Monthly Archives: December 2013

Quote of the Day

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We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up under some sheet, never to wake up.  And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know.  It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is.  Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room – Lemony Snicket

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Garak Bashir

Julian Bashir: I work for one of the nation-states of this era, Great Britain, which is battling various other nations in what is called the Cold War. This apartment, my clothes, weapons, even my valet were provided to me by my government.
Garak: I think I joined the wrong intelligence service.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 4: Episode 10 – “Our Man Bashir”

What if there was a Best Voice Performance Oscar? – 2002

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(Note: This is a fictional creative writing exercise, inspired by hours of contemplation of which animated performances have been most worthy of attention over the years.  This feature imagines that a Best Voice Performance category was added to the Oscars following Beauty and the Beast’s nomination for Best Picture at the 64th Academy Awards.  Each week I’ll cover the hypothetical nominees and winner from one year of animated performances.)

The arrival of Dreamworks Animation on the scene with the success of Shrek, which won both the inaugural Best Animated Feature award and the Best Voice Performance award at the 74th Oscars, was a turning point for the animated industry.  No longer was animation the solely linked to Disney, and the result was an expansion of animation and a greater variety of voice roles for famous actors.  However, all of that would be overshadowed in 2002 by one single performance.  Andy Serkis’s portrayal of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was energizing for the industry and immediately led to calls for a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work in the film, in spite of the fact that the performance used a combination of animation and motion capture instead of the actor actually appearing in the film.  It was a foregone conclusion for many that he would automatically receive a nomination in the Best Voice Performance category.

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Quote of the Day

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“How would it be,” she asked them coldly as they left the classroom for break (Binns drifting away through the blackboard), “if I refused to lend you my notes this year?”
“We’d fail our O.W.L.s,” said Ron. “If you want that on your conscience, Hermione. . . .”
“Well, you’d deserve it,” she snapped. “You don’t even try to listen to him, do you?”
“We do try,” said Ron. “We just haven’t got your brains or your memory or your concentration — you’re just cleverer than we are — is it nice to rub it in?”
“Oh, don’t give me that rubbish,” said Hermione, but she looked slightly mollified as she led the way out into the damp courtyard.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J.K. Rowling

Quote of the Day

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When somebody is a little bit wrong–say, when a waiter puts nonfat milk in your espresso macchiato, instead of lowfat milk–it is often quite easy to explain to them how and why they are wrong.  But if somebody is surpassingly wrong–say, when a waiter bites your nose instead of taking your order–you can often be so surprised that you are unable to say anything at all.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room – Lemony Snicket

Quote of the Day

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Trolls: Everyone’s a bit of a fixer upper
That’s what it’s all about!
Father! Sister! Brother!
We need each other
To raise us up and round us out!
Everyone’s a bit of a fixer upper
But when push comes to shove…
The only fixer upper fixer that can fix a fixer upper is…
True!
True!
True, true, true!
Love!

Frozen – “Fixer Upper”

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Klingon Dreams

Kira Nerys: What do Klingons dream about?
Worf: Things that would send cold chills down your spine, and wake you in the middle of the night. No, it is better that you do not know. Excuse me.
Kira Nerys: I can never tell when he’s joking.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 4: Episode 6 – “Rejoined”

Quote of the Day

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“Been having a nice little chat with her about whether or not I’m a lying, attention-seeking prat, have you?” Harry said loudly.
“No,” said Hermione calmly, “I told her to keep her big fat mouth shut about you, actually. And it would be quite nice if you stopped jumping down Ron’s and my throats, Harry, because if you haven’t noticed, we’re on your side.”
There was a short pause.
“Sorry,” said Harry in a low voice.
“That’s quite all right,” said Hermione with dignity.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J.K. Rowling

Trailer Tuesday: Interstellar, Godzilla, Jupiter Ascending and Edge of Tomorrow

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Welcome to “Trailer Tuesday” where I talk about trailers for upcoming movies, since I’ve always found them to be endlessly fascinating.

Instead of one trailer today, you’re getting four!  There have been a slew of new trailers, all of which are somewhat interesting but none of which are enough to really get me excited.  So instead of either wasting an entire post on each or skipping them altogether, I figured I’d hit as many as I can at once.  Let’s look at the new trailers for Interstellar, Godzilla, Jupiter Ascending and Edge of Tomorrow.

First up, Interstellar: Continue reading →

Quote of the Day

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Uncle Monty taught them how to handle the Inky Newt without getting its black dye all over their fingers, and how to tell when the Irascible Python was grumpy and better left alone. He taught them not to give the Green Gimlet Toad too much water, and to never, under any circumstances let the Virginian Wolfsnake near a typewriter.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room – Lemony Snicket