The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves

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Great weekend... actually, FABULOUS weekend.

But now it's 1pm on Monday and already I am having a crap day (nothing like having your prospects of future employment waved in front of your face as incentive to "think creatively." It's like someone holding your feet over the fire and saying "don't worry - just trying to give you inspiration to perform better." Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from the peacock days: "The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves.")

But no moping is allowed! So instead, let's watch some movies... here are the 5-second versions of some of the classics:

Rocky I, II, III, IV, V, and VI (my fave)

The Godfather

Rainman

Groundhog Day

The Big Lebowski


Meanwhile, excuse me while I go WAY out on a geek limb....
....... 2008??!?!?!?! FRAK ME!

(*crying*)

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Emmy Nomination!

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i was nominated for my first emmy award today... how cool is that? to celebrate, tonight i'm heading back to the Roxy for rollerskating... i've roped some fellow friends into my madness and tonight it's beer and wheels on the west side...

(*evening edit - roller skating is canceled... so tonight, instead, it's taco dinner and tv-marathon celebration... with brownies! i guess i'll have to celebrate with roller skates another time!)

p.s. thanks for the shout-out, fellow blogger-lady: http://femminista-della-casa.blogspot.com/

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i was walking to class last night, in a bit of a pondering state, because i think i have misplaced my wallet... and i overheard a woman talking on her cell phone.

i swear to you i'm not making this up... she said it as clear as day....

"you want to shear a sheep in my apartment? well... okay."

that, coupled with the fact that it smells like spring today... and i think i'm falling back in love with this town...

(*swoon*)

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i was held up leaving work the other day because they were filming a car crash scene on the street for the upcoming "The Bourne Ultimatum" movie.

the crew spent 9 hours on the street setting up and shot two takes of the crash. a scene that will take approximately 1.3 seconds on the screen... this business baffles me sometimes... the controlled crashes were fascinating to watch, but i don't think they planned for the bumper to go skittering across the sidewalk into the physical rehab center. oops.

true to the New Yorker mindset, though, the delayed pedestrians were far from impressed by the spectacle. they were, instead, on the verge of a violent protest when they learned that they would have to wait 5 minutes to walk down the street.

you just *have* to love this town....

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Pan's Labyrinth

I don't see a lot of movies... but lately I've been on a bit of a roll, with Casino Royale, Smokin' Aces and - this afternoon - Pan's Labyrinth.

I am tired and have a head cold, but I'll just say a few words about Pan's Labyrinth... it is, without a doubt, one of the most disturbing films I've ever seen. Do not, under any circumstances, take your children to see this thinking that it's a cute, escapist fantasy world created in the eyes of a child or anything along the lines of the Dark Crystal or the Labyrinth of Davie Bowie fame. It is decidedly not. And even the fantastical moments (if indeed, they were a fantasy) are disturbing, fraught with fear, danger, lies and bloody violence.

There is interwoven in the obvious plot line enough symbolism, irony, and metaphor that you could literally write papers on this for the rest of any underpaid academic career. But even on the most superficially interpretive level, it's no mere tale of fairies and escapism... no, it's far deeper and far, far more tragic than that. In the end, it's more of a statement on the woes of this world - the shortcomings of adults and their ability to misuse power - as seen through the imaginations of a child, who - in the end - proves that innocence itself is stronger, braver and wiser than anyone in the grown-up world of 'real power.' She proves that the 'ridiculous' world of the imaginary is often more deserving of respect and honor than reality.

It is without a doubt, one of the most moving, horrifying, and decidedly beautiful films I've ever seen. But do not see this film unless you are prepared for no small amount of violence... it is gruesome. Tears ran down amongst the viewers without apology as the credits scrolled onscreen.

I think after this, my next movie is Little Miss Sunshine... to break the mood.

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P.S. I wrote this while being high on Tylenol Cold, so don't hold the psychobabble against me, okay?

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