Linz McC's Completely Pointless Blog

Music: Adele's '21'

2011-04-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

I first heard Adele a couple of years ago on So You Think You Can Dance. Katee and Joshua danced this gorgeous number to "Hometown Glory." [Side note: I just got really excited about SYTYCD which starts in a few weeks!]

I downloaded that song and listened to it on repeat for ages. Then I downloaded Adele's version of "To Make You Feel My Love." Also beautiful.

When Kenzie told me I MUST get the new Adele album called 21 (named thus because she was 21 when she wrote it), I got my hands on it. Most albums require multiple listens before I can declare them good or bad. I got about three songs in on this one and was hooked. I couldn't believe how good it was from the get-go.

I can't believe Adele is so young. Her song-writing and singing skills are way above par. It's hard not to be impressed by her skillz (yes with a "z"). She is quite a hoot, too, if you ever see her in interviews.

A couple of song samples from 21!

Live version of 'Someone Like You'

Rumor Has It

Movie: Water for Elephants

2011-04-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

Well, if you know of my Robert Pattinson love, it wouldn't surprise you that I've managed to see my first movie since before the girls were born: Water for Elephants. As I have told Sean countless times, I enjoyed the book and was very intrigued when I found out that a film version would be made. Rob is just a nice pretty cherry on the top.

First off, you can read my review of the book here.

I had already heard good and bad things about the film adaptation before I made it to the theater. But I decided to make up my own mind.

The good:
The film sheds light on an interesting time period and setting (old-timey circuses and carnivals are so intriguing to me!). Christoph Waltz plays a bad guy with almost no heart perfectly, and helps the viewer to understand where he's coming from (even though he is still unforgivable). Tai the elephant plays Rosie wonderfully. You can tell she is just so smart and it is sad because there is some animal abuse that is portrayed in the film and it's just terribly sad to watch. Robert Pattinson looks pretty: tan, sweaty, period clothing (no sparkles, no white makeup, no bouffant, no red lipstick, no colored contacts), and it suits him beautifully. He looked quite handsome.

The bad:
I didn't really think Reese Witherspoon was going to be a great fit for the part of Marlena, and while she acted it perfectly well, my preconceptions of her as the girl-next-door interfered with my ability to see her for the character. And she didn't have great chemistry with Pattinson. It also doesn't help that she is 10 years older than him in real life, although she doesn't look it at all.

My recommendation:
See it, but if you like to read the book before you see a movie, take the time to do that first. But then, see it. It's sad, it's romantic. There's funny. There's action-y parts. Take your husbands because he'll just be glad you aren't dragging him to Twilight!

Movie: Holy Rollers

2011-04-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

Now that Jessie Eisenberg is a household name, one of his older films is getting released in theaters, even though I'd seen it on my Netflix Instant Watch for ages. It's a 2010 film, so by ages, I mean several months. Anyway, I decided to give it a shot. Here's my thoughts?

Holy Rollers is about an Orthodox Jew named Sam who gets caught up in an international drug ring. In the beginning, he unknowingly takes on a job as drug mule, thinking it was innocent. He is trying to make an extra buck to be "worthy" of the girl he wants to marry. Once he find out the trips to other countries aren't as legal as he thought, he sticks around for the money. Needless to say, he gets caught up in the world of drugs and partying and pulls away from his family and religion.

You'll also spot Justin Bartha as the guy that gets Sam involved in the illegal trade. Justin is most recognizable as the groom in The Hangover and from the National Treasure movies. Ari Graynor is also great as Rachel. I only know Ari from Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (the role where she vomits in a toilet in the bus station and opts to pick her gum out of the nasty toilet and puts it back in her mouth).

The film is based on a true story, which I didn't realize till the end, when they do that "what happened next" text across your screen. I enjoyed it but it was sad watching Sam get sucked further and further in.

Movie: Never Let Me Go

2011-04-13T08:38:00.000-07:00


Fox Searchlight Pictures

I got this on Netflix a few days back. I remember hearing so-so reviews on it after one of the major film fests (TIFF maybe?) but I was curious based on the cast. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley.

Might I add that I was amazed at how well the young actors were cast for Mulligan's and Knightley's characters? They not only looked like them (eerily so), but they also sounded like them.

Fox Searchlight Pictures

I had no idea about the plot beforehand, which made it all the more interesting once I got started.

SPOILER ALERT (and I recommend watching without reading this part) The basic story is that these three characters grow up at what seems to be a boarding school, but where you quickly discover is actual an organ farm in an alternate universe. These people have been created for the sole purpose of supplying vital organs for transplants. Once they are old enough they start the donor process, and, after 3-4 surgeries, once they have lost various body parts, they die, or "complete."

Mixed into all of this is a pretty tragic love story. Many reviewers said this film fell flat. But I was mesmerized by the general idea of the organ farms, and thought the love story was captivating and tragic. Also, the general look and feel of the film caught my attention. All-in-all, I was intrigued and enjoyed it. It made me want to read the book that the film was based on, written by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Trailer:

Current musical obsession: Mumford & Sons

2010-09-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

If I want to know what bands I really am loving (as if I can't figure it out...), I just look at what spends the most time in my car's CD player. Currently, the album I can't seem to remove from the player is "Sigh No More" by Mumford & Sons. I love a band I can't really pinpoint into a specific genre. I guess it's kind of alterna-folk-bluegrass. Sort of. And they are surprisingly spiritual in their lyrics. And I love that there are so many instruments in the band.

"Thistle and Weeds"

"Awake My Soul"

Live performance of "Little Lion Man" and "Roll Away Your Stone"

Working on getting tickets to see them at the Palladium in Hollywood next month. Hear more of their songs at their myspace page.

I'm also loving the band The XX a lot right now. Maybe I'll post on them, too.

"Breathe Me" by Sia (Live)

2010-09-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

I love this song. SO much. But I have never listened to Sia perform live before and she pretty much blew me away. So without further ado, here's Sia with "Breathe Me" (and ignore the guy yelling...).

Thanks to my pal Steph for posting this on FB so I could obsess over it.

TV: Breaking Bad (Seasons 1 and 2)

2010-07-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note as I have just completed seasons one and two of Breaking Bad. Unfortunately, season 3, which has already aired on AMC is not out on DVD yet, and I don't get the channel anyway, so I'll be waiting to see what happens next.

Anyway, I randomly added this show to our netflix queue and Sean and I both got quickly sucked in. As a quick synopsis, Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher, married with a teenage son, and another child on the way. The news comes that he has terminal cancer and Walt turns to a former student, Jesse, to form a partnership to create and sell crystal meth.

The acting is excellent. The subject matter is very tough. But there are very comedic moments, usually at the expense of dumb drug dealer Jesse (Aaron Paul). And these situations where you are laughing so hard you cry are not funny situations in reality. To call Walter White's transformation from the first episode to the end of season two "dramatic" would be a complete understatement. I have no difficulty understanding how Bryan Cranston has won two Emmys for the role, and that the show itself and actor Aaron Paul have also received repeat nominations. If you aren't watching this show, do yourself a favor and get to it! And have tissues handy, both for the laugh-til-you-cry bits, as well as the devastating moments that come quite regularly.

Nick Jonas is Marius in "Les Miserables"

2010-07-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

I still can't get over Nick Jonas as Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables, singing my favorite song from the entire show, "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." Not trying to sound shocked, but if you have ever heard Nick sing with the Jonas Brothers or his band the Administration, you know he usually sounds like his voice is in the process of changing (don't think of this as hating, because I like his pop voice just fine). But when I heard he'd be playing Marius (and knowing that I have such a major love for Michael Ball on the original Longdon cast recording from the 80s), I just had my doubts. Anyway, here is a recording of Nick performing the song.

And while I am at it, here is "A Little Fall of Rain."

And "In My Life/A Heart Full of Love."

The End of Lost

2010-05-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

I didn't even try to write about Lost this season. It was not only overwhelming, but kind of exhausting and I didn't always get my head wrapped around it in a timely manner. However, I do think that the series finale, appropriately entitled "The End" deserves a post of its own.

OK press play for a song-accompaniment to my post.

I know many people who gave up on Lost long ago. I know others who have stuck it out but aren't crazy about where it's gone. Then there are people like me who think this is the best show that has ever graced the small screen. I literally feel an empty hole in myself knowing that Lost will never again appear on my TV. It's a bittersweet moment, that's for sure.

ON-ISLAND GOINGS ON
I was enjoying the final brutal and fast-paced face-off between Jack and MIB-in-Locke's-body. I was taken by surprise that it was Kate that killed MIB and not Jack, but as my sister Julie (shout out!) pointed out, this allowed for Jack to have NEVER murdered anyone (a la Harry Potter) which I think was fitting. He wasn't a killer.

I was happy that Hurley ended up serving a greater purpose for the island, and while Jack had to step into Jacob's shoes, he only had to do it long enough to kill Locke, and Hurley was the one with the purest heart and it made sense he would take the role. And, of course, Ben points out that Hurley doesn't have to run things the way Jacob did. I always felt there was something important for Hugo Reyes in the end.

It was a touching moment when Hugo asked Ben Linus to help him out. Obviously, Ben didn't see that one coming, but it was so moving for him (as had the Rousseau/Alex off-island goings on) that you couldn't help but have an "aww" moment for him.

OK, I was a little miffed that Jack went down there to fix that plug that Desmond pulled out. Des was right: he could do it without dying. But Jack says no and does it anyway. I know, I know, it came full circle and it was appropriate that he died, but it's one of those moments when you are yelling at your TV "What are you DOING?" It was, as is fitting, heroic of Jack, though.

OFF ISLAND HAPPENINGS
I didn't see this one coming. I was glad they pulled one more over on me and that there was a bit of a surprise at the end. The timeline where the gang all landed at LAX was an afterlife of sorts. An in-between. A purgatory. And once they all "remembered," realized and accepted, they all moved on together. And it was a very sweet reunion.

Fess up. You cried a lot. Please. Seeing Kate help deliver Aaron, and Charlie finding Claire and Aaron? Or when Juliet and Sawyer touched and both freaked out and then he hugged her and proteced her? I loved the moment where Locke rolled up in his wheelchair and turned to Ben, "Benjamin." And then Ben proceeded to tell him to get out of the chair. And he does. It's a miracle! :)

But of course, Jack, ever the skeptic (in this timeline anyway), sees the flashes and continues to refuse to accept them. Until he sees his father. The interaction between Jack and Christian was not only very touching, but also very enlightening. I had to pause it and think it through after that conversation. I thought it was very hard to watch Jack say "I died, too." and then they hugged and all was forgiven.

I am enjoying thinking through the episode this morning. It certainly calls for a re-watch. But in the meantime, I am contemplating the "lives" these people have created for themselves in their death; their off-island realities. It isn't just "these lives are better than the ones they had in the other universe." It is they are literally what they would have made for themselves. For example, Sawyer isn't a con-man, but a good guy, a cop, and someone with the resources to locate the man responsible for what happened to him in his childhood, and, hopefully, handle the situation a bit better. Jack has a son so he can prove that he could break the cycle and be a good father.

One last YEA! for Richard Alpert, who finally began aging and then presumably escaped the island to live out a normal life, along with Frank, Miles, Kate, Claire and Sawyer.

I would like to say that Matthew Fox should have been nominated for an Emmy prior to this season but, as this was his swan song, and he managed to KILL it every week, usually by crying (and breaking my heart), he deserves the nom (Will he win with the competition in the category? Probably not. But let's give him some credit here.) What is it about a grown man crying that gets me every time?

Alright, these are NOT my complete thoughts, but my LOST thoughts are never complete, so this time will probably not be any different. Also, I am going to need to give this finale an additional viewing to wrap my brain around it (at least a little bit). In the meantime, I am aware that these sound like crazy ramblings, but it is fair to say that I am literally going to be lost with out LOST on my TV every week. RIP, my friend.

TV: Party Down, Season 1

2010-05-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

I had various reasons for wanting to watch this show. Originally, my main reason was because it is co-created by Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, and Paul Rudd (who I just love anyway). But the cast is excellent. And it's just funny.

You may not have heard of this show as it appears on the cable channel Starz, but it was available on my Netflix Instant Watch. The plot centers around a group of cater-waiters for a company called Party Down. It's probably safe to say that you would not want this group catering your parties...

The cast (I'm going to relate as many of the cast as I can back to Veronica Mars):

Ken Marino as Ron - AKA Vinnie Van Lowe
I'd call him the lovable loser but he isn't really all that lovable. He thinks he is very smooth and is easily dooped. You more just feels sorry for him.

Adam Scott as Henry - AKA Mr. Rooks
I know Adam Scott from his episode of Veronica Mars and from a few episode stint on Six Feet Under. He was also the huge jerk of a brother on Step-Brothers. But his character Henry is the most "normal" of the group. He is an almost-actor that has resorted to cater-waitering for an income. He is very likable and relate-able. And he is pretty cute to boot.

Lizzy Caplan as Casey
I know Lizzy Caplan from Mean Girls, The Class, and True Blood. Casey and Henry hook up during a job and then there is that awkwardness that follows, but it's rather endearing. I liked Casey for MOST of the season. She might have ticked me off at the end...

Ryan Hansen as Kyle - AKA Dick Casablancas
Kyle is adorable and obnoxious. Kyle isn't as big of a jerk as Dick in VM. He is the really cool guy that likes to party and gets all the ladies. And he is funny.

Jane Lynch as Constance
Does anything need to be said about the ever-brilliant Jane Lynch? Her line delivery is always spot on and her character is a bit ridiculous, which makes her even funnier. Unfortunately for Party Down, Jane left the show to be a part of Glee. Megan Mullaly moved in to the empty space.

Martin Starr as Roman
I loved Martin Starr as über geek Bill in Freaks & Geeks and am always glad to see him in other things. And guess what: he is a big nerd in this one, too (well, that's just what he plays, right?).

I think this cast and how they work together is what makes the show so funny. ALL of the story takes place during catering jobs. There is not outside interaction. Various Veronica Mars alum show up during various episodes (you can definitely look forward to seeing Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring).

Final word: Prepare yourself for crass humor and you are going to love this show. Too bad it doesn't get more press because it is on Starz channel...

Book: A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

2010-03-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Emily gave me a handful of books for Christmas, including A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby. This is the second Hornby book I have read, and you can read my less-than-excited thoughts on High Fidelity here. I enjoyed A Long Way Down more than High Fidelity, and found it thoroughly entertaining, given the subject matter.

Each of four very different characters narrates their own chapters, and are all written in a first person POV with very different writing personalities. The characters meet on New Year's Eve on the ledge of a building that is commonly used for suicide, all preparing to take their lives for one reason or another. Some of them actually have pretty valid excuses for wanting to end it all, but for some it seems like their reasoning is immature. Basically, this group of people manage NOT to kill themselves, and become a strange group of friends. Well, friends isn't really the right word because they don't seem to be able to stand each other. But they have this one secret in common, so the lean on each other to get through.

I loved how Hornby wrote each person so differently. You've got a washed up TV personality amid a sex scandal whose family has abandoned him. He is intelligent but irritated easily. Next up, you have a woman who is dealing with a son that is basically a vegetable and she has never had the opportunity to have a real life. She is very shy in her story-telling and she puts in **** instead of writing out when other characters swear. And then you have the American 20-something that is depressed after his band fell apart. I can tell the author had an American read his chapters to make sure he didn't say anything to English. And, last but not least (well, kind of least because she is ANNOYING), you have a teenage girl who is ready to jump off a building because a boy she likes won't tell her why he doesn't want to see her anymore (at least that is what we think in the beginning). Her narration is extremely irritating but that is due to her personality being almost unbearable. :)

Given the fact that the whole story revolves around four suicidal people, Nich Hornby is great at finding humor in the situation. I laughed out loud during my reading of the book and found the story to be refreshingly different from anything else I have read.

My thoughts on 'The Runaways'

2010-03-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

[Just realized I should add a SPOILER ALERT!]

Last night I had the opportunity to see an advanced screening of The Runaways, a biopic about the 70s girl rock band. I have read and heard SO much about the film, including reviews, interviews with the cast and members of the band, and photos and clips from the movie. At first it didn't exactly appeal to me. I wasn't even born when The Runaways formed and I hadn't heard any of their songs. I also don't get into the sex, drugs and rock & roll rock star biopics. However, once clips of the film came out, my interest was piqued, if nothing else I wanted to see these teen actors take on this kind of role. So click on for my thoughts...

Like I said, this type of story doesn't usually appeal to me. Add to it the very indie feel of the film, and I wasn't crazy about it. I didn't really feel like this was a new story except for the fact that it was the first rock band that featured all female members. You still had the "start from nothing, start to get big, drug-induced ecstasy, hate on the over-publicized hot lead singer, infighting, band breaks up, members make up later in life" story that seems so common. Actually, being a rock star is just cliche, isn't it? So you can't blame The Runaways girls for falling into that pattern.

Let's talk about the actors' performances:

Dakota Fanning as Cherie Curry. This was a hard performance to watch because I kept thinking in my head that Dakota is only 15! But then I realized Cherie was only 15, too. So it made it disturbingly fitting. Dakota was great in this role. How terrifying for her to take this on, but I firmly believe that she can pretty much act any role ever and pull it off beautifully. Be prepared to watch Dakota snorting coke, making out with guys AND girls, wearing raunchy lingerie on stage, and dropping F-bombs left and right. If you prepare yourself for that, you can enjoy her performance (unlike the old man next to me as we exited the stage: "What a slut! Why would her agent let her do that role?"

Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett. Kristen infamously cut her hair into a 70s rock mullet for this role. She's still paying the price, but I would say the hair cut paid off in the end. Kristen embodied Joan so well There was NO Bella Swan in this. There wasn't even the girl from Into the Wild. This is like nothing Kristen has done before. And I loved her performance. I would say viewers would be a little more willing to accept Kstew cursing and screaming, kissing Dakota, doing all sorts of drugs, etc. because she is older and her prior films are a bit edgier. I thought her performance was spot on.

Michael Shannon as Kim Fowley. Kim told me on twitter the other day that "Michael Shannon does a great job as me...but I do him better" which I thougth was a great statement, and if you see the film, very fitting. This is a one-of-a-kind guy. A record producer that isn't afraid to be a foul-mouthed sexist to promote his girl band. And while it was quite disturbing, it was also kind of funny. And Shannon was inspiring.

These three performances are worth the viewing, even if I didn't love the film. On top of that, the film's got a killer rock & roll soundtrack, including songs performed by the actors (Stewart and Fanning) which are quite good. Most importantly, you need to know what you are getting into. Probably not something you'd take your 12 year old Twifan daughter to see. Just sayin'...

Sam Worthington in 'Details' magazine

2010-03-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

In his new interview with Details Magazine, we get a better understanding why we (and James Cameron) see Sam Worthington as both a sex symbol and a man's man. Sam is one of my top actors right now. I first noticed him in Terminator Salvation, and then, of course, Avatar. I also went back and watched his film from a few years ago called Somersault where he is sporting a very lovely mullet. I am looking forward to Clash of the Titans. Basically, I am willing to watch any film he does at this point. But anyway, it's a really interesting interview, and Sam discusses how he was living in his car when he got cast for Avatar.

All that to say, the reason for my post is the pictures. And here they are in all their glory!! Photos by Norman Jean Roy.

TV: Big Love Season 1

2010-02-25T16:47:00.000-08:00

My sister has been telling me to watch Big Love for ages. And I finally added it to my Netflix queue after my husband expressed just a semblance of interest. And we have been sucked in. I am currently awaiting disc one of season two (today!), so while I wait, here is what I thought of the first season.

I love the idea of representing a modern times, off-the-compound polygamist family. And the show does a great job of making the people in this family (er... most of them) seem really normal. And likable. You kind of look at them and start making excuses for their lifestyle and rooting them on. In fact, I have now said to my husband: How is what they are doing illegal? He isn't legally married to any of the wives except Barb. There is no law against sleeping around, having illegitimate kids, paying someone's mortgage (who isn't your spouse). We decided what they are doing is most likely not illegal but just really looked down upon.

Here are my thoughts on a few of the main characters.

1) Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) - He's a bit of a doofus but he's a good businessman and managed to snag not one, not two, but THREE hot wives. I would be doing fine if I never had to see his unmentionable parts or tighty-whities again, though.

2) Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) - Barb married Bill before they decided to live the "principle" of polygamy. In fact, he wasn't moved to leave the LDS church and revert to his roots until SPOILER ALERT Barb got sick with cancer and almost died. And I guess she agreed. Barb is the first wife, making her in charge, pretty much, of the other two. She's my favorite wife of the three. She is the most obvious as for why Bill ended up with her and like her kids.

3) Nikki (Chloe Sevigny) - Nikki is the long skirt-wearing, braided wife from the compound. And really she is just obnoxious and manipulative. They ahven't gotten into it much but it has been thrown around that Bill married her because of a business deal with her father Roman, the One True Prophet. She just sucks but I loved in teh final episode when, for Barb's sake, she SPOILER ALERT put on a normal dress and wore her hair down and makeup. She looked pretty.

4) Margene (Gennifer Goodwin) - Margene is the latest addition to the family and is 23 years old. Needless to say, she is immature and has lots of growing to do. She is the most easily sucked into the outside world, but adorable at the same time. I like her but I don't see it going good places with the way Ben (teenage son of Bill & first wife Barb) checks her out.

This part of this post is SPOILERific so don't read it if you don't want to know. I'll put it in italics!

For much of the season, Roman (father-in-law to Bill via Nikki) has been manipulating Bill and forcing him to hand over profits from his business. Bill finally got fed up, got sneaky, and ended up on the elder board so he would find out all of Roman's secrets. In addition, Bill's sister-in-law sort of poisoned Roman's son Albie (I hate his guts!) and to get back at Bill, exposed their entire family in public as polygamists, something they have managed to hide for 6 years. End of season 1.

Hopes for Season 2: They take Roman DOWN. He sucks! More story with Tina Majorino, who plays the friend of Bill & Barb's daughter Sarah (Amanda Seyfried)

Fun side note: Sarah's friend is Tina Majorino and Ben's friend is Kyle Gallner. Kyle and Tina's characters (Cassidy/Beaver and Mac) were dating in Veronica Mars Season 2.

Lost 1x05 - 'The Lighthouse'

2010-02-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

I was just telling Emily yesterday why I haven't posted again about this season of Lost. This is such a smart show. So smart that, at times, it's over my head. And I am OK with that but me babbling on about something that makes no sense to me wouldn't make much sense. But I do have a few things to say about The Lighthouse and then I will direct you elsewhere to other people who "get" this better than I do.

1) Hurley. I love him in this episode. OK, I love him in general, but this episode reminds me of the change in Hurley. He fully accepts that dead people talk to him and realizes he isn't crazy. He tells other people straight up that he is talking dead Jacob, knowing that with the wackiness that happens on the island, it isn't as weird as he originally thought. Plus, he's just funny. That was a great scene where he told Dogen that he is a candidate and he can do what he wants.

2) Jack. He's a dad. And he kinda sucks just like his own dad does. But, in my opinion, not nearly to the same extent. He's an absentee father but not a total jerk that tells his son he sucks. In fact, jack realizes in this episode that he does NOT have to be his father. This season, Jack is reclaiming the part of my heart he held for a few seasons before we got so annoying. Matthew Fox's acting was excellent and I find his candid admission to Hurley of why he came back to be quite touching. And telling.

3) Claire. Well, she ain't dead and she's after the people who took her baby. And darnit if she isn't going to chop them to bits with a hatchet when she finds them. Look out Kate. I thought for a minute she woudn't recognize Jin, but, alas, she seemed like she was bordering on crazy without being so. Until the reveal of the "squirrel baby" in the crib. And then we met her BFF, the man formerly known as Locke. Uh oh. This doesn't bode well for her long term...

I won't get into the lighthouse. I need to let it sink in a little more. But, look, those numbers are assigned to the same name, and as Vozz points out, Kate IS on the wheel in the lighthouse.

What I am looking forward to/hoping for: the Jin/Sun reunion (I am currently thinking that Jin is the Kwon listed in the Cave of Names and that is why Sun didn't go back in time; just a thought), Claire somehow miraculously regaining her sanity (weirder stuff happens on this island), the proverbial s#$% to hit the fan with Sayid, and MOST importantly, discovering how Sawyer and Non-Locke got out of that cave after Sawyer broke the ladder!

Where are our Losties being guided? At least the ones that are "candidates?" I can't wait to find out.

Now go read these guys:
Vozzek's Things I Noticed (and his post on The Substitute)
Pink Ray Gun
Televisionary

Coming soon: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-02-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

I read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater a few months ago and am anxiously awaiting the second book in the series, Linger.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

I feel like I am waiting on SO many books to come out in the next year or so. Mainly books that continue certain series I am reading. Are you waiting on any books?

Michael Emerson (LOST) on Jimmy Kimmel Live

2010-02-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

"You have no idea what's coming."

I haven't said it lately, but I think Michael Emerson's portrayal of Ben Linus on Lost is PURE brilliance. And while I am loving some of the other actors right now (namely Terry O'Quinn and Josh Holloway), I thienk Emerson is the best actor on the show. I screamed out loud when he FINALLY won the Emmy award for Lost. It was so SO deserved. I would really like to catch him on stage to see him live.

Michael Emerson appeared on Jimmy Kimmel last night and reminded us that he IS not actually an evil mastermind in real life, but just plays one on TV.

Photos: Neil Patrick Harris is "Out"

2010-02-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

This set of photos and article came out ages ago, but I just came across them while perusing the new photos of (a very dirty-looking) Ewan McGregor at Out.com, which are also worth a look. But if you know me at all, you know my love for musicals, Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris (not all at once, but if Cheno and NPH were to pair up for a duet I might combust!). So when I happened across these photos of Neil, aka Barney Stinson, again, I thought they definitely deserved to be posted on my humble little blog. Here you go!

See the accompanying article at Out.com.

Book 3 in The Hunger Games trilogy: Mockingjay

2010-02-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

So it was finally announced that the third and final book in The Hunger Games series will be appropriately entitled Mockingjay. I am anxiously awaiting the release of this book as the series is a new favorite of mine. I keep recommending it to everyone I know who reads. So go read it!

The first two books in the series by Suzanne Collins are The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Mockingjay will be released on August 24, 2010 via Scholastic Press.

Lost: "LA X" (Parts 1 & 2)

2010-02-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest. I was a little irritated at the Lost episodes last night. Not that they weren't entertaining, and it was SO great to see our Losties again on screen in some new episodes. And I have watched this show religiously for five previous seasons, so I KNOW not to expect answers. I know that. But for some reason, maybe since it is the beginning of the final season, I was really wanting just one or two little ones.
OK, I suppose we got a couple of answers. We know that the black smoke monster is also the man on the beach with Jacob last season, his eternal nemesis that now inhabits Locke's body. We know that Jacob is dead, and that Ben just MIGHT have a smidgen of conscience in there somewhere. We know if Juliet is alive or dead.

But, ultimately, didn't they, in typical Darlton fashion, just create a bunch more questions. I think I was really hoping in this first episode that they would say "Oh yes, the bomb worked." Or "nope, you idiots, that plan didn't work." Instead we have them both on the island, post-bomb, back in the same time that Ben, Sun, Locke's body, etc. are in, AND on the plane from Sydney, landing at LAX with little trouble.

Now the question is this: are we seeing two different alternate realities at once? If so, that is kind of a cop out, at least for now. But I don't think that is what is happening. Juliet posthumously said "It worked." And I believe her even though I don't know how it worked. My thought are these: I think that whatever happens with them on the island (where they are now hanging with who I assume to be Black Rock pirates) will lead to the reset later, which puts them BACK on the plane heading to LAX on September 22, 2004, albeit with some seemingly carried-over effects (the wound on Jack's neck comes to mind). Now, I have always said that if they "reset" it would be tragic, because so many of them had such awful lives that have improved on the island, and because I think their relationships are so important. But I am starting to feel like fate is going to bring them together in a different way. I just don't know what way that is yet... OK, as usual, my theories will be proven wrong, especially since they are even confusing me. But speculating is one of my favorite things about this series.

Even saying ALL that, I am so glad Lost is back on, and can't wait to see where it's going. I love these characters, even the ones I hate, and was really happy to see Boone, Charlie and Claire alive.

Now my thoughts on specific happenings (and I am typing these as a re-watch the episode so bear with me on the randomness):

I'm confused how the island is underwater. If, in 2007, it is still afloat, then how it is underwater in 2004?
Desmond is on the plane. Which is fine because he never would have sailed to and gotten stuck on the island if it had been blown up in the 70s.
Darn them for letting Juliet be alive in this episode! I had said my sad goodbyes, and then had to do it all over again. And poor Sawyer! Can you blame him for kicking the crud out of Jack and then saying he would kill him?
And while I am feeling sorry for people, let's talk Jack. He finally trusted in something COMPLETELY insane instead of science and it failed him, or so it seems. "I thought it would work," laced with emotion. Tough to watch.
Hurley is completely open to his "talking with dead people" thing and knows to trust it. He does exactly what Jacob tells him to do.
Was anyone else waiting for Locke to stand up, gather his bags, and exit the plane? I suppose that was the point. And he is a big liar...
I am still irritated with the "shadow of the statue" Ajira passengers, and it was quite satisfying when Ilana asked about Jacob, and he said, "I'm sorry, who are you?"
The person, or entity, wearing the Locke body isn't actually inhabiting Locke's body, but more just taking on his form. Which leads me to believe that the resuscitation of Sayid is something different. We still see Locke's dead body on the beach, but Sayid's dead body comes back to life. Maybe I am just hopeful because I don't want him to die.
Josh Holloway broke my heart crying over Juliet. His character has evolved so much since Season 1 and I can easily say I have moved from a Jack girl to a Sawyer girl. I like to think that he loves Juliet WAY more than he ever loved Kate.
So was it Charlie's destiny to die, even before the plane crash?
I was so disappointed to see Jin acting like his old self, staring at the stupid watch and telling Sun to button her shirt up. I love new and improved and English-speaking and somehow more handsome Jin...
Hasn't that US Marshall learned he can not trust Kate? Guess he fell for her feminine wiles.
The rusty brown water doesn't heal the hand of the Captain (yeah, I am calling him the Captain, as in Black Rock, since I don't know what else to call him) when he cuts it, yet they put Sayid in the water anyway. And proceed to DROWN him. Huh? Poor Sayid. Had to die to live? Maybe. And will he be a "new" man? Remains to be seen.
Is Sun lying about not speaking English? Or did she not learn in this different dimension.
Why did Kate stop Jack from trying to resuscitate Sayid? He was just drowned and has been laying there for like ONE minute. Why not try to save him?
Kate pulls a gun on a cabbie, and who's in the hijacked seat next to her? Claire! But we don't get to see if she is pregnant. We know Claire got on that plane because it was supposed to crash the first time around. So why this time?
When Fake Locke was telling Ben about John Locke's final dying thoughts, I just felt sorry for him. Locke that is. Does Ben even care? Probably not. He is just mad he got used.
And then Fake Locke goes and beats the pooh out of Richard, which I don't have a problem with...

Aw, shoot. I am sure there are so many little things that I missed. So I am going to wrap this up and wait on pins & needles until next Tuesday night...

Now for links to my favorite reviewers/theorists/discussions:
Things I Noticed by Vozzek69
ABC.com is keeping a list of differences from the original storyline, and what they are calling the Flash-Sideways aka the new reality of the plane landing safely at LAX
Lisa at Pink Ray Gun tells it like it is (or how she thinks it is anyway)
Recap and analysis from Erika

Lost recap video starring Italian family of amazing actors...

2010-01-24T13:47:00.001-08:00

So bad it's good... I found this video over at Jorge Garcia's blog "Dispatches from the Island." Great blog if you are a LOST or Hurley/Hugo fan. Anyway, this is a video of a guy and his Italian extended family reenacting the first five seasons of LOST.

My favorite books of 2009

2010-01-16T21:24:00.000-08:00

I was a busy reader this last year, especially during the three months I spent in India. It helped me not to feel so homesick. So here are some books I read this year that I really loved or that just stuck with me.

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
I've been busy reading a lot of Twilight for the last year and a half, but I realized recently that there are some really great young adult books out there. I am a fan of Harry Potter, too, and when a friend recommended The Hunger Games, I gave it a try. And it sucked me in immediately. It was The Road meets teen romance meets Gladiator or something. I can't even explain it and I don't like to tell people the plot before they read it. I went into it completely blind as to what it was about and that made for more of a surprise while reading it. Catching Fire is the second in the series. The third and final book is due out in August of this year. I. Can't. Wait. Probably my favorite I read this year.

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
In continuing the theme of young adult series, I picked up The Mortal Instruments when a friend recommended it. I didn't get into it as quickly. In fact, for the first couple of chapters I thought I was going to quit. It is a world with angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, and just about anything else you can imagine. The characters take some time before you like them much, but I was completely sucked into the story and read all three rather large books over the course of a couple of weeks. I was under the impression there were only 3 books, but apparently a fourth is in the works: City of Broken Glass. Again: can't wait!

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer
I saw this one in all the English-language bookstores in Mumbai so I picked it up. It was heavily promoted because it was about a climber attempting to summit Mount Everest back before anyone had ever done it. It's based on the true story of George Mallory, using his family's stories and his own diaries. It was a great story, and very tragic. For some reason it stuck with me. Then, when I went to Darjeeling, I went to the Himalayan Climbing Museum and there were photos of him and some of his gear and things there. It was so random because I had just read the book. Anyway, I really thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Outcast by Sadie Jones
I reviewed it here. The story just broke my heart. It was a tad slow in parts, but a pretty easy read.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
So apparently I like very sad books. This one was written by the author of The Kite Runner, so I knew to expect something hard to read. And while I found The Kite Runner very sad, I sat and cried in multiple different places while reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. This book focuses on the lives of women in Afghanistan. It's a hard subject to broach, and one should be warned it isn't an easy story to read. But very well-written and emotive.

1984 by George Orwell
I reviewed it here. I had never read it before and was surprised at how quickly I got into it.

OK, so clearly I didn't get around to reviewing ALL the books I read last year. But I read a lot! I love to read, but I read a lot even for me this last year. Maybe 30 or so books? I'll try to keep track of them this year.

Fave Albums of 2009

2010-01-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

I had a sudden inspiration during my 6000 mile drive over the last 8 weeks to write up some posts covering things I loved during this last year. I'm starting with my favorite albums of 2009. Well, what I loved during 2009, doesn't mean it was released in 2009... These are in no particular order, but they all got quite the playing time on iPod and iTunes.

Glee Volume I (and Volume II, and the unreleased tracks...)
I don't love EVERY song every sung on this show, but there are more that I love than those that I don't. "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Alone" probably have gotten the most play time, followed by "Taking Chances" and Lea Michele's rendition of "Defying Gravity." Can't WAIT to see what else we get this season, with guest stars such as Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff.

Swoon by Silversun Pickups
I can't stop listening to this album. I have Silversun Pickups' first album Carnavas but it never got much play time on my iTunes. However, I got Swoon this summer and still can't stop listening to it, six months later. "Panic Switch" is a good song, but it is really over-played. The rest of the album is certainly worth a listen. I had to listen through it a few times before I could truly appreciate it. Now I hear they will be touring with Muse. And they don't come to LA on the tour... Devastated.

Until the Whole World Hears by Casting Crowns
I saw Casting Crowns in concert last fall for the first time. Most people haven't heard of them, unless they listen to Christian music. Their live performance was inspirational. Then I got this album later in the fall and I still can't stop listening to it. Current favs: "At Your Feet" and "Blessed Redeemer."

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack by Various Artists
This was a highly anticipated album, not just for me, but for the legions of Twilight fans and people who enjoyed the first installment. Chris Weitz didn't disappoint by choosing a bunch of indie bands, only a few well known, to be featured on the soundtrack for the film. My fave songs include "Possibility" by Lykke Li, "Hearing Damage" by Thom Yorke and "Slow Life" by Grizzly Bear.

The Resistance by Muse
It felt like ages since Black Holes & Revelations came out, and Muse is one of those bands where I constantly check to see when a new album will be released. So they finally released The Resistance this year and I was super excited. They never really disappoint me. I love their sound. They are becoming more mainstream in the US without changing the music they make. People are just slowly taking notice. About time.

Singles by Britney Spears
Yep, I put Britney on this list. Poor thing is a hot mess, but her Singles album has every one of my favorites from her previous albums, plus some I had never even heard before. They aren't all amazing, but Brit songs can always get me pumped up! They make me want to dance...

In Rainbows by Radiohead
This one came out in early 2008 but I didn't get it till it had been out for a while. And it is really good. My husband loves it, too, so it gets lots of play when we are both home. Radiohead continues to be odd and interesting and original. I can listen to this album over and over and not get bored with it.

Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
This one also came out in early 2008. And, again, I was late to the party. Sean bought this CD and I had heard a couple of songs on the radio. But it is quirky and catchy and all around fun. I just got their new album Contra, so when I have decided what I think, I'll have to post about it.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

2010-01-15T21:28:00.000-08:00

I finally watched The Plan tonight. I wasn't feeling too interested in watching it, but now that I have, it is like ripping a scab off an old wound, and I plan to re-watch the series from the beginning. I don't know why I used that description; it's gross.

This movie recycles a lot of scenes from earlier on in the series. Certain actors didn't even film new footage for the film, but were still prominent in it (such as Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck), and then scenes were built around that footage. There was also a good deal of completely new story going on, such as interactions between a Cavil and Anders while he was running the resistance cell on Caprica. Or one of the Simons who has adapted to human life by marrying. I was also intrigued at the back-story we got with Sharon and her attempt to kill Adama, as well as the beginnings of Leoben's obsession with Thrace.

The straight-to-DVD release of The Plan allowed for some equal-opportunity nudity, but other than that, the film was quite similar to what you would get in any given episode. Not enough Apollo for my tastes, though. Also could have used a little more Tight. However, we did get the always amazing line from Gaius: "No more Mr. Nice Gaius!" again. And plenty of Anders, which was nice.

All in all, the movie was entertaining, but not a requirement to understand the story. It was more just an interesting filler than anything else. But enjoyable to watch. The few times I was lost, I had to ask Sean about what happened way back in Season 1 or 2. That's when I decided it might be time to crack the BSG DVDs again. Let you know how that goes.

Battlestar Rhapsody

2010-01-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the singing is terrible. Totally does not matter because it is still hilarious. "Adama.... is in command..." Oh, how I miss this show.

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T20:07:00.001-08:00

Oh, and Happy New Year! Many blessings in the new year!

Trailer for Inception

2010-01-01T19:59:00.001-08:00

This has certainly piqued my interest, even though I still have no idea what it is really about! Christopher Nolan? Check. Leonardo DiCaprio? Check. Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Check. Mysterious and weird trailer? Check.

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-25T05:12:00.001-08:00

Well, last year's Christmas post involved a photo of me with Ryan Gosling and the witnessing of my sister's new baby on Christmas eve. That WAS an exciting Christmas. Well, this year, I don't have that kind of thing to report, but I AM with family (my husband's) and enjoying the season.

I pray all my handful of readers are healthy and well and have a joyful holiday! Merry Christmas!

This made my day: A Glee flash mob!!

2009-12-24T07:03:00.000-08:00

Found this over at GMMR and couldn't resist reposting it!

My thoughts on tonight's SYTYCD performance show

2009-12-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

This one's for Emily...

First off, I don't like Cat's gold shorts getup, but I love her legs. I want them please. I am also disappointed that Ashley won't be performing tonight and am curious how her partner will get by without her. Choreographer substitutes?

Kathryn & Ryan - Disco by Doriana Sanchez
First off, is Ryan wearing a plastic shirt or does it just look like one? No, it is just sparkly and see-through... Now I should warn you that I am rarely a fan of Doriana's disco routines, but I had high hopes for Ryan in this dance, if his height doesn't make him an awkward partner. I don't know if their chemistry was off or their timing, but I just wasn't feeling it from them. But Adam & Mary loved it, so what do I know? I guess I agree with Nigel more on this one: something was off.

Cha-Cha by Jason Gilkison
I think Kathryn is lucky to be paired with Ryan for this one because Jason said it is really hard! Kathryn looked super sexy and the dance had a really fun, kinda raunchy feel to it. It really sucked me in. I just really enjoyed it! Judges thought it was hot, too!

Molly & Jacob - Viennese Waltz by Jason Gilkison
Last week Molly showed us that working with a more mature dancer matures her own dancing. I think Jacob is such a mature dancer so I was looking forward to seeing their stuff. Too bad they got a Viennese Waltz... But once they started dancing, I was captivated. From the beginning there was a lot of emotion in their performance, which really helps me to ignore the fact that usually I find the Viennese Waltz kinda boring. This wasn't boring. I thought Molly was great, but my heart belongs to Jacob. Vive le Jacob! The judges adored it, too.

Broadway by Joey Dowling
There is a cute scheming story behind this dance. I was excited from the video beforehand to see these two in this dance. Major plus from the very beginning for dancing to Annie! And of course Easy Street (this one includes Kristin Chenoweth singing) is perfect for their con-artist ways. Loved it once they did the wardrobe change and wer suddenly living it up on Easy Street. Fun dance. Jacob was amazing as usual (are you tired of me going on about him yet?).

Ellenore & Legacy - Contemporary by Travis Wall
This dance has a Mr. & Mrs. Smith story behind it. I am usually a fan of Travis's choreo so I was excited for this one. Did I miss the significance of the towel somewhere? It was well-danced and had some really great tricks (Legacy has skillz, yes, with a "z"), but it felt kind of cold to me. Maybe it was meant to? I think maybe it was just meant to feel cold. I don't think I have ever NOT liked a Travis routine. Sounds like the judges loved it!

Hip Hop by Tabitha & Napoleon
We were warned that it was strange. And it was strange. But I like strange! This isn't Legacy's kind of hip hop so I think they were both doing something out of their own style here. They added in a few tricks for Legacy to do. It was OK. It wasn't amazing, but it was fun. The judges didn't love it.

Russell - Hip Hop by Shane Sparks
Good to see Shane and have him back. It was a fun down-n-dirty hip hop routine and I wish we could have seen Ashleigh perform this one with Russell. But Russell performed the heck out of it nonetheless. It was pretty good, but missing something since I am not familiar with his partner (Rachel is Shane's assistant). The judges praised his hard work and technical skills.

Bollywood by Nakul Dev Mahajan
I'm not only disappointed for myself that we don't get to see Ashleigh perform this, but for Ashleigh herself. She deserves to have danced these dances! But Russell looked so so good and was lucky to be stuck with such an experienced partner. They looked great! I bet Russell never imagined himself dancing Bollywood!

Solos:
Ashleigh - She didn't get to dance it since she is hurt.
Jacob - Could not stop staring at the legs. His solos are always beautiful.
Molly - Her solos are cute but never blow me away. She just often feels REALLY young to me, I guess. This solo was good, but I don't have a whole lot more to say about it.
Legacy - I wasn't sure what was going on with the phone he was holding. His tricks are always great. But maybe I wasn't paying attention or something because it didn't impress me as much as it has in the past.
Ellenore - I love her solos. She is so quirky but so clearly talented. Tonight's was no different.
Russell - AKA santa Claus (but I don't think Santa has those moves). The solo wasn't amazing because his shoe fell off, which he worked into the routine, but he didn't do as many tricks as usual because of it. He's good on the spot, though!
Kathryn - Her solo was really good tonight. Evocative. I think she is a really talented dancer. Why isn't she more popular? Personality?
Ryan - Let's face it. Ballroom dancers are at a disadvantage in their solos. And they always look the same. The onely one that sticks out in my mind is Pasha's cape dance. So Ryan's was fine but not memorable.

Tapeworthy has all the videos up if you missed the show!

I really can NOT say who I think will go home or who SHOULD go home. Really tough call. Makes for a good show, though!

They guilted me into voting so I voted for Jakob a few times. ;)

Quick thoughts on SYTYCD last night

2009-11-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Noelle & Russell - I was distracted by the props. The dancing was fine, but I was too busy staring at the racquets.

Ashley & Jakob - I think Jakob dances beautifully and this is a great pairing. But I am OK with the kissing NOT happening again. I wonder who hated the kissing more: Jakob or Ashley. lol Anyway, these two will make it far together.

Bianca & Victor - The song and concept were so high energy but the performance fell flat. Victor was much better than Bianca, in my opinion.

Molly & Nathan - Not as many of the traditional Bollywood moves as we have seen in teh past, but I thought they both looked great. Nathan IS pretty. And Molly just looks so young!

Channing & Phillip - I just didn't care about this one. And it sounds like the judges weren't loving it either.

Kevin & Karen - It was raunchtastic. I kind of like watching Kevin in his element.

Catherine & Legacy - I liked this dance. Legacy is growing on me. I wasn't crazy about him at first (for his odd personality at his audition).

Pauline & Peter - Peter really surprised me in this. I was thoroughly entertained. Wade's routines always have a similar feel to them, but I don't mind. I usually like his dances.

Ellenore & Ryan - I was distracted by her dress being caught on her heel half the time, but she managed it.I thought they did great, but the music was not quite my favorite for the choreography.

Victor looked kinda hot in his solo. Gotta say. And I was OK with who went home because I think the tappers were a little boring on the show. But I felt sad for Phillip about his dad. The end!

Guh-linda and Just Jack on stage.

2009-10-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

I guess I tend to go on and on about Kristin Chenoweth, pretty much all the time. What can I say? But I saw this news today and was very excited! Kristin Chonoweth and Sean Hayes will star in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises. Combine Cheno with Sean Hayes (aka Jack McFarland from Will & Grace). I haven't seen Hayes live (or Kristin for that matter), but this one sounds fun!

The show features a book by Neil Simon, lyrics by Hal David, and music by Burt Bacharach. Based on the 1960 film, The Apartment, the musical centers on Chuck Baxter (Hayes), a bachelor who lends his apartment out to the executives at the company he works for, to use for their extramarital affairs. Things become slightly complicated when Fran Kubelik (Chenoweth), the object of Chuck's affection, becomes the mistress of one of his executives.

Sounds like it could be lots of laughs, kind of like Boeing Boeing.

Double yay! Joss Whedon to direct a Glee episode

2009-10-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Entertainment Weekly reports that Joss Whedon will direct an upcoming episode of Glee. Yippee!!

This has me so excited!

2009-10-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele's co-star in Spring Awakening is going to be appearing on Glee! He will be the head of the competition, Vocal Adrenaline, and be a potential love interest for Rachel, Lea's character! I heart Jonathan. The purity and innocence of his voice kills me.

Here is "Those You've Known" from Spring Awakening, featuring Jonathan, Lea, and John Gallagher, Jr. Groff is the one that opens the song. So pretty (and SO sad if you've seen the show...)

Watchmen

2009-10-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

So I finally watched Watchmen. Emily had suggested that I keep my expectations low if I wanted to enjoy it. I am glad I decided to take her advice. I was entertained but it was beyond ridiculous on so many levels. Of course, those are not my type of movies. Those campy comic-book-y film adaptations of graphic novels.

The cast of this one was appealing to me. I loved Matthew Goode in Brideshead Revisited. But in Watchmen his accent was sketchy, sounding different in every scene. His voice is too soft and mild for an American accent. I prefer his British one. Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Magician will make you forget all about the sweet doomed Denny Duquette. He is a jerk and sleaze, and while he eventually learns an important "lesson" you don't find much sympathy for him. Patrick Wilson did the same thing to me in this one that he did in Little Children. He made me watch him having awkward sex. He doesn't hold back, does he?

And do we need to discuss the naked man? I guess not, but I will say this: My husband is an animator. We know what goes into animating even a short little shot. Someone sat and stared at the fake "privates" for MONTHS on end. And then do you tell people that you worked on the animated penis? Or do you just pretend you didn't? Do you put it on your demo reel when trying to get new work? We had a long convo about it. :)

All in all, I wasn't bored watching Watchmen. But I wouldn't watch it again and I probably wouldnt' recommend it to anyone...

Book: Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

2009-10-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

Today, I finally finished Dragonfly in Amber, the second book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon (my thoughts on Outlander here). It took me ages because I checked it out from the library and then ran out of time, and had to turn it back in. Then I had to put another hold on it and wait another week for it to come back to me. Compared to Outlander, this one was a little slow going, especially the political parts in the first half. But once it got going I was really into it.

We left off at the end of Outlander (SPOILER ALERT) with Jamie & Claire headed to France. So I was surprised when Dragonfly in Amber started with Claire 20 years older, back in her original time (20th century) with a red-headed daughter. Well, that was tragic, but we got several hundred pages of flashback of what happened between their arrival in France in the 1740s and how she ended up heading back to the future.

I know it sounds confusing but it was actually quite interesting. And knowing she had left the 18th century but not knowing why, the reader is compelled through some of the slower parts of the story to get to the part where we find out! And as I finished the book, I wanted to pick up the next one.

Now I am starting The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. After that I am reading the first book in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. Once I finish both of those, I will be digging into Voyager, the third book in Gabaldon's series.

Kelly Clarkson covers Alanis Morrissette and Kings of Leon

2009-10-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

I saw this video the other day but forgot I wanted to post it. I adore everything about Kelly Clarkson. Saw her in concert during her Breakaway tour. So good live. Here she covers Alanis Morrissette's 'That I Would Be Good' mashed up with Kings of Leon's 'Use Somebody'. I am a big KoL fan but that is one of my all-time fave Alanis songs. Ever. So good. So cheers to Kelly for doing this (and killing it. in a good way).

Poster: Lost - The Final Season

2009-10-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

This poster makes me both sad and excited all at once. Man, I love this show. Only about 3 1/2 months left! If you look closely, all of the original losties are there, including the ones who have died... I can't wait for January. Or is it February?

Source

Silversun Pickups - Swoon

2009-10-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

Of late I am obsessed with Silversun Pickups' latest album Swoon. I heard "Panic Switch" on the radio and enjoyed it. So I thought I would give the album a listen. I have their previous album Carnavas, but I find that Swoon was easier for me to get into. Mainly, I really like to turn it up in the car when I am driving.

My favorite song (right now) on the album is 'The Royal We'

I'd love to see them live. From hearing them performing live on video, I can tell they would be great in person. Here is a video of them during their MTV Unplugged performances. This song is 'Lazy Eye' from Carnavas.

Silversun Pickups - New Music - More Music Videos

Glee: Something to sing about

2009-10-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

[OK, with my title I am automatically reminiscing to "Once More, With Feeling" the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical, in which Buffy performs a number near the end called "Give Me Something to Sing About." It is actually quite sad. So now that I am done with that digression...]

Last night I watched Glee. My husband had nothing to do so he watched it with me for the first time. He makes fun of me for liking this show all the time. But while he didn't admit it, I know he liked it as I caught him laughing many times.

Anywho, the big deal about last night's show was that it had Tony-winning and, more recently, Emmy-winning actress/singer/all-around-amazing-gal Kristin Chenoweth guest starring as a washed up has been who shoulda made it big. Instead she was a flop and Will brings her back to help their glee club (now that Rachel has left to be in Cabaret).

Poor Rachel was used and abused by Finn, who had ulterior motives. It was kind of sad. You know he likes her but he obviously knew what he was doing. But what do you do when you have a knocked-up girlfriend?

The episode was great, very entertaining. If I could just keep a running tab of the great one-liners in this show... But I digress (again!). The focus of the show for me is the music. And how can I not post the duet between April (Cheno's character) and Will Shuester? This isn't the video. It is just audio but includes the whole song (it was cut short on the episode) which has Will singing a verse.

You can also listen to the full version of the foot-stomping "Somebody to Love."

Hugh & Daniel premiere "A Steady Rain"

2009-09-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

These boys both sure know how to work a suit. OK, I could do without the mustache on Daniel Craig, but he and Hugh Jackman look great, as usual. These pics are from opening night of their Broadway play "A Steady Rain." I am not really familiar with the play at all but it seems to be already raking in the dough, surely due to the casting of these two men.

I am most amused by the way they responded (in character, no less) to a gentleman (or not) who repeatedly allows his phone to ring during the play. Watch here:

If you go to the theatre, TURN OFF YOUR PHONE! If you don't know how to, why do you own a phone? But fine, just leave it in the car or at home or something.

So excited to see Parade in November!

2009-09-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

So I am going to see Parade in Los Angeles in November with Vance at Tapeworthy! It is the Donmar Warehouse production and will be put on at the Mark Taper Forum, presented by Center Theatre Group. It stars T.R. Knight (George O'Malley from Grey's Anatomy, RIP).

Anyway, Vance just sent me this link with pics from the production, which started previews last week. Now I can't wait til November 14! I can't really tell you what it is about because I have been avoiding reading any synopses.

What I find myself watching this fall (so far)

2009-09-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

Thought I would give you a run-down of the TV that currently has me captivated! Here it is by day:

Monday
How I Met Your Mother - You could say I watch HIMYM for Neil Patrick Harris. I like Marshall and Lily, and occasionally like Ted and Robin, but everyone knows that Barney makes this show (including the rest of the cast). But the whole cast meshes well together and makes me laugh.

House - You could say I am late to the party on House. I happened on Season Two when I was in India, and desperate for good TV, watched it every day. Then my sister forced me to watch the end of last season and now I am hooked. Especially after that devastating season finale! So I am two eps and enjoying the ride so far. Still DVRing old eps that rerun and watching those, too!

Tuesday
So You Think You Can Dance - This last season I just wasn't into SYTYCD as I have been before. But that doesn't mean I am not willing to stick with it for its first appearance on the fall schedule. I never really LOVE the show till the competition starts, so here's hoping this season is a good one! Also, I signed up today for tickets to a taping, so I am expecting to get to go some time this season!

Wednesday
So You Think You Can Dance

Glee - Definitely may very favorite new show this season. I am completely obsessed with it. I watch every episode at least twice and have seen the pilot maybe five or six times. I am a choir nerd and this show was MADE for me. I have all the music on my iTunes and bug my husband with it on a near-constant basis. If you aren't watching, you are missing great music, witty writing, and the amazingly hilarious Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester. Set your Tivos!

Modern Family - I wasn't planning to watch this but Ducky kept going on and about it so I added to my Tivo list. It was laugh out loud funny. Even my husband liked it, and he is more picky than me. I love family dysfunction!

Thursday
Vampire Diaries - Come on. It's about vampires. Not that that is enough because I never really got into True Blood. Or Moonlight. But I do love vamps and am always willing to at least give them a try. So far VD hasn't blown me away, but it also hasn't turned me off. I like the three main actors. I did NOT like Paul Wesley on Everwood and The OC, but I don't even think of those old characters when I am watching Stefan. And he is hot... Speaking of hot, so is Ian Somerhalder who plays Stefan's brother Damon (RIP Boone...). This show is definitely not for everyone, but I can see why The CW decided to cash in on the success of Twilight, and it seems to be paying off.

The Office - The Office isn't quite as good as it used to be, but that doesn't mean it has taken a nose-dive (see Grey's Anatomy), and I still find it humorous enough to watch. Michael is still ridiculous and makes me cringe with being uncomfortable, but the writers and actors have managed to keep us interested after they got their "will they/won't they" couple together a couple of seasons ago.

Community - I want to like this show more than I do. That is why I am sticking it out and hoping it gets its legs a little. I love Joel McHale on The Soup (and find him oddly attractive; does anyone else have this issue?). My biggest problem is that I just don't find his character Jeff likable. I know he isn't SUPPOSED to be liked, but they need to give him a likable quality or else we can't care about him. I am sure the whole point of the show is that he will nice-en up a little. We'll see if I make it that far.

Friday
Dollhouse - I watched Season One of Dollhouse over the course of the last couple of weeks, finishing just in time to see the Season Two premiere last Friday. You can see my thoughts on it here!

How I Met Your Mother - Season 4 gag reel

2009-09-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

You know what stinks? When you go to watch a gag reel for a really great show or movie, expecting lots of laughs, and getting very few. Well, fret not, because the cast of How I Met Your Mother certainly delivers in this Season 4 gag reel. I love these guys!

My favorite part: When NPH tells Jason Segal that what they are doing could be on the cover of TV Guide, and then Jason Segal says something like "Yeah, but it would be just you."

Muse: The Resistance

2009-09-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

I have posted about Muse before. They are one of my all-time favorite bands. I saw them on the cover of some magazine recently and it said they were the biggest band America had never heard of. They are huge EVERYWHERE else but here. But they certainly do have an American fan-base. Helps that they made an appearance on the Twilight soundtrack (as well as the upcoming New Moon soundtrack). And, at least in my town, they are getting some good air play with songs from their latest album, The Resistance.

I was waiting anxiously for this album to come out. Their last album Black Holes and Revelations (the tour for which I attended), was beyond amazing. In fact, they have yet to put out an album I don't like. So I purchased The Resistance the very morning it came out via Amazon's MP3 Downloader (cheaper than iTunes!). And now here is my opinion of some of the songs on the album, as well as youtube videos of each song.

1) Uprising

Uprising was the band's first single and it has quickly gotten a lot of radio play. It has a classic Muse sound and a very heavy beat that makes you want to stomp your feet. They performed this on the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, their first live US televised performance.

2) Resistance

3) Undisclosed Desires

Since I am still getting used to this album, when this song comes up on my iTunes I always think it is Britney Spears for a sec. Yeah, that is really sad, but once the song starts, I think this song is really radio friendly and I always find myself singing along.

4) United States of Eurasia [+Collateral Damage]

For some reason, the opening chords of this song remind me of John Lennon's "Imagine" (don't know why because they really don't sound alike at all...) but I am quickly reminded it is not. In fact it goes very quickly into a Queen almost shout that drowns that out. With this song, Muse continues to make political and social commentaries via their music.

5) Guiding Light

Really the only slow song on the album. I can't resist singing along on this one but I don't know the words so I just sing the wrong ones (which is normal for me anyway).

6) Unnatural Selection

7) MK Ultra

8) I Belong To You [+Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix]

This song will appear on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack. Well, some form of it because they have been asked to re-record it as a soundtrack exclusive track. I love the almost campy sound of this song. And, as I have said before, Matt Bellamy can sing to me in French any time he wants.

9) Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)

10) Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 (Cross-pollination)

11) Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)

If a major world-dominating rock band has the balls to put a symphony on their album (and three of the 11 songs, no less), then they get credit from me. On top of the fact that I love this side of the band and the fact a song can seamlessly go from heavy rock to a solo piano performance within seconds. See Butterflies and Hurricanes as an example.

Overall, I really like The Resistance. In my opinion, their sound is a little more mainstream on most of the songs, possibly an attempt to get more American air play. Seems to be working so far. I would have liked a couple more songs on the album, but I will live. So now maybe you have given the songs a listen, or not, but if you are even a little bit a fan of Muse, get this album.

Dollhouse Season Two Premiere: "Vows"- My thoughts

2009-09-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about last night's episode of Dollhouse. For a few reasons.

1) First, off, I worked on this episode. I was an extra during all the wedding stuff. I saw myself twice, which is always fun. And it was an easy and relaxing shoot (only about 6 hours). Also, the set was GORGEOUS. It was someone's real house. But more importantly, that means I saw Jamie Bamber in person.

2) So that brings me to my second reason for discussion. Jamie Bamber. And I touched him. I am not gonna lie. I might have stood in his way so he had to brush past me. OK, enough of that. I want to talk about Jamie in the episode. He finally got to use his British accent! He wasn't Lee Adama anymore. Also, he got to play the bad guy and I liked seeing a different side of him.

3) Tahmoh Penikett is even more likable as Paul Ballard than he was as family man Helo on BSG. And he is DARN hot. In this episode, he reunited with former co-star Jamie Bamber,and they got to beat the crap out of each other. Which was great. I love the dynamic of him with Caroline/Echo and am very happy to see him as her handler.

4) Joss. Huge Joss Whedon fan here. I fangirled over Joss as much as I did over Jamie that day. (Not so much over Eliza) But critics can't claim that Joss shied away from risky storylines, especially if they have seen "Epitaph One" which was more confusing than anything else, but finally made me feel like I was watching a show worth investing in. I was happy with the direction they took with "Vows" and look forward to where the story is going.

5) Alexis Denisof. Buffy and Angel Alum, Alexis (Wesley) appeared as a politician looking to take down the dollhouse. But more importantly, that means we are THIS much closer to a Fred/Wesley reunion. Fingers crossed.

And since the episode has aired, I think I can post this pic. A friend on the set took this snap. I was standing right there! So close to the action. haha

Review: August: Osage County

2009-09-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

Thursday night I went to see August: Osage County at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles. I've been interested in seeing it since it got heaps of praise and tons of awards while it was on Broadway. Even my husband had heard of it, which is saying a lot.

I purchased my tickets through Center Theatre Group's Hot Tix program, so I got them for cheap ($20) but had a limited view. It didn't limit my enjoyment of the show, especially since I was in the fourth row.

I was vaguely familiar with the story line. A dysfunctional family in the midwest, no, make that the Plains. Well, the Weston family gives new meaning to the term "dysfunctional". Each of the members of this family is dealing with something different: betrayal, guilt, self-loathing, settling, self-discovery. While the show is really funny, it is overall a very dark humor and the audience finds themselves laughing at this family's major issues. It's only funny because they aren't real. The end of the play left me feeling completely depressed! So I think they did what they set out to do.

As for cast stand-outs, there was Estelle Parsons, who reprises her role as Violet Weston. That lady is nuts and Estelle played the part amazingly. I also was quite impressed with Shannon Cochran who played Weston daughter Barbara Fordham. Barbara may be the meatiest role in the whole play, and I thought she played the heck out of the role.

This show was almost 3 1/2 hours long with two intermissions, so plan on being in the theater for a good long while, but it is definitely worth it, and the time goes by quickly. I highly recommend August: Osage County!

Here is a list of things that can really ruin a theatre experience, all learned from that night's show!
1) The person directly behind you had just eaten a meal of sauteed onions.
2) When said onion-breathed person uses BOTH intermissions to imbibe copious amounts of foul-smelling liquor (the onion/liquor combo was more than I could take).
3) When the person next to you does a "hey everyone, look at me!" guffaw during the non-funny and very quite parts of the play

Book Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

2009-08-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago, I was getting a mani/pedi back in Texas and my nail lady (who is also a close family friend) insisted I take her copy of Outlander back to California with me to read. I constantly have a stack of books to read and it was kind of low on the list. But I decided I needed to read it so that I could give back to her on my next trip back to see my fam.

The basic story is that Claire is an English WWII nurse reunited post-war with her husband after six years apart. They visit Scotland on a trip together, where, after visiting an odd circle of stones connected with the Druids, she finds herself in the 18th century Scottish highlands. I don't want to give too much away, but some interesting things take place.

It sounds pretty cheesy, I know. But the writing really is not very cheesy. While this could have easily gone the "romance novel" route, it didn't. It stayed steeped in the history of the time and I was sucked right in. Granted, the romance aspect is there, and is important to the story, but I never felt at any point that if I looked on the front cover of the book, I might find a Fabio-look-a-like staring back at me. At first, I didn't realize it, but the book was almost 900 pages long. So it too me over a week to finish, even though I got sucked in rather quickly.

As my nail lady said, "It has something for everyone. It has action. It has history. It has romance. It has time-travel."

The good news/bad news is that there are like 6 books in this series (so far, and one more about to be released) and I am sucked in. So I am already about 1/3/ of the way through the second book Dragonfly in Amber.

Anyone else read this one?

Book review: Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay

2009-08-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

When I was in London last spring, I picked up Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay. The book releases in the US next month, so I felt all kinds of special for reading it before the rest of the country.

Dexter by Design is the fourth book in the Dexter series by Lindsay. It picks up during Dexter & Rita's honeymoon in Paris. I'll be honest. I didn't love Dexter inthe Dark (the third book in the series). But thank goodness, the Dark Passenger has broken his silence and Dex is anxious to make another kill. The opportunity presents itself quickly after his sister Deb is stabbed by a suspect. So Dexter takes hasty action and deals with the problem. Only to discover he killed the wrong guy. An innocent guy.

The story then follows Dexter as he works to deal with a certain amount of guilt (although, believing he is incapable of guilt, he can't quite admit that), as well as finding the real killer, hoping that Deb wakes from her stab-induced coma, being found out, and being a newlywed. He has lots of balls in the air.

On top of all that, if you ever hoped to envision Dexter as a green leisure suit-wearing missionary, you will get your wish.

I really enjoyed this installment in the series and I think, after Darkly Dreaming Dexter (book 1) this is my favorite. Emily and I have discussed certain plot holes that we have decided to ignore as the book itself is quite enjoyable. If you have read the previous books, check this one out, too!

Pre-order the book here!

Adam Lambert takes on Muse on GMA

2009-08-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Ever since Adam Lambert made the top 20 on American Idol and started showing off his range, I was wondering when he would sing a Muse song. English band Muse is one of my all-time favorites and singer Matthew Bellamy has an uncharacteristically high voice and amazing control. They put on a spectacular concert and I have posted about them on here before. So with Adam's also-amazing range and control, why didn't he sing any of their music on Idol? Well, they are still trying to get control of mainstream American music (although I know tons of fans, even pre-dating their appearance on the Twilight soundtrack). So he probably didn't choose it because it isn't as widely known.

Adam finally decided to perform a Muse song, Starlight, on Good Morning America today, where winners Kris Allen and David Cook also performed (see their performances here).

So here is the video of Adam performing Starlight.

Here's the thing. I don't like it. For one, Adam's voice sounds off, like he is tired or sick. Second, Bellamy and Lambert are both loud-mouthed energetic voices and this acoustic version of this song just doesn't bring any of that.

Would have loved to see him perform Supermassive Black Hole or Exo-politics in full-on rock mode. Here's hoping we'll see something like that from him eventually.

To be fair, he did kind of hijack their version of Feeling Good, my fave version of that song.

Twilight Experience - July 23, 2009 San Diego, CA

2009-07-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

It isn't a secret I am quite the Twilight fan. I have written about the books (Twilight and Breaking Dawn), the movies (Twilight and New Moon trailer), and been to Twilight-related events and posted about them all. And my handful of regular readers probably already know this, but I write for a Twilight fan blog in my spare time (OK, I have a lot of spare time these days). Anyway, yesterday I attended a screening of the movie where many members of the cast appeared and got the fans a-screaming. If you won't tease me TOO much about how I turned into a 15 year old girl in the process. You can read my full account, along with pictures and video, here.

And just check out the blog, Team-Twilight in general because it is a pretty good one, if I do say so myself. Also, it's on Twitter at @teamtwilighters.

Always the consummate professional:

Seriously people?

2009-07-24T10:59:00.001-07:00

No. Just no.

If you love the movie, this will ruin it. If you hate the movie, this is just a perpetuation of the misery.

I love the movie and don't even want to think about this. Gag.

Thanks to Jen who pointed this out the other day :)

Just something better to look at

2009-07-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

This post is for Emily. She is tired of pulling up my blog and seeing those terrible pics of Christian Bale on the set of his latest movie. And since I haven't managed to finish the several posts I am working on because I was so busy watching SYTYCD, here is a picture to take your mind off the last one.

Christian Bale NOT looking so good...

2009-07-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Christian Bale continues his noble efforts to make me think he is gross. And this takes a lot of effort. First, there was that rant last year. Which I really tried to overlook. I did. I am still trying. But then with the release of Public Enemies, he has been interviewed talking about Johnny Depp. Basically, he is such a method actor that he stays in character for months during filming, never interacting with Depp on set. How can anyone resist Johnny Depp? But then, to really take it over the top, he looks like this on the set of his new film The Fighter. Why, Christian, why? I know you don't want to be a heartthrob, but you don't have to make it so hard for those of us who still love you these days.

Book: A Little Bit Wicked by Kristin Chenoweth

2009-07-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love & Faith in Stages, an autobiography by the funny and uber-talented Kristin Chenoweth. I already loved Kristen and reading her book jut made me love her even more (who knew that was possible?).

The book covers her life up until this point, including her adoption, how she came to be interested in music and acting, climbing the ladder of success, her relationships, her faith, and her failures. She is completely unapologetic for who she is and what she thinks and believes. I have a new-found respect for her.

But really this book is just a really funny read. Kristin unsurprisingly (and with the help of writer Joni Rodgers) is quite comedic. I laughed out loud while reading. I don't usually read a lot of biographies, but I found this held my attention. She wrote it during the run of Pushing Daisies and before it was cancelled (sniff...), but there really is something interesting to hearing about her personal experiences on stuff like Pushing Daisies, Wicked, and films.

I am not sure how much of my enjoyment of the book was because I relate to her about many things, especially her faith. And my guess is someone who doesn't share her beliefs may not enjoy all the details she discusses about religion and Christianity. But like I said, completely unapologetic for it, and that is a rarity in Hollywood and on Broadway.

If this sounds like something you MIGHT enjoy, then definitely pick it up and give it a try.

SYTYCD - Top 12 Performances

2009-07-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight the couples all dance twice. I wonder if next week they will split up from their current partners and dance with other dancers. Pretty sure that will happen soon. In the meantime, 12 dances means lots of typing to do. Let's get started. Tonight's third judge is Tyce Diorio.

Melissa & Ade
Dance 1: Disco by Doriana Sanchez
Doriana's routines are never my fave, so I was immediately concerned. However, Janette & Brandon made it through unscathed a few weeks ago. Ade's outfit was WAY too shiney. Technically, I think it was executed adequately but not amazingly and I just wasn't blown away. At all. But I blame the choreo and the dance style to a high degree. Props to Melissa for that split over Ade's head. She fell at the end but nothing too bad. Didn't really affect my opinion of the dance. However, the judges loved it.

Dance 2: Waltz by Ron Montez
This dance was pretty and flowy. I never know what to say about the waltz. I kind of rely on the judges' comments because I always feel lost. This is one of my favorite pairings and I feel sad to see them split next week. Looks like the judges liked it fine but weren't giving a standing ovation or anything...

Kayla & Kupono
Dance 1: Contemporary by Mia Michaels
Mia's choreography was about addiction, where Kupono is the thing that Kayla is addicted to. And Kupono had a personal connection with the theme. I really liked it. A lot. And I think you could really tell during the dance that they were both really emotionally invested in the dance. The "addiction" idea REALLY came through as you could see Kayla trying to get away and Kupono's control over everything she did. It was so sad, but I loved it. Kupono is finally living up to still being here. For several weeks, I thought he wasn't good enough, but this (along with last week's vamp-dance) is proving me wrong, yet again. I will agree with Nigel that I felt like Kayla's face was hidden by her hair. Would have like to see the emotion on her face that was peeking out here and there.

Dance 2: Broadway by Joey Dowling
Joey's routine is a love-at-first-sight story. The idea was cute and i really liked the choreography. They were not always together but for the most part I really enjoyed it. I am not sure that I thought the energy of the dance was matched with the song from West Side Story. The judges had mixed opinions. Regardless, this pair should NOT end up in the bottom 3.

Caitlin & Jason
Dance 1: Foxtrot by Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapatin
I liked the jazzy style the choreographers gave the dance. And I thought Jason was more enjoyable to watch. He had a little swagger to his steps. But I was overall just a bit bored with the dance. Not so much their fault, but how do you follow a Mia contemporary routine with a foxtrot and expect high marks. The judges weren't jumping out of their seats for the dance but were satisfied with the performance.

Dance 2: Lyrical Jazz by Mandy Moore
I say it every time. I love Mandy Moore and so I put a lot of pressure and expectation into her dances. Was it me or was Caitlin smiling a little too much for this dance? Jason looked amazing. I have really grown to like him. I felt like he out-shined Caitlin, but overall I enjoyed the dance and thought it was pretty to watch. It was just missing something, I think. And the judges felt similarly.

Jeanine & Phillip
Dance 1: Russion Folk Dance by Youri Nelzine & Lilia Babenko
Oh no, when they said this duo would be dancing this style, I had a bad feeling. Phillip has an AMAZING solo but is just not that great at the other styles. I was right to be concerned. It was very awkward. Jeanine looked great. But poor Phillip just doesn't have the chops. Cheers to the show for adding a new dance style. All that said, I am sure it was a very exhausting dance and I give them credit for getting through it. I also credit the choreographers for adding in steps and designing the dance to allow Phillip to do some hip-hop-looking moves. The judges didn't like it but I think they just didn't like the new dance style and there wasn't much else to say.

Dance 2: Jive by Tony Meredith & Melanie Lapitan
Phillip is a sailor who has been out to see and is home to see his love. You know what? This was better than I expected. I just hae low expectations for Phillip and I thought he did a pretty good job on the steps. Both had great energy and Jeanine looked great. The judges loved it.

Randi & Evan
Dance 1: Hip Hop by Tabitha & Napoleon
This detailed dance is a story about a couple expecting a baby. Randi was better at the hard hip hop moves than Evan. Neither is a hip hop dancer and you can tell. It wasn't amazing dancing. But the story was fun and I just love these two anyway. I think they are popular with fans, too, so I am guessing they won't have any trouble making it through even thought it wasn't their best performance. The judges liked it.

Dance 2: Samba by Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis
YEA!!! Pasha!!! Oh how I love him. I like Anya, too, but I LOVE Pasha. I really wanted them to pull this off well. And let's face it: If Pasha and Anya were performing this routine, it would have been super hot. So much of this style is attitude, and I am not sure that these two have the attitude it requires. The tricks were fun. The moves were fine. But the sex appeal wasn't there. Maybe it was a lack of confidence. So it wasn't my favorite of their dances. The judges felt it was not quite there. Even though I didn't feel this was their night, I don't really expect them to be in the bottom 3.

Janette & Brandon
Dance 1: Argentine Tango by Leonard Barrionuevo & Miriam Larici
I have enjoyed the Argentine Tango in the past (remember Ivan & Allison's -- so good). Janette looked great, danced amazingly, and exuded the sex that this dance requires. And Brandon was a good partner. but I wasn't crazy about how stiff he seemed. And his steps didn't seem perfect for me. However, all three judges gave them a standing ovation and Mary did plenty of screaming. I mean, good grief they loved it! It was good, but just didn't blow me away like that.

Dance 2: Jazz by Wade Robson
Lots of stories behind the dances tonight. This one is about a couple of thieves. Wade's routines are hit-or-miss for me. Wade really loves Roisin Murphy songs on this show ("Rama-Lama" and "Night of the Dancing Flame" were both used in season past). I really loved this dance. It was fun. Very vaudeville and cartoony. Well-executed but more just well choreographed.

Cat announced that the duos will break up after tonight, so I was right! But I am curious to see how the dancers will fare with other partners.

Fave Pairing of the night: Brandon & Janette
Fave Dance of the night: Tied between Kayla & Kupono Contemporary and Jeanine & Brandon Jazz
My guess for Bottom Three: Melissa & Ade, Caitlin & Jason, Randi & Evan
Going home (sniff sniff): Caitlin and Ade? I just don't like to see them go home.

SYTYCD - Top 14 Perform

2009-07-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the night, people. The night that this season is finally going to suck me in and get good. I have been waiting all season for it to happen. I am now willing it to happen. Now let's get to it!

Tonight on the panel with Nigel and Mary is the one and only Mia Michaels. This is good because her opinion is actually interesting (unlike Toni Basil last week...), but bad because that means she isn't choreographing any dances this week. Mia fesses up that Brandon has officially changed her opinion of him, but I can't help but feel like she has to say that so it looks like she is giving an unbiased opinion... Now for the dancing.

Janette & Brandon - Cha-cha by Jean-Marc & France Genereaux
I enjoyed their hip hop last week. Let's see how they pull off the sassy and sexy cha-cha. Before I get started with the dancing, let's discuss Janette's hair. Sean says it looks like Luke Skywalker from the first Star Wars movie. I forgive her because the hair looked good during the dance. And she looked great! So good I didn't even notice Brandon but I guess that means he didn't screw that up. I ignored the fact they they must really have to work on chemistry. Just guessing it doesn't come easy for them. Just sayin'. I thought this was great! Smokin' hot, I say...

Kayla & Kupono - Contemporary with Sonya Tayeh
This is their second week dancing together. Their waltz got them through last week but I don't know if Kapono is strong enough to stay around for long. Fingers crossed it works. If anyone can pull off a "vampire" theme (the most popular thing around right now), Sonya can do it. And she used a song from the Twilight soundtrack. A certain group of tweens will be voting no matter how good the dancing is. But I won't worry too much because I actually enjoyed the dance. The choreo was really interesting, with jerky ballet-looking moves and a bunch of freaking-out-turned-dance-moves. I think Kapono proved me wrong about being strong enough to stay. Good for him.

Randi & Evan - Broadway by Joey Dowling
I liked this routine because it felt different from most Broadway routines we see on the show. It was quirky and fun. Not my fave of the night but I thought they did a pretty good job. The judges were disappointed with Evan, again. This has happened before, but I think they are not in danger of going home.

Jason & Caitlin - Pop Jazz by Brian Friedman
Let's see if B-Free's choreography will be better this week. And his dance is about an alien procreating with an earthling. Yikes. But OK. This dance had a role reersal where the woman really leads the dance. I was distracted by Kaitlin's costume but really enjoyed Jason during the performance. Not sure how I am feeling about this. I don't think the judges like the choreo as much as they have to say they like it. I think that was the problem more than the actual performers.

Jeanine & Phillip - Hip Hop by Napoleon & Tabitha
N&T decided to attach the dancers with a chain. It is supposed to be a metaphor for their partnership on the show. Just looks hard! Phillip gets to use his popping skills for this dance but I feel like his abilities might just make Jeanine look like she can't do it as hard. I spent the whole dance worrying they were going to fall. So I guess the chain could be a distraction, but I really like what it adds to the dance. I enjoyed it. It was fun and different.

Melissa & Ade - Classical Pas de Deux by Thordal Christensen
This is a Romeo & Juliet dance. I SO loved last year's pas de deux with Katee & Will. I was excited to see Melissa do something that is more in her true style. I had high expectations for her. And she looked beautiful and flowy, but I was impressed with Ade. Maybe not technically amazing, but I thought he was really present and dedicated. I enjoyed it (but it wasn't as good as last year...). Here is the video of Will & Katee. Spigunk!!

Carla & Vitolio - Quick Step by Jean-Marc & France Genereaux
Kiss of death! Too bad for Carla and Vitolio. I am just waiting to hear what the judges. I just don't know what to say about it technically. I loved her dress change. And the dance looked fine to me. But what do I know? The judges liked it and said, "What kiss of death?" But even though it was good, will it get them through on Thursday night?

OK, so my guess for bottom 3:
Randi & Evan
Jason & Caitlin
Carla & Vitolio

Going home: Caitlin and Vitolio? No idea. Just a guess!

And just a follow up on what I said earlier. Tonight's show was really good. I am sucked in a little bit more but not sure it is enough. We'll see as we progress some more this season.

SYTYCD Top 16 Results

2009-06-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

So tonight's bottom three couples were

Asuka & Vitolio
Karla & Jonathan
Caitlin & Jason

Solos:
Asuka - I am never a fan of the ballroom solos. They always seem to be the same thing, especially for the girls. Weird Riverdance leg movements and head grabs with a big smile. So she was fine but I wasn't excited about it.

Vitolio - OK, first off let me say "no thanks" on that ending. What was that? But his dance felt over the top and desperate.

Karla - I like her music choice of Radiohead. Points for that. But the dancing was so strange and I just couldn't enjoy it. Reminded me of a monkey or something.

Jonathan - He has "ballroom legs"!! And I enjoyed the non-ballroom part. It was pretty good, but not sure it will keep him around over the other two guys. He is just a little bit blah...

Caitlin - Her solo was pretty and seemed the most heartfelt of the solos. I don't think she is in trouble of going home.

Jason - He has a great solo and it is also really heartfelt. It beats Caitlin's for best of the night.

So heading home tonight is:

ASUKA

JONATHAN

For much better thoughts about the episode, check out Vance and Emily's opinions (when they get them posted).

SYTYCD Top 16 Performances

2009-06-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

I have yet to post anything about this season of SYTYCD's performances. So I am making an effort to get it going tonight. So let's get this party started. Tonight, joining Nigel and Mary, is Toni Basil (the hat!). I am still really tired of Cat prompting the audience to say "jidges." I think it was cute like twice and now we need to move on.

Karla & Jonathan - Hip hop by Dave Scott
Dave described this as gangsta with emotion. Jonathan had a hard time getting the "gangsta" thing down in the rehearsal. It didn't bode well for his performance. Karla really brought the 'tude. But Jonathan, he tried, but it just wasn't doing it for me. I was so distracted by him that I just couldn't enjoy this dance. And the judges really did not like it. Nigel was harsh, taking bets that they would be in the bottom 3 couples. Harsh.

Osaka & Vitolio - Jazz by Mandy Moore
Thrash Rocker Jazz. That is how Mandy described this dance. Poor Osaka got very frustrated. This happens every season where someone gets frustrated and cries. But I am sure she'll make it through. I usually love Mandy's choreography, but this was kind of strange to me. Maybe it was the dancers' interpretation? But Osaka was so "ballroom-y" during it. And I did not like Vitolio's blue pants. Maybe I am being too harsh, but for now I am 0 for 2 on tonight's dances. The judges like it, so maybe I just didn't get it.

Melissa & Ade - Rumba by Tony Meredith
These two had to have bring out their sensuality for this dance. And master the ballroom moves. I really like Melissa & Ade. They managed to ooze the sex for this dance. And I don't know if Tony just choreographed this well for them both, but I thought they looked great. Their chemistry is great. I am relieved to see a dance I like. And the judges liked it, too.

Jeanette & Brandon - Hip hop by Dave Scott
Rock & roll meets hip hop. Should be a fun mash-up. I am interested in the dance, in theory. But can these dancers pull it off? Wait, first off. What do they have her wearing? OK, moving on to the actual dancing. Brandon was surprisingly good at the hip hop. I didn't think he could pull it off. And I enjoyed it. Jeanette was good, too, but I felt like the hip hop dancing in this choreo was what drew your attention.

Kayla & Kupono - Viennese Waltz by Jean-Marc Genereaux
I am already bummed for them before they start dancing because they are doing ballroom. It is their first week together and it would have been nice to get a more audience-pleasing dance selection. So here's hoping because I like the two of them. Kayla's flowy dress really adds to this performance. But I am not sure that they are doing so well technically. It wasn't bad for me but not amazing either. And it sounds like the Nigel felt about that way about it, too. But, alas, Mary put them on the hot tamale train. I wish she hadn't...

Randi & Evan - Contemporary by Mia Michaels
The choreographer that everyone hopes to get. Almost always keeps you out of the bottom 3. And I love Evan. And Randi. So fingers crossed on this one. So the point of this is that Evan is hypnotized by the booty. Huh. First off, immediately distracted by his outfit. What is tat? It is so huge and baggy. I thought Randi was sexy and stunning. This had more of a jazz feel than a contemporary feel to me. I enjoyed it. Not the best Mia routine ever, but enjoyable. The judges liked it quite well.

Caitlin & Jason - Jean Marc & France Genereaux
Paso Doble is one of my favorite dances. I think it does a good job of giving the man a really masculine part to play. And I feel it is one of the ballroom dances that puts the pressure on the man over the woman to be on display. But if not pulled off correctly, it quickly looks sloppy. And this just felt sloppy. Unfortunately. I just wasn't crazy about it. The judges gave it compliments but I felt they just thought it was alright. Oh, did I mention Jason has a good upper body? I am not surprised now that I hear he is a soccer player. They have the best bodies.

Jeanine & Phillip - Broadway by Tyce Diorio
First of all, Sean pointed out a huge hole in Phil's pants that I am pretty sure is NOT supposed to be there. I like the use of the pillows and feathers, and the routine was cute. But it didn't feel to me like a routine that requires a lot of technique, but instead just a lot of energy. That may be what gets Jeanine & Phillip through this week.

Lease fave couples:
Karla & Jonathan
Caitlin & Jason

My fave couples:
Melissa & Ade and Janette & Brandon

Going home:
I don't even know...

I am having trouble really finding a favorite this season. Anyone else?

Movie: The Time Traveler's Wife Trailer

2009-06-15T13:11:00.001-07:00

The trailer for The Time Traveler's Wife has finally been released. I have been so concerned about how they were going to pull this off. The book is amazing but I couldn't see how they could translate it to screen. The trailer looks pretty good, but I say it is still difficult to tell. What do you think?

Casting News

2009-06-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

Here is some casting news to be happy about:

Neil Patrick Harris scored not one, but two movie roles, announced today. The first is called The Best and the Brightest, an indie comedy. The second is Beastly (a book which I did not particularly care for) and Harris is cast in one of the few roles that I enjoyed in the book. He will play a blind tutor that can't see how "beastly" Kyle has become, and accepts him. I am glad to see NPH getting some work, since I adore him as Barney on How I Met Your Mother and he was AWESOME on the Tony Awards. In fact, there is already speculation that he might host the Emmys this year, as well!

Katee Sackhoff might be dragging me back to 24 after I had given it up for good. I so adore her from Battlestar Galactica that I might have to return to the drama to check her out, now that she has been cast as a regular for the upcoming season.

Movie: Land of the Lost

2009-06-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

OK, so Land of the Lost isn't doing so great at the box office. It fell $10 million short of its expected $30 million opening weekend take. But that is OK, because I still need to support my husband. I headed out to see it today with my husband and a couple of friends in tow.

Well, I can't say it is the best movie I have seen recently (come on, I saw Star Trek and Up!). There were some weird parts and some major continuity problems. But mainly, it was just the regular Will Ferrel schtick that we usually pay money for. I am sure people were confused weather it was supposed to be for children or for adults.

However, while it wasn't my favorite movie, there were really funny parts and some pretty good bits that make you jump. The t-rex was appropriately scary. And the animation was sharp! OK, OK, my husband did animation on this one. In fact, that is why I lived in Mumbai, India for 3 months. And I was so proud of his work. I always enjoy waiting for his name to scroll across the screen and do a proper clap and holler combination. This time his name was set apart since he was an animation supervisor. And high-five to him for his hard work and for bringing home the bacon. And for doing such a cool job.

Books: Several reviews/Thoughts

2009-06-05T20:00:00.000-07:00

I have read a TON of books without a single review, so I am putting a few quick thoughts down here for posting.

The Outcast is the first novel from Sadie Jones. It is a story about a boy named Lewis living in post-WWII England whose mother dies when he is young. As a result of the complete lack of emotional support from a single adult in his life after her death, Lewis becomes emotionally disturbed. As he gets older turns to drinking and violence and is pretty much rejected by his family and friends, eventually landing himself in prison for a couple of years in his late teens. The only person that sees Lewis for who he really is is Kit, a girl who is several years younger. She thinks of Lewis as her hero and loves him from afar for many years.

The reader spends most of the time reading being frustrated with the people that interact with Lewis and that they are incapable of helping him through his emotional difficulties. In addition, you will be waiting for Lewis to get a break. I found it very compelling and a quick read. Lewis and Kit are likable despite their faults, like the bad is happening around them and to them, but they are not bad themselves. It was a heartbreaking story, but an enjoyable read nonetheless.

John Grisham's The Associate was just released in February and I got it for 3 bucks at the Indian bookstore, so I gave it a shot. There was a time I read everything Grisham wrote, but it has been a few years now since I lost that habit. I am glad Grisham has returned to the legal thrillers, but I found The Associate to be just so-so. It is the story of a law student just before graduation who gets blackmailed into taking a job at a huge firm and stealing information for his blackmailers. I don't know if it just felt anti-climactic (or perhaps there just wasn't the right build up to the climax), but I found myself saying "eh" about it. Not bad. Not great.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne caught my attention at the bookstore after I watched the trailer for it online. It is told through the eyes of a young boy in Germany. It is eventually revealed, while the boy doesn't understand anything that is going on, that his father is a Nazi officer, put in charge of a prison camp (Auschwitz). The boy makes friends with another boy on the other side of the other fence who wears "striped pyjamas."

This story was really sad and I hated seeing it through the eyes of a young child like that. It was a really quick read (read it on a train ride in a few hours), but I easily predicted where the story was heading, just based on the tone. It was certainly not a feel good book. Just a warning...

The highly acclaimed book High Fidelity by Nick Hornby was also a quick read. There are certainly funny parts. But I didn't find any of the characters to be very sympathy-enducing. Rob's co-workers, girlfriends, even Rob himself are all a little unlikable. Now, that makes it a little more real and gritty than your typical "love story" novel. But I also found it frustrating. I would be interested to read something else by Hornby and see how I feel.

Beastly by Alex Flynn is a reimagining of the old Beauty and the Beast story, set in current times. Unfortunately, the cheese level was incredibly high. Kyle mentions so many times how good-looking he was before he was cursed and made into a beast that he grossed me out. A movie is being made of this. Let's hope it is better than the book. I would say pass unless you are 15 years old.

Movie: The Reader

2009-06-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

I finally watched The Reader for which Kate Winslet won the Best Actress Oscar this year. I was very curious to see her performance and I had heard it was great (but a bit of a downer). Kate was phenomenal, as expected. And she reinforced her positioning as one of my favorite actresses currently on screen. She never disappoints.

I was also very impressed by David Kross. I enjoyed watching him so much that when the time came to use an older actor for the part (Ralph Feinnes) that I was disappointed, and that is saying a lot since I consider Feinnes to be such a great actor.

The Reader does a good job of making you empathize with a person that really has no real empathy-inducing qualities. Instead, you see her through the eyes of a young and naive boy. It is a dark subject matter and has been quite controversial. I have started reading the book as I was hoping to get a little more insight on a couple of details in the movie. I'll let you know what I think.

Trailers to Think About

2009-06-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

The Road

I wrote about The Road after I read it last year. It is one of my favorite books of all time. You come away from it feeling devastated and hopeful all at once. McCarthy did a stunning job writing it. I was concerned about how good the movie adaptation would be,and if it could possibly convey the right mix of despair and determination. I can't tell that from this trailer. All I can tell you is that it looks like we get to SEE why the earth is in its post-apocalyptic state. In reading the novel, you don't ever know WHY things are they way they are. Because it isn't important to the story. And I am concerned that they are trying to turn this into some sort of action thriller, which it isn't.

New Moon

I was pretty excited when this one premiered on the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday. I am among the great masses of Twilight fans and am anxious for a better movie this go round. Twilight had its ups and downs, but most agree it could have been done better. I am quite excited about some of the cast additions (Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning) and the direction that Chris Weitz will go with it, especially since he has better experience with lots of CGI (The Golden Compass). While I would say the one werewolf we got to see in the trailer isn't as amazing as Aslan was, you can tell the budget has gone up and am OK with that. I think I might like this movie better than the book since New Moon is my least fave in the series.

Sherlock Holmes

Robert Downey, Jr. fans always await his new projects. I have yet to see The Soloist but it is still on my to do list. Before Iron Man 2 comes out, we'll get to see him alongside Jude Law and Rachel McAdams in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes. This outing looks to be a bit different from the other Ritchie films I have seen and enjoyed (Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch). Downey is looking fine as usual in this one, and I especially enjoy the boxing scene. Check out Emily's top RDJ films post here.

9

I recall hearing about this a while back because my husband would have liked to animate on it. It is a feature-length animated film based on a 2005 short by Shane Acker (who also writes and directs this version). This doesn't look like a kids film. It is a dark, rather creepy, post-apocalyptic story about creatures given life a la Frankenstein as their mad scientist dies with the rest of humanity. The trailer looks quite intriguing.

Nine

So two films named Nine/9 coming out this year (2009, is that why?). They couldn't be any different. I have never seen Nine performed onstage, but I am vaguely familiar with the premise. When Rob Marshall's film was announced, I was concerned about the casting of Daniel Day Lewis, mainly with the singing. Seeing that I haven't seen the show, I can't give my opinion here. But he doesn't sing in the trailer so I can't see how he is, but all the ladies look great. This is quite a cast!

1984, George Orwell

2009-06-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

I read a LOT of books in high school. I was in AP English and I think we read one per week. Somehow, I didn't read 1984. Every now and then I get the urge to read a book I missed back then, to see if it lives up to the hype it is given. Sometimes they disappoint on the "entertaining" scale, even if they prove to be thought-provoking but that isn't the case with 1984.

I was surprised how quickly I was invested in the story of a futuristic dystopian society. This novel makes the reader wonder how society got to the point that they would allow their every waking moment to be captured by camera, to be viewed by authorities, to allow their thoughts to be censored. It is certainly pertinent in current times as we deal with things such as the Patriot Act. This is certainly a bit extreme of that, but it makes sense that people fear something like that happening.

I felt a lack of hope in reading this story similar to the feeling I had when reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road. There was a little more hope as anyone reading this novel would expect each individual to have an internal struggle with such circumstances that would thus lead to an eventual uprising. Of course Orwell explains why that would be so unlikely.

Now that i Have given this the badge of hopelessness, I am sure everyone will be inspired to read it. But if this is one you managed to miss in high school or college, consider reading it now. It is especially interesting and captivating.

Theatre: The Fantasticks

2009-06-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

I caught a performance of Reprise Theater Company's The Fantasticks at UCLA's Freud Theater a couple of weeks ago. Apparently, The Fantasticks is the longest running show in New York, or the world, or something. It has been playing in New York in some theater, on or off Broadway, for fifty years.

This particular production didn't get rave reviews, mainly because the director (Jason Alexander) apparently took a lot of liberties with lyrics, stage direction and the set. I couldn't give you an opinion on that because i have never seen this show otherwise. I will say this: I didn't love it. But I think I just don't like the show. It was a little boring and the music was not very fun. Maybe I am just the wrong generation (because, as the people next to me said, it looked like buses of blue-hairs from local nursing homes had taken a field trip to see the show).

Now, here is the good part. Boy (Lucas Grabeel, Ryan from High School Musical) and Girl (Alison Woods) were great. In my opinion. they were the saving grace to an otherwise kind of dull venture. In fact, seeing this did manage to cement the creepy I'm-too-old-for-you crush I already had on Lucas Grabeel. I expected Eric McCormack to knock my socks off, and, unfortunately for us all, that wasn't the case. But again, I don't blame him. He wasn't given a lot to work with (plus, who can think of him as anything but Will Truman?).

Overall, I wasn't too terribly happy with the show. Give me this cast in another show, and I am sure I would have been happy. However, I don't really feel the need to see The Fantasticks again.

Movie: UP

2009-06-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

I saw Up last. And I loved it. I cried a lot. And laughed a lot. I am not sure it was a kids' movie, really. But it was really well done, as expected. I have been a Pixar fan for ages and they never disappoint. There are certainly my favorites (Monster's Inc., Finding Nemo) and I have my least favorite (Cars), but even then, I still think of them all as really good.

Up deals with some surprisingly dark and grown up issues (death and loss). I don't generally find that I cry in animated features but this one just really got to me. I spent more time laughing but cried several different times during the movie. So that is my warning to bring tissues with you to the theater.

I would try and explain the plot, but it is kind of random. Instead, I'll just mention a few things I love about it.

Dug and the other dogs. They have collars that translate their thoughts into spoken words. But they are still done from a dog's perspective (sentences are often interrupted by an exclamation of "Squirrel!"). And I might have to buy this book.

Russell. Also termed "small mailman" by the dogs. He was really cute and sweet, and very well-animated (per my animator husband). He was excellent at unknowingly antagonizing the old geezer Mr. Fredrickson (voiced by Ed Asner).

Mr. Fredrickson himself was just a bit too old man angry. I love sweet old people but mean ones are the worst!! Of course, that is the point, and as you would expect, he comes around in the end.

Fox and iTunes sitting in a tree

2009-05-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

The powerhouse that is American Idol is responsible for 6 of the top 10 songs on iTunes as of right this minute.

While it is obvious that winner Kris Allen's new "victory" song No Boundaries would be on top (or, is it obvious since it is a pretty horrible song), but Kris also has his amazing version of Heartless and Ain't No Sunshine on the list. Also, no surprise that Adam Lambert's Mad World is on there (the one song of his I considered downloading myself).

But then you have the song Permanent which David Cook performed on the finale (about his brother, which was quite an emotional performance). And while I love the show Glee, I would say the success of the show was certainly assisted by its Idol lead in. And I love that Don't Stop Beleivin is doing so great on there (it is such a fun version of the song, especially in the context of teh show).

I bet Fox is making a KILLING from iTunes right now. Ultimately, this blog post is just a chance for me to say how happy I am Kris Allen won and how much I like him. Good luck to both Kris & Adam in the future.

I think I will throw a few videos of the above songs below:

New TV: Glee

2009-05-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended the Fox premiere of its new summer show Glee at Santa Monica High School. There was a nice turnout and I even got a t-shirt.

Before I tell you what I thought, I should preface this by saying I am very much a choir nerd and a music geek. I have always and will always be a choir girl who loves music, adores singing, and appreciates a well-performed and -arranged performance. That being said, I really hope this show can stick around. It is right up my alley. It fills a very empty niche. I wouldn't really call it a glee club (I think of my dad in men's glee club in college in the 60s) as much as a "show choir." But Glee works better as the title (and they can put the loser "L" in the title on the promos).

Here is a brief synopsis: Will is a high school Spanish teacher who feels the urge to takeover the pitiful glee club at his school. He holds auditions and finds only a few who are both willing and talented enough to join. These also happen to the be the social outcasts. Will decides to do what he an to draw in new members from the popular crowd, thus giving the glee club a new public perception. He has to do some manipulation but acquires a new member and the group is official. But there are many bumps along the way to a success at a competitive level.

The people who have gotten excited about this show constantly refer to the "Don't Stop Believing" commercial for it. The actual appearance of this song in the premiere episode was great. I couldn't stop dancing throughout the whole show, but this one just sucked me in (plus the viewers were kind of emotionally involved by then, too).

The singing was excellent and there is a fun array of characters representative of high school (or at least of high school on film). There is the uber-talented, socially-awkward and somewhat annoying Rachel, played by Lea Michelle (her voice is amazing, but I already knew that from Spring Awakening). Then they combined the geeky guy with glasses and the guy in the wheelchair to come up with Arty, played by Kevin McHale (who is NOT so nerdy or wheelchair-bound in real life -- he was adorable). You've got the jock-with-a-heart-turned-glee-club-member Finn, played by Corrie Monteith (who perfectly embodies the qualities of an athlete, a singer and a nice guy). And the soulful black girl with attitude Mercedes (Amber Riley, who coincidentally is an Idol castoff from years past). The gay boy more concerned with his designer duds than anything else, Kurt (played by Chris Colfer).

As for the adults, Will is the teacher who takes over the glee club. He is played by Matthew Morrison, who I think comes straight from Broadway. But he didn't sing in the first episode, so I look forward to hearing that. Jane Lynch as the cheer coach is absolutely hysterical. In fact, she was so funny in person, too. I officially love her now. Jesselyn Gilsig is appropriately annoying and frustrating as Will's wife.

The soundtrack when the cast isn't performing is still done with vocals and is really different and fun. And if rumors are true, they will release the music to iTunes directly after each episode. I better start saving up my money now because I will be purchasing new music every week!

Come on, just watch this trailer! And then watch on May 19!!

Book: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

2009-05-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

Curtis Sittenfeld had a pretty good year with the popular and critical acclaim of American Wife. I read it and haven't posted about it yet (but I will get to it eventually). In the meantime, I have now read her earlier book Prep, set in a New England boarding school. Sittenfeld certainly attacks different subject matter in these two books. Here is what I though of Prep.

The basic story is this: Lee Fiora is a Midwestern, lower middle-class girl who decides one day she wants to go to boarding school. She works to get scholarships and gets accepted to a prestigious school in the northwest called Ault. But when she arrives at Ault for her freshman year of high school, she finds that the glamorous boarding school life she imagined and reality are two very different things. She closes herself off, struggles to make friends, do well in school, attract the boy she likes, and generally fit in.

I read this book in just a few days and I think I was sucked into the whole "boarding school" concept immediately. Reading it, I thought back to my college days because I went to a small private college with many similarities to Ault. It was easy to imagine and Sittenfeld writes very well. It isn't over-contemplative but is also not just all conversation without any thoughts.

The bad part was that I just wasn't feeling Lee. I was frustrated with her and I felt like she consistently sabotaged her own happiness and comfort. While I am sure those people exist, I couldn't relate very well to that part of her (I could, however, relate to her feeling like the outsider and not being the "popular" girl). Also, there wasn't a whole lot going on plot-wise. It was written out in sections, divided by school term (fall, winter, spring), and, if I hadn't been told that was how the time was advancing, I would never have realized it covered a full four years of someone's life.

I think American Wife was a better book, and probably just a better all around read. But Prep was a fun few hundred pages and not too shabby for Sittenfeld's first novel.

LOST: The Variable

2009-04-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

I have not blogged about Lost in quite a while, even though my brain is all atwitter over the recent happenings. This season has been thought-provoking at the least, but I will say amazing (even though I think this season has split the fans).

I have been waiting for this particular episode. Specifically, for one conversation. For Daniel's conversation about "variables." I have been suspecting that, no matter how many time the creators have reminded us that "what happened happened," we would find out differently. If you read message boards at all, people are adamant about this point. Don't get me wrong, I think it is generally true for our Losties that what happened did in fact happen. But I also think Daniel has realized there is anomaly. First of all, Desmond pushing that button changed everything. Daniel was able to go see him in the hatch and send him to his mother. Now, granted, one would argue that he did that all along... But, if I trust anyone on this show to be smart enough to realize there are variables along with the constants, it would be resident genius Daniel.

Oh, Daniel. RIP, my friend. I have really liked him from pretty early on. His character was endearingly crazy. And seeing his story fill in tonight was great, especially the confirmation of the long-suspected truth that Widmore is, in fact, Daniel's father. I have been avoiding spoilers on Lost like the Swine Flu, so perhaps it was a known fact that someone was going to die, but I didn't know (for once!) and was surprised and so sad to see Daniel go. But in the end I think his death was so revealing about Eloise Hawking and her "sacrifice" that it gave his death purpose.

Ellie/Elloise. So she made the ultimate sacrifice of her son. Knowing she would kill him. Could she have told him "I am going to kill you" and prevented it? That is unknown but Hawking has said over and over that things can't be changed, so maybe she believed that and didn't have a choice but to sacrifice him. You would think she could have been a better mother to him in the meantime!

My other thought on this, while somewhat fleeting, is this. Hawking has throughout the series been reinforcing the "can't change the future" aspect, but why keep beating a dead horse? Maybe she isn't quite so sure herself? Why couldn't she try not to kill Daniel by warning him? Maybe because she was OK with him dying. I mean it is pretty clearly a sad means to an end. Does this advance her own agenda? I guess I can't tell what her agenda is. She isn't working for Widmore and not for Ben. So is she working for a possible mysterious third party? Hmmm....

Desmond. Thank goodness Desmond is alive. I just couldn't take it if he weren't...

Myles & Chang. How funny was Myles face when Daniel told Chang that Myles was his son. And of anyone in the DI at that point in time, Chang would be the one with the capacity to believe it. So he says, "Is this true?" instead of a "yeah, right." And Myles denies it. Sad. There was his chance to really reunite with his dad.

Meanwhile, back at the Dharma camp. Jim is contemplating how to deal with the prisoner he has captured and ends up bringing all of the non-Dharma gang in on the decision. I really enjoy Sawyer as a leader here. It just struck me as fitting that they were all sitting in a circle in his house discussing the options, and that he was in charge. Of course, Juliet kind of trumped his decision with letting Daniel, Kate & Jack head out to the hostiles, but Jim didn't seem to mind too much. They are still a sweet team.

And they split. Everyone makes a choice on who goes where, and, look, only Jack & Kate leave. Hurley doesn't go. Jin doesn't go. And Myles makes the very obvious choice to stay behind. Should be interesting to see if they reunite back on the beach like they planned, now that ol' Danny bit the dust (*sniff*). I am worried that our core Losties are about to become enemies or something and I would hate to see that.

Going back. We have to go back, Kate. OK, this isn't what Jack meant when he said those words but they take on new meaning. Go back to BEFORE the crash and land successfully in Los Angeles. But wait, that means nothing that has happened happened. That is tragic and sad, even though we lost many along the way. I just can't see it that way.

Upcoming movies I want to see

2009-04-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

I've been off the grid for a bit and this poor blog has taken the worst of it. So I am working to get back to posting. And since I have lots of upcoming movies on the brain, I thought I would list a few I am really looking forward to.

1) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I've been waiting for the release of this one since I left the theater after watching Order of the Phoenix. The latest trailer looks UNBELIEVABLE!

2) X-Men Origins: Wolverine

I really enjoyed the X-Men movies, especially parts one and two. I also really like Hugh Jackman. But I was really excited about some of the other casting on this one, too. Especially Taylor Kitsch as Gambit. I think he is about to blow up huge.

3) Public Enemies

Christian Bale & Johnny Depp. Do I need to say anything more? But I will. I also love the subject matter (John Dillinger and bank robberies and tommy guns...) and time period.

4) Terminator Salvation
Watch the trailer here. More Christian Bale. And I love the Terminator franchise. Looking forward to seeing where they go with this one.

5) Star Trek
Watch the trailer here. I don't even watch Star Trek and have never been interested in it one iota. But JJ Abrams has done what he set out to do, and that is to appeal to a whole new group of potential fans with his new interpretation.

6) 500 Days of Summer

How cute does this one look? I really like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.

7) The Hangover
Watch the trailer here. First, the reason this attracted me was Will Tippin, I mean Bradley Cooper. And, as usual, he is playing kind of the sleazy guy, but I am glad to see he is playing a main character. But this trailer actually really cracks me up. The tooth, the tiger, the baby.

8) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Watch the trailer here. I have been sucked into the Shia LeBeouf hype and really like him. Plus, I enjoyed the first film, so I'll give this one a chance.

9) Away We Go

When I first heard of this, before the trailer, I thought it would be much goofier. Instead it is just a quirky, sweet-looking little thing. I can't wait to see this one. Looks entertaining.

10) Land of the Lost
Watch the trailer here. I have seen a fair bit of this because Sean was working on it and the parts I have seen are really funny. Will Ferrel almost always cracks me up. Plus, I must support my man's work!

Movies I am maybe excited to see (can't decide):
1 & 2) I want to be able to say I am looking forward to the release of The Time Traveler's Wife and My Sister's Keeper, two of my favorite books of all time, but I am concerned about the film adaptation in both cases. Therefore, I am hesitant to put any hope into them. I'm sure I will see them both anyway.

3) The Soloist - I adore Robert Downey, Jr. and really love Joe Wright, who is directing. I just am not sure this movie actually appeals to me. I don't love Jamie Foxx. Maybe I'll just rent it unless it gets rave reviews or something.

And while I really like to support my husband and his work (I did see Alvin and the Chipmunks in the theater, and plan to see Land of the Lost), I am not sure I'll be seeing They Came From Upstairs. I'm sure we'll see it eventually but I am just not sure I can sit through it. I am not the target audience here.

Well, my list of movies to see this summer is huge! There are a few others that caught my eye but didn't quite make the list. I better start saving money now or plan on going to the 11 am shows for a discount...

Lost: LaFleur

2009-03-07T01:48:00.000-08:00

I loved this episode of Lost. If you have read my Seasons 1-4 recaps, you'll know that I was originally a fan of Jack, but the re-watch of the series won me over to Sawyer. Now I just officially love him. This episode certainly had a different feel to it than usual. Partly because of the "three years earlier"/"three years later" way of story-telling, but also because the content seemed so different. The audience is watching this episode knowing that Kate, Jack & Hurley will be found by a jumpsuit-wearing Jin. For me, it was quite devastating to watch as these characters adjusted to a life with the Dharma Initiative (one that seems pretty happy, actually), only to be mucked up by the return of those we have moved beyond (except for Jin, who I am hoping gets to reunite with Sun soon).

Here is why I am confused. Locke turned that wheel to save the rest of the time-flashing gang on the island. I understand why he did that. But we also know that Locke, along with the Oceanic Six, would have to return. Richard told Locke that, didn't he? "You're going to have to die, John." But those remaining after Locked turned the wheel seemed alright. Was it just a trick? Did someone need to turn the wheel so they had John do it? Are the O6 returning to the island just to serve as pawns in the upcoming "war" that Widmore warned about?

I have been waiting all season for the Kate/Sawyer reunion. Like, knowing how much he loves her. And I never in a million years imagined that three years would have gone by on the island. I thought that, while three years passed off-island, it would have been a much shorter amount of time. I didn't expect things to progress like they did:

1) The most obvious: Sawyer and Juliet have a thing. Like an "I love you" thing. And I actually bought it. It was believable and it was sweet. It made sense as soon as they started jumping through time because they were constantly leaning on each other for support, and fessing up to weird happenings and sad feelings.

2) Jin is completely fluent in English. I have heard Daniel Dae Kim speak in interviews and he has zero Korean accent. So he is still having to put on, but I love that he can finally speak English and not have to do that "I don't understand" shtick he has done for 4 seasons. On a sidenote: Daniel Dae Kim will be playing the King of Siam in The King and I at London's West End. I wonder what kind of singer he is!

3) This gang is very established in the Dharma Initiative. Sawyer aka LaFleur is head of security. They all have their very own jumpsuits. Juliet is a mechanic. What is Myles doing? Don't know, but he came along for the ride, and it seems they all are quite good friends. As in happy.

4) Guess who is new to the show! Herc (Kevin Rankin) from Friday Night Lights. Now we can wonder if the island "cured" him of his need for a wheelchair. Also new to the show, Reiko Aylesworth, or Michelle from 24. I think I stopped being interested in 24 after they killed her off.

Let's mention a couple of other things here. I love how the confused and unknowing Losties are now the know-it-alls. When Sawyer went out and talked to Richard about Jughead and crazy Locke, I was so happy that, finally, our guys knew something those guys didn't.

Also, other interesting things occurred this episode, such as the statue (Whoa! How far back was that?) and the birth of Amy's baby (Yea, a baby was actually born on the island!) but I am waiting to see where these things go (if they go anywhere) before I write about them. Mainly because I don't have lots to say about them right now, except "hmmmm....."

Questions:

Does it seem strange to anyone else that Sawyer is still having Jin check every day for their people? Wouldn't you have given up by now, especially if you were as happy with life as they seem to be? Maybe Sawyer's proclamation that three years is long enough to get over someone was more just him trying to convince himself.

If I have read this correctly, and based on the time period we suspect this gang is in, where is young Ben? At first, I thought he might not have arrived, but if he comes much later, I would have a hard time believing Michael Emerson is young enough for the part.

Widmore led the Others aka "my people" peacefully for 30 years (I did hear mention of the Dharma/Others truce) until Ben screwed that up. So is Widmore currently leading the Others right now? It makes sense if this is the mid-70s, that we are 20 years into the Widmore Era. That leaves 10 more before Ben kicks him out, and probably till the Purge (or maybe a little longer).

The writers threw me for a big loop hooking Juliet and Sawyer up that way. How is Kate's return going to change this? How big of a wrench will be tossed in? As Sean said, "Poor Juliet. She is always tossed aside for Kate." Kate, who we are growing to dislike more and more...

Here are some review links:
Lost 5.8: LaFleur by Emily at Eclaire Fare
LeFleur Recap and Analysis by Erika
Things I Noticed: LaFleur by Vozzek69

The End is Here - Pushing Daisies

2009-03-02T23:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am aware that it has been quite some time since we learned that ABC wouldn't be renewing Pushing Daisies. I have come to terms with it over the last couple of months. And I was anxiously awaiting the final 3 episodes of the series, hoping for some closure. Of course, then we discover that ABC won't even be "burning off" the last three episodes on network TV, and we would have to wait for the DVD to see the final eps.

Indian television, however, doesn't have any reservations about playing the series through to its (all-too-soon) end, and I discovered that they were playing these final episodes over the last few weeks. While being sad it is over, I was also excited as we had been told that the series finale, while not originally intended to be a finale, would give us some closure.

Unfortunately, while the story progresses in a satisfactory way, addressing so many of the plot points that are still up in the air, it was clear that the writers tied up some loose ends just to say they were tied up. And things are rushed. The regular progression was quite enjoyable (and it was headed in a kind of new direction, had it not been canceled). I was glad to see it, but only reminded it was canceled way too early.

I believe this is the episode they were filming the day I saw Lee Pace (!) and David Arquette at the WB lot. If I remember correctly, it was on their very last day of filming. The good news is that I don't think a single one of these actors will be looking for work for long.

Lost - The Life & Death of Jeremy Benthem (5x07)

2009-02-26T18:28:00.000-08:00

This episode only really provided a few surprises for me. For the most part, it filled in some blurry spots (but ones we could have guessed).

Here is what we kind of already knew:

1) There have been lots of suspicions that John Locke would be revived or resurrected when he returned the island. Not sure if this is because he is some sort of chosen one by the island, so it revives him. We have seen it happen, sort of, to Christian Shepherd. But we have also seen Locke healed numerous times, from being paralyzed to falling and cracking bones to a receiving a gun shot wound. It doesn't completely shock me to see him alive (especially after the promo last week for this episode).

2) Locke's visits to the O6 (give or take). Everyone is surprised to see him, but no one is really shocked. Sayid is just kind of "whatever" about it. Hurley is convinced he is crazy, again (he never has been crazy, right?). Kate is firm but over it. Jack is angry.

3) Walt does need to return to the island, like the rest. It was nice to see Walt, but we knew we would because Walt told Hurley last season that Jeremy Benthem had been to see him, too. However, something must have upset him that he would then fly to Santa Rosa visit Hurley. I am still really hoping that Walt was somehow on that flight in coach.

New things revealed:

1) Abbadon DOES work for Widmore. There has been speculation about that. I am so glad that Hurley yelled at Locke for trusting him. Locke recognizes him from the hospital and goes with him anyway. I find it quite creepy. I am glad that Abbadon acknowledged that Locke recognized him. What is also new is that Ben kills Abbadon, but I don't think that Ben was trying to kill Locke at that time.

2) Locke kept his promise to Jin and didn't visit Sun. Nor did he send Ben to do his dirty work. Ben came up with that on his own.

3) Widmore remembers Locke from 50 years previous, while it has been only 4 days for Locke. This was a fun meet-up. Widmore reveals that Ben is, of course, the bad guy. That Widmore was forced to leave the island by Ben and he has never gotten back. I can see why Locke would choose to believe Widmore over Ben, given their awful history. But I just wish Locke would step up and stop listening to anyone else. If he is truly the chosen one, he should manage to get the job done on his own.

4) There is a war coming. Widmore tells this to Locke. I found this to be interesting, and while not completely shocking, a kind of interesting revelation as Widmore told Locke that being on the Island would keep him out of the war. You would think being on the island would put one smack dab in the middle of such war.

5) Ben kills Locke, but only after talking him out of killing himself. Why bother? This was certainly a disturbing but not surprising turn of events. It was really actually quite sad. Watching Locke trying to kill himself (and about to succeed) was just really sad. But it was a huge (scary) step of faith he was willing to take. Locke is often compared to Jesus lately, so who does that make Ben?

Some questions:

1) Which island are the Ajira flight survivors on? What is the room/office where Cesar is set up?

2) Why did some of the O6 flash back to wherever Jin is and some crash in the plane. We know Lapidis crashed in the plane and another woman (probably Sun) because they took off.

3) Why did Ben decide to kill Locke himself only after Locke mentioned Eloise Hawking. What about this knowledge meant that Locke needed to be die. I have a theory but I am still wrapping my head around it and working it out.

4) Except for Juliet, the Others don't move with the flashes. So I can believe Ben wouldn't have. He was all beat up, but that may have been partially from the crash as he was beat up so bad when they took off. What is going to happen next?

5) Locke realized who Christian's son was on his own. It was this revelation that got Jack on a plane (the one before the bridge-jumping experience where he found the obit for Jeremy Benthem)

Other thoughts:

I am glad the writers didn't spend more than one episode on the Jeremy Benthem visits. It would have been too drawn out. I like how Locke is so completely truthful to this Ajira crash crew, and he is just so matter-of-fact about dying, wearing those clothes to be buried, being killed by Ben. His faith is confirmed so he isn't really afraid of anything.

The conversation between Kate and Locke was sad. He realized how he screwed up the one thing he loved in life: his relationship with Helen. And Kate was rather mean to him about it. But it turns out Helen is dead. Locke has a number of regrets about Helen and he shares them here. His obsession with his dad was NEVER worth that loss and he knows it now.

I had a dream about Lost last night. In it, the Losties all flash-jumped to the 40s and were fighting in the war. And Ben was a big ol' Nazi. Then they jumped again and they were in Star Wars. They were all wearing robes and fighting with light sabers. Do you think either of these have any merit as theories...?

I wondered to my husband last night if maybe current Ben is responsible for 50-years-ago Widmore leaving the island. He might have trusted him back then, because Ben would have been a long-time resident of the island and we know he is quite the manipulator. The age difference makes one wonder when a younger Ben would have eliminated Widmore from the island, otherwise.

Someone please explain this to me

2009-02-25T23:02:00.000-08:00

A.R. Rahman wrote an amazing score, as well as some perfect stand-alone songs for Slumdog Millionaire. He deservedly took home the Oscar for Best Song for Jai Ho (although I prefer O...Saya, also nominated).

Now here it the part I don't understand: Why, the very day after it earned this prestigious award, did we sully it with a remix. Okay, so Rahman wants a more commercialized release, so he agrees to do a remix with an American singer. Understandable. With the level of attention this film is getting, there are some pretty amazing singers he could get to sing in his remix.

But instead, we get Nichole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. Maybe I am being mean, but I just don't like PCD and don't think this remix adds anything to an already-great song. Check it out here:

DWTS: Not again!

2009-02-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

Once again, this season I decided not to watch Dancing with the Stars. It just can't compare to So You Think You Can Dance, both on levels of talent (the pros are great, but the stars are not so great) and entertainment value. And once again, the season has sucked me. More and more this is due to the pros being snatched up from the SYTYCD alumni. Previously, Lacey Schwimmer (season 3 of SYTYCD) was brought on to dance with Lance Bass and this season is set to dance with Steve-O (who I am actually interested to see now that he has cleaned himself up).

This season, two new SYTYCDancers ahve been added:

Dmitry Chaplin, (season 2), who will be dancing with singer Jewel. I wonder if he will rip open his shirt much??

Chelsie Hightower, season 4, who will be dancing with rodeo star Ty Murray (who also happens to be Jewel's fiance)

Looks like I am sucked back in!

LOST: 316

2009-02-19T19:34:00.000-08:00

Just a warning: I expect this post to be very scatter-brained, and it probably won't make a lot of sense.

I managed to watch about 30 seconds of this episode before I forced myself to turn it off and wait for my husband. He would never forgive me for watching it without him. But, needless to say, I was freaking out after seeing Jack wake up in a jungle. So I was so upset when Sean got off work late, didn't get home till late, and then we had technical problems and had to wait till 11 pm to get it watched. But it was well worth the wait.

Here are some of my thoughts and questions from this episode. (I watched it twice so I could be sure I didn't miss anything, but I am sure I did, nonetheless)

- We already know that Sayid and Hurley have no interest in being involved with Ben in this attempt to return to the island (although, I think both of them might feel somewhat compelled to return without his help). So who (or what) got to them to make them get there? I am guessing the same person got to Kate because I can't imagine anything that would make her give up Aaron (which seems to be the case??) and follow Jack to the island. And, let's face it: It isn't Ben. He was too busy taking care of his "promise" to deal with getting them all on board. And there is also the fact that Hurley didn't know he would be there.

- Did anyone else find the sudden rekindling of the Jack/Kate romance quite desperate. Both for the two of them, and for the story? I didn't think it fit.

- Two questions about Hurley. Why the guitar (It clearly has some meaning regarding Charlie, but I don't know what it is. Oh wait! Maybe Charlie visited him and that is what made him rush to the airport?)? The second question is about the seats he bought up. The flight is quite packed back in coach, so I am just guessing that he bought up all the remaining seats on the flight, so no more people would be allowed on. I was just a little confused on that. I love that he wanted to keep those people from getting on the plane.

- Speaking of Ben's promise was this him fulfilling (or trying to fulfill) his promise to kill Penny? He was at a marina. But who beat the crap out of him? I am hoping it was Desmond or maybe Penny herself. Did you notice not one person was curious about his beaten state when he got on the plane, not even his new best friend Jack?

- And as for Jack & Ben, I think their relationship is funny. Why would Jack as Ben, of all people, if he was responsible for Locke's death? And why does Ben tell him what he wants to hear (kind of fatherly, actually)? Also, I was amused that Ben seems quite jealous of the one-on-one time that Jack had with Mrs. Hawking.

- Of course, then Jack opens this suicide note and it is a letter of blame to Jack. Come on, Locke. That was just mean! But I am guessing Locke either killed himself because he knew he had to, or he had a hand in it... Did John even write that letter to Jack? Or is this something Ben is involved in. He has his hand in everything else.

- It is interesting that John's body will substitute for Christian's on the plane. It seems that Jack is trying desperately to embrace all the crazy talk (and not be a Doubting Thomas, which as an interesting analogy that Ben used for Jack not believing)

- Sayid has a police escort. What happened here and how did he manage to board this particular flight? And why did Sayid where another one of those low-cut black tank top/undershirts to the island? To recreate his first trip? I think the island would have found him anyway...

- The Losties returning to the island didn't crash this time, but flashed. Right into the time period where Jin is. This seems a little too lucky, so I am guessing that they are subject to the same time-jumps as those that are left on the island.

- But where are the other people from the plane? Sayid? Sun? Frank? The new guy and girl that were in first class? What happened there?

My favorite quotes:

Ben: "Who cares?", when Jack asks what will happen to all the other passengers on the plane

Jack: "How can you read?"
Ben: "My mother taught me."

Frank: "We're not going to Guam, are we?"

And now, next week, when all I want is to see what happens next, we get the Locke episode. You know, the one we have been waiting for. The one that explains everything he did after he left the island. The highly anticipated explanation. But all I want is to see what is happening on the island now that the O6 are back...

Run by Leona Lewis

2009-02-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

I am trying to figure out how I feel about Leona Lewis' version of the song Run. You must understand that I adore the original by Snow Patrol, and it is one of my favorite (if not number one) songs on their albums. Leona is certainly talented, and more mainstream than Snow Patrol. But she kind of divas up the song. The video is pretty, as is Leona. I don't think I have made up my mind. I definitely prefer the SP version, but I guess her version is pretty enough. What do you say?

Watch the Leona Lewis version here.

Run by Snow Patrol

By the way, I do realize that Lewis did not just release this song and it has been out for a while. But as of late I have seen the video a lot and it just spurred me on to post.

Best Scripted TV Show on Hulu - Thoughts?

2009-02-15T07:36:00.000-08:00

For the past several months, I have been on a panel over at The Hulu Review that has the task and privilege of choosing the top shows on Hulu, spread over a number of categories. While I intended to post about it sooner, I have yet to write anything on my blog about it. This week, we vote for Best Television Show. Keep in mind this is not Best Television Show Ever, but just the best of the series that are on Hulu. Of course, Hulu carries some of the best, so it is a tough decision this week. Keep in mind that the panelists are given freedom to choose the "best" using any method they choose. It is completely up to the panelists. Here are my opinions on the final 6 nominees for Best Television Show.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents - I am not knocking ol' Hitchcock, but he just ain't my TV cup of tea. The other five shows are ones I like a LOT more.

Arrested Development - This is one of my all-time favorite shows. And it literally never gets old. I can watch it regularly and when I finish season 3, I just pop season 1 back in the DVD player. It is unlike anything else I have seen on TV; the writing and acting are beyond amazing. And it is just hilarious. I probably quote Arrested Development more than any other show this is or ever was on. I would say it is too bad that it didn't last longer, but I like a show that can go out on a high note. And we can always be left wanting a little more.

Battlestar Galactica - Battlestar Galactica is a prime example of a genre that people are scared of (sci-fi)only to discover that it deals with very human, prevalent issues and relationships. Yes, there are giant robots and the human population lives in space, but what makes this show is the people. Their stories. How the interact. Of course, I really enjoy the space/robots part of it, too. But I think people are missing out on one of the best shows around. One can hope that it gains popularity on DVD after the series finishes in the coming months. *tear*

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - I hopped on the Buffy bandwagon a little late. I think it was during Season 6 when I started watching reruns from the beginning in syndication. I caught all the way up and then finished out the series on UPN. I truly think Joss Whedon is a genius, but I can see why Buffy doesn't have as universal appeal as some other shows, especially ones that are considered to be "sci-fi."

Chuck - I am huge Chuck fan (you can read about my days working on set here). I love the geek-spy combo. Zach Levi is perfect in the role (if you can accept how geeky he is really supposed to be). I think it reaches a wider audience and has a broader appeal than the other shows on the list. But I don't think I can name it my top. Yes, it is can't miss for me, but other shows on this list always will beat it out.

Friday Night Lights - Emily turned me on to FNL after Season 1. I had not been interested, even though I had heard the critical chatter, because it didn't appear to be doing all that well, in any time slot. The summer before the second season, I caught all the way up. I have even gotten my husband addicted. Fans rejoiced at getting a third season, which has been as amazing as the first. I literally cry every single episode, and after watching always find myself exclaiming how amazing the acting is, and how well the characters are portrayed by the actors.

My decision really comes down to Arrested Development, Battlestar Galactica, and Friday Night Lights, three shows that could not be more different (except for excellent writing, great execution, and the lack of the audience they deserve). Decision still being made...

How would you vote?

"Bright" Outlook for NBC's Parks and Recreation

2009-02-10T04:43:00.000-08:00

My interest was sparked in NBC's new comedy Parks and Recreation just because it is Amy Poehler. From the creators of The Office. And Rashida Jones is cool. But the news today that Chris Pratt, aka Bright Abbott from Everwood will be joining the cast solidifies its place on my viewing schedule! Loved him as Bright. Loved him as Che on The OC. He was such a creep in Wanted. Can. Not. Wait.

Some TV discussion: Lost, BSG, and Chuck

2009-02-03T20:29:00.000-08:00

OK, so I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks. I think I should be forgiven as I have been adjusting after a move to a different continent. :) But I plan to try to catch back up! Let's do a small catch up now! SUPER SPOILER ALERT!!!

LOST, "The Little Prince" - I don't even know what to say about Lost. I realize that a lot of fans are confused this season. I won't say there aren't confusing parts, but I am all about being confused. I still have full faith in the writers that things will be explained at a later date. Last night's episode was so amazing to me. I loved it. Sawyer got to see Kate again. While it hadn't exactly been addressed, we knew the time traveling crew was bound to show up at the time the Losties were on the beach. Sean guessed as soon as he saw the light. Creepy! But I love where this is going with Sawyer, and more character development.

And then Jin. JIN JIN JIN JIN!! I knew he wasn't dead. I just knew it but I am glad to see he is alive and saved by a young pregnant Rousseau. While I guessed that Rousseau was in the boat as soon as I heard the french, I did not see it coming that Jin was on the floating piece of wood...

Jack & Kate are reunited. Ben has confessed to going after Aaron, but I am guessing it is just a ploy to get them back to the island. I had wondered if that blood sample stuff was Ben's doing. And then I suspected Sun. And then for a split second we thought it was Claire's mom. Jack almost spilled all the beans. Conveniently, all the O6, except Hurley, are sitting at the marina. I am really excited to see where this is going. Shew! This was a great episode, but more than that, I think it set us up for what this time travel stuff entails.

Battlestar Galactica - No matter what you might say about Battlestar Galactica, you can't say that they are afraid to go to dark places. The first two episodes of the season were probably the most depressing and hopeless of the series thus far. After discovering a destroyed and unlivable earth, the fleet is in chaos, chomping at the bit for new leadership and new hope. I have been frustrated with Gaeta, who still seems to be trying to make up for the fact that he worked for Baltar and the Cylons while on New Caprica. Yes, he was feeding information to the revolutionaries in the fleet, but still, he was working for them! And then he stabbed Balter with a pen. And, seriously, I think I prefer Baltar over Gaeta right now. I am sure he thinks he is doing the right thing, but I don't think aligning with Zarek and mutiny is the answer. In the meantime, we got down to business in the third episode, "The Oath." Our favorite Galactica crew is coming together to fight against the upheaval. I don't care if you are human or Cylon. You don't let someone kill Admiral Adama! And I love seeing Starbuck and Apollo in on the action. I am just WAITING for someone to break open that brig and then it is on. Gaeta and Zarek don't really have a chance. Looking forward to tomorrow's episode!

Chuck vs the Third Dimension - I didn't get to watch this with a pair of 3D glasses, but I found it enjoyable nonetheless. Plus, who isn't glad our favorite loveable nerd is back? It was too long of a break.

I have a special interest in this episode, as I worked as an extra in several of the scenes. It was only my second or third gig and I was SO pumped when I booked it. I worked it for two days and the second day I was there for like 13 hours and was completely exhausted and sweaty mess by the end, but it was so worth it! On top of that, I made some fun friends in the process.

When I got to set, I didn't know that Tony Hale (Emmett) or Dominic Monaghan (Tyler Martin) would be there. I had heard Hale had joined the cast but had forgotten, and at the time, he had not appeared in any televised episodes. I am a big Arrested Development fan, and it was fun to see Buster in person. And then I saw Dominic Monaghan and was ecstatic. I love him as Charlie in Lost (RIP) and it was a real hoot. In addition, I saw Chuck, Sarah, Casey, and most of the Buy More staff. As a HUGE Chuck fan, this was all a real treat.

Dom Monaghan was really hilarious in person, acting quite silly when in character and doing a small bit of ad-libbing each time. I think comedy suits him. There was also a perfectly timed rendition of "You All Everybody" by Zach Levi. Just love him all the more for being a LOST fan!

Well, those are the only shows I am all caught up with.

Some Random Thoughts

2009-01-15T11:32:00.000-08:00

First off, I leave today to go out of the country. I am excited and terrified. I am not sure how it will affect my blog-posting. I'll let you know once I get there and find out what kind of internet connection I have.

Next up, East of Eden. Hollywood has decided to do another remake. For starters, let me say that East of Eden is one of my favorite all-time books. I know most people prefer Steinbeck's bleak Grapes of Wrath, but pitiful Cal wins my affection every time. The story is heartbreaking, and I guess I just can't resist it. But is a remake necessary? Will they ruin it? Can someone possibly step into the shoes of James Dean as Cal? The person writing the screenplay (Christopher Hampton) is the same guy that adapted Atonement, so there is a check in the "positives" column. And having read the book, there is a lot more that could be put into a movie nowadays that would have been censored out in the 1950's. We'll have to see. I will await casting before I cast any further judgment.

Speaking of remakes, there will now be a remake of The Karate Kid. Ugh... Jackie Chan will be Mr. Miyagi. I probably could have called that. But why oh why does Jaden Smith have to play the title character? And does it seem to anyone else that this all just seems like a bad (and annoying) idea?

Arrested Development, The Movie is put on hold, again. It seems the writers want to wait and see if they can get Michael Cera to sign on before they write the screenplay. I say, pay him what he wants because the Bluth family isn't complete without our sweet innocent George Michael.

I just got the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. It is great so far. More to come on that later!

Why I Am Watching The Bachelor Tonight

2009-01-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

I haven't watched The Bachelor for several seasons, but I'll be watching tonight. Turns out I know one of the girls. She is an friend of my sister's from middle and high school. I knew her when she had braces. I'll let you know who after tonight's premiere!

Book: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

2009-01-03T19:29:00.000-08:00

I'd never read anything by David Sedaris but his books of kooky memoirs had been recommended to me several times. I picked up Me Talk Pretty One Day at the library on a whim and flew right through it. To call it amusing is an understatement. It is no wonder Sedaris felt the need to write multiple books about his life. The things that have happened to him are so ridiculous that one wonders if he made some of them up. But the knowledge that they did indeed happen just makes the book all the more enjoyable.

Me Talk Pretty One Day tells stories mainly about the author growing up in an strange (to say the least) family, working odd jobs here and there, and acclimating to a new place and new language after relocating to France. While in and of themselves these things aren't entertaining, Sedaris' story-telling makes for great laughs. I read full chapters to my husband while lying in bed, both of us laughing ourselves to tears.

I can't really think of what else to say about this book. If you like funny and bizarre, check it out.

A Very Brady Christmas

2009-01-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas was made complete by the pleasure of watching A Very Brady Christmas with Sean and my sister and her husband (both of whom had watched it the night before and wanted to watch it again). The AMAZING-ness of this made-for-TV movie is something that can not be explained. I should just tell you to watch it. But instead, I will make some pointed comments, and perhaps post a photo or a youtube video, so that you can enjoy this with me.

For starters, let's talk about the actors. Carol was exactly the same as she was in the series. Mike, however, had since come out of the closet and embraced his more flamboyant tendencies. This allowed for some rather awkward moments where the high level of discomfort during kissing scenes with Carol were very obvious. Greg, Peter, Marcia and Jan were pretty much what you would expect. Cindy was not the original actress (and, therefore, according to my sister, the only semi-good acting talent int he whole show). Bobby was back with reddish blond hair (which apparently is his natural color and it was dyed brown during the series), but he was looking a little worse for wear. Alice was back in all her annoying glory, but they brought in a new actor to play Sam.

Now to the story. First, we spend 20 minutes where Mike and Carol both decide to surprise the other with a big trip over Christmas. They are both planning it, realize that they are double-booking, and cancel the trips, only to decide that they would like to spend the money to bring all the children back home for Christmas.

OK, so let's focus for a moment on the fact that every one of the children has some life problem they are dealing with: Greg's wife wouldn't come home for Christmas because she wanted to be with her family, so he alone with their son; Peter is in a relationship with a woman who is his superior at work, and therefore has a hard time committing to her; Bobby wants to quit business school and become a race car driver instead, but will the family approve?; Marcia's husband got laid off from his job right before Christmas, and they decide to conceal it from the family; Jan and her husband Phillip are on the outs and ready to divorce, but they haven't told the family, so he comes along for Christmas anyway; Cindy realizes that her family still treats her like a child, and they don't ask her what she wants to do, but they tell her what to do. Alice comes back to the Brady household after Sam has left her for a younger woman who wants his help with her "rump roast" (because every joke about Sam has to be about his job as a butcher).

Shockingly, all of these issues are resolved over the course of about 10 minutes of air time over Christmas dinner. Greg's wife shows up because she missed him and the son; Peter and the girlfriend propose simultaneously; Bobby fesses up to his love for racing and the parents agree that he can try it out; Marcia's husband admits to losing his job, but Mike has already figured it out and helped him to get a new one; Jan and Phillip realize they want to be together after she covered him with a blanket in the middle of the night; Cindy confesses her anger about being treated like a child, and Sam shows up to apologize to Alice and ask her to come back, to which a stern finger-pointing and a "don't do that again" suffice for his cheating on her... Hmmm...

So that is good, right? Well, the story gets even more ridiculous and convoluted. I forgot to mention that earlier in the movie, Mike loses an architecture job because he is more concerned with safety and the client wants to go the cheap route. So during Christmas dinner, the phone rings. The former client has had a cave in at his work site. So who do you call in such emergencies? The former architect, of course! Mike goes into the building, which subsequently caves in. The two trapped security guards walk out unarmed, and thank goodness the extras given the job to act as EMTs know how to take a pulse. Because really, they take a pulse on the guys walking out and that is it. But wait! Oh no! Mike is stuck under a beam for hours. No emergency teams go into save him. The family just waits outside the yellow police tape. But let's remember back to an episode where Carol sang O Come All Ye Faithful at church one Christmas. So she stands and sings it at the police tape, and the crowd of onlookers all join in. Miraculously, Mike then walks out of the building. The singing saved him and gave him the strength (I guess...) to life the beam and come out. And Merry Christmas to all!!

Oh, I forgot to mention a couple of odd "grown up" Brady moments. Jan and Phillip and Marcia and Wally both have really awkward make-out sessions. I guess the grown-up Bradys have grown up moments, both good and bad.

I know I am really making fun of this movie, and it really deserves it. But I can't think of another movie in recent memory that is this bad and this good at the same time. I mean, look how much I wrote about it! I couldn't find a lot of pictures, so just watch this video to make up for it. About minute 6 is where it gets good!

Movie: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

2009-01-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

I don't think I have babbled on much about Paul Newman on this blog. I love him. LOVE him. I was sad when he passed away this year, but not too sad as he lived a long and fulfilling life, was known for being a family man, and was an amazing actor. My mom bought me a collection of Tennessee Williams plays (he is one of my favorite playwrights) for Christmas. This jogged my memory that I really enjoyed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof when I watched it a while back, so I picked it up at the library to give it a good re-watching. Newman and Liz Taylor are breathtakingly gorgeous and the story itself breaks my heart. Let's review:

Brick (Paul Newman) and his wife Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor) are home at Brick's parents house, awaiting health news of his father (Big Daddy, played by Burl Ives) and preparing to celebrate his 65th birthday that evening. We soon discover that Brick and Maggie have a cold and unloving relationship. She is manipulative and he is an alcoholic. Through the course of the evening, it is revealed that Big Daddy is dying of cancer. Much time is spent arguing between Maggie and sister-in-law Mae about who will inherit the thousands of acres of successful cotton farm and the $10 million that Big Daddy is worth. In the meantime, Big Daddy and Brick have it out about why he is an alcoholic and why he won't sleep with his wife Maggie. Amazingly, all problems are resolved through a good bit of yelling and crying.

Brick - Apparently, Paul Newman (and Liz Taylor) were on the brink of super-stardom at the time they shot this film. This film was the vehicle that catapulted them both forward. It was a very mature role for Newman to be playing. He was amazing. His anger and bitterness and shame weren't enough to hide how beautiful he is to look at, but it was enough to believe it anyway.

Maggie - This kind of acting doesn't really exist anymore. Women don't do this over the top Southern thing like they used to (see Vivien Leigh...), but at the time it was considered top notch acting. And I am pretty sure Elizabeth Taylor nailed it (but I can't properly judge since I don't see it enough to know). Even though she is rather manipulative, both with Brick and with Big Daddy (for his money), you just feel sorry for her. She has a horrible marriage, she is poor and lonely.

I discovered after this second viewing that Tennessee Williams was very unhappy with this production and that it veered wildly from the original play (some parts were censored, and some just changed). So I sat down with my new book to see the difference. I have to say it was quite different. In the movie, Brick blames himself for the death of a close friend, Skipper, who he incorrectly believes to have had an affair with Maggie. The truth comes out that she was faithful and Brick was able to realize he had taken out his grief on her, when he was really disgusted with himself for the suicide. Conversely, in the book, while Brick does blame himself for Skipper's death, there is a whole gay layer to the relationship. It is quite clear that Skipper was in love with Brick, so he does sleep with Maggie to prove he is not in love with Brick. When this doesn't work, he kills himself. The question is whether Brick felt the same, and it seems he did but wouldn't admit it.

In the movie, things are tied up nice and neat. Brick lets Big Daddy have it by telling him he never loved any of his children or his wife. So Big Daddy acts nice to everyone, like he learned his lesson. Big Daddy asks alcoholic Brick if he wants and drink, and he says no. Maggie lies to the family and says she is pregnant (which can not be since they sleep separately), so Brick decides he is done with the deceit and moves to the bed, where things are all patched up. It was a nice ending, but certainly not how Williams wrote it. He wrote stuff that was more real and human than that.

The play ends with more manipulating, lying and deceiving. Big Daddy isn't any nicer to anyone, Maggie seduces Brick, but mainly because he is so pumped full of alcohol he doesn't have a choice.

OK I am clearly analyzing this stuff a lot. But I just spent 3 days watching the movie and reading the book. I am kind of saturated with it. If you don't mind (or care) that the movie deviates so much from the play, then watch it. The acting is great (some of the characters are extremely annoying: Mae, Big Mama, the children, but that is how they are written). Did I mention that Paul Newman is gorgeous??

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

So it is officially 2009! I don't have any resolutions this year. I don't usually make them, so why start now? Maybe I should make a resolution to make more resolutions? Nah... What to you hope to accomplish this year?

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday! As we celebrate the birth of Jesus (yes, that is where Christmas originated: shocking!! :), I love spending time with family, eating a bunch of yummy treats, opening gifts, listening to holiday music, and seeing Christmas decor (which is seriously lacking in Los Angeles, especially Christmas lights).

The big news this Christmas is that my sister had her baby yesterday! I now have 11 (see above) nieces and nephews (and only one of those is from Sean's side of the family). I have never been in town when one of my sisters delivered, so I am very excited to say that I was in the room when Bennett Robert Gudalis was born. On Tuesday night is when part of my family was opening gifts, so we left food and gifts unwrapped to rush her to the hospital. Congrats to Brian and Jenna! He is adorable. Click here for some pics. (Forgive my greasy hair in this pic as I had just gotten rained on.)

Now for some of my favorite Christmas songs:

Mary Did You Know by Michael English (this is my favorite version but PLEASE forgive the beginning of this video--I don't get it...)

Last Christmas by Wham

Light a Candle by Avalon

All I Want for Christmas by Maria Carey

Unfortunately, the joy of Christmas does not always extend into holiday travel. The airport was packed, the weather was freezing (once I got to Louisville, it was 8 degrees...), and one of my bags didn't make it. So I wore the same jeans and socks for three days. I had two shirts with me so I've been trading off. How is it that all my underwear was in the missing bag and all Sean's was in the bag that made it without a problem? Good news: The bag with the gifts got here in time. All else can be remedied (but I should prepare for the fact that frightening photos were taken while my makeup bag was also in the missing luggage. I didn't see that bag for 3 full days after I landed.

In other news, what could make such air travel worth it? Celeb spotting at the airport, of course. I saw Ryan Gosling and knew it was him immediately. I never ask for photos but I was just standing there and a couple girls walked up to him. He was so nice. So when he walked right next to me, I had to ask for a photo. He was so gracious and sweet. He even asked me my name and said "nice to meet you." My husband took the picture so I think that knocks me down one point on the loser scale (as in, less loser-y).

So... MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS! May you remember the reason for the season.

Book: The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

2008-12-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

Reading books that take place in India is certainly giving me some insight. However, I am not sure The White Tiger, while entertaining and educating, does much to prepare me for my trip. The reason is that it is about the castes, from which the poor can't really escape. It is a very interesting commentary on what it takes for a servant from a very poor family to rise up and find financial success and freedom.

The White Tiger (aka Balram Halwai) is so named because he is the type that comes along once in a lifetime. His story is presented via letters he writes to the President of China over the course of a week. He writes these letters to prepare the president for a trip to India, and to tell him how things really are.

Balram is a driver for a wealthy businessman, whose main job is bribing city and country officials. He reveals early in his letters that he is currently a successful Indian entrepreneur and that he progressed so far through committing murder and theft. The reader waits through the story to find out how the murder comes to be, and what steps lead Balram to such an act. He points out that the caste system is what he calls a Rooster Coop, meaning that the roosters could easily fly away instead of being killed, but they just stand and wait their turn. And the Indian servants just take all the poor treatment, poor pay, and complete disrespect without a word. Balram is so different from others because he decides not to settle for the status quo.

Unfortunately, I don't feel like Adiga made Balram very appealing as a protagonist. And his boss Ashok is not so horrible as the antagonist (aside from one really horrible thing he does to Balram). So I didn't necessarily find myself rooting for Balram. But the story is more just a commentary on the status of India, the caste system, the mistreatment of people, the corruption of the government, etc. And it was really interesting to read.

From reading other reviews, I am not sure I loved this as much as other readers did. Maybe I am not the target audience. But it was an enjoyable read, nonetheless.

NEW TRAILER: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

2008-12-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

I have really been looking forward to the trailer and subsquent release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The rest of the cast really only increased my interest. The first trailer hit the internet today. Watch it now!
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE HD

This film should do well at the box office given the past success of the X-Men movies, the comic book following, and Hugh Jackman's recent naming as People's Sexiest Man Alive. I was excited to see a good portion of the trailer was devoted to Gambit (Taylor Kitsch) and Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) and am looking foward to knowing a bit more about him, as well as the other supporing mutants (Ryan Reynolds, who I saw for a brief second, and Dominic Monaghan, who I don't think I saw at all). Can't wait till May for it!

Fave TV Characters

2008-12-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

I have recently been inspired to put together a list of my favorite current and recent television characters. I am allowing recent ones because a few of these are a couple of years old and still deserve to be discussed. Maybe after this I will try another "favorites" list because it is fun. Let's get started:

Tami Taylor, Friday Night Lights - I loved her from the moment she came on screen. She tells it like it is and it gets her places (she went from a stay-at-home-mom to high school principal in a couple of years, by way of school counselor and volleyball coach). She loves her husband and girls, but also really cares about her students and invests herself in them. I absolutely adore how she stands up for herself and others (when she tells off the college football recruiter in the grocery store when he is harassing Corinna Williams), and the things she says that "sound" nice but are actually quite rude, very often to Buddy Garrity. Plus, Connie Britton played the emotional mother of a newborn excellently.

Tim Riggins, Friday Night Lights - I couldn't resist a second FNL character on my list. And he is the complete opposite of Tami Taylor. I didn't like Tim all that much during the first season. He seemed like quite a loser, and not too lovable. He grew on me a lot and after re-watching seasons one and two, and getting part-way through season 3, I just love him. You can't help but feeling "poor Tim" just about every other episode. So much of his issues can be blamed on his situation, mainly the fact that he was abandoned by his father and raised by his irresponsible (but well-meaning) brother Billy. It also helps that Taylor Kitsch is just really pretty to look at.

Ned, Pushing Daisies - Like I need another reason to wax poetic about Lee Pace. Sigh. But he plays Ned so sweetly and innocently. And when he is upset (whether it is about his father or Chuck or something else), he seems to play it like a 10 year old with pouting and huffing and puffing. Or a puppy dog, but I hate to mix my comparisons. There is just something so dreamy about Lee Pace and so, therefore, about Ned. I will miss him when he is not on my TV every week.

Dr. Lance Sweets, Bones - I love the dynamic that Dr. Sweets adds to the Booth/Brennan relationship, along with all the other relationships in the Jeffersonian. John Francis Daley plays this character somewhat naive, slightly annoying, and a tad socially awkward. And I think it is perfect. The writers usually have to create (sometimes force, but I am not complaining) specific story lines for Sweets to be involved with the others. I also find it amusing how Booth & Bones will sit in his office and say nothing, seemingly lacking any respect for him whatsoever, but he is slowly becoming the go-to guy for everyone's problems.

Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother - Neil Patrick Harris was nominated yesterday for a Golden Globe for his portrayal as Barney. And while I don't think he will ever walk away with the statue, it isn't because he doesn't deserve it. It is because the voters are idiots. I don't know anyone who watches HIMYM that doesn't think that Barney is far and away the most entertaining character on the show. Whether he is suiting up, hooking up, wingmanning it up (just an excuse to continue with the use of "up"), he makes me laugh. And then that he can have serious moments is nice, but, fortunately, not lasting. It is a relief the writers haven't had him constantly pining for Robin this season, and instead have kept him the same lovable womanizing narcissistic jerk.

Dexter Morgan, Dexter - I won't get to watch season 3 of Dexter until it comes out on DVD later this year, so don't spoil anything for me! I wouldn't have thought the writers could make season 2 as good as season 1, but I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, they just might have made it better. Michael C. Hall plays the heck out of this character. It feels wrong to be rooting for a serial killer, but the fact that Hall and the writers can make me do that means he deserves to be on my list. Plus, he isn't too shabby to look at, especially in his "killing" clothes (snug thermal tops and cargo pants).

George Michael Bluth, Arrested Development - Darn that Michael Cera, he had to go off and find success in movies so that Arrested Development, The Movie won't really feel right. I will seriously be disappointed if George Michael isn't in the movie version, whenever it finally happens. But that is because his sweet, innocent, dorky, family-loving, Maeby-lusting self is my favorite character on the show (but it was a rather close four-way race). And let's face it. If Michael Cera hadn't had AD as a major spring board, we wouldn't be seeing him in movies much. He pretty much plays a version of George Michael on everything anyway. And he gets the distinction of being the character that says my favorite line from the whole series (also a close race, between about 1000 different quotes): "What a fun sexy time for you."

Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars - I originally missed the boat on this series. And if you didn't watch it, it seemed like it was probably some kind of cheesy Nancy Drew show on the WB. And I knew a lot of people who loved it fanatically. So I finally gave it a shot this last summer. My preconceptions were all wrong. It was extremely well-written and acted. Kristin Bell played the snarky Veronica to perfection. She had amazing one-liners and at times her vulnerabilities and fears were heartbreaking. It kills me when she is holding a gun to Beaver and says that line, "He killed my father!"

Maxxie, Skins - Skins is a BBC show that has been showing on BBC America recently. It puts other teen dramas like Gossip Girl and 90210 to shame. Maxxie (played by Mitch Hewer) is the least obnoxious to me of all the characters. What really makes me love him so much is how he helped Tony post-accident at the beginning of season 2 when no other friends (mainly Tony & Michelle) were around to help out. Also, he sings, he dances, he acts in school theater, he's adorable, he even has his own stalker. What isn't there to love?

Gaius Baltar, Battlestar Galactica - I don't know what my obsession with Baltar is. I just have one, OK? The fact that James Callis can make me despise this character so much and still care about him tells you how great of an actor his. I wish any of our great BSG actors could get some real recognition from the Emmys, but Callis is one that really seems robbed for being overlooked. His turn this last season as a philosophical/religious leader took him in a new direction, but the same sleazy insecure guy was underneath.

Desmond Hume, Lost - Being that I have recently mentioned that the Lost episode "The Constant" was my favorite TV episode of the year, it would probably come as no surprise that Desmond is my favorite character on the show. His story is still so much a mystery, so that is part of the intrigue, but I really enjoy the Penny/Desmond love story. I am also relieved that Desmond will continue to be part of the story and that we got some good Des/Penny interaction this season.

Time Top 10 Lists

2008-12-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

Time Magazine announced its Top Ten Everything of 2008 lists this week. Several of the books, movies, TV, people, etc. are things I have discussed or want to discuss, so I thought I would write a post about it.

TV Episodes:
1) Lost, "The Constant"
2) The Shield, "Family Meeting"
3) The Wire, "Late Editions"
4) In Treatment, "Alex - Week Eight"
5) Breaking Bad, "Pilot"
6) Battlestar Galactica, "Revelations"
7) The Colbert Report, Jan. 22 Episode
8) 30 Rock, "Cooter"
9) Mad Men, "A Night to Remember"
10) You Suck at Photoshop, "Distort, Warp, and Layer Effects"

I decided to write this post upon seeing number one on the TV episodes list. And it was the first item in the first list I looked at. But I was so excited to see "The Constant" on there. It is my favorite episode of the season as well, and my favorite episode of Lost to date. It really made me think, it involved a love story, it was shocking. It was everything I needed to be entertained. Plus, I love me some Desmond.

I'm also happy to see BSG getting some more attention. While the Emmys seem completely blind to the amazingness that is Battlestar Galactica, the rest of the world has taken notice. This show deserves all the credit it gets, and more. And this episode was shocking and tragic. And left us all wondering, "What now?"

I only sort of regret giving up Mad Men halfway through the first season, based on all the hype it continually gets. Maybe I will watch it on DVD some time. In the meantime, my new TV addiction is 30 Rock, and while I haven't seen "Cooter," I think I will carve out sometime to do so, since it is on this list.

TV Series:
1) The Shield
2) Mad Men
3) The Presidential Election
4) Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
5) The Wire
6) Breaking Bad
7) Lost
8) Battlestar Galactica
9) Architecture School
10) Chuck

Based on the TV Episodes list, I was not surprised to find Lost and Battlestar Galactica on the TV Shows list. Yea! But I was surprised by a couple of other goodies: Dr. Horrible and Chuck! Two of my current faves. Dr. Horrible has done amazingly well, especially given that it is really a web series and not a TV show. And Joss Whedon knows how to create something out of dire circumstances (since the web series was created and executed during the WGA strike). Chuck has been so great this season, and while it may not be getting the viewership it deserves, I am relieved to see it is at least getting some critical praise.

Songs:
1) Kanye West, Love Lockdown
2) Pink, So What
3) Ida Maria, Oh My God
4) Lil Wayne, A Milli
5) Fleet Foxes, White Winter Hymnal
6) Jonas Brothers, Burnin' Up
7) Beyonce, Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)
8) MGMT, Time to Pretend
9) Duffy, Rockferry
10) Gnarls Barkley, Going On

I can't listen to "Single Ladies" without thinking of those 3 guys dancing to it on SNL. (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh) But it made it memorable to me and now I kind of enjoy it. Sometimes I tell Sean that if he likes it he should have put a ring on it. He doesn't like it anymore...

I don't like Lil Wayne and haven't heard of a couple of these, but I am glad to see the Jonas Brothers, MGMT and Pink getting a shout out.

Fiction Books:
1) 2666, Roberto Bolano
2) Lush Life, Richard Price
3) American Wife, Curtis Sittenfeld
4) Anathem, Neal Stephenson
5) Unaccustomed Earth, Jhumpa Lahiri
6) Personal Days, Ed Park
7) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
8) When Will There Be Good News?, Kate Atkinson
9) The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
10) The Widows of Eastwick, John Updike

I've not read one of these books. But I have had American Wife sitting by my bed for months and hadn't thought anything of it. Now I feel motivated to read it. This list also interested me in The Graveyard Book and When Will There Be Good News? And if I decided to read Anathem, I won't order from Tower.com like Stella.

Movies:
1) WALL-E
2) Synecdoche, New York
3) My Winnipeg
4) 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
5) Milk
6) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7) Slumdog Millionaire
8) Iron Man
9) Speed Racer
10) Encounters at the End of the World

Is anyone else confused at seeing Speed Racer on this list? Didn't it pretty much get panned by critics and bomb at the box office? I don't know if I would call that the future of cinema. I am not surprised, however, at Iron Man and WALL-E making the list, and am ecstatic at seeing Slumdog MIllionaire continue to get attention. Go see Slumdog Millionaire!!

Best Performances:
1) Kate Winslet, Hannah Schmidtz, The Reader
2) Viola Davis, Mrs. Muller, Doubt
3) Dakota Fanning, Lily Owens, The Secret Life of Bees
4) Kimberly Rivers Roberts, Herself, Trouble the Water
5) Angelina Jolie, Fox, Wanted
1) Heath Ledger, The Joker, The Dark Knight
2) Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jean-Claude Van Damme, JCVD
3) Vlad Ivanov, Mr. Bebe, 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days
4) Brandon Walters, Nullah, Australia
5) Ben Burtt, WALL-E, WALL-E

When I heard Dakota Fanning would play Lily in The Secret Life of Bees, I was concerned. She is an excellent actress, but this was a more mature part than I had seen her play. I haven't caught the film yet myself, but looks like she did a great job. I teared up at one part just in the trailer.

Heath Ledger gets a spot, of course, as it is deserved. His performance as The Joker was disturbing in various ways. I need to see The Dark Knight again and see if he is as creepy in it the second time around. I'm also intrigued to see Jean-Claude Van Damme take on a different type of role, playing an odd version of himself in JCVD.

Book: Are You Experienced? by William Sutcliffe

2008-12-08T17:11:00.000-08:00

This is the first book I have chosen to read that is related to my India trip. My sister recommended it as a quick and fun read. Are You Experienced? is a novel about a young English guy named Dave who feels compelled (by a girl named Liz) to spend the summer before University traveling around India. He really doesn't want to go but Liz convinces him (mainly because he wants to spend time with her). So he commits to three months, and discovers early on that he and Liz pretty much hate each other. Liz gets sucked into the Indian culture (but she is rather pretentious about it, going about in saris and doing what is called "intimate yoga" to find her "centre"). Dave is very cynical and it leads to fighting between them. Eventually, they part ways and Dave is left to travel the country that he despises so much alone.

As an inexperienced traveler, Dave does not know how to handle certain situations (the beggars, the bargaining), and also makes poor decisions (such as eating bad food and getting so sick he gets emaciated). And ultimately he spends a full two months of travelling, trying to get the right "India experience" before he realizes he has been going about it the wrong way. Eventually, he stops avoiding the Indians and begins talking to them and asking about their lives. Basically, he figures out that his adventures won't be what he preconceived, and then he can enjoy himself.

When Dave finally returns home, a place he is desperately excited to get to, he almost immediately realizes that he would like to go back for another visit.

Now I need to discuss how this contributes to my thoughts and considerations for my upcoming trip to India. When Dave starts his trip, he only seems to be enjoying himself when he is stoned. That doesn't bode well, but I figured he would require some time to get over culture shock. He basically gets off the train in Bombay, smells the stench in the air, and hops back on a train to elsewhere. I have heard some pretty bad things about the smell of the air and the smog. I have a few scarves I plan to wear over my nose and mouth in the city. I'll just have to get used to that. The only meal Dave eats that has meat in it makes him terribly sick so he sticks to vegetarian dishes mostly. I like meat! But I can manage. I can't say I wouldn't like to lose a few pounds, but not from dysentery!

That is all the bad stuff, but I also am getting used to city and region names. This helps me to figure out places I want to visit while I am there. I know I want to use the Lonely Planet India guide as it seems to be The Book. Also, now I know not to sit on the back of any buses as I will be sore from bouncing around. In addition, I am now looking forward to the beauty of the country, both lakeside and mountainside. And I plan to let the traveling be as fun as the destinations!

Next on my India reading list: The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.

Quantum of Solace

2008-12-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

I wasn't too keen on seeing the new Bond film as I had not heard great things. I happened to catch Casino Royale on TV over the holiday, and I was reminded of how much I enjoyed that movie AND how much I really like Daniel Craig as James Bond. He loses a level of cheesy that was very present with Pierce Brosnan (in my opinion, of course).

Quantum of Solace was a bit too much of a regular James Bond story for me. It wasn't as bad as I had heard. Apparently, some people had much higher expectations than I did. But it certainly didn't tug at the heartstrings like Casino Royale did. And the whole reason I loved that one so much was because it made him relatable. And then he kind of lost that quality in this one.

What I did enjoy was seeing Daniel Craig some more. I just really like him in this character. I was also happy to see Mathieu Amalric from The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I had been interested in seeing him in a different type of role.

Anyway, I say it is probably a renter, for anyone interested.

My Vampire Weekend: Twilight

2008-12-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it. I went on opening night to see Twilight. I braved the crowds of screaming girls (again), waited in line for more than 45 minutes to get into the theater, sat with bated breath for the darned previews to finish up, and then felt giddy glee when, as the movie finally started, a high pitched group of screams sounded throughout the theater. We laughed heartily at the screams, and soon discovered that we would hear these screams EVERY time Edward appeared on screen. Or Jacob. Or Carlisle. Or the rest of the Cullens. Or James. Or even Charlie. Most surprising was that I didn't mind. It kind of made this a different movie-going experience and I genuinely felt like a 13 year old fangirl again.

So the experience of going to see this was fun and different, but how was the actual movie? That is the tricky part for me. I have read all of the Twilight series. I tend to have a hard time keeping books and movies based on them separate. I fill in too much of the story in my head. So I am not sure if this movie will be satisfying to many die-hard fans of the book. I am really not sure those who haven't read the book will like it. I can say it was fun to watch. But I don't know about the quality so much...

Kristin Stewart and Rob Pattinson were great and so perfectly cast. Except for a couple of actors, I was pretty happy with who was cast for each role. They could have toned down the cheesy coolness that is Emmett (I really hated when he was standing in the Jeep...). There were parts that could have been better (did anyone else think that Edward's sparkling in the meadow looked more like he was just really sweaty?).

OK, I confess that I went on a week's vacation for Thanksgiving in the very middle of writing my review and I have lost all my flow... So I will just say that I enjoyed this movie-going experience and seeing how Catherine Hardwick translated it to screen, but I was missing a few things too. I am curious to see how the movies progress, as each book brings in new complications, both story-wise and filming-wise...