For those in the know with regards to the fantasy genre, Terry Pratchett's name is uttered up there with J.R.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis. He is the creator of the fantasy world known as, "The Discworld." A flat disc shaped world floating through space on the back of four elphants sitting a top the back of a giant turtle "The Great A'tuin." Though his novels have been immensly successful, to date no movie had yet to have been made based on his works. Even though the rights to several of the books had been sold and some even bought back, no final movie had met production till now.
With the Hogfather we are presented a wonderful parody of your typical Christmas tale. Yet it's not so typical because this story is about Hogwatch a holiday that even the movie proclaims is reminiscent of our very own Christmas. It follows the journey's of "Death" and his Grand Daughter "Suzan" as they try to stop the Assassin "Teatime" from killing the Hogfather. The tale takes us on a journey that embraces the strength of belief and the very nature of the holiday of Hogwatch, which as I mentioned is very similiar to Christmas.
I think the thing about this movie I like most is the cinematagrophy, the production for this movie rivals some of the best fantasy movies out there. This is not your typical direct to dvd production. This movie has put a great deal of effort to keep the special effects on par with any successful feature film. Combine this with some wonderful acting, from the likes of relative new comers Michelle Dockery and Marc Warren, and it even builds this movie up further. To top it off you add in the voice acting of Ian Richardson and you have an eary and original portrayal of Death that is probably the best performance in the film.
The movie does a great job of putting a new spin on the often stale Christmas story and in doing that alone makes it a great option for one of your Christmas movie picks. I feel the movie is suitable for the whole family. There is some violence but nothing to bloody and the language is kept to a respectable level.
This is only available on DVD and well worth purchasing or at least renting from your local video store. If you are a fan of the fantasy genre then do yourself a favor and get a copy while they are still available. Like I said Terry Pratchett will one day be recognized as this generations J.R.R. Tolkien.
It's important to note the quality taken into producing this book which was made for TV in the UK. Vadim Jean did a wonderful job putting in more than most would have expected in producing this feature.
Now I await Vadim Jeans next release of "The Colour of Magic" on DVD, also one of the Discworld books of Terry Pratchett. It is to be released in the UK in October 2008. Don't know when it will make it here but I think it will be worth a watch as well.
Getting Fat...
So
I'm still amazed why I cant lose this weight? I got a new job last
december and I put on 20lbs in under a month. I still exercise every
day, either running 3 miles or riding my bike 15 miles. As it is right
now, I dont think its the exercising that is really getting me. So if
its not because I'm not exercising enough then what is it?
I'm
guessing the Gummy Bears and Hot Tamales are probably part of this
problem I'm having. This is pretty serious because I really love my
Gummy Bears. I mean next to sex, Gummy Bears are the shiznitz and I
dont say shiznitz lightly. So I'm posed with a dillema, I can get back
to my 200lbs and lose the weight or I can keep running my BLEEP off and
stay at my plateua weight of 220lbs.
It really seems like a
pretty easy decisions, right? I mean lose the Gummy Bears and get rid
of the weight. No sugar become skinny. Well its not really that easy,
like I said I love my Gummy Bears alot.
I mean when I get off
work and gun it home, the one thing I can be sure will make me happy is
those damn Gummy Bears. All I can say is &*$! them all, they will
be my downfall, or at least I thought this might be true.
Little
back history about me, I was an avid smoker for like 10 years and then I
quit. Then I put on a little weight. Ok, I put on like 120 pounds (but it
was lean fat.) To be honest I wasn't to unhappy with my weight either, I was perfectly fine being fat. In the end It was the fat jokes that pissed me
off. I heard so many of them that the only thing they are useful for
now is making fun of fat people.
I tell a fat joke and then the fat person will say, "Shut up you don't know what it's like to be fat!"
Then
I say, "Yes I do! I was fat myself, till I got off my butt and did some exercising!" So in one way my fat jokes are done to
motivate people to get off their butt's and do something. Still, it doesn't
make me any less of a idiot for saying them I guess. But I digress.
The
thing that makes people fat is not just eating, its not just being lazy
and its not just being complacent with being fat, it's all the above.
By saying no to all these things and deciding to make a change you will start to lose the weight!
When you finally do lose the weight you'll begin to notice that you can
walk with out weezing, take the stairs with out the fear of having pit stains at the top! You can even have sex with out being in some insane position
that isn't even in the Kama Sutra. Yes, those are just a few of the
joys of going back to a normal weight. Yet then there's something else,
responsibility.
You need to remember, you are responsible for
your own actions. You are the one that will keep the fat off, you just
have to remember to eat a little less, walk a little farther and not be
complacent with what you are. It doesn't take a dramatic change, just a
change. A half an hour a day to work out, trade out sugar for splenda and
don't eat junk food (god I love potato chips!) Then your back to looking like someone that
gives a damn.
On the other side of the coin if you're happy
with what you are, screw the people and their jokes! I mean pretty soon
they will be the minority.
Me, I'm going to stop eating the candy.
Have a good night guys.
After being canceled twice, the often controversial show, "The Family Guy" has now seen it's 100th episode. The brainchild of Seth Macfarlane, many critics argued whether viewers were ready for a another cartoon targeting adults. With "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" already holding primetime slots on Fox when the show was initially aired it's future was seen as tentative at best.
The Fox network approached Macfarlane after seeing the "Larry Shorts" spots aired during the 1999 Superbowl. By the fall of 1999 Macfarlane's show entered Fox's Sunday night line up. After two seasons Fox decided to pull the plug on the show, only reversing it's decision after a online petition was signed by over 110,000 fans. It was subsequently canceled after it's third season in 2002.
It then was picked up by the Cartoon Network where it aired in the "Adult Swim" line up. Finding it's home among other quirky cartoons targeted towards a mature audience. It was not untill the show's first season was released on DVD, which subsequently sold 2.2 million, that Fox once again took notice and picked the show up again in 2005.
The show has seen many controversies over it's content, which is primarily based on parody's from pop culture. The show has frequently been the source of ire for critics who have argued the show uses poor artwork and weak storylines. The show has even been the satirized on several other adult cartoon shows including, "The Simpsons" and "South Park," both shows also no stranger to criticism and controversy.
The Family Guy producers were sued multiple times. Most notably in 2006 by Carol Burnett, for copyright infringement, over the use of the "Charwoman" character that was frequently seen on the "Carol Burnett Show" in the 1970's. The lawsuit was found to be unfounded when the judge presiding ruled that the parody of the character was protected by the First Amendment.
Despite everything though, the Family Guy has managed to go on to it's 100th episode and sixth Season. The show has been picked up for it's seventh season by Fox, with episodes planning to air in August of 2008. The 100th episode of the show aired on March 24th of 2008.
