Un-coupling, or I vant to be left alone

Here’s something that’s been bugging me for a while now. Why does everyone insist that everybody be coupled? Why is that the norm anyway? What if coupling is just a neurotic response to one’s dependency needs? Sheesh. I know so many couples that are just glorified co-dependents. They are totally miserable. Some people are just better off on their own.

Of course, if two people really like each other and want to be together, then by all means go for it. I'm happy for them. It's just not the case for everybody.

So why is it that people are always asking me: “Are you seeing someone?” Why is it so important that I be seeing someone? Is my existence only legitimate if I’m half of a relationship? Am I validated only by another’s clinging presence?

No, I’m not seeing anyone, and I like it that way. I like being able to eat, drink, sleep, spend my money and dress the way I please and not be hen-pecked and nagged mercilessly for it. I like being single. For now.

Those hideous Oscar-nominated songs

Should have posted this the other day when I was watching that bloated promo-fest they call the Academy Awards, but really, does anybody think they need that Best Song category? They had a bunch of people come out and perform these five (was it five? ... hard to tell since they all sounded the same) unbelievably mediocre musical interludes. There was not one decent ditty in the bunch. And the one that won the Oscar was like a fricking funeral dirge. WTF?

Seriously, dump the whole category folks. Unless there is a year wherein someone actually writes a good song.

Lost: Kate's Case

Hhhmmm, not much to blog about after the last episode. Kate's behaviour has me a tad confused, unless we're supposed to believe she's completely motivated by self-interest and self-preservation. Which kind of blows away any sympathy that's been built up for her over the past year or two.

So how does she end up raising Aaron as her own son? This doesn't bode well for Claire, to say the least. And why are Kate and Jack lying about what happened on the island and how many survived the plane crash? Ponder, ponder...

By the way, I caught the horrendously long movie Heaven's Gate the other night and Terry O'Quinn (Locke) played the Captain of the cavalry that rides in to rescue the evil cattle baron (Sam Waterston). Good cast; crummy flick.

Lost: In Sayid Out

This latest episode: a Sayid-stravaganza. Not only is it revealed that our intrepid Iraqi is No. 4 on the Oceanic 6 hit-list but we get a virtual GQ pictorial of said Sayid. We see him meditating in the Lotus position, showing off his golf swing, and effortlessly picking up an uber-model in a swanky German cafe.

What's next, I ask myself, expecting to see him wearing blue Casino Royale swim trunks and a big smile, cavorting in the surf on a beach in Waikiki. Perhaps a message will crawl across the bottom of the screen: "Ladies, what are you waiting for? Call 1-800-Sayid."

I'm already reaching for the phone when the next flash forward appears. Nope, no swimsuit. But he is wearing a tuxedo and that gorgeous mane of dark hair is straighter than usual and flowing down to his shoulders.

Somewhere along the way we end up back on the island where Rousseau is taking Sayid for a walk at gunpoint. "Nothing personal" she explains, all French-accent and smirking in that "we've bonded over torture" kind of bantering way she has. Sayid seems to enjoy the playful repartee and I can't help noticing the sexual tension that seems to exist between them. Must be some kind of SM/BD thing. Anyway, the room begins to spin and I start to pass out from hotness overload but Hurley cracks wise, snapping me out of my reverie and forcing me to disembark from Mickey's train ride to Fantasyland.

Finally, we see Ben at the end, back in the real world, working as a veterinarian and Sayid's task-master. How cool. Ben is deliciously evil.

Across the Universe

I didn't fully appreciate this movie until I watched it a second time. I have a problem with the idea of "new" musicals, as they call them -- movies that just take a bunch of familiar songs and then try to stick them together in some kind of narrative. So I really was rolling my eyes at some of the plot-lines and the wink-wink, nudge-nudge references. And in a way, it was like watching a bunch of really well made music videos back to back.

Still ...

This movie is visually stunning. The art direction is breath-taking and the colour gorgeous. It's by the same director who did Frida, so if you liked that one, you can imagine how colourful and vibrant it is.

There are some incredible sequences. The standouts: I Wanna Hold Your Hand, with Prudence walking slow mo through the tackling football players; I've Just Seen a Face, set at a bowling alley of all places; I Want You/She's So Heavy, featuring a troop of young draftees dragging the Statue of Liberty as they trample the underbrush of Vietnam; plus the amazingly shot Strawberry Fields Forever and the stylized Happiness is a Warm Gun.

A few other scenes really stuck in my head. Eddie Izzard ad-libbing his way through For the Benefit of Mr. Kite was a lot of fun to watch and the Day In the Life/Helter Skelter montage was incredible. But what really stands out is the talent in this young cast. They all do their own singing and a lot of it is live. The woman who plays Sadie, the Janis Joplin character, has a phenomenal voice and presence. Ditto the Jimi Hendrix character Jo-Jo. I would have liked to see more of him. And we don't see or hear enough of lovely Prudence either. But I guess the movie is already quite long.

I also really liked the actor who played Max -- he'd be perfect for the role of Kurt Cobain if they ever make a movie about him. I expect we'll be seeing more of these young actors in the future. Check it out on DVD if you are a Beatles fan, or a fan of artsy, imaginative, offbeat flicks.

My Oceanic Six

The idea being that if I were to be stranded on an island (hopefully a deserted one, but with all the proper amenities) these are the six Lost characters I'd want to share it with. Yeah, I know, what are the odds. Humour me.
1. Kate. (Do I really have to say why. OK, she's cute, she's smart and she's a little bit wicked. Like moi.
2. Ana Lucia. (I know. She's dead on the show. But on my island she's still alive and she's feisty as ever. I do love a woman who knows how to take charge and kick ass.)
3. Rousseau. (There's something about her I can't resist. Maybe it's her French accent or her haunted eyes. Or maybe it's just the way she swings that rifle.)
4. Sun. (Eye candy)
5. Sayid. (Eye candy and handy)
6. Desmond. (Eye candy with a great accent. He and Sayid can build the shelters while Kate and I go exploring in the jungle. Heh heh.)

New Lost

I watched it twice just to make sure I caught all the nuances. Probably didn't but what the hell. Best line of the episode goes to Ben who floors Jack by telling him that Kate swiped the mobile phone and found the right trail to Naomi.

Ben: At least someone around here knows what the hell they're doing.

Ooooh! Good one, bug-eyes. That guy can deliver a line. Although he risked getting another punch in the face for it.

Random musings:
- Who's in the coffin? Someone small, I think.

- Who's this Jacob guy? Jacob is a significant Biblical reference. Most translations say Jacob means: "the supplanter" which is another way of saying he wrongfully takes someone's place. Jacob had 12 sons and the youngest one was Benjamin. Interesting.

- Naomi is another Biblical name. Her last words: "Tell my sister (Ruth?) I love her."

- Who are "The Oceanic Six"? Obviously Jack, Kate, Hurley, the person in the box and two others. Hmmmmmm. Ponder, ponder. I think I'll come up with my own list.