Ok, let's shake off our post St. Patrick's day hangovers, throw up our green beer and then get straight to the nerdosity, shall we?
I went to go see "V for Vendetta" last night and was quite impressed. First, a brief back history. The movie is heavily based on a graphic novel (that's a "big comic book", for those of you not into the geek genres) written by famed comic scribe, Alan Moore, that came out in the early '80's. The story revolves around a not too distant London which is under the dictatorship of a right wing, conservative government. However, there is one masked, mysterious and ubertheatrical individual who takes on the government who calls himself "V".
The Sci-Fi, action, drama film is making waves in the media. Most reports and reviews are hearkening it as a frightening parallel of what the Bush administration is up to in our current times. The film is also posing questions about where vigilantism ends and terrorism begins. So, not only do we have a great action movie on our hands, but also something quite thought provoking to mess with our noodles.
Most of the time I'm quite turned off when Hollywood and its socially elite celebrities try and preach to me how I should manage my social ideals. I don't need the likes of George Clooney and others like him that earn more making one movie than I will ever see in a lifetime trying to tell me how I should think. Sorry, it ain't gunna happen! However, "V for Vendetta" is a bit different in the fact that not only does it make you think, it also has a very deep story that at one point gave me a bit of a lump in my throat. Admittedly there are a few messages that are thrown at you that are, indeed, blatant propaganda. But, it's Hollywood. What would you expect. Being a militant moderate who leans to the left, there were times that I could relate to and times that I was rolling my eyes a bit saying to myself, "C'mon! Could they be anymore blatant with this message? We get it, George Bush sucks! Can we move along to some more action and violence, please!"
Not giving too much away about the plot and story, I felt that both Hugo Weaving (V) and Natalie Portman (V's young protege, Evie) put on fan-frellin'-tastic performances! I'm loving this Weaving guy more and more every time I see one of his flicks. I hope he continues to go the geek genre route with the films he chooses. He's becoming a fan favorite. To be able to put on a convincing performance while the whole time he's wearing a mask is pretty impressive. Miss Portman returns to the same energy she had way back when she was 14 years old and made "Leon: The Professional". Sadly, this energy was completely vacant during the Star Wars prequels when she took on the role of Padme Amidalla. But, you'll see that she gives her all in "V for Vendetta", and it really pays off wonderfully! An excellent performance!
The movie itself is an excellent cross-breed of futuristic Sci-Fi, action and drama that is mixed quite well for most of the movie. There are a few portions where the drama did lag on for a bit longer than it should have. Yet, there were also times where it made the film that much more important. The action is choreographed to sheer perfection! Would we expect anything less than the men that gave us the Matrix (Joel Silver and the Wachowski Bros.)? The few fight scenes were visual wonders. I just wish there were a few more to balance out the heavy handed drama and sociopolitical commentary.
All in all, this was my type of movie and I'll at some point or another I'll put into my DVD collection. But, then again I still have to get both Batman Begins and Sin City also. Guess I'm a cheap bastage!
Cripes. This is going to be a long one. Sorry folks, but there's a lot we have to catch up on. Next topic.....
Once I got home from the movie I had the great pleasure of watching Dr. Who on the Sci-Fi Channel. For those not of the geek breed, Dr. Who is an immensly popular, British TV series that has been running on and off for about 30+ years now. The Doctor, himself is a immortal time lord who travels from time to time, galaxy to galaxy and parallel universe to parallel universe solving intergalactic crimes and hunting down both alien and robotic baddies. The Doctor is also a being that can travel from body to body every so many years. Which helps out the show's writers and producers when an actor retires, leaves or gets too old for the role. Keep in mind this thing has gone on for more than three centuries. There have been more than a few actors who have taken on the role of Doctor Who.
I was first introduced to the series in the mid to late '80's when the local public station aired about 3 of them in a row on Sunday afternoons. This was during the Tom Baker period, where the actor portraying Dr. Who wore a long brown coat, fedora, long colorful scarf and a piece of celery pinned to his lapel. I never got deeply into it as many Dr. Who fanatics (called Whovians) are. But I did enjoy its grand stories and cheap effects. It was a very quirky, fun show. Sadly the local channel stopped airing them in the early 90's and haven't broadcast them since. Prigs!
However, they've re-invigorated the series in England and are now showing last years season on the Sci-Fi Channel. Last night was the first two episodes in the series. I have to admit that I really liked them. It lost a little of it's charm as the effects were far better than the endearing old, horrible effects of the original series. But the story, pace and cadence of the show was still present. The Doctor always pulls some unsuspecting, usually hot female earthling into his world of intergalactic craziness. The new shows are no exception as a beautiful blond, Rose gets put on the Whovian crazy train. She's both a fun character and quite nice on the ol' peepers. I think I'm gunna like Friday nights in Sci-Fi!
One last entry and I'll call it a day.....
Being a big Type-O-Negative fan, I was thrilled this week when the band FINALLY came out with some form of new material. The home video "Symphony for the Devil" was released and I've already enjoyed the mass majority of it. It combines live footage of a concert at a German Metal festival from several years back and intertwines it with candid (sometimes way to frellin' candid!) wacky, backstage highjinx. For the most part it's a great addition to my Type-O-Negative collection. However, how many shots of the band members' privates do I gotta see?
NOTE TO TYPE-O-NEGATIVE FROM MY BLOG OF GEEKDOM: Next time you make a video I could use more shots of Fuse TV's Juliya and less shots of keyboardist Josh Silver's junk!
I'm hoping they'll be a new album come this fall, but I won't hold my breath.
Jeeze, I haven't linked the frell out of one of my blogs like that in a long time. Hope you bastages appreciate it.
I gotta start to get ready for a Pirate themed B-day bash of a very good friend. Thus, ends a monstrously long Blog of Geekdom.
Until, next time...
Zangz.
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