Constantine (or Gabriel in Bondage Gear)

Constantine the movie was not as bad as I had let myself be told. It was visually a mixed bag. The scenes were well composed, but the lighting left something to be desired, and the shots and scenes tended to not flow smoothly. To use a cliche, the movie reminded me as one directed by someone more at home with commercials or music videos.

I'm getting to be too much of a geek, but the foley was kinda hokey, with sounds that didn't quite match the scene (a regular kettle doesn't whistle!) and the kerning on the title of the movie was horrendously bad. And the guns... Well, I guess the Hellsing props had to go somewhere.

It also had no real story. Suspending all disbelief and higher brain activity (which is needed for class anyway, so shouldn't bother itself with movies) I rather enjoyed it as a mindless, stylish, dark action romp. Not having a viable story or plot also rather helps in relieving the actors from undue pressures to perform, as they can just strike poses and look moody and try to be cool. On which note, Tilda Swinton as Gabriel is totally hot. (I wonder what that says about me. Or what she'll have done to the whole bondage pants fashion craze with this movie. And no, they're not really bondage pants. Well, they kinda are. But I shan't spoil.)

So, in short--if you can deal with movies that have lots of dark moody style and lack sorely on substance, and don't think about it too hard, it's a fine matinee flick to see. I had fun.

Zoot Suit Riot!

On a second note, I'm ready for the big bands, as I've just spent an utterly ridiculous amount to upgrade my wardrobe. My current "solemn" suit hails from my high school graduation, and not only is it not exactly current style (not that I can tell, with suits), it definitely doesn't fit anymore. My second one is a bit better, but has use only within academia where brown leather patches on elbows would work. So, I went shopping. S&K on Dale Mabry was a total bust. The service was passable, but the entire store failed to have a suit I could wear, leaving only the option of special ordering something sight unseen.
Mens Wearhouse was quite the different experience. I had been to the one in Brandon once, and got such crappy service that I hadn't been back for years. A lot of people seem to like it, though, so I figured I'd give another store of the chain a chance. Well, if I ever get around to procreating, I have to inform my potential mate that the firstborn is spoken for. That aside, not only was I pampered beyond belief by an tactical sales team of three people, the suits fit, and they will lay out for you a bunch of shirts and ties and socks and shoes and whatnot that you can swap between whatever else you've bought. For total fashion knuckleheads the salesman offered the story of one customer, for whom they took pictures of the possible (sane) combinations of clothing elements, to be hung from the relevant hangers in his closet. I was quite happy with their eye, but alas, having (still!) failed to win the lottery, I had to settle but for a few scraps. (Darn that $600 (sale price) Italian suit would've looked good on me, though.)
Regardless, come Friday, I should have an interesting multi-use garment, which perhaps may make an appearance at MegaCon.

Metal

I poked in to the Tampa Bay Brewing Company, or whatever it's called this week, to see Vince, Russ, Danny and Mel. Their current menu is quite nice, I wish I had the opportunity to eat there. However, the beermisu is gone, complete with the drug addict cook that used to make it. Anyhow, Danny asked about Finnish metal, so I poked around a bit. Sinergy has synergy with Nightwish, and while it's good metal, I don't rave about it. HIM really isn't metal. Stratovarious, which probably won't satisfy the genuine metal junkies, however, is quite neat. I'll have to find some more of it. (I've also found a new love for Popeda and Rauli Badding Somerjoki, but that likely is useless for the non-Finnish speakers around.)