I can’t help it. Some of the movie and entertainment links that I’ve been seeing around the interwebs are just too awesome, hilarious, and/or horrifying not to share. Here’s your first “weekly” link round-up!
In honor of the recent re-release of The Phantom Menace in 3D and George Lucas’s ongoing mission to alienate all Star Wars fans everywhere, I present for your viewing pleasure… some not crappy stuff about Star Wars.
To be fair, the interviewer is pretty much just as awkward as Lloyd.
And I salute the fact that Jake Lloyd went to school and is pursuing things other than his own fame… but, man, is he not happy about giving this interview. Sure, the interviewer is pushing for the answers he wants (and can we all give a giant “Eesh!” to that last “question?”), but Lloyd is giving him NOTHING.
Dude, this is what you’re known for. You gotta make peace with it. Or don’t show up to the conference. In that shirt.
#3 – GREAT SHOWDOWNS, welcome to the amazing art of Scott C.
His Great Showdowns series, each with their own perfectly chosen quote, are some of my favorite movie art…of…all the movie art I’ve seen.* But seriously. He’s awesome. Go to his website and check him out.
“I warn you not to underestimate my powers.”
“And now, Your Highness, we will discuss the location of your hidden Rebel base.”
“Well, what have we got here? Will you look at her? Those flashing eyes, those flushed cheeks, those trembling lips. You know something Princess? You are ugly when you’re angry.”
I am so clearly bad about posting, it’s just sad. The strike was for one day, it’s not an excuse.
And it’s not like I’m done here. I am constantly having ideas for posts, for things to share, for new features to try! When I watch something, I end up thinking in terms of how I would write it up on this blog, yet I don’t stop and take the time to actually do so. Pathetic. And the more time that passes, the harder it seems to start again. Not to mention that I always feel that I need to reintroduce myself, to recommit to you, dear reader, and pledge to try harder, to be better.
I suppose my thinking I need an introduction is really just an attempt to take a moment to transition from silence to starting again, so it doesn’t come out of nowhere. I am aware that I’ve been bad. I’m calling after too long, wondering how best to catch you up, awkwardly hoping you remember me and worrying that you don’t.
But screw that. It’s a new year, so let’s just kick this pig.
I’m not going to give you any pledges because who knows what will happen.
Let’s be real, people – I was always going to go see this in theaters no matter what the trailer looked like. Sure, I don’t want the film to get it wrong, but I am a huge fan of the series. I read the second and third books in something like a day and a half. Straight.
BUT it is really nice to see that it doesn’t look like they’ve gotten it wrong at all. In fact, it looks very very right. The internet is buzzing with excited people right now and you can officially count me among their ranks. Yup, I’m one of those people. This looks freakin’ awesome.
I am a little surprised by how interested I am, mostly based on the rather cool imagery presented in this trailer. Versus the few over-the-top-colorful, perfectly coifed photos I have seen for the “other” Snow White movie, I am definitely more curious where this one will take the story. The tone of the trailer fits with what I’d already heard… darker, fight-ier, real-er (as much as a fairy tale turned epic fantasy war story is real). And so far, Kristen Stewart hasn’t spoken, which is maybe a good thing?, so I’m not sure how that will work out. I don’t really want her to be Joan of Arc, but based on what I have seen so far, this looks like it could be kind of badass. Though I am not convinced by Charlize Theron as a narrator at all.
Verdict: Intrigued
Young Adult
More Charlize Theron (she’s also the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Huntsman). I don’t know about this one; I get that she’s an unlikeable character and, well, that didn’t exactly make me want to go watch the movie. I like the people in it, love the director, will probably be interested, but my first impression is that I don’t want to shell out the money to see it in theaters. She was a bit too successful at being unlikeable.
Then again, I have a cold and the fact that my face is all stuffy doesn’t make me feel like going outside for anything. And this doesn’t exist in theaters yet, so it’s a moot point.
Side Note: I really like that the poster looks like a book cover (particularly effective as a smaller image icon). They* should do that more.
Verdict: Netflix
My Week with Marilyn
I had certainly heard of this movie, but I now realize I had no idea what week we were going to be seeing and somehow I was not expecting it to be one in England. There are some great people in this cast. I’ve been hearing good things about Michelle Williams and based on the trailer, she certainly seems to be embodying Marilyn quite well. I saw Eddie Redmayne on Broadway in Red and he’s good. And oh, look, there’s Kenneth Branagh, and Judi Dench, and Hermione Granger! Don’t worry, I know that’s Emma Watson and no, I don’t think she’s pigeonholed forever at all. I just didn’t expect to see her in this. I’m guessing…jealous regular** non-movie star girlfriend-type character?
I have difficulty getting excited for biopics sometimes (J. Edgar anyone?). The lure of knowing what that person was really like or really going through is not always enough for me. Especially if their life included something really difficult; something that might, say, make them the subject of a movie. Sometimes that’s just hard towant to go see. But based on this trailer, I am more interested that I expected to be.
Verdict: Potential Theatre/On-Demand
The Lorax
What to do here? I LOVE The Lorax, by which I mean the original book and original cartoon from 1972. I was not looking for a remake. I think some people like the human remake of The Grinch and I’ve seen pieces of it, but no matter how good it might be, it could never replace the cartoon for me. I have a feeling The Lorax will go the same way. I don’t need a new cartoon.
Certain parts of this trailer surprised me in that I like the idea there – he starts his journey for a tree because of a girl? But I was not feeling Danny DeVito as the voice of the main man, the Lorax himself. I’m sorry, but no. I recently rewatched Matilda, which the boyfriend had never seen, and he was surprised to hear that DeVito was the narrator. He has a unique growl of a voice and it seemed an unusual choice. It relatively works in Matilda, though I think he overemphasizes a lot of his words, falling into the trap of trying to be clear because it’s a CHILDREN’S movie. It is yet to be seen how his signature voice will work for the Lorax (clearly, this is a trailer, the whole point is it’s not out yet), but it felt a bit corny to me.
Verdict: Skeptical but not Written Off
And to throw in one I’ve never even heard of til now… (what? I KNOW!)
ParaNorman
This looks SO AWESOME. It’s an animated movie from the makers of Coraline (yay), with what looks like an exploration of the cannon of horror movie tropes from the perspective of a boy who loves zombies (my friends will all be happy). This looks like a really cool off-beat kid’s movie. The trailer only has a soundtrack, no dialogue, so I’m not very clear on things like plot, but that makes me even happier. I don’t want it all given away in the trailer; I want to see a taste of something that makes me excited enough to run to the theatre but still be surprised and have a unique experience when I get there (trailer-makers TAKE NOTE). Also, stellar use of music. I almost hope there is no dialogue, just music and sound effects, a la The Triplets of Belleville. I would be totally down with that.
I am the first to admit that I’m not great with scary movies, but I’ve learned that i can really enjoy anything you might call comedy horror and anything spooky and weird in the realm of “appropriate for younger audiences” (i.e. Coraline). So I think this is right in my wheelhouse.
Also, best tagline EVER: You don’t become a hero by being normal.
YES.
Verdict: Hell Yeah!***
*Hollywood in general?
**I was refraining from writing “mousy.” She’s clearly not mousy, she’s just not Marilyn Monroe, or that’s what I’m guessing this movie might be implying.
***As you can see, this is a clearly defined grading rubric.
Hello again! Yes, I’ve been gone a long time. This is due to some combination of the following reasons:
a. Crazy wedding season that included lots of flying around the country and/or choreographing dance routines for people
b. Going to Africa (!!!)
c. Being a no good very bad blogger.
I will be posting soon about some of the above reasons (can you guess which?). But first, it’s Halloween and I love my costume.
And it has to do with movies. So here we go.
Saturday night I attended a party with the theme of Classic Movies (“classic” to be interpreted as you saw fit), which was particularly perfect for someone who, y’know, likes movies or something.
The boyfriend and I were pretty darn excited when we came up with our idea, and so I thought I would share.
"Oh, Mr Arnold..."
No! Samuel L. Jackson! Ack, wait, a raptor!
They can't see you if you don't move...
It’s all in the props. And I must say, I really enjoyed carrying around Sammy J.’s arm all night.*
Pretty close, right?**
But my reenactments of Jurassic Park scenes don’t end there…
Last year, we went on a trip to Kauai and I was very excited to see some of the sites used in the filming of this “Classic” film. I meant to post about it all last year, and that clearly didn’t happen, but it’s applicable once again so just go with it.
We were lucky enough to take a helicopter ride around the island and got to see the waterfall where they landed…in a helicopter! (this is my own video)
And we went on a tour of the Allerton Garden, which, #1, is beautiful and if you are ever in Kauai you should visit it, and #2, includes the giant Moreton Bay Fig Trees featured in the film. These are the trees up which Dr. Grant and the two kids spend the night (where the brachiosaurus…es…- um, brachiosauri? – say hi in the morning and one sneezes on Lex) and between whose GIANT roots Alan finds the eggs proving that the dinosaurs are breeding.
Where's Waldo?
They're breeding!
The moral of this story? I dunno. I like Jurassic Park? I AM Laura Dern? Um…
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
*In case you’re curious – yes, we found that severed arm AS IS at the Halloween Store.
** Yes, I know she was wearing shorts and that was the plan… until it started SNOWING.
