Title: A Christmas Story
Starring: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
Director: Bob Clark
Released: 18 November 1983
Okay.
I have never seen this movie. I realize it's considered to be a "holiday classic," but I just never got around to watching it; however, it came on last night and I had the brains to record it to watch it today. So let's sit back and see why this film is popular.
So here we go . . .
I have to say, the narration is my favorite part. It cracks me up. It's so . . . unique and present. The emotions are cast through a sort-of dulled down, dead-pan tone of voice. It made the movie worth watching. I don't know if I would have enjoyed the film near as much as I did without it.
Poor Randy.
Is it sad that I've worn as much clothing to go across the street? Some leggings and jeans, three shirts, a snowsuit with matching jacket in hot pink, a scarf covering most of my face, a hat and my coat hood, and gloves. All you could see was my eyes. All that and I still got frostbit.
Not that I'm bitter.
. . . But seriously? It was HOT PINK. My brother got black. I was so jealous.
Oh my goodness. Tongues getting frozen to poles. That brings back memories. Don't worry, I wasn't the idiot who did it; our Girl Scout Leader In-Training. Our hut was nearly on fire due to a S'mores accident in the oven, so all of us were sent outside. To calm us down, this poor girl liked the pole and it stuck. All of the girls freaked out and started screaming/crying. A friend and I started laughing our heads off.
It was a mess in every possible way.
And it's still funny today.
The movie is winding down and I'm waiting for something like Mean Girls -- "And that's how Regina George died." Only, it would sound something like "that's how Ralphy shot his eye out."
BAHAHAHA!
He did -- kind of.
Awesome.
This was pretty funny. Much better than I expected it to be.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust: Curiosity Killed the Fairy (Almost)
Yes this movie is for little girls, but I don't care. I love Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. In fact, "Tink" is one of my nicknames.
So get over it.
Moving on . . .
Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue
All pixies know and respect the"no fraterizing with humans" rule. Tink, the newest fairy, however, doesn't seem to agree because she is mischievous and curious.
She must check out the car and "fairy house" because she is a tinker fairy burdened with intense curiosity to know what things are as well as how they work. Needless to say, then, Tink was captured because her personality deemed it essential to check out humans and their technology. It was arguably fate that Tink would be trapped, even without Vidia interfering.
Even when trapped, Tink must find something to fix. Luckily she does: the relationship between Lizzie and her father. She manages to do this and save the day. Go Tinkerbell!
The only thing that bothered me was the "do you remember ____ from _____ movie about me?" Tink has to give Lizzie a summative rehash of information given in the previous twp movie, but I guess that's okay. It's intended for little kids, so maybe they need the reminder. I don't really know, especially since there isn't the same sort of thing in the second movie (if I am remembering correctly anyway).
I liked it anyway though. The first one is better, of course, but it was still cute.
Tinkerbell and the Secret of the Wings
Once again, Tinkerbell has broken the rules. She can't seem to behave because she starts or gets into trouble every single movie. But whatever. I love her still.
And, once again, there is more summary rehashing as Tinkerbell tells her sister Periwinkle everything that she's done in the last three movies. I can see that part of the information is necessary because they are sisters meeting for the first time (I would say the same about Lizzie, but Lizzie can't really understand fairy talk). It still annoys me.
But as the movie continues, Tink's curiosity gets the best of her. She has to know WHY she can't be in the winter woods and she manages to break her wings in the process; something that she knew would happen. At the same time, however, Tink (but mostly Periwinkle) finds a way for everyone to work together and save the world with or without her wings.
Again, this was a cute movie. It was shorter than the other films, but still enjoyable when you consider it is meant for little girls.
So get over it.
Moving on . . .
Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue
All pixies know and respect the"no fraterizing with humans" rule. Tink, the newest fairy, however, doesn't seem to agree because she is mischievous and curious.
She must check out the car and "fairy house" because she is a tinker fairy burdened with intense curiosity to know what things are as well as how they work. Needless to say, then, Tink was captured because her personality deemed it essential to check out humans and their technology. It was arguably fate that Tink would be trapped, even without Vidia interfering.
Even when trapped, Tink must find something to fix. Luckily she does: the relationship between Lizzie and her father. She manages to do this and save the day. Go Tinkerbell!
The only thing that bothered me was the "do you remember ____ from _____ movie about me?" Tink has to give Lizzie a summative rehash of information given in the previous twp movie, but I guess that's okay. It's intended for little kids, so maybe they need the reminder. I don't really know, especially since there isn't the same sort of thing in the second movie (if I am remembering correctly anyway).
I liked it anyway though. The first one is better, of course, but it was still cute.
Tinkerbell and the Secret of the Wings
Once again, Tinkerbell has broken the rules. She can't seem to behave because she starts or gets into trouble every single movie. But whatever. I love her still.
And, once again, there is more summary rehashing as Tinkerbell tells her sister Periwinkle everything that she's done in the last three movies. I can see that part of the information is necessary because they are sisters meeting for the first time (I would say the same about Lizzie, but Lizzie can't really understand fairy talk). It still annoys me.
But as the movie continues, Tink's curiosity gets the best of her. She has to know WHY she can't be in the winter woods and she manages to break her wings in the process; something that she knew would happen. At the same time, however, Tink (but mostly Periwinkle) finds a way for everyone to work together and save the world with or without her wings.
Again, this was a cute movie. It was shorter than the other films, but still enjoyable when you consider it is meant for little girls.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Hey Jack's Mother!! Can Jack Come Out to Play?!
Title: Jack
Starring: Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin; Bill Cosby; Fran Drescher; Jennifer Lopez
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Released: 9 August 1996
Jack is the story of a boy named, you guessed it, Jack. Jack has a unique disease. Instead of growing up like a normal kid, Jack grows 4X faster than anyone else. Thus, when he's ten (which his is in the movie), he looks like he is 40. The rest of the movie is pretty basic -- how is Jack going to fit in with kids his age when he looks so much older than he really is.
Okay. This movie is kind of a blast from my past. I love it; I always have. It's one of my favorite movies of all time (if you can believe it). I'm not quite sure what it is about this movie, but it's just . . . I don't know how to explain it. I love it. End of story.
I think it has to do with Robin Williams. He's fantastic.
This movie and Jumanji made me love him and his comedy.
Of course there are other films of his that I enjoy immensely (Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society), but these two are the ones sticking out in my mind at the moment.
Acting like a child comes far too naturally to him, but that's what I love about it. He really is a"big" kid filled with wonder and whimsy (in most movies).
I love the random song thing they have playing while they play basketball with Jack for the first time. It makes me laugh.
For the record, this is definitely a boys movie. I mean, has anyone else seen the fart-in-the-can and eating nasty-food initiation scene? Girls would never do that . . . at least, not any girls I know . . .
Just saying . . .
More than anything, I can't get over all the preachy, motivational, you can be anything you want to be, cheesy monologs. They're lame, but I really did enjoy two of them.
1. To be fair, this isn't really a monolog. It's a single line -- when I grow up I want to be alive. It's kind of showing these kids that there are more important things than jobs; it's all about your life and living it to the fullest.
Overhanded, definitely.
I love it all the same. What can I say? I suffer from depression and the message radiates with me.
2.
Woodruff: You were a shooting star amongst ordinary stars. . . . It's wonderful. It passes quickly, but while it's here it just lights up the whole sky -- it's the most beautiful thing you'd ever want to see. So beautiful that the other stars stop and watch. . . . Because they're very rare. Quite rare. But I saw one. I did.
Jack: I just . . . want to be a regular star.
Woodruff: Jack, you'll never be regular. You're spectacular.
3. "I don't have much time these days so I'll make it quick. Like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our lives, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times, and we find ourselves thinking about the future. We start to worry, thinking, "What am I going to do? Where am I gonna be in ten years?" But I say to you, "Hey, look at me!" Please, don't worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you've ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety sky. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day . . . make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did. I made it, Mom. I'm a grown up." - Jack
4. "I want to be just like my best friend when I grow up. He's only ten, but he looks much older. He's like the perfect grown up because on the inside, he's still just a kid -- he's not afraid to learn things or try things, or to meet new people the way most grown ups are. It's like he's looking at everything for the first time -- because he is. And most grown ups aren't like that." - Louis
I know -- cheesy to the max, but I love it all the same so get over it.
Starring: Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin; Bill Cosby; Fran Drescher; Jennifer Lopez
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Released: 9 August 1996
Jack is the story of a boy named, you guessed it, Jack. Jack has a unique disease. Instead of growing up like a normal kid, Jack grows 4X faster than anyone else. Thus, when he's ten (which his is in the movie), he looks like he is 40. The rest of the movie is pretty basic -- how is Jack going to fit in with kids his age when he looks so much older than he really is.
Okay. This movie is kind of a blast from my past. I love it; I always have. It's one of my favorite movies of all time (if you can believe it). I'm not quite sure what it is about this movie, but it's just . . . I don't know how to explain it. I love it. End of story.
I think it has to do with Robin Williams. He's fantastic.
This movie and Jumanji made me love him and his comedy.
Of course there are other films of his that I enjoy immensely (Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society), but these two are the ones sticking out in my mind at the moment.
Acting like a child comes far too naturally to him, but that's what I love about it. He really is a"big" kid filled with wonder and whimsy (in most movies).
I love the random song thing they have playing while they play basketball with Jack for the first time. It makes me laugh.
For the record, this is definitely a boys movie. I mean, has anyone else seen the fart-in-the-can and eating nasty-food initiation scene? Girls would never do that . . . at least, not any girls I know . . .
Just saying . . .
More than anything, I can't get over all the preachy, motivational, you can be anything you want to be, cheesy monologs. They're lame, but I really did enjoy two of them.
1. To be fair, this isn't really a monolog. It's a single line -- when I grow up I want to be alive. It's kind of showing these kids that there are more important things than jobs; it's all about your life and living it to the fullest.
Overhanded, definitely.
I love it all the same. What can I say? I suffer from depression and the message radiates with me.
2.
Woodruff: You were a shooting star amongst ordinary stars. . . . It's wonderful. It passes quickly, but while it's here it just lights up the whole sky -- it's the most beautiful thing you'd ever want to see. So beautiful that the other stars stop and watch. . . . Because they're very rare. Quite rare. But I saw one. I did.
Jack: I just . . . want to be a regular star.
Woodruff: Jack, you'll never be regular. You're spectacular.
3. "I don't have much time these days so I'll make it quick. Like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our lives, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times, and we find ourselves thinking about the future. We start to worry, thinking, "What am I going to do? Where am I gonna be in ten years?" But I say to you, "Hey, look at me!" Please, don't worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you've ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety sky. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day . . . make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did. I made it, Mom. I'm a grown up." - Jack
4. "I want to be just like my best friend when I grow up. He's only ten, but he looks much older. He's like the perfect grown up because on the inside, he's still just a kid -- he's not afraid to learn things or try things, or to meet new people the way most grown ups are. It's like he's looking at everything for the first time -- because he is. And most grown ups aren't like that." - Louis
I know -- cheesy to the max, but I love it all the same so get over it.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
House Funny
Title: House Bunny
Starring: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Rumer Willis, Katharine McPhee, Kat Dennings, and Hugh Hefner
Director: Fred Wolf
Released : 22 August 2008
House Bunny is fairly easy to summarize. Shelley (Faris) loves being a Playboy Bunny. It's her happy ever after place. She is kicked out of the Playboy Mansion by a fellow Bunny who doesn't like her. Homeless, Shelley drives around until she finds some sorority houses, becomes the House Mother of Zeta, and tries to save the girls and their sorority.
For the record, Anna Faris sounds stupid. She obviously can't help sounding like this because her voice is the same in every film she does (minus My Super Ex Girlfriend to a certain degree). She even looks a bit dumb. Seriously. Karen from Mean Girls could have been inspired by Anna Faris.
She is that dumb.
But thanks anyway Mona (Dennings) for pointing that out. We never would have guessed she was stupid if you hadn't said it.
Who's stupid now?
Whatever. Back to the movie.
Shelley's goal is fairly simple. She wants to find her happily every after. At first, she thinks she found it at the Playboy Mansion because she considers that her home and the other Bunnies (and Hef) are her family. She may be stupid, but you can totally tell she is kind, caring, and thoughtful (though some of this may stem from her stupidity). She just wants to make sure everyone is okay and that sort of thing. She is the Playboy Mansion mom.
When she is kicked out, however, Shelley has to find a new happily ever after, complete with a home and some girls to look after and become a mother to. She ends up at the Zeta house, home to a sorority that is about to lose their charter due to a lack of pledges. She teaches the girls what she can about being sexy and getting boys to like them and they teach her how to be smart.
Zeta is essentially the Vortex from Sydney White.
Natalie (Stone) is so awkward that it is beyond hilarious. She cracks me up. She's clueless and trying to be cool/sexy, but it's not working out for her . . just so you know.
Actually, it's not going to work with any of the girls, no matter how hard Shelley tries.
Shelley actually does make them sexy, but they can't live her life. They give up their sexiness and merge it with their own personalities so they go from losers, to sex-kittens to themselves.
This is uber important though. If the girls didn't fall back onto their own identity, the message of the movie would change from "be who you are" to "life only works if you act like a Playboy Bunny).
Shelley, however, also changes like the girls she works with. She learns that there are more ways to get things done than by being sexy. Guys can like smart girls. These girls need her more than the Bunnies and Hef do, so she stays their mother -- a decision that I would have thought to be impossible.
"I'm allergic to erthromycin. I took it once with I had a cold. I was 16, and it gave me itching. I mean, everything itched. My legs, my arms, my earlobes. And other stuff too, but I can't say, because I'm live on the air right now, and you can't say "ass cheeks," right? . . . But besides the itching, the erthromycin also made my skin glow. It gave me, like, this glowing tan. And I suddenly felt like another person. Different. Better. Prettier, I guess. . . . Do you know that feeling that I'm talking about? Where you suddenly feel pretty and, next thing you know, you feel better about yourself? Well, that was what was happening to me. My allergic reaction made me feel pretty, and so I ignored all the bad side effects, because suddenly people were talking to me and they were noticing me. And even though I was itching like crazy, it was worth it to feel accepted. And so I couldn't wait to get a cold so I could take my erythromyoin. BUt underneath that beautiful, glowing skin, I still had that cold. Well, that's a meteor. . . . It flashes by and burns bright, but then it disappears. And that was what was happening to me. The real me just disappeared. . . . I am not an expert speech-giver. But I do know that one day, when your looks are gone, if everything you have is based on looks, well, then you've got nothing. You need your friends and your family by your side, to love you for who you are, not what you look like. At the Zeta house, our new motto is, "Be who you are." Because we're a family. We're a family that loves you on the inside. So we need you to stand forward and be a part of that family. We need 30 people right now to stand forward and pledge Zeta!"
This speech really shows how Shelley has grown as a person since being a Bunny.
Cheesey, typical speech, but worth it in the end because it shows that she has a brain somewhere under bleach-blonde locks. Impressive indeed.
And, for the record, "the eyes are like the nipples of the face" -- thanks for that image Faris. It may be funny, but it makes you sound more stupid than we originally thought.
Starring: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Rumer Willis, Katharine McPhee, Kat Dennings, and Hugh Hefner
Director: Fred Wolf
Released : 22 August 2008
House Bunny is fairly easy to summarize. Shelley (Faris) loves being a Playboy Bunny. It's her happy ever after place. She is kicked out of the Playboy Mansion by a fellow Bunny who doesn't like her. Homeless, Shelley drives around until she finds some sorority houses, becomes the House Mother of Zeta, and tries to save the girls and their sorority.
For the record, Anna Faris sounds stupid. She obviously can't help sounding like this because her voice is the same in every film she does (minus My Super Ex Girlfriend to a certain degree). She even looks a bit dumb. Seriously. Karen from Mean Girls could have been inspired by Anna Faris.
She is that dumb.
But thanks anyway Mona (Dennings) for pointing that out. We never would have guessed she was stupid if you hadn't said it.
Who's stupid now?
Whatever. Back to the movie.
Shelley's goal is fairly simple. She wants to find her happily every after. At first, she thinks she found it at the Playboy Mansion because she considers that her home and the other Bunnies (and Hef) are her family. She may be stupid, but you can totally tell she is kind, caring, and thoughtful (though some of this may stem from her stupidity). She just wants to make sure everyone is okay and that sort of thing. She is the Playboy Mansion mom.
When she is kicked out, however, Shelley has to find a new happily ever after, complete with a home and some girls to look after and become a mother to. She ends up at the Zeta house, home to a sorority that is about to lose their charter due to a lack of pledges. She teaches the girls what she can about being sexy and getting boys to like them and they teach her how to be smart.
Zeta is essentially the Vortex from Sydney White.
Natalie (Stone) is so awkward that it is beyond hilarious. She cracks me up. She's clueless and trying to be cool/sexy, but it's not working out for her . . just so you know.
Actually, it's not going to work with any of the girls, no matter how hard Shelley tries.
Shelley actually does make them sexy, but they can't live her life. They give up their sexiness and merge it with their own personalities so they go from losers, to sex-kittens to themselves.
This is uber important though. If the girls didn't fall back onto their own identity, the message of the movie would change from "be who you are" to "life only works if you act like a Playboy Bunny).
Shelley, however, also changes like the girls she works with. She learns that there are more ways to get things done than by being sexy. Guys can like smart girls. These girls need her more than the Bunnies and Hef do, so she stays their mother -- a decision that I would have thought to be impossible.
"I'm allergic to erthromycin. I took it once with I had a cold. I was 16, and it gave me itching. I mean, everything itched. My legs, my arms, my earlobes. And other stuff too, but I can't say, because I'm live on the air right now, and you can't say "ass cheeks," right? . . . But besides the itching, the erthromycin also made my skin glow. It gave me, like, this glowing tan. And I suddenly felt like another person. Different. Better. Prettier, I guess. . . . Do you know that feeling that I'm talking about? Where you suddenly feel pretty and, next thing you know, you feel better about yourself? Well, that was what was happening to me. My allergic reaction made me feel pretty, and so I ignored all the bad side effects, because suddenly people were talking to me and they were noticing me. And even though I was itching like crazy, it was worth it to feel accepted. And so I couldn't wait to get a cold so I could take my erythromyoin. BUt underneath that beautiful, glowing skin, I still had that cold. Well, that's a meteor. . . . It flashes by and burns bright, but then it disappears. And that was what was happening to me. The real me just disappeared. . . . I am not an expert speech-giver. But I do know that one day, when your looks are gone, if everything you have is based on looks, well, then you've got nothing. You need your friends and your family by your side, to love you for who you are, not what you look like. At the Zeta house, our new motto is, "Be who you are." Because we're a family. We're a family that loves you on the inside. So we need you to stand forward and be a part of that family. We need 30 people right now to stand forward and pledge Zeta!"
This speech really shows how Shelley has grown as a person since being a Bunny.
Cheesey, typical speech, but worth it in the end because it shows that she has a brain somewhere under bleach-blonde locks. Impressive indeed.
And, for the record, "the eyes are like the nipples of the face" -- thanks for that image Faris. It may be funny, but it makes you sound more stupid than we originally thought.
Someday My Geek Will Come
Title: Geek Charming
Starring: Sarah Hyland, Matt Prokop, Jordan Nichols, and Vanessa Morgan.
Director: Jeffrey Hornaday
Release Date: 11 November 2011
Geek Charming is a movie about high school, so of course it's going to follow the standard plot line of an unpopular boy/girl (usually boy) becoming friends with / falling in love with a popular boy/girl (usually girl). Josh Rosen (Prokop) needs to make a documentary movie for the upcoming film festival. He chooses to make the film an expose on what it means to be popular. Thus, Dylan Schoenfield (Hyland), the most popular girl in school becomes his subject.
It seems that Rosen chose his star well. Dylan has the typical popular girl attitude.
"People know I care" by correcting and saving fashion victims. This will help get her the title Blossom Queen
Popular people shouldn't have to "share the same air" as geeks. Popular people can only hang out with other popular people because cats don't hang with dogs (geeks).
She drops her purse into a shallow mall fountain and cries for help because she is incapable of getting it for herself. She acts like she's a damsel in distress in need of saving. But seriously . . . it's just a purse and its just a fountain -- you're not going to die.
Popularity isn't easy. It's like being a queen or first lady. You have to live up to extreme, unattainable standards of beauty. You have to be kind and compassionate (or at least fake it). You must help people -- again, only fashion victims for her. You have to be a good influence on others.
Popularity is contagious. Dylan's friend are only popular because she is. Her popularity saves them.
Popular kids must hang out with other populars and everyone should stay in their own cliques to prevent "misunderstandings"
Breakfast Club anyone??? . . . or almost any other John Hughes movie . . .
In other words, from the very beginning, Dylan is a D-I-V-A, diva. She may hate being called that, but if the tiara fits . . . wear it. For example, when asked what she wants to do after school, she says yoga and shopping (which is good for the economy). When asked about the future, all she can come up with is becoming Blossom Queen. (you find out that this desire is tied to her dead mother, but she needs a better goal all the same . . . but that's just me talking).
At first, the project goes just how Josh imagined it would -- Dylan is silly and superficial, and just the way he imagined she would be. As they hang out to finish the movie, they start hanging out with one another because they want to -- a MAJOR mistake in the world of high school because hanging out with the "wrong" clique gets you excommunicated from your former circle of friends so you have no one. The apparent truth is just that you cannot break through clique boundaries by getting a "fake-over" makeover.
Josh is no longer Film Club President.
Dylan no longer has a covered seat on the ramp -- the peak of popularity.
The closer Dylan and Josh get, however, the more Josh's "artistic vision" changes because his understanding of the truth about Dylan and popularity changes. After all, the documentary is about truth which is very challenging to find and the truth is that Dylan is a real person, not some plastic, popular, foreign entity to be stared and marveled at from a distance.
Dylan wins burping contests
Dylan wears contacts/glasses
Dylan is vulnerable and uncertain at times, especially when talking about her mom.
Dylan cares about her grades.
In other words, Dylan is just a regular person like anyone else. That in mind, Josh's new goal is to discover the "real story" about Dylan; not the "cover story" she pretends she is. The problem is that he never told Dylan about the change, so of course she is angry.
She didn't want anyone to know the "real" Dylan because her real self is "humiliating." After all, she spent both middle school and high school to get rid of herself and replace it with a new perfect version of herself.
After the film debuts, Dylan has no choice but to hide. Josh has exposed the real Dylan and she can't make that disappear. She is forced, then, to become a "real," more soft girl. And in doing so, Dylan's view of popularity changes. Popularity becomes
Not having everyone know who you are.
Not what you're wearing.
Not winning Blossom Queen
Having real friends who like you for you.
Not friends who will ditch you for a better offer or who will stop being your friends because you don't have a boyfriend / date to the big dance.
Real friends you can count on no matter what and who will share life with you.
Not about being popular or a geek; it'as about hanging out with the people who make you happy.
So yeah.
Typical high school movie (thank you Disney for your lack of originality in this film), but the audience knows that before watching the film. It shouldn't be any surprise then. If you want to watch a sappy, high school, forbidden love sort of thing, by all means watch it. If not, don't bother. It'll just annoy you.
Starring: Sarah Hyland, Matt Prokop, Jordan Nichols, and Vanessa Morgan.
Director: Jeffrey Hornaday
Release Date: 11 November 2011
Geek Charming is a movie about high school, so of course it's going to follow the standard plot line of an unpopular boy/girl (usually boy) becoming friends with / falling in love with a popular boy/girl (usually girl). Josh Rosen (Prokop) needs to make a documentary movie for the upcoming film festival. He chooses to make the film an expose on what it means to be popular. Thus, Dylan Schoenfield (Hyland), the most popular girl in school becomes his subject.
It seems that Rosen chose his star well. Dylan has the typical popular girl attitude.
"People know I care" by correcting and saving fashion victims. This will help get her the title Blossom Queen
Popular people shouldn't have to "share the same air" as geeks. Popular people can only hang out with other popular people because cats don't hang with dogs (geeks).
She drops her purse into a shallow mall fountain and cries for help because she is incapable of getting it for herself. She acts like she's a damsel in distress in need of saving. But seriously . . . it's just a purse and its just a fountain -- you're not going to die.
Popularity isn't easy. It's like being a queen or first lady. You have to live up to extreme, unattainable standards of beauty. You have to be kind and compassionate (or at least fake it). You must help people -- again, only fashion victims for her. You have to be a good influence on others.
Popularity is contagious. Dylan's friend are only popular because she is. Her popularity saves them.
Popular kids must hang out with other populars and everyone should stay in their own cliques to prevent "misunderstandings"
Breakfast Club anyone??? . . . or almost any other John Hughes movie . . .
In other words, from the very beginning, Dylan is a D-I-V-A, diva. She may hate being called that, but if the tiara fits . . . wear it. For example, when asked what she wants to do after school, she says yoga and shopping (which is good for the economy). When asked about the future, all she can come up with is becoming Blossom Queen. (you find out that this desire is tied to her dead mother, but she needs a better goal all the same . . . but that's just me talking).
At first, the project goes just how Josh imagined it would -- Dylan is silly and superficial, and just the way he imagined she would be. As they hang out to finish the movie, they start hanging out with one another because they want to -- a MAJOR mistake in the world of high school because hanging out with the "wrong" clique gets you excommunicated from your former circle of friends so you have no one. The apparent truth is just that you cannot break through clique boundaries by getting a "fake-over" makeover.
Josh is no longer Film Club President.
Dylan no longer has a covered seat on the ramp -- the peak of popularity.
The closer Dylan and Josh get, however, the more Josh's "artistic vision" changes because his understanding of the truth about Dylan and popularity changes. After all, the documentary is about truth which is very challenging to find and the truth is that Dylan is a real person, not some plastic, popular, foreign entity to be stared and marveled at from a distance.
Dylan wins burping contests
Dylan wears contacts/glasses
Dylan is vulnerable and uncertain at times, especially when talking about her mom.
Dylan cares about her grades.
In other words, Dylan is just a regular person like anyone else. That in mind, Josh's new goal is to discover the "real story" about Dylan; not the "cover story" she pretends she is. The problem is that he never told Dylan about the change, so of course she is angry.
She didn't want anyone to know the "real" Dylan because her real self is "humiliating." After all, she spent both middle school and high school to get rid of herself and replace it with a new perfect version of herself.
After the film debuts, Dylan has no choice but to hide. Josh has exposed the real Dylan and she can't make that disappear. She is forced, then, to become a "real," more soft girl. And in doing so, Dylan's view of popularity changes. Popularity becomes
Not having everyone know who you are.
Not what you're wearing.
Not winning Blossom Queen
Having real friends who like you for you.
Not friends who will ditch you for a better offer or who will stop being your friends because you don't have a boyfriend / date to the big dance.
Real friends you can count on no matter what and who will share life with you.
Not about being popular or a geek; it'as about hanging out with the people who make you happy.
So yeah.
Typical high school movie (thank you Disney for your lack of originality in this film), but the audience knows that before watching the film. It shouldn't be any surprise then. If you want to watch a sappy, high school, forbidden love sort of thing, by all means watch it. If not, don't bother. It'll just annoy you.
Rise of the Fictional Characters Who Desperately Need Someone to Believe in Them
*I'm giving up on adding pictures for the moment because it's not working out for me right now.*
Title: Rise of the Guardians
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Ilsa Fisher, Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, and Jude Law
Directed by: Peter Ramsey
Released: 21 Novmber 2012
Rise of the Guardians is a tale about the guardians selected to keep the world happy and filled with hope, North/Santa (Baldwin), Easter Bunny (Jackman), Tooth Fairy (Fisher), Jack Frost (Pine) and Sandy the Sandman, fighting Pitch Black while still keeping the children of the world believing them. Underneath that plot, however, it is about discovering who you (Jack Frost) are on the inside.
Before jumping into discussing the identity crisis, I have a few things to address first.
First, why aren't we calling Santa "Santa"? Seriously. Perhaps this decision was based on the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas. The truth is, however, that you can change his name to "North," but he is still obviously Santa, so why not identify him as such? No matter what you call him, though, Baldwin does some pretty excellent voice acting; I didn't even realize it was him until the credits. So props to you, sir. Well done.
Second, Sophie (I think that's her name) has terrible hair. It's awful. Are we supposed to assume that she gave herself her own hair cut, which many kids try to do at some point? Either way it's awful . . . well, slightly cute because she's a little girl, but still terrible.
Third, I love Sandy and the way he communicates. It's awesome and whimsical . . . plus the movie people get to save the cost of hiring another voice actor. Brilliant.
Fourth, Pitch Black looks like Hades in Disney's Hercules. Just saying.
Fifth, I love Jack Frost, but the whole icing everything you touch with your bare hands/feet (for the most part) was my idea like twelve years go for my own superhero-esque alter-ego, creation thing, but thanks for playing.
Sixth, I LOVE Hugh Jackman. He is amazing and I love him. I've loved him since X-Men have continued to follow his film career because I love him.
My first and only celebrity crush (not counting Patch from Days of Our Lives because apparently I loved him when I was a toddler or something)
Okay. On to more substantial things like themes instead of my unconnected ramblings.
We all must go on ventures to discover who we are on the inside ( who we are at our center), but this movie has an interesting twist on the identity crisis.
Jack Frost goes on this huge journey trying to not only understand who he is, but also find out who he was before he became Jack the guardian. It's pretty simple -- if I don't know who I was, how can I know who I am now? An important question that must be answered for anyone looking to discover who they are.
There is, however, more to it than that because Jack and his fellow guardians must guard their identity closely. Pitch Black is determined to make the children to stop believing in all the guardians. As he does so, these guardians' identities begin to crumble.
This is seen most clearly through the Easter Bunny going from his awesome self into an ordinary bunny.
Jack goes on a similar journey, but does not become weaker. Instead, he learns about who his was and is until he finally finds the strength to believe in himself. And, once he believes in himself, he is finally able to be seen by the children.
Jack must teach this lesson to the other guardians who are shrinking quickly because it is the only way to restore hope and belief. It does become a bit annoying though. In my head, all I hear is "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do." from the 2003 version of Peter Pan.
All in all, it's a cute kids movie about defining and discovering your identity. It has it's amusing points and is a bit heavy-handed with their message about identity, but that's okay. Kids sometimes need that sort of extreme guidance to learn the lesson presented. On the other hand, give the kids some credit. They aren't stupid.
Also, McDonalds is dumb. They have their dinky plastic toys that will never amount to anything really with characters from the movie. Everyone one is there except North who is missing entirely, but his elf is there. Honestly. I don't know what they're thinking.
Title: Rise of the Guardians
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Ilsa Fisher, Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, and Jude Law
Directed by: Peter Ramsey
Released: 21 Novmber 2012
Rise of the Guardians is a tale about the guardians selected to keep the world happy and filled with hope, North/Santa (Baldwin), Easter Bunny (Jackman), Tooth Fairy (Fisher), Jack Frost (Pine) and Sandy the Sandman, fighting Pitch Black while still keeping the children of the world believing them. Underneath that plot, however, it is about discovering who you (Jack Frost) are on the inside.
Before jumping into discussing the identity crisis, I have a few things to address first.
First, why aren't we calling Santa "Santa"? Seriously. Perhaps this decision was based on the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas. The truth is, however, that you can change his name to "North," but he is still obviously Santa, so why not identify him as such? No matter what you call him, though, Baldwin does some pretty excellent voice acting; I didn't even realize it was him until the credits. So props to you, sir. Well done.
Second, Sophie (I think that's her name) has terrible hair. It's awful. Are we supposed to assume that she gave herself her own hair cut, which many kids try to do at some point? Either way it's awful . . . well, slightly cute because she's a little girl, but still terrible.
Third, I love Sandy and the way he communicates. It's awesome and whimsical . . . plus the movie people get to save the cost of hiring another voice actor. Brilliant.
Fourth, Pitch Black looks like Hades in Disney's Hercules. Just saying.
Fifth, I love Jack Frost, but the whole icing everything you touch with your bare hands/feet (for the most part) was my idea like twelve years go for my own superhero-esque alter-ego, creation thing, but thanks for playing.
Sixth, I LOVE Hugh Jackman. He is amazing and I love him. I've loved him since X-Men have continued to follow his film career because I love him.
My first and only celebrity crush (not counting Patch from Days of Our Lives because apparently I loved him when I was a toddler or something)
Okay. On to more substantial things like themes instead of my unconnected ramblings.
We all must go on ventures to discover who we are on the inside ( who we are at our center), but this movie has an interesting twist on the identity crisis.
Jack Frost goes on this huge journey trying to not only understand who he is, but also find out who he was before he became Jack the guardian. It's pretty simple -- if I don't know who I was, how can I know who I am now? An important question that must be answered for anyone looking to discover who they are.
There is, however, more to it than that because Jack and his fellow guardians must guard their identity closely. Pitch Black is determined to make the children to stop believing in all the guardians. As he does so, these guardians' identities begin to crumble.
This is seen most clearly through the Easter Bunny going from his awesome self into an ordinary bunny.
Jack goes on a similar journey, but does not become weaker. Instead, he learns about who his was and is until he finally finds the strength to believe in himself. And, once he believes in himself, he is finally able to be seen by the children.
Jack must teach this lesson to the other guardians who are shrinking quickly because it is the only way to restore hope and belief. It does become a bit annoying though. In my head, all I hear is "I do believe in fairies, I do, I do." from the 2003 version of Peter Pan.
All in all, it's a cute kids movie about defining and discovering your identity. It has it's amusing points and is a bit heavy-handed with their message about identity, but that's okay. Kids sometimes need that sort of extreme guidance to learn the lesson presented. On the other hand, give the kids some credit. They aren't stupid.
Also, McDonalds is dumb. They have their dinky plastic toys that will never amount to anything really with characters from the movie. Everyone one is there except North who is missing entirely, but his elf is there. Honestly. I don't know what they're thinking.
Monday, November 12, 2012
May the Blogs be Ever in Your Favor
So here's the deal on this one. I just re-read Hunger Games and watched the film as well, so this review is going to be jumping between the book tree and the movie tree (just like Rue :) )
Anyhow, for those of you have been living in District 13, Hunger Games, like Harry Potter and Twilight, has become a world-wide phenomenon for tweens and teens . . . and even some adults. Young characters (between the ages of 12 and 18) are forced to participate in the Hunger Games -- a fight to the death match to prove that the Capitol is all powerful over the Districts 12 remaining districts. The book is centered around the 74th annual Games. This time however, things end in an unexpected manner that changes everything and leads into the last two books.
My like/dislike for this movie is complicated. In fact, I wasn't pleased with the film rendition of the story when I saw it opening night and the next two nights as well. But, seeing as I've watched it 20 times, it's grown on me so much that I hold it equally as good as the book. On the one hand, there are scenes in the book that I love. I also appreciate hearing Katniss think her way through the Games to eventual victory. On the other hand, there are some scenes and characters that look stronger visually than they appeared in the text. Each cover for what the other lacks, giving a fully-rounded, well-connected movie.
The problem is that the book is limited strictly by what Katniss sees/does. The movie tries to broaden the spectrum so the audience gets a clearer picture of what's going on without them -- Game Maker's room. President Snow and Seneca Crane (my personal favorite because Donald Sutherland makes me laugh), reactions to what's going on in 11 and 12. All of that exists only in the movie. But that's not the only reason I like the film.
I like that the movie began by starting in the Capital with the Game Maker almost justifying the Games by making it sound like a positive thing. This makes seeing the Games much more sickening and sends a powerful message about the things people watch/do for entertainment. The same thing happens through Caesar Flickerman's interviews and "sports" updates with Templesmith. It's horrible, but that's Collins' point, so I'll get over it.
The most prominent way the book differs from the film is through the characters; specifically, I'm thinking of Katniss, Prim, and Peeta.
In the movie, Katniss is true to her reaction in the book when Gale saying he wanted kids and wanted to leave to live in the forest -- Gale has hope, Katniss is too realistic/pessimistic to have that hope. As she says on the night before the Games -- "I can't afford to think that way." In both texts, Karniss has this "things are never going to change attitude"; highly ironic because she changes everything with the nightlock berries. Both Katnisses are very dismissive of and clearly angry with her mother throughout beginning, but it is a deeper intensity in the book, giving more details to why Katniss regards her mother the way she does. Also, book Katniss appears to hate hate getting help more because she believes that help means you're weak because you can't do it alone, and Katniss is all about pride, defensive, arrogant and strength. That is really missing from the movie because movie Katniss seems more willing to cry and be emotional than book Katniss who is cold, hostile, and apparently emotionless. The nice thing, however, is that Katniss seems to be pretty flat in the book (comparatively), but Lawrence gives Katniss more dimension and realism.
The book mentions Peeta crying and uncertain -- exactly how he appears between his name being called and the train until Haymitch shows up. This is important because it shows that both book and movie Peeta more rounded out character opposed to Katniss, who would never cry because she is all about strength and crying makes you look weak. Furthermore, book Peeta's attitude, voice, and essence is embedded into every piece of movie Peeta -- the best part being the interview prior to the games.
The biggest change was in Prim. In the book, you don't know anything about her being afraid or emotional at all until her name is called, but even then, there's not much there emotion-wise. The movie makes a more compelling choice by giving her fear and nervousness and other strong emotions. This really adds to Prim's character and breathes life into her because she's kind of dead on the page.
Even more important than the characters are the actors / actresses who play them. They deserve a lot of credit for their hard work. Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci -- all of them did such a good job and should be recognized accordingly.
And there are just so many wonderful scenes brought to life in the film. 1) We can actually see the training room; the scene after Katniss shoots the apple is so much funnier; the scenes between Katniss and Rue -- I wish we could have heard the conversations they had about the differences in their districts, but that's okay because the did her death right -- the most important scene; and the scenes in the cave were good, but in the book, the cave is much more intimate and wonderful in the book --you lose some of the intensity and deepness of their love blooming, but that's okay.
There are also scenes missing from or changed in the movie which I appreciate. The trackerjacker hallucination; the mutts; and Peeta losing his leg. Even more important is the initial sequence after the Games begin. I love the ringing / silence as they get to cornucopia and get supplies or die trying; hearing them die would have just made it worse.
Also, the costumes in Capital are brilliant, but I wish they could have done something different with Peeta and Katniss's parade clothes and Katniss' hair. Just saying. No. I love everything about the Capitol. It's futuristic, clean and everything it should have been. And I love how they make the Capitol game room look. It's awesome and just like it should be.
All in all, they did a good job editing the film to accompany the book. I've come to the conclusion that I do in fact like the movie as much as I like the book, and I can't wait for Catching Fire. It's going to be awesome.
Because it's funny
Anyhow, for those of you have been living in District 13, Hunger Games, like Harry Potter and Twilight, has become a world-wide phenomenon for tweens and teens . . . and even some adults. Young characters (between the ages of 12 and 18) are forced to participate in the Hunger Games -- a fight to the death match to prove that the Capitol is all powerful over the Districts 12 remaining districts. The book is centered around the 74th annual Games. This time however, things end in an unexpected manner that changes everything and leads into the last two books.
My like/dislike for this movie is complicated. In fact, I wasn't pleased with the film rendition of the story when I saw it opening night and the next two nights as well. But, seeing as I've watched it 20 times, it's grown on me so much that I hold it equally as good as the book. On the one hand, there are scenes in the book that I love. I also appreciate hearing Katniss think her way through the Games to eventual victory. On the other hand, there are some scenes and characters that look stronger visually than they appeared in the text. Each cover for what the other lacks, giving a fully-rounded, well-connected movie.
The problem is that the book is limited strictly by what Katniss sees/does. The movie tries to broaden the spectrum so the audience gets a clearer picture of what's going on without them -- Game Maker's room. President Snow and Seneca Crane (my personal favorite because Donald Sutherland makes me laugh), reactions to what's going on in 11 and 12. All of that exists only in the movie. But that's not the only reason I like the film.
I like that the movie began by starting in the Capital with the Game Maker almost justifying the Games by making it sound like a positive thing. This makes seeing the Games much more sickening and sends a powerful message about the things people watch/do for entertainment. The same thing happens through Caesar Flickerman's interviews and "sports" updates with Templesmith. It's horrible, but that's Collins' point, so I'll get over it.
The most prominent way the book differs from the film is through the characters; specifically, I'm thinking of Katniss, Prim, and Peeta.
In the movie, Katniss is true to her reaction in the book when Gale saying he wanted kids and wanted to leave to live in the forest -- Gale has hope, Katniss is too realistic/pessimistic to have that hope. As she says on the night before the Games -- "I can't afford to think that way." In both texts, Karniss has this "things are never going to change attitude"; highly ironic because she changes everything with the nightlock berries. Both Katnisses are very dismissive of and clearly angry with her mother throughout beginning, but it is a deeper intensity in the book, giving more details to why Katniss regards her mother the way she does. Also, book Katniss appears to hate hate getting help more because she believes that help means you're weak because you can't do it alone, and Katniss is all about pride, defensive, arrogant and strength. That is really missing from the movie because movie Katniss seems more willing to cry and be emotional than book Katniss who is cold, hostile, and apparently emotionless. The nice thing, however, is that Katniss seems to be pretty flat in the book (comparatively), but Lawrence gives Katniss more dimension and realism.
The book mentions Peeta crying and uncertain -- exactly how he appears between his name being called and the train until Haymitch shows up. This is important because it shows that both book and movie Peeta more rounded out character opposed to Katniss, who would never cry because she is all about strength and crying makes you look weak. Furthermore, book Peeta's attitude, voice, and essence is embedded into every piece of movie Peeta -- the best part being the interview prior to the games.
The biggest change was in Prim. In the book, you don't know anything about her being afraid or emotional at all until her name is called, but even then, there's not much there emotion-wise. The movie makes a more compelling choice by giving her fear and nervousness and other strong emotions. This really adds to Prim's character and breathes life into her because she's kind of dead on the page.
Even more important than the characters are the actors / actresses who play them. They deserve a lot of credit for their hard work. Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci -- all of them did such a good job and should be recognized accordingly.
And there are just so many wonderful scenes brought to life in the film. 1) We can actually see the training room; the scene after Katniss shoots the apple is so much funnier; the scenes between Katniss and Rue -- I wish we could have heard the conversations they had about the differences in their districts, but that's okay because the did her death right -- the most important scene; and the scenes in the cave were good, but in the book, the cave is much more intimate and wonderful in the book --you lose some of the intensity and deepness of their love blooming, but that's okay.
There are also scenes missing from or changed in the movie which I appreciate. The trackerjacker hallucination; the mutts; and Peeta losing his leg. Even more important is the initial sequence after the Games begin. I love the ringing / silence as they get to cornucopia and get supplies or die trying; hearing them die would have just made it worse.
Also, the costumes in Capital are brilliant, but I wish they could have done something different with Peeta and Katniss's parade clothes and Katniss' hair. Just saying. No. I love everything about the Capitol. It's futuristic, clean and everything it should have been. And I love how they make the Capitol game room look. It's awesome and just like it should be.
All in all, they did a good job editing the film to accompany the book. I've come to the conclusion that I do in fact like the movie as much as I like the book, and I can't wait for Catching Fire. It's going to be awesome.
Because it's funny
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