Random commentary...
Dec. 15th, 2004 02:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mandolinLots of LJ-cuts here.
Saw "Ocean's 12" this weekend:
First off, I liked the first one better - strictly because it was a hell of a lot more coherent. I realize the disjointed nature of the sequel was partly intentional, though; compared to the first movie, in which everything fell into place so beautifully for the guys, this caper is one in which everything apparently goes wrong. Still, what with all the fake-outs and plot twists, not to mention all the flashbacks they had to resort to (sort of like Clue's multiple "here's what REALLY happened" endings), it reached a point where the "gotcha!" moments were overkill. And the reason they pulled Tess in? Can you SAY gimmicky? Please.
That's not to say it wasn't entertaining as anything. One thing this movie has going for it is that it's a lot more character-based and gives the guys a lot more opportunity to goof around. The bit with Linus's family, while it fell into the category of Yet Another Plot Pretzel, cracked me up. As did Robbie Coltrane's beautifully gibberish-talking cameo, Yen's adventures as missing luggage, Frank's doomed nail-salon addiction, and some of the many little amusing moments. ("Hell in a handbasket." "We'll never be able to train a cat in that amount of time." *snerk*) I did see one of the major revelations coming a mile off - in fact, the moment Isabel mentioned what her father did for a living.
So it wasn't anywhere near as slick as the first, but it was fun. Rent it or go to the second-run theater.
After five days of trying and not enough to show for it, I have decided something: In the event that I have to take a two-class semester, I will be doing so in the spring. Not the fall. There is no WAY that I'm going to have the holiday season coinciding with final exams/papers/projects for TWO classes - unless someone pays for me to finish up my degree full-time without having to work, which I do not foresee happening. So... maybe Spring 2006. (I'm looking to buy a house this spring, so again, one class.)
Man, I used to be able to whip out a six-page paper overnight. I must be losing my touch. Then again, I never had to figure out how to cite the text of a court case found online before. I'm still going to have to write the intro and conclusion, and assuming all three of my other group members will have drafts ready, will have to thread them all into one paper and works cited list. And proofread it. And submit it to turnitin.
By Saturday night.
Paper's due Tuesday, but I will be on a plane on Sunday. I really do not want to have to resort to hijacking my aunt and uncle's computer to desperately try to finish editing and submitting the sucker via turnitin. I don't. I'm sure they'll let me, but the amount of distraction will be such that I won't be able to get any decent edits done.
I don't need a really high grade to get an A for the class, but I need to actually TURN IT IN to pass the class in the first place.
So, yeah, a little stressed out here. At least classes are technically over.
What I'd like to be able to do after the 26th, when I have no classes, no holiday, and more free time til the end of January:
1) SERIOUSLY clean my apartment.
2) Go through my receipts.
3) Go through my clothes and figure out what I'm still wearing, what I never wear and what's going to Goodwill.
4) Update the hint site and the Fic Recs page.
5) SLEEP.
6) Attack my narrow entry hallway with a Magic Eraser. (Note: When I buy a new place, it MUST have some kind of foyer.)
7) Take tai chi again.
8) Relax. I miss that.
Oh, and something else I have learned: When you start to have genuine sympathy for Cinderella's stepsisters, it is time to stop trying to search for a decent pair of shoes for the day. (This is why I buck the stereotype and HATE shopping for shoes...) Monday was great otherwise, Mom. Guess I'll just have to wait til the fashion industry stops being so spike-heel happy. :)
Hopefully, I will be sane by Saturday. I hope.
Saw "Ocean's 12" this weekend:
First off, I liked the first one better - strictly because it was a hell of a lot more coherent. I realize the disjointed nature of the sequel was partly intentional, though; compared to the first movie, in which everything fell into place so beautifully for the guys, this caper is one in which everything apparently goes wrong. Still, what with all the fake-outs and plot twists, not to mention all the flashbacks they had to resort to (sort of like Clue's multiple "here's what REALLY happened" endings), it reached a point where the "gotcha!" moments were overkill. And the reason they pulled Tess in? Can you SAY gimmicky? Please.
That's not to say it wasn't entertaining as anything. One thing this movie has going for it is that it's a lot more character-based and gives the guys a lot more opportunity to goof around. The bit with Linus's family, while it fell into the category of Yet Another Plot Pretzel, cracked me up. As did Robbie Coltrane's beautifully gibberish-talking cameo, Yen's adventures as missing luggage, Frank's doomed nail-salon addiction, and some of the many little amusing moments. ("Hell in a handbasket." "We'll never be able to train a cat in that amount of time." *snerk*) I did see one of the major revelations coming a mile off - in fact, the moment Isabel mentioned what her father did for a living.
So it wasn't anywhere near as slick as the first, but it was fun. Rent it or go to the second-run theater.
After five days of trying and not enough to show for it, I have decided something: In the event that I have to take a two-class semester, I will be doing so in the spring. Not the fall. There is no WAY that I'm going to have the holiday season coinciding with final exams/papers/projects for TWO classes - unless someone pays for me to finish up my degree full-time without having to work, which I do not foresee happening. So... maybe Spring 2006. (I'm looking to buy a house this spring, so again, one class.)
Man, I used to be able to whip out a six-page paper overnight. I must be losing my touch. Then again, I never had to figure out how to cite the text of a court case found online before. I'm still going to have to write the intro and conclusion, and assuming all three of my other group members will have drafts ready, will have to thread them all into one paper and works cited list. And proofread it. And submit it to turnitin.
By Saturday night.
Paper's due Tuesday, but I will be on a plane on Sunday. I really do not want to have to resort to hijacking my aunt and uncle's computer to desperately try to finish editing and submitting the sucker via turnitin. I don't. I'm sure they'll let me, but the amount of distraction will be such that I won't be able to get any decent edits done.
I don't need a really high grade to get an A for the class, but I need to actually TURN IT IN to pass the class in the first place.
So, yeah, a little stressed out here. At least classes are technically over.
What I'd like to be able to do after the 26th, when I have no classes, no holiday, and more free time til the end of January:
1) SERIOUSLY clean my apartment.
2) Go through my receipts.
3) Go through my clothes and figure out what I'm still wearing, what I never wear and what's going to Goodwill.
4) Update the hint site and the Fic Recs page.
5) SLEEP.
6) Attack my narrow entry hallway with a Magic Eraser. (Note: When I buy a new place, it MUST have some kind of foyer.)
7) Take tai chi again.
8) Relax. I miss that.
Oh, and something else I have learned: When you start to have genuine sympathy for Cinderella's stepsisters, it is time to stop trying to search for a decent pair of shoes for the day. (This is why I buck the stereotype and HATE shopping for shoes...) Monday was great otherwise, Mom. Guess I'll just have to wait til the fashion industry stops being so spike-heel happy. :)
Hopefully, I will be sane by Saturday. I hope.
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{{HUGS}}
Date: 2004-12-16 05:40 am (UTC)Actually, what you could probably use is a drop dead gorgeous masuesse and a day at the spa, but I can't send you that, so I hope the hug helps!