Happy Halloween!

Despite the date on this post, I celebrated Halloween yesterday thanks to international time zones, though it's clear that the holiday really hasn't caught on in New Zealand yet. I went out and specially brought a bag of Kit-Kats in anticipation of trick-or-treaters, and do you want to know how many turned up at my door?

None.

In a way I suppose it's a good thing, as I've never understood the logic of teaching children not to take candy from strangers, only to set them loose once a year to do exactly that – but I was all prepared for the occasion, and am now forced to withstand the siren call of chocolate in my fridge before I can foist it all onto someone else.

But as I do every year, I re-watched Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, one of my favourite spooky movies of all time. The atmosphere, the suspense, the characterization – I know it's not considered Burton's best by a long shot (in fact, many consider it the first sign of his waning talent as a director), but it was the first horror movie I ever saw on the big-screen and I've loved it ever since.

Standing Tall #12

Fittingly, this gold giraffe was situated outside the Christchurch Casino, and they bought it permanently after the charity auction. Called We Are Worth It by Lin Klenner, my guidebook tells me it's meant to "reflect that beneath the rubble is a heart of gold".

Much like 3#, which was painted solid silver, there's not a lot of detail to admire, but it made for a striking landmark under the building's awning.

Downton Abbey: S06E06

Eep, I'm pretty late for this one, but hey – at least my Polytech assignment is finished!

I'm enjoying this season more than any other since the first, and I can't help but feel that Julian Fellowes' writing has been reinvigorated by the fast-approaching finish line. There's no excuse now for stalling or backtracking; the end is in sight and so he can plot his episodes accordingly. As such the show has a forward momentum that's been missing for a long time.

Review: X-Men Evolution

My assignment is finished! Time to celebrate!

It's been over a decade since X-Men Evolution first aired between 2000 and 2003, but I enjoyed it enough to record most of the episodes on videotape – yes, in those days we had to resort to such arcane measures if we wanted to have copies of our favourite shows. My sister in particular completely loved it, and though those old tapes are long gone, all four seasons of the show are now freely available on YouTube.

One of the biggest questions that arise when you're about to rewatch something you haven't seen in years is: will it hold up? There have been so many films and books I wish I'd never tracked down again because my memories of them were so rosy it was inevitably a let-down when I returned to them as an adult.

But I'm happy to say that X-Men Evolution is still pretty good. Not without its flaws, but still a coherent and rewarding piece of television. Like I said in my last post, the inevitable point of comparison is X-Men: TAS, which (as much as I adored it as a kid) has not aged well. It's certainly not unwatchable, but I can't help but feel that a viewer unused to the distinctive style of nineties cartoons would be utterly bewildered by it. And possibly a bit scared as well.

But X-Men Evolution is something you could sit a small child in front of, knowing they would understand the gist of what was going on – at least most of the time. So here's my controversial opinion that will no doubt draw the ire of anyone out there in their late twenties/early thirties: X-Men Evolution tells a better overarching story than X-Men: TAS. Indubitably.

Downton Abbey: S06E05

I suppose after an episode like last week's, it's only natural to have a rather tepid follow-up. At least, for most of its run-time. I can't fairly say that Lord Grantham vomiting blood all over the dinner table, complete with his wife getting caught in the spray, is "tepid."

Links and Updates

Okay, I know I was supposed to have my X-Men Evolution review up this week, but my Polytechnic assignment is looming, so I've had to put it on hold. But don't worry, it's coming. And I've got TONS of stuff to say about it, especially when it comes to Rogue. Heck, I may have to write a meta about the role of teenage girls in the X-Men franchise when I'm done.

Downton Abbey: S06E04

This episode was a GIFT. Easily the best one they've had in years.

We'll start with what I was most excited about: Gwen's return to Downton. I was spoiled for her arrival, but I wasn't sure whether she would get the chance to mention Sybil (and my heart was set on it). And then... oh man, it was better than I ever could have expected!