Stuff we're reading / watching / listening to

[Katya]

I just watched the new Muppet movie with Marduk, my sisters, and some of Marduk's family. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, though there were some things that irritated me.

What irritated you?

[Katya]

Also, I watched The Secret World of Arietty yesterday. I liked it better than My Neighbor Totoro but not as much as Spirited Away. (It's so different from Princess Mononoke that I have trouble comparing them.)

[Katya]

I also stayed up until midnight watching Being Elmo. (It's on Netflix instant. Go watch it!)

[bobtheenchantedone]

I just watched the new Muppet movie with Marduk, my sisters, and some of Marduk's family. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, though there were some things that irritated me.

What irritated you?

POSSIBLE SPOILERS, I DON'T KNOW BUT I'LL WARN YOU ANYWAY

The first thing that bothered me was when the bad guy started saying "maniacal laugh." The first time he said it in that scene I thought it was hilarious. The second time it was still funny. But he said it four times in that scene, and that was way too much for me. So much so that I couldn't find it funny when he said it again in another scene.

A couple of the songs fell flat. The rap song I didn't like, but I think it mostly just took me by surprise. The party of one song was fine until Miss Piggy got in on the act.

Sometimes the breaking of the fourth wall seemed a little too much to me - it looked like they were trying too hard. But most of the time it worked.

There were a lot of things I really liked about it, though, so overall it was enjoyable. I'd like to see it again, both for the moments I really liked and because I think I'll like it more overall the second time around.

[Katya]

I just watched the new Muppet movie with Marduk, my sisters, and some of Marduk's family. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, though there were some things that irritated me.

What irritated you?

POSSIBLE SPOILERS, I DON'T KNOW BUT I'LL WARN YOU ANYWAY

The first thing that bothered me was when the bad guy started saying "maniacal laugh." The first time he said it in that scene I thought it was hilarious. The second time it was still funny. But he said it four times in that scene, and that was way too much for me. So much so that I couldn't find it funny when he said it again in another scene.

Apparently there were originally some that got cut that gave more context to the "maniacal laugh" thing. (E.g., When he was growing up, Chris Cooper's character couldn't laugh, for some reason, and kids made fun of him so he grew up hating funny things like the muppets.)

Sometimes the breaking of the fourth wall seemed a little too much to me - it looked like they were trying too hard. But most of the time it worked.

The muppets are really known for breaking the fourth wall (perhaps especially in the original Muppet Movie), but this is potentially one of those times when you have to decide how much to honor the spirit of the franchise vs. how well the trope is actually working in this particular incarnation of them.

Now that I think about it, a lot of aspects of The Muppet Show were references to (and gentle parodies of) earlier genres, such as variety shows and vaudeville acts, so newer incarnations of the muppets are indirectly referring to media that are now 50-100 years old.

There were a lot of things I really liked about it, though, so overall it was enjoyable. I'd like to see it again, both for the moments I really liked and because I think I'll like it more overall the second time around.[/quote]

[Stego Lily]

Also, I watched The Secret World of Arietty yesterday. I liked it better than My Neighbor Totoro but not as much as Spirited Away. (It's so different from Princess Mononoke that I have trouble comparing them.)

I loved Arietty! But I agree, I didn't like it as much as Spirited Away. Or Howl, for that matter. But it was beautiful visually and made me smile. Also, is this just me, or did it have a remarkably straightforward plot compared to most of Miyazaki's films?

[Katya]

Also, I watched The Secret World of Arietty yesterday. I liked it better than My Neighbor Totoro but not as much as Spirited Away. (It's so different from Princess Mononoke that I have trouble comparing them.)

I loved Arietty! But I agree, I didn't like it as much as Spirited Away. Or Howl, for that matter. But it was beautiful visually and made me smile. Also, is this just me, or did it have a remarkably straightforward plot compared to most of Miyazaki's films?

Oh, how could I forget Howl's Moving Castle? I think I'd put Arrietty above Howl, but a lot of that is because I'm too familiar with the source material for Howl, so the film loses points because I like the book better. (But if I was more familiar with The Borrowers, maybe I would feel the same way about Arrietty.)

Yeah, I do think the plot was more straightforward than usual. Maybe they wanted to focus more on the worldbuilding and visual effects?

[bobtheenchantedone]

I have the exact same problem with Howl, Katya.

[Katya]

I have the exact same problem with Howl, Katya.

Are you a DWJ fan, in general? I've read a lot of her stuff although not nearly all of it.

[bobtheenchantedone]

I am something of a fan, but haven't read many of her books. I didn't enjoy all of them and so have not been too eager to try the others. I read Charmed Life and a couple of others in that universe and enjoyed them, really liked Dark Lord of Derkholm and the book after, and of course loved Howl. I did not like Hexwood much, and I didn't like Castle in the Air at all.

I should really pick up some of her books again. It's been a long time since I've read any of them.

[Yarjka]

Now that I think about it, a lot of aspects of The Muppet Show were references to (and gentle parodies of) earlier genres, such as variety shows and vaudeville acts, so newer incarnations of the muppets are indirectly referring to media that are now 50-100 years old.

This is a fabulous insight that I had never thought much about. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I think it's spot on.

[Katya]

I am something of a fan, but haven't read many of her books. I didn't enjoy all of them and so have not been too eager to try the others. I read Charmed Life and a couple of others in that universe and enjoyed them, really liked Dark Lord of Derkholm and the book after, and of course loved Howl. I did not like Hexwood much, and I didn't like Castle in the Air at all.

I should really pick up some of her books again. It's been a long time since I've read any of them.

Have you read The Lives of Christopher Chant? I think that's my favorite of hers, although it wouldn't be as good if you hadn't read Charmed Life first.

[bobtheenchantedone]

I'm pretty sure that's one of the ones I have read.

[Marduk]

Showed Bob and her sister Everybody's Fine. I think Bob sorta liked it, but her sister felt "emotionally manipulated" (my words, not hers. I think she actually said something like "it was trying to make me feel things I didn't wanna feel.") Makes me sad, I really like that movie.

[Digit]

I was listening to Harry Chapin's Cat's in the Cradle while holding my 2-month-old son and felt a little lump in my throat at the part of the song when the 10-year-old boy gets a ball and says to his dad "Come on let's play" and the dad says he's got other stuff to do and the kid says "That's OK" and walks away with a smile saying he's going to be like him someday. That's the last point in the song at which the kid reaches out to do something with his dad. And the part at the end when the singer realizes that his boy was just like him is also sad.

[Laser Jock]

Have you read The Lives of Christopher Chant? I think that's my favorite of hers, although it wouldn't be as good if you hadn't read Charmed Life first.

I read Charmed Life first (and really liked it), and when I tried the other books in the universe I was really disappointed that they were all over the place...they could never pick one character to consistently focus on. I would've loved a little more coherence, instead of seeming so scrambled.

[Katya]

Have you read The Lives of Christopher Chant? I think that's my favorite of hers, although it wouldn't be as good if you hadn't read Charmed Life first.

I read Charmed Life first (and really liked it), and when I tried the other books in the universe I was really disappointed that they were all over the place...they could never pick one character to consistently focus on. I would've loved a little more coherence, instead of seeming so scrambled.

The thing I loved about The Lives of Christopher Chant was getting the backstory for the wise mysterious background figure in Charmed Life, because we don't tend to get that point of view very often (or at least not done well). But I agree that the other books set in that world are a bit all over the place.

[Katya]

Watched 50/50 last night. Really great movie. (I loved the arm-touching scene.)

[Digit]

Interesting show on the National Geographic Channel last night about one Thad Roberts, a University of Utah student who was a NASA Co-op who ended up stealing some Apollo Moon rocks in little plastic capsules and having sex with his girlfriend on a motel bed with the capsules on the bed so he could say that he had sex on the moon. Some "sources" I've since found on the Internet say that after he got out of prison, he was able to resume his studies at U of U, but no sources both reliable and recent. I wonder where that guy is now.

[Katya]

I read Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George and watched Shall We Dance (the original Japanese version).