Buffy Summers
. She had to beat a lot of other worthy contenders to get there. I can hardly think of another more deserving, as she has touched so many of our lives.2) I finished my Austen reread with ( Persuasion )
3) It's Oscar-bait season, and therefore a poll is in order.
Poll #1321416 Oscar bait
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 14
I plan to see/have seen these *verry serrious* Oscar-bait movies or Oscar-bait performances:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
10 (71.4%)
Revolutionary Road 8 (57.1%)
Doubt 6 (42.9%)
The Reader 5 (35.7%)
Slumdog Millionaire 8 (57.1%)
Milk 10 (71.4%)
Frost/Nixon 7 (50.0%)
The Wrestler 7 (50.0%)
Rachel Getting Married 9 (64.3%)
Changeling 3 (21.4%)
Gran Torino 2 (14.3%)
How could you have forgotten about (state in comments) 0 (0.0%)
Philip Seymour Hoffman is determined to be in every film ever made from now on. Agree/disagree?
Most awesome surprise nomination?
James Franco, Golden Globe nominee for Pineapple Express 5 (38.5%)
Tom Cruise, Golden Globe nominee for Tropic Thunder 2 (15.4%)
Robert Downey Jr., everything nomination for Tropic Thunder 6 (46.2%)
Real-life holiday update coming soon.
- Mood:
lazy
The Final Two
Poll #1315878 Two women enter. One leaves.
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 27
You decide.
- Mood:
surprised
The Final Four
Poll #1314571 The Final Four
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 25
Austen vs. Mitchell
Whedon vs. Rowling
The second poll is no longer hard for me now that my favorite is gone. The first one, though? Hoo boy.
- Mood:
disappointed
The Elite Eight
Now it gets personal.
Poll #1313257 The Elite Eight
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 27
Literary character face-off
Clarice Starling, The Silence of the Lambs 10 (38.5%)
Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice 16 (61.5%)
Movie character face-off
TV character face-off
Kid face-off
- Mood:
nervous
Now we get to the nitty-gritty, the cream of the crop, the greatest of the great, the...you know where I'm going with this.
The Elite Eight
Before the poll, a few reminders of why these ladies got as far as they did.
( Clips and quotes behind the cut )
- Mood:
cheerful
I don't know why we bother voting with the TV tier. There will probably be upsets, but I'm almost certain the TV tier will end up as Scully vs. Buffy. The kiddie one is a little harder to predict (*cough* Go Ramona! *cough*)
Poll #1311624 Round 2, Tiers 3&4
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 29
Insert clever title here
Aristocratic bitch vs. loser bitch
Off-kilter bitch vs. rich bitch
Rayanne Graff, My So-Called Life 5 (18.5%)
Cordelia Chase, Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel 22 (81.5%)
The two characters who are apparently exactly alike but really aren't
Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 23 (79.3%)
Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars 6 (20.7%)
More childhood favorites
Spy vs. saxaphonist
The little princess vs. the queen of Klickitat Street
Oz vs. Camazotz
- Mood:
busy
Now the voting gets harder. Some of my favorites are being pitted against each other already. 1 and 4 in the literary section are both breaking my heart.
Poll #1311009 Round 2, Tiers 1 & 2
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 24
Another battle of the childhood favorites
Queen of Egypt vs. steely FBI agent
Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra 9 (39.1%)
Clarice Starling, The Silence of the Lambs 14 (60.9%)
Sense vs. more sense...again
Elinor Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility 14 (66.7%)
Francie Nolan, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 7 (33.3%)
Austen vs. Shakespeare
Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing 5 (20.8%)
Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice 19 (79.2%)
They kick ass and take names
Ellen Ripley, Alien 12 (54.5%)
The Bride aka Beatrice Kiddo, Kill Bill Vol. 1 &2 10 (45.5%)
A galaxy far away vs. a spoonful of sugar
Tough chick vs. high school queen
Battle of the...interesting fashion choices
- Mood:
artistic
Poll #1310534 Tier 4, Round 1
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 25
Narnian vs. Hogwartsian
Lucy Pevensie, The Chronicles of Narnia 5 (20.0%)
Hermione Granger, Harry Potter 20 (80.0%)
They both see people for who they really are
Spy vs. spy
Harriet M. Welch, Harriet the Spy 15 (68.2%)
Trixie Belden, the Trixie Belden series 7 (31.8%)
Buddhist vs. Heathen
*gulp*
Telekenetic vs. a litlte princess
Witch vs. "are you a good witch or a bad witch?"
Spunky vs. nerd
I am anxious about Battle #5. I don't know which way my friends' list sways on this issue, and one of those characters is my favorite one in this entire tier, and if she doesn't win, I'll cry.
- Mood:
anxious
This is by far the worst one so far. Battles #3 and #4 hurt badly enough, but Battle #6 makes me want to cry. Battle #1 is easy but I know my pick won't win. Waaah.
Poll #1310204 Kickass girls - TV
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 28
FBI agent vs. Miami motherfuckin cop
Space cowboy vs. English bitch
Alcoholic vs. gun nut
Lucille Bluth, Arrested Development 15 (60.0%)
Robin Scherbatsky, How I Met Your Mother 10 (40.0%)
Battle of the comedy queens
I...don't think these two have anything in common
Sarah Connor, The Sarah Connor Chronicles 9 (40.9%)
Rayanne Graff, My So-Called Life 13 (59.1%)
Battle of the bitches
Kim Kelly, Freaks and Geeks 5 (19.2%)
Cordelia Chase, Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel 21 (80.8%)
Battle of the chosen ones
Kara Thrace, Battlestar Galactica 2 (7.7%)
Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 24 (92.3%)
Girl detective vs. magazine editor
- Mood:
distressed
Poll #1308933 Movie female characters
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 27
Sci-fi heroine vs. high school queen
Heather Junior vs. Tarantino heroine
Regina George, Mean Girls 12 (50.0%)
The Bride aka Beatrix Kiddo, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 12 (50.0%)
A galaxy far, far away vs. Minnesota
A pair of daredevils vs. the original supernanny
Rose vs. Angelina
Sci-fi heroine vs. high school queen...again
I can't think of anything to say here
If this one doesn't turn out the way I want...
Princess Buttercup, The Princess Bride 8 (29.6%)
Scarlett O'Hara, Gone With the Wind 19 (70.4%)
I didn't seed this one because there are SO many beloved ones that it didn't seem fair.
ETA: No, people, this is unacceptable. This is WRONG. You've got a woman who delivered a baby in the middle of a town being burned to the ground, who saved herself and three other people in a war, brought her family out of sickness and nursed people back to health, made it so they'd never have to lose their land, shot a Yankee soldier, who will never be hungry again (as god is her witness), who can hopefully declare, "Tomorrow is another day!" after her parents, daughter, and best friend have died...against a weepy princess who gets captured and rescued a lot. No. I love you guys, but no. I think I officially hate The Princess Bride now.
- Mood:
chipper
( Literary Ladies )
( Film Fatales )
( Television...Tarts? )
( Teens & Tots )
We'll start with the Literary Ladies!
Poll #1308379 Book Character Face-Off 1
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 25
Alcott avatar vs. SI agent
Ingalls vs. Montgomery
Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables 15 (62.5%)
Laura Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie series 9 (37.5%)
Shakespearean queen vs. bounty hunter
Cleopatra, Antony and Cleopatra 18 (75.0%)
Stephanie Plum, Stephanie Plum books 6 (25.0%)
Ship captain vs. FBI agent
Skye O'Malley, The Skye O'Malley Series 2 (8.3%)
Clarice Starling, The Silence of the Lambs 22 (91.7%)
"Rich girl" vs. poor girl
Sense vs. more sense
Elinor Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility 17 (73.9%)
Miss Marple, The Miss Marple Series 6 (26.1%)
Austen favorite vs. Bronte favorite
Battle of the sharp-tongued ladies
I'm predicting battle #2 as the heartbreaker vote. That's certainly the toughest one for me. That and #8. Everything else is easy.
- Mood: chipper
A part of me is completely disgusted and sick of sparkly vampires and resenting that writers think their stupid vampire stories can ever compete with Buffy. I'm also annoyed because, from what I hear even from the books' FANS, the writing is not actually good at all. I mean, there are a lot of diehard Harry Potter fans, myself included, who don't try to pretend that she's the best children's author ever, but she's still good! Despite her abuse of adverbs, she's quite clever and engaging. Twilight fans - the ones I hear from, anyway - say that Stephanie Meyer's writing is worse than Anne Rice's.
On the other hand, I like being in the know. A lot of my students like these books and I feel like I should stay on top of that stuff. And when something is popular, I like knowing what it's about. I don't like feeling left out! The only exception to the rule is reality TV; I have no problem being completely in the dark about sleazy reality TV people, the only exception to THAT exception being Top Chef because I like seeing the recipes people create. ANYway, I like knowing what is up.
To read Twilight or not to read Twilight? I can't decide.
ALSO, I am super mad at Stephanie Meyer for naming her main character Bella. Bella was GOING to be the name of my main character of my NaNoWriMo book. I changed her name to Annabelle because I didn't want to look like I was copying. Stupid Stephanie Meyer.
In other news, I have not abandoned my newest bracketology poll. I'm getting so many nominations that I think I'm going to do a DOUBLE bracketology contest and start with 128...unless that's somehow mathematically impossible. Anyway, name some more people.
Also, I am drinking beer while writing this post. This makes me happy. I never used to like beer. Now, I suddenly do. This is a good thing. Now when I go out for a drink with friends after work at some pub, no one will look at me strangely when I try to order a White Russian. I still love those, but not at every bar.
- Mood:
confused - Music:Vampire Weekend
In this competition, I have the four tiers and categories already mapped out.
Tier One: Literary Ladies - kickass characters from novels and literature (including plays).
Tier Two: Movie Madams - kickass characters from films.
Tier Three: Small-Screen, um, Sapphos? - kickass characters from TV.
Tier Four: Tots and Preteens - kickass girl characters from novels, films, OR TV, who are under eighteen. We have to celebrate the little girls as well as the women.
Nominations are open! I'll start us off:
Literary: Cleopatra, William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. She's bitchy, vindictive, passionate, wild, stubborn. Love her.
Film: Scarlett O'Hara, Gone With the Wind. I know she counts as a literary character too, but I haven't read the book, and besides, Vivien Leigh's portrayal of her goes down in the film canon as one of the best performances ever.
TV: Liz Lemon, 30 Rock. One of the best comedic characters I've ever seen on TV.
Kiddie: Lisa Simpson, The Simpsons. I want to be her when I grow up.
Now start picking people!
- Mood:
excited
( Look here to see what I have so far )
So give me a few more.
In addition, I need help dividing things into four different categories. I'm thinking something like Classic Musicals, Irreverent Musicals, Sad-Ending Musicals, Rock Musicals...except I don't know what should apply to what category. So I need some help, especially since I haven't seen all of these. Leave category suggestions as well, please, since some of these I haven't seen.
ETA: Okay, people, I'm seriously thinking that someone else should take up this banner and do the bracketology in her journal, because I have not seen more than half of these and I am embarrassed. Like, I now have 64, and I've only seen 24 of these. I should not be in charge of this thing.
- Mood:
okay
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
swsa didn't get her Angie nomination, jheaton didn't get his preferred documentary in, and I had to endure seeing The Simpsons Movie passed over for that piece o' crap Surf's Up. *seethes* But, let's not dillydally and stay depressed over the Academy's stupid choices. Let's celebrate favorite movies of a genre with a brand-new bracketology!Bracketology Returns: THE MOVIE MUSICAL
RULES AND REGULATIONS:
- The movie has to have characters that sing, that randomly burst into song. Such is the world of the musical.
- They may either be musicals written exclusively for the screen, or stage musicals that were adapted into films.
- No Wizard of Oz. I adore it, but it went straight to the top for the Kid Movie poll, and what's the point of doing this if it will yield the exact same result?
- Made-for-TV-movie musicals count. Musical episodes of TV shows do not count.
- Disney animated musicals are allowed, but try to vote for other things first just so this isn't a complete retread of the Kid Movie poll.
My nominees:
Hairspray (2007)
Moulin Rouge!
South Pacific
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
Nominate away!
- Mood:
angry
Anyway, the final round of the Most Awesome Kids Movie of All Time was yesterday. The competition is over. The winner is...drumroll please...
THE WIZARD OF OZ
This was my pick as the big winner from the very beginning. Some of you had me worried for a minute, but then it started winning big and I began to relax. I am glad the most enduring classic is the movie that won. Honorable mention goes to The Princess Bride, which wouldn't make my personal top 4, but I do recognize its inherent Awesomeness and congratulate it for almost winning.
And check it out - How I Met Your Mother was renewed for a third season! *Three* good things happen in one day!
- Mood:
energetic
blixie's livejournal, for she is holding a Bad Awesome competition. Vote for your best bad movies ever.But since we're on the subject, I felt the need to show clips of my favorite Bad Movie ever. I didn't nominate it in the competition because I'm fairly certain I'm the only one who's seen it. It's called Sinbad of the Seven Seas and it is GLORIOUSLY awful.
The Trailer:
A Sneak Peak at one of the most "Exciting" Scenes!"
- Mood:
pleased
Welcome to Thunderdome
Two Movies Enter. One Movie Leaves.
Here it is, folks - the Final Two. Thank you all for playing and cast your vote for the Most Awesome Kids Movie of All Time. Choose carefully.
Poll #984432 Final Round
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 27
The Final Two
*bites fingernails*
- Mood: anxious
The Final Four
We're down to the bare bones, people. Only one more round to go after this one.
Poll #982206 Final Four
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 30
Muppets vs. Lions, Tigers, and Bears
Wimpy Liesl vs. Wimpy Buttercup
- Mood:
worried
My excuse for doing this? Well, why not?
( Favorites That Didn't Make It )
That's all for now - I couldn't find decent clips for some of my other favorites, like my beloved Babe.
- Mood:
geeky
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