THE CINEMA

Lo, it is Wednesday. Posting on Wednesday is like sleeping until 2pm. I don’t have any pretty pictures this week, nor anything particularly amusing, so instead I will discuss movies, because I find I have little else to talk about these days.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is one of my favorite books, and it turns out the movie adaptation is the best of the cinematic litter. Decent pacing, action, effects, innocuous writing, and tolerable acting put this one ahead of the first two candy-coated attempts. Unlike it’s unfortunate predecessor, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire actually adheres to the standard conventions of exposition, build, climax, denouement, etc., which are boring to some, I guess, but shouldn’t be tampered with when it comes to popcorn fare. Well worth your hard-earned Earth dollars.

Good Night and Good Luck was a truly excellent movie, if only for the novelty of seeing Americans speak with wit and elocution on national television. Even McCarthy spoke far better than most people you hear in the media these days. Also, smoking is the coolest thing ever. Why don’t we do that anymore? I also really want to see Syriana. Which also has George Clooney. When did Clooney transition from the Batman With Nipples to a respectable actor? I mean, the world has always respected Dr. Julian Bashir, but Clooney?

I’m told the new Pride and Prejudice is actually good. How it could possibly even approach the BBC version is beyond me, and indeed, no higher authority than my own mother confirms that the new Darcy’s smoldering is not commensurate to Firthian standards of righteousness. Nevertheless, I will have to see it. I am, after all, a girl. To tide me over, I watched Persuasion last night, which was great. The funniest thing about Jane Austen stories is that they are filled with stupid people. Everyone tends to have their own unique vice, but except the protagonists and perhaps one or two confidants, everyone just seems very, very stupid. Do brainy teenage girls love Austen because they empathize with the frustrations of a smarts in a stupid, stupid world? Like, aside from the fact that they are gussied-up romance novels? I don’t remember anything from studying Austen in high school, so you Englishy types will have to refresh my memory.

That is all. Time to work.