Recently in Movies Category

This is in honor of the US release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 opening today, Nov 19, 2010.  As we all know, Harry Potter is played by Daniel Radcliffe, hence the song...Daniel.  I don't have any nostalgia or feeling like Bat For Lashes does, but I do love this song. The Deathly Hallows trailer is below the lyrics.

Here's a funny fake "Facebook Feed" representing how The Social Network was created. As shown on Slate.com:

A few interesting articles about the "truth" behind The Social Network:

• The 10 Most Glaring Lies in "The Social Network"
• The Facebook Movie is an Act of Cold-Hearted Revenge

So I have Netflix and they recently released their iPhone app which allows me to watch ANY of my Instant View movies on my phone at any time.  I was so excited I started putting a TON of movies in my queue, even if I'd watched them before. I added Donnie Darko because I wanted to watch s. Darko and needed to rewatch the original again.

Now, I know this is like a "cult" classic and so many people are always raving about it like it's the greatest movie.  I do like it, and its stylistic weirdness, but it's also a movie that I am not obsessed about. Nor do I claim things like "if you want to understand me, then just watch this movie," like some of my friends have said. 

After I watched Donnie Darko, I immediately watched s. Darko and that movie was even stranger than the first. I like time traveling movies, yet I still leave both movies a bit perplexed. Donnie makes more "logical" sense to me than s. did, but then again, the sequel was probably made more to confuse and "trip you out" than make much sense.

But, this brings me to why I'm writing about the movies. I have been trying to figure out a way to express myself creatively in a way that feels like me.  I am enthralled by vinyl toys such as Kid Robot or Tokidoki.  They have that "kawaii" cuteness I am obsessed with, but also a creepy cool style I love.  What I didn't really get was that there was a whole DIY following where people buy the plain Munnys, Dunnys, or other toys and make their own creations. 

I found a whole webpage dedicated to just that on the Kid Robot website called Munnyworld. They have the vinyl toys currently available and even include some tips for creating your own.  Mr. Oshimbo has been interested in these ever since we saw Doktor A.'s amazing Steampunk Munny that he had designed to have three separate rotating faces.  I wish I had taken a picture of it because it's not on the webpage.  Mr. Oshimbo wants to expand his robotics skills to possibly make a Munny mechanical and allow me to decorate it. We bought three DIY toys (2 Munnys and 1 Trikky).

I found the Donnie Darko DIY creation while getting inspiration.  It is just one example of how you can create a recognizable creation from something foreign. You instantly know this is a Donnie Darko piece without it actually saying "I am the rabbit from Donnie Darko". I must say, I think I like the Dunny version of the rabbit more than the actual one.  Like I said, I like things cute and creepy. 

Check out this flickr Munnyworld Group to see great customizations. 

I don't know what I'll make or even if they'll be any good, but I hope it will make me feel like I'm leaving a trace of my creativity in the world. =) 

For the past three years, Mr. Oshimbo and I have ventured to Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA.  Our only regret is we never knew it existed until three years ago.  However, this convention has been going on for 22 years now, every Labor Day weekend, and is the Southeast's largest Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming, Anime, Comics, Pop-Culture convention.  It is very "fan" driven versus events like San Diego Comic-Con that are mostly industry driven (or have become industry driven as it's grown to monumental sizes over the years).

Well, from the moment we went three years ago, our eyes were opened and our hearts were found.  It was like finding 30K people who are just as dedicated and nerdy/geeky as you.  They all converge and are there for the same thing...FUN. 

The way Dragon*Con works is events are broken into "Tracks" of programming.  These include such things as: Whedonverse (all things Joss Whedon), YA Lit (Young Adult Literature), BritTrack (British SciFi TV), Anime (Anime/Manga), FILK (SciFi Folk Singing), Robotics, Costuming, Dark Fantasy, etc, etc, etc.  Here is the link to the fan tracks available with more information on each. The schedule is broken up into now five downtown Atlanta hotels (Expanded from four last year) with pretty much 24-Hrs worth of daily entertainment.  The schedule doesn't come out until about 4-days before the Con starts and then the mad scheduling begins.  I'd say it took Mr. Oshimbo and I about 4-hrs to go through everything to pick our 1st, 2nd, and sometimes 3rd choice activities per time slot. 

Come along and read how our Dragon*Con Adventure went this year...

I'll admit that I am late on the Scott Pilgrim bandwagon.  I am a manga reader so I usually don't know the cool comics/graphic novels that become popular.  However, when I saw the trailer for the movie a few months before the movie came out I was instantly intrigued.  I'll admit...I am a Michael Cera fan.  I know a lot of people are sick of nerd awkward persona, but I still dig it.  Maybe his "nerdspeak" speaks to people like me. 

So, while I was hyped for the movie and understood its premise, I didn't do much research like reading the comics (although the set is now saved on my Amazon wish-list with the Highest priority...Got that people?).  I didn't know who the seven evil exes were or even who else was in the movie beyond what I saw in the trailer. 

I saw the movie last weekend and I loved it.  It was weird and quirky and over-the-top.  My husband said it'll probably be a cult classic type movie.  I am guessing that will be true considering it kinda tanked by industry standards.  I don't care...I LOVED IT.

But, here's where this entry moves to my new favorite character...KNIVES CHAU.  --> Come with me to learn more. =)

I have been very excited about the release of the movie Where The Wild Things Are since I saw the first trailer for it months ago.  The trailer included Arcade Fire's Wake Up and it was so moving I almost cried watching it.  Since then, I have been soaking up everything I can find. Now I wasn't even a fan of the book because I was past childhood when it came out, but the images from the movie were so captivating and so recognizable from the illustrations that I have since become a fan.

I bought the soundtrack to the movie last week without even listening to any of the songs.  However, I did know that Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was doing it with Carter Burwell (recently of Twilight score fame) so it wasn't like it'd be a huge mystery.  I was blown away from the first listen.  Karen O and the Kids have captured youth, wonder, fear, amazement, excitement, and sometimes worry.

After listening for awhile, I started collecting my favorite songs and my favorite is Worried Shoes. It's very subdued and simple with just a piano in the background and Karen O's broken, tender voice that captures the song's theme.  After looking up the lyrics, I found this song is actually a cover and was originally recorded by Daniel Johnston.  It's a brilliant song.

Lyrics and more after the jump...

I saw this movie for my birthday the other day and ever since I can't get it out of my head.  It's like it has planted this thought seed inside and I want to dissect it, appreciate it, contemplate it, and revisit it.  I've been trying to figure out why, but in the end it just resonated with me and has earned a spot in my favorite movies list. 

If you have NOT seen it, STOP HERE, and don't read any further because I'm going to discuss it and I don't want to give anything away.  I will strongly suggest you go watch it right now...find a theater, a showing, and don't hesitate. You will love it.