Pollyanna Pops Her Head In Between Movies

Lyda here. Wow, I guess I’m not posting every day in April, am I? Things got pretty nuts at work, and then of course there’s the rest of my life… Summary: ugh, can we just not talk about it?

In the last few weeks, I’ve been working overtime and trying to get enough sleep and keep up with minimum hygeine standards and… oh yeah, do my taxes and other trivial stuff.

Here’s an old tax joke:

The Short Form:
1.  How much money did you make in 2009?
2.  Send it in.

I have spent some time with the Sith Master on the weekends, which has kept me sane. In the last weeks, we have been on a movie binge. We saw “How to Train Your Dragon” (but not in 3D) – we liked it. The protagonist is likeable, the dragons are great, and the main female character is terrific. We saw “Clash of the Titans” (in 3D) – we liked it. Sam Worthington as Perseus, Liam Nelson as Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes excellent as Hades. Sadly, Perseus never takes his shirt off, which I was hoping for. The Sith Master didn’t even notice this, of course; he was busy looking at the beautiful maidens. And oh yeah, the kraaken.

But I digress…

 We saw the Matt Damon movie “Green Zone” (definitely not in 3D) – we liked it. It was excellent, and not at all what we expected. We talked about the subject matter for hours afterwards, which we agreed is one of the things a movie like this should do. We even saw “Cop Out” (also not in 3D) – we liked it okay. Y’all can wait to rent it, or even to see it when it comes on TV. But hey, Bruce Willis – had to see it.

We didn’t see “Alice in Wonderland” in any D, because he’d already seen it with his sister. Guess I’ll have to go on my own. And somehow we missed “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightening Thief“.

And at home, I watched “Fido” (also not in 3D). Yes, again. I love that movie. And several other movies – again.

And as always, I’ve been watching as much TV as I can get away with, especially “Project Runway” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race 2” – I’m addicted to both. Neither is in 3D even though the second is sometimes close.

And of course “Bones“.  Not 3D. Probably a good thing.

Y’all, a 3D zombie flick is bound to be on its way.

Just be glad they haven’t invented Smell-o-Vision yet…

Pollyanna Rainbow Sunshine and the Eyebrows of Doom

Lyda here. I got your movie reviews right here, baby.

Warning: Links may contain plot spoilers.

First, an apology to my Zombie Army  (per this AntiM post and the comments; Hi, Maren, still stalking you!):

I’m sorry, my zombie-lovin’ friends. Eww, zombie lovin’. Just. So. Wrong. No zombie movies to review today. I’m still looking for my next undead favorite. Suggestions appreciated, but nothing too gory please. We don’t want to give the Dread Cat Tommy too many ideas. 

Anna-Liza told me about “Black Sheep” (2007) . What could be more perfect? Sheep, zombies, gorgeous New Zealand scenery (check out the center photo in the film gallery here) – and the countryside is attractive too. This film has it all! Fleece may become imperiled in this film. Fiberholics, be warned. But I haven’t found it to rent yet.

Ya’ll, just look at all the zombie movies listed on Wikipedia. Now I really need to track down a copy of “The Astro-Zombies” (1969) with John Carradine as the mad scientist. Check out the trailer – “You will die a thousand deaths…”. Oh my. Ah, if only I could watch them all…

The good  zombie news – – if there is such a thing, and I think there is, although “good zombie” might seem an oxymoron to those of you who haven’t seen “Fido“ (reviewed here)… but I digress – – is that “I Am Legend“ is out on DVD. Definitely not good zombies in this one. Bad zombies, bad! My review here. Scary, kids. Really. Don’t let the kids watch it at all. Trust me. I don’t suggest you watch it alone at night either. I’m just sayin’. This is a DVD that I will be purchasing, myself. And watching in the daytime. With my son on guard. While the cat is sleeping.

Wow. That’s a lot on zombies for someone who hasn’t seen any lately. I seem to be zombie fixated. What a surprise.

So far, this whole post is a digression.

“… Two, three, four, and then there was the time…” *

(* for Gorgeous and Available Engineer brother)

“What movies have you seen lately, Pollyanna?” I’m so glad you asked.

Oh the excitement – I’ve got good movies to tell you about today. And even more soon. What do you mean, get a life? I have a life. A life of watching movies. What do you mean, maybe I should occasionally leave the house? I do, I go see movies.

When I saw “Stargate – The Ark of Truth” (direct to DVD, 2007) on the video store shelf, ya’ll know we had to rent it. I do love Stargate (not only because of the casting, although I certainly do appreciate the plethora of gorgeous men – even the extras are gorgeous).  We loved the movie. If you haven’t seen any “Stargate: SG1” episodes, you might be a bit lost at first, but it doesn’t matter – just hang on and enjoy the ride. It’s worth it for the three gorgeous leading men alone. The production values are good, and the acting is first-rate. And did I mention the gorgeous men? Oh. Yes. Yes, I did. And just for the record, I like the women in this too. Just not in the same way. If ya’ll know what I mean. And I’m sure you do.

By the way, I liked the original “Stargate” movie (1994) with Kurt Russell. At least partly because Kurt Russell was one of my first crushes. Remember, he was in all those Disney movies in the late 60s and 70s? “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes“ and such? He always played the boy next door, and he was so cute, and my preteen self was smitten. I wanted to be Haley Mills and go steady with Kurt Russell and have wacky adventures that always ended up happy at the end. I wanted my life to be a Disney movie. Instead, it was more like an Afterschool Special.

As ya’ll know, Haley Mills as “Pollyanna” (1960, another Disney movie). So in a way, I am still emulating her. Trying to become her. Or something twisted like that.

But enough digression…

“Stargate SG-1“ is one of my favorite sci-fi TV series, which my local station shows Sundays at noon (even though it’s not in production anymore). I love that some characters have crossed over into “Stargate Atlantis“ (which I like too – and which the station shows next). Now ya’ll know where I am for two hours each Sunday. Hey, don’t start.

As the Resident Sith Master had never seen it, we also rented “Dr. No” (1962) with Sean Connery in his first outing as James Bond. I had forgotten that it was the first of the Bond films. Sean Connery’s first line is “Bond. James Bond.”

We had a lot of fun watching it. The action and special effects are 60’s hokey, and the costumes and interiors are a hoot – it’s worth seeing again just to remember what was cool back then. Although Connery is suave in his tuxedo, of course.

Sean Connery is my favorite Bond – I know lots of people disagree with me, and nothing against the other Bonds, but he’s the one I grew up with and watched as a kid with my dad, and I just like him best, so there. Although Daniel Craig, the newest Bond, is closing in on him. Mr. Craig is certainly gorgeous and manly, and has an amazing body. Hmm, I seem to be drooling. Let me just wipe that off…

Ursula Andress in her famous bikini was the first Bond girl, here with a casual but still impeccably dressed Bond:

 

Look how curvy! Awesome! All the women in this movie are lush and the actual size of… well, real women. But that’s a digression for another day…

We were surprised and pleased to see Jack Lord, of “Hawaii Five-Oh” fame, in the film. We joked about the epic competition between The Hair (Jack Lord’s) and The Accent (Sean Connery’s).

And we decided that Bond’s secret weapons in this film are his Eyebrows of Doom – none can stand before them! All tremble before the Eyebrows of Doom!! Really, his eyebrows are astonishingly huge in this film. Only an actor with so much charisma could overcome them.

Upcoming movie reviews: “Gladiator” with Russell Crowe. “Michael Clayton” with George Clooney. And more…

Hmm, I seem to be drooling again…