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marguerite_krux) wrote2009-05-20 09:56 am
'...she took my heart, I think she took my soul...'
Katherine, of course, is always up for random acts of spontaneity, 'Why not?' she replies and we walk into the theater to find that Angels & Demons is on in...ten minutes. Timing, we haz it! [Plus I had a free ticket that's been sitting in my purse for just such an occasion- preparation, I haz that, too!]
After loading up on snacks- by which I mean that she bought water and menthols and I got myself coke, popcorn and chocolate, we headed in as the previews were on. Just missed seeing Terminator: Salvation, damn it! I love previews, I love the sense of anticipation, you know?
It got savaged by the critics, but it was a fun movie. Disengage brain and enjoy the madness! Definitely a very good popcorn movie.
I laughed at the image of the 'modern' Cardinals- in full regalia, they were chatting on mobile phones, recording on video cameras and the like, it was so weird!
OMG OMG, Carmen Argenziano was in the beginning as Silvano, one of the researchers! Katherine and I just squeed and grabbed at each other all excitedly, like, 'WE MET HIM, WHEE!' Saying you met someone from Stargate, people aren't that excited. Someone from a huge blockbuster like A & D? Mwahaha! You can bet we're boasting about that. :D
I like some of the deeper moments, like when the Camerlengo[sp?] asked Robert Langdon, 'Do you believe in God?' and when the other dude flounders, he goes, 'I did not ask whether you believe in what man says about God, but whether you believe in him.' Nice bit of distinction there. And Robert was rather poetic, 'My mind tells me I will never understand God...my heart tells me I'm not meant to.' In case we interpret that as a sign he does believe, he clarifies, 'Faith is a gift I have yet to receive'. I like that.
There wasn't much romance in this movie, but I liked some of the lighter scenes. When Vittoria and Robert were roaming around in search of the evildoer, she's like, 'Hold my hand', and she tells him, 'Don't look so anxious, we're supposed to be married'. [Seriously? It's not like someone got them fake IDs to back up that story] And he goes, 'Well, maybe we're not getting along today.' LMAO.
The villain, oh, the villain. Did he have glasses in the book? I was quite pleased to see someone with vision problems being the evil guy, the one running around killing people. The bespectacled menace! We can be dangerous, too, don't understimate us! Heh.
I'm not confident about this, but in the book, didn't Robert get on the helicopter and then the Camerlengoshoved him out and he had to use his shirt as a parachute or something? And rather than parachuting in front of everyone, didn't the Camerlengo drop down out of sight and then appear on the roof mysterious-like, to try and claim a miracle had happened?
I was so happy when the fourth Cardinal was saved. I read the book, but ages ago, so I couldn't remember specifics and it was such a thrilling moment because I thought all was lost and then Robert got the oxygen tube in his mouth [what was that random oxygen tube doing, anyway?] and all this time, he'd been calling for help but nobody came, then as he was struggling hopelessly, people plunged in and lifted the Cardinal to the surface. AWESOME moment. I love that he became the Pope, and that he gave Robert the priceless artifact that he needed to complete his book. Nice to have a Pope whose life you saved, huh? You get all kinds of benefits!
So, the main were quite attractive- I'm so glad Tom Hanks got a haircut, though there were explosions of fury from some fans, which I don't get, I like his new look- the scenery and special effects were pretty, there was a lot of running around and suspense and, despite a bit of violence, it was thoroughly entertaining.
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Criminal Minds- episode 23:
Really love this episode. It’s one of the eps where the plot is so awesome, I’m not even hung up on character interaction like I usually am because GENIUS, pure and simple. In contrast to all the outcry over how House and Bones manipulated viewers in their respective season finales, this is one ep where I am happy to have been manipulated because it was so well done! [Also helps TPTB didn’t screw with my ship]
I thought this was one of those eps where they reveal the UNSUB at the beginning of the ep and we see them elude the agents and commit crimes. I don’t have anything against that, though I know a lot of fans want to be kept in suspense. But it’s that previously established pattern that fooled me so thoroughly here. Because we’re used to sometimes seeing the UNSUB identified, I immediately assumed the dude at the start was the baddie and proceeded on that assumption throughout the ep. SO FOOLED! You could say I’m an idiot, but I prefer to think of how CLEVER my show is!
Bonner had all the classic signs- distracted at work, unable to do his job, clearly going off the rails…and the cigarettes! I know, I know, millions of people smoke, but because this guy smoked and so did the UNSUB, it just clicked in my head, it was another confirmation. So sneaky, show! Then when he watched the profile and got all strange and worked up, I was like, ‘OH, no, crap, what’s he gonna do now?!’ And then…PSYCH. We see him getting into a red car and turning up at the police station, confessing it was his fault because he was the one that got into the accident that turned the UNSUB into a psychopath. I was kinda pissed at him, like, he knows this guy is out there seeking revenge for what he [mistakenly] thinks he’s done, and he wants to drive in the frakking car the guy is targeting?! What if he’d gotten smushed, and the police lost a vital clue?!
Speaking of smushing…‘k, I’ve never been pursued by a madman in a huge truck trying to make me into roadkill, but wouldn’t you try to run off the road and plunge into the forest where, you know, TREES and stuff would make it more difficult for him to kill you?
And with the dude in the parking lot- again, I grant that it’s hard to think clearly in these situations but instead of presenting an easy target by running in front of the truck, couldn’t you get between the cars? They’re not parked all the way up to the wall, so you can take advantage of their cover while squeezing by the wall or heck, just sliding over the top of them and making a run for it in greater safety. Human body- easily squishable. Cars? Not so much. The obstacle course nature of it would slow you down, but unless the guy had a gun or was gonna come out and pound on you himself, you’d be safer. And you’d probably have a greater chance of survival forcing him to come out after you anyway.
But DAMN. *iz squicked* Out of all the hideous, disgusting things we’ve seen on this show or been led to imagine, that scene with the hospital dude being smashed into the elevator is one of the most heartrending. He was so close to safety, I was rooting for him! Sadly, survival, ‘twas not to be. And that guy in the elevator, how traumatized must he be? He didn’t realize what was going on, and then when the lightbulb flashed on and he put his hand out to stop the door…too late. Just his reaction when the door trembles and he jumps back, horrified…damn icky but so well done.
I’m so glad the black dude survived. His wife really captured me admiration- she didn’t get all irritatingly hysterical, she kept her cool and gave the police what they needed, then asked what was going on with quiet dignity. Really nice. I’d’ve been more upset for her if the husband had died than for him ‘coz we didn’t really see anything of him. It’s unusual and cool that I like so many of the minor small-bit players in this ep, usually I have to suffer through their scenes, but not in this one.
Loved Bonner and JJ’s scene. I was hoping the whole way through that when they found out Bonner wasn’t responsible, that the UNSUB was the one who accidentally caused the crash, that someone would inform him and I’m glad the show gave us this scene. The guy playing him does such a marvellous job, showing his guilt, his apprehension, bracing himself for the worst…and how even when he’s told he wasn’t at fault, he’s still trying to plead the case against himself because he’s been consumed by guilt for so long, it’s incomprehensible that it could somehow be lifted. JJ, ‘You didn’t hurt anyone, Mr Bonner’ is finally the trigger for him to shed a few tears and allow himself to feel that weight lifted off his shoulders. Powerful moment, and I so love JJ for this.
PS. I really didn’t like Garcia in this. I know everyone loves her and justifiably so, she’s adorable. But to HACK INTO THE PROGRAM TO SABOTAGE HER BOYFRIEND’S APPLICATION? Is that really what she did? I mean, it’s one thing for her to do it to him- obviously he wasn’t that angry with her, luckily, but wouldn’t it be more meaningful if he’d gotten the job but turned it down to be with her? Also, he may not have wanted the job, but there were other applicants and now because of her selfishness, the program’s being put off, perhaps cancelled and they’re missing out. I don’t see why people are so squeeful over these G/K scenes, it just makes me terribly disappointed in her.
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Lie to Me- episode 12.
Random thoughts:
The new dude, Reynolds, is irritating as hell, stomping around and blustering. 'What if he gets made?'
Love Gillian's confidence in Cal, 'He won't.' She has complete faith in him.
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For once I agree with Newbie- 'Agent Reynolds, if you didn't think we could do the job, why did the FBI bring us in on the case?' His reply is eloquent, 'I don't believe in holistic medicine but if the chemo's not working, I'll give acupuncture a shot'. Now this guy has had ages to crack the case and hasn't, bringing in the Lightman group as a last resort because his ass wasn't getting the job done- so I wish he'd just shut his mouth and let them do it already instead of getting into a pissing match because he's suffering an inferiority complex or something.
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Gillian, 'You made a deal with a pathological lying serial rapist for chocodiles'? Heh. I really like this Andrew Jenkins, he's fun. I can sympathize with his need for a chocolate fix, how hard would life be without chocolate? My bag has two different packs of chocolate in it right now [family size Cadbury Top Deck and a no-name brand I got because it was cheap], so as you can guess, I'm quite the chocoholic.
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Okay, I know it's wrong, but let's forget that he's a creepy psychopath who victimizes innocent women and just- admire how cute he is. It's weirding me out, sickos are supposed to be ugly monsters foaming at the mouth, damn it!
Dimples! I'm a sucker for dimples! I must look up what other shows this dude's been in.
'k, I love this scene a) because it's adorable how he shuffle-dances down the hall in his chains, like he's about to do a Michael Jackson-esque dance routine, lol, and b) because even a sick deviant who's been locked up for close to a decade, sequestered away from society and normal human interaction is still able to pick up on the vibes between Foster and Lightman.
'Hi, Foster.'
*Holy crap, the psycho knows my name!*
'Follow me.'
'Ohh, somebody doesn't like me talking to his lady.'
Yah, okay, more likely he just wanted to get a rise out of him but I like the idea that even this dude can see how special their relationship is.
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Nooo! I don't like seeing mommy and daddy fighting. I know Cal's faking it, but Gillian's anger and frustration is for real and he's such a jerk, even though I know he's doing it for the right reasons. But why COULDN'T he let her know what his plan was? It required Newbie to remain in the dark, not Gillian, and if he hadn't shut her out, she never would've fought with him in Jenkins' hearing and thus been put in danger as we see later on.
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Gillian is such a sweetheart. Nowhere does it say in her job description that she has to show this much compassion and concern for a victim- certainly Reynolds is a real jackass to Michelle Russell later on- but here she is, radiating warmth and empathy. *huggles her*
I love that she's kind of giddy when she introduces Natalie and Michelle, almost like a momma organizing a playdate, lol. These women are more than just means to an end, to solving the case, you can see how invested she is in helping Natalie recover and move on, to get past this idea that 'my life is over' and lessen her pain.
Aww! Usually I get really bored during scenes that don't feature my ship but this is just awesome. You can see what a difference she's made to Natalie, bolstering her self-esteem, 'You've done some amazing work today' and giving her a link to the outside world by promising to visit. 'Can I give you a hug?'/'Thank you, Gillian'. *bites lip* I say again, aww!
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Okay, that freaked me out. I knew it was coming, I watched the promo how many times and still I jumped. There's something about Gillian losing her shoes that makes me extra trembly over this scene, her being dragged along is bad enough, but seeing her bare feet somehow makes her seem all the more vulnerable.
This makes me feel extra sympathy for her- poor Gillian, just being attacked and then when the cavalry comes, she's so freaked out that she flails against Cal.
'I didn't see him, I didn't see him,' I'm trying to work out if that's the scared Gillian saying she never knew what hit her, or if that's her professional side trying to kick in, being like, 'I can't identify the guy, I didn't get a good look at him'. Hmm.
Really really love this scene, my most favorite in the series so far, methinks. People tell me I'm weird that I apparently love seeing the characters I'm obsessed with get bashed, they're all like, 'You're sick' or 'You're going to end up a future abused housewife' or something. *snorts* It's not that I get off on senseless violence- seeing random victims on CM get attacked does nothing for me, 'k? It's just I love the hurt/comfort nature when a main character gets attacked, seeing the rest of the team being all supportive, most especially seeing the person I ship them with being around to comfort them. *quivers*
So yes. My love for this scene is infinite. :D
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I'm still trying to work out what that dude did to her arm- she has it in a sling, but I didn't think he was that rough with her, apart from that nasty wallop to the head.
Cal: You look good in black-and-blue. *swats him*
Gillian: We're quite a pair.
Lol. The couple that puts their life on the line for a case together, stays together?
My poor sweet Gillian. *squishes her* She's so strong, but she has this moment when she hears that her attacker's fled that she gets all vulnerable again and I just want to hold her.
Cal: I'm sorry, love. *squees*
Gillian: He wouldn't have gone this far unless you were under his skin.
Cal: You're not worth it.
I love that. This is the guy that thrives on outsmarting and outwitting everyone around him, now declaring it means nothing if she's hurt in the process. He's willing to risk himself in his reckless pursuit of the truth, but not her.
Gillian: You get hit and that's okay; I get hit and suddenly it's time to throw in the towel?
Okay, have I mentioned what a phenomenal actress Kelli is? She plays this SO WELL, damn it, the line between being strong and forceful, convincing Cal it's fine, it's worth it, and showing a teensy bit of emotion left over from her terror at the attack. I don't need or want her to break down in tears every five seconds at the lingering trauma, but it's nice to see that more fragile, human side peek out. 'coz if you were attacked, you know you wouldn't snap back to normal in a heartbeat and it's good that these characters are so real like that.
Btw, how touchy-feely are they in this scene?! The writers, they love me. *beams*
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'k, my rampant hatred of Newbie is subsiding somewhat. I still can't stand the way she always thinks she's right, but she took finding out she'd been played pretty well. If she'd had a hissy fit over it, I'd've been putting pins through a voodoo doll made in her image, but this reaction makes me begrudgingly ease off her a bit. Just a bit!
Gillian: The long con. One of Lightman's favorite moves.
Gillian, my love! Back on her feet and reporting for duty. Can't keep a good lie-detecting investigator down, yo!
Newbie: You knew?
Gillian: No idea.
Newbie: He is scary good.
Word. Just remember that, 'k? You are nowhere near his league. Don't even pretend you know better, 'coz you don't, and you won't for years to come.
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I knew before I watched the ep that Natalie's husband was the rapist, but it makes me sad. She survived the initial attack only to be made a victim again by a sicko devoted to the guy that raped and mutilated her. Damn, she gets all the worst luck. I did admire her for not breaking down or descending into hysterical fits of denial, even though Reynolds was being all heartless and cruel, she kept it together and helped them. Respect, man.
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LOL at the end scene. Cal's arrogance is back like he never had a crisis of self-doubt at all. :D Back to needling people and asserting his dominance over them. I like how he's serious at one moment, 'Foster could've been killed today', making it clear that protecting her and his team is a priority over everything else- and then he skips out the door and turns off the light, leaving Reynolds in the dark. *snickers* I could do with a bit of hazing for this guy, though he does amuse me. 'You guys are a bunch of scientist nerds, running around, poking your nose in people's faces, calling them liars...' like, NO WONDER YOU NEED BODYGUARDS, LMAO.
Interesting that Reynolds got the hard pitch- I mean, Newbie got a briefcase full of cash as incentive, this dude just got jerked around and had his nose rubbed in Cal's superiority. 'I don't work for you'/'You actually believe that, don't you?' *expression of patronizing disbelief* Ah, Cal, some dude tries to abduct you, don't be too sure this guy's gonna come to your rescue, lol.
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Vidspam:
sunkrux spammed me with 58 seconds of pure win! Teensy snippet of an interview between the two main actresses of TLW- the blonde's Jennifer O'Dell and the brunette's Rachel Blakely, aka She Who Owns My Heart Forevermore. It's hilarious watching them pretend to hate each other- for instance:
Rachel: I've asked the writers to keep our storylines as separate as they possibly can...
Jen: She tends to upstage me constantly .
Rachel: It's not hard.
HEE. :D
If for no other reason, see that cleavage on display? Click play for that.
Exhibit A- first season.
Exhibit B- second season.
With many of my shows [Criminal Minds, Stargate SG-1 and SGA, X-files, Star Trek: Voyager, among others], you can distinguish between the seasons with reference to the female lead's hairstyle. Not so with TLW. In the middle of season 2, Netty and I backtracked to a few season 1 episodes we skipped over in our marathon, after which I put in the next season 2 disc we'd been up to before that detour- and she goes, 'Hey, Roxton's hair is good again! Are we back in the second season? Oh, wait, Marguerite's top has lost a few buttons, yep, second season.' Lol.
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