Stinkiest.Evening.Ever.
Jun. 12th, 2004 02:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
liptonrm_backupAnd I do mean stinky literally. However, that's at the end of the story and this is the beginning, so I'll begin and get there in a bit;-).
The Da and I went to see The Chronicles of Riddick last night, which was the beginning of the evening and of the which I'll say a bit at the end of the post. It was ... not at all what I expected, and I'll leave it at that.
Came home and took the dog for a walk.
It was after 11PM by the time I got out with him, so I decided it would be fun to walk sans-leash, which I like to do from time to time when it's dark enough. He's very good at staying near me when we're walking. It was a nice evening, a little chilly but not too bad. I started daydreaming about moving to England with the Pup and walking the moors or the highlands in Scotland and it was a good sort of dream and made the walk even more pleasant. However, about a block from home the Pup goes tearing off into someone's backyard and starts barking viciously at something. Then, there's silence and I began to be a little afraid of what could have happened. Just as I was about to venture into the dark yard my crazy dog comes racing out from around the other side of the house as if demons were on his tail. It was at this point that I was able to get a whiff of him and discovered that he had gone up against a skunk and the skunk had won. It's been a most unpleasant situation ever since. That'll teach me to ever take him out without his leash again. *roll eyes*
I survived that experience, but only barely;-). Hardly slept a wink for all the noise he was making in the garage. Stupid mutt.
This was a movie I almost loved. The good things were ever so good. The action sequences were astounding and the scenes portraying the arrival of the bad guys (aka: Necromongors) on Helion Prime were breathtaking, stop-your-heart-good scenes. Apparently, the plot of the story ran something about how the Necromongors were going across the galaxy destroying worlds and forcefully conscripting recruits to build their religious army that was bound and determined to find this place called the 'Underverse', some sort of creepy Necromongor paradise. Supposedly, a prophecy stated that the Lord Marshal (chief bad guy) would be killed by a Furian, some specific race of beings. Of course, it turns out that Riddick (Vin Diesel) is a Furian and the Necromongors go crazy trying to catch him.
Chronicles has very little to do with the movie upon which it was based, Pitch Black and I believe it chose the wrong things to take from that movie. Where Pitch Black was a small movie, Chronicles is a huge one, featuring worlds and effects that really were incredible (even though I felt the production design for the Necromongors was a little over the top. Really, really grotesque). Twohy definitely showcased his flare for creating interesting, sympathetic characters. The movie was full of people you wanted to know more about, even if you never really learned their names (like the Imam, Convict #1 from Crematoria, Kyra, the Vaakos, Toombs, Aereon and, of course, Riddick himself). And, thankfully, the acting was mostly good. The only weak links were Colm Feore as the Lord Marshal and Thandie Newton as Lady Vaako (a role that should have kicked my ass if only a competent actor had filled it).
The reason that I didn't quite love it was, frankly, the plot's fault. I just never bought it. I never really believed that Riddick was some sort of prophecied hero, I never understood why the Necromongors felt they had to subvert every.single.world on their way to the 'Underverse' (and because of the sympathetic nature of some of the Necromongor characters saying 'they're just evil' never really worked') and the ending made me burst into hillarious laughter (which the 14 year-old girl beside me did not appreciate at all;-). In the end it was an enjoyable movie that could have been really great. It's a shame, it had such potential.
And, by the way, what is it with the recent filmmaking trend of killing off the cool chicks by the end of the movie! First Trinity in Matrix: Revolutions and now Kyra in Chronicles! Frankly, I sensed a low-level misogyny throughout the film that grated in a couple scenes. I don't feel as if I've wasted 2+ hours of my life but, on the whole, it wasn't completely satisfying. Oh well, I suppose I could always go see Troy or Harry Potter again;-).
The Da and I went to see The Chronicles of Riddick last night, which was the beginning of the evening and of the which I'll say a bit at the end of the post. It was ... not at all what I expected, and I'll leave it at that.
Came home and took the dog for a walk.
It was after 11PM by the time I got out with him, so I decided it would be fun to walk sans-leash, which I like to do from time to time when it's dark enough. He's very good at staying near me when we're walking. It was a nice evening, a little chilly but not too bad. I started daydreaming about moving to England with the Pup and walking the moors or the highlands in Scotland and it was a good sort of dream and made the walk even more pleasant. However, about a block from home the Pup goes tearing off into someone's backyard and starts barking viciously at something. Then, there's silence and I began to be a little afraid of what could have happened. Just as I was about to venture into the dark yard my crazy dog comes racing out from around the other side of the house as if demons were on his tail. It was at this point that I was able to get a whiff of him and discovered that he had gone up against a skunk and the skunk had won. It's been a most unpleasant situation ever since. That'll teach me to ever take him out without his leash again. *roll eyes*
I survived that experience, but only barely;-). Hardly slept a wink for all the noise he was making in the garage. Stupid mutt.
This was a movie I almost loved. The good things were ever so good. The action sequences were astounding and the scenes portraying the arrival of the bad guys (aka: Necromongors) on Helion Prime were breathtaking, stop-your-heart-good scenes. Apparently, the plot of the story ran something about how the Necromongors were going across the galaxy destroying worlds and forcefully conscripting recruits to build their religious army that was bound and determined to find this place called the 'Underverse', some sort of creepy Necromongor paradise. Supposedly, a prophecy stated that the Lord Marshal (chief bad guy) would be killed by a Furian, some specific race of beings. Of course, it turns out that Riddick (Vin Diesel) is a Furian and the Necromongors go crazy trying to catch him.
Chronicles has very little to do with the movie upon which it was based, Pitch Black and I believe it chose the wrong things to take from that movie. Where Pitch Black was a small movie, Chronicles is a huge one, featuring worlds and effects that really were incredible (even though I felt the production design for the Necromongors was a little over the top. Really, really grotesque). Twohy definitely showcased his flare for creating interesting, sympathetic characters. The movie was full of people you wanted to know more about, even if you never really learned their names (like the Imam, Convict #1 from Crematoria, Kyra, the Vaakos, Toombs, Aereon and, of course, Riddick himself). And, thankfully, the acting was mostly good. The only weak links were Colm Feore as the Lord Marshal and Thandie Newton as Lady Vaako (a role that should have kicked my ass if only a competent actor had filled it).
The reason that I didn't quite love it was, frankly, the plot's fault. I just never bought it. I never really believed that Riddick was some sort of prophecied hero, I never understood why the Necromongors felt they had to subvert every.single.world on their way to the 'Underverse' (and because of the sympathetic nature of some of the Necromongor characters saying 'they're just evil' never really worked') and the ending made me burst into hillarious laughter (which the 14 year-old girl beside me did not appreciate at all;-). In the end it was an enjoyable movie that could have been really great. It's a shame, it had such potential.
And, by the way, what is it with the recent filmmaking trend of killing off the cool chicks by the end of the movie! First Trinity in Matrix: Revolutions and now Kyra in Chronicles! Frankly, I sensed a low-level misogyny throughout the film that grated in a couple scenes. I don't feel as if I've wasted 2+ hours of my life but, on the whole, it wasn't completely satisfying. Oh well, I suppose I could always go see Troy or Harry Potter again;-).
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no subject
Date: 2004-06-12 09:10 pm (UTC)I wondered about Riddick. Seems kinda hyped, like a lot of movies lately. I went to see Stepford Wives today, and that was pretty good! Funny. Just what I think I needed at the moment.
I still want to see Riddick, but right now, I've got to cut the spending, because it seems I have a bit of money to dish out because of moving and circumstances not under my control- ugh. Good news is, I now know I can move in after June 22nd.
Well, talk later. Have a nice rest of the weekend.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-13 06:24 am (UTC)And I meant to say this in your lj, but what the heck is up with you paying a security deposit? I'm sorry, but that's a little anal since your BEST FRIEND is your landlord. Shoot, if she expects you to move in with her she shouldn't be so freaking demanding.
That is, however, just my .02
no subject
Date: 2004-06-14 04:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-14 04:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-14 09:06 pm (UTC)It is nice to have a formal contract, just in case, but a formal contract does not necessitate either a security deposit or half the first month's rent, especially if you're paying the last mont's rent on your current abode. Yes, a discussion definitely sounds like it's in order ...
Re: That blows!
Date: 2004-06-14 06:37 am (UTC)I hope you were able to get that smell out. Bleh!
Re: That blows!
Date: 2004-06-14 09:03 pm (UTC)Cats! Ha! I laugh at your cat-like delusions of superiority. (Seriously though, I wouldn't be averse to being a cat-owner, I just love me dog ever so much...)