Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

This movie is so so so great (that I'm in incoherent moron). It looks like nothing you've ever seen, and yet it's entirely a visual love letter to the history of movies and film and just everything.

Also, very very slashy, and not in a "I was looking for it" way, but in a "here, have some slash, and oh, now we will make jokes about sausages" way. I mean, when this thing comes out on DVD, there's going to be a drinking game revolving around how many times Jude Law says "Good boy, Dex," to his very loyal best friend. Oh my god. Mrrrrowr. Also lots of poly!fic possibilities. Right hi... fandom dork today.

Also, Angelina Jolie reminds us of why we like her, finally.

Also Gwenyth Paltrow? Only as annoying as she was supposed to be.

(no subject)

Ah... it's the men's fashion section in the New York Times. And as usual with the New York Times fashion sections (the women's fall fashion stuff they did recently followed this pattern) -- I mostly approve, but I'm also wondering why the Times seems startled that these things are in... or why no one noticed these things would be the obvious choices in light of the current cultural moment.

All of that said... what is up with the return of the New Romatic thing? I'm down with it in terms of the faux military styling, strange layers and great fabrics (hi! have you seen my wardrobe?). Also totally happy with the eyeliner on guys thing. HOWEVER... I loathe gaudy jewlery on men, Adam Ant haircuts and really skinny ties (_maybe_ with an oxford and a sweater vest if they are going for that young prep school thing) and I want to know, who the fuck thought any of those things were a good idea? because it's distracting from all the stuff that is a good idea.

Meanwhile, must retrieve my little oxblood wingtips from my parents house. I've had those shoes for fifteen years, and that fact is finally justified.

Meanwhile, off to pick up dry cleaning, and to bring my down coat in. It's so cold out I feel like I need it.

Today: Some freelance work to do and I want to at least cut out the pattern and maybe the bodice pieces for the dress.

The world seems quiet today, and while a relief, I am not sure what I think of that.

Must catch up on Netflix later. Must.

Mists of Avalon

I am watching the Mists of Avalon miniseries, and it is, as Kat promised, bad.

The casting is mostly apalling. Most of the faces are too modern, most of the acting is mediocre, and few of the actors seem physically able to inhabit their roles and that's before they get on a horse and have a sword in their hand.

The changes made from the book mostly seem unnecessary, and in the interest of sanitizing things that can't really be sanitzed, and that's annoying as well. The entire king-making thing was especially awful, visually displeasing and neither frightening or arousing (and it probably should have been at least one).

That said, the matter of Arthur's heir and the infamous threesome issue, while also utter crap in this thing (let me count the ways), still made me look up from the work I've been doing while watching and held my focus forcefully. I've often said, what a strong, precise literary memory that is for me and the various things it made me understand about writing and people and sacrifice and complexity, but to see that infamous discussion on screen, even in this tripe, moved me more than I would have thought -- not out of any great anything in this awful project, but just because that's been laid so deep under my skin for so long, and if nothing else, it got the sense that no one breathed once during that whole conversation down perfectly.

Other things that suck: okay, people... having some chickens around doesn't make your project all Middle Ages authentic. The people are still too damn clean, and straw on the ground and chickens do not make up for manicures, blindingly white teeth, and men who have no scars on their flesh.

Also -- cheesy blue light surrounding Excalibur? Was that really necessary? Man.

This is sucktacular, and not even terribly fun for all that.