If you are wondering where I’ve been, I’ve been doing the SKYRIM thing. That, and sleeping and watching TV. Vacation is a wonderful thing.
Presently, my wife is wrapping presents and I’m watching TMZ.
Why would I want to waste the moment blogging?
Merry almost Christmas, Loyal Reader…
Another fluffy post. Sorry, Loyal Reader, but the SURVIVOR finale is on and it’s like three hours long (including the reunion). Needless to say, I’m busy…
Maybe something more meaningful tomorrow? I saw YOUNG ADULT and it definitely deserves a review. We can always talk some shop – writing stuff, etc…
But for now, forget all that! It’s time for SURVIVOR!!! Heck yes! I still got two Survivors in the running (my wife and I always choose two contestants in the first few weeks and then we ride our horses to victory! I always lose. Fingers crossed one of my picks actually pulls out a win!).
The next time you want to do something and think that you can’t do it, just stop whining, play this song and get to it!
My mama is visiting and I ain’t got time to write. I leave you with these crazy, cool, freaky, brilliant(?), deranged babies!!!
The past few years have been pretty miserable when it comes to deaths and tragedies. Worst of all, I lost my dad. When it happened I had trouble crying and getting it out. I was sort of shocked and numb. It hurt like crazy. After his funeral, pain came prancing in, hitting below the belt, striking me stupid for a few minutes of sobbing. Every few months there it is, but time marches on. We get further from one death and closer to another. Life can be woeful, Loyal Reader.
All of this matters much in the matters surrounding my HUGO review. The movie tapped into themes that tapped into me. It made me feel mournful.
I think Martin Scorsese is an incredibly gifted filmmaker. I enjoy all of his movies (I even enjoyed GANGS OF NEW YORK, and that one didn’t do so well critically). In making a family film, what it lacks in brutal violence and a criminal element, it makes up for it in whimsy, heart, a sweet history lesson on early cinema, and some marvelous filmmaking. The film is a beautiful thing. It just might end up in my top 10 of all time.
(Automaton love)
Its plot (I’ll spare you the breakdown) is a series of interesting puzzles, but there’s real depth in the interaction between the characters. There’s a morose undercurrent – Hugo’s father is consumed by a ball of fire, his alcoholic Uncle dies and is found in the river, the police officer’s crippling war injury, add in film pioneer, Georges Melies’ fall from grace (and then even more sentimental – his restoration to greatness) – that give the movie its sad soul.
There’s lots here about loss and sorrow and regret. Little Hugo’s quest to figure out who his father was and the way the repercussions of his actions enable relationships that essentially make a few very sad lives, very happy ones, drives the film through a series of fantastical mysteries involving an automaton and film theory books and teeny tiny sprockets and springs. It warmed me and trust me, Loyal Reader, I’m not the type to fall for sentimental bull, feeling has to be grounded to work, it has to be a perfect storm of acting, directing, score, everything just comes together – most of these movies simply can’t pull it off. HUGO’s got it in spades.
We saw it in 3D. Scorsese uses the process thoughtfully. Things do not jump out at us, but scenes are constructed in way that they become physically deeper. Paired with fast moving tracking shots, like the opener that takes us through a train station, it’s a pretty cool effect. I really dug it. There are a few scenes, one with paper flying about, that look great in 3D. It’s incredible how in telling a tale about the world’s first special effects artiste, Scorsese manipulates 3D as if it’s an integral part of the film going experience. It’s actually worth the few extra bucks.
If you can’t catch it in 3D it is still totally worth watching. The movie looks great in either format.
In any case, I loved HUGO. It stirred me up. Only truly special films have that kind of power.
If you haven’t seen it, get out there! It’s definitely one for the big screen.
Fans are folks who get what I do with my writing. They enjoy my narrative abilities. It’s awesome to meet them. It’s even more awesome to send them free books.
Back in August, I ran a Free Book contest. All you had to do was review one of my works and post it anywhere you’d like on the big old Internet. Winner Jamey Webb was nice enough to review several of my works on a variety of sites. I sent over a pair of limited edition hardcovers and some swag. I even have evidence of their arrival…
(The SuperCool Jamey Webb)
Thanks, Jamey!
Enjoy the books, spread the word (if you are reading this – you too), party on.
I’ll run another contest sometime next year.
Until then, let’s wave our books in the air and rock out!
I’ve been off the grid. Well, not really. I’ve been on the Internet all day, all evening, all the time, but I’ve been steering clear of the blog. Oh, dear blog, how I missed thee. The time apart is good for us, you know. I got lots to say, Loyal Reader. But then, I’m not in the mood to will sentences from thin air and then build them up into some wordy, surely insightful, important (oh, so important) paragraphs.
My brain is too lazy.
(Yep.)
I just want to drink Gatorade and surf Facebook.
See you tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll have something all-important to say.
Oh, BTW, I’ve fallen for INFINITY BLADE on my iPad. I’ll talk about it sometime. Until then, watch this…
I’m waiting on my XBOX 360 to update. It’s damn slow. So slow, I am able to sneak a post in before falling into Skyrim.
(Oh yeah!)
The past twenty-four hours have been emotionally wonderful. Up and down, Loyal Reader. Mostly good though. I got to spend time with my niece and godson and nephew. They make life magic. My niece is two and a half and my nephews are one and a half. They are crazy adorable. Holding one is special. My godson, Matthew, digs buttons. He presses them and marvels at their effects. The window going up and down had him cracking up. I have this little cajun in my pocket – it’s a key ring that makes cajun sounds when you press one of the six buttons. The kid kept hitting the same two or three sayings, cracking up at the funny cajun voice emanating from the tiny speaker in plastic.
Can you believe my XBOX is still updating! It’s been a few. I had to think my way through some of the stuff above us. And still it’s updating. And updating. And updating. This is a perfect chance to paly Skyrim. A free afternoon. After Skyrimming, I’m gonna maybe watch a movie or some TV. We’ll see. It’s going to be a nice afternoon.
Come on XBOX! I’m waiting not so patiently!
How about some more cajun?
My XBOX is still updating. I went looking for the Skyrim picture then the cajun bit and I’m all ready to publish, but still, my XBOX is still updating!!!
Okay, I’m gonna go stare it down, Loyal Reader.
Literally.
I got me some new blood.
No, I am not a vampire (nor would I choose immortality if given the opportunity), but my platelets were low, so they hooked me up and gave me a fresh supply of the red stuff.
I don’t feel any livelier. Some of the side effects include renewed vigor, but blood infusions have never worked that way for me. I usually don’t feel any difference. In fact, sometimes I get even more tired.
My sweetie pie says I got more color in my face. I didn’t know I was so colorless before. But, then, the other day, my gardener asked if I was anemic, so there you go. I guess I was looking a bit pale. It’s okay. I like this whole, pallid, heroin chic look. If I tousle my hair and make it big, I can furrow my eyebrows and glower like a short, bearded Edward Cullen.
(The blood! The blood!! The blood!!!)
The infusion went smooth, but our visit to the hospital lasted ALL day looong! There are lots of sick folks out there, Loyal Reader. Hospital waiting rooms are overflowing with ’em.
Some interesting vignettes. There was an actual nun. A squat, jolly one with the full-on headpiece and a host of rosaries tied round her robe. It was fun to watch her interact with a 26 month year old named Jackson.
My doctor shook my hand and squeezed the hell out of it. I squeezed back. Neither of us backed down. In the end it was a draw. We finished the handshake with manly resolve and an understanding nod of the chin. My doctor is one cool dude.
The coolest song about vampires ever!
Between sleep and Skyrim (the best), and a crappy subpar comedy (by all means, stay away from 30 MINUTES OR LESS – I refuse to hyperlink it!), I haven’t gotten much done. Sometimes my writing pulls like an albatross around my neck. It’s difficult to get started. I’d rather sleep. Once I get it going, it goes easier, but the beginning isn’t for lazy people. You gotta work. You gotta put in those hours.
It doesn’t feel like there are enough hours in the day.
Where does the time go? A kid in one of my classes asked me if I noticed how time moves faster now than it did before. I agree, but I didn’t feel that way at his age. At his age I thought time was slow as molasses. A year? Sheesh, that seemed like forever.
(Time, time, time, what has become of me?)
Now, it feels like nothing. One year bleeds into the next so fast it’s as if we are traveling at light speed, hurtling through the universe, burning up, then expiring. It the Great Agony of our existence, Loyal Reader. It’s deep, deep heart stuff.
I am trying my hardest to enjoy every second.
I love this…
I love it when I get a new idea. I got one this afternoon. That little light bulb went off and poof! There’s a whole idea just begging to be written out. It’s not fully cooked. I haven’t even told my wife (who is going to ask me about it as soon as she’s done reading this!). But a lot of it is ready and waiting. I even got a fancy name that sums the whole thing up. It’s catchy. And it creates a whole, new world with a few striking words. I can’t spell it out just yet, but I am sure it’s a keeper. I wrote a few paragraphs and it’s feeling good.
(Here I go, here I go, here I go again...)
Sometimes I get so burnt out I can’t even get my brains to hold my eyelids up. Other times, I get so charged, I can’t help but to stare wide-eyed at overflowing capability.
A little suspense then. The Idea will manifest soon. Once I work out a few kinks I’ll spill.
Okay, back to dreaming…
This is your id. You know you dream this too…
Michael Louis Calvillo writes lovely, dark fiction. If you like to read you will probably enjoy his stuff. Why not order something and give it a shot?
Michael Louis Calvillo Must Be Destroyed 