Sorry for the Delay

Last week was crazy. I barely had time to do my errands and make food let alone jot down a blog entry. But that's okay because I also didn't have any time to actually read or watch anything either.

Film: Hamlet 2
I was going to discuss Lars and the Real Girl (next week, I promise) this week but then last evening I went and laughed my way through Hamlet 2. Let me begin by saying that this film is not actually a sequel to the play. It's about a sad, sad bad-actor-turned-drama-high-school-teacher named Dana (played by the utterly hysterical Steve Coogan). When his position is cut, he decides to write a play about his relationship with his father, thus the birth of Hamlet 2, the play-within-a-movie. This film will offend everyone about something. Whether it is the song "Sexy Jesus" or the racial and sexual stereotyping, it has a little something for everyone. The thing is, the film really isn't being mean in any way, shape, or form. In fact, the film points out the stupidity of close-mindedness. And that's what makes it funny. Plus, it's about the struggles of a truly clueless but lovable man. You really want Dana to make a difference and succeed, even if you've seen his naked ass a few too many times. Go see this film right now! But don't yell at me if you can't get the final credits song out of your head for a week.

Television: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Tomorrow night at 8pm on Fox the new season begins! I'm so excited! Although only nine episodes in length, Season 1 completely captured my interest. When the show ended in March, there were hints that Cameron may not be all she seemed, John and Derek were bonding, and Agent Ellison had discovered the terminator FBI agent. Shock of shocks!!! Now it's time to see where we go from here. Will John and Sarah be able to take down Skynet? (Doubtful given the upcoming Terminator 4.) Will Derek be the uncle and father-figure John never had? Will Cameron prove to be evil? I have me theories about these questions but I'll wait until the season has progressed before passing any judgments myself. All I can say for certain is that I'll be front and center tomorrow night for the season premier.

Book: Floating Dragon
This is a classic novel dating all the way back to 1982. Just kidding! It's not really that classic. Actually, it's a fun horror novel from Peter Straub. I had only read one Straub novel before this one (Ghost Story) but really enjoyed it. I also very much enjoyed his partnership with Stephen King on both The Talisman and Black House. I picked up Floating Dragon at a book store for a dollar and read it this summer. It tells the story of a Connecticut town where an ancient devil - The Dragon - and a man-made poisonous cloud collide to cause all sorts of trouble. Four surviving members of the town's original four founding families band together to defeat The Dragon. Like King, Straub has an excellent pace to his storytelling. The events unfold just as they should in Floating Dragon. Unlike King, Straub keeps the narrative a bit more tightly contained. In the end, I like both authors and would recommend you find a couple of Straub's novels in the bargin bin of your local book dealer. He'll be great for the upcoming long winter nights when you just want to curl up under a blanket and enjoy a good story.