The First (Doctor) this Face Saw

So, before my post (s?) about Time of the Doctor, I have to comment about familial reactions to my reactions.  Specifically, my mom’s reaction.

My younger brother and I were lying on his bed, watching Time of the Doctor on my laptop, lights off, propped up on pillows, and vocally responding every few seconds with cries of  ”The cracks!” “Trenzalore!” and most frequently “River should be here.” 

Then there were flashing lights. Hm? Was something odd going on with the screen? Oh, Mom was taking pictures. “Mooomm,” I muttered. What’s up with this?

Not to mention a few random comments. “Are you okay in there? What’s going on ?”

I HAVE A LOT OF FEELS, OKAY?

After I came out, she’s like “What was going on in there?”

"He grew old, he grew old and River wasn’t there, she should have been there."

"Who’s River?"

"His wife," *tone between laughter, tears, and snorts.

Since I graduated in December, I’m likely to be home for a while, and I’m trying to figure out how to explain the feels to her. Or if I even should. I sat her down for The Eleventh Hour , but she’s pretty much a stranger to Doctor Who and scifi in general.  

Should I even try to explain why Matt’s wig had me shouting “Put it back on, put it back on.” Or  why his mention of River had me punch the air.  Or the fish custard and Amy Pond…Amy, Amy, Amelia…Raggedy Man, goodbye.  

I have a feeling she’d keep looking at me like “and, why?” On the other hand, I do want her to have at least some idea why I’m shouting at the computer.

Day of the Doctor

Time Lords of Gallifrey, Daleks of Skaro. I serve notice on you all. Too long I have stayed my hand. No more. Today you leave me no choice. Today this war will end. No more. No more.

I apologize for the delay--or would, if anyone else was reading this. But I've had homework and break and work and all sorts of other real life commitments. Even now, I really should be studying for my Shakespeare final....
Well, onwards. I will admit, I had my doubts about this episode, particularly regarding the return of Billie Piper as Rose, but Moffat totally pulled it off.  Furthermore, the return to the Time War--which I had firmly placed in the never-ever-see-because-impossible-to-portray--was absolutely, completely terrifying. Not just because of the Daleks or the explosions, but because of the children.
Given Eleven's love for children, and the emphasis the Moment puts on the children of Gallifrey...all those scenes of children in red robes, hiding in the rubble or dancing in the fields...yes. That's how you portray a war of that magnitude--by its impact on innocents.
Ten was a bit more of a womanizer than I'm used to, and some of Eleven's jabs were very mature for a family show, especially with regards to the Zygons.Just...ew.
Other interesting things: Baker reappearing at the end--regardless of who he was, that was epic.  And Osgood is so cool--like, she has a scarf and follows Kate around.
Actually, never mind, I can't think this all over right now.

Songs and tales fall utterly short: the Desolation of Smaug

“Truly songs and tales fall utterly short of the reality, O Smaug the Chiefest and greatest of Calamities.”

First of all, I am now convinced that Jackson is covertly borrowing from Unfinished Tales, as Gandalf and Thorin's meeting in Bree is not in The Hobbit proper, but as  "The Quest for Erebor" in the former. It's not entirely necessary, but it provides more information on Gandalf's goals.  As for the film proper, I was immensely pleased with Beorn's house. I wasn't sure how they'd manage the lighthearted tone, but it was wonderful.
As for Mirkwood and the spiders, I was pleased that they left the soundtrack low, as I had sat through Unexpected Journey less than an hour before and was rather over-run by the warg/orc fights.  Thranduil's palace was intriguing--did anyone else get distinct echoes of Menegroth from the First Age? After a quick web search, I learned that Thranduil was originally a Sindarin elf from Doriath, so it makes sense that he'd model his fortress and foreign policy (especially isolationism) after Thingol. However, Thingol had a Maia to wife--her power was the main reason the kingdom stood against Morgoth as long as it did. Without divine power on his side, Thranduil's not likely to be as fortunate.
And what was up with that weird flash of burned skin? I don't get it at all. Not to mention how extraordinarily creepy his interactions with Thorin were.
And for Tauriel...ah, Tauriel. I would have been fine with a female captain of the guard, even one with feelings for Legolas, but a love triangle with a Dwarf? Of four confirmed interspecies romances in Tolkien (only one of which is in the Fourth Age), three are female elf/male human and one is Maia/male elf. Only one does not end in tragedy. It only got worse with the healing of Kili--why does a Silvan elf get to do the magic healing-other-side thing? In The Fellowship of the Ring, Glorifindel 's power(whose role was taken by Arwen in the films) was explained by his having lived in the Blessed Realm, Valinor. The Silvan elves never made it to Valinor.
At least Laketown/Esgorath was good. If I had to explain it to someone, I'd say "Venice in Minnesota," which aligns with Dale's Mediterranean style. Bard was a good character, the setting was developed well, etc.
Gandalf and Radagast's quest was quite good--I really appreciate the White Council storyline. And I noticed  the word "sharku" in one of the Dol Guldur scenes--the Orcish word was the origin of Saruman's nickname Sharkey in the Scouring of the Shire chapter, so nice in-joke there. And the shot of Gandalf hanging in the cage--poor wizard.
The Lonely Mountain itself was very impressive. Taking into account the differences between film and literature,  the scenes were really good, but did they have to add the golden statue sequence?
When I left the theatre, I was 50/50, or even 70/30 against this film, but after taking some time to think about it, I think several of the changes are due to pacing/adaptation limits, but I still wish they hadn't made Tauriel a love interest or had the Dwarves make that huge statue.

There are too many people around and not enough friends.

Amish Vampires in Space

This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill.
Amish Vampires in Space exists. And it's exactly what it says on the cover. When their planet's sun enters its red-giant phase, an Amish colony must decide whether to accept the help of a spaceship to evacuate. But their troubles don't end after the decision is made...
This book began as a joke: Amish titles dominate the Christian publishing industry, while vampires are trending in secular markets, especially the YA subgenre. But despite the parodist elements, the novel has carefully developed characters. The author has considered how Amish pacifism would respond to vampires, as well as setting up conflict between the spaceship crew and the Amish. It also avoids the reverence of Amish culture common in many Christian novels while still treating them with respect.

Rest Now~A writing thing

I'm not entirely sure what this is. Part eulogy for Matt Smith and Eleven, part allegory, and all feels. 

"Well , then," I swallow the lump in my throat. It's just my cold, just the slimy, disgusting leftovers of everything that doesn't clear up in two weeks. "I guess...it's just that...it's not fair!"  No one ever said life was fair--but if anyone brings up the truism, I'll punch him. Okay, glare sullenly. As a scrawny English major, I'm not much of a physical threat to anyone.
"I'll still be around. Stop by every now and then."
"It won't be the same. " No more late nights munching jammie dodgers or arguing if bow ties are cool. No more terrifying stores or amazing adventures. I grab the fleece throw off the couch and throw it around my shoulders. "I wish Amy and Rory were still around. Have you heard from River yet?"
"She'll turn up when she turns up."
"Spoilers!" we chime together.
"Clara will be there," he remarks.
"I'm not really fond of her yet."
"Give her time. Any of your friends coming?"
"No, just me." I sink onto the couch. He sits next to me, letting me lean on his shoulder.  "It...it just seems like more than three and a half years. All the places I've been, things I've learned, books I've read. Even with homework, stress, colds and roommates, college beats high school hollow. And now..."
I'm sniffling now, soon to slip into full-blown crying: ugly crying, with red eyes and drippy nose and a headache. "I'll have to be an adult. Get a full time job and pay rent and find new friends and buy $20 pots with lids and everything. I'm not ready."
"There's no point in being grown-up if you can't be childish sometimes," he quotes himself. "It's not all bad. There are some good points too."
"Like what?"
"Fezzes?"
I make a noise. "Not helping. Can you wait a few months? Just until I find a real job. Not five days after graduation."
"It's all lined up, I can't change it."
"Not coming." I drape the throw over my head and curl up into a ball.  The light filters through the red material, giving only vague outlines.  But the air is stuffy. "I was lying."

----------------------
"It's time."
I can barely breath around the lump in my throat. And this time, I will admit that it's tears.  I want to beg him to stay, there's so much more we could see, but I can't speak. Would I? There's no turning back now--move into the future or embrace empty memories.
He smiles and is gone.

No Cape Required

As a fan of sci-fi, fantasy and graphic novels, this devotional caught my eye. Although it was a quick, easy read with a few good questions, I was disappointed by the superficial lessons and simplified story lines.   For example, Robin Hood is provided as an example of charity, while ignoring that Robin’s charity came from criminal gains.  Jake Sully is listed as “protecting others”, which is similar to the listed trait for Katniss. 

Another problem I have is some of the author’s sources. His chapter on Eustace is drawn entirely from the film adaptation, including quotes.  And for the Hunchback of Notre Dame, he refers to an old film very few people will have access too.

 While I can admire the author’s intentions, I did not find this book useful.  It might be useful for upper elementary children, but older kids would benefit more from reading the books or watching the movies mentioned for themselves.   Parents might  use this book to movies to watch, but the oversimplification annoyed me. Stories, while they may have good lessons, should not be boiled down to those lessons; students should be allowed to explore stories for themselves. Perhaps they’ll find something new that no one else did.