Bodice Rippers: 2004 Archives

Picked up this amazing book at the flea market a few weeks ago. Paid too much for it (for a flea market) and the cover is almost completely off, and there are loose leaves. But the prose is so lively, and the pictures so fabulous. The author took many of the photos himself, and there are numerous illustrations done just for this volume, several in color.

I wanted to scan more but ran out of time this morning. I loves me some old books. And how.

Oh, and here is a quote for Miss Cadaver, who posted about Mucha and Paris and bicycles yesterday:

"Here at the aperéritif hour the crowd comes en bicyclette and automobile, and at night the hurrying waiters serve parties dining cozily in the glow of shaded candles. The Chalet du Cycle is a charming place in which to breakfast some sunny morning with the Seine gliding close by under the trees."

So. I weeded out five crates of books last night to sell or take to the free book exchange at the El Cerrito recycle center. It got rid of all the books stuffed into crevasses and left a few nice wholes for expansion.

If we can swing it we might box up a bunch and put them in storage in the garage. If I can bear it.

But I found something Mr. Kallisti brought back for me from one of his many trips to the free book exchange! It is an early 70's crochet magazine, I'm assuming it is Japanese. But he brought it home because of the doll on the back cover:

And one of the fab pix inside:

Now, where are my Oshare dolls? They were supposed to be released in November. *sniff*

I have to do it. It is driving me nuts. My books are caving in on me.

This is looms right over my side of the bed, there is about 8" seperating the two. Please excuse the clean laundry basket overflowing at the foot of the bed here.

I love our cottage, but the bedroom is so small and narrow, and it is the only space with room for my giant bookcase (5' x 6'!) and all our books. They're stacked and stuffed in crevasses, spilling onto the floor, and there are numerous crates already in the garage of old paperbacks. I pulled a box of unwanted books a few weeks ago but it didn't even make a dent!

I'm going to be getting rid of some books. Oh, my beloved books. It is going to be hard. And then, from what is left over, we will store some in the garage, so we can get this monstrosity of a bookcase (that I LOVE) out of our bedroom.

Maybe.

Oh, and *snoopy dance* I won the winky Lusis face last night off of YJP. And for a lot cheaper than I got the orgasmic face. D'oh!

Just because a movie has puppets, doesn't mean you should bring your kids to an NC-17 rated film. I forgot to mention that when I brought up seeing "Team America" last weekend. A ton of people brought their very young kids! WTF!?!?

Anyway, chew on this interview:

http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2004/10/12/parker_stone/index.html

Forget "Fahrenheit 9/11." "Team America: World Police" is easily the most riveting political satire of the year, if not the most entertaining, the silliest and the dirtiest.

This unhinged parody of '80s action movies focuses on a gung-ho team of American special agents, played by marionettes, who are hell-bent on ridding the world of terrorists, even if it means toppling the Eiffel Tower and mowing down innocent civilians in the process. Featuring terrorists who mumble "Jihad" and "Mohammed" and puppets engaging in sexual positions never before seen at the Cineplex, "Team America" constitutes a generational litmus test like none before it. At the screening I attended, younger viewers laughed hysterically and emerged with huge grins on their faces, older viewers sat in silence and walked slowly from their seats, scowling. But your ultimate reaction to this film will no doubt depend entirely on 1) how many bad formulaic action movies you sat through in the '80s; 2) whether the word "fuck" makes you uncomfortable; and 3) how excited you are to see miniature replicas of self-righteous celebrities get their heads blown to smithereens.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of "South Park," have created a visually stunning, wildly goofy but undeniably incisive critique of American culture and our role as global cops. Wall-to-wall absurdity from the first shot, it doesn't pull any punches, and even its Scooby Doo-like ending will have you laughing louder than you have at any of the limp comic offerings of the last few years.

"Hero" was just in theaters and now we have "House of Flying Daggers."

"This graceful epic from 'Hero' director Zhang Yimou is so heroically seductive, you'll practically faint into its arms."

And I gots to get me to the theater this weekend for "A Dirty Shame"

I have an unholy passion for anything John Waters. And though I wanted to see "Shawn of the Dead" this weekend I think John takes precedence.

Still awaiting:

Libertine:
The ultimate Bodice Ripper, a bio pic on John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. Naughtiest poet to have ever lived and one of my absolute favorite historical characters. He epitomizes the term "rake." Johnny Depp as Rochester, and Shane McGowan makes an appearance as a "bard." No official site or information really. I am anxious. Depp site w/ lots o' pix.
Release October 2004 in the UK

And "Team America"!!! Yeah!

I'm whittlin' away at my Movie To-do List!

Reviews so far:

Bright Young Things:
Stephen Fry's adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's "Vile Bodies." Wooo! One splendid book!
Released August 20th (at the Clay in SF as of 9/10/04)

As it looks like for the nonce this film was only released in LA & NY, I dashed over to Amazon.co.uk and promptly ordered myself the dvd (<-click that to lookie-loo) as we have that spiffo all region $40 player now. It arrived in only a few days and what a charmer! Luckily I had just re-read the book, so it was all super fresh in my mind. The script was surprisingly close to the book, except for a wee tacked on happy ending. But shush, we'll just pretend that didn't happen. It was also a bit more gay, and a bit more naughty, but that is to be expected as elements that were subtly hinted at in the book were brought to the fore. Hurrah! As with a lot of British films, the picture is practically stolen by the vast sea of seasoned talent swooshing through the background in every scene. The Bright Young Things themselves were just a tag lackluster. But over all an absolutely fantastically sparkly film. Everyone shoiuld go out and get their region free dvd and then order it from Britain. Nice extras too.

Hero:
Hong Kong blockbuster finally makes it out of the Miramax gates.
Release August 27th

One of the most gorgeously filmed pieces of exquisite cinema ever. I was completely floored by the beauty and scope of this Hong Kong gem. A complicated tale, the plot peels itself like an onion, and ends up a very poignant polemic about war, revenge, sacrifice and honor. Did I say "wow"? Wow. It is vast, and sweeping, the mongolian desert a background to brilliant colors and sinister plots. Do. Not. Miss.

K? Right.

Vanity Fair:
Adaptation by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) of Thackeray's famous novel without a hero. Also the basis for Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind." Also, my favorite Victorian novel. Mmmmm. Jonathon Rhys Meyers makes an appearance. It is about time! Yummy.
Release September 1st

Ok. One reviewer said it bugged them because it was clearly a rip off of Gone With The Wind. HELLO!?!? WTF. "Gone With The Wind" was a rip off of Vanity Fair you ignorant feckin' ignants. Reminded me of the one reviewer who said that the first "Lord of the Rings" movie was a rip off of Wagner. Um, HELLO!?!? Both Tolkein and Wagner used similar source material for inspiration, you dimwit.

So yeah, critics can BITE ME.

Vanity Fair has good points and bad points.

Good: Exquisitely shot, period detail is fantastic and lush. It is a bit more exotic than more staid Austen flicks, due in part to the Director Mira Nair's hometown influence, but this is also reflected throughout the book as cultures of east and west intersect. I was surprised at how much of the book made it into the film, there were some mood changes, of which I complain about below, but overall I say "good job!" Again, the panoply of England's finest in the supporting roles totally steals the show. It is worth it just to watch Eileen Atkins as Miss Crawley and her steeley eyed glare. This film is a bit less sinister than the book, but still affords such exquisite lines uttered icily by Gabriel Byrne as Lord Steyne "There is not a person here that doesn't want to see you dead." And that to one of his daughters over a light supper.

Bad: It is not as dark and cynical as the book, including, and most importantly, our anti-heroine Becky Sharp. The film is more sympathetic to Becky, partly I think because as a culture we are more sympathetic to female adventurers. But she loses something in the translation. Especially where it must intersect with the story and alter the plot, ie: Becky actually giving a damn about anyone but herself. Which brings me to Ms. Witherspoon who is unfortunately the movie's weakest link. I'm sorry, she just can't carry highly mannered acting. I adore her in other films, here she makes me want to smack her. But not enough to dislike the film. It is passable. And while I liked the overall diversity of the film, throwing in the aristos doing Bollywood at the end was rather embarrassing. There was a scene in the book where Becky dressed as a slave kisses the hand of Lord Steyne dressed as a pasha, I hardly think that is an invite for an all out Hot Dance Number (tm).

Still, I prefer the 1998 BBC production with Natasha Little. Now THAT is Becky Sharp. Go rent it.

---

Coming Soon:

Finding Neverland:
Release Dates: November 12th

From the director of "Monster's Ball" *snort!* Also, mmmmore Johnny Depp than you can stand. This time as writer J.M. Barrie of "Peter Pan" fame. Tale of Mr. Barrie's journey of inception to theater with the tale of Peter Pan. With Kate Winslet as the yummy Mama. Thanks to Tamera who reminded me this was coming out! She said something nice about the history of it but I can't find her post. Poop.

Team America: World Police
Release Dates: October 15th

Putting the "F" back in Freedom! "Take THAT, terrorists!" From the folks that brought you South Park. Aw yeah. I am sooooo ready. This will wash the taste out of the recent live action Thunderbirds movie.

Godzilla Fest: Castro Theater sometime in November. This just seen on the scrolling news screen in our company elevator. Not up on the Castro's website yet but the blurb mentioned Godzilla artifacts and FUN STUFF. So, look out!

:P

From Page Six:

WISHFUL THINKING

JOHN Waters was hopeful when we told him that George and Laura Bush were slated to catch a performance of "Hairspray," the Broadway hit based on Waters' campy film classic. "Maybe he'll change his mind about gay marriage," Waters mused. "He's certainly not going to leave feeling more right-wing. Making people laugh is the first step to getting them to listen."

Yeah! Apparently Bush Sr. has already seen it. Squee!

Some of the benefits of working for THE MAN in a nice shiney new office building are the nice bay views, loads of dosh, and not finding the toilet and surrounding tile in the ladies totally covered in pee.

WELL. Someone missed. >.<

THIS is also interesting. Finally getting to know what is inside some of our liquor. Vegans beware! Food allergins beware! For years liquor was exempt from content labeling laws due to their powerful liquor lobbies and large tax revenues brought in by booze sales. I don't mind all this stuff is used, personally red wine gives me a headache, but I sure know some who might.

Um, what else. Oh, going to see "Vanity Fair" tonight. More on that later.

Saw "Hero" last weekend with Morriganlafey. Absolutely stunning and fabulicious. I was floored. Completely. One of the most beautifully filmed pictures I've ever seen. Very "sweeping." And profound.

See my previous long winded post on movie night. And I just ordered "Bright Young Things" from Amazon UK. It's not playing here yet and I want to hear Stephen Fry's commentary. Nyah.

Oh, and because every entry needs a picture, here's a little lovely group shot of the caste of Hammer's "Vampire Lovers," the lovely Ingrid Pitt starring:

Bright Young Things:
Stephen Fry's adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's "Vile Bodies." Wooo! One splendid book!
Released August 20th (but not in Bay Area yet, grrr)

Hero:
Hong Kong blockbuster finally makes out of the Miramax gates. Looks lush.
Release August 27th

End of the Century:
Gritty documentary on the Ramones. Another review. The Ramones were my first show. I was 14. I've seen them live more than any other band.
Release August 27th

Vanity Fair:
Adaptation by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) of Thackeray's famous novel without a hero. Also the basis for Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind." Also, my favorite Victorian novel. Mmmmm. Jonathon Rhys Meyers makes an appearance. It is about time! Yummy.
Release September 1st

Libertine:
The ultimate Bodice Ripper, a bio pic on John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. Naughtiest poet to have ever lived and one of my absolute favorite historical characters. He epitomizes the term "rake." Johnny Depp as Rochester, and Shane McGowan makes an appearance as a "bard." No official site or information really. I am anxious. Depp site w/ lots o' pix.
Release October 2004 in the UK

The Corpse Bride:
Tim Burton animation! Voices of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter! Creepy! Can't wait. "Set in 19th-century European village, Victor (Depp), is lured into the underworld by a mysterious figure (Bonham Carter), while his corporeal wife (Watson) awaits his return." Also, voices of Richard E. Grant! Joanna Lumley! Christopher Lee! Albert Finney! I die!
Release October 2005

Rumour: Marie Antoinette
Directed by Sophia Coppola. Mmmmm.

Am I missing anything?

Stephen Fry has adapted & directed Waugh's "Vile Bodies" for the screen as "Bright Young Things."

*dashes out and buys theater tickets* Rat bastards! Not currently playing in my area. *grinds teeth* Must dash home and read the original while I'm waiting for the trickle down.

Click below for part of the Salon review:

"Children would only get in the way of our eeee-rotic lifestyle."

Yeah, that's us alright! Ohmigawd. I forgot how much I love "Polyester." I even have the original Odorama card from seeing the original screening in the early 80's. It still smells! Weeee! Movie has me in stitches.

Ok, I woke up a couple weeks ago and realized I was absolutely thrilled to be reading again. I can read, I can read!

For reference, my panic attacks have affected my reading habits over the past six months. Yup. Reading would oft times send me into a panic spin. My therapist was impressed by my abilities to read and worry at the same time. I'm a real mulitasker alright.

In any case, the meds are working and I have a renewed enthusiasm for reading. So I, um, have rejuvenated my library a bit.

Current Reading:
Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue (recommended by Anika)
Piratica by Tanith Lee

In the Queue:

Sex with Kings : 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge
By Eleanor Herman

The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy
By Ronald Hutton

The Rise and Fall of Merry England: The Ritual Year 1400-1700
By Ronald Hutton

Masquerade and Civilization: The Carnivalesque in 18Th-Century English Culture
By Terry Castle

A Life of Anne Boleyn: 'The Most Happy'
By E. W. Ives (re-issue of one of my favorite books w/ new info)

Beatrice's Spell: The Enduring Legend of Beatrice Cenci
by Belinda Jack

Lord Minimus
by Nick Page (recommended by Anika)

And there's probably a couple on my nightstand that I don't remember off hand. I'll update if my findings are significant.

We had a family reunion of my father's kin this weekend. Um, the first I've seen of all my Dad & Uncle's cousins for seventeen years. They all look like grandparents now, when last I saw them they looked like mommy's & daddy's. It is weird. Also, all the women look like my grandmother, which makes me wistful and sad.

But I briefly bonded with two of my relatives. Aunt (cousin) Susan collects postcards and she showed me her fantastic collection of local postcards. The gathering was held at her place in the El Cerrito Hills, I'd probably been there as a small child for Christmas. I don't remember. Her living room was filled with gorgeous artwork which brings me to cousin Richard!

When I was wee my grandmother would receive lots of postcards from Paris from Cousin Richard, and then one day she received the most amazing book, "Les Miroir Des Chats," an extremely large format book of color photographs and paintings of cats Cousin Richard collaborated on (as photographer) with artist Leonor Fini. Over the years, and another cat book later, I became fascinated with her artwork and style. I've only found one print (not a cat) and had it mounted. But she's referenced in books on women in surrealism and the works of Georges Batailles. Madame Fini passed away last decade and Richard was heir to her estate. He's also a successful artist in his own right, I clipped a blurb from Vanity Fair last year on a show he was doing in New York and gave it to my uncle.

In any case, Richard was very friendly and generous (and absolutely LOVED the wine I brought. Score!) but he was defacto co-host of the gathering, so no time for chatting aside from an enthusiastic invite to Paris and an exchange of addresses.

Leonor Fini's Gallery in Paris. More info on Madame Fini, and more. A couple years ago there was zero info on the web about Fini, and now there is tons.

Le Couronnement de la Bienheureuse Féline, 1974

Oh yeah. My sloppy segue. There were four or five original Madame Fini drawings in Aunt Susan's living room. *swooon!*

as penned, cut, pasted, and scripted by le Marquis 2384734 years ago, "Suffering is Hip's" own Tarot "pick a card":

http://www.sepulchritude.com/suffer/tarot/dejadeck.html

THE VI OF MONEY Advancement, graduation, “The Next Plateau.” A man climbs the ladders of his chosen path. Despite the stodgy Perry Ellis-wearin’ humdrum clipart dude in the image, this card is a damn good one to get. It means, mon ami, that you’re goin’ somewhere. That you’re on the up n’ up. Whether that pertains to your career, your love/sex/food life, or your unrequited dreams I leave to you. The best thing about this card is that it tells you that you can physically map your progress. If you haven’t done so already, it suggests you do so. Where were you a year ago in respect to this climb? Two years ago? And do you think you can guesstimate where you will be next year? The climb never gets easier, per se, but there is a pattern to it (thus the repeatable, identical plateaux in the image). Diligence and focus are called to your attention here. You will, as always, need them.

Uncanny!

I of course cut and pasted the source code and img links to make the code work here. Sorry this isn't meme-able, but play anyway! Paste the results! Straight text can be fun. Link to the page so we can see the pretty pictures.

Or whatever.

The Green Fairy


What Moulin Rouge Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I didn't mean too, honest. Also, wtf does "you are a concentrated quimical in weed." mean!?!?! Quimical? I know what "quim" means *snicker*.

Also, I brushed by Alan Cumming on the street a couple years ago. I almost ran after him to worship. But I'm too shy.

So, we were goin' to our favorite Indian restaurant Friday on Solano, and had a toss up of the two films playing next door of "King Arthur" & "Shrek 2." Everything that I've read about "King Arthur" so far has not been very good, sounds like it was going to be too much like "Gladiator" (bleh!) and the leather pictish bikini was becoming too much for me to bear. So when we saw Shrek was only 95 minutes we said "yeah!"

Um, I haven't laughed so hard at a movie in I don't know how long. That thing is fucking hilarious. Rupert Everett, Jennifer Saunders & Antonio Banderas as additions to the cast were my favorite.

Also, I have a long standing crush on Fiona. Because, well... she looks just like me. It is nice to see a heroine you can relate to once in awhile, even if she happens to be an ogre. I was so sad that they didn't make any ogre-Fiona figures for the last movie (only pretty princess ones) so we made a quest to find ogre Fiona's for me to play with. A "just my size" doll. And, um, as much as I hate Blockbuster, they had an exclusive 8" Fiona for $8.99. Now, she just needs some clothes (these Barbie ones don't fit too good, what a familiar situation!!!):

Also, she comes with these big ass granny underpants. So cute!

"Henry VIII"... sigh.

I have to say that I am a little bit disappointed. And I was sooooo excited to watch it. Ray Winstone who plays Henry put me off the most. He talks and grumbles like a London cab driver. Has zero finesse and no sympathy. We all know Henry was a monster, but people don't start out that way. Henry, until later life, was a six foot tall blustering manly man. Not a stout growly cabby. Grrr. And the costumes. Usually BBC productions are so meticulous, but these look cheaply produced and ill fitting. Also, too much billowy gauze (which was my main complaint with the movie "Elizabeth"). Definately worth the watch but I found "Charles II" to be much more accurate and entertaining. There was a lot of fubbing with timelines etc that only a nerd like me would notice. Like Henry only married Anne Boleyn (albeit in secrecy) after they had finally slept together and she got pregnant. Granted it took her six years to finally give it up to him. In the film she gives it to him on her wedding night. Behind a lot of purple gauze. *snark* Also, they left out the best of Anne's lines before her death, her giggling about her "little neck" when discussing the imported french swordsman. Still, there were some great bloody decapitation scenes, woo!

Still, I have the second half to watch and I'm looking forward to it. Check out this brief history on BBC for more info.

As you've probably figgered, the Cyberhome 300 worked! But I don't have any PAL tv to test the PAL aspect ratio, and I have a feeling this sweet li'l machine might not play them properly, all the web reviews are conflicting. Oh well, Target is still carrying the 500 that Swingingwake recommended, I can upgrade if need be. But the 300 is the tinyiest neatest li'l beastie ever. I'll just have to order more dvd's!

SO.

I'm combing Amazon.co.uk for movies I've been dying to own for years.

"la Passion Béatrice" isn't even available there. It has been reissued on VHS domestically but is out of stock, though available used. WTF!?!? I want this movie on dvd soooo bad. It is one of Julie Delpy's first films and is loosely based on the story of Beatrice Cenci except it takes place in Medieval France as opposed to Renaissance Rome. Gar!

"Children of the Century" is now available domestically (I paid $30 for a canadian VHS last year). An absolutely gorgeous film about George Sand & Alfred de Musset. Swoon!

So all I have right now are the "League of Gentlemen" season 2 & Christmas specials in my Amazon.co.uk shopping cart. Hmph.

Oh, and "Queen Margot" is available domestically now, but they don't have the cool cover art the Brit edition does:

Ah! Two packages!

1) Ajumapama order from Karin. Sweeeeeeeeeeeet! The most awesome and gorgeously detailed Super Dollfie shoes ever. Pix to come I'm sure. Swoon.

2) I ordered Tanith Lee's "Piratica" from Amazon.co.uk since the U.S. edition's cover is very icky. I am *gasp* very behind on my Tanith Lee, my favorite author ever. Had a hard time reading with all the anxiety and panic (my therapist says I'm multitasking when I'm worrying and reading at the same time. it's weird.), but that seems to be calming down so I can read again. Woo. And also got BBC's "Henry VIII" while I was at it, hence the hurry to get a region free dvd player.

Aieeeeeeeeeee! Helena Bonham Carter as Anne Boleyn. I will simply die.

I think we've decided to pick up the Cyberhome 300 at Radio Shack tonight. $44 and it has a simple hack:

Hack details: 
Power up, no disk in. Status says READ then INSERT DISC. 
Press MENU (status reads invalid key icon) 
Press 1 (status reads invalid key icon) 
Press 9 Menu is displayed. 
Press ENTER on the region, digit turns to "-" 
Press 0 
Press ENTER again 
Press EJECT to clear the special menu. 

Will let ya'll know how it goes.

yep. I've exercised my right stay under covers with a heating pad, cocoa and four hours of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"

This is a new version Ohmeohmy and I ran across on Netflix last week. It is a French tv series starring Catherine Deneuve and Rupert Everett as the protagonists Merteuil and Valmont respectively. Another modern take on the 18th century classic, set in 50's. So far it is very leisurely paced and formal. Nothing has gotten messy yet. I am waiting. Eagerly.

Rupert Everett is chiseled out of granite. I'll have to rent "Another Country" very, very soon. I miss the young gentle moist English fags of yore. Sigh.

Vanity Fair...

The most recent adaptation of Thackeray's "Vanity Fair" is released August (or September) 1st! My all time favorite novel. Simply everybody is in it, with Reese Witherspoon as Becky Sharp. I hope her accent has improved, but I sure do love her. Um, but as much as I love Jim Broadbent (and I do mean LOVE), he's just several decades too old to be Jos Sedley, unless he's playing Amelia's grandfather instead of her brother. Hrmph!

Ha! And the lovely Natasha Little who played the starring roll in the recent (1998) BBC series of Vanity Fair has a bit part in the big production as Lady Jane Sheepshanks, *snort*.

Ooh! Aaah! Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) is responsible for the screenplay. I'm going to lick the screen. I die!

The Trailer...

And a nice collection of on-set photos.

Thanks to ohmeohmy for sending me the trailer, yum!

His hair didn't look so bad in the trailer... but lose the 'fro dude!

King Arthur: Can't decide if this movie looks good or not. But I'll probably see it anyway, I was Arthur obsessed growing up and have read everything under the sun that came out prior to ten years ago.

But "Guinevere: Warrior Princess" must be evaluated when the time comes. There was certainly precident during the early Dark Ages for fiersome women, it just remains to be seen if it is shallow "grrrl power" or well, something else. Hrm. Keira Knightley. We need some uglier women in cinema. I'm so sick of chiselled cheek bones.

From the few pix of Guinevere's outfits they don't look very accurate. More medieval-fantasy *inspired* sans the chemise. Um, hello, it was cold in Northern Britain. Blah. And I don't know enough about male armor to pose a hypothesis, at least there was no 14th century style full body armor to be seen. *phew!*

And um, "Woads"??? Please to stop making up derogatory terms that are dumb. "Those filthy Picts" would have sufficed.

Or "hut monkeys" or something.

Went and saw Harry Potter yesterday. I saw the other two on video but this one I was really interested in seeing the theater, as it was directed by Alfonso Cuarón of "Y tu Mama" fame. I thought maybe a shot of Harry & Ron ejaculating into some gothic fountain would have been a nice touch, but I wasn't that lucky.

Oh, but I loved it, I really really loved it. The art direction was fantash and actually had me gasping and squirming with delight at many parts. Gorgeous and spooky and crusty and so many gothic arches and screwlies and dusty tomes, and naturalistic light instead of the well-lit, freshly scrubbed, pseudo disneyesque gothique of the other two films. The storyline was a bit more adult as well which leant itself very well to the starkness of the the plot.

Oh, um, and the best thing? The cast. It is, of course, what saved the other two pictures, but I was squealing in my seat when I realized Michael Gambon had taken over for poor Richard Harris. Absolutely FAB. Not to mention Emma Thompson, Gary Oldman and David Thewlis. Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! I almost bought a Lupin figure last night because it was a teensy tiny David Thewlis. Woot.

Um, and this week on Video...

Watched "Girl with a Pearl Earring" last week and was SO surprised. I was expecting it to be disappointing but I was heart poundingly thrilled with it. It is absolutely stunningly gorgeous. Again, art direction and costume are the winners here. You will die. If you care at all about the Northern Renaissance go. see. now. Scrum! I thought I'd be super annoyed by Scarlett Johansen (although I like her in other stuff) but since she hardly says a word and just has to look demure, surprised and frightened through most of it, and she does these painfully well with big moist cherry red lips, she was very appealing. I say fuck the critics (again).

It is slowly and delicately paced, and doesn't have an ending a hollywood audience would have voted for. But I like that. I really do.

I will own this movie. Yup. I want to lick the screen.

Saturday I got my latest Volks order. And DAMMINT. I ordered a tan a head to go with my tan excellent body and it is a very strong shade lighter than the body! I'm going to try and just dust it up with high coloring and seal it, but I can't believe how much off they are, and I bought them within a month of eachother. But I also got lots of other stuff, black bra & panty set FINALLY. Yay. And eyelashes and wigs and stuff.

Um, also, will be doing more ebay because I had to order some of the Ajumapama boots from Karin. So cool. Retail. Regular US shipping.

But I have to cover my expenditure with ebay. Yay.

When I came to work this morning I knew I had to check the A&E website to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Since we got Tivo we've stopped casual channel surfing and instead watch hours on end of Southpark, Kids in the Hall & Monarch of the Glen.