My god, how long's it been since I posted?

[ebonlock]

In my own defense life has been crazy busy of late. Indeed I'm looking forward to a blissfully free weekend with which to (with any luck) finish up my few remaining dribs and drabs of Xmas shopping and weatherproof my house. Tonight was originally scheduled up for dance practice but M- begged off due to health problems and suddenly I'm free to post an update and do some laundry. Woo!

I'm thinking I might hit "Megamind" this weekend, it looks at least mildly entertaining and I have a weakness for movies/shows about super villains. Saw "Red" last weekend, which was entertaining, though I didn't feel like I got quite the payoff I was hoping for. Perhaps too little Helen Mirren with an uzi...I'm not sure. Also finally got to see "Being John Malkovich" which I enjoyed but not on an emotionally fulfilling level as all the characters are so loathesome except John.

Also reading "The Strain", Guillermo Del Toro's first foray into horror fiction. So far I would say it strikes me as both overwrought and mostly focused on grossing the reader out in lieu of actual horror. It could've been a really intense thriller and profoundly scary. Instead I keep groaning and thinking, "Really?" I can also see it's written to be easily translated into a film. Indeed the story actually uses the super fast head movement effect originally introduced in a profoundly freaky and effective way on XFiles back in the 90's. Now instead of being creepy as hell it just seems cliche. Though I must admit I've never before seen it used in written fiction...here's hoping it isn't used again. I think I'll stop at the first novel and after all who want to read it here do it's destined for Book Buyers.

On a positive note I'm back to exercising pretty regularly thanks to tersa, whose enthusiasm helps me get motivated to keep moving. We're alternating between yoga and a Bollywood dance video I bought that is both a wonderful workout and quite profoundly aerobic. We both end up drenched in sweat, and that's always a good sign. Combined with daily lunchtime walks I think I'm doing pretty well really.

Comments

[geekygabe.livejournal.com]

Glad to see you're still around! :-)

[silkblade.livejournal.com]

I felt the same way about The Strain. I finished it and I thought the vampire mythology was interesting but the writing was just sort of meh. I haven't decided if I'm going to try to read the second one or not. Depends on how bored I get looking for reading material, I guess. :) I'm curious about what happens in a sort of general way but not in quite the "OMG what's going to happen" way that The Passage grabbed me (or any other number of part-of-a-series novels I've read recently).

What is the Bollywood dance video?

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

The whole concept of the virus-like nature of the vamps I could comprehend, though how they hadn't managed to completely overrun the world previously didn't make much sense. Nor did the more "enlightened" vamps who wanted to stop Sardu. But aside from that the end was just atrocious, I mean sincerely if that started playing out in a theater I'd have been up and out the door.

Terrible. Terrible.

Anyway, the Bollywood video is "Bollyrobics" and what's nice about it is that the choreos are fun and they actually use real, well known and popular music ("Chaiya, Chaiya" and "Mahe Ve" to name two). I highly recommend it!