Now for some stuff you may not care about, but which I feel the compelling need to share with you, anyway...
Sequels to both "Constantine" and "Inside Man" are in the works... Josh Holloway ('Sawyer' from TV's "Lost") is rumoured to be the chosen actor to play 'Gambit' in the next X-Men movie (hel-lo, dream casting!!!)... Steven Spielberg's favourite TV show is "Heroes" (it's possible that he read my blog and decided to check it out - you're welcome, Steve) ... and the moment you've all been waiting for since ohh, 1987... there's going to be a movie based on "Fraggle Rock"... I will leave you all to your celebratory Doozer-dancing for a moment...
(thank you, rogersvideo.ca for these vital updates)
There are many good movies, but only a few great ones. I have for you, a pair of each:
(Grrrrrreat) - "The Prestige" - this is the second collaboration between Christopher Nolan ("Memento" and "Batman Begins") and Christian Bale and the boys have once again proven trustworthy. A tale of feuding magicians, played by Bale and Hugh Jackman, it's engrossing, mysterious and thought-provoking. My friend and I had fun unraveling the puzzles at the end, on the drive home. In short, great mysteries on film have been noticeably absent in recent years, so this is a smart, shadowy, pleasant surprise.
****
(Good) - "Stranger Than Fiction" - a good film with great performances, especially from Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson (always effortless and a joy to watch) and the most wonderful, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Proving once again that she's so much more than just Jake's older sister, Ms. G steals every scene she's in. From "Secretary" to "World Trade Center", she continually impresses with her range and well, moxie. Girl's got spunk. That's all you need to know.
*** (but Maggie gets ****)
(Good) - "Deja Vu" - I trust Denzel Washington. Whether he's saving Dakota Fanning from kidnappers, protecting Julia Roberts from imminent danger, or bravely fighting unjust imprisonment, I know he will do THE RIGHT THING. It's in his eyes. Not because he's tall and handsome and could probably bench-press me, but because there's just something about this guy that says, "Don't worry - I won't let anything happen to you", and I believe him. So, when he's determined to get to the bottom of a horrible ferryboat explosion that took hundreds of innocent lives, I'm with him. It's also fun to see Jim Caviezel ("The Passion of the Christ") play a villain, because it allows me to turn to my friend in mock horror halfway through the film and ask, "Why is Jesus trying to shoot Denzel??"
***
(Great!) - "Casino Royale" - when Daniel Craig was chosen to be the next James Bond, many were disbelieving, if not outright opposed to the idea, not unlike the reaction to a little-known actor from down under, chosen to play Wolverine in "X-Men". Hugh Jackman's career turned out okay, don't you think? I for one, was delighted. Craig is quiet, intense and oh-so-skilled, and while the piercing blue eyes and cut physique don't hurt, his greatest feat in the film is bringing humanity to 007. While most of us are familiar with the car chases, disposable hotties and countless gadgets associated with Mr. Bond, we know little of his origins as a spy and this helps to fill in some gaps. Eva Green is sassy and lovely and Judi Dench as 'M', is her incomparable, tough-yet-classy self. This is gritty, dirty, real-man Bond action, with tailored suits and gorgeous locales. Note to self: move to Spain, learn to play poker and buy a red dress. Plus, I love watching the guy run. Straight Flush.
****
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
I still
...shriek with delight (and a little fear) whenever someone performs the simplest magic trick in front of me, which might explain my excitement over "The Prestige".
...refuse to ascend stairs ahead of my father, in case he grabs my ankle and/or calf or forms 'the claw' and attempts to attack me with it. No trust there whatsoever.
...think Robert Wagner has a dreamy voice.
...believe the Loch Ness Monster may have existed at some point in time (the geological shifts during the ice age make one pause).
...think of my dad every time I walk into a Canadian Tire and smell 'the Dad smell'.
...can't sleep when the closet door is open.
...love watching Meryl Streep and Blythe Danner because they remind me of my mom.
...have to resist the strange urge to grab a dog's tongue sometimes because it looks like ham. (I showed much less restraint as a child)
...think my dad and Tom Hanks would be the best next-door neighbours you could ever have.
...think cats can also smell fear.
...believe the more lima beans you get in your Campbell's Vegetable Soup, the luckier you will be.
...can't believe I actually ate (and enjoyed) raw weiners at any point in my life.
...have an uncanny ability to cut myself on inanimate household objects like, aluminum foil, milk containers and Shredded Wheat. (most dangerous breakfast cereal ever)
...can't believe my mom told me that she was delighted at my birth to have a "tanned baby", which actually turned out to be jaundice.
...believe I may have very limited psychic abilities, which consist of guessing which elevator doors will open first and knowing the answers to most of the questions on "Rock 'N' Roll Jeopardy" before they are revealed.
...think sedation dentistry is right up there with spending quality time in the rat-filled face-cage from "1984".
...believe I saw a ghost in Oban, Scotland. (here's an idea: let's try putting up some lights around the haunted castles at night...)
...intend to track down and resurrect the Shreddies Troll (a goblin sticker from the movie, "Labyrinth", in a promotional box of Shreddies back in the 80s) and stick it on a mirror or the fridge at my unsuspecting sister's place and wait for retribution, just like old times.
No one said you had to grow up all at once.
...refuse to ascend stairs ahead of my father, in case he grabs my ankle and/or calf or forms 'the claw' and attempts to attack me with it. No trust there whatsoever.
...think Robert Wagner has a dreamy voice.
...believe the Loch Ness Monster may have existed at some point in time (the geological shifts during the ice age make one pause).
...think of my dad every time I walk into a Canadian Tire and smell 'the Dad smell'.
...can't sleep when the closet door is open.
...love watching Meryl Streep and Blythe Danner because they remind me of my mom.
...have to resist the strange urge to grab a dog's tongue sometimes because it looks like ham. (I showed much less restraint as a child)
...think my dad and Tom Hanks would be the best next-door neighbours you could ever have.
...think cats can also smell fear.
...believe the more lima beans you get in your Campbell's Vegetable Soup, the luckier you will be.
...can't believe I actually ate (and enjoyed) raw weiners at any point in my life.
...have an uncanny ability to cut myself on inanimate household objects like, aluminum foil, milk containers and Shredded Wheat. (most dangerous breakfast cereal ever)
...can't believe my mom told me that she was delighted at my birth to have a "tanned baby", which actually turned out to be jaundice.
...believe I may have very limited psychic abilities, which consist of guessing which elevator doors will open first and knowing the answers to most of the questions on "Rock 'N' Roll Jeopardy" before they are revealed.
...think sedation dentistry is right up there with spending quality time in the rat-filled face-cage from "1984".
...believe I saw a ghost in Oban, Scotland. (here's an idea: let's try putting up some lights around the haunted castles at night...)
...intend to track down and resurrect the Shreddies Troll (a goblin sticker from the movie, "Labyrinth", in a promotional box of Shreddies back in the 80s) and stick it on a mirror or the fridge at my unsuspecting sister's place and wait for retribution, just like old times.
No one said you had to grow up all at once.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Lazy Sunday
I've been remiss in reviewing movies lately, mostly because I haven't been to many in the past few months, so I thought I'd catch you up with some badly written haikus...
Snakes On A Plane
Squirming, slithering
My feet didn't touch the floor
the entire time.
***
Little Miss Sunshine
Sweet little Olive,
Your dance number made us all
want to join in.
****1/2
The Descent
Bloody, scary, bloody scary
I will never go spelunking
in this lifetime.
****
Talladega Nights
My brother and his wife
almost hyperventilated
with laughter.
***
Mother Teresa said, "If you judge people, you have no time to love them", but I think my family has somehow managed to do both for like, years now.
'Gobnet Brindle' is my new favourite spam-sender name.
Steven Colbert and Tina Fey need to colloborate, on anything.
Best new shows this fall: "Studio 60" (Chandler's got chops, compelling characters and sharp writing), "Heroes" (think "X-Men" meets "The Stand") and "The Nine" (think "Speed" in a bank, plus, I'd follow Tim Daly just about anywhere)
As a mere mortal, seeing that Hollywood actresses who have personal trainers, personal chefs and thousands of dollars to spend on esthetic procedures, can still have armpit fat above their $8000 designer dresses, is strangely comforting.
I am convinced that somewhere in a closet in the back of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, lies a bound and gagged Ray Liotta, while his wax double continues to appear on TV and film.
Mystery solved! Like many other girls of my acquaintance, I had a substantial crush on Andrew McCarthy after he played Blane in "Pretty In Pink". But was confused for years by the film's final prom scene where his hair appeared to be caught somewhere between a rat and a rainstorm. This made no sense to my besotted 16 year old brain, until I recently read that he had shaved his head for another film role and was forced to wear a wig in the rewritten final scene. 20 years that's been bugging me, people. You're welcome.
Dwight Quote-of-the-Week: "Krentist."
(Dwight's response to Michael's interrogation about the name of Dwight's bogus dentist on "The Office")
I am afraid of sharks. This is not new information. But like many people, I am fascinated by what scares me (horror films, anyone?) and consequently know more about them than any other animal. I recently read a great article by Rob Stewart, the filmmaker behind "Sharkwater", (which I unfortunately missed at this year's film festival) and wanted to share some excerpts:
"Sharks are the oldest large animal we have on the planet. They've existed in harmony with the earth for over 400 million years, shaping species that they prey upon, and in turn much of the oceans. The oceans produce 70 percent of the oxygen in our atmosphere, and destroying the one animal that's managed to survive on earth, in an age where our own longevity on earth is in question, is not a good idea. We can learn a lot from sharks, but we ignore them because we're afraid of them.
One hundred million sharks are caught each year, mostly due to the growing demand for shark fin soup. Poachers cut off the fins and dump the bodies overboard still alive. Though many countries have banned shark finning, millions of sharks are illegally harvested each year.
They're not dangerous. They're not mindless killers. They don't eat people and I think as long as people view them as dangerous predators, people aren't going to care about them. They're not going to want them to survive on the planet.
I hope that it starts reversing the way the media has portrayed sharks and gives people the infomration they need to make better decisions to say "Okay, I'm not going to be afraid of that," or "I'm not going to listen to this headline." In order for humans to survive on this planet, to have such an irrational fear of sharks is not a good thing.
The other thing is that we've been on this thousand-year trend of destruction. It hasn't been cool to conserve or promote sustainable use of the environment and the oceans. But I think people are going to start realizing that if we're going to survive on this plant as a species, we need to conserve it and protect it. Conservation is becoming cool." (fr. Tribute magazine)
Watch for "Sharkwater" on DVD and another great book on this topic is "Shark Trouble" by Peter Benchley (author of Jaws).
Does this make me a seahugger...?
Snakes On A Plane
Squirming, slithering
My feet didn't touch the floor
the entire time.
***
Little Miss Sunshine
Sweet little Olive,
Your dance number made us all
want to join in.
****1/2
The Descent
Bloody, scary, bloody scary
I will never go spelunking
in this lifetime.
****
Talladega Nights
My brother and his wife
almost hyperventilated
with laughter.
***
Mother Teresa said, "If you judge people, you have no time to love them", but I think my family has somehow managed to do both for like, years now.
'Gobnet Brindle' is my new favourite spam-sender name.
Steven Colbert and Tina Fey need to colloborate, on anything.
Best new shows this fall: "Studio 60" (Chandler's got chops, compelling characters and sharp writing), "Heroes" (think "X-Men" meets "The Stand") and "The Nine" (think "Speed" in a bank, plus, I'd follow Tim Daly just about anywhere)
As a mere mortal, seeing that Hollywood actresses who have personal trainers, personal chefs and thousands of dollars to spend on esthetic procedures, can still have armpit fat above their $8000 designer dresses, is strangely comforting.
I am convinced that somewhere in a closet in the back of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, lies a bound and gagged Ray Liotta, while his wax double continues to appear on TV and film.
Mystery solved! Like many other girls of my acquaintance, I had a substantial crush on Andrew McCarthy after he played Blane in "Pretty In Pink". But was confused for years by the film's final prom scene where his hair appeared to be caught somewhere between a rat and a rainstorm. This made no sense to my besotted 16 year old brain, until I recently read that he had shaved his head for another film role and was forced to wear a wig in the rewritten final scene. 20 years that's been bugging me, people. You're welcome.
Dwight Quote-of-the-Week: "Krentist."
(Dwight's response to Michael's interrogation about the name of Dwight's bogus dentist on "The Office")
I am afraid of sharks. This is not new information. But like many people, I am fascinated by what scares me (horror films, anyone?) and consequently know more about them than any other animal. I recently read a great article by Rob Stewart, the filmmaker behind "Sharkwater", (which I unfortunately missed at this year's film festival) and wanted to share some excerpts:
"Sharks are the oldest large animal we have on the planet. They've existed in harmony with the earth for over 400 million years, shaping species that they prey upon, and in turn much of the oceans. The oceans produce 70 percent of the oxygen in our atmosphere, and destroying the one animal that's managed to survive on earth, in an age where our own longevity on earth is in question, is not a good idea. We can learn a lot from sharks, but we ignore them because we're afraid of them.
One hundred million sharks are caught each year, mostly due to the growing demand for shark fin soup. Poachers cut off the fins and dump the bodies overboard still alive. Though many countries have banned shark finning, millions of sharks are illegally harvested each year.
They're not dangerous. They're not mindless killers. They don't eat people and I think as long as people view them as dangerous predators, people aren't going to care about them. They're not going to want them to survive on the planet.
I hope that it starts reversing the way the media has portrayed sharks and gives people the infomration they need to make better decisions to say "Okay, I'm not going to be afraid of that," or "I'm not going to listen to this headline." In order for humans to survive on this planet, to have such an irrational fear of sharks is not a good thing.
The other thing is that we've been on this thousand-year trend of destruction. It hasn't been cool to conserve or promote sustainable use of the environment and the oceans. But I think people are going to start realizing that if we're going to survive on this plant as a species, we need to conserve it and protect it. Conservation is becoming cool." (fr. Tribute magazine)
Watch for "Sharkwater" on DVD and another great book on this topic is "Shark Trouble" by Peter Benchley (author of Jaws).
Does this make me a seahugger...?
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Turkey Day
I am thankful for many things. For the lemon-lime leaves dancing in the sunshine and wind outside my window right now, the fact that I'm listening to old mixed tapes that my sister loves to mock, on a borrowed boombox from my lovely BFF, and BSG is back. Am I a nerd? Yes. But I embrace it...and it may come in handy on stage sometime. I have a new job which is a 15 minute walk from my place and I'm taking a self-defense class, for which I need suckers, er, helpers, to practice on, if anyone's overconfident, er, interested. I have wonderful friends, 4 beautiful, inquisitive, sharp-as-a-whip nieces who make me very proud, an adorably mischievious sister-in-law, dryly clever brother, and a sister who always makes me laugh, reminiscing about the questionable games we played with our housepets as children. I am blessed with a father who respects my independence but still has my back when I need him and a mother who amuses me with her eternal stubborness and inspires me with her courage. I am happy to sometimes be wrong about people and what I perceive as my own weaknesses and to discover that I can still surprise myself.
Right now, in this moment, I am indeed a charmed being.
Right now, in this moment, I am indeed a charmed being.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Tree Looks Like A Lady
"Lots of people say that they fall in love in the spring. Not me. I always fell in love in the autumn.It is just the most romantic... sexy... desperate [time]..." (- Space Above and Beyond)
I love autumn. I'm sure there are people in the world who do not have an affinity for the season into which they were born, but I'm not one of them. Summer is easy to love and winter easy to hate, but spring and autumn...that's when all the interesting stuff happens. When I was little my mom told me that the leaves changing colour was Mother Nature "changing her dress". That's quite the wardrobe you've got there, lady.
Here, I made a haiku about it:
Mother of Nature,
you make dying foliage
so very chic
School has begun again, Halloween is around the corner, and there's a distinctive crispness to the air that I love. And this is, hands down, the best season for fashion. Change is in the air, and possibilities...for learning new things, taking new chances, and coming up with a truly original Halloween costume. And though Calgary's autumn is brief and mostly shades of yellow, I'll take whatever I can get.
But I still miss red.
I love autumn. I'm sure there are people in the world who do not have an affinity for the season into which they were born, but I'm not one of them. Summer is easy to love and winter easy to hate, but spring and autumn...that's when all the interesting stuff happens. When I was little my mom told me that the leaves changing colour was Mother Nature "changing her dress". That's quite the wardrobe you've got there, lady.
Here, I made a haiku about it:
Mother of Nature,
you make dying foliage
so very chic
School has begun again, Halloween is around the corner, and there's a distinctive crispness to the air that I love. And this is, hands down, the best season for fashion. Change is in the air, and possibilities...for learning new things, taking new chances, and coming up with a truly original Halloween costume. And though Calgary's autumn is brief and mostly shades of yellow, I'll take whatever I can get.
But I still miss red.
Friday, September 01, 2006
World Trade Center
World Trade Center was directed by Oliver Stone. I am not a fan of Mr. Stone, but I believe he got it right this time. Considering that most of us watched the surreal events of September 11th, 2001 on our televisions and never got much closer than that, to see that day from the perspective of the emergency personnel who were called to the scene almost immediately was riveting. And terrifying. As that day progressed, the facts started seeping in - not an accident.. terrorism..chaos..and who would do this and why? To see several of these policemen rush into the second tower, unaware of what was literally happening directly above them is astounding and chilling. Nicolas Cage was wonderfully understated as one of the trapped men and Maggie Gyllenhaal was heart-wrenching as a pregnant wife and mother torn between grief and desperate hope. Considering the pedigree of its director, this film really surprised me. Instead of being political and preachy, it focused more on the strong brotherhood/sisterhood that exists between the brave souls who serve as firemen, policemen, and paramedics and the importance of family, loyalty, and taking nothing for granted. In the midst of unspeakable destruction and hopelessness, we still reach for one another in the dark. ****
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The Dark Knights
When I was 16-going-on-17, unlike my Sound of Music counterpart Leisel, I wasn't dancing around in rainy gazebos with my Nazi-wannabe boyfriend, but I sure did like them. Boys, that is. Not Nazis. Especially bad ones, or in this case, lost ones. I distinctly remember sitting in a dark movie theatre with several of my girlfriends, watching Jason Patric, Keifer Sutherland, and the other Lost Boys and I was mesmerized. I mean, I'd witnessed male beauty before. Andrew McCarthy in Pretty in Pink and Duran Duran had taken care of that. But this was different. The bad guys were just as compelling and sexy as the good guys, maybe even more... Plus, they were vampires, which I've touched upon before:
Vampires are cool. Forget the translucent skin, dire need for a tanning bed, and somewhat confusing ‘undead’ status for a moment and think about it. And just to clarify, we’re talking about the seductive vampires here, like Chris Sarandon in Fright Night, Stuart Townsend in Queen of the Damned, and Gerard Butler in Dracula 2000, not the bald, nasty bat-like things they turn into if you pour too much holy water on them, or the Nosferatu type. {shudder} Definitely not that kind. I’m talking about the graceful, cat-like, sense-enhanced kind, who wear dark clothes and pay a lot of attention to your neckline. Maybe that’s it, the whole neck thing - I mean, isn’t the vampire’s ‘kiss’ really just the mother of all hickeys? I don’t know about you, but I can think of a lot worse ways to go than having a gorgeous stranger go to town on my neck for an indefinite amount of time. There’s also the enhanced strength, hypnotic and telepathic abilities, and let’s be honest, these people know how to dress. Silk and velvet, flowing cloaks, scarlet lips, and classic black all around – elegant and sophisticated. It’s not just the bad lighting that keeps them out of Wal-Mart. And they’re smart, too. Think about it – they stay out of the sun and they’re immortal – coincidence? I think not. Their aversion to garlic implies that oral hygiene is a priority, and the fact that they can look so good without ever having to check in a mirror is well, impressive, to say the least. And from all the films and books that have been dedicated to them, I’m guessing that I’m not alone in my observations, either.
So when I heard recently that they had cast Heath Ledger as The Joker, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, along with the ever-so-lovely Christian Bale as Batman in the next Caped Crusader film, I smiled to myself. Because 20 years later, the fight between the good guys and the bad guys rages on. And I just hate choosing sides, don’t you…?
Vampires are cool. Forget the translucent skin, dire need for a tanning bed, and somewhat confusing ‘undead’ status for a moment and think about it. And just to clarify, we’re talking about the seductive vampires here, like Chris Sarandon in Fright Night, Stuart Townsend in Queen of the Damned, and Gerard Butler in Dracula 2000, not the bald, nasty bat-like things they turn into if you pour too much holy water on them, or the Nosferatu type. {shudder} Definitely not that kind. I’m talking about the graceful, cat-like, sense-enhanced kind, who wear dark clothes and pay a lot of attention to your neckline. Maybe that’s it, the whole neck thing - I mean, isn’t the vampire’s ‘kiss’ really just the mother of all hickeys? I don’t know about you, but I can think of a lot worse ways to go than having a gorgeous stranger go to town on my neck for an indefinite amount of time. There’s also the enhanced strength, hypnotic and telepathic abilities, and let’s be honest, these people know how to dress. Silk and velvet, flowing cloaks, scarlet lips, and classic black all around – elegant and sophisticated. It’s not just the bad lighting that keeps them out of Wal-Mart. And they’re smart, too. Think about it – they stay out of the sun and they’re immortal – coincidence? I think not. Their aversion to garlic implies that oral hygiene is a priority, and the fact that they can look so good without ever having to check in a mirror is well, impressive, to say the least. And from all the films and books that have been dedicated to them, I’m guessing that I’m not alone in my observations, either.
So when I heard recently that they had cast Heath Ledger as The Joker, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, along with the ever-so-lovely Christian Bale as Batman in the next Caped Crusader film, I smiled to myself. Because 20 years later, the fight between the good guys and the bad guys rages on. And I just hate choosing sides, don’t you…?
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Rock Stars
For anyone else who finds themselves somewhat addicted to Rock Star: Supernova, here's how I'm presently ranking the final 7 (in decreasing order of suckiness):
7) Patrice - has a decent voice but I find her bland and generally unenthusiastic - hope she goes home next
6) Toby - Aussie with good pipes but doesn't seem to be as hungry for the gig as the others and there's nothing that really stands out about him to me
5) Storm - beautiful, kick-ass name, versatile performer, very supportive of her fellow competitors and strong pipes, but may not be strong enough to take it all the way (plus, Tommy Lee hits on her all the time, which isn't a good sign..)
4) Ryan - from NYC, green eyes, keeps surprising everyone, but not sure if his voice is the best fit for this particular band
3) Lukas - the only Canadian left, can pull the eye make-up thing off (like goatees, not for everyone), has the swagger and stands out, but keeps reverting to his scratchy/raspy voice, not the hidden one he blew everyone away with during his rendition of 'Creep' by Radiohead
2) Dilana - South African, pink-streaked locks, and a voice you could light a match on - if they're going to choose a female lead singer, it'll be her
1) Magni - green-eyed Icelandic contender who gave me chills with his version of Live's 'The Dolphins Cry' and has the best range of all the guys (in my opinion) - plus he has all of Iceland (and me!) behind him
Stay tuned.
7) Patrice - has a decent voice but I find her bland and generally unenthusiastic - hope she goes home next
6) Toby - Aussie with good pipes but doesn't seem to be as hungry for the gig as the others and there's nothing that really stands out about him to me
5) Storm - beautiful, kick-ass name, versatile performer, very supportive of her fellow competitors and strong pipes, but may not be strong enough to take it all the way (plus, Tommy Lee hits on her all the time, which isn't a good sign..)
4) Ryan - from NYC, green eyes, keeps surprising everyone, but not sure if his voice is the best fit for this particular band
3) Lukas - the only Canadian left, can pull the eye make-up thing off (like goatees, not for everyone), has the swagger and stands out, but keeps reverting to his scratchy/raspy voice, not the hidden one he blew everyone away with during his rendition of 'Creep' by Radiohead
2) Dilana - South African, pink-streaked locks, and a voice you could light a match on - if they're going to choose a female lead singer, it'll be her
1) Magni - green-eyed Icelandic contender who gave me chills with his version of Live's 'The Dolphins Cry' and has the best range of all the guys (in my opinion) - plus he has all of Iceland (and me!) behind him
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Teenage Confessions
I don't think I will ever outgrow my penchant for teen love comedies, especially those based (sometimes ever-so-loosely) on Shakespeare's works and I'm not exactly sure why. It might be because they represent a time in our lives that we all still recall fondly for the most part - on the cusp of adulthood, yet still innocent in spite of the bravado, piss and vinegar we threw at the rest of the world. Or because getting good grades and the possibility of landing a date with that dreamboy/girl was what fueled most of our waking thoughts. There's a strange comfort in revisiting a time that felt so angst-ridden and full of high drama! at the time, when we look back with the 'wisdom' of adults and recognize just how earth-shattering things actually weren't. Compared to paying rent, taxes, raising children, and (shudder!) doing your own laundry, they seem pretty carefree, actually. As I recall, anyway.
The female stars of this particular genre also interest me as an aunt to 4 young nieces, as they could potentially influence them in the coming years. (Thanks again, Hollywood) So love 'em or hate 'em, here are the teen queens (in order of relevance):
5) Jessica Simpson - left behind wholesome Christian upbringing to conform to Hollywood ideal, over-controlling manager/dad, failed marriage at the tender age of 25, and more renowned for her cleavage and (put-on?) ditziness than actual talent - tied with Lindsay Lohan for tabloid- fodder potential (oh yeah, take notes, girls!)
4) Keira Knightley - seems fairly grounded all things considered and demonstrated some impressive acting chops in 'Pride & Prejudice', though she swears like a sailor and in spite of denying allegations of an eating disorder, needs to eat a freakin' burger, already!
3) Lindsay Lohan - charismatic redhead with box-office credibility and actual range, yet appears to be sadly pissing away all of her considerable potential on Cristal and excessive partying. (See, Whitney Houston)
2) Hilary Duff - cute girl with a popular TV show, followed by some tween-friendly movies and albums who actually resembled a 'real girl' (complete with invisible braces) until she too joined the Lollipop Head Brigade (when they're so skinny, their heads look like lollipops on a stick because unfortunately, YOU CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT IN YOUR HEAD). Having an older rock star boyfriend with groupies in tow probably adds incentive, too. She's definitely the lesser of evils, though.
1) Amanda Bynes - my favourite because she looks like a girl you could have actually gone to school with; exquisite comic timing and she's smart without being bratty - the Jennifer Aniston of her time. And I'd let her babysit.
Honourable Mention: Alexis Bledel from 'Gilmore Girls' and Amber Tamblyn from 'Joan of Arcadia'
The female stars of this particular genre also interest me as an aunt to 4 young nieces, as they could potentially influence them in the coming years. (Thanks again, Hollywood) So love 'em or hate 'em, here are the teen queens (in order of relevance):
5) Jessica Simpson - left behind wholesome Christian upbringing to conform to Hollywood ideal, over-controlling manager/dad, failed marriage at the tender age of 25, and more renowned for her cleavage and (put-on?) ditziness than actual talent - tied with Lindsay Lohan for tabloid- fodder potential (oh yeah, take notes, girls!)
4) Keira Knightley - seems fairly grounded all things considered and demonstrated some impressive acting chops in 'Pride & Prejudice', though she swears like a sailor and in spite of denying allegations of an eating disorder, needs to eat a freakin' burger, already!
3) Lindsay Lohan - charismatic redhead with box-office credibility and actual range, yet appears to be sadly pissing away all of her considerable potential on Cristal and excessive partying. (See, Whitney Houston)
2) Hilary Duff - cute girl with a popular TV show, followed by some tween-friendly movies and albums who actually resembled a 'real girl' (complete with invisible braces) until she too joined the Lollipop Head Brigade (when they're so skinny, their heads look like lollipops on a stick because unfortunately, YOU CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT IN YOUR HEAD). Having an older rock star boyfriend with groupies in tow probably adds incentive, too. She's definitely the lesser of evils, though.
1) Amanda Bynes - my favourite because she looks like a girl you could have actually gone to school with; exquisite comic timing and she's smart without being bratty - the Jennifer Aniston of her time. And I'd let her babysit.
Honourable Mention: Alexis Bledel from 'Gilmore Girls' and Amber Tamblyn from 'Joan of Arcadia'
Monday, July 17, 2006
Why I Heart Superman
But first, the latest highlights...I helped stain a porch today and it actually looks prit-ty good, so I now fear that I will become a wood-nerd in addition to the comic-nerd, sci-fi nerd, and cinephile titles that I already hold...Blueberries are still in the lead as my totally-favourite summer fruit, but watermelon is closing in...Gremlins 2 is funnier than I remember (and I dare you to watch Gizmo dance to Fats Domino's 'I'm Ready' and not join in)...my almost-8-yr-old niece, Rylee is addicted to trollz.com and tried to start her own blog the other day before her mom figured out what was going on - yes, nip that in the bud right now before she decodes The Matrix and figures out the truth...the jury's still out on the dancing with long(er) hair vs. dancing with short hair debate - while it feels sexier to flip the tresses around, there's nothing stingray-whipping me in the eyes or getting stuck in my lipgloss now...and this just in: Boys STILL suck! Mostly. ;) Not sucking: the scene on 'Family Guy' in the Poltergeist spoof episode where Stewie covers Phil Collins (I cried), Bryan Singer, whom I want to hug (director of Superman Returns), and Hitler Cats (again with the crying): http://freshpics.blogspot.com/2006/06/hitler-cats_08.html
Now on to Kal-El..
In the 'old days' people actually used to clap at the the end of a film if they'd enjoyed it. I miss that. There have been times when I've braved it and sometimes been joined by more than a few others, which is a particularly heady feeling, not unlike the group euphoria you feel at a really amazing concert. And sometimes what you're watching onscreen is so riveting, so mesmerizing that you simply forget to care. That's what happened to me last Wednesday. I went in not expecting to be disappointed at least, mainly due to the fact that Bryan Singer was directing and he'd already shown me two pretty kick-ass X-Men films. But I was blown away. Truly. 'Animated' doesn't even cover my reactions to this film. I gasped, laughed, clapped, shuddered, made erratic hand motions and most surprisingly, I cried. More than once, in fact. Not only was it more moving than I would have expected from a 'comic-book movie', but it was funny, smart, engaging, and made me wonder. I love that. I even enjoyed Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane and I'm not usually a fan. Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor and his henchmen were especially hateful and who would've thought a kid from Iowa with a mere soap opera on his resume would prove to so worthily super-sede Christopher Reeve. Wow. Heroes fascinate us. It's why we read comics and always cheer for the good guy. Because he is strong and brave and will always save us..if he can. And let's face it - it's a pretty thankless job most of the time. So, why do we still love Superman after 70-odd years and countless reincarnations? Because sometimes an alien can be more human than any of us.
Superman Returns gets *****
Now on to Kal-El..
In the 'old days' people actually used to clap at the the end of a film if they'd enjoyed it. I miss that. There have been times when I've braved it and sometimes been joined by more than a few others, which is a particularly heady feeling, not unlike the group euphoria you feel at a really amazing concert. And sometimes what you're watching onscreen is so riveting, so mesmerizing that you simply forget to care. That's what happened to me last Wednesday. I went in not expecting to be disappointed at least, mainly due to the fact that Bryan Singer was directing and he'd already shown me two pretty kick-ass X-Men films. But I was blown away. Truly. 'Animated' doesn't even cover my reactions to this film. I gasped, laughed, clapped, shuddered, made erratic hand motions and most surprisingly, I cried. More than once, in fact. Not only was it more moving than I would have expected from a 'comic-book movie', but it was funny, smart, engaging, and made me wonder. I love that. I even enjoyed Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane and I'm not usually a fan. Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor and his henchmen were especially hateful and who would've thought a kid from Iowa with a mere soap opera on his resume would prove to so worthily super-sede Christopher Reeve. Wow. Heroes fascinate us. It's why we read comics and always cheer for the good guy. Because he is strong and brave and will always save us..if he can. And let's face it - it's a pretty thankless job most of the time. So, why do we still love Superman after 70-odd years and countless reincarnations? Because sometimes an alien can be more human than any of us.
Superman Returns gets *****
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Hello, Wavebabies!
Must-Have Summer Downloads:
'Crazy' - Gnarls Barkley
'Is It Any Wonder?' - Keane
'Edge of the Ocean' - Ivy
'Spooky' - Imogen Heap
'Flawed Design' - Stabilo
'Feel Good Inc.' - Gorillaz
'Sad Eyes' - Josh Rouse
'Beep' - Pussycat Dolls f. Will.i.am
'Crazy' - Alanis Morissette
'Son's Gonna Rise' - Citizen Cope
Quotes of the Week (on marriage):
"My mom's always asking me, 'When will you finally get married?' And I always say, 'When I find a man who has more balls than me.'"
- Salma Hayek
"I've been married five times and people think that's some bizarre thing, and yet I've got buddies who refuse to get married and [have sex with] 15 people a week. I'm like: which is better? At least I'm trying."
- Billy Bob Thornton
Summer TV Obsession: 'Rockstar: Supernova' (Tues/Wed night on CBS) - Slash is going to be a guest-judge. 'Nuff said.
Random Quote #1:
"If you didn't have adult-onset diabetes, I wouldn't mind giving you a little sugar."
- Gob flirting with the elderly on Arrested Development
Best Song Title: 'Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth' (by The Dandy Warhols)
Embarrassing Song I Love: 'What's Left of Me' - Nick Lachey
Random Quote #2:
"'Straight Up', and I would sing it right to Paula Abdul."
- Kathy Griffin, when asked what her American Idol audition song would be
'Celebrities' Who Gross Me Out: Uncle Kracker, the creepy female comm. officer on Battlestar Galactica and the Cryptkeeper
What the he--..?
(letters submitted to TV Guide in answer to what readers' favourite car from a TV series would be)
"One hundred percent, without a doubt, I would much rather drive Knight Rider's KITT car than the General Lee. KITT was Michael's best friend. The car took care of Michael and cared what happened to him. And it was always there for Michael. If I could drive KITT, I just know the car would be there for me too! General Lee is just an orange car, and one that you can't even open the doors!"
- Angela C. Wong, Nanaimo, BC
"I am 26 years old now, but when I was four I had a General Lee pedal car with sound effects. I used to drive it up and down the sidewalk from morning til bedtime. I would honk my "Dixie" horn, and the neighbours would come out and put cookies in my trunk. Thanks for the memories, TV Guide."
- Jeff Murray, St. Catharines, ON
Summer Movie Reviews:
Mission: Impossible 3 - I tend to follow directors as often as I do actors, so I was willing to follow the man who brought me Felicity and Alias because he hasn't disappointed me yet. The action scenes were great, especially the airborne windmill scene, and Maggie Q and Jonathan Rhys-Myers are lovely eye-candy. And is Mr. Cruise a nutbar in real life? Most probably, but I still enjoy watching him on screen. His forearms get **** and the movie gets ***.
Stick It - From the director of Bring It On, which exceeded my low expectations unbelievably, comes this equally fun and silly feel-good pile of fluffy gymnastic goodness. Jeff Bridges plays the coach and I for one have missed him. I laughed out loud, I grooved in my seat and I cheered - and that my friends, is what summer is all about. ***1/2
The Da Vinci Code - For starters, I didn't read the book. And I could care less. The film was a bit confusing and convoluted at first, but I caught on. The main draw for me was Paul Bettany, whom I would watch in just about anything, as the albino monk, Silas. Prior to seeing the film, I dreamt I was hanging out with the cast and Bettany's real-life wife, Jennifer Connelly. They were both very gracious and warm, while Tom Hanks was quite aloof and unimpressive. Perhaps this influenced my decision, as I found myself not-as-impressed-as-usual with the usually constant Mr. Hanks. Though in all fairness, his hair wasn't that bad. I didn't find it offensive or controversial at all, merely interesting. In spite of a religious upbringing (or perhaps because of it), I always find myself fascinated by the theological beliefs and theories of others and this brought up some spiritual food for thought. The Catholic-baiters get **1/2
X-Men: The Last Stand - As a comic geek, I was really looking forward to this one - the previous films were exceptional, but they were also helmed by Bryan Singer (whose Superman Returns is getting great buzz) and I should've known that a director whose resume includes the Rush Hour films would probably have his head pretty far up his a--. There were some cool special effects, yes. Kelsey Grammer as Beast was fun to watch, yes. And I enjoyed the always-surprising Ben Foster as Angel, though he was barely in it. And no Gambit - what the ----?? Now, I could sit here here and regale you with all of the bits of X-Men lore that Brett Ratner totally ignored or screwed up, or I could just let a fellow geek speak for me: http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23420
Ratner's pile of steaming super-poo gets **
Nacho Libre - There were funny parts and silly parts and a definite Napoleon-vibe (love the 70s sweater-shirts!), but overall, it felt like Jack Black was holding back and not being, well, Jack Black. And when you're that endearingly zany and maniacal, it's a crying shame. **1/2
That's all for now. Eat all your watermelon, kids!
'Crazy' - Gnarls Barkley
'Is It Any Wonder?' - Keane
'Edge of the Ocean' - Ivy
'Spooky' - Imogen Heap
'Flawed Design' - Stabilo
'Feel Good Inc.' - Gorillaz
'Sad Eyes' - Josh Rouse
'Beep' - Pussycat Dolls f. Will.i.am
'Crazy' - Alanis Morissette
'Son's Gonna Rise' - Citizen Cope
Quotes of the Week (on marriage):
"My mom's always asking me, 'When will you finally get married?' And I always say, 'When I find a man who has more balls than me.'"
- Salma Hayek
"I've been married five times and people think that's some bizarre thing, and yet I've got buddies who refuse to get married and [have sex with] 15 people a week. I'm like: which is better? At least I'm trying."
- Billy Bob Thornton
Summer TV Obsession: 'Rockstar: Supernova' (Tues/Wed night on CBS) - Slash is going to be a guest-judge. 'Nuff said.
Random Quote #1:
"If you didn't have adult-onset diabetes, I wouldn't mind giving you a little sugar."
- Gob flirting with the elderly on Arrested Development
Best Song Title: 'Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth' (by The Dandy Warhols)
Embarrassing Song I Love: 'What's Left of Me' - Nick Lachey
Random Quote #2:
"'Straight Up', and I would sing it right to Paula Abdul."
- Kathy Griffin, when asked what her American Idol audition song would be
'Celebrities' Who Gross Me Out: Uncle Kracker, the creepy female comm. officer on Battlestar Galactica and the Cryptkeeper
What the he--..?
(letters submitted to TV Guide in answer to what readers' favourite car from a TV series would be)
"One hundred percent, without a doubt, I would much rather drive Knight Rider's KITT car than the General Lee. KITT was Michael's best friend. The car took care of Michael and cared what happened to him. And it was always there for Michael. If I could drive KITT, I just know the car would be there for me too! General Lee is just an orange car, and one that you can't even open the doors!"
- Angela C. Wong, Nanaimo, BC
"I am 26 years old now, but when I was four I had a General Lee pedal car with sound effects. I used to drive it up and down the sidewalk from morning til bedtime. I would honk my "Dixie" horn, and the neighbours would come out and put cookies in my trunk. Thanks for the memories, TV Guide."
- Jeff Murray, St. Catharines, ON
Summer Movie Reviews:
Mission: Impossible 3 - I tend to follow directors as often as I do actors, so I was willing to follow the man who brought me Felicity and Alias because he hasn't disappointed me yet. The action scenes were great, especially the airborne windmill scene, and Maggie Q and Jonathan Rhys-Myers are lovely eye-candy. And is Mr. Cruise a nutbar in real life? Most probably, but I still enjoy watching him on screen. His forearms get **** and the movie gets ***.
Stick It - From the director of Bring It On, which exceeded my low expectations unbelievably, comes this equally fun and silly feel-good pile of fluffy gymnastic goodness. Jeff Bridges plays the coach and I for one have missed him. I laughed out loud, I grooved in my seat and I cheered - and that my friends, is what summer is all about. ***1/2
The Da Vinci Code - For starters, I didn't read the book. And I could care less. The film was a bit confusing and convoluted at first, but I caught on. The main draw for me was Paul Bettany, whom I would watch in just about anything, as the albino monk, Silas. Prior to seeing the film, I dreamt I was hanging out with the cast and Bettany's real-life wife, Jennifer Connelly. They were both very gracious and warm, while Tom Hanks was quite aloof and unimpressive. Perhaps this influenced my decision, as I found myself not-as-impressed-as-usual with the usually constant Mr. Hanks. Though in all fairness, his hair wasn't that bad. I didn't find it offensive or controversial at all, merely interesting. In spite of a religious upbringing (or perhaps because of it), I always find myself fascinated by the theological beliefs and theories of others and this brought up some spiritual food for thought. The Catholic-baiters get **1/2
X-Men: The Last Stand - As a comic geek, I was really looking forward to this one - the previous films were exceptional, but they were also helmed by Bryan Singer (whose Superman Returns is getting great buzz) and I should've known that a director whose resume includes the Rush Hour films would probably have his head pretty far up his a--. There were some cool special effects, yes. Kelsey Grammer as Beast was fun to watch, yes. And I enjoyed the always-surprising Ben Foster as Angel, though he was barely in it. And no Gambit - what the ----?? Now, I could sit here here and regale you with all of the bits of X-Men lore that Brett Ratner totally ignored or screwed up, or I could just let a fellow geek speak for me: http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23420
Ratner's pile of steaming super-poo gets **
Nacho Libre - There were funny parts and silly parts and a definite Napoleon-vibe (love the 70s sweater-shirts!), but overall, it felt like Jack Black was holding back and not being, well, Jack Black. And when you're that endearingly zany and maniacal, it's a crying shame. **1/2
That's all for now. Eat all your watermelon, kids!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Aloha
I love the word 'aloha' because it means both hello and goodbye. Very fitting at this moment. I'm feeling rather bittersweet about putting my little Owl to bed, but as my friend says, "It's a new era." So without further ado, welcome to Verbosity...
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