coming soon to a theatre near you

I thought I'd share some trailers for some of the movies I'm looking forward to seeing.

In case you cared.

Vantage Point
Juno
The Dark Knight
Billy the Kid
In Bruges
Pride and Glory

conversations in my mind

Upon observing my daughter's hair sticking out in a million directions after having her toque removed:

Me: Ha....nice hair, kid. You look like Alfred Einstein.

(pause)

Self: ...?
Me: What?
Self: Did you just say....ALFRED....Einstein?
Me: ....Maybe.
Self: You're an idiot.
Me: Yes....Yes I am.

broken hearted hoover fixer sucker guy

Saturday night in my household generally tends to be a rather boring affair. The common practice is to curl up on the couch after the baby is in bed and catch up on some television shows that have been recorded on the PVR over the course of the week. However, given the writer's strike, most of the programs I watch are off the air or in repeats. We also cancelled the movie channel a few weeks back to save a few bucks, so I ended up doing something I haven't done very often in the past year or so. I went to the video store to rent a movie.

Although somewhat hesitant to admit it, when I left the house last night, my intention was to pick up Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. While that my seem normal to many who may read this, there are other's who are likely saying to themselves, "Duuuuuude. Noooo."

But I have my reasons. I saw the first Fantastic Four, so right there it almost requires me to see the sequel. Also, as many know, I'm a big comic book geek from back in the day, so to not see a big budget superhero film, regardless of anticipated lameness, is almost sacrilege.

Anyway....I got to the video store, and sure enough, they had a copy available. I snatched it up in my right hand and before heading to the checkout desk, had a quick look at what else was on the shelves. And that's when I saw it. Once. Being the type of guy who turns to the entertainment section of the newspaper and throws out the sports section, and watches shows like Ebert and Roeper, I was familiar with the low-budget musical that had received a fair amount of critical acclaim this year. I reached out with my left hand and plucked it off the shelf.

So there I stood, pretty much alone in front of a library of new releases at the local video store/laundromat/dry cleaner. In one hand, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. In the other, Once. I knew my wife was waiting at home, expecting me to return with the former, and that she very well might enjoy it more than the latter. But I also knew that I had really enjoyed the previews I had seen for Once, and although it was being dubbed a "musical", a term which will normally send me running from a movie screaming like a frightened schoolgirl, I couldn't put it back on the shelf. So I had a dilemma, because I knew I couldn't get both. (You see, once you have a baby, if you can stay up past 11pm, you've taken performance enhancing drugs. Seriously.) If I rent the big budget superhero flick over the low budget personal musical, will I be able to look at myself in the mirror. Will I be able to show my face to others? Will I irreparably damage my cinesoul and unbalance my box office karma? Can I afford that?

I could not, and so I put Fantastic Four back on the shelf and didn't look back. And while my wife may tell you now that she regrets that decision, I certainly do not.

Once is a brilliant little film that is certainly deserving of the accolades it has received. If you love (good) music, you will love this movie. The songs are simply mesmerizing and beautifully performed. The lead, Glen Hansard of The Frames is someone who I was completely unfamiliar with before now, but he gives a simple and wonderful performance. The other lead, Marketa Irglova is similarly enchanting with a lovely voice, and watching the chemistry between the two, it is hard to avoid a smile creeping onto your face. The dialogue is minimal and real and honest, and the real story is told through the music. This morning, my first task was to download the soundtrack off of iTunes.

I can't speak to Fantastic Four, because I haven't seen it. But I certainly recommend that the next time you're in the video store, to take a chance on this little movie. If you don't enjoy it, and the music doesn't move you, then go out and buy the latest Kevin Federline album. You deserve each other.

the destiny

A little while back I put this picture on my desktop as wallpaper. It's a picture of some nebula that I stumbled upon while....well...using StumbleUpon. I rather liked it because it reminded me of the Eye of Jupiter symbolism which plays a major part of my favourite television program, Battlestar Galactica. It's a symbol woven into the fabric of the story and seems to be connected to Kara "Starbuck" Thrace's so-called "special destiny`".

My 14 month old daughter, Alex, seems to particularily enjoy the picture. Every time I turn the computer on and she sees the image, she stares at it, then looks at me, and says "Wow!" This has been going on for weeks. She doesn't seem to get tired of it. I like to think now that perhaps my own little princess has her own "special destiny".

But then I suppose, every father thinks that about his little girl, eh?

Related: A little Starbuck fanvid goodness....

coooooooooooool

from Quantum Mechanix (anyone looking for XMAS ideas for yours truly? :P)

missing: common sense

22 Minutes on Cst. Chris Garrett

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amber alert

News out of my hometown of Sudbury, ON:

"Police in Sudbury, Ont., have issued an Amber Alert for a newborn girl they allege was taken from a hospital by an unidentified woman wearing clothing that made it appear she was on staff.

Police in Sudbury, Ont., have released this image of a woman in connection with the Amber Alert issued Thursday afternoon after a baby girl was taken from St. Joseph's hospital.
(Greater Sudbury Police Service)

Investigators said the woman, who is not related to the child, walked out of the St. Joseph site of the Sudbury Regional Hospital with the infant at around 1 p.m. ET Thursday.

The baby is described as Caucasian, with dark hair and bruising on her face. She was wearing a white flannel hospital gown and was wrapped in a white blanket.

Police described the woman as aboriginal, five-foot-six, slim and between 26 and 30 years old.

She was wearing white pants, a white V-neck shirt and a black sweater, and had her black hair in a ponytail.

The woman's clothing appeared similar to garb staff would wear on a daily basis, said Sudbury police Const. Bert Lapalme

"Anyone looking at the picture will understand that this suspect wanted to make believe to the people in the hospital that she was staff,” Lapalme told CBC News. "The suspect's appearance … could easily fool a number of people."

Investigators said she may have boarded a city bus.

Sudbury hospital officials said the facility has been locked down, meaning no one is allowed in or out, while more than 100 police officers were canvassing the area.

"We have officers scouring the city," Lapalme said."

-via cbc.ca

Update: (2007/11/01 22:00)

"A newborn girl allegedly illegally taken from a Sudbury, Ont., hospital has been located and is safe, police said Thursday night.

An infant was the subject of a nationwide Amber Alert after she was taken from the Sudbury Regional Hospital.

Police ended the alert about five hours later, saying the child had been found in Kirkland Lake, 300 kilometres north of Sudbury.

A woman is in custody."