Blast from the Past

I freely admit that I am a big kid. At Christmas, I run around the house singing the Toys R Us song. I'm easy to buy presents for, just get me a Barbie doll with a long dress (I collect them, not play with them. That would be creepy!)

So for the last month, I have been waiting with baited breath for today to come. It's Tuesday, the day new movies come out and Tuesday October 5 brings us the release of Beauty and the Beast on DVD. (I know, I know, it was out on DVD before but I missed it then) I was at the Wally World before 8:00 this morning, sweater thrown on over my pj's so I could bring it home. I might have looked rough and been sleep deprived, but I was positively giddy with excitement!

The thing about Beauty and the Beast is that it's not only a great movie for kids of all ages, it's also a great Caitlin memory for me. She was just a wee baby Caitlin when the movie first came out on VHS and when we watched it, she cried, completely brokenhearted because she thought it was over forever. I had to watch it with her 3 times in a row before I could convince her we could watch it whenever we wanted. Now, nearly 20 years later, I'm hoping she doesn't cry like that when we watch it on DVD. I'm not as patient as I was then!

The Empire Strikes Back turns 30!

If you have no idea what this is, run, run as fast as you can for your nearest Blockbuster store and tell them that you are woefully ignorant of one of the greatest movies in cinematic history. You can tell them that Ramona Shelton diagnosed you as such.

This movie literally changed my life. It is the very first movie that I ever saw at the movie theaters, just a wee little lass of 7. I thought that it was the most amazing thing that I had ever seen. I wanted to be Princess Leia. I wanted my own Han Solo to face death and say "I know" when I told him I loved him. Still do.

Seriously, Star Wars put the franchise on the map, but Empire made it a phenomenon. Quintessential heroes vs. villians, good vs. evil, romance, revelations, war, OMG what happens next kind of stuff.

Everybody join me in singing a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday" to the movie and let's pop the DVD into the player and celebrate the monumentous occasion by watching it (for about the millionth time for me!)

Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland

Those of you who know anything about me won't be surprised to learn that I headed to the theater to see Tim Burton's interpretation of Alice in Wonderland this weekend, along with about a million of my closest friends it seems. I know, I know- I would spend good money and a lot of my much-needed book writing time watching a movie where Johnny Depp was sitting in a chair staring at a wall watching paint dry. Oh Johnny!

However, I was pleasantly surprised to note that this wasn't the Johnny show. I went into the theater thinking "just let it be OK." What was I smoking? OK? OK??? It was SOOOOO good. This was the sort of movie that kids of all ages can get into. The best part about it was that Alice held her own. Mia Wasikowska was great as the titular character- sweet and unassuming when she needed to be, strong and vocal at other times. I especially loved two parts of the movie. The first one was when she chastised everyone for telling her that saving the Hatter wasn't in the plan. She was all like "screw the plan, I'm making my own plan as I go along." (Not in those words of course, but you get the gist) The second was when she came back from Wonderland to confront all the guests at the engagement party and just wailed on all of them. It almost reminded me of the scene at the end of Waiting where the shy, sweet guy lets everybody have it.

The special effects were great. I didn't see the 3D version because I'm not particularly partial to 3D (Lasik and 3D don't work too well together). The voiceovers really got me too. I loved how Tim Burton and the animators didn't make the characters look like the people doing the voices. It wasn't Michael Sheen doing the White Rabbit, it was the White Rabbit speaking with Michael Sheen's voice (Sheen's another guy who makes me drool BTW). Same thing with Alan Rickman's Blue Caterpillar.

And you know I can't end this post without a little bit about the man himself. Seriously folks, who else but Johnny Depp can make a poisoned lunatic look sexy? He's getting good at it though- lunatic yet sexy pirate as Captain Jack, cowardly yet scholarly police investigator as Ichabod Crane, emo science experiment as Edward Scissorhands. The futterwacken scene after the battle- priceless! Even if the rest of the movie had been crap (which of course it wasn't!!!) just seeing Johnny futterwacken was worth it!

Movie Review: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

They had me at "Olympians." Ever since 4th grade, I have been utterly addicted to Greek Mythology. My dream job would be to teach mythology (ancient and modern). So this movie was a definite must for me. It's based on the first in a series of books by Rick Riordan (another series that I was a latecomer to and have now read multiple times). Another reason this movie appealed to me was the fact that the director was Chris Columbus, he of the first two Harry Potter movies, Mrs. Doubtfire and Home Alone fame. Love him!

I worried going into the theater that the Lightning Thief movie wouldn't be as good as the book. I needn't have worried. For two hours, I didn't even blink.

The story opens with the Greek gods on the verge of war. Sibling rivalry between Zeus and Poseidon has brought things to a head. Zeus' lightning bolt has been stolen and he blames Poseidon's son, Percy Jackson, for the theft. The problem with this is that not only is Percy innocent, he has absolutely no idea that he is the son of a god. To prove his innocence and stop the war, Percy must find the lightning bolt and return it to Zeus. In his quest, he is accompanied by Annabeth, daughter of Athena, and his half-goat, half-human best bud, Grover.

The actors were great, the story moved fast and the special effects were spot on. It's definitely going to draw in the crowds who like Harry Potter. Plus, part of it was filmed at the Parthenon in Nashville- practically in my own backyard! The only thing that was sort of weird for me was the fact that in the books, Percy and Annabeth are only about 12 years old. In the movie they are 16, 17ish. It was strange to see Percy with an Adam's apple and a deep voice and for Annabeth to have boobies. But this sort of made me think of book PJ&O and movie PJ&O as two separate but equally worthy entries.

I give this movie two thumbs AND two big toes up! Go and see it right now- and then come home and read the book. They better make the other 4 books in the series into movies too!

Movie Review: Avatar

OK, so you may not have heard about it but there is this little flick out there that goes by the name of Avatar. Yeah right, I think everybody in the free world has seen this movie at least once since it is already at #2 all-time in box office revenue and is closing in fast on Titanic. I know, it has been out for 6 weeks so I'm a little slow in going to see it but I'm really glad I did. It definitely lived up to the hype and then some!

As I was watching it, I was sort of building the story in my mind...Power hungry conglomerate bands together with the military to take over a planet that is inhabited with a less-civilized-than-they-are population all in the effort of getting an extremely valuable mineral, unobtanium. Despite the fact that the enemy is much more technologically advanced, the nature loving natives band together and use rudimentary weapons to hold onto their sacred lands.

Have you ever had one of those epiphany moments? One where the light bulb goes off above your head and everything becomes clear? I had one sitting in the theater, wearing those stupid 3D glasses (I hate 3D- Lasik and 3D don't work well together).

The historical part of my brain kicked into overdrive and I realized that anyone who had my American History I class last semester should have recognized the story. Make a few substitutions...Power hungry nation (Spain/England) bands together with the military to take over the New Worldwhich is inhabited with a less-civilized-than-they-are population all in the effort of getting an extremely valuable mineral, gold. Despite the fact that the enemy is much more technologically advanced, the nature loving natives band together and use rudimentary weapons to hold onto their sacred lands.

This movie is a virtual retelling of the European conquering of North America. When I told Caitlin this, she sort of rolled her eyes but my Daddy said the same idea struck him as he was watching it. Let's play the historian's "what if" game for a minute. What if Hernando Cortez had been more like Jake Sully and had tried to help the natives rather than to overthrow them? Imagine how history would have been different.

Whether you agree with me about the historical parallels or not, you have to admit, this movie rocks!

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

OK, I almost didn't see this movie for several reasons. First, I'm not a big fan of Guy Ritchie's movies. Nothing against him; his style just doesn't appeal to me. Second, I'm even less of a fan of Jude Law. Don't ask me why, but he gives me the willies (and not in a good way). Finally, a very good friend whose opinion I trust (I'd better since she's my book editor) saw the movie Christmas weekend and wasn't impressed.

However, there are three little words that describe why I did go ahead and watch it: Robert Downey Junior. I have always been a big fan of his, pre, during and post drug use alike. I watched it just to see how he portrayed such an iconic character and strangely enough, I actually was impressed.

I think what really made me like this movie was the fact that I kept getting a Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane and a Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow sort of vibe from Downey's Holmes. You know how much I loves me some Johnny! Good willies- very good willies! Since Holmes drank quite often during this movie, I wouldn't have been surprised at a "Why is the rum always gone" sort of comment. Plus, my brain sort of operates on the deductive reasoning/attention to detail that is quintessential to Sherlock Holmes. (I think that's also why Shawn on Psych is one of my favorite TV characters- he and Gus are a modern-day Holmes and Watson.)

The scenes at the slaughterhouse were so cool, as were Holmes' monologue when he catches the bad guy. I love it when the hero goes into great detail to explain how he figured out the villain's nasty tricks. I also have to admit that one of the reasons I enjoyed this movie was the by-play between Downey and Law. They actually played off of each other very well.

What I didn't like about this movie, however, was the fact that it dragged. It was a great action flick, but it seemed to take forever. I can't put my finger on a reason why, but I didn't think it was ever going to end.

That being said, this is definitely a movie that I would recommend to you. I laughed out loud several times and sat on the edge of my seat at some points. That was more than worth dealing with the dragginess of the movie.

New Moon Mania

In case you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of a little thing called New Moon that opened to a quiet opening this past weekend. And by "quiet" I mean HUGE, like $143 million in a little over 2 days huge. This puts it at the #3 biggest opening after The Dark Knight and Spiderman 3.

And before you even ask, yes $15 of that $143 million did come from the pocket of yours truly. Caitlin and I went to see it as soon as I could get out of my Friday class in Franklin. But no, I wasn't one of the crazy women who were drooling and making loud giggles and sighs when Taylor Lautner took off his shirt. That would make me feel too much like a pedo!

Needless to say, I love the Twilight Saga (books, movies, stuff, etc.)I would be lying if I said that I wasn't just a tad bit envious of Mrs. Meyer, an unknown housewife who has a wild dream that leads her to create an equally wild universe about vampires, werewolves and the humans they love. As an amateur writer myself, I would sacrifice my left pinkie toe, hell, both of my pinkie toes, just to have a fraction of the success she has had!

So my question for you is...have you seen the movie?