House of Swank

State Memories: Hawaii

Why yes, I did celebrate my honeymoon on the island of Kauai.  And no, my state memory of Hawaii did not take place that week.  It was a wonderful week, but there isn't that one, iconic memory of the week that separates itself from the rest.

I first visited Hawaii the summer of 1982, so that means I would have been 10 years old.  It was my grandfather's wish that my family take a vacation there after he died.  So we did.

We were staying in a condo right on the beach in Kauai.  There were a bunch of other families with kids the same age as me and my brother staying in the condos as well, and we all sort of banded together and hung out.  My brother had a "girlfriend" named Julie.  I had a huge crush on her brother, Joel.

There was a rainy spell, if memory serves, and Greg and Julie talked my dad into taking them to see a movie.  Blade Runner to be exact (I am surmising the date of our trip based on the release date of the movie. I could be off a year or so, but I don't think I am).  I wanted to be in on the fun as well.  And I'd never gotten to see a rated R movie before.  So I gathered all the courage I had and asked my parents if I could go, too.  Surprisingly enough, they said YES!  In questioning my parents about this decision after the fact they my dad basically let me know he said yes because he didn't want to have to sit alone in the movie theater.  But hey, rated R movie!  When you're 10 this is a HUGE deal.

And thus my life continued without incident.

It wasn't until 15 years later that the memory truly reached iconic status for me.  I was single in Seattle and had a date with some guy I'd met somehow.  We were going to go out to dinner and then to see the 15th anniversary director's cut of the film at Cinerama.  It was a dud of a date, but I remember watching the movie.  I couldn't remember any of the plot specifics from my earlier viewing, but the images and the mood definitely resonated.  And I spent the whole movie thinking "Good god, I cannot believe my parents let me watch this movie 15 years ago.  And I can't believe I escaped from it unscarred.  That is some disturbing stuff going on."

But see it I did.  My first rated R movie.  And a continuation in the love affair with Harrison Ford.

Wake Me On Wednesday

Happy Election Day!

What may be one of my least favorite days of the quadrennial. 

I mean, it's cool that we're going to be getting some new guys and gals in power and all, and I'm actually a little bit hopeful that many of the guys and gals I want to be in power will be when all is said and done, but the pomp and circumstance of announcing that just really annoys me.

I blame it on 2000.  I was home sick from work that day, and spent it sleeping off whatever it was I had.  Woke up just in time for the early election returns to start trickling in.  And somewhere around 2 or 3 am realized I had to be at work the next day, so it would be best to get to sleep right around then.  A painful experience all the way around.

So in 2004 I started a new tradition - election night is now movie night in the SwankPoet household.  We can go catch a show in naive bliss for a few hours, and when we get home there's a chance we really won't have missed anything, because the outcome is still as up in the air as it was before the polls opened.  We saw Ray that year, it was a really good movie.

For a while there I was thinking 2008 might be different.  There is less likelihood of a close race, and more likelihood of celebration.  But just to hedge our bets, a movie seemed like a safe choice.  Our choice of movies was somewhat limited this year, as we limited ourselves to the shows playing in the Living Room Theaters (21+ with leather recliners!) at our favorite theater.  W is not going to help me in my escapist fantasy, and a movie whose description includes the sentence "As she pushes authorities to keep looking, she learns that in Prohibition-era L.A., women don't challenge the system and live to tell their story." isn't the right pick either.  So we're going for Zack and Miri Make a Porno.  It's Kevin Smith!  And it's supposed to be good!  And even bad Kevin Smith (Jersey Girl) will get my mind off election night for a couple of hours.

The correctness of the decision to go ahead with election movie night was reinforced yesterday.  As people were all aflutter about the fact that in a mere 30 hours results would start trickling in.  At least one of the local news casts will start their coverage at 3 pm, one hour before Virginia's poll closes.  And remember, Virginia is one of the swing states this year, so imagine how much droning they will do about whatever those results may be.

Ugh.

Aging Gracefully

Just got back from seeing the movie Young@Heart.

I thought it would be a fun couple of hours watching senior citizens sing punk rock songs.

It was that and so much more.

I laughed, I cried, I promised my Sweetie that when we retire we can move to Northampton, MA, so that he can join the choir.

It really is a movie you should go see. 

First, you WILL be entertained.  Because it is impossible to not be entertained watching a room of septuagenarians and octogenarians learning to sing the song "Schizoprenia" by Sonic Youth.

You will also be inspired.  Because it is impossible to not be inspired while watching seniors suffering from cancer, congestive heart failure and kidney stones (among other things) pushing themselves so they can make it to practice and perform one more time - because they don't want to let their friends in the choir done.  It is impossible to not be inspired when the music director is ready to scrap "Yes We Can" but the choir insists on keeping it in because it's such a great song, and they bust their asses to learn the song and they rock it.

You will also be touched.  Because if the performance of the choir touches the prisoners at the local jail so deeply you can see the emotion on their faces, it will also touch you.

At points during the movie I found myself looking forward to my senior years, because then I could do something cool like be part of the Young@Heart Chorus.  When I'm 92 I want to be the only resident of my nursing home who has a key to the front door because my choir practices keeps me out until after the staff is asleep.

But the point is you've got to live your life now.  And continue living it now.  Making art and making friends and pushing into things that may seem outside of your comfort zone.  Even if what you do isn't perfect, if you do it from the heart it's beautiful and people will love it.

On a side note - any time I see senior citizens out and about I am amazed as to how young and vibrant and alive my parents and my in-laws are.  They all carry their age well.  My Dad's just lucky that Young@Heart is on the opposite side of the country from him, because if they were local I think I'd force him to join.  And I'd tell the director to perform "Do Ya' Think I'm Sexy" by Rod Stewart, and my Dad would be the talk of the town and the hit of the show.

Have We Learned Nothing From The Bee Gees?

Once upon a time there was a movie called "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."  It starred Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees and tells a love story set to Beatles songs.  It's got to be one of the worst movies ever made.  And if you don't believe me, perhaps you will change your mind when you learn that the female love interest's name is Strawberry Fields.

A new movie has come out.  It's called "Across the Universe."  It, also, is a love story set to Beatles songs.  This time the female love interest is Lucy.  The male's is Jude.  There are also a Sadie, JoJo, Prudence, Julia and Mr. Kite thrown in for good measure.

The film has received a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  Part of me wants to turn and run the other way as fast as I can, but much like a car wreck part of me is drawn to it.  The fact that the music seems good, and that T-Bone Burnett was one of the music producers means I'll probably suck it up and see it at some point.  Even though I already know I'll be disappointed.

At least "Sgt. Pepper's" had George Burns.

In Which Life Does Not Imitate Art

The train from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, stops at approximately six stations between the two cities.  Each of those stops is about a minute or two long; precisely long enough for people to get on or off the train.  No dilly-dallying, no waiting, grab your bags and get going.

In Kelso, Washington, there is a waist-high fence that separates people with train tickets standing on the platform from people simply waiting for friends or family to arrive or depart.

As we pulled up to the Kelso station today a ticket-holder was giving a good-bye kiss to his girlfriend.  And wishing her tonsils a fond farewell as well.  They were making out so long that the train had started moving by the time they broke their kiss.  I think the guy was trying to pull one of those moves like you see in the movies, where the fellow runs up to the slowly moving train and hops on board.

But apparently that doesn't work in real life.  So by the time my car was passing him, he was standing there with his hands up in the air, trying to get the train to stop.  Much as someone might try to get a bus to pick them up if they made it to the stop a few seconds too late. 

Didn't work.  Guy might still be at the Kelso train station for all I know.

Good vs. Evil: Documentary Style

Sweetie and I just returned from seeing one of the best documentaries I have ever had the pleasure of seeing as part of the Seattle International Film Festival.  It's called The King of Kong and if you're planning to be in the Seattle area on August 17 you MUST go see the premiere at The Varsity.  Not only because it is a kick-ass movie that you want to see, but also so that the film has a strong enough premiere that it will see wider distribution, and the my friends who aren't in the Seattle area can see it as well.

The premise of the movie is very simple.  It follows one guy's attempt to become the world record holder at the game Donkey Kong.  Which is damn impressive in my eyes, because I always sucked royally at the game.

The hero is Steve Weibe, junior high school science teacher here in Redmond, that's an all-around nice guy who has seen his share of bad luck in his life.

The enemy is Billy Mitchell, a total tool who has been living and breathing video games for the last 25 years.  To the point where his hair and fashion sense got left back in 1982, when he was first declared world champion.

It's the story of the every man vs the machine, with a cast of characters that seem to wacky to be true that you meet along the way.  There's lots of drama and controversy, and it's all over a video game that I haven't thought about in at least 20 years.

It's been compared to other documentaries such as Spellbound or Word Freak, that are also about people trying to achieve champion status in a quirky specialty, but this movie is special because of the nature of the process.  There are spelling bees and crossword competitions every year, so a film maker can decide that would make a good story, and go from there.  The world of competitive video gaming is much more fluid.  Basically, a buddy of Steve's heard about the story at a neighborhood BBQ.  This buddy knew a couple of documentary film makers looking for their next story and pitched it to them.  And they all happened to be at the right place at the right time, to be able to catch it all on film.

I won't say much more, because I don't want to give it all away, but you really do need to see this movie. 

Six Degress of Me

I am a mere two degrees of separation from Morgan Freeman and John Cusack, thanks to a friend of the family.

He's also been in two movies staring Wesley Snipes.  Perhaps this will become a niche for him?

Could be worse; among the top keywords for him on IMDB are:  decapitation, neck breaking scene, person on fire, and undead.  I really wish he'd do more romantic comedies, or period pieces, because it would make going to see his films a lot easier.  Although it was pretty damn cool that he was the first person on screen in Resident Evil, and the first person listed in the credits.

His other niche, at least in the US market, is Discovery Channel re-enactments.  Got news today that he'll be in the show kicking off Shark Week this year.

And to think, I watched MTV with the guy back in junior high.

I'm also, through a different route, two degrees of separation from Annie Leibovitz.  But it appears I don't get to play the IMDB game with her anymore.

The Final Countdown

ALL DONE!  Thanks to everyone who played, and congrats to those who got them right.

Only one movie to go, so I'm making the clues as easy as I can.  Earlier sets of clues here, here, here, here and here.

Here's the deal:  I've picked ten movies, and have gone to IMDB and picked three keywords for each of them.  I'm starting out with the first three keywords to start with, because I'm lazy like that.  You have to guess what movies they are, and if you guess the most you win fame and fortune.

1. Coming of Age, Teen Movie, Psychopath - Heathers (answered by Laurie)
2. Twenty Something, Fictional Band, Grunge - Singles (answered by Jennifer)
3. Rain, Umbrella, Talkie - Singin' in the Rain (answered by Shannin)
4. Author, Internal Revenue Service, Cookie - Stranger Than Fiction (answered by Laurie)
5. Stanley Kubrick, William Tell Overture, Experiment Gone Wrong - A Clockwork Orange (answered by Dad-in-law)
6. London England, Heroin, New York City - Sid and Nancy (answered by Jennifer)
7. Convenience Store Clerk, Sex With The Dead, Ex Girlfriend - Clerks (answered by Jennifer)
8. Scientist, Rebirth, Future - 2001: A Space Odyssey (answered by Alison)
9. Air Base, Ex Nazi, Doomsday Machine - Dr. Strangelove (answered by Jennifer)
10. Classical Music, Hippopotamus, Elephant - Fantasia (answered by Alison)

ALL DONE!  Thanks to everyone who played, and congrats to those who got them right.

Only one movie to go, so I'm making the clues as easy as I can.  Earlier sets of clues here, here, here, here and here.

Here's the deal:  I've picked ten movies, and have gone to IMDB and picked three keywords for each of them.  I'm starting out with the first three keywords to start with, because I'm lazy like that.  You have to guess what movies they are, and if you guess the most you win fame and fortune.

1. Coming of Age, Teen Movie, Psychopath - Heathers (answered by Laurie)
2. Twenty Something, Fictional Band, Grunge - Singles (answered by Jennifer)
3. Rain, Umbrella, Talkie - Singin' in the Rain (answered by Shannin)
4. Author, Internal Revenue Service, Cookie - Stranger Than Fiction (answered by Laurie)
5. Stanley Kubrick, William Tell Overture, Experiment Gone Wrong - A Clockwork Orange (answered by Dad-in-law)
6. London England, Heroin, New York City - Sid and Nancy (answered by Jennifer)
7. Convenience Store Clerk, Sex With The Dead, Ex Girlfriend - Clerks (answered by Jennifer)
8. Scientist, Rebirth, Future - 2001: A Space Odyssey (answered by Alison)
9. Air Base, Ex Nazi, Doomsday Machine - Dr. Strangelove (answered by Jennifer)
10. Classical Music, Hippopotamus, Elephant - Fantasia (answered by Alison)

ALL DONE!  Thanks to everyone who played, and congrats to those who got them right.

Only one movie to go, so I'm making the clues as easy as I can.  Earlier sets of clues here, here, here, here and here.

Here's the deal:  I've picked ten movies, and have gone to IMDB and picked three keywords for each of them.  I'm starting out with the first three keywords to start with, because I'm lazy like that.  You have to guess what movies they are, and if you guess the most you win fame and fortune.

1. Coming of Age, Teen Movie, Psychopath - Heathers (answered by Laurie)
2. Twenty Something, Fictional Band, Grunge - Singles (answered by Jennifer)
3. Rain, Umbrella, Talkie - Singin' in the Rain (answered by Shannin)
4. Author, Internal Revenue Service, Cookie - Stranger Than Fiction (answered by Laurie)
5. Stanley Kubrick, William Tell Overture, Experiment Gone Wrong - A Clockwork Orange (answered by Dad-in-law)
6. London England, Heroin, New York City - Sid and Nancy (answered by Jennifer)
7. Convenience Store Clerk, Sex With The Dead, Ex Girlfriend - Clerks (answered by Jennifer)
8. Scientist, Rebirth, Future - 2001: A Space Odyssey (answered by Alison)
9. Air Base, Ex Nazi, Doomsday Machine - Dr. Strangelove (answered by Jennifer)
10. Classical Music, Hippopotamus, Elephant - Fantasia (answered by Alison)

Take 5

We're over 50% there now!  Earlier sets of clues here, here, here and here.

Here's the deal:  I've picked ten movies, and have gone to IMDB and picked three keywords for each of them.  I'm starting out with the first three keywords to start with, because I'm lazy like that.  You have to guess what movies they are, and if you guess the most you win fame and fortune.

1. Coming of Age, Teen Movie, Psychopath - Heathers (answered by Laurie)
2. Twenty Something, Fictional Band, Grunge - Singles (answered by Jennifer)
3. Rain, Umbrella, Talkie - Singin' in the Rain (answered by Shannin)
4. Author, Internal Revenue Service, Cookie - Stranger Than Fiction (answered by Laurie)
5. London, Dystopic Future, Experiment
6. London England, Heroin, New York City - - Sid and Nancy (answered by Jennifer)
7. Convenience Store Clerk, Sex With The Dead, Ex Girlfriend - Clerks (answered by Jennifer)
8. Scientist, Rebirth, Future
9. Air Base, Ex Nazi, Doomsday Machine - - Dr. Strangelove (answered by Jennifer)
10. Classical Music, Hippopotamus, Elephant

We're over 50% there now!  Earlier sets of clues here, here, here and here.

Here's the deal:  I've picked ten movies, and have gone to IMDB and picked three keywords for each of them.  I'm starting out with the first three keywords to start with, because I'm lazy like that.  You have to guess what movies they are, and if you guess the most you win fame and fortune.

1. Coming of Age, Teen Movie, Psychopath - Heathers (answered by Laurie)
2. Twenty Something, Fictional Band, Grunge - Singles (answered by Jennifer)
3. Rain, Umbrella, Talkie - Singin' in the Rain (answered by Shannin)
4. Author, Internal Revenue Service, Cookie - Stranger Than Fiction (answered by Laurie)
5. London, Dystopic Future, Experiment
6. London England, Heroin, New York City - - Sid and Nancy (answered by Jennifer)
7. Convenience Store Clerk, Sex With The Dead, Ex Girlfriend - Clerks (answered by Jennifer)
8. Scientist, Rebirth, Future
9. Air Base, Ex Nazi, Doomsday Machine - - Dr. Strangelove (answered by Jennifer)
10. Classical Music, Hippopotamus, Elephant

Take 4

Earlier sets of clues here, here and here.  And no, #6 is NOT Trainspotting.  Although it could be.  Even with the changes in clues.  But eventually (round 6, if we last that long) you'll get a clue that PROVES it's not Trainspotting.

Here's the deal:  I've picked ten movies, and have gone to IMDB and picked three keywords for each of them.  I'm starting out with the first three keywords to start with, because I'm lazy like that.  You have to guess what movies they are, and if you guess the most you win fame and fortune.

1. Coming of Age, Teen Movie, Psychopath
2. Twenty Something, Fictional Band, Grunge - Singles (answered by Jennifer)
3. Rain, Umbrella, Talkie - Singin' in the Rain (answered by Shannin)
4. Author, Internal Revenue Service, Cookie
5. London, Dystopic Future, Experiment
6. London England, Heroin, Vulgarity
7. Convenience Store Clerk, Sex With The Dead, Ex Girlfriend - Clerks (answered by Jennifer)
8. Scientist, Rebirth, Future
9. Air Base, Ex Nazi, Doomsday Machine - - Dr. Strangelove (answered by Jennifer)
10. Classical Music, Art Movie, Elephant