The Blog

 I guess this is a movie review, but it started out with me just ruminating on the train...

I don't remember reading Where the Wild Things Are as a kid. I know I must have, because the art is so iconic, and I remember that there was a boy and he was a monster to his family, and he goes to an island and becomes king of the Wild Things, and eventually he returns home. (That much detail probably stuck just because I love any and all Fred-goes-to-an-alternate-world stories. As I've said before, that's my favourite fiction kink.)

But I loved the movie. From the very first scene, it was perfect. There was nothing I wanted changed, and while I don't remember the specifics of any individual illustrations from the book, I felt like at some point during each scene the characters must have been perfectly lined up with their illustrated counterparts. Because it just felt right. There wasn't too much talking, rather they were happy to let the characters be silent as they had their adventures, with just the music (and the children's choir and the music was fantastic) to tell the story.

I cried. A lot. Everything Max felt, I felt too, from his anger at his sister and her friends to his sadness at being unable to make everyone happy like he promised. I cried because Jim Henson didn't live to make this movie, though the creature shop did him proud. I cried because I couldn't tell where the animation finished and the puppetry began. I cried because I want to be one of the Wild Things, and I want to go home afterwards and have cake. I cried because I'm old and bitter and I don't want to be.

And that was all right. It's how it's meant to be for the grown ups. I wish I'd brought a little kid with me, just so I would have someone little to hug in the scary parts (not that I'm sorry I brought Gemma, but she's meant to be glomping onto me). Apparently some people are saying the movie isn't appropriate for children, but I really don't buy that. Kids get these things, they know that hurting their friends and being bad is bad, and they relate to Max as much as the grown ups do. Because we all remember times when we were the wild things.

Labels: childrens literature, long live the revolution, movies, review, wild things

A Short Note About Booking Accommodation...

If you reply to my enquiry with:

Dear Catherine,
Thanks for the email.
We do have an Ensuite Cabin with air-con available for the Sat & Sunday nights for a total tariff of $230 for 2 persons.
If you require any further information or wish to made a reservation, please call our helpful reception staff during office hours on our free call number.
Kind regards,
Loneen

Easts Beach Holiday Park Kiama
"Where great memories are a holiday away”

I should not have to reply with:

Dear Loneen,
I was sorry to hear from the helpful reception staff that it's not available after all, as you apparently don't make Sat/Sun night bookings, preferring instead to keep them free for Fri/Sat nights.
Thank you for your time,
Catherine

Honestly, Easts Beach? That's just cruel, and what the hell? You don't want my business? Even though the cabin is available and empty? On the off-chance that someone else might want it on both Friday and Saturday night?

Fine.

There are plenty of other places around there that actually want my money. I'll stay at one of them, I'm sure the customer service will be better.

To prove that there's more to life than complaining, have a couple more fics to read:

• His Dark Materials: The Teethmarks of Time by Thevina - Will's life after the adventures of the books. Poignant, it made me cry.
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: Like Love in the Movies by Jan - "In which Kyon's life becomes an indie movie. Sort of." Love it. Kyon's voice is just perfect, I love the way he shrugs off all the weirdness around him.
• Titanic: The Last Dance by shewhoguards - The band played on.

Labels: easts beach holiday park, haruhi suzumiya, holiday, kiama, long live the revolution, my pagerank is higher than yours and I'm not afraid to use it, review, urge to kill rising, yuletide

 Trying to Post Regularly...

I had a train of thought, but then I lost it...

I ordered the final set of the CLAMP in 3-D land toys this morning. They might arrive before Christmas if I'm lucky: one more present to open. :) I might even catch up on photographing them then.

I've got a draft of my yuletide fic, but I really dislike it and will be either scrapping it or doing a full rewrite tonight. I've only got three days to go, eep!

I've also realised I have entirely too many "draft" posts in blogger, usually consisting of a link that I intend but never manage to post at a later moment. So I'm going through the vault to see what can be rescued and posted over the next couple of days.

• "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek" - a terrible song by The Go Go's, who apparently never grasped the finer points of grammar. One wonders if that was any influence on their "success". (Also, it means I get to use my 'daleks' tag again. I don't even remember why I have that.)
• DDR: The Musical - I love the idea of this so very much, even if the reviews say it's crap and the pictures are pretty WTF, because shitty Japanese techno makes me happy.
  (Curiously, the thought of an actual revolution through dance brings back bad memories from reading "The Worst Band in the in Universe"--GBase, I love everything you do, but that book was lame.)
• Bee Gees keep you Stayin' Alive - Heh, it turns out the song is just right for CPR, and you're more likely to save someone if you sing along in your head.

Labels: christmas, daleks, damn you CLAMP, DDR, Graeme Base, long live the revolution, miscellany, music, random, yuletide