THE SIMPSONS NEWS

Finished up the board-a-matic this Wednesday. Today I start helping out other crews.  In a couple of days, we’ll be back on the show for the final pass.  There’s going to be a lot of work to do.

I’m so glad I have a job still.  The season is slowly coming to a close.  Not looking forward to it.

FAMILY

I have a new nephew! My brother Juan and my sister-in-law Deborah had a baby boy this Tuesday!  Hurray! I’m soooo happy.  I think Deborah was in labor for like two days. It was really difficult.  She went through a lot.  My brother said it was the most trying time he’s ever been through.  My mom was is prayer mode the whole time.  I pray a bit as well. It definitely is exciting though.  As of the time of this writing, I haven’t actually met the little boy yet.  Can’t wait.

Babies are so great.

FAMILY

This weekend was Valentines Day.  Alesha and I celebrated it on Sunday instead of Saturday.  We did this for two reasons, one, because that way we might have a chance to get my mom to take care of the kids without stepping on any Valentines Day plans my parents might have; and two, so that we could avoid the crowded restaurants and traffic all over.

It was nice. Alesha and I hadn’t gone out like that in a while and it was a good change.  The kids love having my parents over also.  Alesha and I went to a restaurant next to our housing community and then we went to the movies. We had fun.

Monday I stayed home with the kids and Alesha went to the Dentist and had lunch with her sister.  I believe she also went shopping. Meanwhile, at home, I was really tired and it was all I could do to keep up with the kids’ constant demands for my attention.  I LOVE my kids, but sometimes I just need a small break to get my strength back, and they didn’t want to give it to me.  I didn’t do much resting at all that day.  By the time Alesha got home, I had just put the kids to bed and I was completely fried.   Alesha took pity on me and played a game of Magic: The Gathering with me (which she won). It helped a lot.

MOVIES

(Edit: got the name of the movie wrong. It was pointed out to me on the comments, so I fixed it)

The movie Alesha and I went to watch on our Valentines date was the movie Coraline.  This was the second time watching it for Alesha.  The movie was in 3D and I must say, I was impressed by the technology.  The movie was based on a novella by one of my favorite authors Neil Gaiman.   He was the reason I wanted to watch it. It was directed by the director of Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach, Henry Selick.  Both those movies where interesting but not really something I would say where all that great.  The motion capture in those two movies is the best part of those movies, unfortunately the stories where not quite as gripping as they could have been.  Not so with Coraline.

I loved the movie.  First, because the story was great.  It was really fun and interesting. The Character designs were great.  I loved the motion capture animation in the movie.  It’s NOT computer generated.  Motion Capture is the animation technique of sculpting figures over wireframes putting them on a miniature set and moving them a little, then taking a picture, moving a them a little again, then taking a picture, then moving them a little again and taking a picture…etc. Old school.  The movie benefits from it. Best of all, this movie HAS NO SINGING, which, as much as little kids like it, more often than not, gets in the way of the story in most modern American animated movies.

Again, I will say that the story was the thing that made the movie worth seeing.  It’s the reason I like Neil Gaiman‘s work.  The movie shares some similarities with other movies that I’ve really enjoyed: Pan’s Labyrinth and Spirited Away.  If you’ve enjoyed these movies, you may very likely enjoy Coraline.  Coraline shares some of the intensity of both these movies as well as a girl hero and her ability to use her wits to figure out ways out of magical perils. I won’t go into more detail than that in order  to not spoil the movie. If you watch the movie, you will see what I mean when I compare Coraline with those other movies.

I highly recommend this movie.  I will put this one disclaimer on it though, if you have a kid who is easily scared, don’t take them to watch this movie.  It’s a bit creepy.  After all, fairyland is a very alien world that follows it’s own rules. There aren’t many people who enter it, that manage to come back out.

Below is the teaser trailer to the movie. I chose it over the actual official trailer because the official trailer is one giant spoiler.  Why watch the movie is they give away all the surprises? The teaser is sooo much better.

If you like what you read, please consider signing up to my rss feed.

Comments are appreciated as well.

I also have a store. Click Here and check it out.

If you would like to have a text ad on my site, click on the red BUY LINKS button under the Archives list.

And while you’re at it, please Digg me too.

Writing this blog is almost a part time job for me. Tips are most welcome.