R.I.P. Kim Manners

Kim Manners, the director of 52 episodes of The X-Files, died of lung cancer yesterday. He was certainly the most distinctive director of the show and appeared well loved by everyone on the show. He directed so many of my favourite episodes! R.I.P., Mr. Manners.

It's Funny Because It's True.

The X-Files Shipper-Con 2008. ;) Well, not the shipper-con but everything else.

This Is What Happens...

when I feel like going on and on talking. Instead of directly inflicting it upon other people, I write a stupidly long blog entry. lol It's been a while, hasn't it? I've been working a lot, and living in my head as always. I'm trying to enjoy the summer a bit.

I went in the Shawinigan wilderness two weekends ago, kayak and what not. This weekend, E and I went to open air market, and did some movie catching up. We went to see Wall-E on Sunday afternoon, which I enjoyed very much despite the two crazy children who were talking and running around during most of the movie. Seriously, I expect some noise when I see a kids' movie, but this was over the line.

On Friday night, we went to see TXF movie. You probably know how long I had been waiting for this (i.e., a long time! LOL). The X-Files has been one of those few things in pop culture that's ever really hooked me. My verdict? I must say upon seeing the movie, I was a little meh, but the more I think about it, the more I can't wait to see it again. (I will this weekend.) I know my friend E didn't like it quite as much. She was a more casual fan than I and found it boring in spots. She was also confused by certain things, not having seen the last few seasons. I think it was just marketed as a big action/thriller movie when it wasn't really what it was so it may have been a bit misleading as to what you expected to see. It might have also been better to release it in the fall since it wasn't a summer blockbuster. But anyway, it was a mixed bag, although I like it more than not.

SPOILERS FOLLOW...

The plot of the scary story worked more or less for me. It was kind of silly and confusing, focusing a lot on agents we didn't really know. I think it could have used a bit more editing and tightening of the storyline, although I understand that the writers' strike did put the whammy on modifying the script as the shooting went along.

In addition, I think not having Mulder & Scully in the FBI didn't quite make this work. I understand that it would have been a stretch justifying having them back in the FBI, but that was such a big part of their identity. I was missing the guns, the badges, the basement office, all the things that made The X-Files.

As for the Scully B-storyline, the less I say about that, the better. I adore Scully and her crises of faith, but Saint Scully was a pathologist, and now, she's apparently a pediatrician and a neurosurgeon? Please allow me to roll my eyes since that is not how the medical profession works. Also googling stem cell research? Yeah, not so much... This is the kind of thing when they push too far and it just becomes unbelievable.

However, the good stuff was the acting. Everyone was good. In addition, he Mulder/Scully relationship was really well done and exactly what I hoped to see. That's always what has made this show special, and on that front, I can only say I was pleased. The break up was a bit of an extreme reaction to the situation but Scully didn't overdo it; she was setting her limits as far as saying she didn't want them to go back to a dark place, which is fair enough seeing as Mulder has a tendency to go nutty when he becomes involved in a case. I thought they played the relationship in a very mature and real way, although I could have done without the violins when they kissed. LOL

The end with them on a boat in the middle of the ocean? (Points for Mulder wearing a red bathing suit! LOL) I'm not sure what it was supposed to mean except that they're riding (or more to the point, rowing) into the sunset, forever happy. By the way, when I saw the boat, I thought it might be The Lone Gunmen, CSM, Krycek and all other XF villains in a boat in the middle of nowhere. I thought that would have been funny!

I did like all the little inside jokes for the hardcore fans; I don't think it would distract new viewers, but added all this baggage for older fans. It was neat. So I don't know whether I'll be disappointed or not if we don't get a third movie... I think I'll always want more Moose and Squirrel. It's the nature of the fangirlish beast. ;)

Oh, also, someone told me today that David Duchovny is blogging for TXF movie. How did I not know that?

Next up: A new Arrested Development movie is rumored to be in the works! Please make it so.

How Many Days Until July 25th?

After seeing these pictures and reading this, I am now officially excited about The X-Files movie. (Although a new agent named Dakota Whitney? That is one silly name!) I have seen maybe one episode in the last 3 or 4 years, but I am now looking forward to a new adventure. I'm only hoping it is good. I can't wait to see the trailer!

Oh, and new episode of Saturday Night Live tonight with Tina Fey hosting. It should be good.

I've been reading The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo tonight, which I just received in my Amazon package today. Very interesting read so far. :) I'll have to write more about it once I'm done reading it.

Arrested Development Movie, Baby!

Alia Shawkat, who played Maeby on Arrested Development, mentioned in a recent interview that there are serious talks about making an AD movie:

TVGuide.com: Do you think there might be an Arrested movie at some point? The final episode implied as much when your character, Maeby, tried to sell the rights to the Bluth story to Ron Howard.
Shawkat: Mitch actually recently told us that there is a good possibility for a movie, and that he's talking to Ron Howard about it.

Awesome! Although I hope it doesn't take as long to happen as other movies based on TV shows.

Happy First Birthday, Blog!

I cannot believe it has been a year since I started this blog. I really didn't think I'd get into it but 185 posts later, I think I misunderestimated (mmm...nonsensical word!) its power. ;)

To celebrate, I thought it would be appropriate to post a sweet X-Files-themed video I found on (where else?)You Tube. It is set to the lovely song "We Belong Together" by Gavin de Graw. I thought it was very apropos since I meet so many of the people here through an X-Files board, and I think we all belong together. Hee. Okay, I'm done with the cheesy love fest, and I promise to bring back my sarcastic self pronto. ;)

On with the video:


I had to add one more video to my favourite TV UST relationship of the moment: Pam and Jim. It is really well done, I thought, and it is set to the song "These Walls" by Teddy Geiger (I totally bought his album today along with the green Weezer album and Back in Black by AC/DC. Yay for music store clearance sale!)

My New...

Passion isn't exactly the right term. At this point, it would be more like "something I recently discovered that makes me happy", "my new thing to bring a bit of sunshine in my life", "something light and delightful I can indulge in occasionally". Actually, it is something old made new again. Ah yes, fanfic. Since I know a number of my readers know about my dirty little fanfic-reading secret because they shared it too (LOL), I don't feel too ashamed. Yes, I am a little fangirl trapped inside of a body of a grown woman... who still goes to school... who has a roommate... who owns a lot of mismatched furniture and no car. Anyway, technically, I'm a grown woman. ;)

My undergrad years, particularly in the summer, were prime time X-Files fanfic reading. Since then, I lost a lot of my XF interest so I have read very few (none really in 3 years at least). But I have now started watching The Office, which has plenty of UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension for those uninitiated), which is the ultimate trap for me to read fanfic it seems. LOL Mulder and Scully got me the first time, and now, it's Pam and Jim. I stumbled upon a board where people made fic recommendations, and oh. I have only read 3 or 4 short stories but I have fallen in love with it a bit again. Of course, I sadly don't have much time to read this stuff but that's all the more motivation to graduate. ;) LOL

By the way, there is a Saturday Night Live TV Funhouse retrospective airing on April 29. Saturday TV Funhouse was often the best part of SNL. The Ambiguously Gay Duo and The Ex-Presidents were always my favourite cartoons on SNL so I'm hoping to see plenty of both. Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert, who were the voices of Ace and Gary, aka The Ambiguously Gay Duo, recorded new material for this special. I can't wait to hear that!

DVD hunt on Amazon: The X-Files Mythology: Vol. 1 - Abduction + Lois & Clark

I had to go check out Amazon as I am wont to do to see what wonderful books/CDs/DVDs are out there, waiting to draw me into their clutch. And what doesn't jump at me from the front page but...

The X-Files Mythology: Vol. 1 - Abduction We finally get an explanation! Errr, sort of. I'm not sure exactly what would be the lure of buying this for people who own all the boxsets already. Sure there are a few new commentaries but what hasn't been said already by people who have spent hours on message boards? I will confess I used to be one of them. LOL I only own season 1 DVDs but still... It would have gotten me all fired up and dancing-on-table excited 5 years ago. Now? Eh, not so much.

This on the other hand? Got me very excited! I used to luuuuurve Lois & Clark in all its cheesy glory. It had cool villains, a regular glass wearing guy/flying hero, very good supporting characters, and sizzling chemistry between the leads. Too bad they really ruined it towards the end. Nevertheless, the first few years rocked, and I haven't been able to see reruns of it anywhere. I shall rent them (I don't think I'd really rewatch them often) from my videostore to see it all again. Keeping my fingers crossed my videostore has bought this set. :)