Movie update

It's been quite a while since I've been able to have time to write; time seems to be whizzing right by me and I'm writing this during my lunch hour between quick bites of salad.

I'd like to focus on the movies I've watched lately, but feel like I should also provide a fiber update: I completed a pair of socks for me in Regia using the Knit to Fit by Nancy Lindberg pattern and started a pair of socks for Chuck using the same pattern in Flat Feet yarn.

I've also taken up weaving and participated in a 3-week rigid heddle weaving class. My first project was a plain weave scarf in silk and Kona superwash merino. My second project is a market bag using the left-over Kona and Louet Euroflax Geneva. The weaving is done, and I'm now working on the finishing for it. Hopefully, my next post will be dedicated to that experience. My third project(s) are cloth dinner napkins, which required two heddles and took forever to get correctly warped. I've had to set that aside because I'm now busy test knitting two patterns for friends. That I'll keep mum about til they've published....

Okay, so in no particular order, here are the movies I've watched lately and what I've thought of them:

Ghost World (2001): Being a fan of Steven Buscemi, I can't believe that I hadn't seen this movie before. I think this one hit my Blockbuster queue while I was on a Scarlett Johansson kick, so was happy to see him pop up early on in the film. This movie was about two girls graduating high school and their uncertainty for "what's next". Without college in sight for either of them, one takes up a job that she doesn't like, but does it b/c it's necessary to be independent from family; the other dreams and acts out in frustration. I was entertained and would definitely recommend this film.

Equilibrium (2002): This was a pretty close rip-off of 1984 and Fahrenheit 451. This movie stars Christian Bale (pre-Batman, but based on this movie, I can clearly see why he was chosen for the caped crusader role) as a monk in a new world order set on censorship and destroying all media that invokes an emotional response. The society he lives in is one in which emotion is surpressed by pharmaceuticals that all members (even the kids) are required to take. I was also entertained by this movie, but I also am a sci-fi/action fan. If you don't like to watch a lot of shoot-'em up scenes, this movie is not for you.

Incident at Loch Ness (2004): This is a documentary about an expedition lead by Werner Herzog in search of the Loch Ness monster (or is it?). I will admit here and now that I am a fan of the E! channel; I enjoy watching pseudo-celebrity melt-downs (see "I trust you to kill me" with Keifer Sutherland; "Lost in La Mancha" with Terry Gilliam, etc.); and I definitely enjoyed this film. Again, the fake documentary (or is it?) might annoy folks who prefer an out and out serious film. If that best describes you, then watch this with wine.

The Wrestler (2008): Okay, so maybe it's me and I missed the Mickey Rourke craze the first time around (then again, I was 10 when "9 1/2 weeks" came out), but I didn't see what all the hype was about with this movie. Yes, it's a good movie; yes, the acting was fine and one can truly feel for the guy, but I didn't feel that it deserved all the "Best Film of the Year" accolades it received. For anyone left wondering, I recommend that they rent this to see what all the fuss is about for yourself. And please let me know if I missed something...

A Good Woman (2004): This is the movie adaptation of an Oscar Wilde play and has a great cast (ScarJo, Helen Hunt, and Tom Wilkinson). It's about judging others, independence of women, and doing the right thing. I enjoyed this movie and would be hard pressed to think of anything bad about this film.

Babylon A.D. (2008): I hold a special place for Vin Diesel in sci-fi movies, but this stinker tested the limits of that adoration. The plot made next to no sense; the ending was so rushed and could have used a little more explanation that I was actually mad when the movie ended. If you plan on watching this for yourself, stop reading now and skip to the next movie. If you've watched this already, please explain to me: why twins? Why one black and the other white? What does that really say? Childbirth kills Aurora, but not a missile to the face?!? A missile?!? To the face?!? Being someone that has gone through childbirth au naturale and without drugs, then hell, maybe I'm in the wrong profession and I should enlist in the military!

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009): My affinity for Hugh Jackman is a bit different than that for Vin. I like Hugh in just about any film he makes, but why, oh, why did he go along with the stupid plot points in this film? I saw this in the theater (and much to the chagrin of nearby audience members and the embarrassment of my family) I openly laughed during "serious" moments and couldn't believe some of the stupid, out of character decisions some of the characters were making. While this movie did provide Wolverine's whole back-story, I really hope that it is followed-up by a far superior movie that makes it relevant why we needed this information.

Star Trek (2009): What else can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said, other than to give it my stamp of approval and tell you to run (not walk) to the nearest theater to see this. I saw it in IMAX and hope to convince the family to return to the theater this weekend to see it on the regular screen....

JCVD (2008): Much like Vin, I also have a special place in my heart for Jean-Claude and have tended to really enjoy his movies with a sci-fi angle. Timecop is a true love story. Universal Soldier paired the Muscles from Brussels up with He-Man himself (Dolph Lundgren). Sure, he's had his share of stinkers (for instance, see Street Fighter, which sadly had the distinction of being Raul Julia's last film; it was also Kylie Minogue's second film -- coincidence? You be the judge.). In JCVD, there's very little of the kickboxing action that he's famous for and has Jean-Claude playing a character named Jean-Claude Van Damme, who is an action-film star that's down on his luck. Just when he's thinking things are pretty bad, he walks into a post office/bank right at the moment it's being held-up. I enjoyed this movie and would definitely recommend it.