Great White North

How many Book Challenges have you failed?

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:22:00 +0000

I love signing up for book challenges. If reading wasn't involved I would call it an unhealthy addiction. My excuse is it encourages me to read outside my regular scope of books. But I must confess that I have an unbroken streak of five failed challenges. My intentions are good but I just seem to run out of time and then the challenge is over.

And that isn't even the worst part. I'm still signing up for them!

Over at Breadcrumb Reads I'm working on 'Reading Shakespeare: a play a month'. I'm doing well, I've finished "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and plan on watching the 1999 movie version to see it acted out.

I've also signed up for the Les Miserables Readalong at Kate's Library. I'm actually behind on this, not having even cracked open the book yet. At this point I'm four weeks behind but again, I've read the first couple hundred pages before so I think I'll be okay.

I've posted links to my other failed book challenges below. Am I crazy to keep signing up for these? How many challenges have you failed and why?

Classics Reading Challenge

The TBR Challenge

By the Decade Challenge

Chunkster Challenge

Everything Austen Challenge

Super 8 (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:39:00 +0000

”Stop talking about production value, the Air Force is going to kill us!”

A group of friends who make their own movies are shooting a zombie flick after midnight at the local train station. Things go sideways when they witness a pickup truck drive down the train tracks straight towards an oncoming train. The result is a spectacular crash that echoes the one from ”The Greatest Show on Earth”. After accounting for everyone they begin to explore the crash site only to find the driver of the pickup still alive. He warns them to never speak of what they saw here or their lives may be in danger. Before they can ask any more questions the military arrives and the kids have to scatter. The film is grounded by the story of our protagonist, Josh, who has just lost his mother to an industrial accident and whose father is attempting to cope. Their family bonding is interrupted when the army moves into town. Soon after strange things start happening and go seemingly unnoticed by ever adult in sight. It's up to these inquisitive filmmakers to find out what's really going on.

Both Josh (Joel Courtney) and Alice (Elle Fanning) are fantastic. They bring emotional depth one normally doesn't expect in child actors. They form a special bond over having lost a mother and as such, create conflict between Josh and his best bud Charles. There's one scene where Elle especially shines. The movie itself is a mix of ”Stand By Me” meets” ET”. It’s a group of friends who have clearly known each other for a long time, forced into dangerous circumstances because the adults are unwilling or unable to do anything. Their interactions and dialogue provide a sense of familiarity and most are clearly defined and fleshed out. The writing is smart but feels true to the ages of these characters. As well, the humour helped to leaven some of the more serious scenes and kept the movie family friendly.

The train crash was as spectacular as I expected. While there was CGI involved if you compare it to ”The Greatest Show on Earth” this one is far superior. The one thing I didn't like was the quick cut editing. It makes it difficult not only to see what's going on but also makes the flow of the scene more erratic. If JJ. Abrams had just held a beat longer on the many shots for the crash I think the viewer would be even more wowed about how destructive it was.

I also liked the slow reveal of what was going on. Clearly something strange is going on and we discover the mystery right along with the kids. The viewer is treated as intelligent and I found myself making up all sorts of scenarios as to what happened and why. As we come to the conclusion of events the reveal of what was in the train is awesome!

If you didn't live through the 70s I think this movie gives a pretty accurate representation. From the gorgeous sets to the costumes, to the pop culture references to how long it takes to process film (3 days is a rush job!). I truly felt as if I were nestled in that decade and the danger felt real throughout the town. I think this was mostly due to the fact that this was made to be a family movie rather than a kids movie. As well, the adults were forced to acknowledge something was wrong rather than laughing off the situation as sometimes happens in kids movies. There were some predictable cliché moments such as what happens to Fanning’s and holding hands at the end.

If you're a fan of sci-fi films than definitely check this one out.

Rating: 4/5

Galapagos Tortoise Species not Extinct!

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:30:00 +0000

I found this amazing article today that suggests a type of Galapagos tortoise may not be extinct after all. They may have just moved house and found comfort with another Galapagos species.

BBC Story

USA Today Story

And that made me remember this clip from the UK Gameshow QI (Quite Interesting), hosted by Stephen Fry. This is my favourite gameshow because it has the best of all worlds. Comedians, Stephen Fry, humour, knowledge and total weirdness. Below is a clip about Galapagos Tortoises and why they are so awesome, possibly to their detriment.

If you've never watched QI this clip is only a small portion of the mindblowingness that is this program and I highly recommend it. On a sidenote, why do the British make all the best tv shows? Sherlock, Downton Abbey, Misfits, Doctor Who, that Mitchell and Webb Look, Miss Marple, Monty Python, Rosemary and Thyme, etc.

The Killer Angels - Michael Shaara

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:12:00 +0000

”No need for hurry now, too tired to run, expecting to be hit at any moment. Over on the right no horse, Kemper was down, impossible to live up there. Armistead moved on, expecting to die, but was not hit. He moved closer to the wall up there, past mounds of bodies, no line any more, just men moving forward at different speeds, stopping to fire, stopping to die, drifting back like leaves blown from the fire ahead. Armistead though: we won’t make it. He lifted the sword again screaming, and moved on, closer, closer, but it was all coming apart; the whole world was dying.”

The Civil War has dragged on for three long years. General Stonewall Jackson is dead and there is no end in sight for the conflict that has ripped apart families and destroyed friendships. The Confederate Army has crossed into Pennsylvania and is on the brink of exhaustion. A chance encounter of Confederate scouts and Union cavalry bring the two armies rushing towards one another, to converge upon a little town called Gettysburg. The next three days bring fire and flesh together in what some call the decisive battle of the war, vanquishing the might of one side and raising up the other.

Growing up in Canada I knew only the very basics of the American Civil War and had only heard of Gettysburg and the blood that was spilled there. I always imagined it was on a promontory and that the Confederates were massacred to a man. I had assumed the issue of slavery was the entire cause of the war. I could not have been more wrong. What I didn’t know was many states had already seceded from the Union and that the Emancipation Proclamation was signed after the war started. I assumed the victory of the Union was an open and shut case. Instead I was surprised to see how close the South came to winning. And I was fascinated to see how one tiny detail could change so much about an event: If only Ewell had taken that hill; if only Stuart had showed up; if only Lee had listened to Longstreet.

Each chapter is from the pov of a character from the war. Shaara provides their thoughts and fears, their strong sense of duty and their opinion of others. He gives us both sides of the war and by allowing us into the minds of these men, we learn to identify and sympathize with both the Union and the Confederacy soldiers as we’re meant to. After all, they were simply men following orders. In fact, Shaara manages to increase the tension by alternating chapters between the North and South. The reader may know everything but the two armies only have half the information. While reading I even started to have favourites on both the North and South side: Lee, the Chamberlain brothers, Armistead, Burton, Longstreet; I willed them to live, worried about them and felt rather motherly towards these men whom I’d never met and who had lived and died in another century, far separated from my own.

You also really sense the passage of time throughout the book. The story only takes place over four days but you feel every hour, you experience the slow inevitable drawing together of these two armies, you wait for the battle just as they do. The world was more patient and slow moving in those days but Shaara has made the action immediate. You feel as if you’re right there with them, holding a rifle, hunkered down against a rock, trying not to get shot. And the language! This book is a feast. The lyric lines, the description, the images he creates and the profound thoughts and words by these men are sumptuous and a joy to read. I once claimed ”The Red Badge of Courage” was the most poetic book I’d read about war but ”Killer Angels” has taken its place. Shaara manages to keep the words from getting in the way of the story and what words they are!

Prior to this I’d never read anything about the Civil War and I’m not sure anything else will ever measure up. The book won a rightly-deserve Pulitzer Prize in 1975 and if you looking for a book about Gettysburg that focuses more on the people than the schematics, this is story is for you.

Rating: 5/5

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

While this year has been crazy with its ups and downs, both in my life and in the world I am looking forward to 2012. It's full of possibilities waiting to happen and one thing I am very much looking forward to is "The Hobbit". So I thought I'd end this year with a trailer I was very happy to see a few weeks ago. I read the book many years ago.

I was so excited when I first saw the casting because I am becoming more and more of a UK tv junkie. They have really amazing programming and I nearly died when I saw they had cast Martin Freeman as the lead. I love him! Now, this is only a recent infatuation and it's through a rather roundabout way. A Sherlock Holmes anthology Christmas present leads to the Guy Ritchie film, leads to "Sherlock" on BBC which has Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson. He is a perfect foil for Benedict Cumberbatch and brings well-needed balance to Holmes' life. He even tries to get the man to be reasonable once in a while. He seems like a perfectly wonderful chap; watched him win a BAFTA where he was quite chuffed (gotta love the Brits and their slang!) he seems bloody perfect for the role and some of the old gang is back. But, I guess since this took place before LOTR they're really not even the new gang. And I was so relieved that Howard Shore (one of ours!) was once again scoring the movie.

In any case, I can't wait, I wish you a Happy New Year and all the best in the year to come!

The Herald - Michael Shaara

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:48:00 +0000

”He did not feel it for a long moment. It was very quiet in the car and very gray in the sky and the road was black and calm and empty, and there was a quiet sound from the engine and the patient thump of the wipers, and then he saw a black bird come out of the sky on the left and cross over him, flying to the right in the light rain, disappearing behind the trees. It was the first motion. And then he felt the current.”

Nick Tesla is flying to Jefferson, Georgia in his small plane. When he can't reach anyone at the airport he is concerned. When he lands and can't find any people he gets worried. When he starts to find dead bodies he gets scared.

I have this morbid fascination with apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic novels. I think it's watching how people pick up the pieces that fascinate me, the choices they make, for the good or the bad and choices are extrememly important in this book.

I was interested in this book purely on the merit of one of Shaara’s other books, ”The Killer Angels” about the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. This book proves how versatile a writer he is, moving from historical to apocalyptic fiction. If you love books about the US Civil War or even if you know nothing about it, I would highly recommend this book. Look for my review on this book soon.

Shaara slowly builds the tension because we only get the story in pieces; we learn as the characters learn what’s going on. I had so many theories apart from what I had read on the dust jacket. And the way he writes to create an atmosphere of cold terror is exquisite.

”At that moment Ring saw a man break from the side of the radio truck and come running back down through the field, running away. But no one else ran. They all stood there like dark wet statues, in dead silence, looking toward the Wall, and for a long moment Ring had no idea, then it began to come, and he broke forward toward the gate. Faces turned toward him. Black faces: a nightmare of wet man with death in their eyes. He felt his skin prickle.”

I did not like the tongue-in-cheek joke about our protagonist’s name. Nikola Tesla was an amazing man with a brilliant but damaged mind. His scientific genius doesn’t translate to Nick’s character. If Nick had been a closet engineer or did science experiments in his basement I would have seen the connection. As it was, I saw no connection and felt the character was sloppily named.

As well, the scope of the book expanded exponentially when Rome and several other cities were brought into the plot. This felt unimportant. Our main focus is not the team trying to stop the “circle of death” from expanding. If it had been, these other cities would hold more importance on an apocalyptic remaking-the-world scale. But our focus is Nick, a man concerned more with Jefferson than Rome and who wouldn’t be? He has problems surrounding him with Ruth and Sheperd, wild animals, the machine that keeps the circle expanding, other survivors, etc. I think it would have been more effective to focus just on Jefferson.

I don’t know that I agree with the title either. ”The Herald” refers to Sheperd but the story is really about Nick and his experiences, his choice. We follow him through the book. Sheperd is a mysterious scientist until near the end of the book. The title fits in the sense that Sheperd’s machine will usher in a new era but I still feel that Nick’s journey is far more interesting. He’s an ordinary man who has to make an extraordinary choice.

I liked this book. The beginning had a Stephen King feel and while the ending was wrapped up perhaps too quickly, it was a good read.

Rating: 3.5/5

Twin Peaks Pilot

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:01:00 +0000

“She’s dead. Wrapped in plastic.”

I saw a trailer for a really creepy video game the other day, called Alan Wake. Reading up on it I found that it was inspired by a tv show called "Twin Peaks". Now I've heard a lot about this show but I've never seen it. I was intrigued though and having now watched the pilot I can tell you it's the weirdest tv show I've ever seen but also one of the most intriguing. It was co-created by David Lynch, who also directed "Dune", also very weird. The storyline is intriguing, the characters are original (and weird) and there is so much going on that it's difficult to keep straight. There will be SPOILERS so if you want to discover the show for yourself, read no further.

I swear the intro is the longest in tv history. Clocking in at 2.5 minutes, the music is creepy as all get out because it's calm and soothing, the complete opposite of the show. We're also introduced to the small logging town of Twin Peaks. I don't remember what tv intros were like in the early 90s but to me this was a hint that "Twin Peaks" wasn't like most shows.

On to the show; a man named Pete Martell sets out to go fishing only to find a body wrapped in plastic on the beach. It turns out to be teenager, Laura Palmer. Friends, family and local townspeople are shocked at her death. But the more we uncover about Laura the more we see she's not who everyone thinks. This is actually true of all of Twin Peaks citizens. There's more to them than meets the eye. While the main storyline centers on the mystery of Laura's death, viewers are also left wanting to discover more about Twin Peaks itself and the mysteries it hides.

Have you seen Twin Peaks? If so, what did you think of the show?

The Players:

Josie Packard (Joan Chen) - Widow of Andrew Packard, former owner of the Packard Mill. Andrew brought her over from Hong Kong six years ago. When he died in a boating accident a year ago, she inherited ownership of the mill. She seems to consistently butt heads with her sister-in-law Catherine and is currently having an affair with Sheriff Harry S. Truman. (Yes, that's his real name)

Pete Martell (Jack Nance) - Husband to Catherine, brother-in-law to Josie Packard, who owns the Packard Mill. Jack works at the mill, possbilly on the accounts. He also really likes fishing. His wife seems somewhat distant and his way of describing what happened to Laura after phoning the sheriff's department was "She's dead; wrapped in plastic" which is kind of cold. Later in the day he seems to have gotten over his shock at finding a dead body, just watch.

Catherine Martell (Piper Laurie) - Sister to Andrew Packard, deceased owner of the Packard Mill. She is a bitter woman who runs the Packard Mill and is jealous of Josie who was given ownership of the business after Andrew died in a boating accident last year. Catherine also happens to be colluding with Ben Horne, owner of the Great Northern Hotel, phoning him when Sheriff Truman comes over to visit Josie for some nookie. Catherine's also kind of a meanie. When she loses a fight to Josie she fires one of her employees for no reason.

Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) - Laura is dead before the pilot begins. We learn she was pretty, popular, homecoming queen and tutored Ben Horne's mentally disabled son. She was dating Bobby, a football player but lately they'd been having problems and she had started to see James, a leather-jacket-wearing fellow student. She also happened to secretly be seeing a shrink, sneaking out after hours and doing cocaine. She also owned a safety deposit box with $10 000 and a porn magazine with her friend's picture in it.

Lucy Moran (Kimmy Robertson) - This flighty receptionist at the sheriff's department is more than awkward at times. She's told “not a word about this to anyone until you hear from me” when discussing the discovery of Laura's body. I get the sense that lucy tends to blab a lot about things she shouldn't to people she shouldn’t be talking to.

Sheriff Harry S. Truman (Michael Ontkean) - Besides having a ridiculous name he seems to be one of the few people in town who isn't insane and is a responsible human being. Teams up with Agent Dale Cooper to uncover the truth behind Laura Palmer's death. Lover of Josie Packard.

Deputy Andy Brennan (Harry Goaz) - A somewhat simple minded man who seems to cry easily. We see Andy cry twice in the pilot. This seems strange because he belongs to a sheriff's department. You would expect that he's exposed to more death than the average person so wouldn't he be used to seeing these types of things? He seems new to the job though or perhaps Harry is because he asks “is this gonna happen every damn time?”

Sarah Palmer (Grace Zabriskie) - Laura's mother. She has no idea about Laura's double life but you want to watch for her reaction about Laura's death. It's something I’ve never seen before on tv. It’s so uncomfortable-making. It's raw and real and I felt as if I were intruding on a private moment of anguish and despair.

Benjamin Horne (Richard Beymer) – A smarmy douche if there ever was one. We first meet him spitting into a fire. The owner of the Great Northern Hotel he’s currently trying to ink a land deal with a bunch of Norwegians. The problem is the land he’s trying to sell isn’t his yet. It belongs to Josie Packard. “We have solid information. Packard’s Sawmill is going to go belly up within a year. We going to be able to get it for a song. One verse no chorus.” Great writing! The inside information must come care of Catherine. It makes you wonder whether she’s actively trying to make the mill fail. Ben has two children, Audrey, who went to school with Laura, and Johnnie, a special needs child that Laura worked with after school. Ben also works with Leland Palmer, Laura’s dad.

Leland Palmer (Ray Wise) – Father to Laura and Harriet, husband to Sarah. He seems to go a little nuts after hearing about what happened to his daughter because he says he wants to see the body. Gross.

Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook) – It’s difficult to believe he’s on the football team since he doesn’t seem the type to care about school. In fact, he’s blown off football practice for the past few weeks. We don’t know what he’s been doing but it’s possible he’s been at the diner. He offers to give Shelley, a waitress, a ride home. It turns out they’ve been seeing one another for a while and Bobby had a big fight with Laura, his girlfriend. When questioned about her murder he adamantly denies being involved and also denies that she could have been seeing someone else.

Shelley Johnson (Madchen Amik) – She’s been seeing Bobby who is apparently scared of ‘her old man’ who we later learn is actually her boyfried/lover/husband? He’s abusive, makes threats of violence against her and is all around scary. He has a 1950s attitude when it comes to women and is paranoid about her cheating on him, which lets be honest, he's right about that.

Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton) – She works as a waitress at the diner. Her lover, Hank is in jail for manslaughter and meanwhile, she’s carrying on with a man named Ed who runs Big Ed’s Gas Farm a gas station out of town. She arranges a rendezvous with Ed at the Roadhouse which seems to be the not so secret meeting place for a lot of people.

Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) – We see Bejamin Horne’s dauther smoking at her locker. What is it with people smoking in this show? Audrey seems to like breaking the rules. She smokes in school, seems indifferent to Laura’s death and disrupts the negotiations with the Norwegians after telling them her friend was murdered. I get the sense that perhaps she doesn’t get enough attention at home and maybe that’s why she acts out.

James Hurley (James Marshall) – A leather-jacket wearing, motorcycle-driving mulletish boy who was secretly seeing Laura. He and Laura and Donna Hayward were close friends. In fact, he’s the one who shot the video that Agent Dale Cooper brings up in Donna’s interview at the sheriff’s department. James decides to hide out while the investigation is ongoing, handing over a letter for Donna to Ed at the gas station. He and Donna arrange to meet at the Roadhouse and then in the woods they kiss! I guess he got over Laura and her death really fast.

Donna Hayward (Lara Flynn Boyle) – Laura’s best friend and her complete opposite. While we assumed that Laura was the model daughter, Donna is really the one that's the goody two-shoes. Although, she does sneak out after hours, meets up with her dead best friend's lover and kisses him in the woods, so...

Leo Johnson (Eric Da Re) - A complete jerk who drive truck for a living. He's paranoid and smokes, just like everyone else in this show. He threatens Shelly whom he seems too old for. Someone's going to need to give him a dressing down. The character I like the least so far.

Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle McLachlan) - An ocd FBI agent who loves coffee and trees, a lot. He's seems like a contemplative man and often uses strange ways to decipher evidence. He records his daily routine on a recorder to a woman named Diane who I have doubts about. I'm not sure she's real. He and Sheriff Truman make a great odd couple.

Highlights of the Episode

- Pete calls in to the sheriff’s department and instead of acting like a normal human being he blurts out, “She’s dead. Wrapped in plastic.” Thanks for the info Pete. Now, one more time, who’s dead?

- Here’s a drinking game for you. Count how many rotary phones are used in this episode. I swear every character gets their hands on one. Were they still that prevalent in the early 90s? Pity, I never got to use one.

- I love how retro everything is. Everyone’s hair is big, their clothes are baggy, the sets are kitschy.

- Andy crying. You feel for the guy and he’s the only one to ask “Who is she?” when the group gets to Laura’s body wrapped in plastic. Out of everyone I feel that he’s the most sane (though that isn’t saying much)

- Laura’s mother smoking. This feels so foreign. Is there anyone on tv who still smokes apart from Mad Men characters?

- What is up with the various shots of the staircase at the Palmer household. It’s a weird angle and Lynch keeps harping on it. It’s creeping me out.

- I love how much is going in the background here. When we first go to the diner we see a logging truck drive down the street, reiterating how this is a logging town. Then when Leland is on the phone with Sarah about Laura we see Harry’s sheriff truck pull up in the parking lot.

- How is Bobby on the football team? How? He seems more of the boozing, late for class, devil may care, drinking and driving, pick-a-fight moron type.

- It’s interesting to see how the characters receive or try to get information we the audience already have. For example, we know Laura’s dead before her parents do.

- Another disturbing scene is when a girl runs screaming through the courtyard outside the school. Again, Lynch is good at the creepy and notice how he manages to do it without any gore.

- I loved when the principal broke down over the PA system while trying to address the students. It felt real. Anyone recognize him from ER?

- Laura had a phone in her room? Can you say spoiled child? And speaking of Laura, how can she possibly have hidden so many secrets and yet nobody knew? She was seeing a shrink, doing drugs, seeing some guy named “J”. Is everyone blind in this town? Actually I think everyone else was too wrapped up in keeping their own secrets from everyone else to notice Laura’s.

- Big Ed’s Gas Farm may just be the best name for a gas station ever.

- Does James seem sensitive on the same scale as Andy? The look on his face when he’s stuck behind bars with Bobby and Mike makes me want to give him a hug.

- When we learn that Janek Pulaski’s daughter is missing as well we then cut to an image of a gigantic bandsaw cutting through some wood. It’s an ominous transition and just adds to the level of creepy.

- Oh Norway, you poor country. “My air sacks have never felt so good.” That would make anyone think the Norwegians were weirdos.

- Agent Cooper is a total weirdo. Like the Muppets. He skips from the strange, “What kind of fantastic trees have you got growing around here?” with that goofy smile and then cleanly switches into FBI mode.

- Hands up, how many of you think Diane isn’t real? Or maybe it’s simply the name of his recorder. It’s a poor way to get exposition across but it’s quick and frees up time for more awesome dialogue.

- I have a great feeling that Truman and Coop are going to become the best of friends, like the Odd Couple. Only they’re really odd because Harry’s the straight man and Coop is cuckoo bananas.

- Why did Donna ever decide to date Mike? He seems almost as big of a jerk as Bobby.

- I almost died laughing when they read from Donna’s diary. “Asparagus for dinner again. I hate asparagus. Does this mean I’ll never grow up?” This makes as much sense at the line from “All About Eve” 'Have you ever looked into the heart of a artichoke?’ What in the great googly does THAT mean? More Lynchg weirdness.

- Then, when Truman and Coop are interrogating Bobby, Coop somehow manages to write an entire sentence on a calculator. “He did not do it.” And he’s really cold when he tells Bobby that he didn’t really love Laura. Gave me the jibblies.

- “The Norwegians are leaving the Norwegians are leaving,” get me every time.

- I’m not even sure I want to know about that safety deposit box. Again, weird.

- Shelley’s husband! Shelley’s husband! How much older is he? Cause he looks super old and she seems close to Bobby’s age, which would be 16/17. Where are Shelley’s parents and how do they not know this guy is a scumbag?

- And Ed’s wife, Patchey? A total nut but I heartily approve of her use of flag semaphore with her curtains if that indeed is what she was doing. Hilarious!

- Coop calls a town meeting because why not get all the crazies in one room but it's great because that’s where we meet The Log Lady! I love her because she seems cooky in a normal way. She’s carries a log with her everywhere and flicks the lights on and off in the meeting.

- We learn Laura wasn’t the first girl to go missing and end up dead in the same state. (Agent Cooper doesn’t mention the letter under the fingernail but the viewers know about it). I wonder how this will play out in town now that they know the FBI thinks a serial killer is on the loose. Coop even says the killer could be someone in town. Yikes! Currently I can’t think that anyone really has any motive to want Laura dead. She did all this volunteering and the whole time Truman and Coop were wandering around town, all anyone could say was how nice she was.

- Donna’s sister kind of sucks.

- James tells us part of the real Laura Palmer story. She’s more of a weirdo than Coop! At least Agent Cooper's weirdness directly affects his job for the better. Laura's just scared her lover.

- Donna & James! What is wrong with you two! Your best friend and girlfriend are dead and somehow you’re drawn to kiss one another? Unacceptable!

- Donna’s dad comes to pick her up and he’s way too understanding. Verbatim he says “I know you wouldn’t do something like this without having a good reason.” And he says he’s lucky to have a daughter like her. This feels like they’re trying to force a parallel between her and Laura’s personality.

- The donut setup in the sheriff’s department is glorious but diabetes waiting to happen.

- And then there's more creepiness because really, we don’t have enough of that here. There’s a foghorn and Mrs. Palmer is dreaming. We get another weird shot of that staircase. Someone’s walking through the woods. We see a hand pick up the necklace from where James and Donna buried it and Mrs. Palmer screams. If that doesn’t unsettle you for a moment or two then feel free to watch the next episode. I’m sure it will be just as disturbing.

- This feels like an Agatha Christie novel. Everyone’s a suspect and there are so many red herrings you could open up a cannery.

"Drive" (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:39:00 +0000

“If I drive for you, you give me a time and a place. I give you a five-minute window, anything happens in that five minutes and I'm yours no matter what. I don't sit in while you're running it down; I don't carry a gun... I drive.”

In LA there is a driver for hire. By day he’s a stunt driver for movies and works in a garage, by night he drives getaway cars during robberies. His world is a simple one with simple rules. Plagued by insomnia, he is a silent and contemplative criminal. That is, until he meets Irene, his next door neighbour with a quiet voice and kind eyes. He develops a relationship with her and her young son, wherein we see him smile and speak. When her husband Standard returns from prison, it throws their idyllic bond off kilter. The driver offers to help Standard pay off his prison debts in order to stay close to Irene. The result is pain and brutality that threatens to destroy everyone. To defend the people he’s come to care about, the driver must be more than a passive observer and risk falling prey to the violence he has avoided until now.

Ryan Gosling stars as the driver and to me was an interesting choice for the role of quiet cabbie turned killer. There’s only one other film of his that I’ve seen that echoes the darkness found in this character. It was a movie called “Murder by Numbers” where he plays a murderer who thinks he’s too smart to be caught, a modern take on the movie “Rope”. The role feels childish though when stacked up against his new movie. Here he is a people watcher, a blank face that betrays no emotion, a guarded personality. He has very slow and measured reactions to situations and characters, almost as if he’s gauging how much to reveal and how much to hide about himself. We don’t even know his name, where he’s from or what his background is. He is a ghost and he almost goes out of his way not to speak. Watch how he responds when talking to Shannon, his boss. You get the sense that maybe he’s running from something or perhaps someone. And then there's his toothpick. It's very Clint Eastwood, Man with No Name but in this day and age, also feels like a politically correct stand-in for a cigarette. There's a great scene between the driver and Irene's kid with the toothpick and one of the few genuine laughs the movie got out of me.

One of the frustrating things about the film was how half the time I couldn’t read Gosling. Even though I think it's part of his character, in a movie with so little dialogue I'd like to think that body language and facial expressions help the viewer read a character and provide them with information about movitivation.

And then there's Bernie, a mobster who does what's necessary but regrets the violence and the bad things he has to do. He and Gosling plays two polar opposite, the knight and the villain. They play off perfectly against one another as both seem to know what has to happen next. Incidentally, Bernie is played by Albert Brooks, the same man who voiced Marlin the clown fish in "Finding Nemo". This is akin to Henry Fonda playing Frank in "Once Upon a Time in the West", a shocking and and fruitful casting decision.

This is what I would call a modern retro movie. From the cars to the costumes, to the music. Everything about this movie screams 80s. But it's a slick 80s, not the fuzzy sort of big-haired sloppy decade we're familiar with. The cinematography is beautiful. There are these amazing bird’s eye views of the city as well as locations that seem to be chosen very specifically as set pieces.

This is a movie with an enormous emphasis on stillness and then sudden spurts of violence. It's very slow paced in places with no quick-cut editing which I was glad and surprised to find in an action movie. The pacing mirrors the 80s theme but made people in the theatre uncomfortable. Near the end, when the camera holds on Gosling's character and hold and holds, people started to giggle and I've always felt that laughter fills the spaces we don't want filled with silence.

But the astonishing thing about this movie is how it encompasses both an extreme tenderness in dealing with the driver’s interactions with Irene and her son and a brutality that borders on disturbing. Nowhere is this more evident than the elevator scene. We see this moment of softness between the driver and Irene, the light level lowers as if to show they're the only two people in the world. And then we see the violence in a curb stomping that elicited gasps from the audience.

This was an excellent movie, one of the best I've seen all year. Everything came together here, the cast, the plot, the music, the cinematography, the editing, the set, the costumes, the cars. The only thing I didn't like was the font in the opening credits. It was pink and fluffy and while it felt like the right font for the 80s, it still felt out of place. To me the font screamed Cyndi Lauper, "Some Kind of Wonderful" rather than violent action movie with cars.

While not everyone may be able to take the flashes of violence in this movie I would highly recommend it. It's a solid movie with a good story. A great addition to the canon of action movies.

Rating: 5/5

Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:22:00 +0000

"In those days folk still believed in witches and trembled at a curse; and this one, falling so pat, like a wayside omen, to arrest me ere I carried out my purpose, took the pith out of my legs."

David Balfour is an orphan, bereft of family but for his Uncle Ebeneezer. He imagines his troubles are over only to find himself sold off and shipped onto a boat bound for the colonies. Fortunately he finds a kindred spirit in Alan Breck Stewart. During a storm they defend themselves against the treacherous crew, a scene ending in a shipwreck. David washes up on a island and from there tries to make his way home while being implicated in a murder and avoiding British redcoats, all to reclaim his inheritance.

I've only read one other Stevenson book "Treasure Island and it is by far the superior book. "Kidnapped" isn't a bad book per se but nothing much really happens in the entirety of the story. In fact, there were several times I had to put the book down because it wasn't very interesting. I would put this in the lesser canon of Steveson's work. David spends a lot of time travelling and not a lot of time actually doing anything. The main disappointment is there was so much potential here but Stevenson doesn't do much with what he has.

I was expecting more, having seen one of the movie versions but now I think I'll remove it from The List.

Rating: 2/5

Christian Marclay's "Clock"

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:12:00 +0000

I found this the other day. It is amazing. It's a 24 hour film that's a meditation on time, literally. It took 2 years to splice the work together from hundreds of films where characters check or refer to the time at all hours of this film. It's currently being shown at art galleries.

The amazing part of this film is that it's synched so that at every moment a clock is seen, it matches the exact same time in the real world. It's mind bogglin because not only does the moment when a clock have to be timed within its own clip, but all the clips have to match up in relation to each other. It makes my head hurt.

"The Clock" Christian Marclay

Here is a clip to give you an idea of how the film is pieced together.

And out of this wonderful clip I discovered Smokey Robinson "The Love I Saw in You was just a Mirage"

It's wonderful and strange to think how the internet provides an ease of jumping off into completely unrelated subjects.

And that song, for some reason, led me to Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose "It's Too Late to Turn Back Now" which feels oddly fitting. Enjoy!

Catch Up

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:42:00 +0000

Hello

It's been awhile. I've moved and finally have internet again. In the intervening period I've spent some time finding some amazing things online.

Keely Smith with "Stormy Weather"

I couldn't tell you how I discovered her but I like her because she has such a powerful voice. She projects and puts such emotion into her songs. I'm just sorry she isn't more well known now. Most likely she was overshadowed by her partnership with her musician husband, Louis Prima.

The Mills Brothers with "Basin Street Blues"

These guys are amazing. They worked from 1928 - 1982. That. is. insane! Their voices are amazingly mellow and distinct. They were known for doing instrumental sounds with their voices and their harmonies! Just listen!

Thomas Tallis with "If Ye Love Me"

He was a composer active during the Elizabethan period. As a rule I love choral music and this, it's just perfect.

Luisa Tetrazzini with "Una voce poco fa"

I distintly remember listening to Pavorotti and then getting distrated for the next few hours by various opera singers and how they've been rated by the opera community. I stumbled upon Tetrazinni. The recording is scratchy but the purity and clarity and range of her voice is amazing.

I've also been catching up on my shows as the tv season has started up again.

Community "Remedical Chaos Theory"

This is one of the best episodes I've seen for the show. It was crazy and funny and heartfelt, the best of all worlds.

Downton Abbey Season 2

Oh my. The British always make the best tv, including this beautiful and heartbreaking series. The dialogue, the costumes, the setting, everything, especially the time period are superb. I've been catching up on Season 2 and I can't tell you how much I am hoping for a Mary & Matthew reconciliation. Every episode I wring my hands in their scenes together. Julian Fellowes isn't going to make it easy for them, especially since the Spanish Flu has yet to rear it's head.

Sherlock Season 2

I discovered this by accident and love it! I can't imagine anyone else playing these iconic characters apart from Martin and Cumberbatch now. But you know what? 3 episodes do not a season make! Season 1 was too short and now you're making me wait until 2012!? Not acceptable. I only have clips like this to console me for the meantime.

The Supersizers

This is an amazing show that charts the history of food through the ages. A food critic and broadcaster will dress for the era and test the food by actually consuming a day's worth of food from that period. I love this show so much! It's crazy to see how much the attitudes and the meals change throughout time. And these guys are hilarious in their reactions to the food.

"Thank you Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse

I've also started reading P.G. Wodehouse and I am blown away. The man is hilarious and his use of diction while mostly stuck in its own era, has surprising moments of modernity.

That's all I have for now but I'm glad to get back into a routine with the blog. I'm so behind with book reviews it's not even funny.

"Titus Groan" by Mervyn Peake

The story has been spoiled for me as I watched the miniseries several years ago. Peake's diction and descriptino is sumptuous and original. I can't wait to finish it and move on to the next book in the series.

Magic Trick fools Penn & Teller

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:35:00 +0000

I love magic even though I don't like how I can never figure out how they do it. But this is hilarious!

Sand Cats!

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:14:00 +0000

Awwww. I want one! They are super adorable but not house pets. This makes me le sad but they're still pretty. And I still want one. So there.

Murder on the Orient Express - Agatha Christie

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:14:00 +0000

“All around us are people of all classes, of all nationalities, of all ages. For three days these people, these strangers to one another, are brought together. They sleep and eat under one roof, they cannot get away from each other. At the end of three days they part, they go their separate ways, never, perhaps to see each other again.”

Hercule Poirot is travelling back from Pakistan on the Orient Express and is lucky to get a berth. He finds the train strangely crowded for winter. Populated with a variety of people of varying nationalities and classes, this group is a cross section of the world in miniature, confined to the living quarters of a train. Their interactions inform us on the attitude of the times and Poirot, being the nosy eavesdropper he is, learns all about his fellow passengers through conversation. All seems to be well until the second night when a snowstorm strands the train in the mountains. A series of strange noises precede the death of one Samuel Ratchett, who is discovered the next morning with 12 stab wounds to his chest. Poirot reluctantly takes the case only to find the evidence either nonexistent or bizarrely inconsistent. Each suspect is questioned in turn and Poirot slowly comes to realize he is dealing with a mastermind. Will he uncover the truth and discover the real killer before the train can be dug out from the storm?

This book is somewhat different from a traditional mystery in that it’s divided into three sections: “The Crime Scene”, “The Evidence” and “The Solution”. It’s a strange melding of storytelling and criminal investigation. It’s somewhat jarring at first but doesn’t detract from the story or suspense created by Christie. Again this is another genius plot and as always with her books, I tried to discern the identity of the killer and as always, failed miserably. This definitely makes for one of the more frustrating plotlines and trust me you’ll be kicking yourself once you get to the end. It’s far more complex than you realize. Just make sure you watch out for red herrings.

I love this book, maddening as it is. It's full, in terms of plot and characters. It's fufilling and it's in the top echelon of Christie novels where it deserves to be. If you've never read any of her books and want to experience her talent to its full extent, reading this book would be a great start.

Rating: 5/5

Bonanza Part 3 - Newcomers

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 18:47:00 +0000

1.02 – Newcomers

Guest Stars

Blake McCall – John Larch
John Pennington – Robert Knapp
Emily Pennington – Inger Stevens
Krug – Charles Maxwell
Justin Flannery – Byron Foulger
Jose Morino – George J. Lewis

• The Cartwright’s (CWs) are out riding around and stop at the top of a ridge on the Ponderosa. Down below they spy a group of men they believe responsible for butchering one of their prize steers. An old friend of Ben’s, Jose Martinez, rides with them. I’m going to assume Jose found the steer though it’s not clear if he’s just a neighbour or an employee. Note: Who just goes around killing cattle? Don’t most bad guys who deal with cattle steal them?

• The CWs ride down to meet this group and confront them. A man named Blake McCall seems to be in charge and apparently he’s encountered the CWs before. Note: Has he previously butchered cattle on the ranch? And that begs the question, why are these guys even on the Ponderosa? I know it’s a big place but if McCall knows the CW reputation he knows they hate trespassers. If you remember from Episode 1 Adam was ready to shoot a trespasser and Ben threatened to cut someone’s tongue out.

• McCall is travelling with his business partner, John Pennington and his sister Emily. Blake’s is engaged to Emily but uh oh, she’s sick, coughing like there’s no tomorrow. John says they’re travelling because of Emily’s health. They need to get into high desert country because of her lungs. At this point I’m going to say she’s got tuberculosis (tb). We’re then introduced to McCall’s henchman Krug, pronounced Kruge, who’s name suits his personality. He seems to think there’s gold on the Ponderosa. I’ve got a bad feeling about this but then, when do I ever have a good feeling about greedy strangers with creepy names?

• Adam pipes up that people have crossed the Ponderosa before, slaughtering cattle, cutting down timber and digging holes in pastures. Oh, so that’s why they must have killed that cow. They were hungry and decided to have hamburgers for dinner. Those are actually some good reasons to hate trespassers and make far more sense than Ben’s threats in Ep 1 for a carriage trespassing on the ranch.

• We also meet Justin Flannery, a botanist. I like him because he has a donkey named Christian but more importantly I want you to take note of the fact that he’s a botanist, a scientist who studies plants. No one in this episode seems to understand what a botanist is. It’s just like the foil in Ep 1.

• Ben ascertains Pennington is the same hydraulic mining Pennington he severely dislikes. John shouldn’t have introduced himself because when one CW hates you they all pretty much hate you. His type of mining, (spraying hillsides with highly pressurized water to wash rocks, sediment, etc and gold down the hills to make it easier to collect) caused floods, buried orchards and uprooted virgin timber.

• He’s interrupted by a dumb random gunslinger decides now is the best time to shoot a CW in the head. Adam is having none of it and shoots him point blank. At first I thought he’d killed the man but really he’s only wounded. Again it begs the question, did Adam miss or only intend to wound considering how poor his shooting was last episode. Chalk up one win for Adam.

• At this point Emily calls Hoss ugly because there really hasn’t been enough animosity between these groups. And Hoss just takes the verbal abuse and sets her on a horse. We then learn the gunslinger Adam shot was wounded in his non-gun hand arm. That clears things up. Clearly Adam just can’t shoot. If he’d wanted to disarm the man but not kill him, logically you would shoot his gun hand. From here on in I think we can assume for every gunfight Adam’s in that he’s either extremely lucky when he wins or consistently faces substandard competition.

• McCall’s an antagonistic jerk. Why does Emily love him again? Is she’s just lightheaded. She rests 4 hours a day, every day. Sounds like it’s a miracle she can even stand. Seriously what is wrong with her? You think it’s tb? I think it’s tb. McCall then decides to showcase his jerkiness by admitting he cut down some trees and killed one of their cattle. His men mistook the steer for a deer. I know the two animals rhyme but his men either need some re-education on animal identification or an appointment for the eye doctor. As for the dead animal, a hefty fine should be enough to buy another prize steer and clear up the matter right? Right Ben?

• Ben continues his angry rant. He crossed the Plains with a friend carrying peach trees. You know, because that doesn’t sound crazy or anything. It’s almost like carrying breadfruit trees across the ocean, equally dumb and equally dangerous. And guess what happened to the trees. The orchard was buried under 12 ft of mud in California, thanks to hydraulic mining. Well at least now we know why Ben has it out for John. John defends himself, says he paid the man twice what his land was worth and paid him for the trees. This is more than generous in terms of compensation but it’s not good enough for Adam.

• And now we come to the crux of it. John has no intention of bringing hydraulic mining to the area. But wait, McCall has filed claims on the ranches next door to the Ponderosa that have watersheds vital to the CWs ranch. That sounds suspicious doesn’t it? Almost as if someone were planning to use hydraulic mining to find some non-existent gold.

• Ok! Ok! Hold on a minute! Ben just threatened death to anyone if they tried to take the Ponderosa from him. And JerkBen is back with a flash. That didn’t take long. But Ben doesn’t shove the interlopers off the Ponderosa. Instead he gives them until morning to leave. This is probably because of Tuburcular Emily. I think I’ll call her Tubemily from now on.

• And here’s the necessary but mostly irrelevant exposition on John and McCall. John’s dad left the siblings a million bucks and a mining company. McCall’s dad left behind a lot of black eyes and debts. That would explain why McCall is such a jerk. Then Krug steps in. Krug is such a...Krug. And he’s a really manipulative sob. McCall doesn’t seem to mind when Krug suggests causing some more friction between them and the CWs. He gives Krug the okay to mess with “the bug man”. Really? The guy’s a botanist. Plants are not bugs. So Krug decides to take care of the bug man right in front of the CWs. This gets Joe gets a little hot under the collar but really, when isn’t Joe hot under the collar?

• The next morning the CWs bring some supplies, fresh stock and a mulepack to the trespassers. Aw, see the CWs aren’t heartless killing machines. And apparently Hoss is going to escort them off the property but he’s going alone. Ben says “we talked it out and we think you can do this best.” What is that! Yes, just leave your son alone with a bunch of men who’ve already trespassed and destroyed property. Nothing could go wrong. Unless of course you remember the last time a CW son went off on his own. (I’m having bad flashbacks of Episode 1)

• The group gets on their way and Tubemily decides to ride outside the wagon with the dust which aggravates her cough. And then later she cooks dinner. I think she’s doing this on purpose. She likes tb; it gives her a reason to garner sympathy because honestly who else would be that idiotic about their own health condition!?

• And Krug is at it again. He decides now is the time to try and work out a partnership with McCall by blackmailing him over Flannery the bug hunter (and by bug hunter he totally means botanist)

• Then McCall and John dump more exposition on us. They worked together in California where McCall got the land they used for hydraulic mining. No word on whether he obtained the land by legal means or not. John reminds him they travelled out here for Emily’s health, something they both care about. Yes, McCall cares about her so much he yells at her for coughing in the next scene. What a jerk.

• Aw Hoss brought fir branches for Emily to make a bed with. He says the smell will be good for her cough which is a load of hooey but still, what a difference a man makes. And then she actually speaks to him and they have a real conversation. He’s completely smitten.

• Then we see the other side of the coin where McCall calls Hoss a moose. Says he could break McCall’s back with one hand. Krug notes he’s nicer to the horses than anyone else. Maybe if they fix one of the horses they can jump him and take care of the rest of the CWs. Krug thinks he can get to them through their foreman Jose Morino (so he is an employee, not a neighbour) who has guns. Oooooh! Note: They already have guns do they really need more? What are they going to do, strap guns to their feet?

• The next morning a horse comes up lame and while Hoss takes a look at the hoof, the rest of McCall’s men jump him and knock him out. I won’t count this as a fight because it was one sided. When Hoss comes to they tell him they want help with Morino. Either Hoss gets the guns from him peacefully or they’ll take them by force and to hell with whomever gets in their way.

• Poor Morino! McCall says he was thinking of Tubemily but at this point I think she sees the light. John makes a stand but both he and Tubemily are taken captive. Krug makes to shoot John but McCall stays his hand. He still thinks he and John can be partners after this. Fat chance! You’ve tied him up, killed several people and threatened him with death. Do you really think he’s about to make a deal with you? Note: Krug is far too enthusiastic about shooting people.

• Meanwhile, back at the ranch. Adam complains that Hoss is gone. Apparently he does the work of four men. Out of the blue, the place is shot up like a drive by shooting. Jose’s body is dumped on the porch, sending a clear message to the CWs. The CWs assume Hoss is in trouble. (Gee Ben, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to let him ride out alone with those strangers) They ride out at night to find him and Adam cautions that they don’t know how many men McCall has or how many guns they have to worry about. He thinks they just want the CWs out in the open so they can gun them down. LittleJoe gets hot under the collar again disagreeing with Adam but the older brother is of course more sensible and Joe apologizes. Huzzah!

• Back at Jose’s, Krug tries to assault Tubemily and Hoss hulks out and breaks free of his bonds, punching Krug into next week. Go Hoss! Hoss tries to free John too but he says there isn’t time and urges him to get Tubemily away. So Hoss pulls a Clark Gable, picks her up and sprints out of there. Later McCall and his men reflect. Maybe they should have tied her up. Yeah maybe you should have. She’s sick not paralyzed. She could have walked away at any time.

• Oh dear, Tubemily’s looks like she’s about to expire but Hoss is so optimistic and happy I think he’s oblivious to her situation. Maybe she’s bipolar too. Her attitude towards him is all over the place. One minute she telling him to get away from her, the next she’s apologizing and engaging him in conversation. The next day Tubemily suggests Hoss sleep and she keep watch since he carried her half the night. This sounds like the beginning of a bad idea. They have a little heart to heart and she’s surprised when he says she’s pretty. “You’re about as pretty as I am ugly.” Doesn’t that just hurt in your heart part? She tries to explain away McCall’s dickishness. She only saw the good side of him. There was a good side?

• Meanwhile McCall seems to have given up searching for his lost hostages and is instead preaching to the miners, trying to get them on his side. He tells them there’s gold on the Ponderosa, how the CWs murdered the “bug man”. He tells them to forget the “blue stuff” which is actually silver. What a bunch of sheep. Those miners will listen to anyone.

• Hoss talks to Tubemily about a valley he visits in the spring full of dogwood. He wants to take her there, says it’s a special place and he’s never taken anyone else. In fact, he wants her to stay on the Ponderosa, he wants to look after her. She says she doesn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her. And you can just tell Hoss is about to propose when a dumb horse ruins everything.

• On the other side of the scrub the CWs are coming down a hill and somehow don’t see the ambush set up for them in plain sight! This might explain why they’re such poor shots. They all need glasses. All except Hoss apparently. He sees the ambush and goes to warn his family. He yells at McCall and his men who’ve been tracking Hoss all along. Again, itchy-trigger finger Krug has to be stopped from blowing a hole in someone. McCall doesn’t want to alert the other CWs with gunfire. Meanwhile Hoss is yelling his lungs out trying to get his family’s attention. Maybe they’re hard of hearing too? And while Hoss is off to save the day Tubemily has probably collapsed in a coughing fit and may be dying at this very, oh, nope she decided to follow Hoss down the hill, running and jumping like an idiot.

• Hoss notices none of this and instead decides to demonstrate some of his best WWE moves on the bad guys. Hoss lays a beat down on McCall and the miners. Mark Hoss down for one win. I would say the best part is when gives McCall whatfor with his fists and “reckons he kinda lost his temper”

• When all is said and done, yes Ben you do owe John an apology for all this mess and while you’re at it I’ll take one too. If you had gone with Hoss none of this would have happened. And subsequently Tubemily wouldn’t have run down that mountain but because she did she needs a doctor. What an idiot.

• While the good guys have reconnoitred to the Ponderosa ranch house, Doc Riley checks on Tubemily and tells John “we need to talk”. Those four words are never followed by good news. We don’t see the conversation but we can guess what the Doc said.

• We see a heartfelt talk between brother and sister. Tubemily just wants to go back to San Francisco, apparently to die. John says the doctor only has a little time left. Then she says something strange. She doesn’t want to be a burden and urges John to go on to Virginia City alone. She sounds like she wants to go off and die alone. I do not understand her motivation here. Why not spend the time she has left on the Ponderosa with Hoss?

• So instead Tubemily decides to resign herself to her fate in San Francisco. Hoss wants to go with her and when she declines tells her to come back in the spring so he can show her his special valley. She says she’ll come back in the spring. Okay Tubemily, now would be the time to kiss him. It’s not like you’re going to get another chance. Okay, no kiss but she does tell him she loves him, despite only having known him about four days.

• Hoss bursts back into the Ponderosa, great big grin on his face. He’s so happy it’s almost heartbreaking. Everyone else is glum and depressed because they know she’s never coming back. They’re aren’t going to pretend. Hoss finds out the truth and calls the Doc a quack. And we’re never told exactly what she had. A spooky illness with no name. So Hoss is upset and Ben decides to make it all better by saying it’s God’s will. Oh BS! It’s TB. Hoss leaves the house in a state of despair.

• LittleJoe wants to go after him but Ben says its better he go alone. Hoss goes to sit by a lake and talks to god. Later we see him meeting up with the family building a fence. He doesn’t say anything but then, he doesn’t have to. Everyone knows how he feels.

Newcomers Summary

• I think it’s safe to assume that Tubemily dies offscreen. She got involved with and confessed her love for a CW so she didn’t really stand a chance. In this episode we see the first woman fall to the Cartwright Curse.

• I really feel for Hoss, he’s not dark and brooding like Adam or cute and energetic like LittleJoe. He’s just really happy and optimistic most of the time but if you hurt his feelings he turns into a mopey puddle of pity. And he found a woman who cared for him and then she’s taken away.

Fights:

Adam vs Random Gunfights = Adam
Hoss vs McCall & the Miners = Hoss

Deathtoll: 2
(I’m not counting Tubemily as she didn’t die during the episode)

Bonanza Summary

Fight Count
Adam: 4W 1L
Hoss: 2W 1L
Little Joe: 0
Ben: 0

Lady Count:

Adam: 1 (Lotta Crabtree)
Hoss: 1 (Emily Pennington)
Little Joe: 0
Ben: 0

Kiss Count

Adam: 1
Hoss: 0
Little Joe: 0
Ben: 0

Slapcount Total: 4

Deathcount: 8

Next Time: The Paiute War

Space Shuttle Wake Up Music

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:36:00 +0000

Did you know that astronauts have a wake up playlist? As far back as 1965 astronauts have been serenaded out of sleep. I found this list entirely by accident but was pleasantly surprised. As well, it was interesting to see how tastes changed over the years, how what was popular crept into the playlists.

In 1965 Mission Control varied the crew's diet with Beethoven, Chopin, Puccini, Lizst, Handel, Rachmaninoff. In 1966 it was 'My Favourite Things' from "The Sound of Music". In '69 it was Sinatra. Last year it was Muse and Jay Z. Some songs were specifically selected by the astronauts themselves, giving us insight into their personalities and musical tastes.

If you're interested in checking out the playlist for yourself please click here.

The Natural (1984)

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Sun, 08 May 2011 23:19:00 +0000

"People don't start playing ball at your age, they retire!"

Roy Hobbs loves baseball. He used to play catch with his father on the family farm until one day his father collapsed under a tree and died from a heart attack. This same tree is later split in half by lightning during a summer storm. Hobbs carves a bat from this wood and burns the word “Wonderboy” into it. He dreams of playing in the National League and bids goodbye to his childhood sweetheart Iris to try and make it as a baseball player. On his way to tryouts he encounters a shady woman who changes his life forever and puts his dreams of a baseball career on hold. 19 years later Hobbs is finally signed to the New York Knights who sit in last place in the league with the principal owner, “The Judge”, actively campaigning for the team to lose. This includes distracting Roy with a woman named Memo, bribing players, intimidation and threats. Through it all Roy must find a way because this is his last chance.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Bernard Malamud, this film has a powerhouse cast with Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger and Robert Duvall with music by Randy Newman. This winning combo coupled with great cinematography makes for an amazing movie. The movie is essentially a retelling of the Arthurian legend of the Fisher King with a sports twist. It gives the story some mythological weight and also provides a jumping off point for the story. This is coupled with a morality tale as Hobbes’ hubris gets the best of him when boasting to the woman in black about how he’ll be the “best there ever was”. She almost seems to stand in as an agent of fate that puts mortals in their place when they dare to strive for immortality.

Watch for the amazing cinematography in this film. It lends itself to the mythology inherent in the story. There’s a scene where Glenn Close comes watch Roy play. She’s dressed in white, wearing a very special hat. Roy’s already struck out once and when he walks up to the plate again he turns back to look at the crowd, as if he senses something. He can’t seem to get his game together and with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning this could be the end of the game. Glenn stands up, the sun shining through her hat. She appears as this towering woman in white with a halo, willing him to win the game. The film is lousy with symbols like this and elevates the movie so that it’s about more than just sports.

What’s really great about the "The Natural" is it was the kick-start for modern baseball movies. "Bull Durham", "Field of Dreams" and "Major League" would follow. And while I’ve never really been one for sports movies I really enjoyed this one. I don’t follow a lot of sports so when it comes to the mechanics of the games, the film usually loses me. But this movie struck a chord and it may just be my favourite sports movie. It also doesn't hurt that Robert Redford is a stone cold fox in this movie.

It's heavy with sentimentality and the movie is different from the book. But I think the strength of adaptations rests on the idea that those that haven't read the book can still understand and get the general message of the movie.

Rating: 4.5/5

May the 4th

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:30:00 +0000

I really couldn't resist.

Tron: Legacy (2010)

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Sun, 01 May 2011 22:45:00 +0000

Sam Flynn is the son of Kevin Flynn, the CEO of ENCOM and a genius with computers. Over 20 years ago Kevin disappeared and hasn’t been seen since. Sam was left an orphan with a controlling interest in his father's company but cares little for the legacy left behind. One day, his father’s old business partner, Alan Bradley is paged from Kevin’s office even though the building’s been closed since his disappearance. When Sam goes to investigate he gets pulled into another world with a dark and unfamiliar landscape. He’s captured by an unknown group of masked men and forced to participate in what I can only call Gladiator 2.0 with frisbees. Confronted by a man who looks exactly like his father but calls himself Clu, Sam must use his wits to survive and discover what really happened to his father

I'd never seen the original "Tron" so I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it involved going into a computer with programs and users. I even watched the trailer for the original to get an idea of where this series began. I know technology has come a long way since then but it was almost cringe-worthy. I think we're quite spoiled with CGI nowadays. I even look back at "Toy Story" compared to "Toy Story 3". The difference is startling.

Visually this movie is stunning. The effect of the costuming and use of technology to create and enhance the set really stands out in the CG environment. It would have been great if the director had taken advantage of the play of light and shadow as the movie takes place entirely at night. With a lack of contrast and colour I felt they could have played up other elements such as cinematography. It was a lost opportunity to me. The set design has a retro-mod feel but definitely an alien look to it that a viewer wouldn't be able to place in any one era, a very stylized idea of what life inside a computer might look like.

The story though is the weak link in what would otherwise have been an amazing film. And it's unfortunate because a movie rests on the strength of its story. The plot promises more than it delivers. There's a build up when we learn that Kevin Flynn claimed to have discovered something that would change history, science and religion right before he disappeared. What we're left with doesn't focus on this discovery but instead on a deadly set of games, a scene in a nightclub and a series of fights. I enjoyed the movie but there was so much material and potential to work with in this new world that was never addressed. Only at the very end are viewers given a glimpse of what the movie could have focused on.

The standout winner of this movie is Daft Punk though. Their score really creates an atmosphere of believability and lends itself to the environment. The ending is somewhat open ended and there's already confirmation of another movie in the works. I can only hope the next movie will address the issues brought up and promised by Kevin Flynn. But I have a feeling these issues would be far too ambiguous to make for a popular blockbuster.

Rating: 3/5

Mitchell and Webb: Scooby Doo

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Sun, 01 May 2011 05:54:00 +0000

Ha ha!

Rainy Day Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:00:00 +0000

It's somewhat miserable out today so I thought I'd put together a list of places I've recently found.

I found this tumblr site called Novel First Sentences through Daily What. Short and Sweet it makes me think of when I first picked up those books, with no idea of what to expect, diving into the story head first.

Dear Inspiration is a great blog full of beautiful photos and quotes. I highly recommend checking this out.

100 Layer Cake is a wedding website so it's a niche blog but the photos of the food and decorations are amazing!

French by Design is an extremely pretty and witty blog.

And I have one more for you. It's a tumblr called Zombies Beyond Zombies

via Scrap Wish

via soup du primatage

via thisnext.com

Canada Votes 2011

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:00:00 +0000

You have one week. Make up your mind then vote. But first, listen to Rick. And if May 2 comes and you don't vote, I don't think we can be friends anymore.

Happy Easter!

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Here's another installment of Simon's Cat. This time he's facing off against a bunny. What could go wrong?

Boris Indrikov's Art

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

i found this artist through Boing Boing. His art is amazing, a mix between Art Nouveau, the Book of Kells and Dr. Seuss. It's gorgeous!

The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy

noreply@blogger.com (theduckthief) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:55:00 +0000

"The Scarlet Pimpernel, Mademoiselle," he said at last, "is the name of a humble English wayside flower; but it is also the name chosen to hide the identity of the best and bravest man in all the world, so that he may better succeed in accomplishing the noble task he has set himself to do."

A band of young British nobles risks their lives to save French nobles from the Reign of Terror and bring them across the channel. The leader of this band is only known as the Scarlet Pimpernel a man of disguise that circulates among the highest circles of British upper crustery. His symbol is the Pimpernel, a small red flower that he leaves as a calling card wherever he goes. He uses his smarts to outwit the french but is dogged by his nemesis Chauvelin, a french spy that is desperate to catch him.

Other characters include Sir Percy Blakeney and his french wife, Marguerite. They don't have the best relationship as he doesn't seem to care what she does while she's infatuated with the Pimpernel. He's dull and dim, she's supposedly the wittiest woman in Europe. But Blakeney can't escape his wife's would-be lover. In fact he's even made up a song about the man.

"We seek him here,
we seek him there,
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in heaven? -
Is he in hell?
That damned, elusive Pimpernel?"

Besides being on the slightly fluffy side of literature I found this book highly enjoyable. The story was intriguing and intelligent. I loved how the Pimpernel fooled the French guards and the comraderie between him and his men. Also, the book had a strangely modern feel. Almost like when I read "War of the Worlds" and was surprised to see how much it felt as if it was taking place during World War II despite being written decades earlier. In terms of diction and dialogue the book was an easy read and to top it off it was written by a real Baroness!

If you read the book and enjoyed it I suggest you check out the 1934 movie adaptation with Merle Oberon and Leslie Howard. It's a little grainy but Leslie does a great job playing off between the foppish Lord and the daring Pimpernel. His dialogue within the Gentleman's Club is hilarious. I've included a clip of Leslie being awesome and upsetting the upcrusties.

Rating:4/5