It's been a long time since I've been scared by a movie, but for some reason, The Fourth Kind succeeded where many others had failed. I don't even think it's a particularly good film, but it definitely hit my trigger button. Alien Abduction.
When I was 13 years old I read Communion, by Whitley Striber, and there are no words to describe how much it freaked me out. After that I was afraid to sleep for years. And movies like Fire in the Sky certainly didn't help matters.
1. Because they are anti-Rock Stars. They are normal, non-pretentious, slightly geeky people who aren't afraid of getting older or being glamorous. All they care about is making good music.
2. Because last week when I saw them at the Fillmore they played "Black Flowers" and "You Can Have It All," two songs I was desperately in the mood for that night.
3. Because I am rarely less annoyed by fellow concert goers than when I am at their shows. Overall the crowd is usually respectful and chill.
4. Because James McNew is a Buffy and Freaks and Geeks fan.
5. Because they are so frickin' cute. Look at them.
It's official; James Cameron literally cribbed the script of Avatar off of Pocahontas. And the writer(s) of Pocahontas probably cribbed the script from Dances With Wolves—or Furn Gully: The Last Rain Forest. Ah, the circle of life. Or hackery. Whatever.
Do you know what I like to do when I'm bored but too tired to write about anything "thinky"? I like to make lists. Listy lists if goodness. Totally original, right? So here you go: These are my top ten favorite British comedies. Set your laugh tracks...
10. The Young Ones
This was actually my first introduction to British comedy, at the ripe old age of 13. I was so enamored with these kooks that I even wrote an "episode" as an extra credit English assignment. To my amazement, the teacher actually gave it an A. Here's an amazing scene from...well I think it's from the episode "Oil," where Rik plans a communist rock and roll benefit for the working class of the house (Neil and Vivian). This never gets old.
9. Jeeves & Wooster
It's not exactly the brand of silly, slapstick British comedy that I usually go for, but the Stephen Fry/Hugh Laurie adaptation of PG Wodehouse's novels has a certain charm to it that always makes me chuckle. Besides, Hugh Laurie's rendition of "Minnie The Moocher" is infectious. This is him singing another song...but it's also pretty adorable.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I wish Stephen Fry was my butler.
8. Absolutely Fabulous
"La-di-da, Darling!" Who couldn't love Edina and Patsy? Proof that the fun doesn't have to end just because you have kids.
7. Spaced
Awesome show. But then, it has Simon Pegg, so how could it not be? About a struggling comic book artist and a writer who never writes, Spaced has plenty of geeky moments in it - like this homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
6. The Mighty Boosh
A bubblegum monster named Charlie, a scaly man-fish that wears a tutu and Howard, the angry crab of trapped wind! What more could you ask for in a show? This is probably one of the most genius shows I've been introduced to in the past five years.
5. Fawlty Towers
John Cleese is officially a comic god. No one can do physical comedy quite like him, with his long, gangly legs and affected seriousness mixed with clumsiness. Though some of the jokes in this series would probably be considered slightly offensive today, you have to appreciate Cleese' ever-disgruntled hotel manager, Mr. Fawlty. My favorite episode is when some Germans come to the hotel, and Fawlty keeps bringing up the war.
4. A Bit of Fry & Laurie
I'm not really sure why, but I have a special place in my heart for sketch comedy, and some of my favorite sketches are from this show. Hugh Laurie singing "America" comes to mind. As well as this interview with "Michael Jackson." There are also the wonderfully "self-referential" sketches about their own sketches, like this one, in which they play critics.
3. Blackadder
Rowan Atkinson. Nuff said.
2. The IT Crowd
I absolutely adore Maurice Moss. He is probably the most amazing person in fictional existence. I don't really know what else to say about this show, other than that I am glad they didn't end up making an American version. Now that would have sucked. One of my favorite episodes is when Moss builds the "AbracadaBRA."
1. Monty Python's Flying Circus
This is kind of a no-brainer. What can I say, the ends of these lists are always a bit predictable, aren't they? But you can't beat the pioneers of British comedy. Without further ado, I give you the parrot sketch.
It's not suprising that Joss Whedon is a genius in the art of speech-giving, considering his talent for writing dialogue. If you haven't seen his acceptance speech for Equality Now, I suggest you check it out. It gives me hope for the male of the species. So, when I heard that Whedon received an award from Harvard for depictions of Humanism in his work, I immediately began hunting on youtube for the footage. It was pretty easy to track down. If you are interested in the subject, as I am, give it a watch.
Interestingly, once I found this footage, I also found a link to Stephen Fry (another person I get fangirly about) talking about—that's right—Humanism. No wonder I love both these guys so much.
Two very different voices, but the same message. Makes me proud to be a fangirl.
I knew it was going to happen eventually. My mother has finally forced me to sit through the second film in the Twilight Saga—New Moon. While I thought the direction and special effects were entertaining, I can't deny how disturbed I was at Bella's antics in the second chapter of this tween-catering franchise.
First, I should probably make a confession. I actually did read these books when they came out a few years ago. They are page-turners, and I finished them all in about a month or two during the summer. Mindless reading, to be sure, but in that special "I'm done with my grad courses and don't want to read anything intellectual ever again" way. But at that time the books were not as popular as they are now, and I think that as a result I wasn't really as bothered by Suicide!Bella as I am now.
. While I thought the direction and special effects were entertaining, I can't deny how disturbed I was at Bella's antics in the second chapter of this tween-catering franchise.