I just saw The Simpsons Movie and Hairspray and really enjoyed both of them. We all know that The Simpsons would kick comedy ass, but I was suprised at how much I enjoyed Hairspray and how appealing and just plain fun it was. I found Travolta's performance hampered by prosthetics but he was clearly totally committed to the part, so kudos to him for that. James Marsden was amazing and just lit up the screen with perfect musical comedy energy. I also loved the lead, who held the screen in all her scenes, which is pretty mind-blowing for her first movie. The score is chraming if not memorable, and the script opened it up well. There were a lot of tween girls in the theater, squeeing over Zac Efron, who is a baby hottie for sure [link] If you like musicals, check it out.

Who does Ian McShane play in Dark is Rising? Merriman?

Still pissed about Will being American. This is because characters with British accents are evil, right?

Gaiman's Beowulf: Why is that not Sean Bean?!?! And, does everyone look CGId, a la 300? It doesn't look very good, or maybe it looks very Krull-ish. I'll still try to go see it.

We've got a standee for The Dark is Rising prominently displayed in the lobby right now. It says "The Seeker" in big bright capitol letters. I have been earwormed with The Who song for days.

Who does Ian McShane play in Dark is Rising? Merriman?

Yep.

It says "The Seeker" in big bright capitol letters. I have been earwormed with The Who song for days.

Which in turn makes me want to see The Limey again.

Now this looks like a buffista movie.

Just watched Sunshine. I was a bit impatient with it, and spent way too long waiting for someone to be incredibly craven in the face of death, and was not disappointed.

I liked Michelle Yeoh exactly as much as expected. I liked Rose Byrne a fair amount--I just finished watching the first ep of Damages this morning, so that was interesting juxtaposition. Cillian Murphy was Cillian Murphy, otherworldy and just shy of fey (he should have a fey-off with Jonathan Rhys Meyers--there can be eyeliner, if they need). I was surprised at how much I liked Chris Evans. His character was written pretty much the perfect crew member, save rubbing the blood on Capa--they'd have been fine (although a useless trip) if Trey hadn't fucked up. I think, anyway. I might have missed a calculation here or there. But he did a good job not doing any of the stuff I liked him doing in the Fantastic Four.

I could become a fan.

And I would certainly have his babies, although I wouldn't raise them or anything.

there can be eyeliner, if they need

Oh, it should be written into the rules of the contest.

and I liked Branagh's Hamlet.

I loved his Henry V and hated his Hamlet. One of the three movies I have walked out of. (The other two are The Muppet Movie and this very long British movie called The Fool.)

I saw his theatre company do Lear in Toroto in 1990? 1991? The production was just okay. Branagh played Edgar and was terrible. Emma Thompson played The Fool as a misshapen, almost Igor like character and just completely blew me away. Definitely in the top three stage performances I've ever seen.

I knew the Branagh/Thompson marriage was in jeopardy by the end of that play because I realized that A) She was waaaaaay more talented than she was, and B) he would not be able to deal with that.

Only movie I ever walked out of was the last Star Wars. My partner kept snoring. We made it about 40 minutes. I even sat through Blade:Trinity. Admittedly, that was because I was watching Ryan Reynolds.