Today has been a terrible day, which really sucks since it is the first day all week it hasn’t been rainy. Everything that could go wrong has today. I’ll type more about it later.

Right now I’m waiting for Kellie to come pick me up and give me a ride to Philly for this birthday party. I should not be going to it, I have eaten almost nothing today because my stomach has been upset and I’m in a terrible mood.

I have a bad feeling I’ll be breaking my carb free streak tonight, just like last Friday/weekend.

Dustin

Quickly snapped this last night when all three were on the couch together. I was working on the PC, which is why my laptop is to the side.

And before I get questions, here are the answers. The comforter was originally put on the couch so I could cover up in the cold winter while watching TV or movies. The dogs have unfortunately taken it over, and is smells like them. Yes I wash it, but within two days it smells like them. It does absorb their stinky smell so they smell less, so I can’t complain. The towel draped over the back of the couch was to put over a heating pad for when I get migraines. Unfortunately Nikko chewed up the heating pad. That reminds me, I need to buy a new one.

Dustin

So I just got back from “Superman Returns” and these are my thoughts, without spoiling any of the film.

The plot, for those who don’t know, goes like this. Superman has been missing for five long years, he up and left the building without so much as saying goodbye. He left to search out the remnants of his home planet of Krypton, which some astronomers discovered five years ago. After doing so, he returns. Clark Kent has also been gone, he went on a world trip to find himself. In his absence Lois Lane has had son who is now five (hmmmmmm) and has had a long engagement to Richard White, nephew of Perry White the editor in chief of the Daily Planet. Lois seems a bit bitter that Superman up and left, she’s won a Pulitzer for her editorial “Why The World Doesn’t Need Superman.” Of course when Lois actually does need Superman is when he reappears to the world. Oh yeah, Lex Luthor is out of jail and trying to take over the world and all that stuff.

What I liked . . . .

The opening credits: They have been kept the same as the old Superman films. Not that credits matter that much, but it was a nice touch.

John Williams’ Score: Both the original “Superman Theme” as well as “Can You Read My Mind (Lois and Superman’s Love Song)” have been kept. VERY IMPORTANT! Superman just isn’t Superman without these two songs.

Brandon Routh as Superman/Clarke Kent: Overall I really liked Brandon. It doesn’t hurt that he looks a lot like Christopher Reeves and looks great in the suit. I think they made a good choice casting a relatively unknown. To have cast someone huge in the role probably would have been a major mistake. Routh does a good job acting wise as well. He REALLY has Clarke Kent down pat. Superman? Well, we’ll discuss that later.

Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor: Nobody can fill Gene Hackman’s place in this role, but Kevin does a great job. He looks like Lex Luther and has the character down well. The one thing this Lex Luthor lacks is a sense of humor, which Gene’s version had.

Parkey Posey as Miss Kitty: It’s Parker Posey, what’s not to love? My only complaint is she wasn’t given more of a role. She should have been the comedic role in this film, and she was to an extent. They should have used her more.

What I didn’t like . . .

Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane: I really haven’t seen her in anything else, so I can’t comment on her skills as an actress overall. Was she terrible in the film? No. The problem is she just WASN’T Lois Lane. Filling Margot Kidders shoes is not an easy role, this becomes apparent. Lois is not a funny/sarcastic character in this film, she’s pretty much a pissed of jilted ex and acts the part. Honestly, in this film Kate bares a striking resemblance to Holly Marie Combs character Piper on “Charmed.” I kept feeling as if I was watching Piper trying to play Lois Lane.

Dark/Depressed Superman: Not only is Superman’s suit a dark off color, so is his character. I am guessing this is how the role was written, but it takes away a big something from the movie. While I liked Routh, his Superman just isn’t a very happy one. Christopher Reeves had that smile and cracked jokes while clobbering the villains (“Good Vibrations?”). Don’t expect that here. Don’t expect Superman to talk much at all, another thing that annoyed me. For the star of the movie, Superman had the least lines it seemed looking back.

The Plot: Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of action in the film and some good touching scenes. However after you’ve left the theater and think about it, the plot is generally weak when you compare it to the original two Superman films. Superman returns, Lex Luthor tries to conquer the world, Superman saves the day. Sure a few twists are thrown in, but Lex doesn’t come off as much of a master criminal as in previous films (ala the holograms in the cells).

Would I see it again? Yes, probably in Imax 3D over in Philly. It’s a long movie though, 2 hours and 37 minutes. Don’t take a drink in with you, you’ll have to leave to pee otherwise.

Now I come to that part where I must chastise stupid movie goers. Yes, your kids are adorable and I’m sure they are your pride and joy. However they cease to be adorable at all when you bring them to the movies. If you know your baby cries in movies or your toddler can’t sit still and won’t shut up, LEAVE THEM AT HOME.

“What’s that?”
“Is that Superman?”
“Look a Doggy!”
“Look a house!”
“Who is that?”
*Coughing Fit*

After forty five minutes of this the mother finally took the kid and left, leaving the father with another older kid to finish the film. Thank God that was the end of that. Oh wait, no it’s not.

RING RING RING

“Yeah we still here, okay we’ll see you later.”

Yes, annoying children AND annoying cellphone usage from the same damn family! Unbelievable! I honestly feel when movie theaters show that “Please silence your cell phones” message before the movies they should also have a “Please take your children out of the theater if they cry or cannot be quiet” message as well. Movies are no longer cheap so If I’m gunna go, I’m not going to listen to your cell phone conversations or your children. Shocking I know!

Dustin

No this time it’s not Britney Spears . . . it’s Jessica Simpson!. I think Jessica needs a “Holiday.”

Dustin

For some unknown reason I’ve decided to aim for an 11amish showing of “Superman Returns” tomorrow. I liked the bit I saw of Supes fighting the plane at the opening of the movie, so I figured what the heck. If I hate it then I’m out about 6 bucks. If I go I’ll be sure to post my thoughts. We’ll see though, there is a good chance I won’t be making it. If it’s raining in the morning I’ll probably wake up with a headache.

A new trailer is out for “Spiderman 3” on quicktime.com. This movie looks really good, much better than “Superman Returns.”

Last night we started watching this Russian vampire flick “Night Watch.” Got maybe 45 minutes into it and started falling asleep. Very weird, but interesting so far. It’s like “The Matrix” meets “Underworld.” If I can stay awake long enough I’ll finish the rest tonight.

Dustin

PS, since my friends keep asking, I haven’t had the webcam on much lately because I’ve been feeling lousy when I wake up. My allergies are flaring up, my eyes constantly water and I look like I’m dying from some disease when I’m on the cam.

Author JK Rowling has announced that she will kill off two characters in the last Harry Potter book!

Noooooooooo! Most people expect Harry to be killed, don’t do it JK! Don’t kill Harry palease! I don’t want some sad ending to a series I have loved all this time. I think one of the deaths will be Voldemort for sure. The other? Possibly one of the other kids, though Snape might be more fitting. I have a feeling though Snape is going to turn out to be the unlikely hero of the whole series and the next headmaster of Hogwarts, though that should go to Mcgonagall.

Your thoughts?

Dustin

Here in the northeast it has been raining a lot, a whole lot. Not as much as back home in Virginia, where my mom informs me the creek down the street has flooded and is making it’s way up the hill. It has been raining a lot here though. In our extended ten day forecast, there are only two days that will be without rain, and only one of them which is a sunny day. The 4th of July looks to be very wet this year in Philadelphia. I don’t know if it is the rain or what, but I am so tired. I have felt like I’m going to fall asleep since about 3pm this afternoon. I didn’t dare take a nap as it would keep me up even later tonight, and I am going to start trying to go to bed at more decent hours.

Tonight I am watching this new ABC Family drama “Kyle XY.” I am not that impressed so far. I am actually annoyed by the way the whole thing is narrated. *update* Later on it actually got a little more interesting. I liked the previews for the rest of the season too. I’ll probably tune in again next week. If you missed it there is an encore on Friday.

This weekend I am attending a friends birthday party. It will be . . . interesting. She is actually a friend of a friend, but I like her a lot. The party is at a pier bar in Philly. For those who don’t know these are bar/clubs/restaurants on Delaware Ave which sit on the old piers. These is usually referred to as “Frat Boy Row” by many people. I have previously been to this bar with them before, though we didn’t stay too long. By time they cleared the dinner tables out to make way for the “dance floor” we scrammed. This time we will probably be there a bit longer. We also scrammed when the Jersey and South Philly girls with their big hair showed up, scary! I can safely say this ISN’T my type of place to be hanging out, but oh well. My one friend Jen will have her new boy there, and Kellie will be there too. I have a feeling Kellie may be on the prowl for men. They are the two I know the best, the other people I would more or less call acquaintances from hanging out with Jen. I’ll be sure to take my camera and take photos 🙂

Dustin

Well unfortunately my diet got blown to hell this weekend. With having to go to Philly without having had dinner on Friday, and then having friends take me out to lunch on Saturday in exchange for a favor, I lost all will control. It’s much easier to stay on a diet when you can eat in your home! Yes I could have had stronger will power and had salads, I didn’t though. Oh well.

Today I watched the remake of “The Hills Have Eyes.” Okay let me rephrase that, I FF through most of the remake. I got to the point were I couldn’t stand it, it was all gore and just eww. There was no story, shocker there. I would have turned it off though I wanted to see how it ended, not that I didn’t already know seeing it was a remake.

Tonight I cleansed my mental palate with “Pretty Woman.” Not that it is an intellectual film at all, but it’s the total opposite of “The Hills.”

This coming week “Superman Returns” hits the theaters. Now I love superhero films, probably because I always loved watching “The Superfriends” as a kid. However I just don’t find myself excited about this film. It’s being shown in Imax 3d in Philly, so I’ll see it just for that experience. Otherwise I find myself much rather wanting to go see “The Devil Wears Prada.” Almost all of my girlfriends have read the book, maybe I need to read it first too?

A final note on movies, for those horror buffs out there check out the trailers for “The Descent” and “The Night Caller.” Both of these you can find at quicktime.com. “The Night Caller” is actually by Armistead Maupin, who wrote the gay classics “Tales From The City.”

Dustin

The last two days have been crazy. Running from Jersey to Philly, meeting people, waiting for people etc. I haven’t much time to do what I need to do, let alone think about a blog post. Therefore I’m passing on a time killer I found over at Aravis’ Blog. For your viewing please The 100 Awesome Music Video’s Page/ I don’t agree with a lot of what he has up there, but it’s his list. The comments he makes on the video’s are pretty good, for example the one for Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield” is right on. It was known as the booby shake video in my house. Don’t miss the Village People video, it makes the Crucified video I posted a few days ago seem like a masterpiece. Meanwhile, I’m going to go watch Kelly Watch The Stars again, and I’m willing to bet it will mesmerise you as well. Oh, you must also watch the Kidz Bop video, I think someone may have had an accident in their pants there!

Dustin

Fond childhood memories . . . or more torture?

By the way, pay attention to one of the key words in the opening. Yeah, I think the writers were on some of that. Don’t forget to wave to Spiderman!

Be grateful I didn’t post 1 2 3 4 5, 6 7 8 9 10, ELEVEN TWELVE! It was an option!

Dustin