Quagmire Quackings

"Funny Games" is not so funny

2008-03-19T13:24:00.003-06:00

"You must admit, you brought this on yourself."

I'll start off with Funny Games. I saw the movie - starring Naomi Watts and Tim Roth - Sunday night at Alamo Drafthouse and loved it! The film is a shot-by-shot remake of the Austrian film by the same name and same director.
The film is, of course, not for entertainment. Two young men hold hostage a lovely little American family when they go off on vacation. What I loved most is Michael Haneke's own game of playing with the audience. The film is obviously not made for entertainment considering the plot and the violence; it is a message to movie-goers everywhere. And I completely agree and love it. I'm not sure if I could watch the film simply because it is quite disturbing but I am very interested in watching the 1997 Austrian version.
I read in an interview with Naomi Watts that Haneke encouraged the characters to have different physical and emotional actions because they are American in this 2008 version instead of Austrian. Naomi Watts also talked about the acceptance of the film and how one of the most intriguing aspects is Haneke's toying with the audience.
Personally, if Haneke didn't have the message to the audience I think the film would have been a waste of time. But it kept me entertained and shocked the entire time. I highly recommend it!

Have you seen the full-length trailer for Mamma Mia!? It's disappointing. I do enjoy some Abba songs (who doesn't?!) and I am in love with the loverly Meryl Streep, but those are my only motivations for planning on seeing the movie. It just seems... lame and cheesy. From the trailer it's too childish and playful, like the actors were running around the beach all day and THEN filmed without any care in the world. But, we'll see.

Look at the suckfest of movies coming out this weekend! Drillbit Taylor (I could stand you in The Darjeeling Limited, Owen, but I will not tolerate you here), Meet the Browns (it would take too long to complain about this one), Shutter (another scary movie with a pretty girl, pretty boy, and creepy Asian girl with a tongue problem - why?!), and La Misma Luna (this trailer looks SO. EFFING. CHEESY.). So, I won't be going to the movies this weekend! I hope you won't, too.

UT is having a screening of Juno on March 27! :)

Last comment: I Am Legend came out on DVD yesterday. Don't waste your time. I hate that movie with a fiery passion.

Tiff.. is this boring? I think this is boring, me blabbing about movies.

I'm BACK!

2008-03-16T15:25:00.004-06:00

Watch out!

SO! I haven't posted in this thing in almost a year and Tiff brought it up that I should continue.. but now.. get ready.. it's a critic's blog! Me. Criticizing movies (as if you [all] haven't heard it before). I'm quite good at bitching in general, but I think I would receive an A+ in movie bitching. If there was a class where we just bitched about movies, I would achieve a 1o5.

So last year was 2007 and it was wonderful movie-watching experience.. I actually saw nearly every film I wanted to see and nearly every film nominated for an Oscar. That was my goal so I could rightfully judge the winners and nominees and I will say that I am extremely pleased with the result. And, as everyone knows, Marion Cotillard deserved the Oscar for Best Actress and she got it!

As for the year of 2008... does NOT look promising. Jesus, I hate the period after the Oscars because it's a crapfest of films! The other day I watched THREE - count 'em THREE - trailers that involve poker! Who the hell cares about poker?! One of which is the new film with I-no-longer-have-a-career Keven Spacey ("Don't call me dude") and I-look-pretty-but-not-that-pretty-and-can't-act Kate Bosworth called "21". And why, why Jim Sturgess, are you working in a male suit store and can do amazing math but cannot afford college? Ever heard of an INTERNSHIP?! I guarantee you there are businesses that need mathematicians like you!

I watched "The Hulk" trailer the other day and have to say I was very impressed. I'm not a Hulk fan and - like everyone else - couldn't stand the 10 minutes I saw of Ang Lee's remake of the film a few years ago. But I have to say, the trailer was good. And you can't go wrong with Edward Norton.

Harry Potter news! "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will be split into TWO films. Screw that! WB just wants MONEY. I think it's a terrible idea. Yes, the book was long. Yes, all the books are long. Yes, they cut things out of the books repeatedly. BUT the movies are wonderful. Always enjoyable. I see them as their own art form; the books are different. Better and different. Half the time in Book 7, the trio is hopping around the countryside. And someone - I think David Heyman - said both films might be both 2.5 hours long. KILL ME. How can they do that?! I don't understand it. But we all know that I'm going to go see the movies at midnight and enjoy every second of it and see them both 24324.3423 times in theaters.

As for DVDs.. last week I bought "No Country For Old Men" and LOVED it all over again! I especially love the ending. So many people were pissed but I love it!! And I also rented, watched, and fell in love with "The Darjeeling Limited." I cannot wait to get my hands on that DVD! It's beautiful and hilarious and wonderful!

Okay, I'm off to see "Funny Games" soon! I shall update with my review another day/tonight!

In you, that journey is.

2007-05-20T00:19:00.000-05:00

Today I cleaned a bit of my room (and by "a bit" I literally mean that - just picked up and folded some laundry that was bundled up in a chair). I then accompanied my family to Garden Ridge because my mama wanted some stands for her plants. Then we went to Red Robin and I had a very delicious BLT croissant sandwich! Mmm! And I also applied to Blockbuster - that DAMN application! Took so freakin' long, but I really hope I get hired because I think it will be an OK job. And movies, what better to surround myself with?!

Did I mention how good Disturbia was? Cara and I saw it the other day and I really did like it. I thought the beginning dragged on a bit, but I was never truly bored by the film and I really thought the performances were really good. Not fantastic, but I was really impressed by Shia because I really am not a fan. I really enjoyed it though! I nice little teenage flick that is actually good is a pleasant thing to encounter.

And good news! I called UNT on Friday and it turns out they sent my Official Transcript on Thursday! For once they actually did something correctly! I guess when you're trying to leave they really treat you right. Go figure!

And now I'm sitting here watching my beloved Angels in America. Tomorrow: visit my grandmama for her birfday, and apply to a few places (or maybe save that for Monday) and hopefully go to Main Event with Cara and some peeps! I will miss my Cara - she's leaving for "boot camp" on Tuesday and I won't see her until God knows when! But I'm sure she'll do well - tomorrow will be my last day to see her before she leaves. :( But if that doesn't go through, then I'll be watching my Desperate Housewives season finale! Hooray Housewives! It has, of course, lacked its greatness compared to first season, but Season Three has been much better than Two.

And now I leave you with words from my loverly Harper Pitt: "People are like planets; you need a thick skin. Joe stays away and now, well, look my dreams are talking back to me.."

Lions, Tigers, and Bears. Oh My!

2007-05-17T23:16:00.000-05:00

Today I went to the zoo with Krysti, Andrew, Kayla, and Rachael and had a bunch of fun! We went to the park and had a little picnic in the wonderful shade and beautiful weather; it was extremely nice to relax with some nice food! And then we all went to the Houston Zoo and saw many many animals, my favorite being the giraffe. Very tall and so neat! With their long tongues and neat little fur pattern - I love 'em.

I also watched the season finales of The Office and Grey's Anatomy. LOVED The Office finale, but Grey's I am very mixed about - a lot of people to be pissed at for that one. But of course, the finale I'm most looking forward to is on Wednesday - LOST! Love love love that show and I really hope Locke is alive!

On another note, I'm still sick. :( Stupid cold - I keep getting a terrible headache that won't go away and gets worse when I stand up and I'm all stopped up and sniffly. Listen to me complain, it's just a cold! But it's even more annoying because medicine won't help. But I'm sure it will be in within a week.

And tomorrow I will be giving UNT Registrar's Office a call and see if they have [not] sent my Official Transcript to UT. I pray that they did, but it would not surprise me if they did not. Anyway, I must have faith!

Off to blow my nose and kiss my beautiful puppies goodnight!

4.0*

2007-05-14T23:21:00.000-05:00

Being home is good. Today I took my pops to the airport at 9:00, then played with the puppies all day and did some shopping at American Eagle with mi hermano - a pair of shorts and a shirt! Mmhmm summer clothes! I meant to pick up an application but completely forgot. I also went to Barnes & Noble for a gift for my loverly Cara who is leaving in a week for boot camp! :( And Krysti and Forrester came over and we went to Bruster's for some yummy ice cream (Butterfinger Blast) and then watched some of the Planet Earth DVD's. And me, my mama, and Andrew tried making peach cobbler but it didn't really work out - and Jamie and Krysti popped by because they were bored, but all we did was sit around and talk about our not-so-well-planned vacation, but hopefully we'll muster something up (like camping, for example - picture).

I have a cold/am in the process of getting a worse cold. :( I've had a headache for the past two days and I've figured out it's because my head is as stuffed as a teddy bear. But it'll probably be gone within the week, so it's all good. Nyquil always helps!

Tomorrow I have an eye appointment as a check-up on my contacts, and then I've gots to go get my mama's car vacuumed out as part of our Mother's Day gift to her. And then I'll hopefully have time to pick up some applications, and then dinner with Cara, Ruth, and Sarah at 5:30 (Cheesecake Factory!) and Disturbia at 7:30... not exactly my first pick for a movie, but it's the only decent movie out at a decent hour after dinner. Zoo on Thursday! And a late picnic as well! Yeah, I'll be bankrupt by Friday.

*Sorry, I had to brag. Take that, UT! :D

Home Sweet Home

2007-05-12T23:18:00.000-05:00

So, I am finally away from UNT, hopefully for good! My finals went well and I have already received my Journalism grade - hooray for A! Moving out was not as terrible as I thought it would or could be. My dad came up to help move me out and we then went to Plano for the night to visit my brother and my sister-in-law; nice and relaxing! And we drove home today and it was a pretty good ride - until, of course, the traffic in Conroe, but that is always expected.

And now I am home! With my loverly puppies and the pain of unpacking. And the anxiety of awaiting grades being posted! These are some of the most anxious days of my life!!!

I watched Little Children today as well. Did not like it. I thought the acting was good and I loved the direction from Todd Field, but I was extremely disappointed in the ending of the story. And I think it was just boring because I knew everything that occurred and it was a very slow, character-based movie, so I was not extremely interested while watching it. However, I do recommend the book by Tom Perrotta - extremely good, whereas the movie (in my humble opinion) was not; but it usually happens like that, doesnt it?

SNL Weekend Update just said some kid found spiders in his ears.. that is not cool. I need to buy earplugs.

I guess that is all! Now I can look forward to summer.. and not look forward to some things about summer. I shall go looking for a job tomorrow or Monday! :-S

Finals = Murder

2007-05-07T17:27:00.000-05:00

I hate finals.. and as you can see, I use my time very wisely. :)

The Great Work Begins!

2007-05-06T22:45:00.000-05:00

Greetings, Prophet! The Great Work begins! The Messenger has arrived!

I hardly got any work done this weekend.. I finally wrote my essay for my history final, but I still really need to study and actually learn the material. For journalism I started making flash cards and am about half-way through, but I have a lot of actual studying to do for that final. And I still need to read more chapters in the book. Math should be easy, if it's at all like the practice exams I took yesterday, which were final exams from years before.

I had some deliciously unhealthy food this weekend - a large pizza and cheesy bread yesterday and Wendy's and Hot Pockets today. Oh, the unhealthy life in college. Carlos and I watched The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - it was really great to watch that again; I've missed those films! And we watched some crazy behind-the-scenes footage, I love seeing what goes into making big films like that!

Just finished watching "Angels in America" as well, which definitely cheered me up. This week is going to be stressful the first half and a tad boring all throughout - I'm just looking forward to Friday! I want to leave and get off this campus and away from school. But, then again, there's summer school, but at least I'll only be taking 6 hours. List time (again, inspired by my dearest Tiff)!

Things I am looking forward to this summer:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows @ midnight!!! The ultimate party!!!
Movies

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Catching up on a bunch of DVDs from my dearest Netflix and catching a crapload of summer films like Pirates and Knocked Up!

Spending time with my loverly puppies, Buddy and Emma!
Kathy Griffin @ Verizon Wireless Theater!
Spending time with friends/family!!!

Things I am NOT looking forward to this summer:

Summer school - two words that should never be in the same sentence, unless "without" is between them.
Work - where oh where will I get a job? I have a feeling it's between American Eagle or Sonic..
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - it's bittersweet... ::cries::

I keep thinking I'm off to four classes tomorrow, but I just have a whole day in the library to look forward to! Wish me luck!

Along Came A [Dead] Spider

2007-05-04T19:24:00.000-05:00

I saw Spider-Man 3 this morning at 12:01 and I have to say, it was quite the disappointment. There were too many plots to follow and I felt that the movie was just one scene piled on top of the other, and the villains weren't really that great. Sandman was cool only in one scene, I felt, and Venom was only there for about 0.5 seconds (a bit of an exaggeration, but he was still hardly a part of the movie). And the whole story with James Franco's character was retarded, and there was Emo Peter Parker!!! WTF was that about!! And the cheesy parts were more over-done than they ever have been, and I usually appreciate them, like in the first two Spideys. However, this time, I was hardly amused. Anyway, that's my extremely short review of Spidey 3. But nonetheless, I did have fun, because there's always a great crowd at the midnight showings of films and that's what makes the films so enjoyable - or in this case, tolerable. I also feel really bad for the girl sitting next to me because at every part that I really hated (there were quite a few) I made a point to comment loudly about it.. but I blame my gigantic bag of Raisinets. :) So, sorry!
*Edit: I forgot to mention that the one thing I absolutely loved about this film was Bryce Dallas Howard. She's amazing! She's one of the best new actresses out there today, alongside Natalie Portman!

This morning I actually woke up to my alarm, instead of turning it off in my sleep. And I was very thankful, because we got a great review for the final in Journalism, my [probably] hardest final. And afterwards, I went to Jazzman's in the Union and got myself a Supreme Mocha espresso drink and a blueberry muffin - Mmmmm!!! If I had my camera I would've taken a picture; it was delicious!! And I haven't been tired at all today, running on only four hours of sleep!

My finals start in three(ish) full days; I begin on Tuesday. And, thank the Lord, I'll be out of here on Friday! Hopefully I can muster up the strength to begin studying, because I've only hardly begun.

Survey Time!

2007-05-02T22:10:00.000-05:00

But first, new 'Order of the Phoenix' poster:FOODOLOGY

Q. What is your salad dressing of choice?
A. Ranch.

Q. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A. McDonalds.

Q. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
A. Olive Garden!
Q. On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
A. I try to go for 15-20%.

Q. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick off of?
A. Italian (Chicken Alfredo).

Q. What are your pizza toppings of choice?
A. I usually just stick with cheese.

Q. What do you like to put on your toast?
A. Butter or grape jelly.

Q. What is your favorite type of gum?
A. Orbit, Wintergreen.

TECHNOLOGY

Q. Number of contacts in your cell phone?
A. I have no idea, and I'm too lazy to check.

Q. Number of contacts in your email address book?
A. Again, too lazy.

Q. What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A. Dumbledore's Army. :)

Q. How many televisions are in your house or apartment?
A. In my dorm room: 1. In my house: I think 5.

BIOLOGY

Q. Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A. Right-.

Q. Do you like your smile?
A. Not really, but the braces paid off.

Q. What's your best feature?
A. My teeth (thank you, braces) I guess.

Q. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
A. Urm.. I don't think so.

Q. Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?
A. Not sure.. definitely not eyesight or hearing.

Q. When was the last time you had a cavity?
A. A loooong time ago.

Q. What is the heaviest item you lifted last?
A. You're retarded.

Q. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A. Nope.

CRUDOLOGY

Q. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
A. Yes, and I hope it's between the ages of 50 and 80.

Q. Is love for real?
A. Sure.

Q. If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
A. Quigley.. or Harry (only kidding.. sort of).

Q. What color do you think looks best on you?
A. Umm not sure, but I like red.

Q. Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
A. Not that I recall.. maybe a bone in a piece of chicken?

Q. Have you ever saved someones life?
A. Nope.

Q. Has someone ever saved yours?
A. I don't think so.

DAREOLOGY

Q. Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
A. No, I prefer the finger...

Q. Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
A. No.

Q. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000?
A. If I had water/chocolate milk.

Q. Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?
A. I guess.. maybe.. as long as I still had movies.

LASTOLOGY

Q: Friend you talked to?
A: Carlos.

Q: Last person you called?
A. Andrew.

Q: Last person that called you?
A: Andrew.

Q: Person you hugged
A: Not sure, that was a while ago.
FAVORITOLOGY

Q: Number?
A: 61/6/7.

Q: Color?
A: Blue.

Q: Season?
A: Fall.

CURRENTOLOGY

Q: Missing someone?
A: Yes!

Q: Mood?
A: Tired, and it's only 10.20!

Q: Listening to?
A: "Unlike Me" by Kate Havnevik.. Mmmm!

Q: Watching?
A: Nothing.

Q: Worrying about?
A: Finals!!!!! But not really worrying; avoiding.
RANDOMOLOGY

Q: First place you went this morning?
A: Class - Journalism.

Q: What can you not wait to do?
A: Summer!

Q: What's the last movie you saw?
A: 300, but tomorrow: Spidey 3!

Q: Do you smile often?
A: Sure.

Q: What is in your left pocket?
A: Nothing.

Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A: It's gotten old.

Q: Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?
A: Carpet.

Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?
A: Again, you're retarded.

Q: Could you live with roommates?
A: Yes.

Q: How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
A: Dos.

Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A: Umm, directly, never. But indirectly, last year... if that makes sense?

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I hate this question.

Q: Who is number 1 on your top 8 MySpace
A: Imogen Heap.

*I Love Bon Jovi's Hair

2007-05-02T20:22:00.000-05:00

Hooray for "Little Children" picture - the beautiful Kate Winslet sits at a distance from the other mothers. I still haven't seen the film.. ::sigh:: but I will soon, hopefully! Just got back from Olive Garden - Mmm Chicken Alfredo Pizza. Very tasty.

Pretty boring day.. Journalism was boring and Spanish was a simple boring review. Still haven't started studying for finals, and I really need to, because tomorrow night is SPIDER-MAN 3 at midnight!! Very excited, but I've heard reviews that there were way too many plots in this one, which I did fear after seeing the trailer. I think three villains is a bit much, along with Spidey battling himself, but we'll see; I'm sure I'll still find it enjoyable and action-packed.

And now I'm dreading the hall meeting for Kerr Floor 6.. I hate these things, the RAs just ramble on about little lessons like we're in fifth grade, and the other people in the hall act like fifth grades by cracking stupid, immature jokes. But that's life.

No update tomorrow, unless something exciting occurs before I leave for Spidey 3, so be expecting a very tired update on Friday!

*Inspired by Tiff's suggestion: "I Love Bon Jovi" :)

Quickly Quacking Quigley Quagmire

2007-05-01T20:58:00.000-05:00

This'll be a quick post. Took my racquetball final this morning... extremely easy considering it was 20 questions and the exact same format as the review. I highly recommend - if any of you reading this need an extra 1.0 credit for transfer or just college credit in general - to take a sports course like racquetball or something.

History was crap - we had to cram everything in so I hardly learned anything, so I'll be shoving my face in the book soon!

Work was nice; a little different. I usually work Wednesdays but I worked tonight and there were only about 10 of us so it was very laid back, and we got out 30 minutes early which is always nice!

P.S. The picture is a doodle I did as I was waiting to go to history in the Union... finals week = no fun!

**Please ignore the obnoxious (but funny) comments from my brother.

Goody Bag

2007-04-30T20:39:00.000-05:00

So, today marks the start of Pre-Finals Week or "Dead Week" at UNT. Full of review days in math and spanish, etc. and catching up on material in each class and sticking heads in textbooks before next week... however, I'm here eating Crunch 'n Munch and listening to music! But don't get me wrong, I did have a busy day!

Journalism was the same old boring lecture; in Algebra I received my test back and was extremely angry to see that I missed 8 pts. because of an EXTREMELY careless mistake that I will never again make in my life (yeah, that's a lie). In Spanish we did simple review, although I really do enjoy that class so it wasn't a complete disappoint. And I attended my LAST class of Comm. 1010! Whoo hoo! We received our grades back and I ain't takin' no optional final, so there! And work went very well tonight, too. I got to talk to Sandra about the wonderful book Little Children by Tom Perrotta (P.S. The DVD, starring Oscar-nominated Kate Winslet, is released tomorrow.) so that was lots of fun! And I made $225 in pledges for the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management, surpassing our goal of $4,000, and raised $25 for the College of Business Administration, surpassing our goal of $25,000, so all of you SMHM and COBA students should go apply for scholarships; that's where a lot of that money comes from! Me (and my co-workers of course)! I also had a very fun conversation with an elderly woman who kept calling me "Chris" when I repeatedly said "Taylor," but she was funny.

And that's my Monday in a nutshell. I'm not sure if I have any big news to declare.. oh! The Map the Music trailer was finally released today, and I have to say, it looks amazing!! Keep in mind, if you do view it (linkage to the right), that these two lovely ladies put this whole thing together from the change in their pockets and couch cushions.! They're doing an amazing job with the help of many people (such as the loverly Tiff, and many donors from people like you and me) and breaking their backs every day to get this accomplished. So much props to them!

And of course, I received a Finals Package from my dear mama today, full of many goodies: Gummy Bears, Jolly Ranchers, Laffy Taffy, Twizzlers, Apple Jacks, and much more (including toys.. every college student needs silly putty for finals, right?)!

And now I'm off to your somewhat unsafe and somewhat Hepatitis-infected $ack and $ave.. unless the rain catches me first... but now I may just be too lazy and comfortable here.

Welcome....

2007-04-29T22:08:00.000-05:00

...to Quagmire Quackings!

This blog was inspired by my dear loverly Tiff! You can check her blogs in linkage to the right (or is it to the left.. I'm still not sure..) of this thing and see her amazing pictures soon! That was my inspiration to start this - so you all (by "you all" this is only directed at Tiff.. I'm not sure who else will discover this..) can discover my life and hopefully I can take some neat pictures like Tiff; but I guarantee you they won't be as awesome as hers!

I'll try my very best to update every day, but seeing as finals are creeping up, this will prove difficult! However, my action-packed summer will be extremely entertaining I'm sure! Stay tuned!