Category Archives: Movies

elf/human missing link found

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Ch'yeah, maybe not the missing link. I hope they take those to the drycleaner before returning them.No, it’s totally, totally true and on scientific websites and everything, so suck it unbelievers! I bet you didn’t even clap for Tink!

Alert TORn!!!

It appears that elves may be descended from humans, which kinda throws a wrench into all my Tengmar-speaking friends’ philosophies (yes, I have friends who email only in the Elvish languages of Middle Earth, and further, will not email those who only email in the Elvish languages of the Undying Lands, and no, I am not kidding; where do you think I got this strong an opinion about fandom?). Still, I have candid shots of me frightening Viggo Mortensen, so they’ll cut me a fair bit of slack.

Dr. Charles’ science blog, which I am devastated to learn does not belong to a certain Dr. Charles Dexter Ward who, after all, graduated from his course of study prior to the founding of Yale, reports that preliminary findings indicate that the missing genetic link between elves and humans has been isolated.

It’s not as straightforward as some evidence would lead us to conclude.

C'mon Aragorn, do it for me.

Remember pixies, elves, and the wee folk of legend? They were generally small, musical characters with playful natures, given to singing and dancing. In the Scandinavian folklore, elves were so musically inspired that they could dance a man to death. Were these diminutive characters originally inspired by real humans who carried a genetic variation, namely a deletion of the elastin gene that produces humans of short stature, elfin features, and intense emotional responses to music?

NPR recently ran a story on Williams Syndrome. They profiled a young man who became an excellent drummer, but who struggled in many other developmental areas such as measured IQ, fine and gross motor skills, and attention. His mother noticed that he was unusually sensitive to music as an infant. For example, the child was moved to tears by a Brahms lullaby. He possessed many of the characteristic physical features of Williams Syndrome (WS) which usually include a small upturned nose, long philtrum (upper lip length), wide mouth, full lips, small chin, puffiness around the eyes, and a prominent “starburst” or white lacy pattern on the iris of the eyes.

*runs to mirror*

I'll hold your sword for you, baby!

halloween costume of the year

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Alex P. Keaton and his dream dateThere was a lot of competition for this year’s top spot. The Malcolm Gladwell, being Canadian, enjoyed home team advantage, as did the Alex P. Keaton. The Tara Reid, we imagine, was popular with a certain set (an unmatched, lopsided set), and looking around the Downtown Eastside it seemed clear to me that the most popular costumes by far were the Novelty Whore and the Hipster. Unfortunately, as this is the Downtown EastSide, nobody looked as if they were in costume; everyone here dresses like an extra from Hedwig and the Angry Inch anyway. Boys, if you’re dressed like Bing Crosby, you’re not in costume. Girls, if you’re dressed like the girl in a Benny Hill sketch and you’re on East Hastings, you’re not in costume, you’re in mufti (muff-ti?). But it certainly was amusing to watch the confused looks on all those women’s faces when the guys in the cars would try to strike a deal. That’ll teach you to wait for the light at Cordova and Columbia, missy!

But finally, we have a winner. Here, via BoingBoing, is the bestest little Halloween costume ever.

a tadpole of the Elder Gods

PSA: extras for the Battle in Seattle

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“Battle in Seattle”, an independent film about to go into production in the Vancouver area, is seeking activists with a passion for taking it to the streets when the cameras are rolling. Based on one of the most incendiary political uprisings in a generation, Battle in Seattle takes an in-depth look at the five days that rocked the world in 1999 as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in protest of the World Trade Organization. The film was written and will be directed by Stuart Townsend and will star Charlize Theron as a pregnant bystander who loses her baby during the riot.

We are offering an incentive of $12 a head to grassroots organizations who can provide us with a group, the hope being that that money can be of benefit to their community and cause. We need a great number of background performers, and would like to have as diverse a group, in ethnicity, age, gender and background as we can find.

The scene that needs the most people will be shooting on the weekend of November 4th and ideally, we would like to have a pool of extras we can call on throughout November. All food is provided, and we will be shooting almost entirely on weekends.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of the production of a film that will tell a story of profound global importance, a story the mass media suppressed and a story that is itself a movement for cultural transformation. We deeply appreciate your participation.

Feel free to forward this poster to all who might want to be included.

Best regards,
Tatiana
Battle In Seattle Productions
tachijacobsen@gmail.com

Follow up:

At last, I have received the schedule.

We need extras the 4th, 5th, 6th, 25th and 27th of November, The biggest days are the 25th and 27th, with the 27th (which is, inconveniently, a Monday) needing 150 people. Even if you can only get people for one or two days (prioritizing the big ones if possible) that will still get the incentive, and be a great help to us.

Carnival of Souls: the penultimate Halloween video

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If only, if only I could have this video tonight.

Instead I shall make do with The Toxic Avenger and Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, which at least has a lovely and gratuitous ass shot of Viggo Mortensen as Tex. The apron scene is a must-see as well.

[ youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY7lOYrnhBI ]

Oh, fine. Be that way.

Made in 1962 on an extremely low budget, Herk Harvey’s classic CARNIVAL OF SOULS has become legendary for its ability to create a tensely creepy atmosphere with virtually no special effects. A young woman (Candace Hilligoss) is involved in a car crash when her car falls off a bridge while drag racing with some friends. After she pulls herself from the river, she moves to a new town to take a job as a church organist. Meanwhile, a distinctly eerie and hollow-faced man seems to be following her wherever she goes, while an abandoned lakeside amusement park beckons her with an almost gravitational pull. The effective organ score enhances the film to great effect, as do the bleak landscapes of Utah’s salt flats. Of course, the colorization ruins everything that I just said.

And there’s also this Roy Orbison music video with scenes from the movie. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it, do.

Elvira at 80

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Stole this from the Stripper Blog, which I recommend for casual browsing, and yes, it’s SFW, regardless of what WordPress currently says about it.

Elvira at 80