Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Sherlock

I'm fairly sure I've made it apparent by now that I'm obsessed with England/Britain/The UK/whatever you want to call it.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise that I completely love BBC's miniseries Sherlock.
It's just what you think it is: An updated take on Sherlock Holmes set in the modern day for the modern audience. But the best part is that is so much more.
Sherlock is by far the most intricately plotted crime show I've ever seen. Whereas you could sit down and deconstruct an episode of CSI by the second commercial break, Sherlock constantly keeps you guessing and glued in place. There's only three episodes in the one existing season, but each one is superbly done and riveting.
The Victorian style of the original book is gone, and there's not even a steampunk aesthetic like I thought (that would be cool). It's like Criminal Minds and Bones moved to England, had a super smart baby, and watched as it became so much smarter than either of them.
Playing the lead role in Sherlock is Benedict Cumberbatch, who nails it. Sherlock is dark, moody, and a "high functioning sociopath". He's a wizard with a smartphone and a blog and is a fascinating character.
Martin Freeman stars opposite as John Watson, a war vet back in England after sustaining an "injury" (side note: He's also playing Bilbo in the Hobbit). He ends up rooming in Sherlock's flat (Still  221B Baker Street, no worries) and tags along to the crime scenes. Watson also has a blog prescribed by his therapist, where he writes up all of the misadventures.
While this is a crime  show, it's not nearly as trashy as anything in America. No boobs, no sex, nothing objectionable. I wouldn't call it family friendly but it's as close as a show with a body count could be.
The next season of Sherlock starts on January 1.

-Randi

Thursday, December 8, 2011

In Which I Question Female Superhero Outfitting

Hi everyone :) So today, after a few action movies, I have written a post I've been meaning to do for a while on action heroes and their clothes.
Superficial? A little, but stick with me here.
I've noticed some things when I stroll down the action movie aisles lately. All the "Female empowerment" films with women in their title roles taking names and kicking butt are dressed like sluts (Did you like my little un-intentional rhyme there?). Halle's Catwoman (which flopped anyway), the aforementioned Sucker Punch fiasco, more recently Columbiana, etc.
First of all, it doesn't even make sense to be a slutty superwoman simply for the fact that  it's not good gear for combat. I wouldn't want  a lot of bare skin if bullets were flying at me! You'd want the standard catsuit (Michelle Pfeiffer) but bulletproof, waterproof, flameproof, and no heels on the boots.
It honestly bothers me that directors try to market more towards boys than the girls that film was supposedly made for. It doesn't win over too many people, besides middle school boys with too much money and time. I know more girls who didn't go see the aforementioned movies because of all the boobs and butts. But maybe that's just the crowd I know.


-Randi

Friday, December 2, 2011

Random Quiz From Tumblr.

Yep, I'm on the Tumblr now (all the time). Here's a random quiz I found so as for you all to know me better.

1. What was the last movie you watched? It was either Hanna or Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

2. The last noteworthy thing you did? Started recording a song with my brother. Or held a door open for an old lady. I suppose that's noteworthy to her, right?

3. Last book you read? All the way through would be Lost Voices by Sarah Porter (mermaids, singing, competition, cool world building, and all that other stuff). Last book that I just randomly read was Julie and Julia.

4.  Last thing you felt guilty about? I recently bought Sucker Punch, a movie I've blogged about before, and it made my mom really uncomfortable because of the movie cover and how they were dressed, which I completely understand.. I actually threw it away a couple weeks ago. I also had issues with the way it was marketed. When I saw the film on Red Box, it was cool, but they used a slutty dream sequence for the cover of the DVD, and it really made me question to whom the film was aimed towards; Middle school boys or girls? So yeah, not the best purchase I've made. Mom, if you're reading this, sorry about that.

5. Last thing that scared you? It was either a horror movie TV spot or my cat trying to kill me.

6. Something you still wonder about? Mermaid anatomy. How do they go to the bathroom or whatever? Stupid, I know.

7. Last album you listened to? The Slytherin EP by Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls.

8. What is something you're proud of? My musical skillz. I got 'em. Music is one of the things I'm really good at.

9. Name one friend of yours? The Diabolical Diabetic. We watch actions movies together and scare people at Target.

10. Last question. What do you want for Christmas? It's a long list, but a TARDIS with the Doctor, a hippo, the Weasley twins, Dobby, and some good movies.

Thanks for reading this stupidity. I swear the next post will be about something more serious.

-Randi