Bolt of Blue

Trailer for Somewhere, new film by Sofia Coppola.

Plot: A hard-living Hollywood actor re-examines his life after his 11-year-old daughter surprises him with a visit.

Starring: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Michelle Monaghan and Benicio Del Toro

Release Date: December 22

Anticipation level: CAN’T FREAKIN’ WAIT! And hi, Stephen, I’ve missed you!

Last week we hiked over 45 miles in the canyon lands of Southern Utah. It was an amazing adventure and there’s so many photos, videos, and memories to sort through.

But first, we picked up Baxter who didn’t make the trip with us. We missed the little bugger so much. Then we had to unpack, wash, and clean our gear and clothes. Catch up on emails, TV, and drama. And go see “Robin Hood”, which we loved. (Being that I’m a big geek about Medieval Europe history and art, this movie and “The Secret of Kells” were tailor MADE for me… SO WELL DONE!)

And, yes… also time to start a new blog. Introducing PuppyHiker.com. Ridiculous. I know.

Go see (500) Days of Summer. First chance you get.

Delightful. Charming. Heartbreaking. Not a love story, but a story about love.

You will fall for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Tom. You will hate Zooey Deschanel’s Summer. You will likely recognize yourself in both characters.

Amazing soundtrack.

Plus there is a dance sequence… to a Hall & Oates song that is like no other. I could watch it over and over a million times squeeing every second. KILLS.

Go watch it. Trust me.

Went and saw Star Trek last night.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single episode of the original series… and while I’ve seen some of the early movies, I don’t completely remember them except for the parts that really freaked me out as a kid.

I had to ask Remi if the Russian kid was someone important… Chekov? Who? It was only after the movie that I remembered Walter Koenig’s face. So yes, I’m not anything close to a Star Trek fan. Heck, I was one of those girls who watched the Next Generation for a while because of Wil freaking Wheaton.

That said, I LOVED this movie. It was a bit over the top with every single second being this epic moment with epic music… but I really really enjoyed it. And I guess I’m a total SAP that I cried within the first 5 minutes. This movie was all about Spock. The new and the old. I didn’t know Leonard Nimoy would be in this and he was one word: AWESOME. As was Zachary Quinto.

While I knew Winona Ryder played Spock’s mom, I didn’t know Eric Bana was playing the bad guy Nero until the credits. I totally didn’t recognize him. It took way too long for Simon Pegg to arrive on screen as Scotty and really liven things up. I loved him. Both John Cho and Anton Yelchin were also great fun.

Oh, I also loved seeing my friend Bryan as an extra in the end scene where Kirk is given his medal… way to stand out there cadet!

I did better last year but not even close. I watched way too much TV and we hardly went to movie theatres last year. I’m sure this year will be no different, but I’m off to a decent start.
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Instead of dwelling on some crap going on right now, I’m finally posting a variation of this ship meme. Instead of 7 ships, I’m picking 8. I like to be even.

1. List your top seven eight character ships
2. Put all of them in order of your love for them; 7 to 1 1 to 8, 1 being your main fixation.
3. Name the movie/show that they’re in.
4. Supply photos for said people.
5. Tag seven people

1. Michael and Maria, Roswell
   Michael and Maria were really the first ship that I actively sought out fan fic, wrote my own, created sites for… to this day, I can still lose hours online by finding an old classic fic and rereading it. They had sizzling chemistry and a powerful connection. They were it for each other, no matter how much they drove one another crazy.
2. Jackie and Hyde, That 70′s Show
   Hilarious, feisty, heart warming, real. Their chemistry was evident from the very first season and I was sold. It took awhile for anything to happen between them, but the sparks were always there. And in my world, season 8 does not exist.
3. Lucas and Peyton, One Tree Hill
   Brooding artist + brooding athlete = true love. I love me some angst and this couple delivers on that from the pilot on. Season 6 premieres in a couple weeks and I can’t wait to see how their relationship will continue to unfold.
4. Angela and Jordan, My So-Called Life
   Sigh… the fantasy of crushing on the hottest guy in school. And then he actually notices you. They were flawed, awkward, sweet, messed up, and hot. It wasn’t hard for me to be obsessed from the first episode until the last.
5. Jesse and Celine, Before Sunrise/Sunset
   Romantic. Real. Beautiful. I adore Before Sunrise to pieces. It’s one of my favorite movies. I still remember seeing this my freshman year of college. I took a bus into town to go and see this. I went by myself, during a time that I felt very disconnected from the people I’d met in college. I was completely charmed watching two complete strangers make that ultimate connection, wondering if that would ever happen to me. And when they announced the same team was going to do a sequel? I was thrilled. I was on the edge of my seat trembling when the lights went down in the front row of a theatre with Ethan, Julie, and Richard sitting not that many rows from me. Before Sunset delivered, exceeding all expectations I may have had. It added more layers to this aching romance and these believable characters.
6. Dylan and Kelly, 90210
   I have no idea why I was so drawn to the forbidden couple of 90210. There was something about these two lost souls that just grabbed me. It could also be that I couldn’t stand Brenda and Dylan was hot. I didn’t follow the show past Dylan leaving… but I did tune in a few times once he came back to the show. And I loved that it ended with Dylan and Kelly back together. I doubt they are going to reconcile that ending into the new version of the show, so I have very little interest in watching it. That and the posters for it (on so many billboards and bus stops around Los Angeles) are freaking dumb.
7. Felicity and Ben, Felicity
   Another story that involved a long time crush, where the crush finally noticed the quiet and smart girl. Their chemistry from the pilot on had me always rooting for them. They had lots of ups and downs during the run of the show. What was interesting was that for most of it, they did manage to stay together and work through their problems. It wasn’t typical, it didn’t always make sense, some issues were out of character, but it was mostly well done. And they did end the show on the right note.
8. Rory and Dean, Gilmore Girls
   A first love told in a touching, realistic, and charming way. The writers ruined things from season 2 on, but there’s something about that magical first season that I still adore to this day.

Went to a sneak peek and Q&A session for the upcoming X-Files movie at the Crest Theatre last night. It was held in conjunction with the LA Film Festival.

David Duchovny, Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz, loud obnoxious fan girls. Moments in the beginning sounded like we were at a rock concert with all the screaming.

We saw two clips. Both about 2-3 minutes long. The first seemed to be the opening scene of the movie. The second was probably taken from the half hour mark or more.

Very insightful and funny without giving away any big spoilers for the movie. The audience eventually got to ask questions which is always the part of Q&A’s that I dread. Some of the questions were embarrassing, but a handful were quite fun.

Can’t wait for the movie even more now. Bummed it’s opening Comic-Con weekend though. Will miss seeing this with Vyolet, Katie, and Bob (my seatmates last night.)

The Fall is one of the most amazing movies I’ve seen in years… or ever. Saw it at the Landmark last night presented in perfect digital detail. If you loved Mirrormask or any Terry Gilliam movie, then I’d say go now to see this beautiful, imaginative, and touching film (Katie, you HAVE to see this!). It’s an ode to movie making, to a child’s view of the world, to life, to bonds, to storytelling, to fantasy… it’s remarkable. As Remi and I left the theatre, I remarked that I didn’t want to return to the real world. Sigh…