So tired...but...must...review...movie...

So Paola and I just saw RENT (the movie). I want to write about it right now so that I don't forget, but I'm really tired. So...I'll remember everything, but I won't be able to formulate words well. Here goes...

As always, the music of RENT is awesome. The lyrics are awesome, the music is awesome...it all fits well. Jonathan Larson was very talented. However when one decides to translate art into a completely different medium, the product should justify this change. Case in point: CHICAGO. The movie was much better because there are things you can do in movies (re: flashbacks, simulatneous scenes, etc) that sometimes don't work on stage, Bob Fosse. Unfortunately for the movie producers, Mr. Larson was smart enough to figure out how to do those things successfully on stage already (at times even somehow better than the film makers, weird...). One of the only additions in the movie that I enjoyed was the flashback scenes of Roger's dead girlfriend.

Now I know that plays are different than movies, so I understand that some changes had to be made to the storyline itself. It needed to be shorter, so some things were cut. Ok. It couldn't be only done in song, like the play is, so some of the dialogue was spoken instead of sung. Ok. These spoken pieces couldn't all rhyme all the time cause that would be weird, so some minor words were changed. Also, the story was spread across more days than just Christmas Eve and Day. All of these things I could deal with. I could not deal with the fact that transitions between spoken dialogue and songs were so abrupt. It gave the movie a very choppy, awkward feel. I think this was done because they tried to compromise between letting it feel like a play and trying to make it realistic. When in doubt, I say always go with fantasy (not dorky RPG fantasy, you losers). We all get enough real life in real life. See MOULIN ROUGE for how to do this correctly.

Another thing I could not stand was dialogue that was totally made up. Not altered from original lines, but completely new. A better idea would have been to raise Mr. Larson from the dead and ask him to write some extra stuff. These new lines really sucked. I can't say that enough. It's like they brought in the writers from You've Got Mail or some other empty romantic comedy to write this stuff. I can't explain myself well on this point because my brain's not working right now, but take my word for it. It all just adds to the awkwardness.

One scene in the movie was completely novel: a Maureen/Joanne engagement dinner scene. I sat there like "WTF??" the whole time. I'm not quite sure whether this didn't fit in because I know the story by heart or if it just didn't go. In any case, it doesn't matter because I kind of doubt many people that haven't seen the play are going to see the movie, so it'll probably feel weird for everyone who sees it.

I think a lot of Mark stuff was cut out, too. It seems like he got more play in the theatre production. He was somewhat 1-dimentional in the movie...I mean, they tried to give him some more depth through his film making, but they left out completely the whole inner struggle he experiences being practically the only one who isn't dying in a group of best friends who will all be dead in the very near future. That's kind of a big part of the movie. All they really had to do was add the one argument scene between Mark and Roger (Mark: "I'll be left alone..." Roger: "Oh, poor baby!!"), and it all would have fallen into place. The good thing about downplaying Mark is that you don't have to listen to his incessant whining. But then again, that's what Mark's supposed to be...it's kind of a catch-22.

Other random things I didn't like: Roger's super puffy hair, the fact that in the beginning the whole apt. complex is singing RENT...like they were ALL lied to about having free rent, the picture of Angel at his memorial service (is he eating a cracker?? "Awww, remember that time Angel at that cracker? Then we took a picture of her/him? Good times....tear...) (P.S. I know he's not eating a cracker; he's making a fist or something. But I thought he was because the picture was hard to see or something. Anyways, I was too busy making fun of the Cracker Picture and laughing at my own jokes to pay attention and be appropriately sad.)

Now for some positive points. All of the actors did a good job, particularly with the musical parts. I think that if you saw the play and couldn't connect with the characters, this problem will not be solved in the movie. If anything, it will be worsened. I don't think this is due to the actors though. Some good things to look for: Collins' personality/likability increase and the way he says things...just everything about him is better, super cool spandex pants EVERYWHERE making me want spandex to come back into style and also me to get skinnier, Rosario Dawson's super hottt pseudo-stripper scene, tango scene that I didn't thing was going to be good but turned out to look cool and fit just fine, costume accuracy, probably a few more things I can't think of right now.

Don't worry; I'm almost done. I think the best part of this movie being made is that eventually I will be able to purchase the DVD and skip to the performances that I like. Like I said (and will always say), the music is great! I think I give the movie 3/5 stars. Way better than the film adaptation of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA...don't even get me started on that one. For the most part, I could enjoy the movie, despite the WTF? moments.

Paola and I then went to Walmart. I bought a vacuum. I have to go to bed now so I can get up early and clean and make Thanksgiving dinner. If anything else comes to me when my brain is functioning better, I will put it into this page and then make another post directing you all to the update. Ok bye.

So much to do...always...

Well, I did accomplish some things today. I wrote my essay for this scholarship, so that's good. I plan to do an outline of my thesis now. That's kind of something. I have to get up early and go to work at the VA tomorrow. I've already been reprimanded for coming in late (7:30 and 7:35 are the same thing to me, but whatever...). So maybe I'll do the outline tomorrow...hmmm

I was soooo pissed. Amber offered to give me one of those roasting bags to cook my Thanksgiving turkey in, and I was indecisive, but then I decided. I wanted the bag. So I asked her if she still had it, and she said yes and that she would give it to me. I called her after work today, and asked her if I could come over at 9 pm to get it. Her male-friend is in from NY for the holiday, and she said they might be going out, but that she would leave it on her door if she did. And she said she would call if this was to be done. She never called, so I headed over there at approx. 9. I had to park in the worst parking space ever with a tree blocking my door opening abilities. When I finally got to her door, there appeared to be no bag anywhere, so I figured she must be home. She wasn't. I rang the door bell and called her cell phone to no avail. Then I called Angie, who she was supposed to meet tonight. Angie informed me that she hadn't heard from Amber yet and that I should check the hot tub. I knew that they must be there, but I didn't want to interrupt anything, ya know? ya know?? yeah. But I didn't want my 5 minute journey to be fruitless. So I headed down there. I couldn't see the hot tub, and I couldn't get into the pool area, but I heard the hot tub going, and I thought I heard people. So I started yelling her name, but no one answered. Then I went over to the side of the pool area where the hot tub was, but there was a wall blocking my view. I again yelled her name. No answer. I could hear people wispering thing's like, "someone's here" and "I don't think they saw us." I stormed away. I TOLD her what time I would be coming over. WTF? Well, maybe it wasn't her. As I drove home, I thought about how I would never ask Amber for anything ever again and how she better not try to solicit my help in any way ever. I can't believe I interrupted my nap for this trip. Argh. About a 1/2 hour after I got home, Amber called. "Why didn't you come to the hot tub?" she inquired. "I did. I yelled and yelled." "I didn't hear anything." Yeah right. My ass. I do not care who decides to have sex in what public hot tub, first of all. Second of all, good way to get a BAD infection, I would assume. Mostly, I just wanted that damn bag. She said she would bring it over. Then she called again and asked if she could put the bag in my box at school. I told her that I would not be going to school, thereby forcing her to bring it to my apt. Yes! I had to go outside my apt. again anyways because she couldn't get into the complex. I wish I knew how to open the gate using my telephone. Damn it. Then I met her male-friend. He seems nice. Short, but nice. I got the bag though. Yay! It all worked out. Good thing cause if it didn't...

Here's a quote from Futurama that I found funny. It'd be funnier if it was an audio clip, but I couldn't find one. It's from the episode where Amy, the Asian girl, and her alien boyfriend (Kif) are going to have a baby. This is some dialogue between Amy, the BF, and Amy's Asian parents (Inez and Leo):

Amy: Mom, dad, I know this is weird, but...
Inez: Yeah yeah, we don't care how squishy alien got pregnant. All we care is we have grandchild now!
Kif: You're very open-minded Mrs. Wong.
Leo: Hey, you call her grandma now!
Inez: Call me grandma like crazy! All the time!

Hahahaha...Asians are funny.

Some things I found funny lately...

The other day on t.v.: In a telephone interview, Kiera Knightley (sp?) stated that the directors of the new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice first didn't want her for the part of Elizabeth because she was "too pretty." Then they had a meeting with her and said, "Oh no, you're not too pretty. You're fine for Elizabeth." Hahahahaha...take that Kiera Knightley!

Just now on SNL: My favourite couple, who used to be named Sally and Dan Harrison (The Couple Who Should Be Divorced) but are now called The Needlers, were at a class reunion.

Classmate: Dan, do you still do your painting?
Dan: No, Sally didn't really support that...
Sally: Well, Sally didn't want to live on the STREET!
Dan: Hey, I love painting!
Sally: Then paint the bathroom!!!!

Hahahaha

Why am I still up?

I have to wake up in, like, 5 hours. That's about half of the hours of sleep I need to function properly. I just don't feel tired because I took a nap today. That's right, my sleep schedule is messed up yet again. Oh well. I'll fix it later.

I just saw on t.v. that there's a new place in town: Produce Corral. Woo hoooooo!! Haha, Emily. I will go to Produce Corral just to make you jealous. Yeah, I know you have tons of good produce places to shop. I'm sure they all have crappy names though! Nothing as cool as Produce Corral. I win!

I'm really excited, as well as anxious, for making Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. I think it will be great, as long as I can decide when to buy the turkey, what kind of turkey to buy, and how to make gravy. I'm going to invite Paola to dinner, too, if I can ever get a hold of her again. I tried calling, and her phone's disconnected. She called me today and left a message on my cell phone, but I don't know from where. I was on my way home anyways, so I swung by her apt, but she wasn't there. I hope she calls me when I'm available to answer, so I can ask her what's up...

It's about that time again...clean the apt. time. It just gets out of control sometimes, and I don't know where to begin. I'm sure I'll figure it out by the time Brice gets here on Thursday.

All three remaining fish are still alive. Yay. Also, I did my resume. Turns out, I'm awesome. Yay!

So sorry it's been so long...

I've been super busy procrastinating like hell. All this procrastination has done me some good though. I have decided to drop my genetics course. Why? Because it's soooo sucky. Unbelievably sucky. Sucky beyond the point of suckiness. I'm hoping my copious amounts of redundancy will negate my lack of detail in this case because I just don't want to talk about it further. The decision is done. Period.

Now I can turn my focus to my thesis. Like, hard core. I'm going to get started on that tonight, actually. What? I am!

Another fish died. The living fish ate his eyes post-mordem. Hahahaha, Emily...EYES!!! Anyways, I don't think he has a disease, I think the bully fish bullied him to death. I am not getting him any more friends. Seriously. And then there were three...

Preston's back to being a jerk and not calling me ever. Even on my birthday. A massive brain injury is no excuse either. He can sure remember to call me when he needs something. Whatever.

I saw Jarhead, and it was good. I probably won't see it again though. I don't know; we'll see. Who knows what the future will bring? A lot of people didn't like the movie because they went into it expecting a WAR MOVIE!!!AHHHHH!!! I knew my Sam Mendes, and I left the theater very happy with the character study that he presented.

I watched Bewitched at Paola's, and although it was a cute movie, it was not worth the day of allergy withdrawals that followed my 2 hour visit. Damn cats. Her apt. is kind of cute though. It reminds me of a beach/vacation apt., complete with pot-smoking neighbours. Paola said that she ran into her neighbours, and they were like, "can you here us ever?" She started laughing because all she could think about was how her roommate told her that the neighbours had a fight once, and the guy was all, "You fat B-word!" And the girl was like, "Whatever, you hit this every night!" HAHAHA I don't think she told them that she overheard that though...

Gotta go!

My Most Detailed Drawing Yet...

Here it is!

Still Don't Feel Like Posting...

New Picture

New Picture #2

New Picture #3

Argh...

I'm very angry with everyone who hasn't called me even though they're supposed to be coming here next week for my birthday but probably aren't because plane tickets don't generally just fall out of the sky. I've created a drawing that pretty much expresses my feelings perfectly.

My Picture

I will try to post tomorrow. I don't really want to right now...