One of the biggest mysteries I’d like to see answered is this—why can’t the standard release and director’s cut for a movie release at the same time? It’s extremely vexing to buy a movie when it comes out and see the director’s cut months later with several commentaries and documentaries.

Actually, it’s not such a mystery. They just want more of my money.

Curses.

Lennox: We don’t take orders from people that don’t exist.
Simmons: I’m going to count to five.
Lennox: (Switches off safety) I’m going to count to three.
Defense Secretary: I’d do what he says. Losing’s not really an option for these guys.

I saw the Transformers movie when it came to theatres. The experience went something like this.

Friend Tyler (FT): Let’s see Transformers.

Lia: OK. Hope I like it.

FT: It’ll be great.

{In theatre}

After 20 minutes . . .

Lia: (Thinks) Now there’s a guy who looks good in uniform. Hope he makes it home to see his baby girl.

After 50 minutes . . .

Lia: (Thinks) Okay. He’s still alive. He’ll stay that way, I’m sure.

After 115 minutes . . .

Lia: (to FT) He’d {smack} better make it {smack} home to see his baby! {smack} Or I’ll hit you.

FT: (Holding his arm where I smacked him) You’re already hitting me.

Lia: Those are love taps, buddy.

After 120 minutes . . .

Lia: (to FT’s sister) I’m serious. He’s going to make it home, right? Right?

FTS: I haven’t seen this movie. I don’t know.

Surprisingly, I didn’t have a heart attack before the end of the movie, although I think it took a while for my heart rate to return to normal.

So last week . . .

Lia: I bought the special edition of Transformers on DVD. We should watch it.

FT: I don’t know . . . I didn’t love it. It was good, but . . .

Lia: You’re worried about the love taps, aren’t you?

FT: Um.

Lia: (Thinks) I can watch it alone. I do love a man in uniform . . .

True confession time: I’m a fan of Angelina Jolie. Despite that, lukewarm reviews kept me away from seeing Beowulf. Then it hit the dollar theatre, so I gave it a try. It was better than I thought it would be. I know, that’s not a huge recommendation. Still . . .

It started slowly. For the first half hour, I kept thinking, OK, let’s get this story moving. But it got better.

The animation was better than I thought it would be. (There’s that phrase again.) It looked off in a couple of spots, especially with Robin Wright Penn’s character. The acting was strong as well—Ray Winstone in particular as the title character. And Jolie was awesome—I loved how her “tail” became braided hair and how her feet had built-in heels. Campy? Oh, absolutely. But it was campy in a good way. The gold shimmer on her body was a nice touch, too.

The story was different from the poem in a number of ways, but I’m one of those people who can generally appreciate a book and movie separate from each other. Ultimately, Beowulf was worth seeing, although I don’t feel a burning need to see it again anytime soon. I haven’t decided if I’ll buy it on DVD. I probably wouldn’t, but it does have Angelina Jolie . . .

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope it’s fantastic for you. Don’t forget, it’s a great day to read a sexy love story, so I hope you’ll try one.

In the meantime, enjoy this video about one of my favorite TV couples: Michael and Nikita from La Femme Nikita.

There’s only one TV program I watch regularly–Medium. With the writer’s strike, I wondered if it would be on the air. Apparently, it was filmed before the strike, so it’s back on! Last night was the second episode of the new season.

Patricia Arquette plays the main character, and she is just fabulous as Allison. She can communicate with the dead, and her cases are always so fascinating. Sometimes creepy, but intriguing.

One thing I love about Medium is that it follows a family. Allison’s husband Joe is terrific, and their daughters are also showing signs of sharing Allison’s abilities. Right now, Joe is out of work, and Allison’s abilities have been reported to the media. There’s family drama in the episodes, but they are together in the end. This really appeals to me because so many shows have characters who go from partner to partner. This one focuses on the family and is still interesting.

I’ve been watching Babylon 5: The Lost Tales, and it’s made me a bit nostalgic. I love the Babylon 5 series, and it’s great to revisit some of the characters. The first story features Lockley (Tracy Scoggins); the second includes Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) and Galen (Peter Woodward). Both stories are good.

I have to say, I adore Galen. The actor is marvelous and technomages are so interesting. I love his moral ambiguity–it makes his character almost unbearably fascinating. Or maybe I just like the British accent.

Watching The Lost Tales reminds me of one of the lessons of good storytelling–making use of subtlety. There’s one scene with Sheridan and Prince Vintari. It could have been bogged down with a bunch of “here’s how this character relates to this one, and where that one fits in” dialogue. Instead, one line conveys the necessary information. To someone who knows the series, the line conveys a good deal. To someone who doesn’t, it’s a small piece that helps reveal the character.

A few of my favorite moments:

• Galen’s smile when Sheridan yells “Up yours” to the driver who nearly hit him
• Sheridan’s expression when Vintari talks about “the reckoning” he will lead in the future
• Lockley’s muttered, “I wonder if Custer had staff like this”

I checked this copy out of the library, but I’m going to have to get my own copy.

I watched the latest version of Pride & Prejudice tonight. Spoilers are ahead, so if you haven’t seen the movie and don’t want to know anything about it, stop reading now. Anyway, the first time I saw it was in the theatre, my heart turned over in my chest in the scene where Mr. Darcy walks toward Elizabeth in the morning mist. When I bought the DVD, I wondered if I would have the same reaction watching it again.

I did.

It’s such a terrific moment, and as the credits rolled, I thought about why. The scene is beautifully filmed. The scenery is awe-inspiring. The clothes are perfect–I practically swoon over Mr. Darcy in that long jacket. And, of course, the acting is wonderful. But what makes that moment so wonderful isn’t all of the things I’ve just listed. It’s also because of what happened in the story before this moment.

It’s because of everything Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth experience in their journey together that the scene not only works but has an emotional impact. If the moment in the mist had been the first part of the movie, I would have noticed the beautiful filming, awe-inspiring scenery, clothes, and acting, but the scene wouldn’t have had the same emotional punch.

I’m working on a story now, and I’ve been considering how best to strengthen the characters and lengthen the story for possible submission. Tonight it hit me. My story has a moment at the end of the book. It’s not Mr. Darcy striding across the meadow, but it’s a scene with potential emotional impact. The best way to meet my goals for this story of improved characterization and increased length is to evaluate what happens in the story before that scene. What journey of the characters will bring them to that scene?

In other words, I need to make sure the story earns the moment, earns that final emotional punch.

I love making realizations like this.

A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word to paper.
–E. B. White

I had a hard time writing yesterday. The words just weren’t coming. I’m ahead in my NaNoWriMo project, but my goal is still to write at least 1,667 words a day. I struggled through it, then went looking for quotes about writing. This one by E. B. White seemed perfect. The conditions for yesterday’s writing session were far from ideal. I was tired and frustrated. But I got through it, and I am back in writing mode today. I hope to hit 40,000 words this weekend.

Today I also picked up next week’s TV Guide. I have my 3-D glasses ready for Monday’s episode of Medium, my favorite show on TV. I’m really looking forward to it.