Another New Years Eve...

After my rant on the meaningless nature of New Year's Eve celebrations (thank you all who commented), David and I ended up going nearby to his friend Fran's place for a quiet party with some other local folks. Someone suggested that we watch an old Joan Crawford movie that they'd rented, Queen Bee, and I had great fun making "Mystery Science Theater 3000" commentary throughout. Never having been much of a Crawford fan, it was easy to make fun of her Cinnabon hair style, the troweled on makeup, and the way the camera centered on Joan whenever she was in a scene. For those who have never seen the movie (and I don't recommend it), Crawford plays a vicious, domineering southern matron who revels in her power to demean those around her. She, in classic Hollywood style, gets her comeuppance in the end. The reviews I read the next day noted that Crawford's character was felt to be surprisingly close to her real life persona (see Mommie Dearest).

On the whole, I would have been just as happy spending the evening home sans Joan....

Lord of the (Onion) Rings

Well, I've done it. Have now seen the last of the three Lord of the RIngs movies. Unlike some of my more Tolkien-addicted friends, I didn't get all teary eyed at the end of the picture. Yet, overall, I thought it was excellent, probably the best of the three films. Clearly one of those movies one must see in a theater. I'd forgotten much of the plot line of the LOTR books and didn't recall how many violent battles occurred towards the end. David, who'd never read the books nor seen the prior pictures seemed to enjoy the film regardless although I'm sure lost some of the more complex plot threads (and there are a LOT of those).

I suspect this movie will stay with me for a while for several reasons. Cinematography was superb. It was easy to forget that these places and characters were, in many cases, created using state of the art graphics. Makes one wonder what films will be like in another 10, 20, etc. years. Gimli (the nicely woofy John Rhys-Davies) dryly stating to his battle compatriot, Legolas, after the latter's killing of a group of the enemy riding an elephant-like creature "That only counts as one!". A truly funny line in the middle of a picture that came close to taking itself a bit too serious. And finally, the New Zealand background. Having had the great good fortune to go to NZ this past March, I recalled my feelings that this may be the most beautiful place on the planet that I've ever been. I must get back there one day soon!