The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased.
- Alexander Hamilton

Happy Independence Day to all of my fellow Americans, both in nationality and in spirit. May this great country continue to thrive and rise above all challenges, both from within and without.


In other, slightly shocking news, Jeff Franceour's been sent down to AA Mississippi to work on his offense. I kind of saw it coming, too. He's been having a horrible year. But still, that's breaking up my baseball OTP, man. I have no idea how Brian's going to survive without him for 2 weeks. *g*


And in other, other news, CNN has a great article about Heath Ledger's Joker performance & his chances of being nominated for an Oscar here. I cannot WAIT to see this film and celebrate his performance.


Speaking of movies, had a great night out with editorzon last night that we capped with taking in a showing of 'Hancock'. And my God, does that movie completely jump the shark about halfway through or what?? Felt like I was watching two completely different films with the same cast all smushed together. *shakes head* I know that script's been making the rounds for at least 10 years, but still, one would think someone would have noticed that the 2nd half and the 1st half have NOTHING to do with each other.

Still pretty entertaining, though. And Brad Leland makes a cameo, which I thought was a nice touch on Peter Berg's part. Go FNL!!!!


I hope you're all enjoying your holiday, and if it's not a holiday for you, that you're enjoying your Friday. *g*

Title: "Foreplay" 1/1
Fandom: Wanted (movie)
Pairing: Fox/Gunsmith
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Fox & Gunsmith spar.
Notes: Because I owed idiosyncratic a ficlet, and this was what she wanted.

( Foreplay )

Because it looks hilarious & again, trying to avoid expense reports.

On July 3rd:

2002 - I was still new to living in L.A., writing the 2nd part of 'Fun & Games', laughing at how very L.A. Los Angeles was, and looking for a permanent job. Oh, and there was much abuse of the word 'cha'. *g*

2003 - Jo & I were getting settled into Old Casa. Man, does that seem like a lifetime ago...

2004 - Didn't post on the 3rd, but on the 5th, I posted a record three times. *g* There was Matt/Ben fic, a Day in the Life post, and a book series rec.

2005 - Also did not post, but on the 2nd, I posted My Top 12 Hotties. Sadly, the pic links no longer work, as this was before I had a photobucket account, but the list is still, surprisingly, relevant. *g* Except for Jared Leto, even though he's still beautiful, he just doesn't do it for me these days.

2006 - Another Day in the Life post, where I talk about baseball, work, my weekend, Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and writing.

2007 - There was cryptic bitchiness about people wot steal ideas from other people, baseball, more baseball, and Harry Potter.


Clearly, my summers have a theme. *g*

Because it's Thursday, and anything's better than doing expense reports. *g*


- I realize quite a few peeps on the flist are into the Die Hard slash, but I just do NOT get it. I feel like maybe I was watching a completely different Live Free Or Die Hard film than everyone else, or that maybe I've been watching a different John McClane for the past 20 years or something, but if there was ever a person that was LESS slashable, I have no idea who it'd be.

- On a completely different note, however, the Original OTP was at the World Series of Poker charity event last night. There's video of Matt & Ben talking about what great tippers they are & generally being very OTPish & very cute. Which sort of made my morning.

- We are not speaking of the Braves. If I do, I'll start gnashing my teeth or something. I can't believe how bad we are right now.

- I have a massage scheduled for 6pm tonight and I cannot wait. My neck & shoulders feel like granite.

- Speaking of, it's been so nice the past couple of nights to just come home after the gym & hang out in my own house. I've been catching up on RemixRedux fics, on Torchwood fics, on email, and working on 'Going Yard'.

- Of course, I really need to get cracking on a couple of deadline fics that are due, um, at the end of the month. And I have zero time to write on them after the weekend. So, yeah, there's gonna be a lot of plotting & writing over the next few days. *g*

- Also on the agenda this weekend are Wall*E and Hancock. Because what's the 4th of July without Will Smith, really? ;)


What's everyone else got planned for the weekend?

Alright, so.

About, um, 6 years ago, I think, I wrote this series called 'Welcome to the Playground', which was this sort of PWP series wherein Bean & Viggo pretty much tag-teamed just about every member of the LOTR cast. Because that's what you do when you're Bean & Viggo. *g* Anyway, I also wrote a series of companion pieces where I paired off some of the other guys - Billy & Orlando, Dave & Craig (which was the first Dave/Craig fic *g*), Harry & Karl, etc.

And then I wrote a fic where I had Dom getting involved with Harry & Karl also set in that 'verse that is pretty much one of my all-time favorite things I've ever written (don't ask me why, but that fic pushes just about every single kink button I have.)

ANYway. The point is, ever since seeing FOTR on Monday, I've been dying to write some Dom-porn. Yeah, I know, right? (And Bean/Viggo porn, too, but it's not as overwhelming.) And I was thinking since I loved the Dom/Harry/Karl fic like pie, I'd write a sequel to it.

Which is where you guys come in. If you've got time or the inclination or just want to wallow in the nostalgic porn, I'd love it if you guys read the first fic & hit me up with what you'd like to see in a sequel.

The link to the fic, called 'Interested', is here:

http://www.broadwriting.com/lotrips/interested.html

Thanks!! I'm sure I can't be the only person that's into the hot Hobbit/Man action, right? *g*

Today is a very special day.

No, not just because the year is half over. Or that it's 17 days until The Dark Knight comes out. Or that it's the halfway mark in the baseball season.

No, today is special because today is coolwhipdiva's birthday. For those of you that don't know J, you haven't had the privilege of meeting one of the most remarkable, resourceful, funny, warm, and generous women on the planet. For those of you that have, you'll understand when I say that it is an honor to know J & to have the gift of her friendship.

Baby, I hope your upcoming year is as tremendous as you are, and that you celebrate tonight in proper style. I'm so grateful that I get to call you both hooker and friend (and one-third of the Power Three. *g*)

*mwah*

Last night, the Academy showed a screening of 'LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring' as part of its Great To Be Nominated series, with a Q&A after with Barrie Osborne, Mark Ordesky (who's shaved his head, btw), John Gilbert, Randall William Cook, Christopher Boyes, and a couple of the other sound mixing & visual effects guys (all of whom I've met at one time or another).

Anyway, the point is, it's been a few years since I've seen any of the LOTR movies on TV or DVD or the big screen or anything. (And, if we're being honest, I've actually, sadly, only seen the Extended Edition of ROTK once. Yes, once. I know, isn't that so sad??)

So, there I was yesterday, dead fucking tired from a fabulously filled-to-the-brim weekend and I was seriously considering skipping out on this screening, because, really, I'd seen the damn movie 17 times in the theatre already & what the hell could these guys tell me that I didn't know or hadn't read, y'know?

But I went. And, oh man. I just.

I had honestly, shamefully, truly forgotten just how fucking GOOD this movie is. How richly detailed and nuanced and how well-directed and acted and edited and how seamlessly it wove the books into this brilliant visual tapestry.

In short, I'd forgotten why it is that Lotrips will forever be my number one fandom. And it's not because Karl & Orlando would look hot together (although they would). It's because these are incredible films from an incredible book and an incredible team spent YEARS making sure that no detail was left untouched in an effort to get it right.

By the end of the film, I was ready for them to roll right into The Two Towers. *laughs*

And yes, Boromir still makes me cry like a little girl. (And I'd forgotten just how well Sean played Boromir, with all of his strength & hope & fragility & weakness all right there.)

And yes, Samwise totally made me cry like a little girl.

And yes, the vembraces, omg, how the HELL could I have forgotten about the vembraces & what that meant for Aragorn???

So, yeah. Now all I want to do is watch the Extended Editions of all three films and roll around in the sheer goodness of it all. Last night was almost like discovering them again for the first time.


Oh, and I even got a funny story that I hadn't heard before. One of the visual effects supervisors, John...fuck me, I wish I could remember his last name...was saying that, watching this for the first time in 7 years, he was struck by how well acted it was, considering all that the actors had to go through. And he specifically singled out Viggo and Bean during the Watcher scene, and how it was freezing that night, and here the two of them are, doing take after take after take in the water with all of these heavy clothes on, and they're just insisting on making it right, getting Pete's vision down, and they did all of their own work in it. And how impressed he was by that level of dedication. *g*

(Which, y'know, made me think of all the ways they could have warmed each other up after, but that's just me. *g*)

Okay, so, I've seen quite a bit on the flist about this series by Lynn Flewelling. And, God help me, I'm looking for a new series to read.

So, how about it? Is the Nightrunner Series worth reading? Or is everyone reading it just for teh boylove?

Holy. Fuck.

Okay, yeah, so, as everyone probably knows, after 'The Dark Knight', the A-Number-One Movie Wot Brenda Is Most Looking Forward To Seeing is...

Quantum of Solace.

Duh. I mean, I'm getting Bond & Batman in the same year. That's kind of like the best birthday gift ever. *laughs*

Anyway. The first teaser trailer for Quantum is up here:

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/trailers/index.php?bcpid=348381898&bclid=348522714&bctid=1636622556


And Oh. My. Fucking. God.

I'm having a massive fangirl squee moment at work, I kid you not. It actually looks better than Casino Royale.


And, speaking of 'Casino', sort of, Happy Birthday to Marton Csokas. I hope Eva's treating you well today. (And what has happened to all of the Marton-fic? And why in God's name has no one written Marton/Eric Bana yet? They had SUCH insane chemistry in 'Romulus, My Father'.)

I'm not exactly sure what it says about my life, but one of the strippers at HWM last night bribed me to get me to dance with him.

Yeah, I got nothin', either.

More later, but now I have to go make cinnamon chip pancakes for my Casa Hooker Housewarming Brunch. If you're in the area, drop by!!!!! *g*

The baseball game last night was SO much fun! Well, except that the Angels lost, but it was a good game, well pitched, well played, and so on. I really do love the idea behind the boxed seating areas, not the least of which is all the cool food that you get. *g* And we were sitting two seats over from Chris Noth. Which was hella cool. (And yes, he does look that damn good in person.)

As always, getting to see baseball with my girls is the highlight of any game. Well, and there was Vladimir Guerrero's ass, which was RIGHT THERE. So that part rocked. *g* (Thanks to coolwhipdiva for setting everything up!!!)

This morning, moonmelody, _lisalisa_ & I hung up artwork at Casa Hooker, hung out, and generally caught up. Now I'm off to the grocery store for things for brunch tomorrow & then to the gym, because I seriously need it after the amount of food I ate at last night's game. *g*

And, because I can't let a post go by without mentioning the movie at least once, my review of 'Wanted' is finally up on the website:

http://www.celebritycloseups.com/reviews/movies/08/Wanted.htm

Hope everyone's having a great Saturday!!!

ETA: THANK YOU FOR THE COASTERS, empy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy fuck, they are SO awesome!! *g*

Finally, my long-ass post about 'Wanted', why you should all see it, links to cast & crew interviews & several hot pics of hot people with hot guns. Okay, most of James McAvoy, but that's not a bad thing. *g*

But first, as promised, I did create a Wanted fic community:

wanted_fic

Honestly, this movie is BEGGING for fic. There's just so much that's understated or left to the imagination. And Wesley Gibson is a fascinating, amoral character. For that matter, so are The Repairman, Gunsmith, and Fox. And Cross, my GOD, I could create an entire community just for Cross. *draws hearts*

So, yes, pimp far & wide & let's get some rockin' fic written. (And don't forget the crossover potential - with 'Lucky Number Slevin' & 'Supernatural' & 'Fight Club' & hell, even 'Iron Man'...)


Anyway, you should see the movie because it's directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the mad-crazy-cool director that brought us 'Night Watch' and 'Day Watch' and it stars James McAvoy in a smokin' hot role. And it's fun and visually stunning and nihilistic in the best way. There's unexpected depth, fun twists, great scenery (and no, I'm not just talking about the guy-candy, either *g*). It's smart (in that it doesn't spoonfeed you anything & forces you to take things on faith) and, well, it's got Wesley, who might just be my favorite movie character since Ben Wade from '3:10 To Yuma' (which was written by the guys that wrote 'Wanted'. Anyone else sensing a theme? *g*)

But don't just take my word for it, check out some of these links:

The Cast interviewed on Attack of the Show

15 Questions with James McAvoy

More video interviews with the cast & crew

James McAvoy & Common talk about the film

A metric fuckton of interviews & clips


And if that's not enough to convince you, have some pics:



( Gun!Porn for everyone )

Happiest of all birthdays to two of my most favorite ladies on the planet - ladymoonray & stormcloude!!!!! I hope you're both having most excellent days & that life is treating you both extremely well. :) I'm honored to call you both friend.

Also, you both share a birthday with Tony Leung, which is pretty goddamn cool. *g*


Last night, moonmelody, editorzon & I went to a special AFI screening of 'Wanted', with one of the writers, Michael Brandt, doing a Q&A afterwards. And, having seen it a 2nd time, I can safely say that I am well & truly hooked on this film & wish to roll around in the awesomeness of it like a happy puppy. *g* (Of course, I realize that this crush will be short-lived, since The Dark Knight is coming out in 3 weeks, but, hey, it'll be an awesome affair.)

Michael was, as ever, vastly entertaining & refreshingly honest. He talked a lot about the process of adapting the comic series, about how he & Derek (his writing partner) got fired from the project, then rehired, about the art of writing on the set, and about their upcoming projects. I know he's busy with his directing & writing & all that, but I really wish he & Derek would teach a screenwriting class or seminar or something, because I always learn so much whenever I've interviewed them or heard on of their talks, and last night was no exception.


Sekrit Message for glendaglamazon: Cute!waiter dude finally called. And spent the evening texting me to hook up. Apparently Hephaestion & Cletus were out of town & he was "lonely". Yeah, I got nothing, either... ;)


'Wanted' picspam & post coming up next, including pimping the fic community!!!

I'm just going to bullet-point this, because, honestly, if you're not aware of my insane love for George Michael by now, then you've been under a rock or just skipping my posts for the last however many years I've had an LJ. *g*

And, it's a fuck of a morning so far, we've got email issues at work, I'm working on 4 hours of sleep, I really HATE the parking & traffic people at the Forum, I still have to write my 'Wanted' review & yeah, I'm just going to concentrate on George & how friggin' awesome last night's show was (moonmelody might be more coherent *g*):

- HE PLAYED "JESUS TO A CHILD"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me repeat that. He played "Jesus To A Child". And dedicated it to Anselmo. I just...I kind of have no words for how much hearing that song live meant to me. And it was SO out of the blue, too. Just random, here, let me give you a gift. And, God, it sounded...just...well, if you've heard the song, then you know how powerful it is. Now imagine hearing George sing it live, with his voice resonating all of the beauty & heartbreak in it.

So yeah, as I thought I might if I ever heard it live, I cried like a baby.

- He dedicated "Amazing" to Kenny again. And yes, I cried again, but not as bad.

- He did a different middle arrangement during "Everything She Wants" that totally blew me away.

- He had a different stage set-up, with a walkway that went halfway out into the floor. And where our seats were (2nd section on the floor), Jess & I were CLOSER to him than when we had our 11th row seats in Phoenix. And he was constantly on the catwalk, including playing "Roxanne" and "Kissing A Fool" completely out on the edge of the catwalk.

- And, can we talk for just a minute about how fucking AWESOME hearing "Kissing A Fool" live was, too, because I don't think I fangirled it enough in my Phoenix recap. Good Christ.

- Since we were slightly farther back, we could watch the full animations on the big LCD screens, and wow. The money that went into that setup was totally well-spent.

- It was George's birthday yesterday (Happy 45th, baby!!!) and the crowd all had signs & balloons & glitter & we sang to him twice AND his band flustered the hell out of him by going into this long-ass bluesy rendition of "Happy Birthday To You", complete with one of his crew bringing out a huge cake. *g* I mean, he was SO embarrassed. *laughs* To the point where he forgot the 2nd verse of "Freedom '90" and was singing 'I've forgotten the words' before his backup singers bailed him out. *g*

- He told a great story about Jonny Lee Miller and filming his scenes for 'Eli Stone' and how he wanted to apologize to Jonny because, when he was filming, between takes, he kept trying to make small talk with Jonny, but Jonny wasn't being overtly friendly (he wasn't rude, just not into the small talk), so George thought he was just a dick. Then, when he was on his way back to London, George says it finally occured to him that Jonny was just trying to stay in character between takes, so he wanted to apologize personally, since Jonny was at the show. *g*

- But his best story was the Dr. Phil story. Apparently, Dr. Phil was also there with his wife. And George, while waiting for a new pair of sunglasses to be brought to him, made a point of saying that Dr. Phil's wife was looking like she's having a whale of a time, but there Dr. Phil was, standing arms crossed and frowning and looking generally miserable. And then George looked out to where Dr. Phil presumably was standing and told him if he was that unhappy, he really should see someone about that. *laughs* Needless to say, the crowd went nuts.

I could NOT love George more if I tried.

- I really do think that George's voice is getting better. Which doesn't seem possible, but there you are. Just some of the notes he was hitting during "One More Try" and "A Different Corner" and "Praying For Time" were amazing.

- If possible, he was even MORE happy than he'd been in Phoenix, all smiley & dancing & shaking his hips (*bites lip*) & talking a lot more between songs.

- It was the same setlist from Phoenix, just with bonus "Jesus To A Child". And, yes, we got the hot cop outfit again during "Outside".

And, finally, the best part about last night's show (other than the music & George & yeah):

- KENNY GOSS SMILED AT ME!!!! *flails*

Uh, okay, so, when Jess & I got to the Forum (finally, after some adventures in mapquest & the Inglewood traffic cops), we headed down to find our seats before doing anything else. And, on the way down the steps, there's this hella hot guy on his way up the steps. And when he gets closer, I realize it's Kenny. George's Kenny. Just wandering around the Forum in black jeans, a tux jacket & this cute, tight t-shirt. And I kind of pause & blink & smile at him, because, OMG KENNY!!!!, and he just looks right at me & smiles this really big smile (and wow, I can totally see why George fell for him at first sight, because, uh, WOW) & we just continue on our separate ways.

Jess & I saw him at a few points before the show & during the break, talking to friends & consulting with the guys on the sound board. And, let me tell you, when George talks about what a lucky bastard he is for snagging Kenny, he is totally not kidding. *laughs*


So, yeah. I am so thankful that moonmelody managed to work her ticket magic again to get us such great seats & more grateful than words can say that she was once again by my side to experience the magic of seeing him live one more time. I am the luckiest of women to have such great friends that not only get my obsessions, but share in them fully.

If any of you have the opportunity to see George on this tour, do it. You won't be sorry you did.

- Today is, apparently, Brian McCann Bobblehead Day down at Turner Field. My mom's already promised to get me one. *g* This is why I love my family. (Of course, what would really help is for the Braves to win one from the Brewers, but I'm trying not to be too picky.)

- One of my friends at work sent me the leaked master tracks for 'Chinese Democracy'. And, um. Wow. I always knew that Axl was nothing without Slash & Duff & Matt behind him, but, wow, I had no idea just how bad Axl would be on his own. I mean, seriously. He's been fucking around with this album for, what, 15 years or something? And only TWO songs were even any good. TWO. Out of the 12 that I heard.

Not that Velvet Revolver's gone bust, Axl needs to work on his cock-sucking skills, because he really needs to get the other G&R guys back. *g*

- Nine Inch Nails are coming to the Forum on September 6th. Who's coming with me? *g* Tix go on sale this Saturday.

And what is up with everything being at the Forum lately? Did they get a new promoter?

- The new Cinnamon Bun creamer from International Delights is pretty damn tasty. But not as tasty as the Hazelnut Biscotti. Mmmmm...new creamer flavors...

- GEORGE MICHAEL TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I hope everyone's enjoying their Hump Day.

Most of you probably have heard me mention George Michael either here or in person - probably in person, because I have...well, let's just say my relationship with George Michael is very personal.

True fax (and this will make some of you laugh): I hated Wham!

Okay, let me clarify that. I hated 'Make It Big'. Mostly, I still do. I think 'Everything She Wants' is the only good song on the album, to be honest. So, yes, not so much a fan. Until I heard 'Fantastic'. (Yes, I heard 'Make It Big' first.) And then, oh, man, then I was hooked. "Bad Boys", "Nothing Looks The Same In The Light" (one of THE most underrated songs ever), "Wham!Rap"...uh, anyway, I digress.

The point is, I've never really been good at articulating how much George's music has meant to me and how the entire 'Listen Without Prejudice' album changed my life and how I made everyone I've ever known listen to "Cowboys & Angels" and "Waiting (Reprise)" and "Mother's Pride", because they should all be required listening. And how I cried when 'Older' finally came out, because it had been 5 years, and how, when I was in London in 2004, 'Patience' came out, and I cried again while in, oh God, the Virgin at Trafalgar, I think it was, because it had been 7 years between albums. And I know, man, I know it's silly to cry over something like that, but he is, hands down, without a doubt, and I'll say this until my dying day, THE best songwriter since Lennon & McCartney started doing their thing. He is unparalleled at creating melodies that are both catchy and insanely personal.

If I had to choose between Trent Reznor & George Michael, y'know, if we were doing that desert island thing, I don't think I could. There'd be no way.

I mean, I could happily sit here and go through each of his songs and talk about what they mean to me. But it'd probably get really boring, because mostly what I'd be saying is 'oh, man, I love this lyric' and 'I love this musical arrangement' and 'Jesus, he's such a great songwriter' and 'It's like he's tapped into my head and is saying everything I ever wanted to say about life' and so on.

So, when I say that finally getting to see George Michael live was a religious experience, I'm not even exaggerating a little bit. (And moonmelody will attest to that. *g*)

From the very first strands of "Waiting (Reprise)", which opened the set, to the final notes of "Freedom '90", which closed it, I fell in love with George all over again.

First off, he's looking DAMN good these days. And happy. Oh my God, he looks so happy. (And we were so close that I could see every dimpled grin and his wedding band, which just... *draws hearts*) And he just looked so thrilled to be here in America. He kept thanking us for sticking with him and listening to his music and being patient and that we were the reason he was here. (And yeah, I might have cried a little bit at that.)

And he played...oh my God, he played songs I never expected him to play in America. He played "Flawless". He played "One More Try". He played "Spinning The Wheel". He played "Outside" (and put on a cop uniform, and, um, I might have had a moment...or several). He played "Hard Day".

He played "Kissing A Fool". Which just, seriously, my FAVORITE song off of 'Faith' and he just blew my mind with how fantastic it sounded live.

He played "Amazing", guys. And here's where I have to confess that "Amazing" makes me cry when I hear it on my ipod, because it's about Kenny & how happy he is & how everything he went through was worth it & how love is really worth waiting for, and anyway. George played it. And talked about California's same-sex law & how it allowed 'people like him' to be married & THEN he dedicated the song to Kenny (!!!!) & talked about how much he loved him, and yeah, I cried. While dancing & singing along. Because it's just that kind of song.

He played "Everything She Wants". And "Fastlove". And "An Easier Affair". And "Praying For Time", which totally made me cry AGAIN, the exact same way I cried the first first time I ever heard it, back in 1990.

And, of course, he ended with "Freedom '90". Which WAS the song that changed my life - or at least, changed how I look at my life and where it was going. But then, it's one of the most powerful songs ever written. And to be in the same room with George, singing that song with him, having it resonate through the both of us, and still mean exactly what it meant to me 18 years later...

Yeah. It was pretty much perfect.


There are only two songs that I wished he'd played - "FREEEK!" and "Shoot The Dog". I doubt I'll ever hear "Shoot the Dog" here in the States, given how much shit he got for the video, but I'm holding out hope that he'll play "FREEEK!" tomorrow night at the L.A. show.

(Well, really, I'd love to hear "Jesus To A Child" and "You Have Been Loved", but there's no way I'd survive either of them.)


Anyway. Under the cut are a few pics (not taken by me) and the setlist.



( GEORGE!!!! )

As you can probably tell from the subject line, I watched Gladiator last night. Well, the last 90 minutes. Still. It's one of those movies that, even if I only catch 10 minutes, I'm totally switching the channel & watching it.

You guys are all really lucky that I didn't have an LJ back in 1999 when the film came out because then you'd have been subjected to me raving about it, um, a lot. All the time. Incessantly. Yeah, I love it that much. *g* My Italian Gladiator poster was the first thing I hung up in my new place (yes, even before my Black Hawk Down poster, but they are next to each other on the wall. I call it my Shrine To Ridley. *g*)

I know it's become popular the last couple of years to dismiss the film and to talk about how overrated it is, but I just roll my eyes. Whenever something - anything - strikes a chord with people, there's always backlash. And not everyone will like the same thing. But to not like a thing, or to change your mind about liking a thing, just because other people like it? That's ridiculous and demeaning to your convictions.

Anyway. I'll be posting about George later. I just wanted to wax rhapsodic for a minute about the brilliance of Ridley & Russell & Joaquin & Connie & Djimon & Hans Zimmer's score & John Mathieson's amazing cinematography & how John Logan & Dave Franzoni took an outline of a script and gave depth and modern meaning. And, y'know, everything else that was brilliant about the movie. *g*

Because as tired as I was last night when I got home (and I did nothing), the fact that I stayed up to watch the last 90 minutes of a film that I own on DVD is saying something.

Rest in peace, George Carlin.

You were a true visionary, one of the best satirists in history, a champion of the English language, and a truly, deeply funny man. I'll miss your acerbic wit and scarily accurate observations on life.


In other news, my flight back to L.A. was over 30 minutes late, I encountered traffic and construction on the 405, Sepulveda AND Robertson, and I am so dragging right now that it'll take mainlining coffee AND a miracle for me not to fall asleep at my desk.

And yes, it was all worth it. *g*


Also, and before I forget, I had a great time at Saturday's Dodgers/Indians game with _lisalisa_, glendaglamazon & sabrinagb. C.C. Sabbathia hit a homerun and pitched a gem of a game, and we got to see extra innings. *g* The Hollywood All-Star game after was a lot of fun, too. Sean Astin & Mike Rosenbaum both showed up, and Mike's got quite the competitive streak. And he's a damn good fielder. (And was totally flirting with, um, I think his name was Bailey Chase, Bailey Champ, something like that, but he was really cute.) All in all, a very good time.

I got to see technosage while in Phoenix, yaye, and got to see 'Mongol' again. moonmelody & I are in total agreement that it might be the best film either of us have seen so far this year.


And now, I'm off in search of more caffeine. I promise, my thorough George Michael review is coming. *g*

Oh. My. God.

I have to head to the airport to catch my flight back to L.A. in a few minutes, but I just had to post really quick to say this:

GEORGE FUCKING MICHAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Cause yeah. Last night's show was pretty much a religious experience. No, I'm not even exaggerating. I laughed, I danced, I cried (I cried a lot. In a totally good way).

Almost 3 hours of sheer entertainment & love & OH. MY. GOD.

A full review later.

(And yes, moonmelody & I are seeing him in L.A. on Wednesday. Yes, we're completely crazy. Yes, he's COMPLETELY worth it.)

Yaye, I've got a _lisalisa_ with me!!! :) At least until I leave for the airport to head to Phoenix.

Went with her & glendaglamazon & Trace to see 'Get Smart' last night, and laughed my ass off. It was JUST like the show, only with a few more action sequences, full of the same zany comedy & deadpan one-liners. I thought Steve & Anne both did excellent jobs, and my God, could Dwayne Johnson BE any hotter?????? (Plus, there's bonus Steve/Dwayne action \o/)

Headed out today to catch the Dodgers/Indians game in the billion degree heat. Wish me luck that I don't melt. *g* Then it's off to Phoenix to see moonmelody and GEORGE MICHAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope everyone's got a fabulous weekend planned!! :)