Beowulf and the Third Wheel

Watched Beowulf last night. I think that they had to push the visual aspect of the movie so much because the storyline is just pretty weak. As interpretations go, it's kind of what I would expect- there's been a greater push to show Grendel as some sort of victim in literature these days, which is perhaps just as bad a stereotype as the stuff that was originally written about him. There was some ludicrous addition of sex and magic to give credence to the amount of visual effects being used. The cyclical nature of the whole story was kind of cool, but there was just not enough plot going on. And for some reason, Beowulf's spine always seems to be flexing forward under the weight of his massive pectorals.

There were some fun points: the drinking songs of the Geats and Danes were impressively foul-mouthed, and Wiglaf's ride over the burning bridge would have been massively beautiful in any other film.

The altered nature of the shots is kind of... underwhelming when I think too much about it. Yes, they were glorious and perfectly lined up, but they were constructed. There was no skill in working with the scene to make the shot happen in a real situation: it was all put together later and then they could pick and choose. In such a situation, even a bad film maker could really get into the process and make a movie that takes your breath away.

I kind of hope the genre stops. It worked for Sin City, it worked sort of for Beowulf, but there was no point for it to even exist in Beowulf. There was just nothing going on that needed it.

Roomie watch 2008: I was subjected to yet another 3 am heart to heart between Roomie and on/off boyfriend, in which they both reiterated points from every previous conversation on the subject of their relationship that I have ever been been forced to overhear. They tend to get carried out at full volume, too. It's making me both annoyed and slightly jealous. I want sleep! I want a designated snuggle person!

Gah. Screw this. I am off to take my test.

Final final.

I just did my last final for this semester.
MOTHERFUCKER.
It was not that bad. In fact, it was not really bad at all. There was one essay that I was so incredibly prepared for that my brain kind of exploded. The other was a passage interpretation. It was fairly easy, though I'm not vouching for a great grade in something that I have to write in German in under two hours.

But, hey, I did it! I have no idea what to do in celebration. I'm thinking a nice lunch. Or something like that. Maybe trying to go back to my room and sleeping, since that's something I have no been doing in a long ass time.

Submission for Day 3 is coming along. But I am hungry and there is a whole slew of day left, so I am going to get to work on that later.

Day 3: Pre-Show Jitters

Day 3

Genevieve squealed. “Oh, my god. Is that George Clooney?”
The rest of the group perked up immediately. A couple even moved towards the curtain to try and find him in the crowd.

“I’m going to die.” groaned Evangeline and promptly sat down. Only the timely intervention of two of her fellow singers saved her from landing on the floor. Gina plucked The Fedora, symbol of Evangaline’s leadership as musical director of the Nosferatu, off Eva's head and carefully placed it on the couch next to its owner. Against Eva’s red dress, her normally bronzed skin was blanched and sickly-looking. Sarah S, who’d also moved in to help guide Eva to a safe seat, went to fetch her a bottle of sparkling mineral water of some egregiously expensive variety provided by the misguided generosity of the sponsors and alumnae of the A Capella Performing Arts Council.

Eva, with her head between her knees, looked slightly less pale on the expensive leather couch. It was one of three strewn tastefully about the ‘green area’- a pre-show prep area that was only enclosed on three sides and not quite a room. It was enough off-stage for getting in and out of clothes and make-up before you went on. For all its missing wall, it was still lush with mirrors and soft lighting and small trays of gourmet snack food. Not that anyone could stand to eat right now, but the thought was appreciated. Right now the mirrors just reflected back the group of eleven red-draped young women back and forth until it was they made up a mass greater than the crowd outside


Jamila’s head popped up at the minor commotion across the room, but it was clearly being handled, so she ignored it. She was going over her notes again aloud.


“Legs, then Bruiser and Killer.. no! Start with the group’s name, then you, then the Boss, Legs, Lady, Einstein, Rocky, Sax, Lolita, the Russian, Spider-Man and the Boy-then get to Killer and Bruiser and talk about how they’re skipping their honeymoon to be here. Okay, that’s everyone, then the first song…” Jamila’s muttering decreased in volume as she started to worry her the hem of her sheer crimson skirt with her fingernails. It was going to be half hour slot on an a capella themed concert for Hollywood celebrities and Jamilla was doing the introductions-anxiety radiated off her
in waves. Someone put a hand on her shoulder and she jerked.


“Oh, Latifah. Fuck, you scared me.” Latifah gave Jamilla a look that told her Latifah’s opinion of that kind of language, and disengaged Jamilla’s hands from the dress. Jamilla found herself scooped up into a high powered everything-will-be-fine, pre-show megahug that ended up with
her earring stabbing Latifah’s cleavage.

“Ow!”
“Sorry!”
“It’s cool- I have boobs of steel, it’s one of my superpowers.” Latifah mocked a grave expression. “I just wanted to tell you, that you are going to do great tonight. So you can just chill, Jill Shakespeare. You’ll do fine.”
“Thanks, Spidey.”
“No prob. And really, you’ll be fine.”


A new voice broke in. The stage manager shrieked: “Two minutes, ladies!”
“Thank you, Two minutes!” chorused the closest girls, and the call was repeated until everyone in the way back had heard and thanked the wave before them. The stage manager gave them a look that said they were all crazy.


“All right then!” Evangeline strode to the front of the room, The Fedora on her brow and a challenging look in her eyes. “Let’s do this!” It was clear to everyone there that the Boss was back in form.