veronica / high kicks and flicks / dog, of course / boys in their finery

[oiran]

I already liked Veronica Mars, despite having some issues with the way sexual assault was dealt with in the pilot. So, now that I've seen episode #2, I like it even better.

Not only has she has retained her nerdy friend, Wallace, from the pilot, but now he's got a job where he can help her out in her P.I. work, and this happy accident was handled believably. She also has a new friend, Troy, whose introduction I kind of missed due to dealing with dog issues. However, I get the impression he's supposed to be part of the "in crowd" although he's stubbornly not getting with the hate-Veronica program. Continuity and character development!

It's interesting to me that Lily is supposed to have been Veronica's best friend, but they don't seem to have been close in the way that most teenage girls are with their "best friend." I'm curious if this is on purpose or if perhaps it's just my interpretation and my history of obsessive, over-emotional friendships casting doubt.

I think the guy who plays Duncan, the ex-boyfriend, is very unattractive. In fact, I find all the guys unappealing except for sexy, bald, Chicano bike gang leader boy. Weevil? How does a guy get a name like Weevil, and then not insist on being called something else? Pretty long eyelashes on that boy…

I can't quite believe I missed Kyle Secor (Jake Kane, the dead girl's father) the first time around, though I picked up on his presence once it was mentioned after the first airing of the pilot. I loved Bayliss - LOVED. I'm not sure if I want him to turn out to be a murderer, or not, but I hope we get to see him more on future episodes.

Anyway, the plot thickens, and the gaps left over from last week are slowly being filled in, so I'm very pleased.

Oh. Paris Hilton - ew. A girl that incredibly wealthy should be able to afford a weave that looks like hair. She looks like one of those Barbie beauty heads you see at garage sales with half the hair torn out and crayon scribbles on the face. In terms of acting - she did what she was supposed to do without any trouble, it seems, but she wasn't asked to do much, so I give her a solid C for performance, and a D for freakass, unattractive hair.

dance movies! I'm a sucker for any movie where people dance as a main feature of the plot. This isn't the same as liking musicals, though. In a musical, people will suddenly sing and dance for no logical reason. In a dance movie, people are dancers, or want to be dancers, or otherwise have some actual reason for dancing, and dancing is an acknowledged behavior, not a plot whimsy. Which means that I loved Center Stage, yawned through Save the Last Dance (Julia Stiles - does anyone like watching her onscreen?), and can't get enough of Strictly Ballroom. My favorite movie of all time, All That Jazz, would certainly count as a dance movie, though it's got a lot more going on than just the dance sequences.

So, anyway, I watched The Company last night. Neve Campbell is the sort-of-star. Apparently, she trained as a dancer originally and went back into intensive training for this role. It's an Altman film, and I really don't usually like Altman stuff. I haven't seen Gosford Park yet because of the fact that it's Altman, even though it sounds like I probably really would enjoy it. Neve dances for the Joffrey Ballet, Malcolm MacDowell is slightly annoying and hammy as the company director (and, yeah, he's supposed to be that way, but probably not that much that way), and James Franco eventually is her boyfriend, and nothing much happens except pretty dancing, lazy dribbles of time in Neve's really cool apartment, and skinny people doing stretches while wearing layers and layers of dance gear. Still, if you like dance movies, you'll like this one. Because, duh: people dance.

Pirates of the Caribbean: So, I must commend all of you who found fannish glee in this for your resourcefulness - because, dude, this was the most boring thing I'd seen in a long time. Sure, Johnny Depp is great as a Big, Gay Pirate, but he's just sort of thrashing around all alone without any other character worthy of interaction. Sadly, despite not disliking Elizabeth, and my mild confusion regarding her bizarre love/repulsion conflicts about pirates and the pirate life, I was ultimately disappointed that her intimations of pluck seemed all but forgotten by the end. Pretty thing, though. The one I felt the worst for, however, was poor Norrington, losing his balls and his dignity in the last couple minutes of the film.

Bend it Like Beckham: Can you believe, I watched this whole thing without recognizing Keira Knightley? Maybe it's because I loved her in this, and didn't care about her at all in PotC. Also loved the adorable Pavinder Nagra. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was remarkable for having big damn jug ears. This was utterly charming, and had a great soundtrack, as well.

In the Mood for Love: Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung are a real-life couple, but they're great here as neighbors whose spouses are having an affair. There's a repeated motif of the two of them acting out imagined turning points in their spouses' affair that never failed to surprise me, even long after I'd realized what they were doing. Everything looks so cool, too. Apparently, Thailand stands in for circa-1962 Hong Kong. Gorgeous colors, lighting, and costumes: sharkskin suits for Tony, and Maggie models seemingly dozens of groovy sixties-print cheongsams (including a striped, sheer number over a slip) that are quietly incredibly sexy. The soundtrack is beautiful, and I'm planning on getting this for writing/staring into space music.

dog, of course: The poor dog is completely zonked. I am hoping it's due to the quantity and variety of medication he is taking. He can barely walk, but we're pretty sure his immobility is from joint pain due to fever and not actually something wrong with his legs or spine. The thing on his neck is still draining which is supposed to be good, but it's hard to view it in a positive light when it's so disgusting. The one on his side began draining, too, but now he has a couple of new ones on his ribcage - though these may turn out to be just lymph nodes and not pus pockets. I've been feeding him beef broth with a syringe. He lies there and licks/swallows while I squirt it into his mouth and it's incredibly pathetic and makes me want to scream and demand that someone else fix this for me, but that isn't going to happen.

Despite being on enough antibiotics to kill EVERYTHING, he does not seem better. But that isn't the same as seeming worse, so I'm trying to be patient.

get out of the house: Mr. Glove called me and insisted that I leave the house for awhile, so I did. I had some coffee and a gourmet popsicle (pineapple!) and read at a table in nice, indirect sun.

I then went and got the October W, since it's apparently late making it to the stands. I am disappointed that there aren't any more pictures actually in the issue than were available online, but I am grateful for the larger scale. I also wonder if anyone can tell me who is who among the male models. They're all listed in the credits, and I know who Boyd and Harry are already, but I want to be able to put names to the other three faces. Specifically, the sultry fellow leaning against Harry and the wall on page 316. Thank you in advance for your kind assistance.

In the book I'm reading? The one where I keep hoping the teenage boys will make out? One of the other characters apparently hopes so, too, having made a passing comment to that effect. Now I'll really be annoyed if there's no boykissing by the end of this thing...

Comments

[pepperjackcandy.livejournal.com]

Pirates of the Caribbean: So, I must commend all of you who found fannish glee in this for your resourcefulness [snip] The one I felt the worst for, however, was poor Norrington, losing his balls and his dignity in the last couple minutes of the film.

I'm so with you on this. Well, except that it was an amusing movie, and that Norrington was pretty much a stuffed shirt through the whole movie, imho.

But what was up with the simpering "I'm not marrying a blacksmith, I'm marrying a pirate" ending? Bleah!

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I am apparently a troublesome person to watch movies with, as I am easily annoyed or bored by what I consider to be breaches in continuity, egregious logic holes, etc. I am actually willing to spend much more time watching a nonsensical TV series (see: Smallville), since - at least in theory - there will be opportunities to make up for and/or repair these problems within the run of a series. With a movie, you have two hours to convince me your world exists, and if you fail, I'm no longer intererested.

I liked Norrington the stuffed shirt and the rather adult undercurrent of potential cruelty I sensed (or perhaps made up, to counterbalance the boredom) in the character, so to have him go all wimpy-noble and encourage Elizabeth in her near-cuckolding of him (sure, they weren't married, but for that time period they might as well have been, except that this wasn't really a period piece or in any way attached to reality, but I digress...and in exactly the way I do while watching movies I come to dislike) was just offensive.

Kiera Knightley should do more things like Beckham and less of the costume extravaganzas, IMO.

I did love Capt. Jack Sparrow, though. I just wanted to see him in another movie entirely.

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

(Julia Stiles - does anyone like watching her onscreen?)

*raises hand high* yup, i sure do. actually, i've seen pretty much all her movies just because they have her in them. i'm not sure why i like her this much, i just do. i thought that save the last dance was pretty contrived from beginning to end, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment or multiple viewing of it one bit.

i watched gosford park recently, and i really loved it. i don't like murder mysteries and i usually have to be in the mood for period pieces, but this film won me over pretty much right from the start, mostly due to its amazing attention to detail. i think this film isn't so much about the story as it is about trying to recreate a certain time period down to the last dish cloth. in addition, it has so many great actors, including [the previously unknown-to-me] kelly mcdonald as mary maceachran. the dvd also has an excellent commentary by altman and the writers.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

What was that one with her and Stockard Channing? The Business of Strangers or something like that? She wasn't likeable in that--but she wasn't supposed to be, either. I found the story really interesting until the end. Admittedly, I don't remember it clearly at this point, a couple years post-viewing, but I do remember being incredibly disappointed with the resolution or lack thereof.

I actually have seen quite a few movies she's been in when I think about it. She strikes me as having a very unexpressive face, which seems decidedly odd an actress.

And, yeah, Last Dance was really contrived and useless, but I've seen it more than once, too, because, hey: dance movie!

Gosford Park seems to have been enjoyed by so many people that I'm becoming convinced ;) Also, since I just watched an Altman movie and liked it, it's seeming more possible that it could happen twice...

[mei-x.livejournal.com]

My problem with JS is her flat voice. I did like her in 10 Things I Hate About You, but not much else.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I did see that and enjoy it, but I think that was an instance where her overall flatness was good for the role.

She was in something recently (that I haven't seen) where she falls in love with some guy who turns out to be a prince...and I was kind of shocked, seeing the ads, that someone thought that young girls would relate to Julia Stiles in what is basically a role for Hilary Duff or some other bubbly kid. As she gets older, I hope she does some role where she plays a very bitchy, cruel, cold person, as I think I'd enjoy watching her do something where that sense of withholding I get from her would really enhance the performance.

[pun.livejournal.com]

Dude! I love Center Stage! I love dance movies, and the thing I love about Center Stage is that it has no dillusions of grandeur. It's just a really fun movie!

I dreamt of dogs last night. Probably because I keep thinking about your poor puppy. I continue to have my fingers crossed. When does Mr. Glove return?

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so glad you love it, too! I can't figure out why Center Stage doesn't have more fans! Pretty dancing people! Sex! Eating disorders! Smoking! All that dancey shit that I love!

Actually, I remember that about a year ago stopawhile was trying to remember the name of a movie, described it, and got a bunch of people going "Center Stage! Center Stage! I love it!" I should try to find her old post and figure out who the rest of the CS fans are...

Mr. Glove comes home on Sunday. He offered to come home sooner, but I think he should enjoy his Seattle visit. And, really, if he comes back early, we'll probably just have a fight about nothing because I'm so tense and upset in general, so I'd like to postpone that if I can...

[pun.livejournal.com]

Yes, there's nothing quite like an irrational blow up at your man to act as a palliative in times of stress. I do it early and often.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

There's nothing quite like displaced anger to spice up a conversation, and I'm pretty sure Mr. Glove would have to agree.

[pun.livejournal.com]

Oh, Sir Pun *loves* it when I take out my anger at other people/the world on him. Go on, just ask him. That's why I do it so often.

[the-atlien.livejournal.com]

I can't figure out why Center Stage doesn't have more fans!

Where have you been hanging out? It's a fan favorite at Fametracker.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Where have you been hanging out?

Heh. Well, not at Fametracker ;)

But, yay! CS fans! I'll have to go check it out. Does it have its own thread?

[the-atlien.livejournal.com]

Here ya go! (http://forums.fametracker.com/index.php?showtopic=1856&st=0)

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'm reading, and these people are clearly my real family ;) Thank you so much!

[nuptse.livejournal.com]

Did they put him on steroids? That can sometimes cause the symptoms you're describing. Although, I'd think with it possibly being a massive infection, they'd not do that. Poor pup. It's so frustrating to see your loved ones suffer, especially when there's not a damn thing you can do. Especially the ones who can't tell you what's wrong and understand you're doing everything in your power to help them. Then again, I'm the one that took my dog to the vet to make sure he wasn't going to bleed to death before I went to the emergency room for my own self after we had that tangle with the PitBull.
*hugs you*
*hugs the pup carefully*

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

No steroids because the vet still remains cautious about a fungus despite negative tests. I appreciate his caution, since the tests for everything are negative and obviously something is quite wrong anyway. Apparently, steroids on top of a fungus = death.

The vet/ER thing makes me smile (despite the circumstances you were in), because I'd do the same thing with one of my animals.

Right now, Obadiah is sitting up like a sphinx and staring as if insulted at a repulsive stain on his bedding. This makes me happy, as he'd been unwilling to sit up at all earlier today.

[justblue0162.livejournal.com]

i *love* dance movies. i especially love ones that cast actual dancers and actually show off their talent. show me their feet, dammit, nobody dances with their face.

i think i'm going to buy the company just for the pretty. i particularly liked the one where the girl was on the swing, with the long flowing dress and the wind. and the zany choreographer guy cracked me up :)

i also sat through dirty dancing 2: havana nights. worth it just for diego luna's cute little ass.

anyway. i could babble more, with some vague sense of authority (10 years of tap, ballet, and jazz, yo), but i need to clean the kitchen. ergh.

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Yes! Must see feet! That reminds me of watching that stupid movie, 8MM, where Nicolas Cage is investigating the veracity of a snuff film. When we finally see a clip of the supposed film, there's a scared girl, then a cut to a hooded creep with a knife, then the girl, then the knife stabbing down and out of the frame. So lame. Who watches snuff for the weapon?

I loved the swing thing, too, and I loved the music for the piece- Julee Cruise. I liked zany choreographer guy, but I hated his ballet. I like to see the feet, but I also like to see the bodies, or I like to see them in costumes that show their movement instead of distracting from it.

Diego Luna is in Dirty Dancing 2????? Whoa. I gotta rent that one, then.

Ten years? But not any more? Why?

[justblue0162.livejournal.com]

I loved the swing thing, too, and I loved the music for the piece- Julee Cruise.

Oooh, is it on a soundtrack somewhere? I never thought to check...

Diego Luna is in Dirty Dancing 2????? Whoa. I gotta rent that one, then.

Yes, and he's *adorable*. I couldn't stand the girl though, but she did okay with the dancing.

Ten years? But not any more? Why?

I went to dancing school pretty steadily until I graduated high school (a few months off here and there when the family moved). It was obvious I'd never be a professional or anything, but I had friends there and it was exercise I could tolerate because it wasn't boring. I think I took one tap class in college, but it was weird dancing with strangers, and not being a dance major anyway, I just felt odd. So I just sort of stopped. If there was someone to go with, I'd totally take a dance class now. I don't miss it with any great longing or anything, but it was fun :)

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

It's actually a song that was used in Twin Peaks. I had the album on cassette, and probably still do somewhere... Anyway, if there's a soundtrack for The Company, they'll hopefully have included it. If not, I'll try to track down the title and maybe even the song, because hearing it again certainly made me want to have the ability to play it whenever I want to ;)

And I guess I wasn't really thinking that Diego Luna would be dancing with a girl. I was kind of imagining another chapter of Y Tu Mama with him maybe dipping Gael Garcia Bernal... Still, I'll rent this. Yay for Netflix, so no one has to know what I'm watching!

I always wanted to take ballet, and when I was Smoking!Jed, people used to come up and ask me if I were a dancer. Either someone in the Seattle Ballet looked like me, or it was just a line. However, when I finally took a class, it was long after I'd quit smoking, and seeing myself in a full-length mirror in tights was traumatic. Also, I proved uncoordinated in ways I had not expected. I'm not a bad dancer when I'm just dancing around, but anything "official" is beyond me. I try to lead, or I lose track of steps, or I just look and feel miserable. And even though I'm saying these negative things, just typing it makes me think I'd like to try again ;) So, if I move to your neighborhood, or you to mine, we'll take a class together.

[missu.livejournal.com]

I adore dance movies! I even spent one new year with some friends, red wine and Centre Stage. Hmmmm. That probably tells us more about the sad state of my social life than about my love for dance movies, though...

But! Centre Stage. A biiig fan here. And I'm always on the lookout for new ones to watch so this post was really helpful, actually. I'm just sorry about your doggie. :(

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

Had you seen the posts on Fametracker about the movie? Lexual posted a link above, and I was - though I hate to admit it - kind of shocked to discover how bad even people who love it think it is. I've never even thought much about the bad acting, though I if I think about it, it obviously isn't acted very well at all. At least I did notice on my own that Cooper's stupid ballet does flaunt conventional thinking about time and space, but those scenes have Charlie in them, and I love me some Charlie.

Thanks for your concern re: doggie. He's still gross, but he might be better today. I can't tell for sure. It would be nice if he could talk and just tell me how he was feeling.

[isagel.livejournal.com]

I for one loved Pirates of the Caribbean for the absolute insanity of it all and for Johnny Depp's incredible performance. Certainly, the movie has plotholes the size of Texas, and Elizabeth is a hard character to take seriously (as is Will, who I doubt would have such a big place in slash if Orlando Bloom weren't widely acclaimed as Teh Pretty), but I was more than willing to look past that for the sheer fun of it. I had no hankering for PotC fanfic, though, until crack_van made me stumble on a Norrington-centric piece and I fell head over heels for the concept of Sparrow/Norrington. Norrington is, as many have pointed out, the only *real* person in the movie (thank you, Jack Davenport), and since I've always had a thing for attraction between enemies, that pairing suited me perfectly. And it didn't exactly hurt that I find Johnny Depp incredibly beautiful. It's not a pairing I read often, but I did immensely enjoy writing it in Carnival, and I have another piece underway which has the potential of being good in a more serious way. (Carnival is the only thing I've written that's been recced on crack_van, and it seems to have a very enthusiastic audience, but it is playful rather than substantive and I feel I have more to say about these characters in a darker context.) Point being, that much as I love the movie, I wouldn't have any fannish interest in it if it weren't for Norrington. If there had been more interaction between him and Sparrow onscreen, I suspect you wouldn't have such a sense of Johnny Depp thrashing around all alone. Come to think of it, the main problem in the movie probably is that darling Orlando can't really act, and a performance like Depp's needs better acting on the other end to reach its fullest potential. Still, I do love the movie, silly girl that I am. *g*

[velvetglove.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize you'd written PotC fic - I'm going to have to read it.

Sparrow and Norrington are the best characters, and I wish Norrington had gotten more onscreen time, as the potential for some real tension (of all kinds) between the two of them was there, just disgracefully unrealized. It seemed as if every time something interesting was about to happen, the movie would recall that it was a Disney product and dullness would resume.

Mr. Depp is lovely. I watched Once Upon a Time in Mexico right after PotC, and ended up not only enjoying the hell out of it, but wishing that Captain Jack Sparrow had been given a venue as fitting as that provided to Agent Sands.

Kiera Knightley is a pretty girl, but I don't like her all smothered in ruffles as she was here. Orlando Bloom looks like a lap dog, nervous and fine-boned, with big, limpid eyes. I've never seen him in anything where he was actually expected to act - this movie wasn't that opportunity, at any rate.

I am so cantankerous about movies. I've been trying to think of just one fannish movie that everyone loved that I loved, too, and I'm coming up blank.