Creepers gonna creep

So, Dan and I went to see The Last Airbender this afternoon. I had rather low expectations - the trailers made it look beautiful, but also seemed to point out a problem that would be very, very obvious to fans of the actual show, in that it completely lacked any of the humor or happiness or love that marked the original show. But of course, knowing what trailers are like, I figured it was comprised of action bits and that the happy silliness would be present in the actual film.

Well, let me tell you now, if you've seen the trailer, you're done. Stop there. All of the cool action and effects parts are already in the trailer. There is, in fact, no humor in the movie, but for a poor attempt at a laugh when Sokka flails around under Appa's tail in an early scene, fearing the flying bison is trying to eat him. Sokka, by the way, is no longer meat and sarcasm guy, but obnoxious white boy who is sort of like a piece of cardboard with a srs bsns face drawn on. Katara spends pretty much the whole movie looking pathetic and sobby. Aang is... okay, except that he doesn't seem to have very much fun, ever. And there's something terribly, terribly wrong with that.

The whole movie plays like a series of random scenes from the show, strung together loosely with some poor narration by Failtara. I can't imagine it made any sense to anyone who hadn't seen the show. Also, what I don't think was made very clear to anyone was that this is part one of several. Was that ever mentioned in the trailers? Because I wasn't even sure, myself, until part of the way through when I decided that even at the ridiculous pace and general choppiness of the film, there was no way for them to make it all the way through the story.

Dan wasn't even aware that it was an adaptation (despite my having mentioned my misgivings about the movie several times before we went to see it). And so that, coupled with the fact that that movie was awful and I don't want to remember the story that way, brings me to my request:

Is there anyone who would be willing and able to burn the original Avatar series to dvd and mail it out here? Please? Pretty please? I would be happy to repay anyone who can do this for me by mailing something out in return - coconut chips? Dried mango? Some other sort of easily mailed snackable item? You name it. But I would really love to watch the show again, as well as spread it around to those here who would appreciate it.

Yeah yeah, Happy Atheist Children Get Presents Day to you all, too. I actually got a major awesome gift - a replacement set of art supplies since I lost almost all of mine when I moved back here from Walla Walla. But of course since art supplies are largely a personal preference, I picked them out a week or two ago, so, you know. Not terribly surprising. Oh, and I got an eight-pack of ginger beer, which is awesome since that stuff is so hard to find here. It's not Bundaberg, but it'll do.

Also, happy birthday, Dar! Today's XKCD is just for you. :D I have a Christmas present for you but your birthday present's not done yet. MUST HURRY ARGH.

Avatar is seriously amazing. I was a little concerned by all the hype, but honestly, it's one of the most incredibly beautiful movies I've ever seen. Yes, the plot is simple, and there are no surprises there - if you don't know the plot, take a guess, you're probably right. But the sheer stunning visual experience is so very worth the ticket price. The 3D effects were used subtly and effectively to enhance the movie without being garish or gimmicky at all. See it on the biggest screen you can, but definitely go see it. I'd be happy to go watch it again.

Finally:

THE CHRISTMAS DAY MEME

Church is there. I may or may not send Shadow over there later, we'll see.

I guess I felt like I needed something to raeg at this morning, so I watched Jesus Camp. Was a little bit disturbed by the fact that I wasn't as horrified at it as I feel like I should be, but maybe I'm just apathetic. Some of those kids impressed me quite a bit, actually - it's cool how passionate and knowledgeable they are about something, and Levi the little preacher kid was something else, man. Like a mini-adult, and a better public speaker and speechwriter than many college-age students I know. I just... agh, if only they were passionate and knowledgeable about something other than Evangelism, you know? I guess that's the thing. If those kids were into anything else it'd be awesome, but instead they'll grow up and become the sort of people you read about in the papers and can't help but hate because of what they stand for.

On a totally different note, an online CD seller has a copy of Institut Polaire's EP The Fauna and the Flora and man, if it wasn't $17 bucks, I'd buy it right this instant. But instead I'm waffling, and probably won't end up buying it, even though it's pretty much the only one I've ever seen. Maybe I should just do like I did with Nico and see if the band has any mp3s they can send me in return for some delicious paypal. :/ Though I don't think I will. Unless I can't find their upcoming LP when it drops. If it ever actually does come out. It's been delayed by at least six months, now.

Also, I really really really want this book. A lot. And I think I need to get back into drawing already. I haven't done anything beyond little sketches for ages. I feel like I'm losing my artist cred.

So, okay, I usually don't care a whole lot about actual Halo. The games are entertaining, but, you know, I don't have a 360 anyway so it doesn't much matter. But this trailer for ODST? Incredible. It makes me think that if they ever do actually make a live-action Halo movie, I just might go see it. And so I can't help but wonder if that's part of the point of this trailer, in addition to advertising ODST.

Speaking of movies, going to go see 9 tonight. Woo~

Whoever is in charge of putting together the canned soundtrack for Bridgeport Village, I love you. It hurts me to say that I love much of anything about that place, including the fact that they play music over those crappy speakers across the entire place, like you might find in some retail shop inside a normal mall. But new music person, you actually have good taste in music, and so I appreciate that.

See, I used to walk down there to go to Borders or whatever and they'd be playing crappy pop, or smooth jazz, or something else awful. But when I was down there closer to the beginning of summer, Nada Surf's "Beautiful Beat" came on. And today as soon as I was within range of the speakers, Gomez' "Notice" was playing. Now, of course, both of these bands have a pretty standard and very accessible radio-pop sort of sound to them as far as indie bands go; it's not like they were playing Wolf Parade or something (who are fantastic, no doubt, but the average person is more than likely to think they sound very strange, I've found). Regardless, I was a little weirded out, as well as pleased.

Also, I want to see District 9 this week. Possibly tonight. WHO'S WITH ME?

Watchmen. :) Go to zolac_no_miko for her reaction, which is followed in the comments by mine, if you're curious.

And now, a meme, courtesy of viewtiful_jeff. Because RP memes are always more interesting than RL ones.

( What? It's true. )

If people like these I may get around to making more at some point. I like the effect, anyway. Hopefully others do too. XD

( Cut for minor spoilers )