Ramblings of a Fangirl

Happy Birthday!!

2009-12-30T22:13:45Z

Dear surgery scars,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Just one year ago you came into my life. At first there was only 4 of you, but then thanks to my bandages, and finding out I was allergic to that adhesive, there was suddenly 5 of you!

Just remember the good times... how I couldn't walk, move, do anything... Spending New Years Eve (and all of New Years Day) curled up in bed knocked out by heavy drugs...

Oh, but those drugs were great. REALLY great.

So happy birthday scars! Too bad you haven't seen sunlight since.

Top 25 Pop Songs of 2009 Mashup

2009-12-29T08:42:44Z

As much as I HATE most modern music, this was actually REALLY well done:

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Dear United States. You're dumb.

2009-12-29T00:16:12Z

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6173399/Charles-Darwin-film-too-controversial-for-religious-America.html

Charles Darwin film 'too controversial for religious America'

Creation, starring Paul Bettany, details Darwin's "struggle between faith and reason" as he wrote On The Origin of Species. It depicts him as a man who loses faith in God following the death of his beloved 10-year-old daughter, Annie.

The film was chosen to open the Toronto Film Festival and has its British premiere on Sunday. It has been sold in almost every territory around the world, from Australia to Scandinavia.

However, US distributors have resolutely passed on a film which will prove hugely divisive in a country where, according to a Gallup poll conducted in February, only 39 per cent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.

My next tattoos

2009-12-28T10:44:50Z

So in the near future (not anytime soon, but the near future), I've picked out my next 2 tattoos that I want.

First up, I want the 4 elements from Avatar: The Last Airbender. I'm still not sold on where I want these, of if I want just lines in color, just in black (would match the LotR tat better), or full color blocks, but so far here's the winning idea. I figure feet will have the least weight fluctuation. If I lose the amount of weight I want to, then maybe I'd consider these on my hip/down my side. But for now, the plan is my other foot that's not attached to the leg that has my One Ring tattoo.

Photoshop visual:

After that, and even further into the future, I want the White Tree of Gondor. Yes, another LotR tattoo. Sorry Star Wars, you don't have enough pretty things.

Right now the plan would be for the outline covering my whole back.

Though wanting this makes me question putting the Avatar tatts in black ink, so then all of my tatts would kinda match... but we'll see. I don't really know where else I'd put this, unless I wanted it small. It's such a grand tree I figure it needs to be BIG.

OR, just because it's beautiful, save my back for something a bit more grand.

Like the Doors of Moria:

It took me a minute to figure out. Then I died laughing.

2009-12-27T22:14:25Z

Christmas with Family

2009-12-25T04:36:10Z

Tonight before dinner:

Me: What's wrong?

Dad: Nothing. Just... feeling very grateful this Christmas.

Me: Aww, the Grinch's heart grew 3 times that day.

Dad: Oh shut up.

And OH MY GOD. MY MOM suggested that we have wine with dinner.

MOM.

SUGGESTED WINE.

Hell froze over.

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Mele Kalikimaka, Vesele Vanoce!

WTF?!

2009-12-25T03:32:43Z

Whoever paid for my account, thank you. I seriously didn't think anyone would, so I was posting it mostly out of humor. But thank you.

But saying it's from Anonymous is just mean! :-P

Wilhelm Scream

2009-12-23T10:49:18Z

Man, not even the Wilhelm scream is safe from Twilight:

Dear Santa Claus

2009-12-23T04:47:35Z

So is this the year you finally grant my wish about a money tree?

(Though seriously, does anyone love me enough to renew my LJ account?)

Oh Nostalgia Critic.

2009-12-22T02:33:23Z

So last year, the Nostalgia Critic did the Top 12 Best Christmas Specials:

http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/3226-top-12-greatest-christmas-specials

This year he's back with a vengeance to bring in the Next 11 Best Christmas movies.

http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/14801-ncchlist11

Netflix reviews, my top 50 movies of the 2000s, and my top 10.

2009-12-22T00:32:28Z

So let's start with Netflix Reviews, shall we?

My last update on Netflix movies was October 3rd. Ridiculous amount of films since then, thanks to my professor.

The Departed (2006) - Why have I not seen this movie until now?? This film was SO GOOD. Fantastic cast, great acting... oh man.

5 Stars.

High Sierra (1941) - The first of 9 films I had to watch for my class. It's a pretty stereotypical mafia film with Humphrey Bogart, but it's decent.

4 Stars.

Stray Dog (1949) - I've seen better from Kurosawa. While there's never a dull moment in this film, it's just so... meh. Not horrible, but not his best.

4 Stars.

Nattvardsgästerna/Winter Light (1963) - Jesus Christ, Ingmar Bergman I will hate you forever for this film. This is the film that my professor, Jean-Pierre Gorin, calls "The Perfect Film." This film though is so.. uggg. Just ugg. Decent acting and a very powerful message/plot, but I hate this film so much it's not even funny.

2 Stars.

They Were Expendable (1945) - This was a good film, except I couldn't stand John Wayne being John Wayne. A great tribute to the Navy, though.

3 Stars.

Made of Honor (2008) - Incredibly cheesy but still cute and funny.

4 Stars.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) - This was... not a good movie. I love the Underworld movies, but this was just... bad.

3 Stars.

Mouchette (1967) - Gag me. Seriously. This movie was just... ug.

2 Stars.

Pick Up On South Street (1953) - WIN. So much Win. Finally a movie in this class that I loved. It's a great humorous twist; the pick-pocket thief who is torn between making money and being a patriot. So awesome.

5 Stars.

My Darling Clementine (1946) - Oh John Ford. Your films are always good, but this one is just AWESOME. Love, love, LOVE.

5 Stars.

Strictly Ballroom (1992) - This was cute, but it didn't dazzle me. Sorry Baz, but of your Red Curtain trilogy, this is the weakest.

4 Stars.

Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach (1968) - Ouch. This was one of the most boring movies I've ever seen. Which is why I never really watched it. It would have these long 10 minutes or so where the camera didn't move at all and was just showing Bach playing music. So I really listened to this film more than I watched it.

2 Stars.

Zhantai/Platform (2000) - Ugg. A Coming of age story about a stupid boy in Maoist China. 2 & 1/2 hours of bore.

2 Stars.

Eddie Izzard: Glorious (1997) - Oh Eddie Izzard. How much I love you. This one contained the Evil Giraffe.

5 Stars.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) - I liked this movie a lot more than I thought I would. Great script, and great acting.

4 Stars.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) - This is one of the most ridiculous Bollywood films I've seen. It's just so... bad. Cute, but baaaad. AWESOME dance numbers, though. I mean, just check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCpfH76tVIw

3 Stars.

House of Flying Daggers (2004) - This film was pretty, and I liked the plot, but there just seemed to be something missing.

4 Stars.

Hero (2002) - Meh. Jet Li, you were so much better in Once Upon a Time in China. The film was BEAUTIFUL, though. The use of colors was extraordinary. But everything else was just kinda meh.

3 Stars.

The Rocketeer (1991) - Man, I forgot how cheesy awesome this film is. I got it to make my roommate watch it, since she'd never even heard of it. It's so cheesy, but I love it.

4 Stars.

So moving on to my top films of the Decade. Coming up with 10 right of the bat seems impossible for me. So instead, I decided to pick my top 5 of each year, then I'll see if I can whittle it down from there. And here we go:

2000:
Gladiator
The Perfect Storm
Cast Away
X-Men
Miss Congeniality

2001:
Moulin Rouge!
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Bridget Jones Diary
A Knight's Tale
Legally Blonde

(Honorable Mentions: Monsters, Inc., Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone, A Beautiful Mind)

2002:
The Two Towers
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Spider-Man
Gangs of New York
Catch Me If You Can

(Honorable Mentions: Chicago, The Bourne Identity, Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets, Lilo & Stitch)

2003:
Return of the King
Big Fish
Love Actually
Pirates of the Caribbean
Finding Nemo

(Honorable Mentions: Bruce Almighty, X2, Kill Bill)

2004:
The Aviator
Ray
The Incredibles
Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
Mean Girls

(Honorable Mentions: Euro Trip, Spider-Man 2, Shrek 2, Collateral, National Treasure, Dodgeball)

2005:
Batman Begins
Walk the Line
Narnia
Hitch
Revenge of the Sith

(Honorable Mentions: Goblet of Fire, King Kong, 40 Year Old Virgin, Sky High, Memoirs of a Geisha, Corpse Bride)

2006:
The Departed
Little Miss Sunshine
V for Vendetta
Borat
The Pursuit of Happyness

(Honorable Mentions: Pirates 2, Cars, the DaVinci Code, Happy Feet, Superman Returns, Night at the Museum)

2007:
There Will Be Blood
Sweeney Todd
Stardust
300
Juno

(Honorable Mentions: Enchanted, Order of the Phoenix, Spider-Man 3, Transformers, Pirates 3, Bourne Ultimatium, TMNT)

2008:
Iron Man
The Dark Knight
Wall-E
Gran Torino
Tropic Thunder

(Honorable Mentions: Slumdog Millionare, 27 Dresses)

2009:
Avatar
Star Trek
Up
District 9
Taken

(Honorable Mentions: The Princess and the Frog, Half Blood Prince)

So here we go. My list of what I think is the 10 best films of the past Decade:

10. Gangs of New York - It was either this one or There Will Be Blood. Daniel Day Lewis was just amazing in both of them, but Gangs of New York had a far more awesome cast. First movie where I actually thought "Damn... Leo DiCaprio really CAN act." Historically it's awesome too. This came out when I was in AP US History and my teacher raved about it and made us all go as a class field trip. So good.

9. Avatar- This is only this low because of its newness. And I've only seen it once. I'm sure than maybe in time, this will rise on the list. Until then, it's still the most beautiful film I've ever seen.

8. My Big Fat Greek Wedding - This movie has grown on me so much. An Independent film going so far. Fantastically written, great acting, just a really great movie.

7. Big Fish - Ewan McGregor and Tim Burton made this beautiful masterpiece. It's everything a movie should be.

6. Iron Man - Iron Man gave me hope that comic book movies COULD BE GOOD. Never mind that this was a fun movie; it was actually GOOD. Good acting, good script, just GOOD. By far, it's my favorite Comic Book movie ever now. It also restored my faith in Robert Downey Jr. as an actor.

5. Wall-E - Wall-E is on here to represent the Pixar/Disney contingent of my favorite films. This one by far was the most beautiful with the least. For a film that is predominantly wordless, it speaks so much. It's also one of the more recent Pixar films that has made me start crying. Just utterly beautiful.

4. Moulin Rouge! - The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. This movie is just so fantastic beyond words - which is why it's a musical. Great acting, beautiful cinematography, but overall it's just a beautiful movie about truth, beauty, freedom, and above all else, Love.

3. The Dark Knight - This is so high on the list just for the feelings this movie created. Every time I watch it, I still feel weary, as if that movie has just consumed my life. Fantastic acting, great story... yet another example of a comic movie (a big deviation, but a comic movie nonetheless) can be utterly fantastic.

2. Gladiator - Ridley Scott's epic movie is still nothing but that; Epic. Utterly fantastic action mixed with beautiful cinematography and wonderful acting. So powerful and so awesome.

1. Lord of the Rings. I am going to cheat horribly and lump all 3 together. There's no doubt about it. This was the best film for 3 years running. It's just filmmaking at its finest. Beautiful, powerful, amazing.

Call out to my costuming friends!

2009-12-19T21:33:26Z

My friend sache8 wants to make an Inara costume for Comic-Con. She's a novice sewer, so I figured any help on finding patterns would be really helpful. She wants to make Inara's outfit from Our Mrs. Reynolds.

The top is pretty straightforward, but if anyone has a pattern # for something similar, that would be awesome. The skirt is my main concern. It's pretty straight except for the back wedge insert.

Does anyone have/know of a pattern for skirts like that? Without the ruffles; I can tell her how to make those easy enough. :p

OH LOL.

2009-12-19T08:30:39Z

James Cameron's Avatar

2009-12-18T11:46:48Z

No spoilers: This is by far visually the most beautiful film I have ever seen. It was just so... perfect. Like OMG. I couldn't tell what was CGI and what was real by the end of the film. 2 hours and 45 minutes, and I was completely breathless and speechless. Go see it. Even if you think it's over-hyped. Even if you know it's Dances With Wolves in Space. Go see it. James Cameron... wow. Just... wow.

(SPOILERS BELOW)
1) The whole point of having Avatars is that the air isn't breathable. We're assuming that the air contains SOME oxygen, because when the humans breath the air, it's not point blank suffocation. It's like there's too much of other stuff in the air that we can't breath. That being said, when Jake lights a torch... he lights a torch. Would a torch light in a more gaseous atmosphere without exploding? I'm not a scientist, so I found that odd.

2) My ONLY super big complaint is a spoiler.

Okay, they made a BIG point about establishing that the Na'vi are huge compared to humans; they're average height is 10 feet. So their heads, arms, appendages, hands, are all much larger as well. We even see how big this is when Jake in his Na'vi body is carrying Grace in her human body.

So at the end, when Neytiri is holding the oxygen mask up on Jake's human form, he reaches up and puts his hand on her cheek. No biggy, except HIS HAND IS THE SAME SIZE AS HERS. WTF, continuity, WTF. But considering those are my ONLY two qualms? DAMN. Just... DAMN.

1 bazillion thumbs up. This just.... damn. wow. This needs a best picture nod. And if it doesn't win best visual effects, there is something very, very wrong with this world.

Who talks to me the most?

2009-12-17T08:25:23Z

Total comments: 7670

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2	briekalan	447
3	yubsie	398
4	yadre	313
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8	jalen_mara	162
9	patchwork_grrl	140
10	solo42986	132
11	ravenclaw_devi	129
12	i_paint_the_sky	128
13	handmaiden_yane	128
14	emmaorgana	121
15	bel_baggins	115
16	mleonhart	115
17	qwi_xux	110
18	mameluke	105
19	sue_parsons	102
20	kay_dee70	96
21	hitokirivader	92
22	melonriel	86
23	mereywn	85
24	jurrk	84
25	helplessdancer	83
26	dancinggoldfish	83
27	lowbacca	80
28	sache8	78
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31	jainamsolo	76
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33	saunders	70
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35	jedizabrak	62
36	mirax80	59
37	randomvacancy	57
38	jadeywoman	53
39	hm_yrie	52
40	ladyamaryllis	50
41	Anonymous	48
42	uscathena	48
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44	queenmidalah	44
45	bandykullan	43
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60	mangojellytoast	31
61	mastadge	30
62	teaghlach	29
63	peddler_creates	28
64	caliekitty85	27
65	sistersola	26
66	krystalblaze	24
67	adesso	23
68	keepingmypma	22
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72	edcookdotorg	16
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Generated by LJ Comment Stats.

Roy E. Disney dies at age 79

2009-12-16T21:13:36Z

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/12/16/roy.disney.obit/index.html

Roy has been one of the backbones of the company for years. He led the Investors strikes that got both Walt's son-in-law kicked out of the company and 20 years later got Michael Eisner (the man we can thank for all the crappy direct-to-DVD sequels) kicked out as well. He's always tried to keep the Disney company on the path that his uncle Walt started.

We'll miss you, Roy. :-(

A Meme stolen from Hannah

2009-12-14T07:15:45Z

Who sleeps in bed next to you?

My pillow. Le sigh.

What did you last eat?

Oh dear god. We just threw a Christmas party at our apartment, so the answer to this is gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, crackers with Brie, chocolate covered cherries, and Glühwein. Lots and lots of Glühwein.

What kind of books do you read?

Classic lit & Fantasy

What are you reading right now?

The Picture of Dorian Gray.

If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?

In bed asleep. Preferably curled up with someone.

What's really creepy?

The fact that I'm done with school forever. And clowns.

Name one odd item within five feet of you.

My unnamed Dingo stuffed animal that Dingo gave to me.

What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?

Twilight. Dear god why.

What did you really want to do today that you didn't?

Sleep more.

What are you most excited for?

FanForce Christmas party Tuesday night!

What would you change about the way you do things?

I'm a procrastinator. Like hardcore.

What was the last thing you bought?

Gift Exchange gifts.

What's your biggest procrastination method?

Facebook or the JC.

If you could pick any one talent (not superpower, talent), what would it be?

Singing. Or a much faster metabolism.

Spring, summer, fall, or winter?

Fall for sure.

The Princess and the Frog!!

2009-12-12T09:09:57Z

Non-spoilery post:

I loved this so much. It won't knock out any of my favorite Disney films from their spots, but it's DEFINITELY amazing. So much good music, funny and OMG SO SAD parts. Bits of it I felt were rushed or not gone into too much depth, but overall, it's amazing.

What was even more amazing was Brandon's Graduation present to me. He joked earlier this week about how Lucius Malfoy had presented me with a sock, since I was now FREEEEEEE!

So when I showed up at the theater tonight, he shoved a diary into my hands. Two pairs of cute socks were stuck inside, he even labeled it Tom Riddle's Diary, made two pages stabbed through with an ink stain, and then included a scribbled note from Dobby congratulating me on graduating.

Seriously one of the most awesome geeky presents I've ever gotten.

Here's my Disney Cancer piece

2009-12-11T03:04:26Z

This isn't the FINAL cut; I just went back now to tweak a few things, but here's the general jist of it.

For my final project for Film Alterity, I appropriated about 40 Disney animated to make a piece about Cancer and the 5 Stages of Grief. There's a big long reasoning for why and what this piece means but I'm too lazy to go into depth right now, so you figure it out for yourself.

Total hours worked on this: It's over 100 right now...

Glee

2009-12-10T12:34:02Z

My LOLtastic observations on last night's Glee:

Stupid Rachel... why do you have to be so annoying

and so annoying with my name...

God I love Kurt

Will if you don't stop Emma's wedding, I will punch you through my monitor!!

oh good

WILL I SWEAR TO GOD

WILL!!!! ARRRRRRRRGGGG!!!!!

Go Figgins!

Other Asian needs a name

and more screen time

WILL I SWEAR TO GOD, YOU'VE GOT 2 MINUTES LEFT IN THIS EPISODE

WOO HOO!

:-D:-D

OFFICIALLY DONE WITH COLLEGE!!

2009-12-08T22:05:31Z

As of today, I am officially a college graduate!!

*Runs around in circles*

"It's a bit like a subplot, except that I don't care at all." Some Twilight LOLZ.

2009-12-06T21:53:28Z

So, for those of you who've never read Twilight but want to learn what happens chapter by chapter without reading it and while having a cute British boy rip apart the plot and grammar as he surmises it, Watch this. It's full of LOLZ. He likes yelling at Bella.

... Is this a glimmer of hope I see?

2009-12-04T10:55:18Z

New photo of Aang...

And he looks... Asian... ish.

Then again it's 3am... but... yeah.

Celebration V was announced!

2009-12-03T19:22:24Z

For FLORIDA.

ORLANDO.

You know what this means?

LESLEY WE'RE GOING TO HARRY POTTER WORLD!!!!!!!!

Dear Icon-making friends.

2009-12-03T11:09:36Z

I want a Twilight icon.

Okay, so for those of you who are still reading past that line, I want an icon of Aro looking giddy/happy (all of his promos are "I r serious sparkly vampire"), with the text of something like "Glittery and FABULOUS." With maybe a rainbow coloration on the FABULOUS.