Donna Freitas: August 2007 Archives

For those of us diehard Buffy/Angel fans who can't seem to get over the fact that so far nothing can truly replace Buffy and Angel (and probably Spike, too), at least on the small screen, and for those of us who revel in a good dose of the paranormal now and again (and again and again), I propose my all time favorite vampire novels as a fix!

1. The "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer. When I picked up "Twilight," the first time I read the entire book in a single sitting--all 600 pages of it. Then I read it again. And again. And then I prayed that Meyer would meet her impossible deadlines (which she did, thank God) and deliver us books two and three, "New Moon" and "Eclipse" respectively. Both of these books resemble her first novel in the way that reading them is like experiencing a temporary but insanely intense drug addiction.

The "Twilight" series introduces readers to the best paranormal love triangle ever, with Edward Cullen playing the role as the sexiest 17-year-old vampire heartthrob with the most chivalrous sense of virtue the world has ever known. Jacob Black is his long-haired, sweet-natured rival (whose quirk I won't give away, since it's a spoiler), and Bella is the human caught between these two gorgeous, unusual suitors. The rival between Edward and Jacob is so fiery it has even jumps off of the page. In addition to T-shirts that say "I heart Edward Cullen," you can purchase baby tee's that say "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob" depending on your preference. I'm "Team Edward" all the way. And I'm already counting the days 'til the release of book four, "Breaking Dawn," due out next summer.

The season finale of "Big Love" is this Sunday (oh no!), and things are about to boil over for polygamist Bill Henrickson. His three wives are unhappy--with each other and him. Barb seems poised to leave (go Barb!), Nicki feels Bill betrayed her family, and Margene is losing patience when it comes to being the third and the least public wife.

This on top of the fact that Bill and Barb's two eldest children are torn between Mom and Dad and monogamy and polygamy. Weber gaming might take down the whole family, and oh, yeah, the other night Barb and Bill came home to find a nest of poisonous snakes under the covers of their bed!

Ever wonder how magic really works? Not just the "how to's" of performing a trick, but why we humans are so susceptible to believing we see the impossible?

Well, George Johnson of The New York Times reports that scientists are taking an interest in magicians--the best of the best like Apollo Robbins and Teller (of Penn & Teller)--by inviting them to the annual meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness to discuss "the cognitive principles underlying magic." The theorists wanted to see what they could learn from the practitioners. But everybody, including the magicians, were excited by the collaboration:

USA's "The 4400," with its fourth summer season coming to a close, might be the most interesting show on television when it comes to exploring Christian themes. The 4400 are a group of individuals who were abducted by "the future" from many different times and places during the 20th century, and who "returned" together on a beach north of Seattle without having aged a day. And of course they have returned with some extraordinary abilities. Promicin is the chemical found in the 4400's bloodstream that seems to give them these abilities.

As it turns out, promicin is also the X factor that could bring the end times to pass--at least if Jordan Collier has anything to say about it.

I was in a bad mood on Friday afternoon, and it didn't get any better when I learned that "Stardust," the novel by Neil Gaiman, as a new film was over two hours long. The water-logged week in New York City was finally getting to me. Between the steamy humidity, the subway floods, and the unforgiving rains, I had become weepy, and the last thing I wanted was to sit in a dark theater the rest of the day. I even called the friend I was meeting afterward to tell her I might not stay the whole movie--so perhaps we could meet earlier?

But when the movie was over, and I stepped back out into the dark and stormy doom and gloom of the New York night, the world suddenly seemed enchanted! Oh me, of little faith! I should have known I was in for something truly magical!

After all, Neil Gaiman is the author of wildly disturbing and creative adult bestsellers like "American Gods" and "Anansi Boys," and the writer of children's horror-stricken tales like "Coraline" and the darkly humorous picture books "Wolves in the Walls" and "The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish." He's also a great graphic novelist, comic book extraordinaire of "The Sandman" series and other adventures, and the screenwriter for the upcoming "Beowolf," among other things.

And Neil Gaiman--as he dabbles in all things mythical, religious, and magical--never disappoints. "Stardust" might be the greatest tribute to his fantastic imagination yet.

Sometimes I leave a movie theater and feel an overwhelming desire to write an actor, actress, or even the writer a love letter of sorts. It doesn't happen often--I'm not one who cares much for celebrity. But I felt this...

Why is it that when someone spreads their wings on television (i.e., reveals that s/he is an angel), I find myself groaning or rolling my eyes in a way that I almost never do if a person, say, sprouts fangs?...