Inglourious Basterds

(no spoilers)

I really liked this movie. Tarantino makes such gleeful films- there’s a sort of mad mischief in his storytelling, like a kid who ate eleven pixie stixx and then ripped off his pants and ran down the side of the highway with his little pink bum showing, yelling I LOOOVE MAKING MOOVIEEEES .

The movie is visceral, tense, funny, suspenseful and has great performances- fun turn for Brad Pitt, who kicks butt in comedic roles, and Cristoph Waltz’ pipe-smoking Colonel Landa is off the hook, holy crap what a wicked character. Tarantino tends to write really strong female characters, too- Melanie Laurent’s Shoshanna and Diane Kruger’s Bridget are both riveting, unpredictable, and- this is relatively rare in a female character- principled and ideological as well. I see a lot of female characters who care about their man or their children/desire for children, but how often do you see women in movies for whom political ideology is the driving motivation? Nice one, QT. Super-fun to watch.

And, as I discovered today, the screenplay is fantastic. Not only is the story strong, but Tarantino’s technique for telling it is great too- the screenplay is really readable, fast-moving, and exquisitely paced. Supa-good. The Inglourious Basterds screenplay is online. Well worth reading if you’re into that sort of thing. Also highly recommend the flick.

Thanks to Torquil for the tip.

Luke, I am your pants.

Just for Jenn: a few hundred Star Wars lines that are better when you sub in the word “pants”.

I find your lack of pants disturbing.
You are unwise to lower your pants.
Your pants, you will not need them.
Chewie and me got into a lot of pants more heavily guarded than this.
The Force is strong in my pants.

Via Damian.

Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Al! Alan!

Walk On The Wild Side is a new BBC series. Great writing.
Don’t have the volume too loud for this first one.

Via Jess.

Sploosh

Today I had lunch with a pal and we went for a walk in a city park. There was a wading pool full of adorable toddlers, and I kicked off my shoes and waded in ankle-deep. Then I wondered what time it was. I clearly remember thinking, “Maybe I shouldn’t take my phone out while I’m standing in ankle deep water.” But I really wanted to know what time it was. Well, turns out my instincts were correct and as soon as I saw the time, I dropped my phone, as predictably as if I’d done it on purpose. It was 3:05, by the way. That time is notable because now that I’ve drowned my phone, I probably won’t know what time it is for several days to come. Long story short, if you need to talk to me for the next couple days, my phone is relaxing in a jar of rice, and you should probably just email me.

Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan on how Helen learned to speak

Actual newsreel footage of Sullivan and Keller. I cannot even imagine how intelligent Helen Keller must have been to learn language by fingerspelling, let alone figure out how to speak.

Via Kottke.

Grizzly Bear fan video by Gabe Askew

This is lovely. A CG-animated music video for the song “Two Weeks”, made by a fan, just for kicks.

Two Weeks – Grizzly Bear from Gabe Askew.

I dunno why I can’t get stoopid vimeos to embed, but, I cannot. Anyway, go watch it, it’s really good.
Via Dooce.

Toronto Tornado

Tornado touchdowns were confirmed in Ontario during an insane storm late this afternoon (August 20 2009). I was shooting in a basement studio so I missed it, but I found this clip on YouTube. This is in Woodbridge (northwest Toronto, not too far from Islington & Steeles).
Here’s an article in the Globe– thanks to my mom for the tip.
Also, GAH.

UPDATE:
Here’s a fantastic collection of Toronto tornado and storm photos and lots of videos on BlogTO.

Star Wars’ Bad Design

John Scalzi examines a number of DesignFAILs in Star Wars.

Lightsabers
Yes, I know, I want one too. But I tell you what: I want one with a hand guard. Otherwise every lightsaber battle would consist of sabers clashing and then their owners sliding as quickly as possible down the shaft to lop off their opponent’s fingers. You say: Lightsabers can slice through anything but another lightsaber, so what are you going to make a hand guard out of? I say: Dude, if you have the technology to make a lightsaber, you have the technology to make a light hand guard.

Ha ha ha. More here.

UPDATE:
I disagree that this is a fail.

Thanks to Phil for the tip.

Also, a recent conversation I had with some friends:

ALL OF US: [Discussion of various baby names we like & disike]

ME: If Scott and I have a kid, he wants its middle name to be “Batman”.

SCOTT: I didn’t say anything about “middle” name.

Indescribable.

My weekend? Oh, we did a photoshoot where I posed in an empty hot tub with a Russian wolfhound, a value-pak of Tressemme conditioner, a ten-month old child, and a pink AK-47. You know, the usual. How was yours?
Via.

Breastfeeding Doll: Bebé Glotón

Bebé Glotón (Spanish for “Greedy Baby”) is a doll that breastfeeds. Your child can strap on the included nursing bra, complete with flower-shaped areolae, and quiet this squalling baby by nursing it. Manufacturer’s site here. WHAT. THE. WHAT.

Via.