in many cases highly valued works of film art.

At the present time, Ithaca audiences have a choice between the art and independent film offerings at Cinemapolis and Fall Creek Pictures, and the mass market films shown at the Regal theaters. If the downtown multiplex is built, it will not only compete with Regal’s soon-to-be expanded fourteen screens, but will compromise our market when it books the crossover films we rely on to survive.

Link to petition (though this probablky won’t do anything, it won’t hurt, either; and it does give you a chance to express your disapproval, at least)