EUREKA!!! I've found it

This weekend came across as a great leap in the advance of my TV Land influences as I proved myself able to answer 32 out of 35 questions correct in a Test regarding Ethics in Medicine just by watching re-runs of THE PRACTICE and because it happened... Finally, I can scratch out that pesky note on the things I have to do before I die. I have found the vampire show that will save Western Civilization.

Well actually, my quest is more about the media that will bring about the definite return of the Vampire, because 8 years of zombies is too much to take. I'm just sooooooooo happy it is not TWILIGHT, though I must concede EMO TEEN SAGA definitely reigns supreme in it's own little world, but being me, I need my vamps with a little more depth and whole lotta meaning, things I never thought I would find it in the Louisiana backwoods. After tonight's episode however, I can assert, hands down that TRUE BLOOD is not only must see TV, but one of the most poignant contributions to the vampire myth since the arrival of Interview with the Vampire some 30 odd years ago.

It is in fact a pleasant surprise since I've never fully trusted adaptations, let alone material that was not originally conceived for TV, but Allan Ball and a very talented group of writers took Charlaine Harris original concept and knocked it out of the park.

As a Literature fiend first and vampire fangirl second, Southern Vampire Mysteries by Harris proves to be a fun read. However as it happens with pieces of writing that are not shattering in their own category, it reads like a PoBoy's guide to The Vampire Chronicles in which our heroine is involved in a weird love/hate triangle with the most pathetic version of Louis you'll come across ( vampire Bill screaming Sooookiiiiiieee is mihne!!!, more than we can bear ) and Lestat's inner child, you know, the one who should have stayed a rockstar instead of looking for spiritual insights (because Eric will always have his way or the highway with his long blond hair and his devilish smile).

What HBO delivers every Sunday is something different altogether. It is a blend of witty and funny, a hell of a lot sexier and much more social/political/humane in general than one might expect. They had reverted the vampire to what it has always meant to be, a dark mirror of the human psyche, the manifestation of Freud's infamous Id or Jung's often misunderstood Shadow.

Once in a while pop culture, when placed in the rights hands, can provide a world of insight. In this show, it's premise alone has opened a window of opportunity to bring about a whole series of subjects, some of them pleasant, most of them not. Funny thing is that for once in a long time, the point of view of both the human being and the supernatural entity are on the same level. By dragging the undead "out of the coffin" and throwing them into the daily (nightly grind), the figure of the vampire no longer needs to lurk in the shadows, or in this case, the fringe of society. They are front an center patiently waiting for mere mortals to face their fear, that when confronted with monsters of legend our humanity more often than not proves to be just "so called".

Season One was basically character set up with a bit of spice thrown in the mix, after all, it is HBO. Season Two has been coming at it as a freight train and all of the sudden, the audience finds itself questioning set views on human interactions-family dynamics of all things- morality, religion, fanatical extremism, justice, choice, compassion and forbearance. There is a lot to learn about ourselves from the archetype still, and HBO is taking us to school one Sunday at a time.

And yes because I'll be a hypocritical scholar wanna be if I didn't say so... looking at Alexander Skarsgard doesn't hurt either... I would place a quote, but I'd rather leave this... is funny as hell and will give you a True Blood fix if you happen to (GASP!!!) miss your weekly episode.

http://bloodbonds.wordpress.com/

Randomness of Thought in absence of a computer

Hmmm... typing away furtively in a loaned computer.... trying to keep up with my promise to write something, anything, at least once a month.

Not that it is the most important promise to self I've ever made (shut up, you diet, don't be a bitch now!!!) It's just that this is one of the most fun to keep.

Sooo... if I were to condense the three most significant things that happened this week, I'd have to say....

• Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee... made if through 90 days unscathed . I'm grateful for a job I love, even if it means wearing makeup on a daily basis.


• OPA!!!! Had a wonderful time in Tarpon Springs, which is the closest I'll get to the Greek Isles in quite a while. A cup of Greek Coffee can carry you through ANYTHING, I swear, and the pagan in me couldn't help but play around with the notion of reading my future off the sludge in the bottom. Everything will be a OK.


• As part of my Summer " inducting the child in their due course" responsibility, I picked up THE SANDMAN: PRELUDES AND NOCTURNES. This time, I read it with the critical eye of an aunt trying to decide if her 12 year old quasi Gothic niece can handle it. Decided to wait, maybe it will make a cool Christmas present. Anyhooo, taking one volume in is not enough, so I decided to re-read the story. Off the pages of FABLES AND REFLECTIONS, fell a dedication I wrote some 11 years by. I didn't remember writing it, but it turns out that I had decided, a long time ago to give the Sandman Compendium to Kendra. My dedication was sorta dark and cryptic, like everything I wrote back when I was 24 and lived with the certainty that I would be dead by 30. It hit me, like it usually does that THE SANDMAN that I was reading at the moment is the same story I read 11 years ago, that it is me that has changed. It was quite a deep moment, a reflection on my personal changes while reading a story that is a at heart, the rippling effect of CHANGE, our need and fear of it. I tore up my cryptic and dark dedication of 11 years ago and wrote another; something to do with the wonders of being human and living here and now, not really knowing what tomorrow brings. If it's good enough for an all powerful being to forsake everything in order to be drawn to finally meet his humanity, then it is good enough for us, to enjoy what it is that even the gods can't grasp, that behind every human endeavour, no matter what the consequences, there is always a glimmer of hope and that is a beautiful thing.

Ahhhh, the quote:

" Everything changes, yet nothing is truly lost" SANDMAN, THE WAKE

Terminator Salvation... NO SPOILERS

I fell in love with this Franchise at 12 years old. Pound by pound, TERMINATOR is the best movie of it's kind, in my eyes, there was no action mega star before Schwarzenegger and no visual effect magic prior to the glory of Stan Winston. The score is embedded in my psyche as the match for things larger than life.

This is the expectation I carried when I stepped into the theater today. I wanted a piece I've been craving since I first so a flash back (a future glimpse- actually) of a certain resistance leader, both physically and emotionally scarred, leading a group of ragtag humans to victory against insurmountable odds.

Those who know my cinematic preferences, know that I lean towards villains. However, John Connor is my kind of good guy: the conflicted hero with a tinge of either madness or glory. Let's face it this is one of the best developed characters on a sci-fi franchise ever, played by seven actor across 25 years through five storylines (counting, of course the TV series). I craved to see the story of John Connor delivered by Bale, you know, 'cause he is the man that does no wrong.

I got something slightly different, and after the first shock, I actually liked what I got. Although the purist in me wanted a straight forward story to be wrapped up nicely in 2 hours or less, the movie freak in me understands the window of opportunity towards reopening a successful franchise. McG took a gamble and for what I saw, it might pay off.

It is serious business to mess with the structure of a story everyone knows so well and I am still wondering about why the "big twist" was paraded around on the trailer... I should have known this movie was a set up, but what a grandiose set up it is. Flame all you want against it, the movie falls within cannon, that is the marvel of plots in which alternate time lines are a feasible reality.

This is not John Connor's movie, not yet. Once you come to terms with that it is possible to get a kick out of it. This is Connor trying to figure out a game that he believed he knew by heart. It is also the story of Marcus (Sam Worthington) and how he -errrr, literally- found his heart. In a world that looks black and white Marcus is that uncomfortable shade of gray that throws away all conviction and makes you think twice. Yes, there are lessons for Connor to learn yet, at this point in the story line. My rushed need to see him vanquish all evil in two hours or less will have to wait.

It is also the story of a very young Kyle Reese. Let me stop here for a sec and give a shout out to Anton Yelchin who will quickly become the next "IT" boy and with good reason. He alone manages to infuse the film with a certain nostalgia. Yelchin did his research and manages to capture mannerisms and expressions from his predecessor, Michael Biehn, while keeping control of his performance. That kid is just amazing and I hoped he had more screen time.

No one, purist or not will dare cross McG when it comes to action, the scenes were clean and full of all those wonderful details that a T movie should have. Then, there are the tribute moments, some subtle, some just for the fun of it, the most obvious brought cheers from my peeps at the theater.

The conclusive scene if a little bit iffy, and definitely, the weakest link , but then, after watching two hours of non stop killing machines a little further stretch of the imagination should pose no problem :p

The quote: "He saved my life. I saw a man, not a machine" - Blair Williams (Moon Bloodgood), just to make things clear...

Wolverine in 15 bullets or less

It's been a while since I've slayed a movie, and honestly I really, really wanted to love this one. For a couple of hours I thought I did, but I guess it was just the company more than anything. Left to my own devices I started thinking about it and decided it's off with the critter. The following is spoilerrific, just to prove that I can kill this 2 hours of entertainment in 15 short points or less...

• Hi, I'm Jimmy, future Logan and this is my brother Victor. I went all crazy and killed my dad...run guys, run, run through the opening credits (which are quite cool to be honest, perhaps the best thing about it all... someone watched the Watchmen, I guess)
• These are our friends, their names are not important. Pay attention to Ryan Reynolds, he is the funny one with a bit of dialogue.
• It's me Jimmy again. I just gave up this army business, changed my name to Logan and became an axe man. yes and axe man... the one nerd in the audience laughed, because it sort of sound like X-man.
• I'm in love with a girl that might or might not love me, but it's OK, Victor killed her and now I'm all pissed and want adamantium infused bones.
• Running naked through the woods, yes I'm running and naked until I find Superman's parents, farm and all and they give me a bike and a leather jacket.
• Trying to get to Vic I meet Gambit in New Orleans which is the second coolest scene in this movie after the opening credits. gambit fangirls/boys rejoice.
• I get to the place I need to find ,free the captives, fall out of love, fight Ryan Reynolds, get close with Vic. Kill Ryan Reynolds.
• Now I hate Vic again, but for a little while because, bang I've lost my memory. I don't remember meeting a teenage cyclops nor did he really got to see me, so it's alright we'll hate each others guts in the future.
• Where am I, what the heck, did I just forget it all ... I guess I did. Heigh- Ho off to Canadian Wilderness we go...

Nine bullets, darn that is a record. The intent was there and Jackman played it with his heart. Liev Schreiber was really good too, but Fox dropped the ball once again. This time the culprit is the dialogue and that need to make it rain mutants everywhere. There is no need for a cast of thousands, specially when you will say absolutely nothing about it. They gave the impression that this one would be of epic scale and it was so condensed, it bordered on choppy editing. I can only wait this thing is reverted to Marvel ... but one can only wish.

The quote: "No one kills you but ME!!!!"- Victor to Logan in the weirdest expression of brotherly love, ever.

100 Days of Barry O.

Of course there is people far more qualified than yours truly to analize this, but I got caught in the spirit of the moment with the 2008 election and right then and there I promised to come back to President Obama within the first 100 days.

This is me and my issues. I'll try to be fair.

The war in Iraq is not over yet, but then, that is exactly what I expected. At least the parameters towards the final safe return of the troops have been established . It has been a suprising turn of events worthy of mention the change of strategy in regards to Afghanistan, which is perhaps, the greatest achievement of this administration in foreign policy.

Latin American issues do not seem to be moving fast enough. The promise of a comprehensive immigration reform within the first 100 days has been delayed, rightfully so in order to deal with more pressing issues, like the economy. That can be forgiven. However, and I consider this the great border fumble is the escalating situation in regards to the cartels. I honestly do not think money should be invested (on USA's part) to try and combat this situation without a guarantee that these contributions will not fall in the wrong hands. Mexico should have more accountability, the USA should not be stuck with the bulk of the effort.

Israel relations, the war on terror that is no longer called War on Terror... thesse issues have not yet been put to the test. I'm just happy... however the ill predictions of Joe Biden still loom over our heads .... LOL

The economy, is a gamble and we all know it. I just hope it all works out. You know W. is not the only cowboy... as Obama has shot a couple of the hip when it comes to dispose of money. It is a 50/50 and I hope it all succeeds, for our own sake.

Then there are the things the press have been covered for good or ill...

Finally there is a first dog... the good about it, the girls are happy... the down side it was not the mutt everybody was hoping for, but is their loss if they didnt get a sato...

Chavez, the hand shake., the book... who the hell cares, had Obama not said hello, then he would have had no manners (palo si boga...)
The Castro brothers are another thing. I guess the big lesson to be learned out of the negotiation table is that all negotiations should be bilateral and that Fidel actually rules the place still.
On the bright isde, it is good to see families being able to connect again.
North Korea... good it didnt come to much, but it wouldn't hurt to be able to get a binding resolution next time.
For the love of God, do not massage the Queen and the King of Saudi is not a dwarf, keep your back straight!!!!
Airforce One is a flying house sir, make sure you know who is at the wheel all the time an don't fly it close to the Statue of Liberty... EVER, AGAIN.

Looking forward to the next 100