nothing better than a free movie...

Well...

Anyway, we got in to see Serenity tonight. Was it worth the price of admission?, you ask. We'll get to that. But first, a bit about the journey there. As I mentioned earlier, the company hired to do promotions for the movie decided to try what is to me a new twist on the idea of viral marketing. Viral marketing is a means to get regular people to spread the word about your product to their friends, then they pass it to their friends, and so on, much like the flu is passed around a preschool. This time, they decided to target bloggers. Give a few pajama-clad, keyboard toting cyber-warriors (did i just type keyboard toting, cyber-warriors?!?) free access to the movie on the condition they write about the movie. Nifty idea. I like it a lot. So I see a link, follow it, fill out an email and wait. Saturday I get a reply saying my name's on the list. Woohoo!

When we got to the theater, I was to ask for the representative from Universal. He was, of course, late and we were instructed to wait behind the counter. This was, from our vantage point, much nicer than waiting in line with the other poor souls who received their tickets through other means, presumably legal. When our friend, Mr. Universal Rep, arrived, he checked our names off his list (second line from the top.... not bad...) and had us wait a minute more while he roped off a section just for us. By the way: "us" now also included another blogger whose name I've forgotten. As official bloggers of the event, we shuttled off behind Mr.Universal Rep into the theater, just after I reminded him of his box of door prizes he'd left back at the counter.

As we moved passed the front of the line, the irritation of those who'd obviously gotten to the theater far earlier than we had became quite evident. "Hey... Are you here to see Serenity?" one old, hairy gentleman asked me, subtly suggesting that I might should be inclined to think about maybe stepping back behind him because he was here longer and obviously a bigger fan... < inhale > "I'm with him," I said, pointing to the guy in charge and sliding right on past Mr. Sasquatch to the front of the line. After all, we were guests of the movie studio and yes, that did make me feel important. As we entered, Mr. Universal Rep took our tickets and gave us key chains and a three page promotion booklet. We slid into the room and found the very center row roped off just for us. Choice. We felt rather like the king and queen of the ball, to tell the truth.

It was still rather early, so we had to wait about twenty minutes or so. This was offset by the fact that we only had to sit through one preview and no commercials. That alone was a treat. The preview in question, however, was for Doom. Greatest first person shooter video game becomes the worst first person shooter box office bomb. If you were never a big fan of the game, skip it.

On to the movie in question. Loved it. Absolutely loved it. First, about the fact that the movie is an extension of a failed television series: On the ride home I wondered aloud how it would be received by someone who'd never seen the episodes of the TV show. Jennifer informed me that she'd forgot most of the characters and almost all of the plot lines, so I'd guess it won't be much of a problem for anyone else.

The movie is nothing if not intense to watch. By the time the credits started to scroll and the house lights faded up, I was experiencing the rather odd mix of exhaustion and adrenaline. The pace is even and quick and the transitions from side splitting humor to absolute shock and/or disbelief are sudden and often jarring. Make no mistake; this movie is absolutely exhausting to watch. Probably a few too many of the boogie-man type gotcha's for my taste, but just as many of those shocking moments are from unexpected plot twists that will have you elbowing the stranger next to you asking "did that really just happen?"

In summation: well written dialog, both witty and sincerely human, coupled with exciting action in a quick paced story line, make for a Grade A movie going experience. Whether or not you were a fan of the TV show Firefly or completely new to its characters and worlds, Serenity will have you wanting to join the crowd of fans begging for the return of the series. My suggestion? Go see it on the big screen.

update: For more geek-gushing, see Frank J's review as well.

me = bum...

As you can probably see, there is no Two'ver this Tuesday. Sorry, but I was out having dinner with friends from out of towncountry. By the time I got home I was just too tired and I've been a bit busy here at work. Again, sorry.

Not sure if I'll be able to post them for tomorrow as we're going to the preview showing of Serenity tonight. For free. I'll post all about it tomorrow...

Soon as I can find a little time to go through them, I'll make up a gallery of photos from our trip to the State Fair last Friday night. In the meantime, enjoy the butterfly...

so you know how much i like sci-fi, right...

Well, Universal studios (through Grace Hill Media) is using a new form of viral marketing to promote the movie version of the short-lived but much beloved Firefly. Call it blogvertising, if you'd like. Basically, any blogger who promised to write anything about the movie can sign up for tickets to the preview showing in certain cities. I thought I'd sent in my email too late, but today I got a lovely response from a lady saying I was on the list.

Per her emailed instructions, here's the offical synopsis of the film :

Joss Whedon, the Oscar® - and Emmy - nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE, ANGEL and FIREFLY, now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity. The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family –squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.

You can view the trailer on the official movie website.

I didn't actually watch Firefly when it was on TV the first time around, mostly because I heard it was written by the guy responsible for Buffy. But a friend who loved it, loaned me the DVD version and Jennifer and I watched the enitre run over a couple of weeks. It was quite addictive. Currently you can catch it on Friday Nights on SciFi Channel. I'll be posting again on Wednesday to let you know what I thought of the movie. Woohoo!

what could have been...

I took a really beautiful photo for bubbles last night that I was going to enter in the bubbles challenge over at dpchallenge.com.

"A blue ribbon for me" I thought... "This will wow them all" I smirked... "Why won't the submit page load?" I wondered... "It's only 11:00. I've got another hour to finish my post processing, right?" I worried... "Eastern! Midnight Eastern time you stupid @$%#$^&!" I swore...

Moron = Me
Happy = The guy who would have gotten the red...

*sigh*

two'fer tuesday: mack starks cd release party edition...

[ voting has closed... ]

We took a short weekend vacation sans boy. We hid out at a B&B up in Nashville for a couple days where we got a chance to relax and see Mack Starks play all of his new cd live. Good times.

two'fer tuesday: nursery rhymes...

[ voting has closed... ]

it's that time of year...

something i forgot to say...

I suppose I should have mentioned this earlier, because 1) I was quite excited at the time, and 2) I do so love to feed my own ego, as most of you are painfully aware. But I've not mentioned it before. Not here, anyway. And I'm not entirely sure why, though I think that should be a discussion for another day, along with the question of why I've been so derelict of duty lately in regards to posting in this journal. I mean, really... I used to post every night. Honest. Go back and read the archives. Say, back in early 2003. Lots of interesting thoughts spilled out of my head and onto your screen back in those days. Then came the photos... Then the boy... Then came [insert lame excuse here]... But, as I've said, that's a psychological self-diagnosis for another day.

Enough rambling. Back to the braggadocios issue at hand. I've been visiting a website of late called DPChallenge.com. It's very similar to sites many of you will be familiar enough with, such as Thursday Challenge and Photo Friday. Each week, there are a number (usually two) of challenges the photographer can enter. Recently the challenge open to non-paying members (of which I'm one, though I've contemplated sending my few dollars for the full membership) was Dairy. Well... Check out the 8th place photo and see if you recognize it...

Of the five challenges I've completed so far (the sixth is still in voting and not going well), it's the highest showing I've had to date. I was, to say the least, quite thrilled with the result. If your curious as to how my other entries have faired, you can see them in my portfolio.

two'fer tuesday: a bug's life...

[ voting has closed... and we have a tie?!? ]

give early, give often...

I got this email yesterday from a friend about a mutual friend and his family :

Shane,
I was able to track them down. They are ok. Marlon said that he drove down to Ocean Springs yesterday. The house is still there, but the water got up to about chest high. Amy is headed down there today to see if she can salvage anything.

His job has been completely obliterated.

Prayer requests from Marlon:
- Wisdom for what to do and where to do it.
- Quick resolution of insurance and FEMA issues.
- A job.

I read a great quote yesterday from Frank J, "It's not charity unless you're hesitant to give that much." So give Early, give often, and give 'til it hurts...

[ In case you were wondering, we gave here... ]