TMNT 2007!

I have a lot to say about the new TMNT movie, and I'm totally going to dork out on you all again...but I want to open with this comic strip:

And now, I'll regale you with photos from my own fangirl moviegoing experience:









Clearly, we had a good time. :) Amy's brother wants to buy a set from me, too, I'll have to get his measurements and make him one....

Anyway, my comments about the movie! I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that I think the filmmakers really took care of the fans in this one. There were a lot of fun subtle references to other movies and other fandoms, the animation of the turtles was clearly gone over and gone over until they got it exactly right, and the plot has just the right amounts of cheese, humor, and sincerity. There was this wonderful feeling that the movie was really speaking to people who grew up with these characters, and who have been waiting a long time to see them again on the big screen. It was like a big reunion, and I loved that. I also think the strip I posted above is right; a lot of critics aren't going to like it because they think it's supposed to be a funny, light kids' movie. It is funny, and I'm sure kids will adore it, but it's also extremely...adult, in the feelings the movie expresses. There's a lot of themes of family, and of confusion, and jealousy, and this sort of "what am I doing with my life" sensation that I think a lot of the 20-somethings who have loved the TMNT from the start are really going to relate strongly to. At least, I know I did. It sounds totally corny, but I really did grow up with these characters, and the universe they populate, from a formative age. The same way Becky always says that Narnia and Anne were a huge part of her development into the person she is, TMNT was the hugest part of my development that I can think of. Okay, it's not quite up there in respectability with classics of the children's literature canon, but the whole TMNT franchise is fairly underrated. Just because it had a corny start and they wound up with a corny name doesn't mean they didn't teach me everything I know about truthfulness, and kindness, and how to survive teenage-hood. To go back to my original point...I think this new movie is really aware of that. I think it was made with great sensitivity to the fans, and what the movie was going to mean to us. So thanks, to everyone involved--you succeeded.

PS--With the exception of the human animation. The Turtles looked AMAZING, they had so much texture and reality to them that I was blown away. But the humans looked quite ridiculous. They had overly-large heads and emaciated bodies, especially the women; really, they looked like dolls. That's the only bad thing I have to say about the movie, and I think it can easily be ignored in my general feeling of bliss and love, but every time I see April walking by with a waist that's half the width of her head, I want to scream "WOMEN DON'T ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE THAT, DUMBASSES!" Ok. Got that off my chest. Another technical note: the voice casting was absolutely perfect. I adored every choice they made. They all sounded just like themselves, without being any of the actors who have played them in the past. Even my beloved Sarah Michelle Gellar made a great April, though every time she spoke I thought "Buffy!"

Queeraoke

Imagine a Bryn Mawr party. Now, imagine everyone there trying really hard to look really dykey. Now picture it in a dark bar the size of the Denbigh backsmoker. Now--imagine everyone is singing karaoke.

I had a fucking awesome night. Anna and Queeraoke rock my world.

New Hair!

Just A Side Note

I just noticed--in the old Turtles cartoon, they used to call their communication devices "turtle coms." In this day and age, of course, all the guys have "shell cells." HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I'm Such A Nerd!!

Ok, even though nobody but me will find this interesting, I feel the need to write some commentary on the current Ninja Turtles enterprises. As I'm sure some of you are aware, there's a new movie coming out. I may have even posted about it before now, but I can't remember. Anyway, it comes out on Friday! I'm going to see it on Saturday with two friends, dressed up as Michelangelo! Amy is dressing as Donatello, and Autumn is dressing as Leonardo. I've graciously taken a picture of the most exciting part of my costume, so you can have a preview:

More pictures of the entire ensemble will follow after this weekend. And yes, I crocheted that myself. I'm that cool. Anyway, I read a novelization of the new movie, and the plot seems decent. It's corny in places, but that's one of the things I love about TMNT--the occasional corn. Overall, it seems more in the line of the first movie, which is definitely the truest to the original comic. What that means is, slightly darker, more serious. And it seems to be focusing a lot on the Turtles as an actual family, which sometimes gets lost. There are some new characters being introduced, bad guys, and they seem okay. Nothing can quite beat the ridiculousness and yet amazingness of Shredder, but I think this movie will do all right. the one thing that concerns me is the animation. The Turtles themselves look great in the trailers, but the human beings look slightly ridiculous. April and the bad-girl Foot Clan ninja leader both seem to have wasp-like proportions, and Casey Jones is much larger and broader than I feel any human man could be. It's ok if they don't go for realism, it is animation, but I wish that the proportions weren't so terribly sexist. One interesting note is that April is being voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar, which totally floats my boat. Splinter's voice is one I know, as well, with a totally perfect accent. The Turtles, what little I can hear of them in the clips, sound like I think they should, so that's good.

In my whole Turtle fervor, I've also discovered that the newest cartoon remake of the show, which I thought only aired for one season on Cartoon Network, has actually been going for the last six years without my knowing it. So I have a lot to catch up on! I taped the show when I discovered it on tv, so tonight I'm going through the tapes to see which episodes I actually have. Then I'm going to peruse the internet until I find a place to buy DVD's of the ones I don't have...meaning several seasons' worth! I'm going to glut myself on the green fab four while Becky is away! This new cartoon is interesting; it follows the plot of the original comic more closely, unlike the original cartoon, which had a slightly different origin story and spawned its own comic book. The animation is better, in my opinion, but they changed some things that seem odd to me; April is no longer a reporter, which throws me for a loop, and thankfully she no longer wears the ridiculous yellow jumper thing that she used to wear all the time. She still has red hair, of course, but now it's more of a dyed-red color than a natural redhead. I'm less fond of that. Casey Jones plays a bigger part, which is also a throwback to the original comic, and I like that. I wish I had kept up on that comic, I never read past the first few issues, because by the time I discovered it I could no longer get back issues without spending tons of money. Anyway, this cartoon is a pretty good mix of all the preceding incarnations of the Turtles, and I really like the mixed interpretation. It works very well for me.

That's the end of my current ramblings about TMNT! I'm sure I'll write more after the movie. :)

To Whom It May Concern

To Whom It May Concern,

Some individuals seem to be of the opinion that today is a day of some importance. One individual specifically is of the opinion that I should say a few words in honor of the occasion. I myself am of the opinion that a celebration of the birth of a person so clearly criminally insane as "Professor Dilexi" is both foolish and unnecessary. As we have all seen, birthday celebrations can often go entirely awry. I would like to lodge, for future reference, my protest of current March 20th recognition and celebration, including attendance of circus-themed services.

Sincerely,
Frank

I'll Bite

Ok, it's been a long time since I stole a quiz from Alex's blog. This one is interesting, though.

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.

Not as easy as you might think...

1. Where is your cell phone? Bed.

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?: Anna...?

3. Your hair?: Brown.

4. Your mother?: Loud.

5. Your father?: Nerdy.

6. Your favourite item?: FOOD!

7. Your dream last night?: None.

8. Your favourite drink?: Juice.

9. Your dream car?: Lovebus!

10. The room you are in?: Living.

12. Your fear?: Bees.

13. What do you want to be in 10 years?: Published.

14. Who did you hang out with last night?: Twins.

15. What you're not?: Healthy.

16. Muffins?: Corn!

17: One of your wish list items?: Sandals.

18: Time?: Afternoon.

[19. Where's #19?: HAHAHA.]

20. What are you wearing?: Robe.

22. Your favourite book?: Abarat!

23. The last thing you ate?: Honey.

24. Your life?: Full.

25. Your mood?: Sleepy.

26. Your friends: Missing?

27. What are you thinking about right now?: Homework.

29. What are you doing at the moment?: Procrastinating.

30. Your summer?: FRINGE!

31. Your relationship status?: Undefined.

32. What is on your TV?: Blank.

33. When is the last time you laughed?: Yesterday.

34. Last time you cried?: Friday.

35. School?: Fun!

36. Where is home right now?: Somerville.

37. Most missed memory?: Snuggles.

38. Favorite musician?: Indigos.

39. Greatest talent?: Singing?

40. What will you do next?: Procrastinate.

By The Way...

I almost forgot to mention that I put orange streaks in my hair! The dye was way on sale at the drug store, and I figured, what the hell? They turned out less like streaks than I intended, so I'm considering adding some purple, but I'm not really sure, because the purple was not at all on sale. Anyway, here you go:

The orange is a little hard to see in this picture, but it's pretty visible in normal light.

Mmmmmmm.

I am one pleased little bunny.

New Links

I added some new links to other people's blogs and to my new job's website. I'm presuming that if you don't want me to have a link to you on my blog, you will tell me so.

Btw...

I got the job! Officially! My new boss called at 9:30 this morning on the apartment phone, which I never use...but I happened to be awake and sitting on the couch getting ready to head off to sell cookies, so I picked it up, and totally expected it to be a solicitor.... So I answered in this sort of irritated voice, and when she said "is this Rachel?" I said yes quite gruffly, because then I definitely expected her to start telling me about how she's with loan consolidation, or the fire company, or something. Hah!

I Thought This Was Blogworthy

avalon2004: i made some sugar-free cookies tonight, too, so that i have an answer for the people who are like, i'm on a diet, i don't want any.
midsummernd: haha! no excuses!
avalon2004: exactly! i am merciless. all passers-by must buy a cookie. i lure them with my telepathic powers.
avalon2004: oops! that's supposed to be a secret! i mean, i lure them with....cookies.
midsummernd: hehehehe
midsummernd: telepathic cookies?
avalon2004: yes. that's the real secret ingredient, you've found me out.
avalon2004: you see, it all started when i was bitten by a radioactive baker....
midsummernd: oh awesome! can you flick your wrist and shoot cookies at people?
avalon2004: icing, actually. it's more effective.
midsummernd: hmmm. . .maybe that was gross
midsummernd: hehehehe
avalon2004: hahaha
midsummernd: but damn that would be a good superpower
avalon2004: yeah, really!
avalon2004: that reminds me of that show on the sci fi channel, who wants to be a superhero.
my roommate and i have been talking about trying out.
midsummernd: what do they do on that show, actually?
avalon2004: i don't know, i haven't actually watched the clips yet. but there are clips, on the website.
midsummernd: ahh
avalon2004: the audition is pretty amazing, though, you just come up with a character and a backstory, dress up in costume, and make a video to send to them
midsummernd: that's so bizarre
midsummernd: i think yours should be baking-related
avalon2004: hahaha, i know! but it would be so fun
avalon2004: lol
avalon2004: that would be really funny, except in the past season they had this woman whose power came from eating donuts and that seems a little similar.
avalon2004: but maybe i could have oven-strength baking beams that come from my eyes, or something.
avalon2004: that would be pretty different.
midsummernd: totally!!
avalon2004: but what would my costume be?
midsummernd: you could be "The Convector"
avalon2004: hahahahahahahahaha
avalon2004: like a convection oven! that's amazing!!!
midsummernd: hehehe

I Am AWESOME!

I might have an exciting new job! We had a guest speaker in my publishing class two weeks ago, a woman who runs a company out of her home that's a sort of....membership group/provider of various services for independent bookstores and library buyers and so forth. She puts out a yearly catalog of children's books, to help said members decide what to buy for their stores/libraries, gives out a yearly award, and organizes a big snazzy dinner. The website is www.abfc.com, if you're interested. Anyway, she's having a baby, and needs an assistant to work from home answering her email and returning phone messages and various other tasks, while she takes her maternity leave. I think I'm going to be the one to get it! Because the only competition is a really aggressive and overworked woman in my class who's always stressed out and intense, and at my interview today, my possible new employer said that I seem much calmer, and that's something she's looking for. ;)

The bonus is, on June 1st I get to go to a big fancy dinner at the Copa Cabana in Manhattan with all the publishing bigwigs and famous children's authors!!!!! I am SO gonna take advantage of the networking possibilities.....

Irrepressable Grin

I'd sort of forgotten the irrepressable grin. Is that even a word? Spell check thinks not, but Becky thinks so. At any rate, it was nice to get it back.

Sugared, Floured, and Knackered

That's what I am. Baking is tiring! And messy! But we now have two going on three plastic shopping bags full of baked goods, for which hopefully people will happily pay us money. Yay!

Guess What I Saw!

A ROBIN! There was a robin two feet away from me! Spring is coooooomiiiiiiiiiing!!!!!!