Hawaii Vacation 2010: Azusa in Sunshine

broderic on January 28, 2011

*Nya!*~

This winter is for real. There’s several inches on the ground and it looks like more coming our way. Now if this doesn’t make you want to go back to Hawaii, I don’t know what will.

I had brought my Azusa nendoroid with me to help document where we went. I did because, as an otaku, you do stupid things like that. Bring your doll to work day! Anyhow, I didn’t get too many pictures because my sister-in-law kept harassing me about it making me feel very embarrassed. I know that I shouldn’t have been, but what can you say about a grown man carrying a doll around?

Quote of the Day [1.27.11]

broderic on January 27, 2011

“The world is full o’ complainers. An’ the fact is, nothin’ comes with a guarantee. Now I don’t care if you’re the pope of Rome, President of the United States or Man of the Year; somethin’ can all go wrong. Now go on ahead, y’know, complain, tell your problems to your neighbor, ask for help, ‘n watch him fly. Now, in Russia, they got it mapped out so that everyone pulls for everyone else… that’s the theory, anyway. But what I know about is Texas, an’ down here… you’re on your own.”

Detective Visser (M Emmet Walsh), “Blood Simple”

Quote of the Day [1.26.11]

broderic on January 26, 2011

“Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.”

Maleva (Maria Ouspenskaya), The Wolf Man (1941)

Hunkered Down

broderic on January 26, 2011

Currently, just chilling in front of the boob tube with the blinds open and watching the snow come down. It’s a very interesting sight, because from where I sit see the main road. A car passes by every once in awhile, slowly, and I wonder how they trudge through this wintry weather. It’s supposedly coming down a couple of inches an hour, and it’s supposed to last well into the night. This is the best storm so far this winter.

Earlier at work, when it was still just rain, I had knew I had to leave early. When a co-worker packed up and left because his wife told him that northern Harford county was getting snow, I decided to get going while the going was easy. That was 3:30. Half an hour later and safely at home, the rain turned into sleet, and then another thirty minutes it was driving snow. If I had stayed at work as I would usually do, I would’ve been driving in this mess. I’m starting to get smarter about the commute in this weather. Took me 10 years.

Now, I have the lights off and the television on. I have finished dinner. My stock of ramen dwindling. I’m craving some sweets and want to walk up to the Royal Farms for something, but decide against it. If I can only peer at the traffic like you can with the traffic cameras on CHART on the web, I may just go out for a walk. These cameras are a great way to watch the winter arrive. It’s also just as good as watching television. It’s all live and real.

Time to stay warm and dry tonight.

Link of the Day [1.25.11]

broderic on January 25, 2011

In Japan, Evangelion is big. I cannot understand why.Maybe, it's because when I came to anime a decade after Evangelion was first released, the anime genres I liked most featured happy schoolgirls in a comedy, slice-of-life routine. Evangelion features no happy school girls. They are sad and the protagonist, Shinji, is even sadder. Shinji is mopey. He was emo before there was emo, and emo boys make me angry.After all these years, Evangelion is coming to America. Today's link is to the official website for Evangelion 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. I wonder if it will show somewhere in town?http://www.funimation.com/evangelion/

The King’s Speech

broderic on January 23, 2011

The King’s Speech tells the fascinating tale of Young Prince Albert who became King George VI father to Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. He stutters which is not good for aspiring to be King. Yet, it is hinted that his stuttering is because he doesn’t want to be King. Guy Pearce even doesn’t want to be King, and he wishes that he wouldn’t become King replacing Dumbledore. So he abdicates to sleep with that harpie from the colonies. Prince Albert assumes the kingship and must be regal. Will his speech impediment hinder him?

This movie is the story of Albert trying to live up to being royalty and to meet the challenges of the changing world. It follows his relationship with the speech therapist, Lionel Logue. The Prince wants a cure. The therapist wants the Prince to be true to himself and act as kingly as possible. They clash in styles. High-low. Commoner-king. Teacher-student. Patient-doctor.

The reluctance of the Prince to take on the mantle of the heir apparent manifests in his stuttering. The pressure is great on him. He must be great and rise up to the challenges that were facing England and the world in 1930s. The weight of the world is on the stuttering fool. He will recover with the help of the speech therapist.

I liked it. I liked that it was something in the Prince to overcome: being afraid. I liked Geoffery Rush as the Prince’s speech therapist. His character didn’t care if it was the King he was helping. They were all of the same caste. I guess it takes an Australian to not be too concerned for the social station.

I also liked the fact that Helena Bonham Carter acted. You forget that she can because she’s always directed to be over the top. As Queen mother, she is the rock base for the Prince. She loves him and wants him to be as good, as great, as she believes him to be. The love helps him. Bonham Carter makes it believable. Dial her down a notch and she becomes watchable.

You know this rating is going to bite me next January, but I really dug this film while watching it. Very well told story, good acting, and clear direction. It’s been some time that I’ve doled out the max, so here it is. Because it is all true.

5 of 5 stars