2.6 degrees right now according to my weather thingy, with a predicted low of 0 for tonight and wind chill as low as 15 below. UGH! Not pleasant. It was 28 this morning when I left for work but it’s dropped a bit since then. I was actually thinking I might finally get my snow, as it was white and windy until 1 or so, but by mid-afternoon it had petered off to a few flakes and just gotten very chilly.
Anyway, as usual, not a lot up with my life…work, school…you know the drill. I still haven’t really gotten started on my latest Concept Development project (darn lack of inspiration) so that’s what Tuesday’s going to be spent on…:P
In my latest media intake review:
Finished–
<–very enjoyable…engaging, and exciting, if a tiny bit predictable…who cares! It’s a fairy-tale! Of course the good-guys win and enchantments are broken! That’s what’s great about fairy tales! Anyway, overall, totally fun sweet book. Also, I just found out it has recently gained a sequel.
After that I read–
<–I had not realized that Howl’s Moving Castle was based on a book. And what I am quite happy to report is that, even though many things in the movie were different than in the book, neither was lessened by it. This is, of course, not usually the case. Most of the time, the essence of a full-length novel is far too difficult to catch in a movie, try as they might, and it gets compressed and squeezed and cut into 2-dimensionality. In this case, however, Miyazaki seems to have read the book and then said, ‘well, that was a lovely story, and I will interpret it in my own way.’ Anyway, this seems to have really ended up with me discussing my love of the film version, but what I mean to say is that the book, though different is equally fantastic, and will not ruin the enjoyment of the utterly awesome anime for you. And it has some interesting and unexpected surprises within it’s pages.
Next I read–
<–Jennifer Government — overall, I enjoyed it, but I felt that for a social commentary novel, it could have had a touch more depth. I mean, it was entertaining and kept me turning pages for sure, but the next 1984 it is not. I didn’t turn the last page and sit there with a slightly dazed expression as new truths funneled into my brain-pan–I already know that the almighty dollar rules more and more and that companies have less and less of a conscience in squeezing it out of their target audience. Don’t get me wrong–it’s a good book and I liked it, but I feel that it didn’t quite make the Huxley/Orwellian leap.
Tonight I finally watched:
<–as a lifelong fan of the Peter Pan mythology and ideology, not to mention an ardent admirer of Mr. Depp, I had put off this film for far too long. And it was great, just as I had heard it was. It was beautiful and touching and even if some of the facts were moved around a bit to fit the movie better, just lovely. And seriously, Johnny Depp’s Scottish accent in the movie is unbelievable. Or rather, ENTIRELY believable. There is nothing that man can not do. Briggs and I were discussing the fact that if he were cast as a samurai with a bunch of Japanese people, he would likely come across as MORE asian than them. And if he were ever to play Dr. Martin Luther King, he’d have like, 5 dreams.
Finally, last night Briggs and I finished–
<–So, I will endeavor to avoid spoilers in case you are in the process of watching or plan to watch the show, but may have to delve into the dark side a tad to express my annoyance. So if you want to steer clear of future knowledge…or just of another one of my rants, feel free to skip the next few paragraphs.
Well, in the first season of the show, I was a little surprised that no romantic entanglements arose within the main group, seeing as the three travelers were all young, healthy and attractive, and traveling together for an extended period of time. But I figured that the writers had simply decided against going there, which is FINE. I mean, I’m a girly girl and like a splash of luv as much as the next, but I don’t feel that no narrative is complete without it. Samurai Champloo had plenty of other stuff going on without interpersonal drama interfering.
Well, about half-way through season 2, a person they travel with briefly suggests to Fu that she will be sad when the journey is at an end and she must part ways with her fellow travelers, and it is clear that Fu agrees, although she doesn’t make it clear on who’s part she will be most distraught. FROM THEN ON the emotional attachment between the characters is raised exponentially. When Mugen or Jin gets injured or separated she cries. She cries at the thought of the trio reaching their final destination and parting ways. At the end, Mugen admits that he doesn’t want to kill Jin, and Jin admits that he finally feels that his life has purpose now that Fu and Mugen are his friends.
And then….they come to a crossroads and all part ways, with smiles on their faces.
I have no doubt that the writers did this intentionally to mess with their fans’ heads. I mean, to jump from mild annoyance at fellow travelers to close bonds and caring only to split them all up in the end without a word of explaination….obviously a very intentional laugh and lack of depth or resolution. But bloody annoying!
Still liked the series though.
****END POTENTIAL SPOILERS*****
ANYway, I need to go shower ’cause I have school tomorrow and I don’t want to be stinky. 
It is now 2.4 degrees outside.
