(Happiness is a...) "A little glass vial"

[brightlotusmoon]

On Wednesday, Beca and James came over for our movie viewing. Beca had recommended John Carpenter's "Cigarette Burns" from the Masters of Horror series. I has wanted to see it, but I didn't want to see it alone, because no matter the type of horror film, I will have nightmares. So, to offset my fear, James brought over "Tropic Thunder." We agreed to watch the horror first, then the comedy, so my brain would focus more on comedy than horror.

"Cigarette Burns" (which we saw on Netflix) really was fantastic, as Beca had promised. For an hour-long movie, it was incredibly well-made and it stuck with me. I almost wish they had shown more clips of "La Fin Absolue du Monde" but I figure my nightmares would have been worse. The wingless angel was creepy enough.

Now, "Tropic Thunder" was... well, hmm. Hard to describe. Beyond hilarious? Wrong on so many levels but with a wrongness that becomes awesome? Insane, ridiculous, basically award-worthy in its bizarreness? I'd see it again.

Yesterday, on Netflix, I watched "Repo! The Genetic Opera" with Luna on my lap. I loved that movie even before the Graverobber's first song, that's how good it is. It's a campy, almost parody movie; it doesn't take itself seriously, but it maintains a kind of light somberness throughout. It's very hard to describe. The songs were fantastic for what they were. I find myself singing bits from "Zydrate Anatomy" at random times now.

This morning, I made a decision. I don't know why I decided to do it, but I'm thrilled that I did. I called AT&T to ask about an early upgrade, specifically with a refurbished Palm Pixi Plus, which I had found on the website going for thirty dollars. The customer service representative who took my call, Chris, was extremely sweet. We chatted and I explained what I wanted, and he began typing away. Initially, the Palm Pixi would have sold for one hundred fifty. Chris put me on hold and went to talk to a supervisor. I waited patiently with a good feeling. Chris returned and said that he had talked to two supervisors, and had also found a glitch in the computer that lowered the pricing. So I wound up not only getting an early upgrade, but I only paid thirty dollars for a refurbished Palm Pixi Plus. It should arrive next Wednesday or so. I thanked Chris profusely, and asked him to thank his supervisors for me. I am very, very happy. I can't wait.

Pain and stiffness have been strong, but I'm handling it.

Comments

[the-onion-girl.livejournal.com]

Zydrate comes in a little glass vial.... I love Repo! :-) Glad to hear that you got your phone upgraded.

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked Repo! It can get campy, but for me, I view it in a really different light - it's almost like Shilo was written with me in mind. A girl who cannot go outside (ignore the ending a bit here...), caged up, who can't seem to get better, as well as an opera singer who has to make a sacrifice. Terrance Zdunich (the Graverobber) wrote Repo! ten years ago as a ten-minute opera, and then, the idea took off, and in 2008, the movie was released. It's now finally gaining a cult following, so I'm hoping for a sequel. And Terrance just seems so NICE (and, yes, hot - and he can definitely sing! Same with Paul Sorvino!) I may take it more seriously than most viewers, but it's really quite a good movie, with a message behind it as well...

Anyhow, glad you got a kick out of it. The more you watch it, the more you find yourself singing all the songs. I sing "Infected" and "Chromaggia" all the time :)

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I love how you see it, I love how you connect with Shilo like that. She's an amazing character.

I plan on watching it again a few times. I have a feeling that the more I see it, the less campy it will feel. It's not "campy" but more... self-aware of its own brand of humor, maybe? Maybe campy is the wrong word? I just felt like the film was its own entity that knew exactly what it was.

Terrance is extraordinary. Man, oh, man. And Anthony Stewart Head was awesome. I knew he could sing because of Buffy, of course, but he was just so fantastic as Nathan.

You know, Paul Sorvino and my father went to the same elementary school! They were in the same class. Paul is just six months older than my father (in fact, Dad will be 71 on the 23rd).
My dad said that "Paulie" was a great singer even as a little kid. He loved to act and sing, and apparently all the teachers figured he would become an actor.

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) And I definitely do connect with her the most, and with Blind Mag as well.

You should watch it a few more times. It grows on me more and more, every single time that I watch it. Hell, it was one of the only things I remembered after the amnesia, so that must mean SOMETHING. And I think it resonated with me because it is so self-contained - there aren't outside, pop-culture references that I have to understand to "get it." It is a film unto itself, and that was exactly what I needed on day one of my new world.

Terrance is one hell of a guy. Between his artwork (he did all of the sketches for the movie, too), writing, singing, acting, and how genuine he was to me - yeah, I have a major crush. And you are right about Anthony Stewart Head - I don't really know Buffy, though Toby explained the show to me, but damn can he sing, too! They did a great job casting that movie. I also love how he pulls off the Jekyll and Hyde-like voices for when he is around Shilo, and then how he sounds with his "legal assassin" victims. It's so perfect - that sweetness and that angst and that anger, all combined. I love it.

And that's cool about your dad and Paul Sorvino! What an amazing story - and all the teachers were right after all :)

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I love that the film is so self-contained. It's really refreshing.

Terrance did all the sketches? Wow! I love those!

I don't know if you plan on getting into "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" but if you do, I'd recommend the episode "Once More With Feeling." It led to him being cast as Nathan. Naturally, the episode is highly spoilery, being in the sixth season, but the songs are good - Anthony Head and Amber Benson, specifically. James Marsters, too. Anthony is very reserved in his singing there, but he's still really amazing.

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

The fact that it is so self-contained is what definitely helped me connect to it (after amnesia - I don't know how I felt prior to that). It's a completely different, yet strikingly real-world relevant, film, and I love that it can stand alone AND connect to the outside world (and our possible future...), if desired.

He did do all the sketches, and you can buy some off his Web site! He's amazing.

I don't think I watched Buffy before, but hell, after NaNo, I could give it a try. I'd like to hear him sing somewhere else, too!

[saffronrose.livejournal.com]

Anthony Stewart Head had a stint on the London stage as Frank-n-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show...mind boggles.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I remember reading about that. I couldn't see Giles as Giles anymore after that!

[saffronrose.livejournal.com]

How wonderful you got the early upgrade AND a deal!

Yeah, Tropic Thunder is hard to codify. It kept going places I didn't expect.

Have you seen the French film, Brotherhood of the Wolf? Even harder to codify. Has subtitles, and you should be able to find it from Netflix with that title. If not, Le Pacte des Loups should do it. Simply amazing--plot, cinematography, eye candy, characters, plot twists...

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

In fact, I did see Brotherhood - with those same friends, who recommended it. I have no idea how to codify it either. But it is brilliant.

[saffronrose.livejournal.com]

Brilliant--oh, YES! I loved watching the Native American move--and his hair was neat too.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

I love Mark Dacascos. :)

[saffronrose.livejournal.com]

Oh, my, yes. I haven't seen anything else he's been in, but I should find some way to inform myself about "forthcoming attractions".

I myself have a thing for James Marsters, particularly as Spike.