Bad Moon Rising

Went to Tyler today to talk to a wedding photographer.

On my way there, I saw a store that had a sign outside that said: "WE PROCESS DEER". Underneath, in only slightly smaller letters: "AND SANDWICHES".

On my way back, I saw the full moon rising, orange and bloated and veiled behind some clouds. I love moons like that.

I also saw a biker bar and a drive-in adult movie theater.

Such is my life.

Open Question

I was listening to Sunset Boulevard today at work. Which led me to thinking: What would Norma Desmond[1] think of Peter Jackson's Gollum[2]?

Which led me to remembering the first or second time I watched Return of the King. I remember thinking as I was watching the Cracks of Doom sequences "Gee, that is wonderful CGI with Frodo disappearing and all. It really does look like Gollum is hanging on nothing. That's amazing." And realizing a split-second later...

That I had completely and totally accepted Gollum as a real character; a real "person" if you will. Not Andy Serkis in a motion capture suit replaced by CGI, but a real being, really there, really fighting with Frodo. I had invested so much in that belief that I didn't even think to notice it; what I noticed was Frodo's being invisible.

I'm sure that Peter Jackson, Andy Serkis, et al, if they ever learn about this, would be highly gratified to know it, and well they should.

[1] famed (fictional) silent screen star who reviles talkies as a dangerous and unnecessary innovation
[2] the first truly realistic CGI character in movie history