Review - Jennifer's Body

Jennifer's Body is a tale of two movies, not of maintext versus subtext but two seperate movies fighting for dominance in which, ultimately, the oft-told (and tired) conventional one wins.

This basically sums up my feelings with the movie.

I enjoyed a lot of it. The actresses were very good--Megan Fox gave a lot to the character that the script didn't--and the visuals were pretty cool, but in the end it was just as disappointing as I expected it to be, if not more. That's a good review, though, without much spoilers, so if you're curious...

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mood: discontent tags: cranial debris, f: jennifer's body, megan fox

Claudia Christian mentioned in a blog post the other day that a B5 director ("who had clearly never watched the show") had told her to play her scenes with Sheridan more "sexy and coquettish" and I had such a strong "EWNOGROSS" reaction that I had to step back and analyze why. I can handle all kinds of fic/pairings, even if I prefer to avoid them. But Sheridan/Ivanova disgusts me, and thinking about it I've come to the conclusion that it's because they're too much like siblings.

It's kind of funny, I suppose. I can handle all kinds of screwed-up pairings if I understand the kink, even if I don't share it. I can deal with non-con, power imbalance including parent/child incest, aliens... lots of stuff. And I'm on IJ substantially because I used to have a good friend who wrote and read Weasleycest, and while I wasn't into it I didn't like the idea of her ability to do so being restricted. But despite this, sibling incest remains one of my biggest squicks.

Maybe it's because I have siblings I'm close to, and the idea of people perverting that kind of relationship feels too close to home. But I have parents I'm close to, too, and I can handle parent/child type stuff. I suppose in the Sheridan/Ivanova case, there's the added factor that they're not related by blood or by legal definition, and I've got those siblings too and know how upsetting I'd find it if people ignored that and assumed that we were sexually involved. Ties in to the whole "a man and a woman can't be just friends ever" cultural assumption, which I hate because I used to be the girl who had all guy friends and wasn't into any of them, no, really, stop teasing me, Mum! *coughs* Tangent there. Anyway, I think there's another factor.

Actors are often treated as people whose job is to convey emotions, deliver lines, and embody personalities. They are, of course. But another job they do is play relationships, and they're often not as good at that. We've all seen a big romantic storyline completely fizzle because the main romance lacked chemistry. Then, too, parent-child dynamics on screen and stage often fall flat. But the most commonly disappointing relationships I'm used to seeing are sibling ones. Screen siblings, whether bickering or affectionate, tend to fail to convince. And so I guess when I see a sibling relationship I like, I really don't like seeing it taken through the "a man and a woman can't be just friends ever" cliché. So Sheridan and Ivanova, whose sibling vibe seems so clear to me, I can't bear to think of in a sexual situation.

(Claudia Christian, I may have mentioned, is brilliant at playing relationships. Yet another reason I love B5.)

mood: pensive tags: babylon 5, fannish, geekery

Well, I am nearly at the end of the Secret Lab dungeon now. I don't expect to beat the boss there first time because...well...that just won't happen. I am quite surprised that I haven't started to come across enemies who spam Hama and/or Mudo, although I kind of expect this boss to do that because I know spoilers.

I am probably tempting fate, right?

I have nearly maxed Yumi's link (thank fuck; it was getting depressing) and started Ai's (man, she is annoying. I've heard she gets better, but...I don't know as I believe it). I've got most of my team members up to level seven except for two (I am deliberately messing with the game to see who gets the Xmas date if two of the girls are on equal levels. On the other hand, I might have both of those maxed by Xmas anyway (I'm only in September)).

I have some awesome personae (none of whom I can remember the names of :( although I think I've got most of the angels so far and also most of the Indian goddesses *wonders if there is Kali and can't remember from P3*) Also I have gone fusion mad! But it means I have personae more akin to my level than the ones I am getting from shuffles. But at the moment I am lacking any who can use Garu for when I don't take Yosuke (I seem to be levelling everyone fairly evenly, which surprises me. Except Kanji, because he is AWESOME - so he's nearly the same level as the main character).

~*~

I should probably post this since it's been sitting here for nearly an hour and I haven't thought of anything else to say.

tags: gaming: persona 4, series: megaten, this is atlus hard!

D: D: D:

...Look, Captain Jack Harkness, intergalactic manwhore, has done some pretty awful things in his long life.

BUT SINCE WHEN DOES HE RAPE PEOPLE?

Is there some part of relevant Whoniverse canon that I am totally missing? If so, could someone please tell me what it is, so that I can KEEP MISSING IT?

(I mean, aside from that thing with Owen in the first episode of Torchwood. That scene is made of ick. And if you agree, don't google for discussion on it, because half the forum threads are full of guys going "lol, that was funny, you guys are taking it too seriously, I wish I had that stuff." I guess this is the Axe/Lynx demographic.)

...Okay, skimming the fic, the author seems to have gotten the Time Agency mixed up with the Rape Agency, and Jack ("Seth") has had some kind of horrible personality transplant and should be on every Sexual Offenders list ever. 0_o Never mind. I did see the Rape/Non-Con warning, but I saw that it was a Big Bang fic (and therefore long) and assumed it had something to do with the plot/character arc.

And that was depressing, so I leave you with this cheering fanart.

mood: disgusted

I got a whole bunch of books today. Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and two lovely, gorgeous, mouth-watering Lilith Saintcrow books. And two completely new ones!

One novel about a girl who loves the ocean very very much who finds out she's not quite human and her town isn't quite normal and is happy about it (and is also pretty neat, from my readings so far) and one novel about a highly proper Victorian spinster who kills vampires and compares their deaths to a souffle going flat. It is awesome so far.

All is well.

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mood: geeky tags: book thoughts, cranial debris

In my Astronomy lab today, we devolved into a discussion of reality, and time as a measure, and the theory about how if we as 3-dimensional objects cast 2-dimensional shadows, we could be 3-dimensional shadows of 4-dimensional objects.

I--

AWESOME

I CANNOT STOP SMILING

THAT CONCEPT MAKES ME SO HAPPY

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mood: giddy tags: cranial debris

"Ames," she said, laying a tender hand on his shoulder and beaming up at him. "I love you. Truly, I do. But if you ever presume to make life-altering decisions for me again, I will personally shove you into a meat packing machine."

"Amen," Clio said without ever looking up from Cosmopolitan.

...can you tell I was just reading a review of Twilight?

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mood: nostalgic tags: fic, shapeshifters, writing

About two weeks ago I watched an episode of the television show Criminal Minds for the first time.

I usually avoid police procedural show but I was interested because rock star Gavin Rossdale was guest-starring as a sort of strung-out vampire rock star (not that I’m exactly a Gavin Rossdale fan, but I liked him well enough in Constantine).

Watching the show I ended up being pretty impressed by androgynous boy genius Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) so yesterday when I saw there were reruns showing on several channels I ended up watching a couple episodes.

When not ogling Matthew Gray Gubler’s cheekbones, I was pleased to discover that Mandy Patinkin was on the earlier episodes of the show. I’ve had a thing for Mandy Patinkin for about 20 years—when I was in high school I listened obsessively to his recording of the musical Evita. Patinkin was gone in more recent episodes of the show, but I found myself surprised and unexpectedly pleased by another character, an FBI computer technician called Penelope Garcia (Kristen Vangsness).

Now I’ve always loved support staff type characters, from secretaries Marilyn (Northern Exposure) and Elaine (Ally McBeal) to sour techie Chloe (24) but in addition to her behind-the-scenes sort of position the thing about Garcia that really endeared her to me was that she was a female character on a mainstream television show who was not skinny. She was cute and sexy and curvy and plump and voluptuous. I don’t follow a lot of television shows but I honestly can’t think of the last time I saw a not skinny female character. Probably teenaged Sara Rue on Popular (she ended up slimming down for her own show Less Than Perfect).

I’ve watched a grand total of 3 ¾ episodes of Criminal Minds, so for all I know Garcia might be a totally stereotypical “overweight” character who does nothing but provide comic relief talk about diets but I don’t think so. It seemed to me like there was some sort of romantic thing going on between her and FBI agent, Morgan, and generally she seemed like someone who was really competent and well regarded by her peers. I’m really curious now to watch more of the show and she how she’s handled.

A couple super adorable pics of Kristen Vangsness as Penelope Garcia

tags: television shows

Tomorrow my grandmother, parents and I are going to be having Thanksgiving dinner at a neighbor’s house. 

 

Given my food issues Thanksgiving is always a little uncomfortable for me but oddly I’m not feeling my usual degree of anxiety this year.  I think it helps that I haven’t had to spend the last week dealing with the insanity of holiday crowds at an urban supermarket.  Also I don’t have to work on the holiday itself so I’ll have time to relax and do anything I need to do before hand instead of rushing to work at 7:00 a.m. then having to get to a celebration right afterwards like I have the past few years. 

 

Yesterday I went to the dentist for the first time in 12 years (I know it’s been 12 years because the last time I went was right before my little brother graduated from college which would make it 1997).  

 

It’s almost unforgivably irresponsible to let that much time lapse between dental visits. I have lots of excuses.   I hate going to the dentist.   Because I was bulimic in high school I had to suffer through some extensive dental work when I was in my late teens and early 20’s.  Frankly, it was traumatic.  Also I haven’t had dental insurance since 1998 and I don’t like paying out of pocket to be subjected to pain. 

 

Before I went for my appointment I was absolutely horrified that my teeth would be in such bad shape I’d need hours of expensive dental work to save them (I have recurring nightmares about losing my teeth).  Luckily my teeth were in pretty good shape considering the amount of time it’s been.  I’ll need a filling but that’s it.  Obviously I’m not looking forward to my follow-up appointment after Christmas but it’s a huge relief to know that my teeth are more or less okay.

tags: daily life, holidays

I am going to be a good girl today and go to bed early. I have done in my quota for the day in my notebook and while I already know that a lot will be changed and rewritten, I have still worked enough on it so that the story is moving forward...I will have to type it up this weekend so there isn't enough change that later on it changes the story itself. I will probably have to print it out at work to reference when I write...it is 16 pages now by the time I am done typing this weekend it might be 20 something...and I am still in chapter 1...damn...I have to admit, this is the best I have ever written and this story is really good if I do say so myself...it will probably pass the 15,000 words mark this weekend...damn...and still on chapter one...

I am contemplating canceling on my boss tomorrow. I ran out of birthcontrol on Sunday so now I am in lots of pain-cramps which is what I was taking them for. I haven't had the chance to replace them but will probably have to do that on Friday. I will also have to pick up my ring from the jewlerer.

I am giving my mom the list of things to send me on Thursday. TJ, if you have my bracelet made, give it to my mom at work(singing river electric) and she will send it to me but it has to be soon. Your presents will be send to her. I will let you know when she has them and she will bring them with her to work so you can picj them up from there.

I am going to be a good girl now and go to bed. It is early but I am sooooo tired and if I wait another half an hour I will get my energy back again and will not be able to sleep until 2...maybe if I wake up early enough I can go to the doctor tomorrow...doubt it, I don't think the guy opens until like 10 and my lunch with Boss woman is at 11:30...we'll see....night now...

mood: sleepy music: Tsubasa - masquerade

So, I just read two of Accio's het recs...how sad is it that apparently 2 hets are my limit per night...I mean, they were good, nothing like slash of course, but the thought of reading another het, no matter how good, makes me cringe...it is official...I am a slash monster...I like having het sex, I wouldn't ming(will prefer) a threesome but reading het is apparently really not my thing...not when the sex is descriptive...weird...

mood: awake music: Tsubasa - total eclipse

I know it was naive. I know it was foolish. I haven't even read the books all the way through myself! But I honestly thought my shock and horror at Stephenie Meyer was tapped out; that she had gotten all of her 'WHAT THE FUCKING HELL NOOOOO's out of me.

I was wrong. Mark of Buzznet has been reviewing Twilight, and it's a fairly stress-reducing ride, at least for those that have read the books previously and are just relieved to see somebody sane react. The gifs help.

Then we get to chapter thirteen of Eclipse, where I thank the lords I didn't read it and we get to read SMeyer writing about how Mexicans are violent awful people (as opposed to the "civilized" north), and how being a vampire automatically makes you white.

Gods above and below, how the hell is this woman too fucking stupid to understand how offensive she is?

Picked up from randomsome1

I need to purge my brain of this ugliness.

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mood: enraged tags: cranial debris, horrors: twilight, racism

Simon Woods did a decent job of making Octavian seem, if not actually regretful, conscious and even concerned in his own way, of the damage he realizes he's done to his mother and sister. He's still about as shit at social interaction as he was as a child. 'How's Octavia?' YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW, BUCKO. Too bad you totally screwed them over, huh? Kind of burnt your bridges there, honey. And his behavior after the dinner--was that the first time he realized exactly what his position with them was? It doesn't seem possible.

I did love that little interaction with Octavian:
'No, I was all sweetness and light with her.'
'Yes, that is your most disheartening manner.'

BECAUSE IT KIND OF IS.

Cleopatra's portrayal is a major fail, and the portrayal of the Egyptian court is contemptibly ridiculous.

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mood: listless tags: cranial debris, f: rome

Neither Fictional nor Real:

So, Hollywood. Take a power structure of people who are willfully ignorant and unwilling to deal with people as people, as well as making concentrated efforts to keep us from having access to venues to tell our stories.

The argument "it's only fiction" really can only apply if you have context to understand the difference between fiction and reality. And, it's also interesting that we're not allowed to tell EITHER our fictions OR our realities, but that others get the right to do that for us, and seem amazed as if we stepped out of a comic book or something when we demand the right to tell our stories.

And it's always interesting how one group profits in reality for making fantasy about another and that group is never us.

Television Without Pity - But Racism is Dandy!

Not that I ever expected well of a site that Supernatural is heavily connected with, but hey. This is pretty nasty.

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mood: cranky tags: cranial debris, racism, rights

All mental points awarded to Rome are revoked. Totally, permanently and irrevocably revoked. Infinite, infinite fail.

I mean, there were some hints previously. The conspicuous casting of Eirene vs Gaia, the skewed amount of white to darker characters in villainous/antagonist roles, the gender!fail inherent in Vorena's portrayal--she's made a prostitute, her attempt to reclaim her sexuality leads to terrible things, and she's redeemed by swearing herself chaste to a goddess. (Oh screw you, show.) Not to mention Atia's obsession with the bottom feeder.

And now their portrayal of Cleopatra.

Cleopatra was a powerful, political, canny queen, reputedly the only Ptolomeic ruler to have actually learnt the Egyptian language. She and Egypt did not exist merely as some subnote to Rome, as some ~exotic~ place all about debauchery and corruption of those fine Roman men. I was nearly nauseated at the whole scene where she had to be 'schooled' by some condescending bastard of a Roman soldier--a woman who grew up in a cutthroat family, ascended to the throne at eighteen, raised a rebellion and won an alliance that raised her once more to the throne, a woman who is intimately familiar with murderous politics.

And yet in Rome, somehow she turns into a completely amoral, depraved druggie who proclaims herself a 'slave' of Caesar and then seems to have nothing to do but sleep with and be rabidly possessive of Anthony as opposed to, say, running her country.

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mood: pissed off tags: cranial debris, f: rome, feminist rage

Name your 15 absolutely favorite couples (het/slash/canon/fanon) and ask people to see what trends they notice about your couples. Try to pick different fandoms. Picked up from lucifuge5 I HAVE LOTS MORE. But these are the ones that came into mind first. I also narrowed it down by picking only the ones that had definite, confirmed basis in canon.

1. Chiara/The Bear (The Wolf King)
2. Regeane/Maeniel (The Silver Wolf)
3. Leetah/Cutter (Elfquest)
4. Dante Valentine/Tierce Japhrimel (Working for the Devil)
5. Chihiro/Haku (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
6. Sunshine/Constantine (Sunshine)
7. Jill Kismet/Saul (Dante Valentine)
8. Kamiya Kaoru/Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
9. Allen Walker/Rinali Li (D.Grayman)
10. Jaenelle Angelline/Daemon Sadi (Black Jewels)
11. Keiko Yukimura/Yusuke Urameshi (YuYu Hakusho)
12. Kaylin Neya/Severn (Michelle Sagara's Cast series)
13. Bonnie McCullough/Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)
14. Vesper Lynd/James Bond (Casino Royale)
15. Anita Blake/her awesome (early Anita Blake books)
...what do you mean, that doesn't count? Okay, fine, have an extra: 16. Sesshoumaru/Rin (Inuyasha)

...apparently I like a lot of relationships where there's equality, but the girls are unequivocably in charge. Especially when the boys are a bit dangerous/amoral/etc.

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mood: amused tags: alice bo, anita blake, anne bishop, cranial debris, f: d.grayman, f: elfquest, f: fringe, f: inuyasha, f: rurouni kenshin, f: sen to chihiro no kamikakushi, f: sunshine, f: vampire diaries, f: yuyu hakusho, fangirling, lilith saintcrow, mad love, memetime

On rewatching Transformers: God, Sam is such a fucking sleaze. We're supposed to be rooting for some asshole who would dump his friend in the middle of nowhere just so he can make the moves on some complete stranger?

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mood: disgusted tags: cranial debris, transformers

This a banner/header/fanart peice
Whatever you want. Rules, Want comment,take, credit tabakat, have

mood: awake tags: fanart, headers, white collar

Things I need, part 396: a P4 icon (I've got some ideas - I just need to put the controller down and actually crack open the computer and do them).

Soooooo, Void Quest, eh?

I love that dungeon, but ( frustrating boss is frustrating. Also some other stuff; possible spoilers )

All of this is making me actually want to finish P3 (because I need to). It's kind of making me also want to play through The Answer, even though I do believe that is double concentrate Atlus Hard. Sigh.

tags: gaming: persona 4, this is atlus hard!

For anyone who's a reading fiend like me, Amazon.com is offering a free download of the beta version of their Kindle for PC. I downloaded it this afternoon, and it seems pretty cool, doesn't look like it'll be hard to read from. Also, there are a bunch of books you can get for free, mostly classics, but some other stuff as well. No idea how long it'll last, but thought I'd point it out.

And since I'm still obsessing over music...Some free stuff. :D

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz (English) - A popular song that I like a lot.

Still... - BRIGHT (Japanese) - I just discovered BRIGHT really recently, pretty much by accident. Japanese girl band, really strong voices, and they sing the kind of upbeat pop music that I really like.

Memories Resemble Love - Park Hyo Shin (Korean) - I love love love Park Hyo Shin's voice. It's really gorgeous, and this is a really pretty song that complements it well.

Mama Mia - Meryl Streep (English) - I loved Mama Mia the movie, and I think I like the movie versions of the songs better than the original versions by ABBA.

Super Fresh - Arashi (Japanese) - I'm kind of in love with this song, even more so than "My Girl."

Gives You Hell - All-American Rejects (English) - Another popular song that I really like. It's such a fun song to sing along with.

Together - Night Falls Remix- - Monkey Majik (Japanese) - I love Monkey Majik. If you haven't listened to them, you really should.

Super Star - S.H.E. (Mandarin) - S.H.E. is a Taiwanese girl band that are kind of the female counterpart to Fahrenheit. They have great voices and I'm loving their music. This is one of my favorite songs by them.

Koinu - GReeeeN (Japanese) - GReeeeN is another really fun Japanese band, and this song makes me feel all sappy. It's about a puppy that someone finds and takes home, and the first time I actually listened to it, I may have cried. XP I actually translated the lyrics, so maybe I'll be ambitious and post them.

Rain - Angela Aki (Japanese) - This is one of my favorite songs by Angela Aki. She has this really lovely voice, and unlike most Japanese singers, her English is great too.

It's a Small World - Koda Kumi (Japanese) - This is off an album of Japanese artists doing covers of Disney songs, and while the entire album is made of win, this is the song that amused me the most. I never thought I would hear "It's a Small World" with a rap section... Yes, it's another 'Oh, Japan...' moment. Don't you love them?

Okaeri - Ayaka (Japanese) - Ayaka was just making her debut while I was studying in Japan, so she's always going to have a special place in my heart. Plus, I love her voice, and this is a nice pretty song that I like a lot.

i need love - Nakanomori Band (Japanese) - Nakanomori has great upbeat and fun songs, and I think this is my favorite of theirs.

Superb - Fahrenheit (Mandarin) - Favorite Fahrenheit song! It's actually pretty different from a lot of their other songs, but I love it. The rap sections make me really happy, in particular.

Xin Wo (New Home) - Fahrenheit and S.H.E. (Mandarin) - I love the combination of Fahrenheit and S.H.E. They're so bouncy and fun, and this is currently my favorite collaboration between them.

Fan - Epik High (Korean) - The music video for this song (and the lyrics to this song, actually) is amazing. I don't usually like music that's so focused on rap, but Epik High is the exception to that rule.

Scandal - Kangta & Vanness (Korean version) - Kangta & Vanness aren't just pretty, they're also talented together. I really like the combination of Vanness's English rapping and Kangta's pretty voice. Plus, I think it's cool that they have songs in Mandarin, Korean, and English. :)

Musekinin Hero - Kanjani8 (Japanese) - My favorite Kanjani8 song. Upbeat and silly and exactly what I want from Kanjani8.

A New Perspective - Panic at the Disco (English) - I was sad to hear that Panic had split up, but I still love this song a whole bunch.

Nobody (Rainstone Remix) - Wondergirls (Korean) - I don't know why I like this remix so much, since I'm usually all for the more upbeat stuff, but somehow this slower version works for me. And since it's Wondergirls, how can you go wrong?

Tatta Hitotsu dake - Tegomass (Japanese) - I've only listened to Tegomass's new album once, but this is the song that immediately stood out to me.

And that's it! Hope someone enjoys!

music: BRIGHT - 言葉にできなくて (Kotoba ni Dekinakute) tags: music