Internet hell

The day before last I couldn't access the net through my normal DSL connection. Today the computer says it's connecting to wireless, but won't let me actually get online. No idea what's going on, but I don't see how I can fix it before I move. (I'm typing from a net cafe in my new neighborhood.)

Last night branna and I went to see Howl's Moving Castle. I thought it was splendid right up to the last five minutes, which were not awful but were less than splendid-- I haven't re-read Castle in a while and it's in a box right now, but my recollection is that the book concludes with a long scene in which everything is explained, whereas the movie doesn't explain the HUGE matter of Sophie's age curse-- well, I figured it out, but I think that was because I read the book-- and the identity of the scarecrow is out of left field, and I am pretty sure not Wynne-Jones' explanation.

Still, I think she must be pleased. The opening shot is pure magic, and the bio-mechanical Baba Yaga castle is an astonishing invention, as is Howl's magical temper tantrum (which seems to have really confused some critics.) I look forward to hearing the Japanese cast, although I generally liked the English one. Lauren Bacall and Jean Simmons were great, of course, and Christian Bale was so startlingly masculine-sounding, given the androgynous bishonen beauty of the Howl design, that it created kind of a cool effect. I bet the Japanese actor sounds much more boyish. Billy Crystal as Calcifer was funny but too Catskills for the character-- the line where he makes what ought to have been a very creepy suggestion to Sophie fell completely flat. I am very curious to hear the Japanese actor.

Internet hell

The day before last I couldn't access the net through my normal DSL connection. Today the computer says it's connecting to wireless, but won't let me actually get online. No idea what's going on, but I don't see how I can fix it before I move. (I'm typing from a net cafe in my new neighborhood.)

Last night branna and I went to see Howl's Moving Castle. I thought it was splendid right up to the last five minutes, which were not awful but were less than splendid-- I haven't re-read Castle in a while and it's in a box right now, but my recollection is that the book concludes with a long scene in which everything is explained, whereas the movie doesn't explain the HUGE matter of Sophie's age curse-- well, I figured it out, but I think that was because I read the book-- and the identity of the scarecrow is out of left field, and I am pretty sure not Wynne-Jones' explanation.

Still, I think she must be pleased. The opening shot is pure magic, and the bio-mechanical Baba Yaga castle is an astonishing invention, as is Howl's magical temper tantrum (which seems to have really confused some critics.) I look forward to hearing the Japanese cast, although I generally liked the English one. Lauren Bacall and Jean Simmons were great, of course, and Christian Bale was so startlingly masculine-sounding, given the androgynous bishonen beauty of the Howl design, that it created kind of a cool effect. I bet the Japanese actor sounds much more boyish. Billy Crystal as Calcifer was funny but too Catskills for the character-- the line where he makes what ought to have been a very creepy suggestion to Sophie fell completely flat. I am very curious to hear the Japanese actor.