District 9
Aug. 30th, 2009 11:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magicalmarthaSaw District 9 tonight. It was...much better than I expected, but it was also much, much harder to watch than I expected.
First, I'm super glad that the reviewers didn't spoil the subplot about Wickus becoming contaminated with the alien fluid, because his transformation was SO much more shocking than it would have been if I'd been expecting it. When they unwrapped his arm in the hospital, and he had those alien talons instead of a hand, I almost crawled out of my skin.
I had a much more visceral reaction to the film than I thought I would, and I think that was because it felt so...naked. It was a story that had all of its illusions stripped away; like a car wreck you can't turn away from because it's just that awful. It was a bad situation that no one tried to make better, that had both sides acting badly and suffering for it (although considering both sides I'm more inclined to be sympathetic with the aliens, but that undoubtedly was the point). A lot of people (and aliens) die for stupid reasons, and it made me want to scream and cry and hide all at the same time.
Like I said. Really an excellent film, but I won't be watching it again.
I did read two excellent books last week, both by Charles de LInt and both vastly different experiences. I liked Yarrow more than Angel of Darkness, and eventually I'll write about why.
I've decided I'm going to play in a WarMachine tournament coming up at a Chicago games store, so in preparation for that I have a buttload of painting to do and I also need to practice playing timed games. I know that I take too long to think about my turns, so I really need to work on konwing solidly what my army does, what I have to do to get them to do their thing the best they can, and how it all will play out in different games. I've got three weeks, so we'll see if I can get ready in time. If not, I'll at least have a fully painted 500 points and actual tournament experience, even if it's a losing experience.
First, I'm super glad that the reviewers didn't spoil the subplot about Wickus becoming contaminated with the alien fluid, because his transformation was SO much more shocking than it would have been if I'd been expecting it. When they unwrapped his arm in the hospital, and he had those alien talons instead of a hand, I almost crawled out of my skin.
I had a much more visceral reaction to the film than I thought I would, and I think that was because it felt so...naked. It was a story that had all of its illusions stripped away; like a car wreck you can't turn away from because it's just that awful. It was a bad situation that no one tried to make better, that had both sides acting badly and suffering for it (although considering both sides I'm more inclined to be sympathetic with the aliens, but that undoubtedly was the point). A lot of people (and aliens) die for stupid reasons, and it made me want to scream and cry and hide all at the same time.
Like I said. Really an excellent film, but I won't be watching it again.
I did read two excellent books last week, both by Charles de LInt and both vastly different experiences. I liked Yarrow more than Angel of Darkness, and eventually I'll write about why.
I've decided I'm going to play in a WarMachine tournament coming up at a Chicago games store, so in preparation for that I have a buttload of painting to do and I also need to practice playing timed games. I know that I take too long to think about my turns, so I really need to work on konwing solidly what my army does, what I have to do to get them to do their thing the best they can, and how it all will play out in different games. I've got three weeks, so we'll see if I can get ready in time. If not, I'll at least have a fully painted 500 points and actual tournament experience, even if it's a losing experience.
