Look at this crazy shit.
-Lauren
Posts Tagged ‘Lauren’
Happy 4th
July 4, 2010Team Whatever Is Least Likely To Kill Me
July 3, 2010As all of you with internet access knows, the third Twilight movie Eclipse came out. I saw it this afternoon since I am a huge fan of terrible movies, and this movie did not disappoint. The usual suspects are back; Bella (Kristen Stewart), Edward (Robert Pattinson), Jacob (Taylor Lautner), and the rest of the vampires and werewolves. There is also new werewolves and vampires, but more on them later.
The movie opens with a guy walking in the pouring rain, without a hood or a hat or an umbrella, when he is suddenly attacked by something. He see’s that his hand has bite wounds, and then we are treated to about 2 minutes of him moaning and crying and attempting to act like he’s in pain. Then we go to Bella and Edward in a field. A sunny field. And sure as heck, he is twinkling. Bella is studying for her finals, and Edward is laying there smelling her hair. While it would be romantic, it just looks contrived and really creepy. Eventually he asks her to marry him, and she brushes him off. Guys, please take note. Asking a girl to marry you while she’s studying for her high school finals is not a good idea.
Then Bella winds up in Florida where she says goodbye to her mom who just can’t seem to make it to her own daughters graduation, even though she has a beach front house. At this point I mentally checked out. I can’t for the life of me tell you what happened. There were too many cut scenes, too many characters, and too much plot. Bella is in danger! Bella is in love with two deadly beings! Oh my God where did all of these “baby” vampires come from?! Before you’re given a chance to really care one way or another about any of the new characters, they are killed off within a half an hour.
What I really did notice about this film, was how God awful the hair and makeup were. Bella had on a different wig in almost every single scene, even if it was just a cut from her being outside to being indoors. The wig was constantly changed. You can tell, and it looks like a wig too. I realize Stewart cut her hair in order to play Joan Jett for another movie, but surely this juggernaut of a franchise could have afforded better wigs. It wasn’t just her, either. All of the Cullen cove sans Edward had it even worse. Carlisle, the father figure in the cove, had the silliest blonde wig I have ever seen. And his pale face makeup was even worse. It was distracting how bad it was.
On a very positive note, this was the best Twilight movie so far. The acting improved for everyone in the cast, Stewart especially. She wasn’t blinking or stumbling over all of her lines this time. She sounded like she was trying to care, and it did show. The director, David Slade (who did Hard Candy, an amazing movie), did a really great job on making this film. I really hope he stays on to film the last movie, because he clearly has the best grasp on the work. And while that’s not saying much, remember that the first movie was unintentionally funny, and the second one was *boring*. This one was funny in parts, but it really did improve, greatly.
-Lauren
Metropolis and Metropolis
June 29, 2010A few weeks ago I was lucky to see the restored Metropolis (1927) with the new footage (or rather, original that had been lost for decades). This was my first time watching Metropolis, and I fell in love with the movie. The movie really did catch my attention, and held it better than most modern movies. I even cried when I thought Freder or Maria were going to die during the end fight scene. But they didn’t. And no, that’s not a spoiler if the movie is older than everyone reading this. If you have not seen it, I urge you to do so. Netflix has the movie on instant watch (which you can stream into XBox or Wii), however that version is the shortened version. It’s not as clear, and the story is much different without the added scenes. Still, this movie is an exceptional film.
So naturally, I sought out the anime Metropolis. Based on the manga by God of Manga Osamu Tezuka, the movie has a similar core message, but it still hits the mark. What is truly impressive, is that Tezuka wrote his Metropolis based on stills he saw of the original Metropolis. The movie has the lower class (robots) rising against the upper class. There is a robotic girl based on a dead loved on, and there is heart, brain, and muscle in the film. There is also tons of homage to the Fritz Lang film. The original Machine Maria can be seen in the movie. When we meet this movie’s robot girl, she transforms much similar to Machine Maria. The other similarities are there: A cruel dictator, a son who is at odds, and again, a robot. But that’s it. This story is its own movie. It’s not a remake, not does it try to be.
This movie is also fantastic. You will feel empathy for some of the characters, and you will be engrossed by this film. However, this movie has the best animation I have seen in years. Fluid, colorful, stunning, and just beautiful. Cell animation and CG blend perfectly to create this amazing world of man and machine. The pacing is a little slow at times, but your eyes will not get bored. This movie doesn’t need sound, but it has it, so whatever. The music was odd. Jazz as opposed to sweeping orchestra music. Still, it worked.
Go see both. You’re life will thank me.
-Lauren
True Blood what the shit.
June 27, 2010Does anyone else watch True Blood? It’s possibly one of the greatest WTF IS THIS SHIT shows I’ve ever seen. Lots of stupid things happen in it. Like Sookie and Bill’s accent. They both sound really gosh darn dumb. If I have to sit through “ERIC I MAHST SAVE BEEEEEEL” or “SOOKEH IS MAHN” one more gosh darn time I will punch my T.V screen. However, the only reason why I watch it?
Pam and Eric. Oh and Sam.
Ok three reasons. But they are ~*beautiful*~ reasons to watch. I love Pam. I would like to be Pam when I grow up. She is truly the Head Bitch In Charge, despite what the show says. She is a fierce bitch, and I have a big girl crush on her. As for Eric? I would hit that with the might of Thor. And Sam is really hot and super adorable. Very shallow reasons, I know. But I can’t find any other real reason to watch. Bill reminds me of Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon. Constantly getting into trouble or being kidnapped. Next thing you know space witches are gonna pop into the show. IT COULD HAPPEN.
-Lauren
Suicide Girls booted from San Diego Comic Con…
June 25, 2010And not because someone finally said “HEY WHY ARE THERE STRIPPERS* AT A FAMILY FRIENDLY CONVENTION.” No, because they might have sold something to a minor because the idiot working at the SG booth didn’t check for an I.D. While I’m glad they aren’t allowed back, what gets me is why were they even there in the fucking first place. All of these conventions claim to be “family friendly”, yet at Wizard World Philly I saw Suicide Girls, and then right across there was some other booth of hookers offering free massages. Right out there in the open. And while I will usually be the last to scream “WON’T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!” I must say, won’t someone think of the children? And yes, a parent should be there to make sure their kid doesn’t buy porn, but it’s a little hard to avoid that booth when it’s right in the middle of the convention.
Take Otakon for example. They keep ALL of their adult material (or rather, the showings, as well as the adult art show) in a separate room/rooms. The only way to get in to see any of that stuff, is by showing your I.D. I can safely say, from experience, that the people working at that convention due in fact check I.D’s. While there are dealers and artists who have adult material, even they are thoughtful and do stop people and warn them or check for I.D’s. Otakon also has a somewhat enforced dress code, which is also a plus. Otakon also calls itself family friendly, and I can agree. They are. Wizard World conventions? Maybe not so much.
Which brings me too this; Wizard World claims to be a comic book convention. They really need to just call themselves a multi-geek fandom convention. Do you want a good example of a real comic con? Baltimore Comic Con. Every guest is involved with comics in some way. There are no washed up actors, wrestlers, America’s Next Top Model winners, Star Trek guests, nor are there Suicide Girls. Just comics. I’m dead serious.
-Lauren
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/events/suicide-girls-comic-con-banned/
*Or “alternative model”, whatever. I’m not even mad about SG being a site where girls show their boobies. More power to them. But back in the day that site required age verification, which to me doesn’t scream family oriented.
Return of WTF Theater
June 24, 2010So back in the day, Saban USA wanted to bring Sailor Moon over to the USA. For those of you who used to bitch (or might still do, who knows) about DIC, please watch this.
Horrifying.
But somehow, this Japanese version of TMNT is much worse.
-Lauren
DC launches digital publishing.
June 23, 2010Starting today, you can now get a DCU app for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Playstation Portable will also be able to get DCU digital. DC is one of many who are now embracing the digital age, leaving a giant question mark over good old-fashioned comic book publishing. With other media outlets such as newspapers going kaput, will hand-held comic books be a thing of the past within the next year? I always think there will be a need for comic books. I personally do not own a PSP, iPhone, iPad, nor an iPod Touch. I do however own a Blackberry, but I very highly doubt I would want to read a comic on a screen that small. That seem’s silly.
John Rood, Executive VP of DC Entertainment said, “Today’s launch provides an additional opportunity to convert new readers and recapture lapsed readers while serving existing fans,” while I understand where he is coming from with new readers, this does not serve me at all, as an existing reader. It also won’t serve my 60-year-old father, who has been reading comics his whole life.
Whatever the future may hold, I hope no comic book publisher gets rid of the old-fashioned comic book.
-Lauren
Batman/Superman: Finest Worlds
June 22, 2010Last week at the library I picked up Batman/Superman: Finest Worlds. I began reading it as soon as I arrived home, and finished it last night. Overall it was an enjoyable book, with the main “plot” of the book revolving around Batman taking on Superman’s powers. I say “plot” because the first half of the book has little to do with Super Bat. The first chapter is about how Bruce and Clark’s fathers met before they were born. The next was about mini childlike versions of the entire JLA being thrown into the “real” world where people get hurt and die. The final chapters are about Super Bat. Each section is enjoyable in itself, but there’s no real flow between the stories, other than Superman and Batman’s relationship. It’s cheesy, to be honest, how they regard themselves as brothers.
Yet the two won’t admit their brotherly love for one another. They are too manly or too scared to admit it, which causes some decent conflict, but as always the boy scout Superman just shrugs Batman’s mood swings off as “just being himself.” Their profound understanding of each other rivals that of Kirk and Spock, yet I don’t find the friendship as endearing or even as real, or as real as two fictional characters can be. Still, it was a good read, with some fantastic art.
-Lauren
Joker’s Asylum 2: Mad Hatter
June 21, 2010Mad Hatter is my least favorite bad guy in the Batman universe. He doesn’t strike fear in my heart, nor does he make me feel any kind of real emotion for him. However, the other two JA comics I’ve read have been good, so surely this one will be good as well! And of course, it was. The Hatter is a lonely little man obsessed with finding his Alice. He believes he found her–a clerk at a food store–but when he finds out her name is not Alice, he plots to kill her because she “lied” to him. The Hatter is an interesting character, one because I know little about him, and two the Mad Hatter in the legit Alice in Wonderland is crazy. This guy is not only crazy, but he’ll kill you too.
Overall a good comic, but I still have little to no interest in the hatter.
-Lauren
Joker’s Asylum 2: The Riddler
June 20, 2010Aw Eddy! Edward Nigma gets his own one shot in this comic, with Peter Calloway as the writer and Andres Guinaldo as the artist. We are treated to a rather special story, with a side of Edward Nigma we rarely see. The side where he is in love. Nigma is first seen stealing fine art, when a young lady demands to know what he’s doing. I guess this girl hadn’t been living in Gotham or from under a rock for very long, since I would get the idea quickly if I saw The Riddler taking stuff.
So, he falls in love with her. He goes through anguish and torment as she rejects him over and over. Finally. Nigma gets what he wants, but when he finds out it is not what he thought it would be, the girl suffers as a result. The story is very easy to read, and while it is not a great introduction to Riddler, it is still an exceptional one shot. If you’ve never read a Batman comic or only know of the Riddler from that one terrible movie with Bat Nipples, that is a-ok too. You’ll still have fun with this comic.
-Lauren
Girls With Comics 