lists about nothing

[eldritchhobbit]

I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday season.



Moving into my new office at the university, it struck me how much the walls reflect my intellectual schizophrenia and eccentricity.

I love them.

You see, my office walls now include the following:

*a J.D. Challenger print entitled "And They Speak of Liberty," featuring a sad and somber Native American figure, dressed in traditional garb and draped in the U.S. flag, rising above the Statue of Liberty

*a current map of the Native American nations in the United States

*two prints from the Bodleian Library of J.R.R. Tolkien's artwork: one from the original book jacket of The Hobbit, and one of "The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the-Water"

*two small prints of vintage science fiction movie posters: one from the 1927 original version of Metropolis and one from the 1956 original version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers

*the inevitable "I Want to Believe" UFO poster, a la Fox Mulder's office
(The same print also hangs in my home office. Because.)

*a small Captain Proton mock-vintage poster from Star Trek: Voyager (featuring Lt. Tom Paris as Captain Proton, of course)

and, last but not least,

*the "Have You Seen This Wizard?" Sirius Black poster from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

::sigh:: It is good.



While I am on a roll of listing things of importance only to me -- I blame the prescriptions I'm still taking to combat my lingering respiratory infection -- it also strikes me how many films I'm looking forward to in 2005. I can't remember how long it's been since this many films are on my "must see" list in the same year. In order of ridiculous enthusiasm, roughly, they are at present...

1. Serenity
If I were any more excited about this film, my head would explode. Rather than make such a mess, I'll occupy myself with the Firefly DVDs until September.

2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Obviously. Sadly Lupin-lite, but there's always Snape to console me.

3. Kingdom of Heaven
Ridley Scott will likely make mincemeat of the history, but for Liam Neeson and Jeremy Irons and David Thewlis and Alexander Siddig all together, with swords, I can temporarily mute my inner historian.

4. The New World
I'm excited about this in the same way people are fascinated by natural disasters: a guilty blend of morbid curiosity and animal fear. I want filmmakers' hands on 1607 far, far less even than I want them on the Crusades. That said, it is a matter of professional and personal necessity that I watch any interpretation of John Smith, Pocahontas, and Jamestown. Oh, and I also support Wes Studi, a truly great and unsung actor, at every given opportunity. And the combination of Wes Studi, David Thewlis, and Christopher Plummer outweighs the Colin Farrell factor. So we'll see.

5. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Another no-brainer. Some of the casting looks quite inspired, to boot.

6. Batman Begins
Liam Neeson as a mystical mentor figure? I'm there. Sir Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman are just icing on the cake. And of course it helps that Batman is one of my very favorite superheroes.

7. The Chronicles of Narnia
Let's see what the first big-budget fantasy film to follow The Return of the King's eleven Academy Awards looks like, shall we? And C.S. Lewis is a fellow Inkling with J.R.R. Tolkien, after all.

8. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
I do recall swearing (quite loudly) upon leaving the theater after Attack of the Clones that George Lucas would not fool me again and lure me into the movie theater. How long my resolve will last remains to be seen. On the negative side: Hayden Christensen. George Lucas. More Jar-Jar Binks. No Qui-Gon Jinn. And my pride. On the positive side: Ewan McGregor. Natalie Portman. Yoda. The battle scene. The fact that I have been a consistent Star Wars fan since the age of five and a half. And closure. Tough call. Either way, I'm anxious for the novelization, the spoilers, and the general fannishness.



And now, for the quotes of the day, to add some content to this otherwise frivolous post:

...So now my prayer is this:

You, my own deep soul,
trust me. I will not betray you.
My blood is alive with many voices
telling me I am made of longing.

and one more quote, from the same poet

...Even when we don't desire it,
God is ripening.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke
(Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy, translators)

Comments

[estellye.livejournal.com]

I love your office! I saw the Captain Proton poster you are talking about, and I wantsss it, I needsss it!

I can't wait for Serenity either! Out of all living people I would like to sit down to long lunch (which would have to last at least six days) I would choose Peter Jackson & Joss Whedon. I would love to see what those to got up to together!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I love your office! I saw the Captain Proton poster you are talking about, and I wantsss it, I needsss it!

LOL! Thank you! :) Isn't it great? I love how it looks just like a classic Flash Gordon poster. I always got a kick out of what Voyager did with the holodeck!

I second your thoughts about Joss Whedon and Peter Jackson, by the way. I think the creative energy those two could produce would keep a film company busy for decades! I'm just so glad Whedon didn't let Fox have the last word on Firefly and just give up. I think the premise will be perfect for the big screen! So glad to know I'm not alone!

[randomalia.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to have you on my flist - I have similar thoughts about some of those movies! I was just wondering what Kingdom of Heaven was going to do in terms of historical accuracy, and then thought: well, Liam Neeson. Ditto for Batman Begins! (have you seen the trailer?? Lots of him in that, very 'mystical mentor'; he has such a lovely voice).

Serenity is something I'm looking forward to for the sake of Joss rather than anything else, not having seen the Firefly episodes. And Star Wars... even if I knew it was going to be disappointing, I would still have to see it, as the final installment in what is a wonderful story. I'm hopeful it will be good, though!

Hope your holidays go well :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I was just wondering what Kingdom of Heaven was going to do in terms of historical accuracy, and then thought: well, Liam Neeson.

So glad to know I'm not alone! :)

Ditto for Batman Begins! (have you seen the trailer?? Lots of him in that, very 'mystical mentor'; he has such a lovely voice).

Yes! The minute I recognized his voice I was thrilled, and I loved the moment when he turned his back to Bruce and seemed to invite attack (while talking about Bruce's parents), then at the last minute turned and parried the blow. Yep, I'm there alright! :)

Serenity is something I'm looking forward to for the sake of Joss rather than anything else, not having seen the Firefly episodes.

Oooh! ::bounces on toes:: You do have until September to remedy that, you know! It really is the most amazing series. My sister is a huge Buffy fan, and I said "If you like Joss, wait 'til you see this," and then crammed the DVDs down her throat (LOL), and she was completely hooked. The characters and the premise really are remarkable. I'm sure the film will be such that previous knowledge won't be required, though. But the previous knowledge is so much ::fun::! Okay, I will stop proselytizing. ;)

And I know I'll see Star Wars. I guess I just had to be a baby about it and complain and whine a bit first. To follow it all this far and not see the conclusion would just be insane. And I do love the story, whether the film versions of it always work for me or not. And you're right, it may be good (after all, there should be a lot of Obi-Wan in this one!)-- I shouldn't give up hope!

Speaking of hope, I hope all is going well with you, too, and you're having a great holiday!

[randomalia.livejournal.com]

Oooh! ::bounces on toes:: You do have until September to remedy that, you know! It really is the most amazing series. My sister is a huge Buffy fan, and I said "If you like Joss, wait 'til you see this," and then crammed the DVDs down her throat (LOL), and she was completely hooked. The characters and the premise really are remarkable. I'm sure the film will be such that previous knowledge won't be required, though. But the previous knowledge is so much ::fun::!

*g* You're the third person to recommend the series so highly, I think I will have to borrow the dvds from a friend and watch them before seeing the movie! I am so amazed at Joss Whedon's creative talent.

And I know I'll see Star Wars. I guess I just had to be a baby about it and complain and whine a bit first. To follow it all this far and not see the conclusion would just be insane. And I do love the story, whether the film versions of it always work for me or not.

Yes, I had similar thoughts. When I saw the trailer for Sith I was utterly excited by the beginning, simply because it was bringing it full circle. Just hearing that music, and seeing them link Luke/Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon had me bouncing in my seat! The rest of it just couldn't compare to that intro, so it's the context (as with so many things) that makes this so exciting for me. Still, as you say, more Obi-Wan is a good thing; I have a lot of respect for Ewan McGregor's interpretation of him (which is really Alec's interpretation, I suppose).

[solodancer.livejournal.com]

Wow...you're office sounds cool!

But, you didn't mention Olando in your list of reasons to see Kingdom of heaven. (was this intentional?) I'm afraid I don't know you that well and don't know if you're an Orli hater. LOl! I saw the preview for that and almost didn't recognize the man. I do like Liam Neeson though and Orli isn't bad on the eyes so....

And...I had not heard of the New Batman movie. That's quite a list of great actors. Wow! I guess I'm looking forward to that now too.

And for Star Wars...ummm...yeah....I hear ya. I hated the last one, but I don't know..there's just something about seeing the whole thing through ya know? I feel like I just have to see the last one to make the cycle complete. Maybe it will suck, maybe it won't, but I won't rest till I've seen it all.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Wow...you're office sounds cool!

Thank you so much! :):):)

Eeep! I totally forgot to mention Orlando re: Kingdom of Heaven! ::blush:: I'm definitely not an Orli hater. I thought he made a great Legolas, and I also thought he did a great job in Pirates of the Caribbean and Troy (a movie that had several problems, none of which were Orli-related!). I don't quite understand his sex appeal (although my sister assures me that he possesses a great deal of it), but I think his age and his "prettiness" are obstacles to me. Regardless, I'm definitely looking forward to his performance. And you're quite right: he seems to have made a real transformation for this role.

I hated the last one, but I don't know..there's just something about seeing the whole thing through ya know? I feel like I just have to see the last one to make the cycle complete.

Again, you're quite right. I just had a bit more complaining and whining to get out of my system before I could move forward to the final film! LOL! I'm glad to know you're with me about Attack of the Clones. But knowing what will happen in this next installment -- the transformation from Anakin to Vader, the showdown with Obi-Wan -- I know it's just too important, and too potentially great, to miss. Thanks for "feeling my pain," and for the encouragement to get past it! :)

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. I didn't know about The New World and Serenity. Those look cool! Loved Wes Studi in Last of the Mohicians. I can't wait for Merchant of Venice (http://www.merchantofvenicemovie.com)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Loved Wes Studi in Last of the Mohicians.

Wasn't he great? That scene on the ledge, when he beckons her back before she jumps... the way he shows so much emotion without ever saying a word just boggles my mind. He's also close to my heart because he's written children's books for the Cherokee Bilingual/Cross Cultural Education Center -- a man who invests his talents in important ways!

I am so glad you told me about Merchant of Venice! This looks terrific! What a cast. And it's great to see another Shakespeare play moving to the big screen in such a classy way. Now I'm looking forward to this film, too! :) I appreciate the recommendation!

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

I didn't know he wrote children's books. That is great. Studi is obviously a good guy as well as talented!

Oh, yeah! That was SUCH a powerful scene. Plus, Daniel Day Lewis was VERY hot in that movie. I am afraid I have a thing for guys who have British, Irish, or Scottish accents and have dark hair. Therefore, I must confess that I think Colin Farrel is very cute. O_o

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

DDL was amazing in the film, too, you're right. (And what great hair! LOL.) That movie is so beautiful to watch! And more power to you and your Colin Farrell appreciation. :) Who knows? He may have been born to play Captain John Smith. I'll definitely be there, anxious to see! ;)

[galadhir.livejournal.com]

No Qui-Gon at all? Not even as a Force-ghost?

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No Qui-Gon at all? Not even as a Force-ghost? <Sound of distant hope departing, turning Ep3 into a deeply nihilistic and depressing experience...> Bummer!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Alas, that's what I hear. (Of course I'm hearing this third-hand from a throw-away comment reportedly made by Liam Neeson in some interview somewhere, so take the rumor only for what it's worth.) My hope for seeing him in Ep 3 isn't dead, exactly... just potentially mortally wounded. ::sigh:: At this point, even the glowy Force-ghost sounds great to me!

You're back!!!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

And I'm a LJ loser! I haven't been posting much, nor been keeping up as well as I'd like. What day is today?? *scratches head and makes plans to take laundry to the laundromat*

I'm so sorry to hear that you're still sick; you need to get better so we can meet up for coffe, 'kay?

and I'm a loser in regards to your newest fic, as well. Got sidetracked by R/D. Yes, go figure. When it comes to HP ficathons, apparently I'm worse than a crack addict. I just can't stop.

You, my own deep soul,
trust me. I will not betray you.
My blood is alive with many voices
telling me I am made of longing.

Love Rilke. That quote is beyond gorgeous.

(((hugs))) ♥

Re: You're back!!!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

(((Hugs))) I know what you mean re: "What day is it?" I feel the same way! How did your visit go right before Christmas? Well, I hope! Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm trying to hurry up and get well ASAP! More soon - would love to do a coffee as soon as I stop hacking all the time. :) I miss you!

Isn't Rilke amazing? :::sigh:::

(((Extra hugs)))

Re: You're back!!!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

PS. I added "lomelindi smial" to my LJ interests list, FYI - please join me if you'd like to do so! :)

Re: You're back!!!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Will do. The visit was a whirlwind; Christmas was delightfully low-key, and I'm indulging myself in lying around the house, reading fanfic, and writing some. It's ideal. I think we're going to have the kids for New Year's and we'll spend the evening watching "Fruits Basket" for hours. :P

Yes. You most certainly need to get better. Immediately. I hate the thought of you being this sick for so long!

(((massive hugs)))

A friend...

[white-gull.livejournal.com]

Hello, I hope you don't mind, but I put you up as one of my friends. I found that you like a lot of the things that I do, too. Star Wars, LOTR, and such...even Ancanar. So I thought I'd pop over here and inform you that you're on my friends list :).

Re: A friend...

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you posted! Thanks for finding me. I've friended you back. :) It's especially great to meet another Ancanar fan! :) Hope you have a great New Year's!

Re: A friend...

[white-gull.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about Ancanar, I have only found a couple of people who are interested in it, so this is very nice :). And a hearty thank you from my corner for "friending" me back!