Got Me Some Netflix

Well, I had been putting off getting a Netflix account for several years now, but that wind of change was blowin’ through 2008 and convinced me to commit up to $17 per month to another online merchant. They say the first two weeks are free…

Now I fully expect to become a couch-ridden blob, unable to answer the phone or go to work, simply popping in DVDs and making snacks 24/7. This is my destiny! However, I am not so impressed with their service. I opened my new account thirty minutes ago and I am yet to receive a single DVD. What? Do they think I’ve got all night??

Happy New Year to you! What is your resolution (if you chose to make one)? Does it require as much athleticism and physical endurance as my New Years Netflix resolution? What movies should I put in my queue?

You Never Post Cool Shit Anymore

So I have come to realize that I just don’t have the time (or energy or dedication) to be a hardcore daily blogger. That’s okay. I never wanted to be a nerd on that grand of scale anyway. I wish I could just post directly from my brain and not have to waste time using a keyboard or searching for old links or whatever. Then again, you might be a bit terrified if I were posting direct via cerebral cortex. Ahhh… We can always dream, can’t we?

I want to see this movie, like, so bad. Even if some big wig movie execs want to squash it. Well, actually because big wig movie execs want to squash it. Stealing Innocence sounds like the kind of movie we should all be watching these days.

I happened upon the movie link while browsing Nina Gordon’s website. If you’re old enough to remember Veruca Salt (the rock band, not the fantasy character) then you may know who Nina is. I haven’t heard her solo record, but now that I know it exists I will be looking for it in my local record shop. Regardless, she offers some sound clips on her site and even a cover version of the N.W.A classic “Straight Outta Compton.”

Okay, my little homies and homettes — Back to my ever increasing stack of books. Sunday is fer readin’.

I Am Kip Dynamite

Okay! Time for another stupid web quiz slash movie review. Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you? Apparently, I am Kip Dynamite and I love technology.

Napoleon Dynamite has to be my favorite movie from 2004. If you haven’t seen it, then you should check out the Official website and perhaps the trailer at Apple.com. If you really want to mix and match and get this party started right, then you’ll want to check out the samplings of two (not one, but TWO!) Napoleon Dynamite soundboards! #1 & #2

For as much as I and others love this film, I have bumped into a large number of folks who didn’t. These people are the “Haters.” Now, there could be many reasons why the haters didn’t like Napoleon Dynamite. For one, it is not an action-packed blockbuster. And fer two, there ain’t no big name stars in it prancing around like they’re the cock of the walk. This movie makes its points via subtlety and dry humor — two of my favorite things in life. But probably most obvious to me is the fact that none of the haters ever had any ability to identify with the characters.

The nerds. Dweebs. Geeks. Losers. And total wusses. Those are the primary characters in Napoleon Dynamite and perhaps why I liked it so much. For freakin’ once I could watch a movie that didn’t have 62 year old Bruce Willis blowing shit up and acting like a bad-ass. And no Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker comedy kung fu combo garbage either. Nope. This actually felt like it was a real story with real characters. Perhaps that gleeful dose of reality is what prevented some from enjoying the film. I, on the other hand, felt like I was watching an Idaho-adapted version of my life.

It’s the truth. Most of my life, I have been a pretty tight analog of Napoleon himself. Nerdy, out of place, definitely not beefcake. Also, we both like to dance and have an affinity for long sighs to exhibit our disgust. Certainly our ability to woo women is on the same plane (imagine a very low-flying plane, if you will). So following along with the main character was like viewing a recreation of my high school years. In a word, painful.

It’s funny that the test pegged me as Kip, however. All throughout the film, I was admiring Kip for his computer hacking skills and his ability to sweet-talk the ladies. I just kept thinking “Man, I’ve gotta be more like Kip. He is gettin’ with all the fine women.” But to be completely honest, these days I’m feeling more and more like Uncle Rico (the washed-up loser still livin’ in ’82), but the test said Kip so who am I to question it?

Happiness…     is a mowed lawn

Finally, after about 3 months of ragged winter accumulation growth, the lawn finally got cleaned up.

Two things you should definitely check out:

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

Shawn of the Dead