Thanks for the e-hugs Teague. I needed them.
Yeah, it's an HBO movie. It just premiered. I'd been waiting to see it, since I was already familiar with the play.
151 2014-05-27 19:06:28
Re: So I watched The Normal Heart. And I'm angry. (6 replies, posted in Off Topic)
152 2014-05-27 06:44:16
Topic: So I watched The Normal Heart. And I'm angry. (6 replies, posted in Off Topic)
(Disclaimer: this is a personal post. I don't know why I'm posting it. I just had to tell someone, and there's no one around.)
The Normal Heart (2014)
This is not a review. If you want a film review, I guess I could say that it's an emotionally shattering piece carried by outstanding performances, and it beautifully adapts what is a fierce and important play.
But I don't want to critically examine this movie. I want to cry for a few more hours, because maybe then I won't be able to cry anymore and I can finally get some sleep.
This film made me angry. I hear that angry people usually run to the internet, so here I am.
I'm angry because I loathe to see people do nothing. I loathe to see people in power do nothing, while small communities rally to do anything and everything. I loathe to see people need help and be denied it. And I loathe to see people be treated as less than human.
The moment that really stabbed me through the heart was this description of what happened after an HIV-related death (before we knew it was HIV).
"The hospital doctors refused to examine him to put a cause of death on the death certificate, and without a death certificate the undertakers wouldn't take him away, and neither would the police. Finally, some orderly comes in and stuffs Albert in a heavy-duty Glad Bag and motions us with his finger to follow and he puts him out in the back alley with the garbage. He says, "Hey, man. See what a big favor I've done for you, I got him out, I want fifty bucks."
It's an affront to human dignity and it pisses me off.
When the film ended, I kept crying. I'm still crying. It's not just about the movie, either.
My best friend is really sick. I saw her today, and she's practically translucent, and her sweater clung to her rib cage, and the doctors still don't know what's wrong with her.
I am terrified. I can't tell her how terrified I am. I'm angry that there is nothing I can do.
The prevailing sentiment of the HIV/AIDS crisis, especially in the beginning, was "Why will no one help us?"
It's so much easier not to care. I wish I didn't care. I wish I didn't care so goddamn much because it's hard, and it hurts, and sometimes you fight for the things and the people you care about, and you lose. It is so much more onerous than the alternative. And yet, I still have to believe it is the better choice.
I think The Normal Heart is one of those movies that you should see, you know, as a human being. For me, at least, it was cathartic. I got to cry without having to explain myself to anyone.
I hope it makes you angry. I hope it breaks your heart. It made me inescapably aware of my humanness, and of all the virtues and flaws inextricably tied to that.
tl;dr The Normal Heart should be required viewing for all humans and I am very angry about the HIV-AIDS crisis. Among other things.
153 2014-05-18 02:01:18
Re: The New Introduction Thread (431 replies, posted in Off Topic)
Aww, see Drew? Now you've hurt Zarban's feelings.
Friendly reminder that David Tennant, the handsome man being rained on, is a dad in his 40's. And we would so totally welcome him with open arms.
Welcome Isaac!
154 2014-05-12 02:59:17
Re: Sad Max (209 replies, posted in Creations)
Teague, you have first dibs on writing a showtune-style theme song for Broadway Babe 
155 2014-05-12 00:43:22
Re: Sad Max (209 replies, posted in Creations)
She's an artist, and I'm a writer, so we're actually going to do a little comic/graphic novel together based on our superhero alter egos. She's already sent me some concept art, and gave me permission to post it.
Because I'm obsessed with musicals, I became Broadway Babe.
And she became Shadow Siren.
This project may or may not go anywhere, but if it does, I'll let you know.
156 2014-05-11 04:02:47
Re: Sad Max (209 replies, posted in Creations)
I've been obsessed with Sad Max since I watched it a couple weeks ago, and I've been sending the link to everyone I know, but it really hit home with one of my friends.
The situation is this: my best friend is really sick. Like, had to take time off school, is in and out of the hospital sick. She's at home now, and basically can't leave - she hasn't got the energy. What she has got is a fantastic sense of humor, so I sent her the link with the note, "You're trapped in your house and possibly dying - wanna see a musical about it?" (My dad thought this was insensitive, but she thought it was hilarious.)
Anyway. She loved it as much as I did. And not only did she love it, but it inspired her to work on a creative endeavor of her own, and not just watch Supernatural 24/7. I think she really needed a project.
So thanks, Teague. You've made both of us disproportionately happy. (And I eagerly anticipate your album. Seriously - Insidious Communist Propaganda of Steve is already my favourite song.)
157 2014-04-04 00:05:55
Re: Uncomposed #3 - How To Do Things (2 replies, posted in Episodes)
I completely second Uncomposed jam sessions. That was one of the best parts of the 4-hour Intermission.
158 2014-03-29 04:58:55
Re: Suggest a Commentary 2.0: The Suggestioning (364 replies, posted in Episodes)
Eddie wrote:
Dazed and Confused is in my top 20 of all time. I'd be more than happy to do that.
My father and I share this as a favourite. He says it is almost exactly his high school experience (minus the drugs) and I really dig young Anthony Rapp.
I'd love to be in the chat for a Dazed and Confused commentary.
159 2014-03-29 04:55:10
Re: Ben's Photography Thread (35 replies, posted in Creations)
Stunning photographs as always, Ben! They always make me ache to be back at the happiest, most magical place on Earth.
And the last photo is stunning for a different reason. I'm glad you shared it.
160 2014-02-27 16:38:21
Re: Oblivion (15 replies, posted in Episodes)
This is the first episode where I was in the chat, and I think my only valuable contribution was telling Teague he must chill about the house on a stick.
161 2014-02-17 05:09:44
Re: [BOAT] What's in a spoiler? (spoilers marked) (23 replies, posted in Off Topic)
Zarban wrote:
A movie critic's job is to help you decide whether or not to see the movie. That necessarily requires them not to spoil the movie.
Indeed.
We're used to, on these forums, dissecting films and examining them critically with the expectation that the person reading has seen the film. Which is a very important distinction to make when talking about film reviews.
A review trying to help someone decide on whether or not to see a movie has a different objective. It's not in-depth analysis, but an overview of whether the films works, and is worth seeing. And necessarily avoids spoilers. In-depth analysis almost necessarily includes spoilers.
162 2014-02-17 02:53:28
Re: [BOAT] What's in a spoiler? (spoilers marked) (23 replies, posted in Off Topic)
I am so sorry.
163 2014-02-17 02:38:42
Re: [BOAT] What's in a spoiler? (spoilers marked) (23 replies, posted in Off Topic)
Rob wrote:
To me, a true spoiler must undercut a significant effect that a movie is trying at have with its story. The word "significant" is important because, again, there's all kinds of setups and minor plot points that trailers give away freely.
I think that's a great definition for a spoiler. While it's fun to discover details as the story is happening, details aren't spoilers.
I don't care enough about spoilers to avoid listening to commentaries for films I haven't seen, I'll say that. And my favourite book is the Book Thief, wherein the narrator nonchalantly tells you beforehand everyone who is going to die at the end. That being said, I love a good plot twist, and it can be kind of a bummer when someone wrecks that for you. (Which I accidentally did once, to a very spoiler-sensitive friend of mine...I was very sorry. She cared not.)
I'd say it's common courtesy to flag spoilers in conversation, and if you know you don't want to be spoiled, don't participate.
Things on tumblr get crazy when something new comes out because there are spoilers abound. I think you should stick it under a read more cut and if someone clicks onward, well, that's their deal. It should be that simple, always. Use discretion, people.
No statute of limitations! This always bugged me, just because there is so often the issue of certain people in fandoms saying the new people aren't "true fans" because they haven't watched this or read that.
There will always be people coming fresh to the material. Be respectful of that. Serenity came out almost a decade ago, and it's still a spoiler if I tell you who dies.
By the way, before I watched Firefly, my friends kept telling me I was Zoe, and I was so on board with that. Like, I'm pretty and badass and my husband is awesome? Yes, please. And then I watched Serenity, and he DIES and I didn't really want to be Zoe after that.
I can't really think of any examples other than Vader where it is engrained in our culture and has transcended the nature of being a spoiler. And I like to think there's still some five year old out there who gets to experience that thrill anew.
164 2014-02-05 16:32:28
Re: The New Introduction Thread (431 replies, posted in Off Topic)
Zarban wrote:
Things that Hawaiians take for granted seem exotic to us: hula, volcanoes, human sacrifice, etc.
Gosh, you make one little comment about pineapple on pizza and the thread works its way down to human sacrifice in no time at all.
165 2014-02-02 04:14:36
Re: The New Introduction Thread (431 replies, posted in Off Topic)
Thanks for the welcome!
I'm in BC, about an hour from Vancouver.
166 2014-02-02 03:53:53
Re: The New Introduction Thread (431 replies, posted in Off Topic)
I'm Alicia. (Get it? It's the Latinized version of Alice...)
I'm a student (Communication Studies), I work at a library, and my hobbies include trying just about anything once. Mostly reading, writing, papercutting, and sending letters (keeping Canada's postal service alive!). Seriously, I love pen pals.
My worst injury is going over my bike's handlebars, which has left me with a scar on my left elbow. My deepest emotional injuries can be traced back to band camp.
My favourite pizza is chicken caesar pizza, but I'll take any pizza without pineapple.
I used to be really shy, the kind of shy that didn't leave YouTube comments, but now I'm just shy if you're cute.
I get really obsessed with one thing for months at a time. For example, I basically marathoned my way through about 150 WAYDM commentaries. My current obsession is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio plays. For a while, it was Whose Line Is It Anyway. And I adore trivia, particularly film trivia, and that's why I'm here. 'Tis trivia that prevents awkward pauses in conversations. (Unless you're cute. We covered this.)
So to sum up - obsessive student who talks a lot.
167 2014-01-25 07:56:09
Re: Eight "Frozen" Fixes (spoilers) (20 replies, posted in Pitches, Fixes, and Rewrites)
Why, thank you, Dorkman 
Although, if you're hell-bent on having a fight, I'm sure we could have one about Olaf.
168 2014-01-25 06:35:54
Re: Eight "Frozen" Fixes (spoilers) (20 replies, posted in Pitches, Fixes, and Rewrites)
After spending this week trying to articulate to my friends why I am not in love with Frozen, I have to say thanks, Doc, for laying it all out so nicely.
I knew there were story problems, but I didn't take the time to really analyze the story. Mostly because I was being a music snob, which inhibited my critical thinking.
So...the following is musical snobbery.
- I have to agree with Teague about the music. (Between Newman and Menken, it's hard to settle for just pop music.) In fact, the music was the first thing I noticed. Because this didn't need to be a musical.
- Let It Go is a fantastic performance of a generic pop song. It's also the only time Idina gets to shine. (And believe me, Broadway style songs can still be generic pop songs.)
- Why is Jonathan Groff in this musical (if we're calling it a musical) if he gets to sing for all of 51 seconds?
- The lyrics are better in French. I know this is extremely unfair. Too bad. They are.
- The songs try too hard to be hummable. Like Sondheim, I am not a fan of the "hummable" factor. Because if you try to be hummable, you too often end up generic.
The music is not bad. It's not. I would argue the songs need to advance the story more, but the story had it's own problems.
Compared to The Princess and the Frog and Tangled, which I think are both excellent, Frozen doesn't feel like part of a new Disney Renaissance. It's cool that it's not doing the fairytale love story, that it's subverting tropes, but...it didn't live up to it's potential. Like Dorkman said, it needed another couple drafts.
You gotta admit, though - this was a pretty movie. I want Elsa's ice castle.